Best cash back credit card?

[cottontail]

The Costco Visa looks great but I'd kind of prefer a card that I don't have to worry about losing if I ever stop being a Costco member. Also, there was the Costco AmEx that went away in the past, so there's no guarantee that won't happen with the Costco Visa.

I would have a 20+ year credit history with a Visa but it was shut down for inactivity.  I started using my husband's major credit card and didn't even realize that my Visa had been shut down because they didn't notify me. I only have a couple of store cards in my name now. I am an authorized user for one of my husband's major cards but it looks like they are not reporting it on my credit report.

I feel like I should have my own major credit card. Visa or Mastercard, preferably. Almost all of my credit card purchases are online to various stores for clothing, pet food, and gifts, but I do also purchase gas and sometimes use a card at restaurants. I am looking for a no fee card and I really don't want to have to keep track of ever changing discount categories.

[Deleted]

Oct 9, 2019 16:17:43 GMT -5 cottontail said:

The Costco Visa looks great but I'd kind of prefer a card that I don't have to worry about losing if I ever stop being a Costco member. Also, there was the Costco AmEx that went away in the past, so there's no guarantee that won't happen with the Costco Visa.

I would have a 20+ year credit history with a Visa but it was shut down for inactivity.  I started using my husband's major credit card and didn't even realize that my Visa had been shut down because they didn't notify me. I only have a couple of store cards in my name now. I am an authorized user for one of my husband's major cards but it looks like they are not reporting it on my credit report.

I feel like I should have my own major credit card. Visa or Mastercard, preferably. Almost all of my credit card purchases are online to various stores for clothing, pet food, and gifts, but I do also purchase gas and sometimes use a card at restaurants. I am looking for a no fee card and I really don't want to have to keep track of ever changing discount categories.

Everyone's got their favorite card for various reasons.  And I'm not sure you would qualify for all of them given you don't have a major credit card.

That said, I like the Chase Freedom Unlimited.  It has a nice sign-on bonus and 1.5% cashback with no rotating categories.  

Have you asked the company who previously had your Visa to reopen it?  Or are you angry with them?  

[resolution]

I use the Citi Doublecash card, which has no fees and gives 2% back on everything. I get less back than the people with the rotating categories and less than the people with multiple cards that they use for specific stores, but at this point in my life I am lazy enough to just want one card for everything.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't worry too much about continuity; right now my oldest card (Fidelity 2% cash back Visa) is one I got maybe 4 years ago.  I just got approved for the Costco Visa with no issues (other than unfreezing my credit records, which was a real PITA).  In the interim, I got an AA-branded MasterCard and dropped it a year later.  You mention a long history with Visa but it won't show up on your credit report that way if it was a series of Visa cards from different issuers.  

Something like the Citi Double Cash card might be best for you; I agree that rotating categories or even varying rebates by category are a pain to track.  I got the Costco card because I spend a lot on travel (3% back) and they don't have FX fees.

[Gardening Grandma]

Susannah is right. Everyone has their favorites. And I agree with Athena - i don't worry about continuity.  I loved the old Chase card, but when they went to rotating categores, I got a Cap One.  I like the KISS principle.

The Cap One Quicksilver has no annual fee and gives you 1.5% cash back. Easy peasy.

We also have and use the Costco Visa; we use it at Costco and gas stations.  I like to have one main CC and one backup CC.  

[Deleted]

I use the: 

Uber Visa 
4% at Restaurants/Bars
3% Travel

AMEX Blue Preferred -75 annual fee that is well worth it for me
6%, Grocery Stores
6%, Streaming Subscriptions
3% Gas
3% Rideshare/Tolls 

Amazon Chase Visa
5% Amazon

Apple Mastercard
3% Apple purchases

Fidelity and Paypal
2% Everything else-these cards don't get much use from using the ones above

I had previously used the 2% Citi card but had many purchases declined and couldn't get them to stop.

[steph08]

Oct 10, 2019 7:51:01 GMT -5 resolution said:

I use the Citi Doublecash card, which has no fees and gives 2% back on everything. I get less back than the people with the rotating categories and less than the people with multiple cards that they use for specific stores, but at this point in my life I am lazy enough to just want one card for everything.

Yep - this is me, too. I like the card. 

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 10, 2019 9:00:04 GMT -5 @aj said:

I use the: 

Uber Visa 
4% at Restaurants/Bars
3% Travel

AMEX Blue Preferred -75 annual fee that is well worth it for me
6%, Grocery Stores
6%, Streaming Subscriptions
3% Gas
3% Rideshare/Tolls 

Amazon Chase Visa
5% Amazon

Apple Mastercard
3% Apple purchases

Fidelity and Paypal
2% Everything else-these cards don't get much use from using the ones above

I had previously used the 2% Citi card but had many purchases declined and couldn't get them to stop.

Just curious about your Amex. Back in the day if I bought groceries at Super Target it wasn’t considered “groceries “.  I don’t use that card any more but just wondered if they changed the exception?

Sams MC
5% gas (I used to buy cigs at service station and got 5% guess they didn’t distinguish purchases  just go by code of business)
3% travel and dining 
1% everything else.
Rebate redeemable in February. Apply to balance, use for in store purchase or get cash!

Target 
5% at cash register. Target purchases only.

I have couple other cards but never ever use? Cut down in old age. 

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2019 9:31:50 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Oct 10, 2019 9:00:04 GMT -5 @aj said:

I use the: 

Uber Visa 
4% at Restaurants/Bars
3% Travel

AMEX Blue Preferred -75 annual fee that is well worth it for me
6%, Grocery Stores
6%, Streaming Subscriptions
3% Gas
3% Rideshare/Tolls 

Amazon Chase Visa
5% Amazon

Apple Mastercard
3% Apple purchases

Fidelity and Paypal
2% Everything else-these cards don't get much use from using the ones above

I had previously used the 2% Citi card but had many purchases declined and couldn't get them to stop.

Just curious about your Amex. Back in the day if I bought groceries at Super Target it wasn’t considered “groceries “.  I don’t use that card any more but just wondered if they changed the exception?

Sams MC
5% gas (I used to buy cigs at service station and got 5% guess they didn’t distinguish purchases  just go by code of business)
3% travel and dining 
1% everything else.
Rebate redeemable in February. Apply to balance, use for in store purchase or get cash!

Target 
5% at cash register. Target purchases only.

I have couple other cards but never ever use? Cut down in old age. 

Here is their list, they specifically say it doesn’t qualify at Target and Walmart but it does at Meijer.

www.americanexpress.com/us/rewards-info/retail.html

[souldoubt]

Oct 10, 2019 7:51:01 GMT -5 resolution said:

I use the Citi Doublecash card, which has no fees and gives 2% back on everything. I get less back than the people with the rotating categories and less than the people with multiple cards that they use for specific stores, but at this point in my life I am lazy enough to just want one card for everything.

This.  I don't care or spend enough to make figuring out which card to use at a specific vendor or type of vendor will get me another 1-2% worth it.  I carry only one CC on me while the rest are locked up at home.  

[justme]

I'm one who uses different cards based on rewards.

Amazon Chase - Amazon, drug stores, and sometimes restaurants if I don't have my Coscto card

Costco - all costco purchases, gas, and I put all my travel on it but am looking for a new travel card to pay for the up front costs with a free travel insurance plan

Bank of America Cash Rewards - I have the 3% category set for online shopping so it all goes there, and a lot of my other purchases as I get a bonus for having a BofA checking account

Chase Freedom - the rotating categories if I remember, otherwise I'll throw some other purchases on there sometimes

Penfed - usually gets groceries and sometimes gas (it's 5x points for gas but it's more that 100pts to get a $1)

I also have a few store cards out there that I've gotten for 0% deals. 

I'm thinking of another BofA card that gives travel protection, free global entry, and $100 airline credit a year. Need to decide soon as I have a final payment for another trip coming soon and want to have travel insurance coverage on it. 

[cottontail]

Oct 10, 2019 6:58:44 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

Oct 9, 2019 16:17:43 GMT -5 cottontail said:

The Costco Visa looks great but I'd kind of prefer a card that I don't have to worry about losing if I ever stop being a Costco member. Also, there was the Costco AmEx that went away in the past, so there's no guarantee that won't happen with the Costco Visa.

I would have a 20+ year credit history with a Visa but it was shut down for inactivity.  I started using my husband's major credit card and didn't even realize that my Visa had been shut down because they didn't notify me. I only have a couple of store cards in my name now. I am an authorized user for one of my husband's major cards but it looks like they are not reporting it on my credit report.

I feel like I should have my own major credit card. Visa or Mastercard, preferably. Almost all of my credit card purchases are online to various stores for clothing, pet food, and gifts, but I do also purchase gas and sometimes use a card at restaurants. I am looking for a no fee card and I really don't want to have to keep track of ever changing discount categories.

Everyone's got their favorite card for various reasons.  And I'm not sure you would qualify for all of them given you don't have a major credit card.

That said, I like the Chase Freedom Unlimited.  It has a nice sign-on bonus and 1.5% cashback with no rotating categories.  

Have you asked the company who previously had your Visa to reopen it?  Or are you angry with them?  

My credit score is over 800 at all 3 bureaus (though it initially went from like 820+ to 780's when that card dropped off), so I'm hoping I won't have trouble getting a major credit card.

I did ask my credit union if they could reopen my Visa but they said it would be a new account and it was not possible to have a continuation of my credit history under my old card. I didn't bother to have them start a new account for me because they do a lame points rewards system where you can only turn the points in for overpriced goods. If I'm going to have to get a whole new account anyway, I want cash back.

I know that it's probably silly to worry about it, but when I was young and very poor I took great pains to get and keep a great credit history and it's just a huge bummer that the card was closed due to inactivity. It was my first major credit card and I had planned to keep it for life.

[Blonde Granny]

I have an Ameritrade CC that is connected to my brokerage accounts. It' pays 1.5% on everything. I recently changed my 20 y/o Citi CC to the double cash back. I receive 1% for everything I change and 1% for everything when I pay my bill. Nice was to make 2%.

Both cards work well for me.

[TheOtherMe]

Oct 10, 2019 14:26:21 GMT -5 cottontail said:

Oct 10, 2019 6:58:44 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

My credit score is over 800 at all 3 bureaus (though it initially went from like 820+ to 780's when that card dropped off), so I'm hoping I won't have trouble getting a major credit card.


I know that it's probably silly to worry about it, but when I was young and very poor I took great pains to get and keep a great credit history and it's just a huge bummer that the card was closed due to inactivity. It was my first major credit card and I had planned to keep it for life.

No, it isn't silly to worry about credit in your own name.  If the cards your husband has are not in both names, you need a card in your name.

If you shop at Amazon.  I like Amazon Chase Cash Rewards.  

Otherwise, it depends on how you spend your money.  

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2019 13:20:27 GMT -5 justme said:

I'm one who uses different cards based on rewards.

Amazon Chase - Amazon, drug stores, and sometimes restaurants if I don't have my Coscto card

Costco - all costco purchases, gas, and I put all my travel on it but am looking for a new travel card to pay for the up front costs with a free travel insurance plan

Bank of America Cash Rewards - I have the 3% category set for online shopping so it all goes there, and a lot of my other purchases as I get a bonus for having a BofA checking account

Chase Freedom - the rotating categories if I remember, otherwise I'll throw some other purchases on there sometimes

Penfed - usually gets groceries and sometimes gas (it's 5x points for gas but it's more that 100pts to get a $1)

I also have a few store cards out there that I've gotten for 0% deals. 

I'm thinking of another BofA card that gives travel protection, free global entry, and $100 airline credit a year. Need to decide soon as I have a final payment for another trip coming soon and want to have travel insurance coverage on it. 

I do as well although it isn't simply based on rewards.  For example, my old Chase Freedom only pays 1%, but I use it for all tax deductible medical expenses including parking.  Although medical expenses won't be deductible for us at the federal level, in tax year 2020 it should be deductible on the state level because our SS payments and my RSA pension are both exempt from Alabama taxes.  That means I will have a really low state income for 2020.  So I started now to put everything on that card including my Medicare payments until my SS check kicks in this month.

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2019 14:26:21 GMT -5 cottontail said:

I know that it's probably silly to worry about it, but when I was young and very poor I took great pains to get and keep a great credit history and it's just a huge bummer that the card was closed due to inactivity. It was my first major credit card and I had planned to keep it for life.

Not silly at all to worry about your credit rating since it can affect your car insurance rates and some employers check it before hiring.

As for keeping a card for life- probably not a good idea. As you noted, your original Visa gave points that weren't very useful. My first credit card, a Visa from Fifth Third Bank, gave no rewards (it was 1976) and later imposed a $15 annual fee. I dropped it years ago. I've got the best of both worlds now- no annual fee and cash back- but I'm well aware that I need to do a decent volume of business on both because they collect zero interest from me and they've gotta make their money from the merchants.

[CCL]

For everyday purchases, I like my Fidelity VISA. 2% back on everything when deposited to my Fidelity account.

[jeffreymo]

We use the Chase Freedom for 5% on rotating categories, Bank of America World cash reward for 2%/3% on groceries/gas, and Chase Freedom Unlimited on 1.5% on everything else.

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2019 14:26:21 GMT -5 cottontail said:

Oct 10, 2019 6:58:44 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

Everyone's got their favorite card for various reasons.  And I'm not sure you would qualify for all of them given you don't have a major credit card.

That said, I like the Chase Freedom Unlimited.  It has a nice sign-on bonus and 1.5% cashback with no rotating categories.  

Have you asked the company who previously had your Visa to reopen it?  Or are you angry with them?  

My credit score is over 800 at all 3 bureaus (though it initially went from like 820+ to 780's when that card dropped off), so I'm hoping I won't have trouble getting a major credit card.

I did ask my credit union if they could reopen my Visa but they said it would be a new account and it was not possible to have a continuation of my credit history under my old card. I didn't bother to have them start a new account for me because they do a lame points rewards system where you can only turn the points in for overpriced goods. If I'm going to have to get a whole new account anyway, I want cash back.

I know that it's probably silly to worry about it, but when I was young and very poor I took great pains to get and keep a great credit history and it's just a huge bummer that the card was closed due to inactivity. It was my first major credit card and I had planned to keep it for life.

I have no flaws on my credit reports except that I have a couple year credit history because I close credit cards when a better rewards card comes along.  My score has been between 770 and 790 for the last 15 years and I have never been declined for a new card.

[NoNamePerson]

Well, I received this in todays mail. Haven't gotten a CC solicitation in forever since I tried to opt out of the crap! It's a Black Card Master Card. Big ta do is that it is Black-PVD-Coated Metal Card. They even show how much the card weighs compared to other cards.

Weighing in with these benefits (their wording) I guess that is the buzz word for this card?

2% value for airfair redemptions.

$200 Annual Airline Credit

VIP Luxury Card Travel

1.5% Value for cash back redemptions

24/7 Luxury card concierge

$200 Global Entry & TSA pre check credit

No foreign transaction fees

Heck, there are perks on front of the "mailing" and on the back so not going to list them   Oh, get a luxury Magazine too.

Lots of those itty bitty 1's and 2's beside these perks but print to small to read exceptions.

And the beauty of this card is that I can get it along with a $495 Annual fee and $195 for additional users.

[TheOtherMe]

You have already ordered that $495 annual fee card, right?

[NoNamePerson]

I ordered two just for double the perks 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

I'm not one that pays a lot of attention to all of this, but I do try to max what I can.

Amazon prime visa - 5% back at whole foods was why I got it! 5% amazon too someone listed above. Wish I'd gotten it when we were buying 1-2 k of textbooks a year off amazon!!

Discover - always something for extra, but annoyed you have to "sign up" quarterly to get the extras.

Target - 5% off target

have a TJX credit card, but don't use it much these days, did get some good amount of free clothing when I used it a little more.

Thanks for this thread!

I had forgotten about cashing in my rewards on the amazon prime - it is up to $300 and I think I will put it towards my next statement balance. It take up to 3 business days (!! I had never done it before!!) so I am just squeaking in for this month's payments by doing it today!!

Super thanks!!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Investigating the discover rewards, and they are not as good as the amazon prime ones for regular shopping! I didn't know that! And they are out and proud with their 5% and it took me a loooong time to find what the regular rate is - and some spots it is only 0.25%

Will keep the amazon prime as my goto card, except for Discover 5% categories - which change quarterly and you have to sign up....sooooo....

thanks again!

[financialpeace]

Those of you that have Costco cards, is the 2% back in addition to your normal Costco rebate or does it replace it?