You don’t have to make big purchases; small purchases will suffice. You just want to show the bank you are using your card. And while making a charge once or twice a month doesn’t guarantee the bank won’t reduce your credit limit or close your account, it does greatly reduce the risk.
There is no standard time frame for when issuers close accounts for inactivity, as they each have their own set of rules.
Some could be shut down after just a few months, and some after a year. The simple way to prevent this is to periodically make small charges on all your credit cards.
: How to avoid red flags with credit card issuers
Bottom line
Once you receive the welcome bonus on a credit card, you may want to immediately move on to a new card so you can earn another welcome bonus. While you may use that first credit card less often, it’s imperative to keep your account active.
Thankfully, you don’t need to use your card frequently or for large purchases. You can drastically reduce how much you use a credit card, but you shouldn’t completely stop using it.
: TPG’s 10 commandments of credit card rewards