Credit Card rewards and other features

[dtheriault]

everyone needs a card. If I have a small card for internet purchases and other items that I am paying off every month... travel ect... are there any rewards or or features on cards that you find useful. I have a gold card that I use to do car rentals since they cover damage and loss.

Any recs?

[Redlemon]

I have an Amazon.com card. i get 1% back as credit at Amazon, and when it adds up to $25 worth, they mail me a gift certificate. It might not be the best bang for the buck, but it's fun; I could always use another book or CD.

[iccky]

I have a Citibank Dividend Rewards Card, which gives five percent cashback on groceries and gas and one percent cash back on everything else. The downside is that you have to accumulate $50 before they'll cut you a check, which means spending five grand unless you pay for groceries with your card.

If you travel a lot you might want to look at one of the cards that give airline miles as a reward. Usually you get one mile per dollar spent, which is usually a better then 1% return. Many give you a big mileage bonus for signing up as well.

Just watch out for annual fees that are more then the rewards you expect to earn. My card has no annual fee, but many do, especially the airline cards.

[martinguerre]

i use discover...the rewards are okay, if not great. i think the AMEX blue card may have better rates...so you might want to look at that.

i don't spend or fly enough to make a miles card worth it...but as soon as i do, it will be a Northwest Visa. they're expensive little sob's...but the returns really do justify it if you charge everything. my dad once bought a new car that way just to get the miles...i think it might have been about half a ticket alone.

[Jimellow]

Originally Posted by iccky

I have a Citibank Dividend Rewards Card, which gives five percent cashback on groceries and gas and one percent cash back on everything else. The downside is that you have to accumulate $50 before they'll cut you a check, which means spending five grand unless you pay for groceries with your card.

I also have a Citiband Dividend Rewards card.. I'm currently at $45.00, but have cut back it's use lately (I like to keep the balance at around $80), but am probably going to use it for gas until I get the reward amount up to $50.

I like the card, and it's my first and only one. It's really teaching me how to manage money and credit, and ideally helping me slowily build a good credit rating along the way.

[eribrav]

Originally Posted by iccky

I have a Citibank Dividend Rewards Card, which gives five percent cashback on groceries and gas and one percent cash back on everything else. The downside is that you have to accumulate $50 before they'll cut you a check, which means spending five grand unless you pay for groceries with your card.

If you travel a lot you might want to look at one of the cards that give airline miles as a reward. Usually you get one mile per dollar spent, which is usually a better then 1% return. Many give you a big mileage bonus for signing up as well.

Just watch out for annual fees that are more then the rewards you expect to earn. My card has no annual fee, but many do, especially the airline cards.

Cash is king. I've had one of these for over a decade. I"ve received a LOT of dividend checks, just for paying for things I would be buying anyway.

i've looked at airline related cards. They had annual fees and ultimately just getting the cash back was a better deal.