Recommendations for a new credit card

In My Humble Opinion
1

I usually don’t like having tons of unneeded bills to pay (so Mr. Absentminded here doesn’t forget to pay a bill), but I almost got stuck on a recent trip where my only credit card was declined, and I had to use a debit card for a virtually empty credit union account. I do have a Capital One card, but it expired and I need to call in a replacement. I’d like to get a third one, esp. if I decide to start traveling abroad again.

So, any recs, for or against? Dirty tricks to watch out for? [hidden fees, exorbitant late penalties and interest charges, tendency to get declined a lot] TIA.

2

I have a “Citi Custom Cash Card” which gives 5% back in whatever category I spend the most in (up to $500 per month spend). I use it only for groceries, which also gives me a discount at the supermarket-affiliated gas station, which is the cheapest around. Right now there’s a $200 cashback bonus for signing up and spending $1500 within 6 months. The bonuses that you get for signing up for credit cards (and the monthly cashback) isn’t reported as taxable income. No annual fee.

Disney has a Chase Visa with a big bonus right now - spend $1,000 in 3 months and get a $300 bonus. Then cancel it if you don’t want to keep it. No annual fee.

Do you have an Amazon Prime credit card? You get a nice bonus for signing up, and thereafter 5% off on any Amazon charges.

Bankrate usually has a list of the best credit card offers every month.

3

If you decide to start traveling again, our Chase Sapphire Reserve has been great. Big fee, but you get a yearly $300 travel credit plus miles, plus primary rental car insurance and many travel insurance benefits that we have used with minimal fuss. I was recently injured and had to cancel an expensive Fiji trip–took about 6 days for the money to be in my bank account, not a card credit.

4

I have one and probably get at least $1k a year cash back. It seems like best option for us because we shop at Amazon a lot.

5

I have the non-Prime version of the Amazon credit card and I earn roughly $400 per year. The trick is not to use the points to actually buy stuff from Amazon but to cash them out. (The reason is that I get 3% back on Amazon purchases but wouldn’t get that if I used reward points to buy the stuff.)

6

Yes, my husband is fond of reminding me of this. I just save the points and use them for lower income months (we have variable income.)

7

If you belong to a credit union you might want to check out their offerings too.

8

I know this. But I also know that checking out with a $0.00 balance after I apply the points is addicting.

The Amazon Prime card also gets you discounts at Whole Foods now that Amazon bought it.

I always pay the total every month so I don’t know how they are on interest charges or late payments or that stuff. But I’d recommend it as a card.

9

That’s my main one.

I wish there were Fresh Markets or at least Harris Teeter’s up here, but was not impressed with Whole Foods (@ a franchise in Florida).

Howzabout American Express?

10

Amex still suffers from not being as widely accepted as Mastercard and Visa, mainly because of their higher interchange fees. That’s a problem for smaller merchants.

11

Great card! I hardly ever use my Amex Platinum for anything anymore. I do like the perks from the Amex Aspire and Boundless cards for traveling. The hotel benefits are amazing.

12

I second the suggestion to check out your credit union offering. Mine is a Visa, so it’s accepted pretty much everywhere, it’s no-fee, and we get cash back. I never carry a balance, so I’m not even sure what the interest rate is anymore, but when I was paying attention to that, it was one of the more reasonable (for a credit card) rates.