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Here's a tailored strategy for managing your credit card portfolio effectively without hurting your credit score too much, along with specific advice on which cards to keep or close:

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1. Considerations Before Closing Cards

Closing credit cards can impact your credit score in two ways:

• Credit Utilization: Closing cards reduces your total available credit, potentially increasing your utilization ratio if you carry balances on other cards.
• Average Account Age: Closing newer accounts may help improve your average account age, but their history will still appear on your credit report for up to 10 years.

Given your situation, focus on cards with annual fees you’re not using, low limits, or overlap in benefits.

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2. Addressing the 5/24 Rule

The Chase 5/24 rule limits Chase card approvals to applicants who have opened fewer than five credit cards in the past 24 months. Waiting until you fall under 5/24 is wise if you’re planning to apply for Chase cards. However, closing cards won’t speed up the 5/24 count since that’s based on openings, not closings. If you want Chase cards, just let time pass.

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3. Categorizing Your Cards

Here’s a breakdown based on your specific cards and circumstances:

Keep (✅)

1. Discover It 1 (3 years, $4k limit):

   • Oldest card, which boosts your credit age. Keep.

2. Citi Double Cash (2 years, $1.6k limit):

   • Solid 2% cashback option. Keep unless Synchrony’s flat 2% becomes your primary card.

3. Discover It 2 (1 year, $4k limit):

   • No annual fee and decent limit. Keep unless the overlap with Discover 1 is unnecessary.

4. PayPal Mastercard (1 year, $10k limit):

   • High limit helps credit utilization. Keep if you use PayPal often.

5. BofA CCR (1 year, $1k limit):

   • BoA CCR offers strong cash-back categories if you use it strategically. Keep if you benefit from BoA’s Preferred Rewards program.

6. Apple Card (1 year, $5k limit):

   • Keep if you use Apple Pay frequently or need the 3% Apple purchases cashback.

7. Citi Costco Visa (9 months, $6k limit):

   • Great for Costco shoppers and gas rewards. Keep.

8. Synchrony 2% Flat Card (8 months, $10k limit):

   • Valuable no-frills 2% cashback. Keep.

9. Venmo Visa (6 months, $2.7k limit):

   • Keep if the 3% bonus categories (e.g., dining, transit) align with your spending habits.

10. Capital One SavorOne (6 months, $1k limit):

    • Excellent for dining and entertainment rewards with no annual fee. Keep.

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Consider Closing (❌)

1. FNBO Getaway (2 years, $2.6k limit):

   • Overlap with better rewards cards like the SavorOne. Close if the limit isn’t crucial for your utilization.

2. PayPal Credit (1 year, $5.6k limit):

   • If you’re not actively using this, it may not be worth keeping. Monitor PayPal-specific use before deciding.

3. BofA Unlimited (1 year, $1k limit):

   • Low limit and potential overlap with CCR. Close if you don’t benefit from BoA rewards.

4. Walgreens & JC Penney Cards (7 months):

   • Store cards with limited utility. Closing after they reach the 1-year mark is a good idea unless you heavily shop there.

5. Fidelity Visa (7 months, $500 limit):

   • The low limit doesn’t help utilization. Close unless you actively use it for cash-back contributions to Fidelity accounts.

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4. Action Plan

• Focus on High-Value Cards: Prioritize cards with good cashback/reward rates or that align with your spending patterns.
• Close Strategically:
  • Wait until cards reach at least 1 year to avoid early account closure penalties or negative flags.
  • Close cards with low limits, overlap, or low rewards.
  • Do not close too many at once—space out closures over several months to minimize credit score impact.
• Monitor Utilization: Keep utilization below 30% across all remaining cards. Having high-limit cards like the PayPal Mastercard and Synchrony flat 2% helps with this.
• Check for Annual Fees: Ensure no fees are accruing on cards you don’t actively use.

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5. Long-Term Strategy

• Use fewer cards actively to simplify tracking and payments.
• If aiming for Chase cards, focus on timing and spacing applications to fall under the 5/24 rule.
• Build an emergency fund and avoid carrying balances to maximize your card benefits without financial strain.

By closing the less useful cards and focusing on high-value ones, you'll simplify your finances while minimizing the impact on your credit score.