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what credit cards do you use (for rewards)

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Using a Chase Freedom. I get 1-5% cash back up to a certain amount every 3 month period, and the types of places I get higher rewards at rotate during those 3 month periods. It's a pretty good card. No annual fees, and I usually pull in $50 cash back every other month.
 
Svnla said:
Hummm, pretty niffy for ZERO annual fee and 2% cashback on everything and no limit. Feel free to name a better card with similar or better benefits and zero annual fee. You can't compare it with cards with annual fee such as AmEx black card and such.

I don't understand your second comment.
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most cards do 1% on everything and 3-5% on popular categories like gas.
most cards do not have annual fees.
 
Svnla said:
Here are the benefits of a Visa Signature card. Pretty niffy and no cost.

http://usa.visa.com/personal/visa-signature/benefits/index.jsp



If it is 18K, then you "should" be in the Signature program. Maybe they are cutting back because of all the new CC regulations and restrictions from Congress.
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3 different rewards programs. The 2nd was for travel points, etc.(not interested in that). Of course, when I get on the phone with the rep I have 3 customers come in and the other line starts ringing. The short of it appears to not be any downside/cost.

Thanks.
 
BlahBlahYouToo said:
most cards do 1% on everything and 3-5% on popular categories like gas.
most cards do not have annual fees.
Click to expand...

Ok, but do your cards give you 2% on everything, no limit, pay the cashback every month, and you don't have to remember to "enroll" to get the extra 3-5% for "rotating" categories? Some of the "extra/bonus" categories are useless to me such as home improvement (I don't own a home yet). I rather get a solid 2% across the board, every month. And I rather get cold hard cash instead of points or miles, but that is me.

HybridSquirrel said:
a student with a +5k credit limit?
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I mean as a person who continous studying finance/CC/investments/etc. and not as traditional "student" that still in college. I am done with school a few years back.

highland145 said:
Tight wad. I shall subscribe to your news letter.
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Confucious says "Frugal and being financial educated are enlighment for your life" , my young grass hopper...heheheheheh. (don't jump on me, I just made it up).

For those that are interest, I made a nice thread a few months back about credit cards and credit scores and how to do it the right way. Search it and you shall see it.
 
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Amex Blue Cash is what I use as much as possible (1.25% back on everything, 5% on gas and groceries) and then I'll get a Chase Freedom in a month or two for places where Amex isn't accepted.
 
rcpratt said:
Just my USAA card. It's pretty much straight 1% back, but it's really convenient and not really worth it to me with how little I spend right now. 1% might be $10/mo to me on average.
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Are you sure it's 1% back? Might want to read the fine print.

Plus USAA only pays the rewards once a year. Most cards pay it within 3 months.

I use USAA for damn near everything, but their CC takes a back seat to Discover or Chase.

I get 1, 5, or even 20% back with my Discover card.

1% on all purchases,
5% on the "special categories" that change every month, when it's gas or groceries its awesome.
5-20% using the "Shop Discover" links, bought my lappy from TigerDirect through them and got 10% back.
 
Citi Dividend that I rarely use anymore cause it's nerfed.
Amex Blue Cash for 5% on groceries/gas and it seems to have rotating 5% like the chase freedom these days (I signed up recently for 5% on home improvement stuff)
My wife has a chase freedom which has 5% rotating.
I want to get one more card though and I can't decide between getting my own chase freedom for the $150 cash back after spending $500 or the citi forward which would give me 5% on all dining and amazon purchases (which I make plenty of). I'm kind of leaning towards the citi but I still have a bad taste in my mouth after they nerfed the dividend card so much. If I got the citi forward and the day after they stopped giving 5% on amazon it would be a total waste for me. Also citi's website seems to always have problems displaying correctly on Chrome which drives me nuts.
 
Svnla said:
Ok, but do your cards give you 2% on everything, no limit, and you don't have to remember to "enroll" to get the extra 3-5% for "rotating" categories? Some of the "extra/bonus" categories are useless to me such as home improvement (I don't own a home yet). I rather get a solid 2% across the board, every month.
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3% is all the time on gas, groceries, drugstores, no need to enroll. gas + groceries are the bulk of the expenses for most people, outside of housing.

for other purchases, i'll use specific cards and since most of my online shopping is done at amazon, my amazon card covers almost all of my cc needs.

the 2% is nice, and if it fits your spending habits, then that's great.
i'm just looking for some perks that i might not know of. gas used to be 5% on citi dividends but not anymore, so im interested in seeing if someone has a 5% cash back gas card.
 
I found the PSA Credit Cards thread.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2136139&highlight=

Ya'll are welcome 🙂

BlahBlahYouToo said:
3% is all the time on gas, groceries, drugstores, no need to enroll. gas + groceries are the bulk of the expenses for most people, outside of housing.

for other purchases, i'll use specific cards and since most of my online shopping is done at amazon, my amazon card covers almost all of my cc needs.

the 2% is nice, and if it fits your spending habits, then that's great.
i'm just looking for some perks that i might not know of. gas used to be 5% on citi dividends but not anymore, so im interested in seeing if someone has a 5% cash back gas card.
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Maybe it is for your CC but for Chase, I have to remember to enroll each quarter for their 5% rotating categories. Gas, I don't drive much, only 10 miles round trip for work per day. Groceries, I don't have a big family so no big expense there. Drugstores, I don't remember the last time I shop there, too high mark up IMO.

Like I said, the Schwab/FIA Visa Signature CC is pretty good to me (plus the no cost benefits are icing on the cake) for the last few years and I will stay with it until something better comes along.
 
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BlahBlahYouToo said:
1. citi dividends - used to use it for almost everything for 3% on groceries, gas and drugstores.
they dropped everything to 1% and the limit is $300 back a year so it rarely gets used now.

2. chase amazon - replaced the card above. 3% on same categories + amazon purchases
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Unless they changed the plan recently and old timers got to keep their old plans, the Chase Amazon card is 3% on Amazon purchases, 2% on gas, dining, and drugstores, and 1% on everything else. I just got mine about a month ago to replace my Chase Rewards Debit card program, since they are axing it.
 
IndyColtsFan said:
Unless they changed the plan recently and old timers got to keep their old plans, the Chase Amazon card is 3% on Amazon purchases, 2% on gas, dining, and drugstores, and 1% on everything else. I just got mine about a month ago to replace my Chase Rewards Debit card program, since they are axing it.
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Yeah I was going to say the same thing.

Probably a noob question, but does fast food fall under the restaurant category?
 
Train said:
Are you sure it's 1% back? Might want to read the fine print.

Plus USAA only pays the rewards once a year. Most cards pay it within 3 months.

I use USAA for damn near everything, but their CC takes a back seat to Discover or Chase.

I get 1, 5, or even 20% back with my Discover card.

1% on all purchases,
5% on the "special categories" that change every month, when it's gas or groceries its awesome.
5-20% using the "Shop Discover" links, bought my lappy from TigerDirect through them and got 10% back.
Click to expand...
Technically it's like 0.83%, I just felt like rounding up. That's not how mine works though. I just get points dollar for dollar and then buy $25 reward for 3000 points.

I probably should look into an Amex, Visa Sig, or Chase Freedom or something, though. I'm sure I could qualify for some pretty good cards. I only have that one card with an $18k limit.
 
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Svnla said:
I found the PSA Credit Cards thread.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2136139&highlight=

Ya'll are welcome 🙂



Maybe it is for your CC but for Chase, I have to remember to enroll each quarter for their 5% rotating categories. Gas, I don't drive much, only 10 miles round trip for work per day. Groceries, I don't have a big family so no big expense there. Drugstores, I don't remember the last time I shop there, too high mark up IMO.

Like I said, the Schwab/FIA Visa Signature CC is pretty good to me (plus the no cost benefits are icing on the cake) for the last few years and I will stay with it until something better comes along.
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Is there any CC that's similar to yours?
 
Random financial question:

I currently have 3 credit cards total:
1. Bank of America credit card that was given to me when I signed up for overdraft protection. This was the first CC I got. (I didn't even realize what it was, I was in college).
2. Bank of America VC Platinum card. No rewards.
3. Chase Freedom. 5% back on certain categories each quarter, 1% on all else.

I currently use the Chase Freedom card for everything. I get around $50 back every other month.

My credit is good... Around 765. I have no need for the 2 bank of america cards. Would my credit take a large ding if I cancelled those 2 cards, and activated a new card? How long would the ding last? The only reason I want them closed is because they aren't used. Or I could keep them open if it would help my credit (long lasting account). I have no debt FWIW.
 
IndyColtsFan said:
Unless they changed the plan recently and old timers got to keep their old plans, the Chase Amazon card is 3% on Amazon purchases, 2% on gas, dining, and drugstores, and 1% on everything else. I just got mine about a month ago to replace my Chase Rewards Debit card program, since they are axing it.
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it appears you are correct and i am not.
 
Keep them open. Nothing to be gained by closing them. Use each card at least once every 3-6 months so the issuer doesn't close them. Keeping them open helps keep your "average age" of accounts high, which is good for your score.

Apply for a new card if you want, but keep the current ones open.
 
kranky said:
Keep them open. Nothing to be gained by closing them. Use each card at least once every 3-6 months so the issuer doesn't close them. Keeping them open helps keep your "average age" of accounts high, which is good for your score.

Apply for a new card if you want, but keep the current ones open.
Click to expand...

Thank you.
 
Chase Best Buy Reward Zone
MBNA Shoppers Optimum

I also have a stash of unactivated CIBC Dividend cards (escalates from 0.25% to 1% as you spend more).
 
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