What credit card do you guys like?

[Skeeedunt]

2)in case I need money for school in the upcoming years and cant get a loan

No. Just no. Just absolutely no. Carrying any significant amount of debt on a credit card for anything more than a month or two is a bad idea. Using it like a student loan, if that's really what you mean, is a really, really bad idea. If a person were to do this, I think APR would far outweigh any cashback etc. But don't do it.

Anyway, I'm still mostly using my AmEx Blue Cash from years ago back when it was one of the best ones. Seems like it's still pretty decent, can't convince myself to switch cards just for slightly better benefits. Accumulated cash is super easy to get back as a statement credit, so that part is great.

 

[Eos]

Chase amazon card for amazon orders, dining, just about everything.
Costco AMEX for fuel (3%), Costco purchases (1%), and the occasional foursquare/AMEX deal.

Spent this year:

Chase card = $40030
AMEX = $5300

LOTS of bonuses. Currently $204 on AMEX. Chase is difficult to calculate, as I often spend a bunch if they are there. For last month, we added 10654 points to a balance of 27797, but I spent 18219. :shrugs:

I need a PA speaker, so that's the next big use of those points.

 

[jolancer]

So I transferred the available credit over to the freedom and closed the SW card.

Is this just missworded/typo? you can transfer available credit from one card to another? If this is true Im very supprized i havnt heard of this option before, This is just missworded or something right?

Its also apparent some of you are well off or rich... so someone appropriet can correct me if they have relevant info or appropriet experience but to my knowledge you dont want to get mixed up in AMEX or BOA for that matter unless you have a substantial amount invested in them. And unless the OP has rich parrents i doubt a college kid will have a substantial amount invested in any bank yet.

And i didnt look at every single post here but i didn't happen to notice anyone point out the fact all of the Cash back cards listed here dont apply untill you reach $XXXX or so each month, otherwise you only get like 0.5% or less back if you dont spend over the limit... I havn't needed a new card but i doubt things have inproved with the economy the way it is but the only ones i noticed b4 that advertized true percentages not hidden within the fineprint were Chase Freedom and HSBC cash back.

 

[Pandamonium]

Fidelity Amex: general spending (2% cashback, unlimited, calculated monthly, autodeposited after $50 minimum)

Citi Forward: restaurants and amazon (5 thankyou points/$1 spent, which I redeem at an effective 5% cashback for student loan rebates)

Chase Freedom: rotating 5% categories only

Discover: rotating 5% categories only

BankAmericard: 3% on gas. Only used if gas is not covered in chase or discover's categories.

I've netted a god awful lot of cashback in the past few months. Between the wife and myself, we spent ~$10k in the past 2 months for interviews alone.


Edit: I'm thinking about adding this card:
Fidelity Visa (1.5% on first $15k/yr, 2% thereafter)

and I have a dormant Amex Blue Cash (grandfathered program: 1% on gas/groceries/drugstores + 0.5% on everything else for first $6500, 5%/1% thereafter)
I might start using this if I see my grocery store/gas expenses shoot up quickly enough to make a difference

 

[IronWing]

Is this just missworded/typo? you can transfer available credit from one card to another? If this is true Im very supprized i havnt heard of this option before, This is just missworded or something right?

If the bank is willing, you sort of can transfer available credit. I applied for a gold card once and the bank sent a non-gold card. This was no good to me as I wanted the rental car insurance offered with the gold card. So I called the bank and asked why I was denied the gold card I had applied for. They said I had too much credit available on another card. I explained that I intended to close the old card if I could get the gold card with them. They told me to request a credit limit reduction on the old card and call them back. So I called the old bank, asked to have my credit limit reduced which that bank did. Then I called the new bank, they checked my credit report, and issued the gold card with higher limit. So it worked out as "transferring" available credit from one card to another.

 

[lykaon78]

I have 2 Costco AMEX cards. 1 for business, 1 for personal.

MasterCard for online purchases because it allows me to create virtual 1 time use numbers.

I don't know why I have a Discover card.

Amazon VISA for Amazon.com purchases.

My BoA Visa has this. I use it for all my online purchase. Its also great for taking advantage of offers that require a credit card to take advantage of a free trial. Recently got a BB 6 month trial and put in a temporary credit card with a balance of $1.00 that expired in 2 months. Thus guaranteeing no charges on my account.

 

[RockinZ28]

My BoA Visa has this. I use it for all my online purchase. Its also great for taking advantage of offers that require a credit card to take advantage of a free trial. Recently got a BB 6 month trial and put in a temporary credit card with a balance of $1.00 that expired in 2 months. Thus guaranteeing no charges on my account.

The hell? Never heard of this, but sounds awesome. Does this feature come with specific cards or what? I have a couple BofA visas and a Cap1 mastercard.

 

[Eos]

And i didnt look at every single post here but i didn't happen to notice anyone point out the fact all of the Cash back cards listed here dont apply untill you reach $XXXX or so each month, otherwise you only get like 0.5% or less back if you dont spend over the limit... I havn't needed a new card but i doubt things have inproved with the economy the way it is but the only ones i noticed b4 that advertized true percentages not hidden within the fineprint were Chase Freedom and HSBC cash back.

Both of our rewards cards begin to apply bonuses with the first dollar spent.

 

[jupiter57]

That is actually really really nice, I've never seen discount straight up, it's always "Rewards" bullshit. And 5% off gas is HUGE.

If no annual fees, I'd switch to that card in an instant.

No "Points" BS. Discount is taken off with the bill.
No annual fees.

Both of our rewards cards begin to apply bonuses with the first dollar spent.

As does mine. No fine print stuff IFAIK!

http://www.fkfcu.org/visa.html

 

[Baked]

I miss that feature, which MC card is it?

It's the Citi MC. Great feature. No worries about auto renewal or fraud chargers when I buy stuff online. I use it then delete it.

 

[Exterous]

I like the ATOT Ultra-platinum Black AmVisMC Gold card.
$100 back for every $10 you spend on anything! Buy movie tickets & get free flights around the world weekly!
(Some here would have you believe, LOL!)

No "Points" BS. Discount is taken off with the bill.
No annual fees.

While it may not be worthwhile for everyone if you like to travel, esp internationally, points/miles can be very worthwhile - potentially more than a cash back card

For example: I drive around 20,000 miles a year and I get 25 MPG which works out to 800 gallons used. Now, if we assume $3.50 per gallon that = $2800 a year in gas spent. If I used a 5% cash back card every time I would save $140 a year in gas. Lets say you get 2% back everywhere else and you used it for another $2,000 in charges each month for a year that gives you another $480 in rewards.

In comparison we signed up for the IHG rewards card with 80,000 points after the first purchase. For our trip to the UK that equates to 4 nights in a hotel at $150-200/night or $600-800 in rewards. The Amex card we just finished spending the required $3,000 in 3 mo to get two free nights to stay so we are using those to stay two nights in the Caledonian in Edinburgh that would have cost us $837. (Fee waived for each card)

So in a year option one got us $620 in rewards. In 3 months the 'points BS' got us $1537 in rewards leaving plenty of time for more points BS to get more rewards. So while it depends on what you want to do points can be a very good reward option

 

[Eos]

But, POINTS. They are the suck!

hahaha

 

[Aikouka]

No annual fee
Free shipping at Target.com
5% instantly and immediately at cash registers <------ my wife and I love this

Yep, it's actually rather nice because it takes 5% off anything (except for prescriptions, but there are other benefits for those). This includes things that are normally never reduced such as store cards (i.e. iTunes Gift Cards, etc.) or electronics that don't normally see reductions like Apple products. Why pay $499 for the latest iPad when you can save 5% at Target?

I need a PA speaker, so that's the next big use of those points.

Unless you're getting bonus dollars per point (I know you can buy gift cards for cheaper with them), why would you use your points to buy anything? If you credit your points back onto your account and pay for the item with your card, you still gain points and you still reduce the bill by the amount of the item, which effectively negates that it was ever on there.

In other words, unless there's a special bonus to using your points, just credit them to your account and gain more points by using the card. It's always about which method of payment provides the greatest benefit.

 

[RossMAN]

Yep, it's actually rather nice because it takes 5% off anything (except for prescriptions, but there are other benefits for those). This includes things that are normally never reduced such as store cards (i.e. iTunes Gift Cards, etc.) or electronics that don't normally see reductions like Apple products. Why pay $499 for the latest iPad when you can save 5% at Target?

I just wish we had applied for the Target Redcard sooner, it's a no-brainer if you frequently shop there.

We've easily saved ~$15 in the roughly 6 months we've had it.

 

[Aikouka]

I just wish we had applied for the Target Redcard sooner, it's a no-brainer if you frequently shop there.

We've easily saved $100+ in the roughly 6 months we've had it.

Although, I'm a bit naughty and use the debit version. :$

 

[RossMAN]

Although, I'm a bit naughty and use the debit version. :$

It was an impulse decision for us and I always prefer credit over debit.

Do you know what the differences/benefits are?

 

[Aikouka]

It was an impulse decision for us and I always prefer credit over debit.

Do you know what the differences/benefits are?

Nothing except the debit takes the funds directly from a bank account. They harvest all of your shopping data with either of them.

 

[Farmer]

It was an impulse decision for us and I always prefer credit over debit.

Do you know what the differences/benefits are?

Same here. A credit card is a 1 month free loan, and I treat it as such.

 

[esquared]

I have 2 Costco AMEX cards. 1 for business, 1 for personal.

MasterCard for online purchases because it allows me to create virtual 1 time use numbers.

I don't know why I have a Discover card.

Amazon VISA for Amazon.com purchases.

My BoA Visa has this. I use it for all my online purchase. Its also great for taking advantage of offers that require a credit card to take advantage of a free trial. Recently got a BB 6 month trial and put in a temporary credit card with a balance of $1.00 that expired in 2 months. Thus guaranteeing no charges on my account.

My BoA Visa has this. I use it for all my online purchase. Its also great for taking advantage of offers that require a credit card to take advantage of a free trial. Recently got a BB 6 month trial and put in a temporary credit card with a balance of $1.00 that expired in 2 months. Thus guaranteeing no charges on my account.

Discover card has had their one-time use, CC number generator for years.

A couple years ago they dropped it but there was such a backlash from the Discovercrad users that they reinstated it.

I use it frequently.

 

[RossMAN]

Discover is offering 2% cash back for today, you have to login and sign up.

 

[KoolDrew]

Chase Freedom is still kind of my mainstay, although I'm thinking I may open another high rewards card soon just to complement it.

2013 5% rewards categories:

This is my main card as well.

 

[MrsBugi]

Now I'm thinking about getting a Chase Freedom or American Express card... I've had my Discover since college but it kinda sucks. Whenever I whip it out, people are like "You still have a Discover? I didn't know they still made those!"