Decluttering Log: Are 6 Cards Too Many? My Declaration to Downsize My Credit Cards to the Japanese Average of 3 (Part 1)

I realized my wallet was bursting at the seams.

Wait, when was the last time I even used this card?

As I stared at the bulging pockets of my wallet, I suddenly stopped in my tracks. I have a total of 6 cards in my possession.

Because I get 5,000 points for signing up, or because this card offers the best deals when shopping at this store.

Using these kinds of excuses about being 'thrifty' or 'convenient' at the time, I added one card after another. I used to believe without a doubt that this was the choice of a 'smart consumer'.

But what is the reality?

Multiple statements arriving at different times every month. The time spent jumping back and forth between several apps just to keep track of which card I used for what. And the points that have partially accumulated only to expire before I knew it.

Perhaps I have been imposing a revolving payment of sorts, in the name of 'savings,' on my own brain.

The Japanese average is 3. I have 'double' that amount.

How many credit cards do you have? That's not a conversation you usually have in daily life. So, I never had a reason to realize that I was 'holding too many'.

When I looked it up out of curiosity, I found that the average number of credit cards held by Japanese people is about 3. Meanwhile, I have 6 cards in my hand.

...Exactly double the average.

Seeing that double score right in front of me, I couldn't help but smile bitterly. Why did I end up at the forefront of 'card ownership' like this?

Looking back, the reason was actually quite simple.

• The sweet trap called 'sign-up bonuses'

• The lock-in effect of 'store-specific' cards

• The groundless anxiety of needing a 'backup for my backup'

Adding just one more card is no big deal. That accumulation was slowly but surely putting pressure on my capacity for management.

The number 6 is, so to speak, a resume of my indecisiveness. It seems the time has come to restructure this resume, which has ballooned to double the average, down to an elite 3.

Three reasons why I decided to 'downsize'

There are three main reasons why I have sincerely decided, 'Three is enough. Actually, three is better.'

1. The 'management complexity' that occupies brain memory

First, it is simply 'a hassle.' With six cards, each has a different payment date. Checking the bank balance and worrying about whether there is enough money in the account—this small 'verification task' has been draining my brain energy more than I expected as it piles up.

2. The hidden loss of 'fragmented' points

By using different cards for different stores, I might have gained a few points. But what was the result? I ended up with 'half-baked points on every card that don't reach the minimum exchange threshold.' I regret that if I had consolidated them in one place, I could have used them more meaningfully by now.

3. Managing the 'risk' of carrying them around

Beyond the physical thickness of my wallet, what scares me is losing them. If I lost my wallet, I would have to call all six companies and go through the procedures to suspend usage... Just thinking about it makes me shudder. The cards I held onto for 'just in case' were actually the cause of deepening the despair of a 'just in case' scenario.

The hurdles to smoothly reaching 'three cards'

Although I was enthusiastic, saying, 'Alright, I'll stick to three cards starting today!', when I actually opened my wallet and lined up the cards, my hands stopped.

There are several 'troublesome walls' that must be overcome to declutter credit cards.

• The selection criteria: How to choose the 'elite three'? Is it the point return rate, the incidental services, or trust? I have to decide on my own evaluation criteria.

• The high hurdle of the 'relocation work' for fixed costs Utility bills, mobile phone charges, subscriptions... The tedious task of changing the registration for all of these. And the psychological pressure of wondering, 'What if I forgot even one?'

• The 'timing of cancellation' and the exit strategy for points It is a battle with the 'waste-not mentality' of thinking, 'I could exchange them if I just saved 500 more points...'

To reach the ideal 'three cards,' it seems that a 'strategy' to clear these issues one by one is necessary, rather than just relying on momentum.

With a minimal wallet, my thoughts become lighter too

Reducing credit cards. That is not just about physically disposing of plastic cards.

I feel that this is a process of redefining my own priorities regarding what services are truly necessary for me.

I want to graduate from passive choices like "it seems like a good deal" and shift toward active choices where I can say, "My life runs because of this."

Once I am freed from the complexity of managing them, my wallet—and my mind, which has been feeling stuffed—should feel much lighter than it does now.

Which three will I keep, and which three will I say goodbye to? In the next article, I will share the details of my "Main Card Selection Meeting," which is about to begin.

How many cards are currently sleeping in your wallet? If you feel like it's "a bit heavy," just like I do, why not aim for a lighter future together?

Next time: My "Ultimate 3" selection meeting will be held.

The card restructuring plan has finally begun. In the next installment (Part 2), I will thoroughly score the six cards I currently own.

I will be releasing Part 2 as a "paid article" because it will contain very specific and realistic strategies, such as the non-negotiable "Google Pay support" barrier for an Android user like me, and how to distinguish between the Sumitomo Mitsui duo, which many people likely struggle with.

Was I able to narrow it down to the average of three?
What are the "new starting lineup" cards I finally selected? Please look forward to Part 2, which is packed with tips to dramatically lighten your wallet!

Thank you for reading until the end.