Don’t apply for the second card for at least 6 months, give some time for credit history to be built (This rule applies only for the “second” card, not after that). Cards with annual fees usually don’t make any sense except maybe for the first year when they don’t charge an annual fee (Disclaimer: I don’t own a Starwood Preferred Guest card - which a lot of people recommend is good, I think people who travel a lot and have a family will probably find it to be good). Time the new card with the purchases in life - e.g.