Help me pick my next card?

[Anonymous]

I already have an Amex BCE w/ a $500 CL, and a Discover IT Chrome w/ $1k limit, and are both still at 0% APR until 2017. I'm looking to buy a MacBook to replace my old one sometime in the near future, definitely before August when I head off for college. I don't travel too much, but I am planning on taking a flight to Florida for spring break, but that's about the extent of my travel. I do eat out often, at least 5 times per month, I'm taking my car to campus with me, so I won't be taking Ubers or anything, but I would use parking meters as long as they accept cards. My scores are all around ~725, util ~25%, no baddies or anything. I run about $1k/month through my cards. I've had my eye on the CSP for forever, but I think I'm really more attracted to it for aesthetic reasons, and it would probably be impossible to get it since it's a Siggy, and Chase would probably be hesitant to be the first ones handing me a $5k limit. However, my oldest account is 6 yrs and 4 mos with Chase, which is a Amazon Visa Siggy I'm an AU on, but I'm not sure if that helps. The other card I've been thinking about is one of the Best Buy ones, since I have Elite status there, and am a loyal customer. The 10% rewards back would be useful, but I'm not sure if Citi would give me the CL I need to purchase a new Macbook, and I'm not too keen on store cards. I've also been thinking about a PRG, but I don't really make enough monthly to PIF, and the APR for anything on Pay over Time is astronimical, so that's out of the picture. The only other card I can think of is the Ameriprise World Elite Mastercard, since I'm an Ameriprise member and have an Achievers Circle Elite account, so the AF would be waived. It really does't have any "attractive" rewards, though. 

Any suggestions/recommendations to cards I may be overlooking?

[Anonymous]

If you're only planning to take an occasional domestic flight then CSP wouldn't be for you.

While being an AU does help boost your score, it also works against you when applying for new CC's. You're taking on the CL of those cards, and seeing as you're still a student, your debt to income ratio will be too high to get a CL that you may desire if you get approved.

[Anonymous]

Barclays has an Apple rewards card that sounds like it might fit what you describe. It offers promo financing on Apple purchases. I believe when I was looking into it you earned 3x points on Apple purchases, 2x at restaurants, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. I ended up not going for it because I think I need to let my accounts age a little more since I got declined by Barclays about 9 months ago. You redeem the rewards for iTunes or Apple Store gift cards. I have seen people post that if they do not receive a great starting CL they call and ask for an increase so they can buy a Macbook. Hope this helps, maybe someone with the card will have any info I left out or got wrong.

[Anonymous]

Chase AARP $200 bonus, use same inquiries for Freedom $175 bonus, Bank of America Cash Rewards AICPA $175 bonus, paired with better balance rewards $100-$120 a year bonus.  Total inquiries 2 or 3.

[Anonymous]

+1 for Barclay's Apple rewards card

[Mantis350]

Barclay's Apple Rewards for sure!  I doubt (even if approved) you would use the CSP enough to offset the AF.  Looks like you've got a good head on your shoulders credit wise so congrats to you on that.

[Anonymous]

Re: Macbook purchase, Discover Deals has 5% cashback on Apple online, which would be 10% if you're still in the double cashback offer--might be worth trying for a CLI on your Chrome down the line and taking advantage of that. Otherwise, what are you actually looking for in a new card? It sounds like you're pretty young, so why do you need more credit right now?

[Anonymous]

Sorry for taking so long to reply! Anyways, I tried for the Barclay Apple and got denied due to lack of revolving accounts, which isn't too surprising considering neither my Amex nor Discover are reporting yet. I think the most rational solution is to hold out for my 90 day Discover CLI, and get my Macbook through Discover Deals, as mentioned by locative. I'm looking for more credit because I want to start diversifying my portfolio, but not without rhyme or reason. I have neither the determination nor the portfolio to churn, but I'm still extremely grateful to have gotten in with Amex and Discover thus far, so I think I'll garden for now.

The other reason I want to add only one more card to my collection is because I'll be studying abroad in Ireland and Italy next year, so I'd like something to cover travel as well as any expenditures incurred overseas, so something without a foreign transation fee. Otherwise, I'm a very infrequent traveller- only like one or two domestic flights a year for vacation, as well as those two international flights, but I'm not too sure if those will be recurring since I'm not sure whether or not I'll be studying abroad again at some point down the road. Otherwise, I'm just a typical city teenager that has too much time and disposable income: frequent dining out, entertainment (concerts, movies, etc.), and mini-shopping sprees at the mall are the majority of my charges. Makes me wish the Citi Forward was still around. 

[myjourney]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Sorry for taking so long to reply! Anyways, I tried for the Barclay Apple and got denied due to lack of revolving accounts, which isn't too surprising considering neither my Amex nor Discover are reporting yet. I think the most rational solution is to hold out for my 90 day Discover CLI, and get my Macbook through Discover Deals, as mentioned by locative. I'm looking for more credit because I want to start diversifying my portfolio, but not without rhyme or reason. I have neither the determination nor the portfolio to churn, but I'm still extremely grateful to have gotten in with Amex and Discover thus far, so I think I'll garden for now.

The other reason I want to add only one more card to my collection is because I'll be studying abroad in Ireland and Italy next year, so I'd like something to cover travel as well as any expenditures incurred overseas, so something without a foreign transation fee. Otherwise, I'm a very infrequent traveller- only like one or two domestic flights a year for vacation, as well as those two international flights, but I'm not too sure if those will be recurring since I'm not sure whether or not I'll be studying abroad again at some point down the road. Otherwise, I'm just a typical city teenager that has too much time and disposable income: frequent dining out, entertainment (concerts, movies, etc.), and mini-shopping sprees at the mall are the majority of my charges. Makes me wish the Citi Forward was still around. 

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Sorry for the denial but bravo for the above statement and thought you're putting into your future credit

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Sorry for taking so long to reply! Anyways, I tried for the Barclay Apple and got denied due to lack of revolving accounts, which isn't too surprising considering neither my Amex nor Discover are reporting yet. I think the most rational solution is to hold out for my 90 day Discover CLI, and get my Macbook through Discover Deals, as mentioned by locative. I'm looking for more credit because I want to start diversifying my portfolio, but not without rhyme or reason. I have neither the determination nor the portfolio to churn, but I'm still extremely grateful to have gotten in with Amex and Discover thus far, so I think I'll garden for now.

The other reason I want to add only one more card to my collection is because I'll be studying abroad in Ireland and Italy next year, so I'd like something to cover travel as well as any expenditures incurred overseas, so something without a foreign transation fee. Otherwise, I'm a very infrequent traveller- only like one or two domestic flights a year for vacation, as well as those two international flights, but I'm not too sure if those will be recurring since I'm not sure whether or not I'll be studying abroad again at some point down the road. Otherwise, I'm just a typical city teenager that has too much time and disposable income: frequent dining out, entertainment (concerts, movies, etc.), and mini-shopping sprees at the mall are the majority of my charges. Makes me wish the Citi Forward was still around. 

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Ah, I see. Well, with the Italy/Ireland trip down the line, you should have an eye towards a Visa/MC with no FTF, since Amex and Discover aren't as widely accepted in Europe. But that's down the line--right now you should let your current cards report for at least 6 months before applying for anything else. When the time comes, maybe a BoA Travel Rewards or a Cap One Quicksilver.