How this 30-year-old manages 35 credit cards and earns free flights

While the average American has four credit cards, the Wallers once had 47 cards. In the past several years, he’s decreased the number of cards they have to 35. But how does he decide when to close a card?

Initially, it depends on whether the card has an annual fee. If the card has no annual fee, Waller keeps it open since it helps with the average age of his credit history and his utilization rate. If there’s an annual fee, things get a bit more complicated.

“If the card has an annual fee, I usually evaluate the card when the annual fee posts. When the fee outweighs the benefits, I will call for a retention offer to see if I can get more points or the annual fee waived again,” Waller says.

If he doesn’t receive a retention offer, Waller takes one of three actions: He cancels the card, changes the card to another one he wants, or pays the fee when the rewards benefits outweigh the cost. This can be a lot of work for the average cardholder, but for maximizers like Waller, it’s all part of the fun.

“I like numbers,” he says. “It’s a puzzle, so being able to piece together that puzzle and figure out how you can travel to another destination in the world for a fraction of the cost is pretty awesome.”

In addition to maximizing credit cards for personal gain, Waller helps family and friends benefit from credit card rewards. He recently flew his wife’s aunt on her points to Hawaii for no out-of-pocket cost.

“Family and friends see the pay off in it, and they’re starting to buy into it,” Waller says. “It’s really good to help people travel.”

Information about the Uber Visa Card and Chase Freedom® has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

*The 40,000 point welcome bonus is no longer available. Please see the issuer’s site for the current offer.