The One Purchase Rule: Keeping Multiple Credit Cards Active

“Your account has been closed due to inactivity.” That email killed my oldest credit card—and dropped my score 35 points overnight. After building a 12-card portfolio, I learned the hard way that getting cards is only half the battle. Here’s the systematic approach to keeping every card active without debt or stress.

Why Card Closures Hurt More Than You Think

The Hidden Impact

Average Age of Accounts:

Major scoring factor (15%)
Closed card = lost history
Can’t be recovered
Affects score for years

My Closure Disaster:

Lost: 4-year-old card
Impact: -35 points immediately
Recovery time: 8 months
Lesson learned: Forever

Available Credit Loss:

Utilization ratio jumps
Borrowing power reduced
Future applications harder
Emergency buffer gone

The Inactivity Timeline

When Banks Close Cards:

6 months: First warning
12 months: High risk
18 months: Almost certain
24 months: Guaranteed

Bank-Specific Policies:

TD: 12 months typically
RBC: 6-12 months
Scotia: 12-18 months
Capital One: 6 months
Tangerine: 12 months

The One Purchase Rule System

Core Principle

Each Card Gets ONE Recurring Charge:

Small, predictable amount
Monthly recurring
Auto-pay enabled
Never forgotten

Why This Works:

Shows regular activity
Prevents closure
Easy to track
No debt risk
Builds history

Implementation Strategy

Step 1: Inventory Your Cards

Card Name | Bank | Last Used | Assigned Purchase | Amount
RBC Cash  | RBC  | Current   | Netflix          | $18.99
TD Visa   | TD   | Current   | Spotify          | $15.99
Scotia    | BNS  | 3 months  | iCloud           | $1.29

Step 2: Identify Subscriptions

Streaming services
Cloud storage
Music platforms
News subscriptions
Domain renewals
Charity donations
Software licenses

Step 3: Match Cards to Charges

One subscription per card
Spread evenly
Consider rewards
Keep it simple

My 12-Card Assignment System

Primary Cards (Daily Use)

Card 1: RBC Cash Back

Main spending card
No assignment needed
Gas and groceries
Natural activity

Card 2: TD Cash Back

Restaurant card
Weekend use
No assignment needed
Regular activity

Secondary Cards (Rotation)

Card 3: Scotia Momentum

Netflix: $18.99/month
Auto-pay enabled
Statement balance paid
1% cash back earned

Card 4: BMO Cash Back

Spotify: $15.99/month
Family plan
Never missed
Card stays active

Card 5: CIBC Dividend

Apple iCloud: $1.29/month
Smallest charge
Often forgotten otherwise
Critical for history

Specialized Cards

Card 6: PC Financial

Phone bill: $45/month
Earn PC points
Grocery rewards
Double benefit

Card 7: Canadian Tire

Gas station fill: Monthly
Manual reminder
Earn CT money
Keep card active

Card 8: Capital One

Disney+: $11.99/month
No forex fees
USD billing
Perfect match

Backup Cards

Card 9: Tangerine

Google One: $2.79/month
Minimal charge
Category bonus
Stays active

Card 10: Walmart

Walmart+: $9.98/month
Store card active
Delivery benefit
Worth the fee

Card 11: Home Trust

LinkedIn Premium: $39.99/month
Business expense
No forex benefit
Keeps card alive

Card 12: Brim

Medium subscription: $5/month
Supporting writers
Small charge
Card protected

Creating Your Assignment Matrix

Subscription Inventory

Streaming Services:

Netflix: $8.99-$22.99
Disney+: $11.99
Prime: $9.99
Spotify: $10.99
Apple Music: $10.99

Productivity Tools:

Microsoft 365: $9.99
Google One: $2.79
Dropbox: $11.99
Adobe: $19.99
Zoom: $14.99

Small Recurring Charges:

iCloud+: $1.29
Domain: $1.25
Password manager: $2.99
VPN: $5-10
News subscription: $4.99

Utility Options:

Mobile bill
Internet
Hydro equal billing
Insurance
Transit pass reload

The Perfect Matches

High-Reward Alignments:

Groceries → PC Financial
Recurring → High cash back
Foreign → No forex cards
Gas → Category cards

Strategic Assignments:

Oldest card → Important subscription
Newest cards → Flexible charges
High-limit → Larger bills
Low-limit → Small charges

Advanced Management Techniques

The Rotation Method

For Many Cards (15+):

Quarterly rotation
Change assignments
Spread activity
Document changes

Monthly Schedule:

Week 1: Review activity
Week 2: Check statements
Week 3: Adjust if needed
Week 4: Plan next month

The Family Plan Strategy

Coordinate with Spouse:

Split subscriptions
Share assignments
Double the cards
Half the work

Example Division:

Spouse: Entertainment subscriptions
You: Utility and services
Both: Track monthly
Shared spreadsheet

The Prepaid Solution

For Minimal Use Cards:

Load annual amount
Let subscription draw
One payment yearly
Card stays active

Example:

Load $50 in January
$4.17 monthly subscription
Runs all year
Single tracking point

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Mistake 1: The Set-and-Forget Trap

What Happens:

Subscription cancels
Card goes inactive
You don’t notice
Closure warning arrives

Prevention:

Monthly quick check
Payment confirmations
Statement reviews
Calendar reminders

Mistake 2: Overcomplicating

The Problem:

Too many moving parts
Forgotten assignments
Missed payments
Stressed management

The Solution:

Keep it simple
One charge per card
Same day payments
Clear documentation

Mistake 3: The Zero Balance

Why It’s Bad:

No statement generates
Appears inactive
Closure risk high
No history building

Better Approach:

Always small balance
Let statement generate
Pay after statement
Shows activity

Tracking Systems That Work

Simple Spreadsheet

Essential Columns:

Card name
Subscription assigned
Monthly amount
Last activity date
Next review date

Monthly Routine:

First Monday: Check all
Log activity
Verify charges
Note issues

Digital Tools

Mint/Banking Apps:

See all accounts
Track activity
Get alerts
Spot problems

Calendar Integration:

Monthly review reminder
Annual fee dates
Subscription renewals
Card anniversaries

The Backup System

Email Filters:

Statement notifications
Payment confirmations
Separate folder
Easy verification

Physical Backup:

Printed matrix
Wallet card
Emergency reference
Update quarterly

Maximizing Benefits

Strategic Spending

Beyond Minimum Activity:

Bonus categories
Promotional offers
Welcome bonuses
Referral rewards

Quarterly Optimization:

Review rewards
Adjust spending
Maximize returns
Stay flexible

The Upgrade Path

When to Product Change:

Annual fee coming
Better card available
Needs changed
Keep account history

How to Execute:

Call before fee
Request product change
Keep same account
No credit check

Recovery Strategies

If Card Gets Closed

Immediate Actions:

Call retention
Explain situation
Request reinstatement
Often successful

If Reinstatement Fails:

Accept the loss
Adjust strategy
Don’t panic
Learn lesson

Preventing Future Closures

Enhanced Monitoring:

Set phone alerts
Use all cards quarterly
Review more frequently
Stay proactive

Your Implementation Checklist

This Week

This Month

Ongoing

The Long-Term Payoff

What This System Achieves

Credit Score Impact:

Preserved history
Active accounts
Low utilization
Thick file

Financial Benefits:

All cards available
Rewards maximized
Emergency access
Relationship maintained

Peace of Mind:

No surprise closures
System runs itself
Minimal time investment
Maximum protection

Final Thoughts

That closed card taught me that credit building isn’t just about acquiring cards—it’s about keeping them alive. The One Purchase Rule transformed my chaotic wallet into a well-oiled credit machine.

Twelve cards, twelve small subscriptions, zero debt, zero closures. The system takes 20 minutes monthly but protects years of credit history. Your future self will thank you for preserving every account.

Remember: Banks want active customers, not card collectors. Show them you’re using their product, and they’ll keep your account open forever. One small purchase monthly is all it takes to protect your credit history and keep every option available.

Master the system once, benefit for life. Your credit cards should work for you, not stress you out. The One Purchase Rule makes that possible.