Splitting the difference:

the Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card, paying 2 percent on all purchases. Its hook? Money is deposited into an eligible Fidelity Investments account (or up to five) including brokerage, retirement, 529 college savings, and even a friend’s or relative’s account. You need some computer savvy to track the online money flow.

As your cards proliferate, you may need (as Ramm does) to put notations in marker or sticky tape on the back of each to keep the incentives straight.

The free Citi Costco Anywhere card earns 4 percent cash back on the first $7,000 in gas purchases, 3 percent on restaurant and travel charges, 2 percent at Costco/Costco.com. Everything else is 1 percent.

American Express Blue Cash Everyday (its no-fee card) offers 2 percent back on grocery bills totaling up to $6,000 annually. (Superstores such as Walmart and Target don’t qualify.) Gas is 2 percent back, everything else 1 percent.

The AMEX Blue Cash Preferred card raises the grocery kickback to 6 percent and does 3 percent at select department stores and gas stations, but costs $95 annually.

Chase Freedom Visa, another freebie, offers 5 percent back on up to $1,500 spent in a category that changes each quarter.

We’ve heard of people going around the world on the bonus miles from travel-centric charge cards.

The free BankAmericard Travel Rewards Visa card offers new customers 20,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days. The free Discover It Miles calculates 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases, with miles doubling the first year of use.

Among cards with fees, Kiplinger is high on Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard, delivering 50,000 bonus miles when you’ve spent $3,000 on the card in the first 90 days, with its $89 annual fee waived the first year. The newsletter also touts the Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa, which comes with a 50,000-point signing bonus when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. Chase calculates 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining.

Travel rewards: