Why I pair my go-to cash-back card with the right travel rewards cards for max value

I love the points and miles game — I even have a sock drawer full of credit cards to prove it. You might, however, be surprised to discover that many of them don't earn points and miles.

That's because I'm also a big fan of cash back.

My credit card strategy features a healthy mix of travel rewards cards and cash-back cards. However, one cash-back card plays a pivotal role in my overall card strategy: the Apple Card, which is my catch-all for nonbonus spending.

Here's why this card plays a crucial role in my strategy.

The information for the Apple Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

My current card setup

Here is my current day-to-day card setup and what purpose each card serves:

• American Express® Gold Card: For earning points on dining, flights and grocery purchases.
• Apple Card: Catch-all card and for earning cash back on all Apple purchases.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): For earning points on Lyft and travel purchases. I also use this card as a backup for dining purchases as needed.

This setup prioritizes earning transferable rewards. The two cards that I consistently reach for in my wallet and see the bulk of my daily spending are the Amex Gold and Chase Sapphire Preferred, as they earn incredibly valuable Membership Rewards points and Ultimate Rewards points that I transfer to partners for maximum value.

The Amex Gold earns:

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• 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar)
• 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar)
• 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly from the airline or through amextravel.com

Meanwhile, the Chase Sapphire Preferred earns:

• 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft (through September 2027)
• 3 points per dollar spent on dining
• 2 points per dollar spent on travel, which Chase broadly defines

I occasionally purchase flights on this card instead of my Amex Gold because of the impressive suite of travel protections. The Sapphire Preferred also serves as my backup dining card at places that don't accept Amex.

It's also important to note that I may focus all my spending on my Sapphire Preferred when I'm low on Chase points, despite being able to earn more points by using a different card.

Additionally, I rotate the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card into the mix when I want to earn more cash back. With this duo, I also have the option to convert cash back to Capital One miles.

I have more cards than the ones listed above, but many of these I only use on occasion, just to keep them open to maintain my credit history and credit utilization for a healthy credit score.

I also have cards I use just for specific perks, like my Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card for a free checked bag and the TakeOff15 perk or the Prime Visa (see rates and fees) for 5% back on Amazon purchases.

Related: 5 reasons to keep a cash-back credit card in your wallet

How cash back plays a part in my points and miles strategy

Many times throughout the year, I find myself points-rich and cash-poor. When this is the case, I pivot and focus solely on earning cash back. Cash back offers me flexibility that points and miles can't. Plus, cash back is easier for me to redeem, as I tend to get analysis paralysis and don't typically redeem my points and miles unless I find a redemption that matches or beats TPG's valuation of major points and miles currencies.

Around the holidays, I tend to focus on earning cash back, which I can then use to buy gifts for friends and family.

You may wonder why I don't just focus on earning points and convert them to cash back. Most credit card points don't convert to cash back at a 1:1 ratio. For example, Amex points are only worth a meager 0.6 cents each when redeemed for cash back.

Related: The pros and cons of cash-back credit cards

Why the Apple Card is my catch-all

The Apple Card is my go-to catch-all card because it earns at least 2% cash back on all purchases made via Apple Pay.

Though I typically use my Sapphire Preferred and Amex Gold for the bulk of my spending, the Apple Card comes into play when my Amex Gold and Sapphire Preferred only earn 1 point per dollar spent on nonbonus categories or when I want to boost my cash-back stash.

It covers all my other spending, like drugstore purchases, bills and utilities or any spending that doesn't fit into a bonus category.

Additionally, I don't have to physically carry this card in my wallet since the 2% cash back is only on Apple Pay purchases. Nowadays, almost all merchants accept Apple Pay (wink wink, looking at you, Walmart), so I never really have to worry about this payment method being rejected.

In the rare case the merchant doesn't accept Apple Pay, I'll just use my Capital One VentureOne to earn 1.25 miles per dollar spent across all purchases.

Related: Your complete guide to Apple Pay

Even better, cash back is accrued daily instead of at the end of your billing cycle like most other cards. The cash back is known as "Daily Cash" and is deposited into your Apple Cash account daily. You can use this cash to make purchases or deposit it in a bank account.

Earning points and miles is the foundation of my credit card strategy, but cash-back rewards also play an integral role. If you want to branch out and diversify your credit card rewards, add a cash-back card to your wallet. There are tons of great options available, many of which don't charge annual fees.

Related: 4 reasons to get the Apple Card