Rewards Credit Cards

[RugbyD]

So I'm sitting here with a credit card that gives me no benefit outside of keeping the carry on my checking account. That doesn't sound productive enough so I'm lookg into cards that provide miles or other benefits and was wondering what everyone's experience has been or if they have any particular recs. I never carry a balance so the interest rate could be 23986752897% for all i care.

I live in Chicago so a card tied to a single airline probably doesn't benefit me. I see some Capital One mileage cars out there. The Amex Gold Card also looks interesting b/c the rewards are so flexible, but it carries a $125 annual fee. Theres other ones too, so many choices. Anywho...general thoughts?

[thedude]

the master card insurance is nice.

[Yoda]

I had the Citi Rewards MC but I didn't realize that they capped my points so I missed out on thousands. I got pissed and immediately cancelled their ass.

I have an Amex now but the points accumulate so slowly. I don't even know how many points I have nor do I care anymore.

[Snakes Gould]

im actually pretty interested in this as well. im looking to get a new card, but with so much competition out there, i feel like a company should offer me something to use them.

[RugbyD]

I had the Citi Rewards MC but I didn't realize that they capped my points so I missed out on thousands. I got pissed and immediately cancelled their ass.

I have an Amex now but the points accumulate so slowly. I don't even know how many points I have nor do I care anymore.

What are the general specs on both cards? What makes the Amex accumulate slower?

[JTWood]

I literally just got Bank of America's AMEX with the 1.25% cash back plan. It's simple, and I think it's as good as cash back gets. There are no tiers, no fees, and you can redeem in $50 increments.

[slomo007]

Chase Freedom card is all you need to have:

2% on the top 3 categories of spending each month (gas, groceries, bookstores, etc)
2% on the top 6 categories each month if you are a Chase checking customer
1% on everything else

I think they cap your 2% rewards at $600/month in spending, then you get 1% on everything else.

Here's the best part: once you build up $200 worth of rewards, you can redeem for a check worth $250 so an extra $50 for free.

So far it's hands down the best rewards card I've used since the Citi Dividend card was giving 5% cash back on gas/groceries. That ended a while ago though.

[markj11]

I have AMEX Blue, you can get up to 5% cash back, no fees. A credit goes towards your January statement. I am usually in the $500-600 range but this year I am building a new house and I am already at $900.

For the first $6,500 of annual purchases, the rebate is 1% for Bonus Cash Back Purchases and 0.50% for all other Eligible Purchases; for Eligible Purchases of $6,500.01 or more, the rebate is 5% for Bonus Cash Back Purchases and 1.5% for all other Eligible Purchases. "Bonus Cash Back Purchases" are Eligible Purchases made at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations and drugstores, in each case that are not departments of superstores or warehouse clubs. "Eligible Purchases" are charges to your account for goods or services that have not been returned or otherwise credited to your account. Eligible Purchases do not include Finance Charges, fees, Cash Advances or other means of accessing your account, convenience checks, Balance Transfers, or the purchase of American Express® Travelers Cheques and American Express® Gift Cheques or other cash equivalents. Additional terms and conditions apply.

[Field]

It looks like I'm going to get a new credit card as well after reading some of these posts. I am getting hosed right now.

[Mookie4ever]

It really depends on how much you plan to put on it. My personal card gives 1% cash back and that's pretty good b/c we don't put that much on it. But my business card is a Visa airmiles card. I'm able to put my office rent on this card and almost all of my business expenses and the air miles rock. I was just able to buy an entire vacation for next march break entirely on air miles. Plane tickets to LA, hotel, rental car and a 7 day cruise all on air miles With the 1% cash back I wouldn't have had enough to pay for even one of those things.