$360 per calendar year - $360 this year and $360 more next year before the second annual fee hits, then cancel the card. Plus the $250 sign up bonus, minus the $75 annual fee.

I actually think the suggestion on Amex blue cash card with annual fee is a great one.This
could be a keeper for the OP in the long run, in case he decides not to bother with new cards anymore. It could be worth the annual fee , with how much he spends on groceries and gas. BTW, the offer should be found on www.creditcards.com, not sure
if anyone mentioned it. Click on "offers matched to you". I have looked at this card, but we shop at Walmart, and I think they code it as discount store. I wish the sign up bonus
was a bit higher, so I will pass for now.

Ah...yes, that's why they call me "newbie"...

Makes sense now. Thanks.

I don't like any mile credit card ,well ,the only one i applied for airlines card is sw .The rest of my card all of they are cash back card .even some reward me as "point" .I　love the real cash back card

All due respect, you're in the wrong place, then.

I agree that before you get in this game, you need to have a GOAL of what you want to do - be it international first and/or business class, train trip across the country, whatever - to justify this. That way you will also have more skin in the game and be willing to continue pursuing this. Generally it is the premium redemptions that have the better "value", but most people wouldn't pay the premium prices for, say, first class.

I'm not that familiar with the card, but I assume it is:

$250 signup bonus
$360 calendar year 2013 bonus (6000 x 6%)
$360 calendary year 2014 bonus before annual fee date
Less
$75 annual fee

equals $895

I really appreciate everyone's help. To clarify for a couple of the points :
1.) I have an Xterra, and I drive quite a bit (CT to VT, MA, NH) so $500+ per month on gas is pretty common for me. My wife drives to MA a lot too, so her car gets around a tank a week, so maybe she is around oh $200 a month in gas. I also have motorcycles and dirtbikes (that gas is more $$) so it is pretty easy to cash out 1k in gas alone per month.
2.) Yes I am buying groceries for a family, so that is something like $100 a week or so.
3.) we go out to eat, and that can be expensive, so at $50 a pop say, if we go out like four-six times, that is $250.
4.) So you add it all up, a couple car repairs or a new dishwasher, and whammo, $2k per month.

That being said : I am not interested in upgraded travel. First class is nice but I don't care. I would rather be able to travel for free, so if I can bank enough points somehow to take the family to Disney one year, or on a cruise, or go to the Great Wall of China, or Bali, or Australia, or a Safari, or the Pyramids, or Antarctica, whatever ! I don't care if I go in a cargo crate to end up in the Galapagos.

So I guess I should aim for what most of you are saying : high rate of return on the cards. It sounds like I need to pick some rewards I can attain easily (like the 3k in three months) and get those. Then I guess cancel them ? What happens to your points when you cancel ?

Also if you have so many cards, how do you get the points to go to one trip ? Can you cash in like Sapphire, Blue, etc etc all towards one trip ?

Those are the confusing parts for me - the whole how to cancel and keep the points and somehow tie them into another reward account, or whatever - when it comes time to actually redeem your trip, and you have points all over the place ?

It sounds, like we have very similar travel goals. I also don't care about first class et cetera. The cards , I suggested :Chase Sapphire preferred and Barclay's Arrival should
be a good fit for you to start with. Since you have a family, like we do, I think the best
transfer options for Chase card are Southwest and British airways, depending on your home airport. Both transfers are instant, you would have to get accounts in respective programs. Southwest is great, since you are guaranteed availability with your points.the pricing in points depends on times of travel. British airways has some amazing deals
on short distance flights at 4500 to 7500 miles per flight, but availability is not certain.
But BA miles can go a along way with the family.You can book for others from your account.
Whats nice , you can check availability, before transferring from Chase card. Barclay's
card 40000 points can be redeemed for 400 off any type of travel, charged to the card:
cruise, flights, hotels.Its that simple, no transfers to other programs. As far as canceling
card, its suggested to do it after 6 months or longer. However, seeing how much you spend on gas, you may want to hang on to CSP card and get Chase Freedom card 6
months later or so. The reason is Freedom give 5 percent back on gas usually every other quarter of the year and some other bonus categories as well. You can combine the points between the 2 cards and transfer them to Southwest or British airways or whatever. Also, the points transferred to other programs from Chase are safe, even if
you cancel the card. Barclays points would have to be redeemed, before canceling.As I
said before, signing up for new cards, few at a time is usually the most lucrative.For
example: just in the last year alone we got around 800000 different points, mostly miles
or cash back(20000 points equal 200 dollars). We got it going from one card to the next. Thats actually small compared to most people here, but I am quite happy. Our spend is 1600-2000 and I did no manufactured spend at all, just normal expenses. Its absolutely
doable, but be careful and start slow. don't get caught up in hoarding points with no plan to use them. I have a plan for most of them, I really hate hoarding of any kind just for
the sake of it. Hope it helps.

P.S. British airways miles can be redeemed on American Airlines flights, especially
good if you live near AA hub and can take a nonstop flight. just wanted to clarify, in case
you were not familiar with their program.