topic Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card in Credit Cards

Cash Rewards Replacement Card

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 16:08:47 GMT

Hey all... new around here. Trying to weed through lots of info, blogger posts, aged info, etc.

The bottom line is that I am looking for the best all around cash back card in a single card use situation.

The more detailed stuff...

So I had an old Discover More card that I used from 2001 to 2018... was never really in love with rotating 5% categories, but it was ok. When they dropped the extended warranty and other benefits, I looked elsewhere and wound up with a Citi Double Cash card. I've been happy enough with it, but they've dropped extended warranty and an array of other benefits now too (effective September).

Maybe those types of benefits are dying off. I've never actually used it... but appreciate the peace of mind.

My wife and I have great credit, FICO scores never below the 830 mark and plenty of credit history. When considering rewards, I sort of need to operate under the mindset of it being the only card that will be used. I can sort of target cards a little if needed, but my wife is just going to use one for everything.

We spend about 40,000 on our primary card annually... Breakout from 2018 w/ Citi:

44% merchandise (probably 60/40 online/in store)

16% restaurants

12% gas

4% entertainment

3% travel

The balance being lots of other random categories like vehicle services, health care, etc.

I am sure there've been a number of other posts along these lines, but I appreciate any informed opinions on what the best card might be.

Have been looking at the Uber Visa card a bit... I never use Uber but I guess I can install the app, hah...

Thanks in advance.

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

AverageJoesCredit — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 16:22:40 GMT

Great data points im sure you will get great recommendations though of course every opinion will vary so only what matters to you is important. Ill just add my humble opinion that if you dont use all the benefits that were offered by credit cards that are getting axed, i wouldnt put too much stock in that as a turnoff. Afterall, 2% is 2% lol. Im sure some will mention Boa , Bank of America, in you can get more back for your spend if you have a Premium relationship. In the end, you might want to get into an eco system such as Chase UR or Amex MR where you can earn free trips etc. For a general everyday spend card, Citi DC is still good imo Welcome to the forum by the way

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 17:41:04 GMT

Well, the first thing that comes to mind is BOA Cash Rewards for 3% online shopping, 2% warehouse.

Uber for 4% on dining is a gimme.

Sam's / Costco cards for 5% / 4% gas.

Dwindling protections seems to be the trend right now as if there's going to be some kind of refresh across the industry or incresed benefit from V/MC directly vs the banks providing the benefits.

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

Kforce — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 17:54:38 GMT

My wife and I are also into keeping it simple, however no single card is as nice as 2 for rewards. I have managed to get my wife and daughter to always have and use two cards. For my spend and what you listed, my two card choice would be. A 2% everywhere card like the City DC and a Bank of the West 3% on Gas, Grocery, Restaurant, Fast-food (1% other). For my daughter's spend a BoW would return more than a general 2%, however for me a flat 2% would be better. With just 2 cards we average about 2.6% cash back. I got my family to carry two, bet you could also !

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 18:30:25 GMT

If you’re just going to use one card, a 2% card like the ppmc is provably the best bet.

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

pinkandgrey — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 21:02:25 GMT

Single card users, eh? Have you looked into the Alliant Visa Signature? It has a $99 AF, but if you spend 40k on a card per year, you would make up for that ten times over lol. The card gives 2.5% on EVERYTHING. In my credit fantasies I have that as my only card.

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 21:04:20 GMT

@pinkandgrey wrote:
Single card users, eh? Have you looked into the Alliant Visa Signature? It has a $99 AF, but if you spend 40k on a card per year, you would make up for that ten times over lol. The card gives 2.5% on EVERYTHING. In my credit fantasies I have that as my only card.

Yes, I just started reading about that. Have to look into the whole credit union thing, not very familiar with those.

Thanks to everyone for responses so far. I appreciate them.

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 21:49:58 GMT

plunged your number here https://www.thepointcalculator.com/Cash/Citi/Citi-Double-Cash-Card

I found you can do better with wf propel (with wf visa, just have it, no need to use it), alliant visa, freedom unlimited (with CSR, just have it, not need to use it).

You can obviously do even better if you open to using multiple cards.

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

M_Smart007 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 23:00:34 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
plunged your number here https://www.thepointcalculator.com/Cash/Citi/Citi-Double-Cash-Card

I found you can do better with wf propel (with wf visa, just have it, no need to use it), alliant visa, freedom unlimited (with CSR, just have it, not need to use it).

You can obviously do even better if you open to using multiple cards.

"I found you can do better with wf propel (with wf visa)"

i have That Combo and use it. Very Happy

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

M_Smart007 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 23:02:20 GMT

ya, again "UBER", if you can Ever Find a Link to Apply, "Screwy Rabbit"

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 14:04:51 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
plunged your number here https://www.thepointcalculator.com/Cash/Citi/Citi-Double-Cash-Card

I found you can do better with wf propel (with wf visa, just have it, no need to use it), alliant visa, freedom unlimited (with CSR, just have it, not need to use it).

You can obviously do even better if you open to using multiple cards.

I will research and try not to rely too much on being spoon fed, but I am not sure I understand... having cards that you don't use somehow combine to better rewards?

I did just apply for the Alliant Visa. I guess I need to stagger applications, but if somehow holding other cards that I don't use it beneficial I am interested in how that works.

I currently hold a Discover More card (from 2001), a Chase Freedom (from 2010, just because I would sometimes run into Discover not being a payment option), and then most recently (late 2017) a Citi Double Cash. Also a few store only Synchrony accounts (Amazon, Sam Ash, and Google).

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 14:17:58 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
plunged your number here https://www.thepointcalculator.com/Cash/Citi/Citi-Double-Cash-Card

I found you can do better with wf propel (with wf visa, just have it, no need to use it), alliant visa, freedom unlimited (with CSR, just have it, not need to use it).

You can obviously do even better if you open to using multiple cards.
I will research and try not to rely too much on being spoon fed, but I am not sure I understand... having cards that you don't use somehow combine to better rewards?

I did just apply for the Alliant Visa. I guess I need to stagger applications, but if somehow holding other cards that I don't use it beneficial I am interested in how that works.

I currently hold a Discover More card (from 2001), a Chase Freedom (from 2010, just because I would sometimes run into Discover not being a payment option), and then most recently (late 2017) a Citi Double Cash. Also a few store only Synchrony accounts (Amazon, Sam Ash, and Google).

Holding miltiples like CF/ CFU / CSP/R results in better redemption rates for UR points. If you have the base cards for earning 1.5% or 5% categories you get a "bonus multiplier" by holding CSP/CSR cards when redeeming them for Travel. Instead of say 1.5% it boosts to 2.25% when moving points over the cash value assigned at 1cpp.

Amex MR's are similar in the value increasing with certain cards adding a "boost" to their value when moving them around to partners.

As to your current holdings like Disco More it might be worth a phone call and changing it to an IT or Miles for better earnings. IT has a 1% / 5% category option and Miles offers a 1.5% earn rate.

Alliant is a good earn for the first year but, then it trails off and IIRC it has an AF for the card that makes it harder to get value outside of the first year.

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 14:39:29 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
plunged your number here https://www.thepointcalculator.com/Cash/Citi/Citi-Double-Cash-Card

I found you can do better with wf propel (with wf visa, just have it, no need to use it), alliant visa, freedom unlimited (with CSR, just have it, not need to use it).

You can obviously do even better if you open to using multiple cards.
I will research and try not to rely too much on being spoon fed, but I am not sure I understand... having cards that you don't use somehow combine to better rewards?

I did just apply for the Alliant Visa. I guess I need to stagger applications, but if somehow holding other cards that I don't use it beneficial I am interested in how that works.

I currently hold a Discover More card (from 2001), a Chase Freedom (from 2010, just because I would sometimes run into Discover not being a payment option), and then most recently (late 2017) a Citi Double Cash. Also a few store only Synchrony accounts (Amazon, Sam Ash, and Google).
Holding miltiples like CF/ CFU / CSP/R results in better redemption rates for UR points. If you have the base cards for earning 1.5% or 5% categories you get a "bonus multiplier" by holding CSP/CSR cards when redeeming them for Travel. Instead of say 1.5% it boosts to 2.25% when moving points over the cash value assigned at 1cpp.

Amex MR's are similar in the value increasing with certain cards adding a "boost" to their value when moving them around to partners.

As to your current holdings like Disco More it might be worth a phone call and changing it to an IT or Miles for better earnings. IT has a 1% / 5% category option and Miles offers a 1.5% earn rate.

Alliant is a good earn for the first year but, then it trails off and IIRC it has an AF for the card that makes it harder to get value outside of the first year.

I gotcha... thanks a ton for breaking it down for me. So the Alliant thing seemed like a good step forward in the "one card" vein just since at 40k (or even 30k) it is enough of a bump over the Citi DC card to cover the AF. Plus I get the removed (by Citi / MC) peace of mind back with the extended warranty and some other benefits along those lines.

I had looked into the Discover conversion at one point, but they said I get the same 1%/5% thing (I do enable those categories quarterly just since I do put one or two charges on the card per month just for activity) and I wouldn't be eligible for the first year match (since it's for new accounts only).

I guess after the first year, if I feel as though we can make a multi-card transition, I'll need to address the Alliant AF. Travel benefits are always a little weird for me... because we don't travel a lot. I am in a workaholic part of my life, I guess... so really only travel for work or weekend getaways with my wife to one of two company homes I have access to that are both within driving distance.

This forum is really helpful... you guys are great. Thanks.

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 16:00:30 GMT

Yeah, there's a lot of pro/con evaluating to be done to find the right match. That's how so many of us eventually end up with a fistful of cards and some of them only have a specific use like US Bank Cash+ is a good utility card for 5% earnings each month but, the benefits outside of that spend are meager at best and it has an FTF that can be cumbersome if you use e-bay at all w/ sellers that have foreign resgistrations on their paypal accounts. Amex BCP 6% on groceries / streaming services serves a purpose. Gas cards for 5% back w/ Sam's Club or Duck's Unlimited.

The list goes on and on and on when it comes to category use. Sticking to a single card or rewards system concentrates the efforts but, at the same time diminishes things as well on a transaction level. Since you don't travel much it's less of a focus per se of concentrating on a particular point system whether UR's w/ Chase, MR's w/ Amex, or TY points w/ Citi since you're aim seems to be cash back.

Being a wokaholic does lead to less travel unless you're in a position that requires travel. I had one a few years back where I was flying out weekly for different locations and racked up plenty of FF points with airlines but, they've been banked for awhile now because I don't like to travel after that much travel. There are some easy ways to knock out a ton of points if you do decide to travel by applying for something specific like Amex Platinum and hit the $5K spend for 75K-100K in points for a trip. Once you're in then it's reasonable to keep on earning points even if not with the original card that started things off.

Bonus collecitng can be fun if you can manage all of the rules and loopholes to collecting them. Getting some $$$ from the banks for very little effort feels good as well.

Re: Cash Rewards Replacement Card

Creditsen — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 15:51:31 GMT

I had the Chase Sapphire as the only cashback card I used for a long time and I've been very happy with Chase and the bonus that card gave for dining and entertainment and travel! I just got the Capital One Savor One and they approved me for a much higher CL and I'm excited to try the 3% spending on dining and entertainment.