topic Re: What rewards and/or AMEX card should I get next? in Credit Cards

What rewards and/or AMEX card should I get next?

Thorin — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 03:18:09 GMT

I have decent credit (750 EXP, 770 TU) but a short history (about 2 years).

I'm looking for 2 things:

1) A rewards card to fill any possible gap in my rewards programs (or consolidate if necessary)

2) An Amex card to build up CL as my income increases

I have the following cards:

PenFed Visa: 5% gas, 3% supermarket, 1% everything else

USAA: 6% groceries, 2% gas, 1% everything else

Amazon: 3% Amazon, 2% restaurants, drugscores, office supply stores

I also have Capitol One, Visa and Target cards but they're mainly just kept open to prop up my AAoA

Any suggestions on what I should get?

Re: What rewards and/or AMEX card should I get next?

mongstradamus — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 03:21:51 GMT

I would pick very carefully since they have the one signup bonus per card per life time, i would try to get best signup bonus you can get.

As far as which card are really good reward cards I like PRG for gas and groceries EDP for same categories if you don't thnk 175 AF is worth it.

Re: What rewards and/or AMEX card should I get next?

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 06:30:58 GMT

It really depends on what you're looking to use the new card on. It's hard to beat some of the cards you already have for certain common category spends (groceries/supermarket, gas, restaurants). This also makes consolidation harder, since I wouldn't give up the PenFed for gas. If you're just interested in an AmEx, the Blue Cash Preferred (6% supermarkets, 3% gas/department stores) would directly replace your USAA.

One gap I notice is a flat-rate rewards card for anything that doesn't fall into category spend; perhaps a card like the Barclaycard Arrival+ might interest you, as long as you're redeeming for travel.

Re: What rewards and/or AMEX card should I get next?

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:33:09 GMT

One thing to consider. The Penfed Plat Rewards isn't really 5% on gas since they changed the redemption values (it earns 5 points but a point isn't 1c). Groceries are uncapped and non-US supermarkets count, but if that isn't important, you can see if you can change to the Penfed cashback card, which gives a real 5% on gas (and nothing else)

Re: What rewards and/or AMEX card should I get next?

takeshi74 — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 13:15:37 GMT

@Thorin wrote:
A rewards card to fill any possible gap in my rewards programs (or consolidate if necessary)

You should really select rewards cateagories based on your major spend versus trying to cover every possible category out there. A 2% or 1.5% card could be handy for all other categories but I don't think there's an AmEx-issued card that would cover that.