I'm looking for feedback on what people use as an everyday spend card (when not working towards a spend bonus). I fully realize the value in sign-up bonuses and take advantage of them as frequently as i am comfortable with, as well as category bonuses (e.g. Freedom quarterly bonuses). However, since I do not churn as frequently as others, I am trying to optimize my other spend. Not a huge spender, but everything other than rent and car pmt goes on a card.

After years of watching my point/mile balances (DL, UA, MR, UR, SPG, Diners) rise (from spend, bonuses, and travel) and being unable to find resumptions that were worth using miles (to the point that paying with points was a better deal) I gave up and moved to cash back cards figuring if I can't find awards that work for me why keep accruing in a currency that likely will be devalued I might as well take cash.

Given my situation, my personal travel has generally been quite restricted and inflexible to the point i was always in the most expensive redemption tier which never seemed worth it. That said, as things have started to change, I've begun to use the value in some aspirational travel (recently booking a business/first transpac award (Granted the award was 1C/pt compared to the coach ticket but I realized I would have ended up buying the business class ticket making it more than 4c/pt)) and that my situation is changing to allow for greater flexibility in personal travel (where I can actually shift a day or two to make things work, or have longer lead times).

My question is, where do you put your non-bonus driven spend? And is it worth it to place that spend on a points card or a cash back card?

Presently I use the Fidelity 2% AMEX for everything other than groceries/gas (AMEC BCP), dining out/amazon (Citi forward), and chase freedom (5% category bonuses or really small purchases for 10/10). Looking over the last 6 or so months this is yielding around 3% blended, which i think could be improved slightly. My spend is primarily dining out (~40% of spend), little gas (<1 fill/mo), ~10% in grocery/mo., and the rest is general shopping (e.g. amazon, other retailers, and travel) and bill pay (where i find value in 2% general card, since non-category spend is about 50% of total spend)

I see a few options that may yield better long term rewards, however, since its driven by spend I would think I would be better off concentrating on one program which could be augmented with bonuses. Below are the options I see:

1) Focus on UA. Primarily through UR earning defaulting to freedom and using the CSP for category spend. Keeps an option for cash (lower earn rate than present), flexibility to use pay with points at 25% discount, or move transfer to a travel partner. Could augment with the UA club card (i seem to see a first year free offer from time to time) and earn 1.5/UA per general $. Historically I've been a DL guy, but having moved to SFO last year, I'm finding it really hard to keep flying DL, and the club card with the premier access might help make the transition to UA smoother.

2) SPG card. Great card, I'm an SPG guy so I keep it for SPG spend. Downside is time it takes for mile transfers to go. and Since UA is not a good transfer partner, always the chance orphan miles may occur. Otherwise, could just concentrate on SPG awards and leave the flights to bonuses.

3) MR: switch the BCP to PRG card for 2x on groceries and 3x on gas. Would have to make a large effort to hit the $30k for bonus points (iffy) on all spend. Upside, would combine with current Plat for benefits. Downside, MR points seem to be loosing their value (although they came in handy this last award), no good cash equivalent, and I don't need any more skypesos so I would need a good award using MR points (although BA may be a good transfer option). I also feel that MR cards are more difficult to churn for bonuses.

4) Citi TYP: forget trying to go for mileage rewards and pair the forward with the premier card for pay with points at a 33% discount on discounted fares. plus, with a good portion of my spend in dining and amazon the 5x earn makes this ~6.6% reward for a good chunk of my spend (will hit the 75k annual limit), and 2.6% on all other spend (since I can make the flight miles work). This option will be likely be the last (other than cash) to get me international premium but may be good for the domestic elite qualifying awards.

5) Stay where I am and take the cash. Potentially swapping the forward card for the US Bank Cash + to make the dining reward straight cash.

Any thoughts?