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I'm sure this has been addressed before but in looking back through the threads I could not find it. If you can tell me where it is or give me information on which credit card gives you the best deal on cash back I would appreciate it.
I think getting cash back on a credit card may trigger a very high interest rate and the calculation of the interest starts immediately. On purchases, I think there's no interest if you pay it off at the end of the month. But taking cash is different. Best to check with the card provider.
Each card is different and has different tiers and different promotions. When I was researching, I concluded that AMEX had the best rate for me. However, they couldn't get a card to me in time for a major expenditure (DD's tuition) so I went with the Visa offered by my credit union. It is a very simple 1% and it is accepted almost everywhere that accepts credit cards (except Costco--so Costco doesn't get much business from me).
I could get more if I was willling to invest the time to play the system but I'm just too tired and not inclined to do that. You do have to pay in full each month or the interest can wipe out your cash back. The convenience of seeing my cc balance daily when I check my checking account on-line is nice. I can transfer money anytime I think my cc balance is getting too high. I love the simplicity and convenience.
In short, there is no one "best" card for everyone. Look where you spend the most money to see which cards they accept. No credit card is going to be helpful if the merchant doesn't accept it. Decide what you spend money on. Perhaps a card that pays more for those types of purchases would suit you best. I believe Discover has "specials" where they target a certain type of store with a higher %age cash back for a set period of time. They may pay more for grocery stores one month, more for clothiers another month. But Discover isn't always accepted so take that into mind.
I prefer airline miles to cash back (because I value those miles at more than a penny each), but I take it one step further. My preferred card is the Starwood Amex, which earns 1 Starpoint per dollar spent. You can transfer 20k Starpoints to get 25k airline miles with most airlines, so you effectively earn 1.25 airline miles per dollar spent, plus you have the flexiblity of not being tied to one airline. And most people find the hotel stays (especially Cash & Points) to be an even better deal than the airline miles, although I suspect that wouldn't be the case for timesharers. (It can be useful to fill in days around a one-week timeshare stay, though! We're doing that next month in Kauai.)
The problem with AMEX is that, although the rewards may be higher, they are not accepted by many merchants. That limits your rewards if you are trying to use it for most of your spending.
Of course, you can use a different rewards card such as a Visa or Discover for those merchants who don't accept AMEX, but most cards have a build-up system meaning the higher rewards come after you've spent a certain amount of money. If you have to build up on several cards, you are losing rewards, IMO.
Our VISA Signature Card give great cash back incentives. For the best deal you have to pay a yearly fee, but I've earned that back plus much, much more. My favorite deal is when I collect $200 they will send me a check for $250!! Right there I've made my yearly fee, which is only $30.
I'm not sure where you shop, but AMEX is accepted by 95%+ of the places I go. In fact, my last MC bill had charges from only one retail (and one business vendor which doesn't accept AMEX as they have a sweetheart deal with Visa/MC instead... sort of like Costco has with AMEX).
"Most purchases"? 3% is only offered on gasoline and restaurant purchases. To be clear, the details are:
Earn Cash Back - 3% for gasoline, for annual gasoline purchases of up to $3,000 (1% thereafter), 3% for restaurants, 2% for travel, 1% everywhere else, including Costco.
I'm not sure where you shop, but AMEX is accepted by 95%+ of the places I go. In fact, my last MC bill had charges from only one retail (and one business vendor which doesn't accept AMEX as they have a sweetheart deal with Visa/MC instead... sort of like Costco has with AMEX).
It just seems to me that I often see signs indicating that the merchant doesn't accept Amex. DH used to have to use Amex for his business expenses. He hated it because he couldn't use it much of the time and had to pay out-of-pocket and submit an expense report. Maybe things are different now.
As I mentioned previously, the OP should check where she usually shops to see which, if any, cards are accepted. That will help with her choice of card.
I think it depends on where you shop. I find that small independent merchants sometimes don't accept American Express but all major stores do. I use the Hawaiian Airline Visa as my back up card, when a store doesn't accept AMEX.
Amex fees to the merchant are typically much higher than fees from other cards (e.g., Visa, Master Card, Discover) which is why many merchants don't accept AMEX - makes a big dent in the bottom line.
Wyndham; Disney OKW & SSR; Marriott's Willow Ridge, Shadow Ridge and Grand Chateau; Val Chatelle; Hono Koa OF (3); SBR(LOTS), SDO a few); WKORV-OFC-4 and Westin Desert Willow.
I am pretty excited about our new Capital One Venture Visa Card.
We get 2% back on all purchases to use toward airline tickets. We got a sign-on bonus, too. We can buy airline tickets wherever we want (no more first class tickets for anything), then we get a credit for the purchase when we have the money built up.
We have only had it for about three months and already have 41K miles built up, about $20K spent, and that's $420 off our next ticket purchase. They also have gift cards to major restaurants, but we probably won't get those.
Capital One didn't charge any transaction fee for our Australia RCI Points
MF's, which saved me about $15 from last year (can't really remember).
Amex fees to the merchant are typically much higher than fees from other cards (e.g., Visa, Master Card, Discover) which is why many merchants don't accept AMEX - makes a big dent in the bottom line.
This isn't true any longer. It was true for a long time, but in the last few years AMEX has become much more competitive.
In fact, my business pays AMEX less than business Visa/MC cards (and the problem for the merchant is that we never know if it's a business or personal Visa/MC being used for a purchase until we see our statement at the end of the month from our merchant provider).
This isn't true any longer. It was true for a long time, but in the last few years AMEX has become much more competitive.
In fact, my business pays AMEX less than business Visa/MC cards (and the problem for the merchant is that we never know if it's a business or personal Visa/MC being used for a purchase until we see our statement at the end of the month from our merchant provider).
And most people find the hotel stays (especially Cash & Points) to be an even better deal than the airline miles, although I suspect that wouldn't be the case for timesharers. (It can be useful to fill in days around a one-week timeshare stay, though! We're doing that next month in Kauai.)
Michael, I have a bunch of Starwood points I need to use and was thinking about this same plan just today--to add a few days or a week before or after a week at the BI (maybe on another island). After accumulating these points after some time and never using them, any pointers for getting HI just over a year out?
Ken55 I think Thheath was referring to this perk regarding Costco Executive Membership
Executive Membership is our highest level of membership. Executive Members enjoy an annual 2% Reward on most Costco purchases, as well as additional values on member services, such as lower prices on check printing, payroll services and identity protection; an account bonus for money market and online investing accounts; free roadside assistance for vehicles covered through the auto insurance program; and extra travel benefits.
This is in addition to the AMEX card rewards in March??. I just got my reward check last month and was pleasantly surprised.
Michael, I have a bunch of Starwood points I need to use and was thinking about this same plan just today--to add a few days or a week before or after a week at the BI (maybe on another island). After accumulating these points after some time and never using them, any pointers for getting HI just over a year out?
Ken55 I think Thheath was referring to this perk regarding Costco Executive Membership
Executive Membership is our highest level of membership. Executive Members enjoy an annual 2% Reward on most Costco purchases, as well as additional values on member services, such as lower prices on check printing, payroll services and identity protection; an account bonus for money market and online investing accounts; free roadside assistance for vehicles covered through the auto insurance program; and extra travel benefits.
This is in addition to the AMEX card rewards in March??. I just got my reward check last month and was pleasantly surprised.
Exec members have always (?) received 2% from purchases at Costco. AMEX has nothing to do with that aspect of your Costco membership. I get my check every year...
Costco Executive members earn 2% back on Costco purchases.
Costco American Express card holders earn the following:
•Earn Cash Back - 3% for gasoline, for annual gasoline purchases of up to $3,000 (1% thereafter), 3% for restaurants, 2% for travel, 1% everywhere else, including Costco.1
•No Annual Fee with your paid Costco Membership.
•The TrueEarnings® Card serves as both your American Express Credit Card and your Costco Membership Card.
•The flexibility to pay charges over time.
•No limit on the Cash Back earned.
The problem with AMEX is that, although the rewards may be higher, they are not accepted by many merchants. That limits your rewards if you are trying to use it for most of your spending.
I seldom have problems with merchants not accepting AMEX. A buddy of mine, however, has a Discover card and he finds that quite a few merchants don't accept it.
I'm not sure where you shop, but AMEX is accepted by 95%+ of the places I go. In fact, my last MC bill had charges from only one retail (and one business vendor which doesn't accept AMEX as they have a sweetheart deal with Visa/MC instead... sort of like Costco has with AMEX).
Agreed....coupled with an Executive Costco membership, the AMEX is the way to go for us. We use it everywhere, and shop Costco a lot. The rebate check(s) pay for my annual golf vacation in Myrtle Beach:whoopie:
Gives you 2% back on all purchases. It does require you to have a Fidelity brokerage account (but in my biased opinion, Fidelity is the best brokerage out there).
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