Best Credit Card

Updated on August 03, 2010
M.S. asks from Fort Sheridan, IL
18 answers

We our looking for a new credit card with a rewards programs(either cash back or travel). Does anyone know of a great one to get?

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So What Happened?

Thanks! We have not paid interest on a credit card in years so a nice rewards program is MUST for us! Our current card is no longer doing rewards. Thanks again, everyone!

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T.C.

answers from Chicago on

There is no such thing as a good credit card. Get the Total Money Make Over by Dave Ramsey, you will see what I mean!!!!!!

2 moms found this helpful
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F.S.

answers from St. Louis on

How about none!! Why be a slave to a piece of plastic? If you don't have it in cash or savings then you don't need it.

2 moms found this helpful

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C.

answers from Chicago on

We use the credit cards as you do, for rewards and paying it off each month. The companies offer different things at different times, but generally Chase and Citibank have the most advantageous programs for cash and gift cards back. Years ago I was turned off by Capitol One as their customer service was terrible and friends complained too of being double charged or charged for things they didn't buy, though that WAS probably 10 years ago. Discover advertises the cash back, but generally don't offer as much as Chase or Citibank as it was 1% and percentages of a percent back. Chase and Citibank both offer extra points for gas, groceries, pharmacy or I think Citibank actually has 7 categories and you get extra points in the 3 categories with highest money spent for the month. The extra points comes out to 3-5% and every other purchase 1% when I get cash back with Chase or gift cards with Citibank. With Chase, the rewards are a little more limited for the year than Citibank, so we use both cards because Chase gives cash back (we get a credit to our statement because it seems simplest when we get to $50 cash back points) and Citibank we redeem for gift cards because the cash back uses more points. The list gives a wide variety of gift cards to choose from. You can also redeem for "things", but the gift cards seems to get you the most for your points/money or airline mileage, but I don't fly much so I don't know much about that program. So I'd check to see what Chase and Citibank are offering right now for credit card rewards programs. :)

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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

We have Chase and Citi. Citi has the better rewards program, although we get rewards through both; you can get great cash back, or buy stuff on their Thank You website. We have bought expensive car seats and strollers that way! It's been really awesome.

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P.W.

answers from San Francisco on

I have a Chase that gives cash back rewards, to to 3 or 4 percent depending on category, and then when you reach 200 points you can order a $250 check instead of $200. I put most things on it and get about $1000 free dollars a year that way. Don't know if they're still offering it.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

It doesn't matter. They're ALL a bad idea as far as the "rewards" go. The average credit card user will pay 47% MORE for an item compared to if they were paying ca$h. Makes the 2% or 5% back seem kind of paltry doesn't it?

Check this out:
http://www.daveramsey.com/article/the-truth-about-credit-...

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from New York on

Capital One offers one with airline milage. For cash back, Discover is good, they have special promotions that you sign up for and you can earn up to 5% back, ie for the month of July earn 5% at restaurants.

Chase has several rewards programs. We have their Disney card, and it's worked well in the past (before they closed the Disney Stores).

Personally I like the reward program where it happens automatically. We have a BJ's visa issued through Barclays. When we reach our goal, a checkis automatcially sent to us. The check can only be used at BJ's and is usually only good for 90 days. It works for us because we shop there every other week.

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S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

We use the UPromise card. We get 1% back on all purchases plus some stores and restaurants give an extra percentage and there are even some brands of products that give an extra percentage back. You can also register your store cards (Kroger, Meijer, CVS, etc...) and it will track those purchases and give extra percentages plus provide coupons you can use in tandem with your paper coupons.
Then you link it to a 529 account and save in a tax-free account for your kids' education. We get $20-30 per month!!

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B.W.

answers from Salt Lake City on

We use Chase too. You get points for each dollar you spend, and then you can "buy" rewards with your points. You only get the points if you pay off your balance each month though...which everyone should do anyway. We put our rent and most spending on it, and every other month, we trade it in for gift cards and enjoy a free date night! But you can use your points for cash back or travel too.

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J.W.

answers from Dallas on

I too say Chase. We have a leisure rewards card through them and we like it a lot.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Chicago on

we use our discover card for most things and get the cash back. they also have the shop discover online and if you go to the various stores through the discover website, you can get up to 10% cash back on certain purchases. We've been happy with it, but I don't know if it is "the best". It is the best for us!

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

We use a couple of cards. One at a time, pertaining to rewards and the one we use is PAID IN FULL ahead of time each month. Like you.... as far as interet rates on the cards....I have no clue because we pay in full.

We run our company from home so I buy airline tickets, rental cars, hotels, etc.

Citibank Drivers Edge -- You can earn up to $500/yr toward a rebate on a car/year. On 2 occasions, we have bought new cars, sent receipt to Citi and received a check for $1500 cash back.

American Air by Citibank. Points for air miles. Great concept and we've used this a lot, however, AAir is harder to deal with regarding travel and added fees. We have pretty much stopped using this card.

Our company card is through Bank of America (primary use right now because we already hit the $500 on Drivers edge which is the yearly limit). You can get cash back with BOA and we opt for this one now.

As far as airlines, Southwest is "our company plane" because they are SO easy to work with and HQ here. Hubby flies them so much that he gets a free ticket in the mail about once every 2-3 months. He's also flown so much that he has a companion pass (me) and I fly free as long as I am on the same flight with him. Just a thought if the air travel rewards work for you.

On big ticket items, we negotiate with the seller (upgrading AC system $15,000, waters heaters $2000, garage doors $2500) and do not use the credit card. Most big ticket companies pay the credit card company up to 6% or more to use the credit card, so we offer cash on big stuff and get a cash discount up to 10%.

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S.R.

answers from San Francisco on

You could check with credit unions in your area too. We get points for every signature based transaction on our debit card. We belong to Patelco Credit Union. They are pretty large but I'm not sure if you are eligible in IL to join. We get 1 point for every dollar. It's not as much as some credit cards but we don't have to pay a bill either, it comes right out of our checking.

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K.N.

answers from Chicago on

We have never paid interest on our credit cards (we always pay them off when the bill comes). We use Capital One because it has lots of options. We have never had a problem :) Good Luck!

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H.S.

answers from Chicago on

We have two Chase Visas. One gives us 3% back on gas, office supplies, home repair (Menards) and restaurants. It's a business card and is great. We also have a personal card that gives us 3% back on groceries, drug stores, and gas up to $300 per month. Neither of them have a year limit. We've been very happy with them making over $500 per year sometimes back. They also give 1% back on everything.

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C.P.

answers from Chicago on

As long as you pay your bills in full, credit cards are the way to go (regardless of what Dave Ramsey has to say about it). Every credit card I use has a cash back rewards attached to it (RBS, Chase, Discover). Capital One's customer service blows so I'd stay clear away from C1. When you apply, also apply for the autopayment (there shouldn't be any fees attached to it), that way you know your bills will be paid on time every month.

Good luck.

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A.D.

answers from Chicago on

We have an Amazon one through Chase. You can use it to buy Amazon.com gift certificates, travel certificates and various other things. I love it because we are always buying things off Amazon. We also never carry a balance so I have no idea about that stuff, I just know there is no annual fee for the card.

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K.B.

answers from Chicago on

Hi ,

We have the Disney credit card through Chase they also have the toy-r-us card . You get 1.00 for every 100.00 you use . There is no annual fee either

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