I know this may be (is) subjective - as what a person needs will vary, but in general -- which rewards cards are the most rewarding? I don't want to spend all my time chasing rewards, but now that I am in the reward card bucket, I do want to take advantage of it.
My personal tale: I'm a PIF'er (newly minted!) and don't travel the airlines very much, but *do* stay in hotels all the time... my current choices are:
- (new) AMEX Gold (1 point for each purchase - am not sure if the points = good value??) - AMEX is new to me
- (new) AMEX Hilton Honors ( 3pts for each purchase at the hotel, though most of my hotel charges go on my business card through my company, so... ??) 1 pt for purchases everywhere else, but 3 pnts on groceries. Only good for Hilton Points, but I am at hotels about 60-90 nights a year (Yes, I miss my family!). Points being saved for family trip to _________ some day.
- (new) Citi Hilton Honors (same deal, applied for and got the card - I liked the 10,000 points just for using).
- (new) Countrywide Visa - for every $2500 on card they'll put $50 toward the principle on my mortgage.
- (old) Chase Amazon - for every $2500 they send me a $25 amazon voucher
My "problem" is I'm not a high roller, so at the most I'd be likely to do about $700/mo total to be PIF, so i'ts not like I can charge up a storm on all of them and benefit from each. To get full benefit should probably pick one and use it to death?? OR...... .. what do others do?
My FICO scores are: EQ, even with all these new inquiries went up 13 points to 743. TU and Exp are about the same at 665. TU stayed the same, and Exp dropped 4 points. My utilization is low, only 2 cards with a balance, both at zero %.
Any rewarding suggestions? 
What do other rewarders out there love?
What do other rewarders out there love?Sovi
Soviyana wrote:My "problem" is I'm not a high roller, so at the most I'd be likely to do about $700/mo total to be PIF, so it's not like I can charge up a storm on all of them and benefit from each. To get full benefit should probably pick one and use it to death?? OR...... .. what do others do?Any rewarding suggestions?Sovi
Sovi,
All of your lists are focused on the points you will earn with hotel expenses.
How much do you charge hotel expenses out of $700/mo?
It depends, if it is not that much, you should focus on your daily spending like Grocery, Gas, Eat Out, Cell Phone Bill, Cable Bill and many more.
How you want to redeem your reward points? Cash Back? Gift Card?
I am not high roller neither. I have Chase Freedom like pattycake and gatoravi8tor1, but not signature. And I love this CC more than my AMEX Blue.
I hope you can find one that's fit in your life.
bunnyrabbit wrote:
Soviyana wrote:My "problem" is I'm not a high roller, so at the most I'd be likely to do about $700/mo total to be PIF, so it's not like I can charge up a storm on all of them and benefit from each. To get full benefit should probably pick one and use it to death?? OR...... .. what do others do?Any rewarding suggestions?SoviSovi,All of your lists are focused on the points you will earn with hotel expenses.How much do you charge hotel expenses out of $700/mo?It depends, if it is not that much, you should focus on your daily spending like Grocery, Gas, Eat Out, Cell Phone Bill, Cable Bill and many more.How you want to redeem your reward points? Cash Back? Gift Card?I am not high roller neither. I have Chase Freedom like pattycake and gatoravi8tor1, but not signature. And I love this CC more than my AMEX Blue.I hope you can find one that's fit in your life.
Thanks for the input!
None of the $700 (except the occasional drink after a long day!) is at the hotel, as my company card (Chase - but I get no rewards, the Company pays the bill directly and gets the rewards - they're no dummies!) The company also pays for my car and gas.
I'm thinking the $700 is about what i do spend on cable, groceries, internet, and misc. I've usually been paying for those out of my checking/debit visa, and am now thinking of using a rewards card instead.
Hmmmm.. wonder if I could pay hubby's car payment with a CC? I've never tried. That would be another $315/mo. Has anyone done that, too? Other than mortgages is there anything else the companies are 'paternal' about?
Sovi
Awsric wrote:For Rewards for Gas and groceries the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Gas Rewards card is the best.I want one but I am waiting for the EQ score to climb up some more and the Util to come down some more.With your scores and PIF habit they will definately approve you once you get membership to the Credit Union.Visa Platinum Gas Cash Reward
- Earn 2% cash back on supermarket purchases*
- Earn 5.00% cash back from gas purchases paid at the pump
- Earn 1.25% cash back from all purchases** you make with the card during each billing cycle
- Up to $50,000 limit
- No Annual Fee
- Cash Rewards credited each month
- No special restrictions to earn your cash rewards
- For a limited time only-- transfer your balances at 5.99% APR for the life of the transferred balance!†
......
WOW... that *does* sound like a good card. 5% on gas?! ... what really seems unique is it's credited each month. I like!
... what really seems unique is it's credited each month. I like!It's so funny that you suggest them now, as thanks to the advice here I just joined PenFed over the weekend, am waiting for the items in the mail before I can set everything up. I wasn't even sure what I'd apply for once I did, but I heard so many good things I figured I'd join and find out.
Do you think it's better to wait until a member for a few months before applying for the card, or doesn't it matter? I learned a lot at their website, looks like great rates on loans etc (but no more loans for me for awhile!). I can see why everyone seems to recommend them.
Sovi
