What's a good credit card with rewards?

[D189379]

I've decided to try out one of the credit cards that have some sort of reward attached to them. (All the junkmail and TV propoganda may be getting to me) Like the ones with free travel points, or something like that. I don't use the cards I have at all, mainly because I don't have a reason too. I was looking at our budget and my wife and I probably spend about $1000 to $1500 a month on retail purchases. It makes a some sense for us to use a card and just pay the balance every month. (Assuming theres a worthwhile card out there)
Anyone have a card that they like and would recommend?

 

[Pablo]

Silly me. I dumped all the "fee" cards, especially the mileage one. Some have fees over $75US!

I suppose you'll get the good advice to not carry a balance. Please don't.

Now my credit card is a no fee, cash bonus kind, from WECU. (Whatcom (County) Educational Credit Union). I suspect your area may have something similar, it pays 1%. Not huge, but nice.

 

[msparks]

I think Discover is paying 5% for gas. They already pay back 1% on purchases. I had discover for almost 10 years before I cut up all credit cards.

Right now my debit card pays back .5% when you use it as 'credit'

Keep in mind though that a study done showed that most customers spent 17% more because they thought they were getting a reward. So by paying cash you could theoritically save the 17% or so.

 

[Bob Woods]

I use Discover and they pay up to 1%, its like 1/4 of 1% on the first $1000 you charge. I haven't heard about a special 5% for gas.

 

[VTEC01EX]

I've got a Sony "points" card, and an AmEx Blue Cash card. The AmEx pays back 1% on all purchases, 5% for "everyday" purchases, which they define as gas, drug stores, grocery stores, and a few other locations. The only gotcha on the AmEx is you only get the full 5% if you spend over $6,500 a year on the card, otherwise you get 1% all around I believe. You get 1% back on all other purchases, regardless of store type or amount spent per year.

The Sony card points system works pretty well - I believe it's 1 pt per dollar spent, and you get bonus points for buying Sony stuff. My problem is that I don't really want any Sony stuff, and all I've ever bought is replacement headphones for my iPod. Once I came to this realization I got the AmEx card, and so far have been very pleased. Discover's deal is very similar to AmEx, but there are places I go that take AmEx but don't take Discover. The Sony is a Visa, so I've got a nearly universally accepted card just in case.

 

[Shannow]

I use a debit card (fee free, as I have a mortgage...paid down to nothing, but it's still there), and use a rewards card for rewards.

 

[k1xv]

If you ever plan to buy a GM vehicle, the GM Card is hard to beat. Over the last 15 years, I have gotten over $10K (total) on two vehicle purchases, one in 1996, one in 2003. I now have $2000 built up for the next purchase, whenever that may be.

 

[eljefino]

Citibank has a 5/1 system like the amex blue, but it maxes out at $300 in rewards per year. My walmart with food section counts as "grocery" which cuts 5% off my motor oil bill.

But you could always use it until it runs out, then move on to another card...

 

[Al]

Not a big deal but I get 1% for book purchases at Amazon. I really should look at a better card.

 

[Pablo]

The 5% kicker sounds good, but don't those cards have fees? How much?

My 1% has no max.

 

[1 FMF]

Amazon.com visa credit card.

It's through Chase bank I think. Put so much on the credit card and amazon sends you a $25 gift cert to use on their website. I've gotten 3 so far. And when you initially sign up, or at least when I did they gave me $30 credit towards whatever your buying at amazon. And mine came with 0% apr. my last $25 certificate, came in the last month, doesn't expire till july 2007 so they at least give you a decent amount of time to use it.

 

[Al]

http://www.citibank.com/us/cards/cardserv/divplat/index.jsp

This is the citi bank dividend cc. I think I will apply for this one.

 

[blupupher]

Al, That's the one.

 

[Al]

O.K. but that's not the Citi ATT. Right??

 

[Bob Woods]

http://creditcards.com/ is a good site for info on credit cards and offers

 

[blupupher]

Al, Citi is the bank behind the AT&T card. Even though I signed up under the AT&T site, I got a Citi Card. Same difference.

 

[blupupher]

eljefino, do you have the Citi AT&T card?
It is 5% on groceries, gas, and drugstore purchases and 1% on all other purchases. $300/yr limit. No annual fees.

I have been buying $50 gift cards @ Wal Mart for fuel, so I get 5% off and their $.03/gallon also.

 

[Al]

"Al, Citi is the bank behind the AT&T card. Even though I signed up under the AT&T site, I got a Citi Card. Same difference." Ok. thanks.

 

[thooks]

I would suggest not using a credit card.

Period.

 

[Al]

"I would suggest not using a credit card.
Period."

That might be true for many people but for us it would make life needlessly hard. Just not possible to go on trips without one. In the 35 odd years that we have had a credit card, we only paid interest one time when my wife got the check out late. So perhaps we paid maybe 10 dollars of interest in 35 years So 29 cents per year is a good trade for working with some elses money.