topic Re: Great everyday cash back card? in Credit Cards

Great everyday cash back card?

itpromike — Mon, 11 May 2015 21:11:39 GMT

Right now I'm using my Amex preferred cash back card for most of my everyday purchases - mainly because it has a high limit ($24k). Now I'm thinking about what card I could apply for that gives me the best cash back on the things I purchase the most... My everyday uses are mainly bills, groceries, and Amazon... Are there any good cards that would give me more than the standard 1% cashback on any or all of those things (prerrable all or 2 outa 3 if possible). What do you guys think?

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

Anonymous — Mon, 11 May 2015 21:17:07 GMT

@itpromike wrote:
Right now I'm using my Amex preferred cash back card for most of my everyday purchases - mainly because it has a high limit ($24k). Now I'm thinking about what card I could apply for that gives me the best cash back on the things I purchase the most... My everyday uses are mainly bills, groceries, and Amazon... Are there any good cards that would give me more than the standard 1% cashback on any or all of those things (prerrable all or 2 outa 3 if possible). What do you guys think?

Sallie Mae gives 5% back on groceries and Amazon ($250 per month cap on groceries, $750 on Amazon), Amazon Prime store card gives unlimited 5%

Double Cash or Fidelity Amex will give 2% on everything, and lots of 1.5% cards

What Amex preffered, Everyday Preferred or Blue Cash Preferred (in which case you should get 6% on groceries already)

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

Themanwhocan — Mon, 11 May 2015 21:18:09 GMT

@itpromike wrote:
Right now I'm using my Amex preferred cash back card for most of my everyday purchases - mainly because it has a high limit ($24k). Now I'm thinking about what card I could apply for that gives me the best cash back on the things I purchase the most... My everyday uses are mainly bills, groceries, and Amazon... Are there any good cards that would give me more than the standard 1% cashback on any or all of those things (prerrable all or 2 outa 3 if possible). What do you guys think?

Almost everything on Amazon is coded as Bookstore. I think Music downloads might be Music Store, and if you send cash to someone that is also not a book store. but just about everything else is.

Read this thread. I have a few charts near the front, and more later on: http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Themanwhocan-Charts/td-p/3986754

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

itpromike — Tue, 12 May 2015 12:40:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@itpromike wrote:
Right now I'm using my Amex preferred cash back card for most of my everyday purchases - mainly because it has a high limit ($24k). Now I'm thinking about what card I could apply for that gives me the best cash back on the things I purchase the most... My everyday uses are mainly bills, groceries, and Amazon... Are there any good cards that would give me more than the standard 1% cashback on any or all of those things (prerrable all or 2 outa 3 if possible). What do you guys think?
Sallie Mae gives 5% back on groceries and Amazon ($250 per month cap on groceries, $750 on Amazon), Amazon Prime store card gives unlimited 5%
Double Cash or Fidelity Amex will give 2% on everything, and lots of 1.5% cards

What Amex preffered, Everyday Preferred or Blue Cash Preferred (in which case you should get 6% on groceries already)

Thanks for the info, it looks like my Amex (blue cash) DOES give back 6% on groceries but looking at it closer I'm not noticing it because I shop at Costco mostly and Costco doesn't count as a grocery store... bollocks

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

itpromike — Tue, 12 May 2015 12:49:02 GMT

Thanks for the charts mate, very very useful

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 May 2015 13:02:57 GMT

Sallie Mae 5% CB on Amazon up to $750/mo and no AF

Citi DC 2% CB on everything and no AF

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

takeshi74 — Tue, 12 May 2015 13:10:49 GMT

@itpromike wrote:
Thanks for the info, it looks like my Amex (blue cash) DOES give back 6% on groceries but looking at it closer I'm not noticing it because I shop at Costco mostly and Costco doesn't count as a grocery store... bollocks

It will probably be tricky to find any card that codes Costco as groceries. Your best bet is probably a 1.5% or 2% card but keep in mind that Costco will be switching to accepting only Visa in 2016. Applying for a new card for rewards at Costco is probably not a good idea right now.

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 May 2015 14:39:27 GMT

You didn't mention gas but just in case it's something important to you, Sallie Mae also gives you 5% cash back on gas purchases up to $250/month

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:36:27 GMT

Let's not forget the Discover Miles, normally a 1.5% card that with the intro promotion results in 3% for the first year, if i recall correctly

Granted, I believe the Discover network is more limited than Mastercard/Visa, and they are generally more conservative with Credit Lines and approval.

My Loadout:

General Spend: Discover Miles 3%/Citi DoubleCash 2%

Gas: Sallie Mae Masteracrd 5% First $250/Mo

Groceries: Sallie Mae Mastercard 5% first $250/Mo

Amazon: Sallie Mae Mastercard 5% first $750/Mo

Restaraunt: Discover It: 5% Rotating

I do REALLY like the Price Rewind feature on the Citi DoubleCash, it's the first price match that i've used, because it is all online and a relativley easy process. I purchased a few computer parts at my Local Microcenter a few months ago, and was able to save $30 thru the Pricematch....

So make sure you consider the other Credit Card benefits that the different providers have. Most have Price Protection, but which is the easiest/hassle free? Extended Warranty? etc etc

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

Creditaddict — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:51:24 GMT

If you want 1 card for everything then I would say hands down Fidelity Amex or Citi Double Cash for 2% accross board.

If you don't mind 2-3 cards then:

Fidelity or Citi for your general spend

Amazon Prime store card for 5% Amazon

your current Amex for grocery

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

Sharingan — Tue, 12 May 2015 16:08:50 GMT

The Sallie Mae is definitely a card I would look into. It covers a lot of popular categories with a well above average cash back rate. I would also suggest skipping right over the 1.XX% cash back cards and applying for the Citi Double Cash. It's a true general purpose card with 2% back and has MasterCard's wide acceptance rate.

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 May 2015 16:54:05 GMT

Thank you, thank you!

*At least I'm not the only chart lover here!*

I sense a new strategy on the horizon!!! *excitement*

@Themanwhocan wrote:
@itpromike wrote:
Right now I'm using my Amex preferred cash back card for most of my everyday purchases - mainly because it has a high limit ($24k). Now I'm thinking about what card I could apply for that gives me the best cash back on the things I purchase the most... My everyday uses are mainly bills, groceries, and Amazon... Are there any good cards that would give me more than the standard 1% cashback on any or all of those things (prerrable all or 2 outa 3 if possible). What do you guys think?
Almost everything on Amazon is coded as Bookstore. I think Music downloads might be Music Store, and if you send cash to someone that is also not a book store. but just about everything else is.

Read this thread. I have a few charts near the front, and more later on: http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Themanwhocan-Charts/td-p/3986754

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

Themanwhocan — Tue, 12 May 2015 16:55:35 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Thank you, thank you!

*At least I'm not the only chart lover here!*

I sense a new strategy on the horizon!!! *excitement*

@Themanwhocan wrote:
@itpromike wrote:
Right now I'm using my Amex preferred cash back card for most of my everyday purchases - mainly because it has a high limit ($24k). Now I'm thinking about what card I could apply for that gives me the best cash back on the things I purchase the most... My everyday uses are mainly bills, groceries, and Amazon... Are there any good cards that would give me more than the standard 1% cashback on any or all of those things (prerrable all or 2 outa 3 if possible). What do you guys think?
Almost everything on Amazon is coded as Bookstore. I think Music downloads might be Music Store, and if you send cash to someone that is also not a book store. but just about everything else is.

Read this thread. I have a few charts near the front, and more later on: http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Themanwhocan-Charts/td-p/3986754

As long as everyone sees that the American Express 6% cash back card, can never give more than 4.5% cash back (and usually less)... Then my job has been done.

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 May 2015 17:09:14 GMT

@itpromike wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@itpromike wrote:
Right now I'm using my Amex preferred cash back card for most of my everyday purchases - mainly because it has a high limit ($24k). Now I'm thinking about what card I could apply for that gives me the best cash back on the things I purchase the most... My everyday uses are mainly bills, groceries, and Amazon... Are there any good cards that would give me more than the standard 1% cashback on any or all of those things (prerrable all or 2 outa 3 if possible). What do you guys think?
Sallie Mae gives 5% back on groceries and Amazon ($250 per month cap on groceries, $750 on Amazon), Amazon Prime store card gives unlimited 5%
Double Cash or Fidelity Amex will give 2% on everything, and lots of 1.5% cards

What Amex preffered, Everyday Preferred or Blue Cash Preferred (in which case you should get 6% on groceries already)
Thanks for the info, it looks like my Amex (blue cash) DOES give back 6% on groceries but looking at it closer I'm not noticing it because I shop at Costco mostly and Costco doesn't count as a grocery store... bollocks

Are you an Amazon Prime member? If so, the Amazon store card gives an unlimited 5% back. The Sallie Mae card is limited to the first $750 spent on Amazon every month. If you're spending more than that, the store card may be better.

Since you principally use Costco, I'm going to recommend the Fidelity Amex until next April, when you should switch to CapOne QS. I don't know of any Visa cards earning 2% or more. The Fidelity Amex will still be useful to you for general spend that isn't covered by your other cards.

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 May 2015 17:37:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@itpromike wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@itpromike wrote:
Right now I'm using my Amex preferred cash back card for most of my everyday purchases - mainly because it has a high limit ($24k). Now I'm thinking about what card I could apply for that gives me the best cash back on the things I purchase the most... My everyday uses are mainly bills, groceries, and Amazon... Are there any good cards that would give me more than the standard 1% cashback on any or all of those things (prerrable all or 2 outa 3 if possible). What do you guys think?
Sallie Mae gives 5% back on groceries and Amazon ($250 per month cap on groceries, $750 on Amazon), Amazon Prime store card gives unlimited 5%
Double Cash or Fidelity Amex will give 2% on everything, and lots of 1.5% cards

What Amex preffered, Everyday Preferred or Blue Cash Preferred (in which case you should get 6% on groceries already)
Thanks for the info, it looks like my Amex (blue cash) DOES give back 6% on groceries but looking at it closer I'm not noticing it because I shop at Costco mostly and Costco doesn't count as a grocery store... bollocks
Are you an Amazon Prime member? If so, the Amazon store card gives an unlimited 5% back. The Sallie Mae card is limited to the first $750 spent on Amazon every month. If you're spending more than that, the store card may be better.

Since you principally use Costco, I'm going to recommend the Fidelity Amex until next April, when you should switch to CapOne QS. I don't know of any Visa cards earning 2% or more. The Fidelity Amex will still be useful to you for general spend that isn't covered by your other cards.

NASA Visa earns 2% after a fairly low threshold ($2K? a year), Fidelity Visa after a much higher one.

Re: Great everyday cash back card?

SouthJamaica — Tue, 12 May 2015 19:14:22 GMT

@itpromike wrote:
Right now I'm using my Amex preferred cash back card for most of my everyday purchases - mainly because it has a high limit ($24k). Now I'm thinking about what card I could apply for that gives me the best cash back on the things I purchase the most... My everyday uses are mainly bills, groceries, and Amazon... Are there any good cards that would give me more than the standard 1% cashback on any or all of those things (prerrable all or 2 outa 3 if possible). What do you guys think?

Barclay Rewards gives you 2% on groceries, gas, & utilities

Citi DoubleCash gives you 2% on everything