Controversial opinion incoming: I voluntarily downgraded from HDFC Infinia to Regalia and it was the right decision for me. Here's why.
Sounds great right? So why downgrade?
I was optimizing spends instead of spending naturally.
This is a psychological trap. I was spending money I wouldn't have just to "maximize rewards."
Real example:
Bought ₹80K worth of Amazon vouchers through SmartBuy in March (to hit milestone before AF charge in April).
Did I need ₹80K in Amazon purchases? No.
Did I use all vouchers? Took me 8 months.
Why did I do it? Fear of losing the AF.
This is not healthy financial behavior.
Mental overhead was significant.
I have a demanding job. Spending hours monthly on credit card optimization felt wasteful.
Even with milestone, the AF creates pressure:
Months 1-9: "I'm at ₹6L spend, need ₹4L more"
Month 10: "Finally hit ₹10L! AF waived"
Month 11-12: "Should I keep spending or save for next year?"
This constant mental math is exhausting.
Regalia fee waiver is ₹3L. Much more achievable without stress.
₹20-24K annual benefit from Infinia.
Sounds good in spreadsheet.
But what's the opportunity cost?
Time spent optimizing: ~2 hours/month = 24 hours/year
Value of my time: ₹2000/hour (my hourly rate)
Opportunity cost: ₹48,000
I was earning ₹24K rewards while burning ₹48K worth of time.
The math doesn't work!
Am I willing to pay ₹9,600 for simplicity?
YES.
Processed in 1 week.
Kept same credit limit, card number changed.
Quality of Life: Significantly better.
Truth #1: Most people with Infinia don't need Infinia.
They wanted it for status, not utility.
Truth #2: The credit card game can become unhealthy.
When you're spending to earn rewards instead of earning rewards on spends you'd make anyway, you've lost the plot.
Truth #3: "Best credit card" is personal.
The spreadsheet optimal card might not be life optimal.
Truth #4: Mental peace has value.
Can't capture it in reward calculations but it's real.
Truth #5: Marketing works.
Infinia is positioned as "premium" so people want it even when they don't benefit from it.
I'm not saying Infinia is bad.
I'm saying it wasn't right for me.
Regalia is the "good enough" card. And good enough is perfect when the alternative creates stress.
I went from 98th percentile card to 90th percentile card.
And I'm happier.
Sometimes optimization is the opposite of optimal.
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AMA about the downgrade decision, Regalia experience, or credit card psychology!
Preparing for downvotes from the Infinia gang
Wow, this is the most honest credit card post I've ever read.
The "complexity tax" concept is brilliant.
Never thought about reward optimization in terms of time cost. But you're absolutely right.
That's insane time waste for marginal gains.
Going to reassess my card strategy now. Thanks for the perspective!
To credit score question (from my experience):
Downgraded 6 months ago. Here's what happened:
Credit limit: SAME (₹7L)
Credit score: No change (still 810)
CIBIL report: Shows as same account (continuous history)
Downgrade is NOT a new card application.
It's modification of existing card. No hard pull, no new account, no limit reduction.
Zero credit score impact.
Your credit history length, limit, everything stays same. Just card type changes.
So no worries there!
Hard disagree but respect your honesty.
The "optimization anxiety" is a you problem, not an Infinia problem.
I spend ₹35L annually and hit milestones naturally. Never "manufactured spend" once.
If you're spending hours monthly, you're doing it wrong.
Infinia is fire for people who use it properly.
But fair enough if it doesn't suit your lifestyle.
Different strokes for different folks.
The Diners acceptance point is underrated.
I carry 3 cards: Infinia (try first), Regalia (backup), Millennia (third option)
Carrying 3 cards defeats the purpose of "premium" card.
Thinking of doing same as OP. Get Regalia, ditch the complexity.
The "opportunity cost of time" calculation is flawed.
You can't just multiply hours by hourly rate. That's not how opportunity cost works.
It's not like you'd have earned ₹4K if you didn't spend that hour on credit cards.
The math doesn't work that way.
Otherwise all leisure time is "waste" by this logic.
To "downgrading is quitting":
No. Downgrading is conscious choice.
I learned the system, played the game, and decided it's not worth MY time.
That's not quitting. That's prioritizing.
Your value system: Maximize financial returns
My value system: Maximize life satisfaction
Both are valid!
But don't frame my choice as "failure to optimize."
I'm optimizing for different things than you.
Life satisfaction > 0.64% extra rewards.
Again: This is personal. Do what works for YOU.
I did the opposite journey: Regalia → Infinia.
And for me it was life-changing!
BUT my spend is ₹40L annually (business + personal).
At ₹15-20L spend, OP's decision makes sense.
At ₹40L spend, Infinia is no-brainer.
Spend level matters more than card features.
Below ₹25L: Regalia/Axis tier is optimal
Above ₹30L: Infinia/Magnus tier is optimal
OP is in the first bucket. His decision is mathematically sound.
Question: What about SmartBuy flight bookings?
That's where I get INSANE value from Infinia (10X on flights).
₹8L annual flights × 10X = 80K points = ₹26K value
How do you replicate this with Regalia (5X only)?
Losing ₹13K annually just on flights seems like a bad trade.
The "mental peace" argument resonates.
I have Amex Plat Charge (₹60K AF).
Theoretical benefits: ₹2L+
Actual usage: ₹40K maybe
This benefit-tracking becomes a second job.
Starting to think OP is right. Sometimes simpler is better.
Not everything in spreadsheet translates to real life.
To the SmartBuy flight question:
Fair point! Let me break down MY usage:
For me: ₹5K loss < Mental peace value
For you: ₹13K loss > Mental peace value
This is exactly my point!
For heavy travel (₹8L+), Infinia makes sense.
For moderate travel (₹3L), the math changes.
Your use case ≠ My use case.
Both decisions are correct for respective situations!
This post is dangerous for the credit card community.
Optimization is a SKILL. Worth developing.
Not everyone should give up because it feels "complex."
Learn it, master it, benefit from it.
Downgrading is quitting.
Underrated point from OP: "Good enough is perfect."
The optimization mindset can be applied infinitely.
But at some point, the marginal benefit < marginal effort.
OP found that point for credit cards.
Not everyone needs to squeeze every basis point of value.
Sometimes 90th percentile is more enjoyable than 98th percentile.
This is mature thinking. Respect.
To the opportunity cost critique:
Fair point on the math! But here's the thing:
Whether it's work hours or leisure hours, it's still TIME.
Even in leisure time, there's opportunity cost.
Not everything needs to be monetized but everything competes for same 24 hours.
I choose to spend those hours on literally anything else than credit card optimization.
That's my value system. Yours might differ!
Question for OP:
Do you think you'll regret this decision in 1-2 years?
When you see Infinia holders getting business class flights for points, will you have FOMO?
Genuine question!
To the FOMO question:
Excellent question! Here's my take:
Will I have FOMO? Maybe occasionally.
Will I regret it? No.
Here's why:
But the question is: Would I have those 60K points anyway?
I was never going to have enough points for business class redemptions anyway!
I don't do any of these.
So Infinia benefits I see others getting? I wasn't getting them anyway.
No point having a race car if you drive in city traffic.
Regalia suits my actual usage. Infinia was overkill.
FOMO is based on others' usage, not my reality.
Hope this answers it!
I'm doing this TODAY.
Have Infinia, spend ₹18L annually, same stress as OP.
INSTANT relief.
No more milestone anxiety. No more SmartBuy optimization. No more Diners acceptance checking.
Thanks OP for the courage to make this choice!
Sometimes the crowd is wrong about what's "optimal" for individuals.
One thing OP didn't mention: CREDIT SCORE IMPACT.
Downgrading = lower tier card = possible credit score dip
Also limit might get reduced?
Anyone know the impact?
Plot twist: What if you're BOTH right?
Infinia for wealth-building phase (20s-30s): Optimize every rupee
Regalia for wealth-enjoying phase (40s+): Simplify life
Maybe OP just transitioned life phases?
Different life stages = different priorities = different optimal cards.
Not everything is about "best card objectively."
Sometimes it's "best card for current life stage."
Food for thought!
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THANK YOU for posting this.
I've been feeling the same "milestone anxiety" with my Magnus but felt like I was crazy because everyone talks about how amazing premium cards are.
The "spending to hit milestone" trap is REAL.
Last month I bought ₹50K in gift vouchers I don't need just to hit ₹15L. That's ₹50K locked up for no reason!
This post gave me permission to downgrade.
Calling Axis tomorrow to move to Flipkart card. Simple 5% cashback > complicated points optimization.