1: What offers are the best for someone who is more interested in cash than a free vacation?
Get Old Blue from Amex and the serve card you have will get you 2k a year in cash - 2.5k a year if the target near you books as a grocery store with AMEX
2: Is it a good idea to cancel these cards right after receiving the sign up bonus?
Typically NO sometimes they scratch back rewards. Just cancel it a month or so before you have to pay an annual fee. if there is no fee keep it.
3: Many of the bank rewards require a direct deposit. What's the easiest way to fulfill these without pissing off your employer?
NO idea
4: I've got a 770 credit score and spend about $500/month on my credit cards. Today I got the ball rolling on the TD Bank card with $200 credit after $500 in spending during first 3 months. Any recommendations on some next steps?
you can get any card you want i recommond Old blue for cash purposes. Or the wells fargo card
5: What are the best tricks to spend more on CCs without being a consumerist sucka? I signed up for Serve, but it looks like that bus is leaving next month. Is Redcard worth the trouble? Also, do store specific gift cards count as purchases?
If you have an AMEX go to your target and see if it shows up on your statement as grocery. if it does then switch if not serve will work great for old blue
Old blue link
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1535970-old-amex-blue-2013-2014-a.htmlHow to load serve:
Go to CVS and get the vanilla reloads $500
Go to Family dollar and load your serve card with vanilla reload
500 per day limit
5k per month limit
56.5k per year limit
NOTE : the 56.5k/year is a limit on old blue not the serve card. that would be 60k/year