# Recommendations for a new credit card **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 21, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496 "2023-11-21T21:01:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/1 "2023-11-21T21:01:03Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/2 "2023-11-21T21:26:45Z")
I have a “[Citi Custom Cash Card](https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/citi-custom-cash-credit-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. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/3 "2023-11-21T22:21:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/4 "2023-11-21T22:28:21Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Do you have an Amazon Prime credit card? You get a nice bonus for signing up, and thereafter 5% off on any Amazon charges. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/5 "2023-11-21T22:49:11Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/6 "2023-11-21T23:02:28Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/7 "2023-11-22T02:21:17Z")
If you belong to a credit union you might want to check out their offerings too. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/8 "2023-11-22T02:57:48Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/9 "2023-11-22T03:13:09Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > If you belong to a credit union you might want to check out their offerings too. 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? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/10 "2023-11-22T03:19:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/11 "2023-11-22T03:19:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-a-new-credit-card/993496/12 "2023-11-22T04:38:04Z")
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.