No credit card required
Browse credit cards from a variety of issuers to see if there's a better card for you.
Funny how eveyone gets protective against thier card of choice.. I have a SM and love it.. Fits my spending patternes just fine.. But then i usuall use about 4-5 credit cards each month depend on what fits best.. I even use my BCE card that is generally hated on here, but it works for me..
@fot1 wrote:Funny how eveyone gets protective against thier card of choice.. I have a SM and love it.. Fits my spending patternes just fine.. But then i usuall use about 4-5 credit cards each month depend on what fits best.. I even use my BCE card that is generally hated on here, but it works for me..
Well, I think the Sallie Mae is a "best in class" card for what it offers; and, even if a person spends more than the $250/$750 caps, it's still prudent to maximize the initial 5% on this card before allocating spending in the gas, amazon, and groceries to other cards. All things being equal, nothing beats 5%.
Now, as the the BCE, I'm not what astonishes more, that Amex created it, or that people apply and use it.
@Open123 wrote:
@fot1 wrote:Funny how eveyone gets protective against thier card of choice.. I have a SM and love it.. Fits my spending patternes just fine.. But then i usuall use about 4-5 credit cards each month depend on what fits best.. I even use my BCE card that is generally hated on here, but it works for me..
Well, I think the Sallie Mae is a "best in class" card for what it offers; and, even if a person spends more than the $250/$750 caps, it's still prudent to maximize the initial 5% on this card before allocating spending in the gas, amazon, and groceries to other cards. All things being equal, nothing beats 5%.
Now, as the the BCE, I'm not what astonishes more, that Amex created it, or that people apply and use it.
See eveyrone hates the BCE..lol For me it is the best card to pick up groceries when i reach the limit on SM..
All my purchases on Amazon, including marketplace purchases, have been 5%.
@fot1 wrote:
@Open123 wrote:
@fot1 wrote:Funny how eveyone gets protective against thier card of choice.. I have a SM and love it.. Fits my spending patternes just fine.. But then i usuall use about 4-5 credit cards each month depend on what fits best.. I even use my BCE card that is generally hated on here, but it works for me..
Well, I think the Sallie Mae is a "best in class" card for what it offers; and, even if a person spends more than the $250/$750 caps, it's still prudent to maximize the initial 5% on this card before allocating spending in the gas, amazon, and groceries to other cards. All things being equal, nothing beats 5%.
Now, as the the BCE, I'm not what astonishes more, that Amex created it, or that people apply and use it.
See eveyrone hates the BCE..lol For me it is the best card to pick up groceries when i reach the limit on SM..
It's certainly possible when taking into consideration a person's tangible and intangible needs/preferences, the BCE may be the best option for groceries. However, purely from a rewards maximization consideration, there's never a reason to use the BCE for groceries.
@happypill wrote:All my purchases on Amazon, including marketplace purchases, have been 5%.
It seems there may no logic that we might be able to decifer as to how they categorize the amazon purchases: Out of curiostiy I just checked over this last bill and the 3 "Amazon" purchases are all 5%. But 2 of the 4 "Amazon Marketplace" ones were 5% and the other 2 were 1%. And just to add to the randomness... 1 of the "marketplace" ones that was counted as 1% was actually counted AGAINST the 5% when it was returned! So the original purchase was +1% and then they dinged me -5% on the return... NO idea what the logic is on categorizing these.
In any case if anyone is curios you can look online on the barclay site & under the transaction info if the category is "Book Stores" then you get your 5%.
I love this little secret about this card and hope the never catch on becuase I am an Amazon JUNKIE, I get everything off there, so this card def works for me!
For Costco 5%... a Target near me codes as grocery. If you can get your hands on the prepaid red card you can use that at Costco after loading at Target since it is an American Express.
One reason I got the SM is to load at Target as grocery to save 5% on gas at Costco. Ha ha....
But I do wish the limit was higher than $250. I run my non credit card bills (HOA, Utility, Mortgage) through a 1.5% back credit card that loads the prepaid red card. Then you can send a check out for those things through prepaid red card bill pay. I would kill to get 5% on all of those!!
Overall I am happy with SM and was pleasantly suprised to see my TU FICO on my online account. I didn't see that mentioned in the offer when I applied.
SM is amazing...... but prepaid red card is even more amazing......
@elvistcb wrote:One reason I got the SM is to load at Target as grocery to save 5% on gas at Costco. Ha ha....
But I do wish the limit was higher than $250. I run my non credit card bills (HOA, Utility, Mortgage) through a 1.5% back credit card that loads the prepaid red card. Then you can send a check out for those things through prepaid red card bill pay. I would kill to get 5% on all of those!!
@Paying gas @ Costco with the Redbird is a pretty cool idea. However, why do you use a 1.5% card for the rest of the realods? There's several 2% on everything cards out there and you can up your game even more using alternative "load methods" giving you effectively close to 4% in total.
Well, after 16 pages, I hope OP has an answer. I'm sure he didn't appreciate the s**t storm that was going to follow. Some good info though:
The multiple SM card play, the Amazon info and how to maximize that with GC's, and the lovely spreadsheets.