@Bman70 wrote:
@longtimelurker wrote:
1) Sallie Mae, 5% gas and groceries up to $250 per month each (+ 5% on bookstores including Amazon, up to $750 per month)
2) Amex Blue Cash Preferred, 6% groceries up to $6K per year, 3% gas (and 3% select department stores)
3) Amex Everyday Preferred: 3MR groceries up to $6K a year, 2MR gas (and select department stores) 50% if 30 or more purchases per month
4) Amex Blue Cash: 5% groceries, 5% gas (and 5% drug stores) no cap, after initial $6.5K a year
Wow 6% is the highest I've seen. Is that BCP straight cash or points? I'm guessing cash hence the name? But the regular BC might match it with 5% instead of 3 on gas. I'll need to research those thanks!
Statement credit
@evil_ducky wrote:
Well, BCE is never the solution, Sallie Mae is always better for this. Isn't 321 Rewards limited as well, why is that preferable to Sallie Mae
Not everyone spends less than $250 a month on grocery and discount stores, so BCE is a good mid-line alternative for someone who doesn't spend enough to justify the BCP's AF. BCE does give 3% on groceries as opposed to the BofA's 2% and vice versa on the gas, and people have different priorities. But the advantage of the BofA and the Sallie Mae over Amex is the grocery discount as discount stores like Target and Wally World. I just got the Sallie Mae myself as well, but it *is* a small cap for gas and groceries, so I don't assume it will work for everyone.
You and the other posters have excellent answers as well; I just posted mine before I refreshed.
My point was as TMWC infamous chart posted later shows, the BCE is ALWAYS inferior to the Sallie Mae on gas and groceries. This is because the higher cap is undone by the lower rate. So, apart from select department stores (and 2% is nothing special!) there really is no case for BCE as a grocery/gas card (and the Everyday is a better free Amex card if that is what is desired!)
@evil_ducky wrote:Not everyone spends less than $250 a month on grocery and discount stores
Exactly, I'm higher in both categories. So far the BCP looks like my rewards would easily cover the AF plus tidy profit
@longtimelurker wrote:
@evil_ducky wrote:Well, BCE is never the solution, Sallie Mae is always better for this. Isn't 321 Rewards limited as well, why is that preferable to Sallie Mae
Not everyone spends less than $250 a month on grocery and discount stores, so BCE is a good mid-line alternative for someone who doesn't spend enough to justify the BCP's AF. BCE does give 3% on groceries as opposed to the BofA's 2% and vice versa on the gas, and people have different priorities. But the advantage of the BofA and the Sallie Mae over Amex is the grocery discount as discount stores like Target and Wally World. I just got the Sallie Mae myself as well, but it *is* a small cap for gas and groceries, so I don't assume it will work for everyone.
You and the other posters have excellent answers as well; I just posted mine before I refreshed.
My point was as TMWC infamous chart posted later shows, the BCE is ALWAYS inferior to the Sallie Mae on gas and groceries. This is because the higher cap is undone by the lower rate. So, apart from select department stores (and 2% is nothing special!) there really is no case for BCE as a grocery/gas card (and the Everyday is a better free Amex card if that is what is desired!)
Makes sense. I guess two Sallie Maes is the answer! lol
So far unless I'm missing something the BCP seems like it was designed for my spending habits. Grocery highest, then gas.. I wouldn't use it for the 1% other stuff, instead go to my Quicksilver or maybe an Amazon. Just got a preapproval for the Amex Everyday in the mail, so hopefully that's a good indicator for the BCP. Great suggestions, thanks!
