BCP alternative with no cap & rewards instead of CB?

[B3ar155]

Does this unicorn exist?

Im just getting started here but im having trouble identifying a "goal" for rewards based cards to get me excited to progress

I like the idea of BCP 6% but are there any other alternatives or 2 card/same rewards system combos that would be a benefit to me

My stable spending has some key categories yearly but i really want travel vs CB

Spend (yearly)

Groc- 8-11k

Auto Loan: 3K

GNC: Merchant Code 5499(5999 if Paypal Used)? 3K

Drugstores: 1K

[VintageMel]

Have you considered an AmEx Gold card?  It offers 4x MR points on grocery purchases, and I believe that caps at $25,000/year.  I know you said no cap, but in my opinion $25k is a pretty generous cap.

[B3ar155]

Thanks!

Yeah that has actually been at the top of the list but i feel like I'm giving up 2% lol I just love the idea of 6% on groceries but at 11k spend that means there's 5k spent on only 1%

For rewards, I see so many conflicting ideas on points vs % value  - would 4x points be somewhere along the same lines of 6% if used for travel partner redemption?

[JNA1]

My grocery spend is about $8K per year. We are covering this with my BCP and 2 Disco It cards pretty well. The 5% grocery quarter on both Discos would easily cover the $8K spend, but it doesn't always work out , but it doesn't usually work that we can Max out both 5% categories in the Disco quarter. We've always used the targeted 5 - 7% BBVA grocery months, bit those seem to be gone now. 

[dragontears]

---

@B3ar155 wrote:

Thanks!

Yeah that has actually been at the top of the list but i feel like I'm giving up 2% lol I just love the idea of 6% on groceries but at 11k spend that means there's 5k spent on only 1%

For rewards, I see so many conflicting ideas on points vs % value  - would 4x points be somewhere along the same lines of 6% if used for travel partner redemption?

---

Maybe, maybe not 

Unfortunately with MR there is no "standard" or guaranteed redemption value when used for travel. One person might be able to find a 5cpp trip while another could struggle to get 1cpp based on where they are traveling to and from. 

You need to research how you would actually use the points and also realize that it can take many, many hours of time to be able to get the high cpp value trips (which is too much work for a lot of people) 

[fatcomic]

As far as grocery, you may could split it up between Chase Freedom Flex and Discover cards.   Usually Discover and Chase Freedom Flex offers a quarter that is 5% on groceries, you'll lose 1% but if you had both, it's potentially 6 months of the year you could take some spending off the BCP to avoid hitting the cap.    

I know, I know.... the Chase and Discover 5% are capped too, but it does allow you to spread the spending out a little bit.   

[Cashbackjunky]

---

@B3ar155 wrote:

Thanks!

Yeah that has actually been at the top of the list but i feel like I'm giving up 2% lol I just love the idea of 6% on groceries but at 11k spend that means there's 5k spent on only 1%

For rewards, I see so many conflicting ideas on points vs % value  - would 4x points be somewhere along the same lines of 6% if used for travel partner redemption?

---

The way I look at it is this: you're going to be paying $95/year for the annual fee. The most you can get back from maxing out the grocery spend is $360 ($6k x .06) but once you factor out the annual fee, you're coming out with $265 in rewards... That shakes out to ~4.42% of the $6k in grocery spend.

Sure you can use the BCP for fuel and streaming etc but if used for strictly grocery spend, it's about 4.4% back.

Cheers!

[Anonymous]

 I would also suggest a BCP/Chase Freedom combo for grocery spend, 3% is a lot better than 1% after teh $6K cap on BCP. Plus the 5% rotating category for grocery on the Freedom, which is almost as good as 6%. IMO  And to make it go further you caould always buy heavy during that quarter and stock up, thus getting further use of the 5% versus 3%. Although this tactic may require more thought and strategy than a person wants. 

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

 I would also suggest a BCP/Chase Freedom combo for grocery spend, 3% is a lot better than 1% after teh $6K cap on BCP. Plus the 5% rotating category for grocery on the Freedom, which is almost as good as 6%. IMO  And to make it go further you caould always buy heavy during that quarter and stock up, thus getting further use of the 5% versus 3%. Although this tactic may require more thought and strategy than a person wants. 

---

The 3% grocery is only for the first year, right?

[Anonymous]

If the Flex is like the old Freedom then it should be 3% standard with a 5% SUB for the first year.