Credit Cards with Rewards

[jmaxwell_wsu]

Since I'm about to spend 4 grand on applications/interview expenses, etc., I was curious to know which credit cards have the best cashback type bonus programs (i.e. frequent flyer miles, cash back bonuses, gift certificates, etc.).

Anyone have any recommendations?

tia

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[DarkFark]

Since I'm about to spend 4 grand on applications/interview expenses, etc., I was curious to know which credit cards have the best cashback type bonus programs (i.e. frequent flyer miles, cash back bonuses, gift certificates, etc.).

Anyone have any recommendations?

tia

I don't have an answer to your questions, but getting a credit card sounds like a good idea. With all the cash I'll be dishing out soon, it would be a good chance to build credit rating.

 

[HCA1500A]

Since I'm about to spend 4 grand on applications/interview expenses, etc., I was curious to know which credit cards have the best cashback type bonus programs (i.e. frequent flyer miles, cash back bonuses, gift certificates, etc.).

Anyone have any recommendations?

tia

The best one I've found is the Citibank Dividend card. 5% cash back on drugstores, gas, and grocery stores, and 1% back on all other stuff. Only catch is you can only request a check every 50 bucks of rewards. Prior to that, I used Discover, but its rewards are quite lame (starts at a fraction of a percent, and goes up to 1% after you spend 2-3K), and Discover isn't taken everywhere like mastercard or visa.

If anyone has a better one, I'd be interested in switching to it.

 

[CanuckRazorback]

I travel a lot so I love my American Express Delta Skymiles. You can get the first year free, but it's $80/year thereafter. If you travel on Southwest a lot, I'd suggest to get their Visa Rapid Rewards. American has a similar program with Master Card. If you travel a lot, that's the way to go. Otherwise, I would go with the cash back cards.

 

[Code Brown]

I use the Amex "Blue" card. They give you a cashback. 0.5% for the first 2K, 1% for the next 4K and 1.5% for everything after that (on an annual basis). The good thing about this card is that they also take Amex at costco which is a bonus since that's where we do all of our grocery shopping. It's a no annual fee card.

 

[nicholonious]

Since I'm about to spend 4 grand on applications/interview expenses, etc., I was curious to know which credit cards have the best cashback type bonus programs (i.e. frequent flyer miles, cash back bonuses, gift certificates, etc.).

Anyone have any recommendations?

tia

Friends with benefits? That'd be nice.

 

[dr.z]

I use Chase Master card. You get 1% on every purchase. They credit your account every month with cash back from previous month's usage.

 

[bloHaZaRd]

I use citi divident too. All those cashbacks add up! 😀

 

[jllander]

I have a Citi Premier Pass card. For every dollar you purchase, you get one point towards miles on any airline, no blackout dates. And even the credit you use to buy airline tickets goes towards your points. I think it's a good deal.

 

[virilep]

I use citi divident too. All those cashbacks add up! 😀

I'm a third on the citi-dividend. I've gotten about 400 bucks back so far. pretty nifty 🙂
I like the idea of the American Express Delta Skymiles but I won't spend enough for 80 dollars to be worth it. maybe in the future when and if I buy supplies for the office. we'll have an office credit card. HOLLA!

 

[patzan]

Credit cards are generally a bad idea. Try a low interest loan from a bank. This 5% crap is just that and will be 29% in a couple of months.

 

[virilep]

Credit cards are generally a bad idea. Try a low interest loan from a bank. This 5% crap is just that and will be 29% in a couple of months.

well if u pay ur credit card off and don't let it accrue, the 5% is pretty sweet. it's like free money.

 

[patzan]

well if u pay ur credit card off and don't let it accrue, the 5% is pretty sweet. it's like free money.

вот, что (I don't know how to say this in English...any Russians, please help me translate).

...that's the catch. If you had the money, you wouldn't have had to use a credit card. $4000 is a lot to try to pay off quickly, especially if you're starting school again soon. Loans build credit, too.

 

[virilep]

no... that's the exact reason I use the credit card. why carry around cash and not get a reward for using it. I could just use the credit card and pay it off at the end...

 

[patzan]

no... that's the exact reason I use the credit card. why carry around cash and not get a reward for using it. I could just use the credit card and pay it off at the end...

So if you've got the money, get the reward. My general advice...credit card debt is bad (other debt is bad, too, but not quite so bad).

Oh yeah...and rock the MCATs.

 

[waterlily]

I have amazon.com visa. First, you get a $25 amazon certificate just for signing up. Then for every $1 you spend, you get one point (you get 3 points for every dollar you spend on amazon). Everytime you reach 2500 points, you get a $25 amazon certificate. I like it because it will always be 1% reward, unlike Discover where the cashback value is so variable!

 

[yeeester]

check out the starwood preferred guest platinum card by amex. its the best redemption program going.

www.spg.com

 

[shantster]

I use a chase universal mastercard and get free DVDs with it. Every dollar you spend gives you a point and after 1500 you can redeem for DVDs. Each month they have a special DVD (usually one that just came out) for 1000 points.

 

[lfesiam]

citibank is the best one, however, if u don't want to get only 50 bucks at a time, ebay anything points card is awesome! it pays in in paypal credit toward ebay, 1% anything, 5%-20% selected hotels and restaurants in your area & online merchants, no fee

 

[nicholonious]

I have amazon.com visa. First, you get a $25 amazon certificate just for signing up. Then for every $1 you spend, you get one point (you get 3 points for every dollar you spend on amazon). Everytime you reach 2500 points, you get a $25 amazon certificate. I like it because it will always be 1% reward, unlike Discover where the cashback value is so variable!

Dude, doesn't that mean that you need to spend over $800 to get a $25 amazon certificate? They should give you one every $200 bucks you spend! 😱

 

[BFlyGirl]

I use Chase PerfectCard (MasterCard). You get 5% back on gas purchases, 1% on other purchases, and then 10% at some restaturants and other retailers. Each month the credit is subtracted from your bill.

It is a wonderful way to make some money as long as you pay it all off each month. I have been using it for a little over a year. I pay it off at the end of each month and so far I have made three hundred just in cashback. I have all of my bills (ie, power and cell phone) charged right to my card and then pay it at the end of the month. That way your money can be in the bank earning interest till the end of the month and you are making money with the credit card. Just don't forget to pay it all off at the end of the month!!!

 

[lorelei]

I also have an amazon.com Visa. I haven't had it for long, so I haven't gotten any rewards beyond the original $25 gift certificate yet. It's pretty nice though. However, I have had some pretty terrible service, which I *think* is due to the fact that i got it while Chase and Bank One were merging so there was some difficulty with paperwork. That seems to be worked out now.

You definitely shouldn't carry a balance on your credit card unless you absolutely have to (examples: moving for school/new job when loans/moving reimbursement won't come in until after you move, medical expenses, serious emergencies). But I use my cards all the time - I don't pay cash unless it's under $10 - and I pay them off every month. This works for me because I only spend as much money as I have in the bank. If you have a hard time sticking to that, get a card with a low limit and ONLY use it for things that absolutely require a credit card.

 

[tigress]

Using a credit card can be great if done properly. I second what other people have said here, about paying it off every month. I actually don't have a credit card at the moment, but I'm looking at the ones mentioned in this thread. Right now I use my bank card, but my mother says not to use it on internet purchases, because if somebody steals the number they actually take money out of your account, as opposed to just racking up charges on your credit card bill, so it's harder to get the money back. The best way to use a credit card is to get one with rewards and then buy every single thing with it and pay the full amount at the end of the month. I know my parents do this both because they get airline miles from it and because it makes it easier to keep track of their spending, since their bill is itemized so they can just look at one single bill for the month to see what they spent. We do something similar with the bank card (debit) but also use cash for some things and checks for bills, so it gets more confusing. Also if I have cash on me I tend to spend it on soda or chips or something random. so I try not to carry much.

Don't most of the cards with miles require a yearly fee? And what do you need to be approved for the Amazon card, or any others? I think I have nonexistant credit. I heard on the radio that some places are starting to do a credit thing where they can look at your bill paying history to determine credit, which would be nice because we always pay our bills and rent on time. I also sort of think that credit cards are evil and I'm a bit reluctant to get one.

 

[bdt]

I've been really unhappy with the Alaska Airlines Card. It's got a $75 yearly fee and I've had trouble using my miles. (Alaska is a "major" airline for those of us in the NW), and getting my "upgrade" coupons.

I recently switched to the REI visa which gives me $$$ to use at REI. Not a great deal for getting $$$ in your pocket. It's really more of reward for myself so I can buy more outdoor gear.

Again, most of these cards are great if you pay them off every month.

Also watch out for annual fees.

 

[lorelei]

Tigress, I'm not sure what all you need to be approved for the Amazon card - I have a good credit history, but they also asked for a copy of a utility bill, I think to prove that I actually live at my address. If you have trouble getting a card now, wait til you're in school, banks love to lend to students! (I'm serious, actually; a student card is a good way to build up your credit history as long as you use it responsibly.)

 

[dianamd]

Diners club has the best rewards of any card -- it's associated with nearly every airline/hotel chain.

It will be useful for your interview expenses, but if you're going to pay for secondaries online with a credit card, I doubt schools would take it. But diners club (despite its corny name) is taken by almost every hotel/airline.

 

[Southpaw]

Here are two good sites to look at and compare the benefits of just about every credit card out there:

Credit Card Freedom

Credit Cards

Keep in mind, to use these cards to YOUR advantage and build your credit rating, pay off your balance within the allowed grace period.

 

[Stitch626]

The best one I've found is the Citibank Dividend card. 5% cash back on drugstores, gas, and grocery stores, and 1% back on all other stuff. Only catch is you can only request a check every 50 bucks of rewards. Prior to that, I used Discover, but its rewards are quite lame (starts at a fraction of a percent, and goes up to 1% after you spend 2-3K), and Discover isn't taken everywhere like mastercard or visa.

If anyone has a better one, I'd be interested in switching to it.

I second the Citibank card. I've recently been looking for another credit card to increase my total credit line and nothing compares!

 

[Stitch626]

I have amazon.com visa. First, you get a $25 amazon certificate just for signing up. Then for every $1 you spend, you get one point (you get 3 points for every dollar you spend on amazon). Everytime you reach 2500 points, you get a $25 amazon certificate. I like it because it will always be 1% reward, unlike Discover where the cashback value is so variable!

I have this one too. Last week the promotion was for $30 off your first purchase at Amazon.com using the credit card.

 

[kylahs]

Any premed with credit trouble? I've made some dumb investment moves using money from my school loans and credit cards. I had at one point almost a $30k balance spread over 5 cards. Now it's down to about $10k, with $3k accruing interest.

 

[bewitched1081]

the nordstrom visa gives a 1% award. they send you 20 dollar gift certificates for nordstrom every time you spend 2000 dollars. the good thing is that even if you buy something less than 20 dollars, you can get cash back for the balance. and you can return whatever you purchased with the gift certificate and get cash back. for some cardmembers they also have auto rental insurance. so whenever you rent a car, you dont have to pay for their insurance cause if you put it on your card, then the credit card company will insure you for free.

 

[gary5]

Forget the incentives. In the long term, you'll lose money because you'll learn to buy when people tell you to buy. Be your own master.

 

[IllinoisStudent]

The best one I've found is the Citibank Dividend card. 5% cash back on drugstores, gas, and grocery stores, and 1% back on all other stuff. Only catch is you can only request a check every 50 bucks of rewards. Prior to that, I used Discover, but its rewards are quite lame (starts at a fraction of a percent, and goes up to 1% after you spend 2-3K), and Discover isn't taken everywhere like mastercard or visa.

If anyone has a better one, I'd be interested in switching to it.

I looked up that card, and I am confused about 5% back at supermarkets. In the small print it says that it excludes departmental stores (like Target, Walmart..) and convenience stores. So where exactly can you shop to get that 5% back 😕

 

[Twitch]

I looked up that card, and I am confused about 5% back at supermarkets. In the small print it says that it excludes departmental stores (like Target, Walmart..) and convenience stores. So where exactly can you shop to get that 5% back 😕

5%:
Grocery Stores - Kroger, Albertsons, etc...
Drug Stores - CVS, Walgreens, etc..
Automated Gas Dispensers - Shell, Texaco, Chevron, etc..

1%: everywhere else

I eat out a lot and travel some so I also use:
AmEx Costco card for 3% on eating out (even at fast food places), 2% for travel (car/hotel/air) and 1% everywhere else. This is probably more useful to people who maintain a costco membership.

There is the hassle of remembering which card to use where, though by the first billing cycle you get used to using the right card at the right place to maximize your gain.

 

[Twitch]

Another thought....be cautious of the wording of the offer - read the fine print / call if needed. Two that stand out:

1. Upto X% cash back/reward/whatever. Note upto is the keyword and usually has strings attached like maintain a balance where you pay interest. Not recommended. Even without the string, do the math and typically you're better off with the full X% than the inflated upto # which depends on a graduated scale.

2. Introductory period. Some inflated %age offers only lasts a few months.

Something to keep in mind is how can the credit cards afford to do this. Well they get a commision on the sale transaction from the seller. So if you get an offer the claims to be much higher than than the commission they're making from the seller...something is fishy.

 

[IllinoisStudent]

5%:
Grocery Stores - Kroger, Albertsons, etc...

I haven't heard of those in Chicago or elsewhere.. 😕
Anyone know any grocery stores in Chicago where I can use these card..?

 

[Twitch]

I haven't heard of those in Chicago or elsewhere.. 😕
Anyone know any grocery stores in Chicago where I can use these card..?

How about Tom Thumb?

Seriously - any major grocery store will do. Just not your mom n pop shops.

 

[IllinoisStudent]

How about Tom Thumb?

Seriously - any major grocery store will do. Just not your mom n pop shops.

haven't heard that before either.. Guess I don't know any grocery stores Where are all these stores?

I have been shopping at Target, Jewel, Walgreens, Walmart..

 

[MadameLULU]

haven't heard that before either.. Guess I don't know any grocery stores Where are all these stores?

I have been shopping at Target, Jewel, Walgreens, Walmart..

What stores in your area primarily sell food and household items (soap, shampoo, etc)? Those are grocery stores.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Since I'm about to spend 4 grand on applications/interview expenses, etc., I was curious to know which credit cards have the best cashback type bonus programs (i.e. frequent flyer miles, cash back bonuses, gift certificates, etc.).

Anyone have any recommendations?

tia

Credit cards are bad.

They will screw you over.

Get a loan or money from your family.

 

[IllinoisStudent]

What stores in your area primarily sell food and household items (soap, shampoo, etc)? Those are grocery stores.

hehe..I m not that dumb. It was in reference to a Citibank Credit card that gives 5% cashback at supermarkets, but not at departmental stores or convenience stores. So I m trying to find a place where I can actually use this card.

 

[MadameLULU]

hehe..I m not that dumb. It was in reference to a Citibank Credit card that gives 5% cashback at supermarkets, but not at departmental stores or convenience stores. So I m trying to find a place where I can actually use this card.

exactly, im not farmilair with the supermarkets in your area, but i was just giving a description of the types of stores where you can use that card. I find it difficult to believe there arent any supermarkets where you live

 

[ToothMonkey]

For those of you using reward cards, did any of you get yours while a student with zero income and no co-signer?

My credit rating is good, but as a typical student I have no job, live off student loans, and carry plenty of debt in the form of those aforementioned loans. Just wondering whether anyone in that situation was accepted for any of the more attractive programs (particularly for the Citi Dividend card)...

The best way to use a credit card is to get one with rewards and then buy every single thing with it and pay the full amount at the end of the month.

I use this method and it works great, but it should be noted that such a consistent increase in CC activity will damage your credit rating because the proportion of balances to credit limits accounts for a huge 30% of a person's credit score. They are constantly checking your balances so paying the CC bill in full every month will not help here if you are constantly charging large amounts to your card.

I could be wrong but my understanding is that this should only matter to those who actually need their credit scores to apply for a loan in the immediate future. For the rest, it should be enough to cut back on CC usage to pare balances down before applying for something that requires a credit check.

I m trying to find a place where I can actually use this card.

For the Chicago area Jewel-Osco and Dominick's come to mind. Mind you, I'm not speaking from experience since I don't have the Citibank card...but if anything should qualify for the supermarket discount it would be those two chains.

 

[Stitch626]

I haven't heard of those in Chicago or elsewhere.. 😕
Anyone know any grocery stores in Chicago where I can use these card..?

Isn't Dominick's in Chicago?

 

[Fed Meat]

Credit cards are bad.

They will screw you over.

Get a loan or money from your family.

Credit cards are only bad if you don't pay them off every month.

If you pay them off, they're awesome. I just pay as I go. Like once a week, I log into my CC company's site and pay off my balance.

I've managed to earn my flight to Europe with frequent flyer miles accumulated over the last few years solely from CC purchases. Total interest paid over this period: $0.

I love the convenience of credit cards. Plus, everything you buy is insured--a good thing when you buy off the internet.

 

[adoggie]

would it be more beneficial to get regular credit cards, as opposed to student ones?

 

[virilep]

Credit cards are only bad if you don't pay them off every month.

If you pay them off, they're awesome. I just pay as I go. Like once a week, I log into my CC company's site and pay off my balance.

I've managed to earn my flight to Europe with frequent flyer miles accumulated over the last few years solely from CC purchases. Total interest paid over this period: $0.

I love the convenience of credit cards. Plus, everything you buy is insured--a good thing when you buy off the internet.

this is EXACTLY what I think. convenience, insurance, and the ability to not carry around so much money. but having a credit card is ALL about discipline

 

[NCSUco04]

I have two cards that offer me the best benefits.

One is the Chase Freedom Card (Which now is called the Chase "Perfect" Card that someone else mentioned in this thread). Their Website Along time ago, this was the Chase Shell (Gas) card, but shell switched from Chase to Citi, so this is what they came up with. Anyway, the benefit is that it gives you 3% back at any gas station and 1% back on all your other purchases, and it's credited immediately to you on your next month's bill. (It's actually 6% rebate for first 90 days)...

The other card I use is the newer Shell Citibank card, which gives you 5% back on gas you get at Shell, and 1% back at anything else. However, they'll credit you back in $$ you can redeem at shell. Not a problem for me because I buy gas every month from shell, but if you're not... then you see the problem. Again though, you get the money immediately the next month.

Anyway, stay away from any cards that make you add up all your rebates until you can redeem them in 50 or 100 dollar increments. Also, my freshmen and soph years in college, I remember alot of cards that would allow you to earn a large % rebate, as long as you carried a balance forward from month to month (this was always in the fine print, and meant that whatever rebate you were getting, was not going to be better than the interest you're paying anyway). Make sure you stay away from those, and the moral is, read everything before you sign.

Good Luck, oh, and I got both of those cards while I was in school.

 

[eena]

I agree!!
I have been using Citibank dividend (the one where you get 5% cashback on purchases at grocery stores, gas stations). I believe I hae earned a good $300 and paid $0 finance charge.

Credit cards are only bad if you don't pay them off every month.

If you pay them off, they're awesome. I just pay as I go. Like once a week, I log into my CC company's site and pay off my balance.

I've managed to earn my flight to Europe with frequent flyer miles accumulated over the last few years solely from CC purchases. Total interest paid over this period: $0.

I love the convenience of credit cards. Plus, everything you buy is insured--a good thing when you buy off the internet.

 

[waterlily]

I just tried applying for the Chase Perfect card but it said that my application wasn't sent because I didn't meet their minimum income. I really want that credit card b/c it seems so cool from what everyone said on here. What IS the min income...or can you share or PM me what income you wrote down? How the heck can you have a high income if you're a fulltime student?