First Credit Card - Recommendation
Need Credit Card Recommendations Based on My Spending Pattern
Current CIBIL: 785
Age: 24
Monthly Income & Employment Status:
Salaried Employee – ₹40k/month (~₹35k in hand)
Monthly Expenses & Spending Patterns:
Approx monthly spending: ₹15k–₹20k/month
Top 5 Monthly Spend Categories:
• Fuel – ₹7,200–₹8,000/month
• Grocery – ₹1,000/month
• Dining/Food Delivery – ₹1,000–₹2,000/month
• Shopping – ₹5,000/month
• Bills/Utilities/Travel – ₹3,000–₹4,000/month
Estimated monthly total from above categories:
• Minimum: ₹17,200
• Maximum: ₹20,000
• Average: ~₹18,600/month
Top 5 Annual Spend Categories:
• Travel – ₹60k/year - Frequent
• Electronics – ₹40k (recurring every 3–5 years)
• Shopping/Festive purchases – ₹5k (rare/non-recurring)
• Music instruments – ₹50k/5y (Rare, Non-recurring)
• Other – ₹10k/year
Preferences for Credit Card Features:
• Low/zero annual fee preferred
• Good reward rate
• Fuel benefits
Reward Preference:
Cashback or Reward Points – Either
Lounge Access Required:
Okay with either, not a frequent flyer
Other Special Needs:
• Existing cards: None
• Looking for a Lifetime Free card
• Fuel-focused
• Beginner card
Additional Context: I’m a Data Analyst fresher with little experience using credit cards and looking for my first card. SBI is currently offering me a ₹2L limit, and I’d prefer a limit around that since large purchases can consume available credit.
Major expenses:
• Gym membership – ₹20k/year
• Instruments – ₹50–60k (rare purchases)
• Tech (phone, smartwatch, headphones, etc.) – ₹70k–₹1L every 3–5 years
Apart from this, I pay my education loan EMI monthly, around 20k every month and invest ₹5k–₹7k in mutual funds.
Music related expenses are mostly rare or once in a lifetime purchases - Planning to buy 60-70k around instruments this year, and then none for upcoming 3-5 years since I own a lot of instruments already.
Please suggest the best cards based on rewards/value, fuel benefits and other important things I should look out for, in a card.