topic Re: Best general spend credit card in Credit Cards

Best general spend credit card

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 01:45:42 GMT

Hello, I'm currently using my Cap1 Quicksilver for all general spend, is there currently anyone else that offers 1.5% or better? The only ones I've heard of are the Cap1 Venture and Barclay Arrival, but from what I can understand, those are only 2% if redeemed for travel expenses? Thanks

Re: Best general spend credit card

Longroad — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 01:49:31 GMT

Without redeeming for travel the Fidelity AMEX is 2% across the board

Re: Best general spend credit card

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 01:49:40 GMT

From what I have seen, it seems that the QS is the best "general" spend card. The others have rotating categories, or they're fantastic for very specific categories but not so much for anything else.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 01:50:09 GMT

@Longroad wrote:
Without redeeming for travel the Fidelity AMEX is 2% across the board

Oh hmm... ignore my previous post!

Re: Best general spend credit card

Themanwhocan — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 02:04:21 GMT

@Longroad wrote:
Without redeeming for travel the Fidelity AMEX is 2% across the board

Yes, Fidelity Amex is currently the best General Spend cash back card. But its on the American Express card network. That matters to some people.

Second best is probably the NASA Federal Credit Union Platinum Cash Rewards card:

No annual fee, No balance transfer fees.

1% rebate on first $1000 Purchases per year

1.25% rebate from $1001 to $2000

2% rebate from $2001 or more

So basically you earn $17.50 less per year versis the Fidelity Amex. But its a VISA card. And you get to choose a Space Themed card image.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 02:19:49 GMT

@Themanwhocan wrote:
@Longroad wrote:
Without redeeming for travel the Fidelity AMEX is 2% across the board
Yes, Fidelity Amex is currently the best General Spend cash back card. But its on the American Express card network. That matters to some people.

Second best is probably the NASA Federal Credit Union Platinum Cash Rewards card:
No annual fee, No balance transfer fees.
1% rebate on first $1000 Purchases per year
1.25% rebate from $1001 to $2000
2% rebate from $2001 or more

So basically you earn $17.50 less per year versis the Fidelity Amex. But its a VISA card. And you get to choose a Space Themed card image.

Is that 2% after you spend $2001 within a year, or is that based on each individual purchase that is over $2001?

Re: Best general spend credit card

red259 — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 02:19:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Hello, I'm currently using my Cap1 Quicksilver for all general spend, is there currently anyone else that offers 1.5% or better? The only ones I've heard of are the Cap1 Venture and Barclay Arrival, but from what I can understand, those are only 2% if redeemed for travel expenses? Thanks

Keep in mind the definition of travel expenses can be quite broad and in some cases include things like taxis, public transit, tolls, parking etc. Obviously the use of this will really depend on the type of area you live in. Where I am in the city I have all these expenses, where I grew up in the country none of these would have been much use.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Themanwhocan — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 02:28:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Themanwhocan wrote:
@Longroad wrote:
Without redeeming for travel the Fidelity AMEX is 2% across the board
Yes, Fidelity Amex is currently the best General Spend cash back card. But its on the American Express card network. That matters to some people.

Second best is probably the NASA Federal Credit Union Platinum Cash Rewards card:
No annual fee, No balance transfer fees.
1% rebate on first $1000 Purchases per year
1.25% rebate from $1001 to $2000
2% rebate from $2001 or more

So basically you earn $17.50 less per year versis the Fidelity Amex. But its a VISA card. And you get to choose a Space Themed card image.
Is that 2% after you spend $2001 within a year, or is that based on each individual purchase that is over $2001?

Those numbers are your annual purchases.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Cdnewmanpac — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 02:31:42 GMT

I think what you are asking is," what is the best straight cash back card for uncategorized spend?" In that case, the fidelity Amex wins as long as you have a fidelity account, are willing to deal with fia and there is enough Amex acceptance where you do your uncategorized spend to be practical. However, the underwriting is tougher than capital one's, so it is only the best card if you can get it. Otherwise, the quicksilver is a close 2nd.

if you are asking what the best card to put your uncategorized spend on, however, that is a much more complex answer that really depends on what you do with your redemptions and where you put your categorized spend. If you would have bought united club membership anyway, the united club card earns 1.5 mp points/dollar, and even devalued mp points are worth >1.5 cpp. for the right spend pattern, you would also come out ahead using csp, ink plus, prg or spg for your uncategorized spend. it depends on the marginal value of those uncategorized points to the individual.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 02:33:32 GMT

@Themanwhocan wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Themanwhocan wrote:
@Longroad wrote:
Without redeeming for travel the Fidelity AMEX is 2% across the board
Yes, Fidelity Amex is currently the best General Spend cash back card. But its on the American Express card network. That matters to some people.

Second best is probably the NASA Federal Credit Union Platinum Cash Rewards card:
No annual fee, No balance transfer fees.
1% rebate on first $1000 Purchases per year
1.25% rebate from $1001 to $2000
2% rebate from $2001 or more

So basically you earn $17.50 less per year versis the Fidelity Amex. But its a VISA card. And you get to choose a Space Themed card image.
Is that 2% after you spend $2001 within a year, or is that based on each individual purchase that is over $2001?
Those numbers are your annual purchases.

It sounds like an amazing card in that case.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Themanwhocan — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 03:11:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Themanwhocan wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Themanwhocan wrote:
@Longroad wrote:
Without redeeming for travel the Fidelity AMEX is 2% across the board
Yes, Fidelity Amex is currently the best General Spend cash back card. But its on the American Express card network. That matters to some people.

Second best is probably the NASA Federal Credit Union Platinum Cash Rewards card:
No annual fee, No balance transfer fees.
1% rebate on first $1000 Purchases per year
1.25% rebate from $1001 to $2000
2% rebate from $2001 or more

So basically you earn $17.50 less per year versis the Fidelity Amex. But its a VISA card. And you get to choose a Space Themed card image.
Is that 2% after you spend $2001 within a year, or is that based on each individual purchase that is over $2001?
Those numbers are your annual purchases.
It sounds like an amazing card in that case.

Well, if you spend less than $3500/year on the card (which averages $291.66/month) then the Quicksilver card is a tad bit better.

the NASA card has more upside potential. And you can choose a card image of a shuttle launch against a big blue sky...

Re: Best general spend credit card

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 03:14:01 GMT

And if you live in the right states, there is the JCB card:

https://www.jcbusa.com/for_consumers/speciality-cards/marukai-premium-jcb-card/

Earn up to 1% Cash Back Points on first $1,000 spent yearly
Earn up to 2% Cash Back Points on next $2,000 spent yearly
Earn up to 3% Cash Back Points on over $3,000 spent yearly

+ an additional $15 if you spend $1000 per year or $50 if you spend more than $5000. So $10K per year gets you $200 back with Fidelity and $310 wiith this card.

However, unlike Fidelity, there is a $15 AF, waived for the first year.

Have to live (or have an address in !) California, Nevada, Oregon or Washington or Hawaii.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 03:16:52 GMT

Apart from earning (which really is the major factor I agree) what is the redemption like on the Nasa card. Two great features of QS (missing on Fidelity) are:

a) points post as soon as transactions post, no need to wait for statement

b) no minimum redeption.

So wondering how Nasa compares.

Re: Best general spend credit card

daybreakgonesXe — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 03:18:49 GMT

It certaintly definitely depends what you're looking for.

If you're more the cash-back person, the Fidelty AMEX 2x cashback comes out on top. However, AMEX isn't always accepted everywhere, so Quicksilver 1.5% can pick up the slack.

If you're a points or loyalty person, a hotel/airline/travel card may suit you best, since many times those point redemptions can be 1.5%+. If you're a GM person, Capital One has the GM card that earns 5% on the the first $5k in purchases, and 2% after that, on an annual basis. However, you can only use the rewards towards a new car.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Open123 — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 03:26:00 GMT

For cashback general spend, it's pretty easy to figure out, since it's purely based on % return. Travel cards, however is a very complex and different sort of analysis with no simple answers.

Personally, I really like the Quicksilver because the points post instantly, and can be redeemed at any value for statement credit before paying the bill, even as low as .30 cents! This is nice, becuase for some seldomly used cards, it can take (at least for me) a very long time before hitting the $50 threshold, such as with Discover or Fid Amex.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Themanwhocan — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 03:30:46 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Apart from earning (which really is the major factor I agree) what is the redemption like on the Nasa card. Two great features of QS (missing on Fidelity) are:

a) points post as soon as transactions post, no need to wait for statement
b) no minimum redeption.

So wondering how Nasa compares.

Hmm, it looks like your cash back is paid promptly... on an Annual basis.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 03:45:11 GMT

Oh right, remember that! Annual is quite slow.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Open123 — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 03:46:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Oh right, remember that! Annual is quite slow.

For me, annual is way too long of a wait.

Re: Best general spend credit card

Themanwhocan — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 03:50:51 GMT

@Open123 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Oh right, remember that! Annual is quite slow.
For me, annual is way too long of a wait.

Think of it as building character.

Re: Best general spend credit card

yudeology101 — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 04:10:21 GMT

For cashback general spending, I love my BOA Cash Rewards- 3% Gas, 2% Groceries & rest 1%.....these are my everyday categories for me, i average about $30 per month in statement credit each month so far.