Best 1st Credit Card?

[gorcorps]

Alright all, I've been thinking about getting a CC to get some credit going before I'm out of college. What's you opinions on the best ones as far as use in as many places as possible, rewards, protection, and all that stuff?

 

[nageov3t]

eh.

pick one with a reward that appeals to you and go for it.

doesn't really matter as long as it's not a discover card and you're not carrying a huge balance every month.

 

[fatpat268]

It doesn't really matter what card you pick, as long it doesn't screw you over in interest rates.

 

[lightweight]

Originally posted by: fatpat268
It doesn't really matter what card you pick, as long it doesn't screw you over in interest rates.

This is terrible advice. Please disregard it.

Having said that, I prefer using one of these two:
Citibank Mastercard Dividend
Discover Dividend

Both offer 1% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on all gas, grocery or drug purchases. Other cards offer rewards in the form of points and airline travel but I prefer a check.

 

[maddogchen]

Text

 

[skulkingghost]

I signed up for the paypal credit card and love it. 3500$ limit and $700 cash withdrawls. It will cover your ass in any sitation you can get into and interest isnt bad either.

 

[fatpat268]

Originally posted by: lightweight

Originally posted by: fatpat268
It doesn't really matter what card you pick, as long it doesn't screw you over in interest rates.

This is terrible advice. Please disregard it.

Having said that, I prefer using one of these two:
Citibank Mastercard Dividend
Discover Dividend

Both offer 1% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on all gas, grocery or drug purchases. Other cards offer rewards in the form of points and airline travel but I prefer a check.

Fine, whatever. It's worked for me. I concentrated on building my credit first before I worried about the rewards.

Besides, rewards are overrated imo.

 

[AmpedSilence]

Chase Freedom, automatically gives you 3% on the three categories you spent most on each month. Plus, if you don't cash out before you hit $200, you get a $50 bonus! The rewards paid for my Xbox 360 this year! I wonder what i will get next year, since the rewards should be about the same then also.

 

[SuperNaruto]

You want this one, picks up all the chics

 

[YetioDoom]

Not this one!

 

[ProfJohn]

Target's Visa is highly rated.

Look around the web and you can find lists of the best credit cards.

Cash back is just a gimmick, look at the bottom line and decided based on that.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: lightweight

Originally posted by: fatpat268
It doesn't really matter what card you pick, as long it doesn't screw you over in interest rates.

This is terrible advice. Please disregard it.

Having said that, I prefer using one of these two:
Citibank Mastercard Dividend
Discover Dividend

Both offer 1% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on all gas, grocery or drug purchases. Other cards offer rewards in the form of points and airline travel but I prefer a check.

The 5% is only for the first 6 months:

link

After that, it is only 2%.

Personally, I prefer the Chase Freedom.

 

[Viper GTS]

If you must pick just one right now I'd say Chase Freedom (for the rewards).

Chase is evil (ratejacking bastards, though supposedly they've quit that practice...) but the Freedom reward program is great.

Viper GTS

 

[gorcorps]

Thanks for the input. The Chase Freedom looks like the best for me, but I'll have to look into others a little more.

 

[wiredspider]

While you are still a student, try to get the Citi MTVU card, it's a "student" card and gives 5 points back per dollar spent on:
book stores (i know you probably won't need to buy anymore books, but amazon.com counts as a "bookstore" too)
restaurants (even fast food)
music stores, video stores and movie theaters (I don't use those so much, but you might)

If you get good grades, they also reward points based on GPA. I got a 4.0 once and got 2000 points which is ~$20, more than my parents ever gave me for grades .

And if you feel so inclined, PM for referral link so I can get $50/$100 statement bonus (you can refer your friends for a bonus too).l

 

[daggerr]

As WiredSpider mentioned, the Citi mtvU card is a great college student card as it pays 5% rewards at various entertainment-related venues; I wish I could get that one. The Citi Driver's Edge for Students is also good; it pays 3% rewards at gas, grocery, and drug stores. There's a Capital One card that will net you 1.25% rewards on all of your spending.

To see which student rewards card (or combination of cards) will pay you the most for your categorical spending profile, you can use this rewards calculator:
Best Student Rewards Card Calculator (Citi, Chase, Capital One, etc.)

 

[BigJelly]

Originally posted by: daggerr
As WiredSpider mentioned, the Citi mtvU card is a great college student card as it pays 5% rewards at various entertainment-related venues; I wish I could get that one. The Citi Driver's Edge for Students is also good; it pays 3% rewards at gas, grocery, and drug stores. There's a Capital One card that will net you 1.25% rewards on all of your spending.

To see which student rewards card (or combination of cards) will pay you the most for your categorical spending profile, you can use this rewards calculator:
Best Student Rewards Card Calculator (Citi, Chase, Capital One, etc.)

I own the chase BP card for gas and the chase freedom for everything else.

I actually never had a credit card through out college. Chase gave me my first card--the chase freedom. Then I saw the chase bp and got that.

I never carry a balance so I look for cards with rewards and the combination of the chase cards are the best--IMO.

 

[smack Down]

Originally posted by: fatpat268
It doesn't really matter what card you pick, as long it doesn't screw you over in interest rates.

Or could pay off the credit card ever month and not get screwed on interest. BTW if you're paying 10% interest or 30% you are still getting screwed

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: wiredspider
While you are still a student, try to get the Citi MTVU card, it's a "student" card and gives 5 points back per dollar spent on:
book stores (i know you probably won't need to buy anymore books, but amazon.com counts as a "bookstore" too)
restaurants (even fast food)
music stores, video stores and movie theaters (I don't use those so much, but you might)

If you get good grades, they also reward points based on GPA. I got a 4.0 once and got 2000 points which is ~$20, more than my parents ever gave me for grades .

And if you feel so inclined, PM for referral link so I can get $50/$100 statement bonus (you can refer your friends for a bonus too).l

another vote for the citi mtvu card. i love my citicard

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Alright all, I've been thinking about getting a CC to get some credit going before I'm out of college. What's you opinions on the best ones as far as use in as many places as possible, rewards, protection, and all that stuff?

if just 1 credit card:
if $10k at emmigrant bank -> get their 1.4% rewards mastercard

else 1.25% rewards at capital one

if 2:
one of the above, plus a 5% one for gas/drug store/supermarket

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: SuperNaruto
You want this one, picks up all the chics

And this one if you want to keep them away.

 

[Saint Nick]

Citibank Platinum is all you need

 

[gorcorps]

Hmmm... the Citi MTVU looks pretty good too. It'll probably be between that and the Chase freedom, and I'll probably figure it out and apply by the end of the year. Thanks all!

 

[Eeezee]

Chase freedom card has been pretty sweet, give it a shot.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: smack Down

Originally posted by: fatpat268
It doesn't really matter what card you pick, as long it doesn't screw you over in interest rates.

Or could pay off the credit card ever month and not get screwed on interest. BTW if you're paying 10% interest or 30% you are still getting screwed

Precisely, if you always pay off your card's balance then interest rates won't matter. What matters are rewards: it's the best reason to use a credit card for most of your purchases.