Comments on: 15 Credit Cards With the Best Rewards http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/ A premiere personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:49:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Ben http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-199752 Ben Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:57:38 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-199752 I'm a big fan of the Schwab Invest First card which gives 2% cash back on all purchases, automatically deposited into your Schwab brokerage account with no minimum or maximum. Also, having the card eliminates minimum balance requirements on some accounts, IIRC. I'm a big fan of the Schwab Invest First card which gives 2% cash back on all purchases, automatically deposited into your Schwab brokerage account with no minimum or maximum. Also, having the card eliminates minimum balance requirements on some accounts, IIRC.

]]> By: juggler314 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-134956 juggler314 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:47:49 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-134956 I have some random card through household bank (hsbc behind the scenes) that gives 2% on everything up to 400 cashback/year (I think it's a stretch for me to charge up 20K anyway). But I just got it the offer randomly...not sure you can directly apply for it. I have some random card through household bank (hsbc behind the scenes) that gives 2% on everything up to 400 cashback/year (I think it’s a stretch for me to charge up 20K anyway). But I just got it the offer randomly…not sure you can directly apply for it.

]]> By: LLB http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-133145 LLB Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:11:42 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-133145 Has anyone noticed the promotional offer that Citi Dividend Platinum Select has going? New customers get 5% cash back on select purchases for 6 months, not the 2% that long standing customers like me are getting. I called to ask if I could receive the promotional offer as a reward for customer loyalty and as an incentive to keep the card, pointing out that other cards offered higher regular rewards than Citi Platinum now does, but they refused to extend the promotional offer to existing customers. Has anyone else had better luck than I have had? Has anyone noticed the promotional offer that Citi Dividend Platinum Select has going? New customers get 5% cash back on select purchases for 6 months, not the 2% that long standing customers like me are getting. I called to ask if I could receive the promotional offer as a reward for customer loyalty and as an incentive to keep the card, pointing out that other cards offered higher regular rewards than Citi Platinum now does, but they refused to extend the promotional offer to existing customers. Has anyone else had better luck than I have had?

]]> By: hagen http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132445 hagen Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:11:27 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132445 The author gives terrible advice when suggesting that the Chase Freedom Card is the best card for those who charge less than $2500 per month. The 3% cash back for this card is capped at the first $600 total charged each month...the remaining $1900 would only get 1% cash back. Amex Blue Cash would be a much better choice. For Cheapster Bob (Comment #4)...read the terms and conditions of the card.... it's not rocket science. The author gives terrible advice when suggesting that the Chase Freedom Card is the best card for those who charge less than $2500 per month. The 3% cash back for this card is capped at the first $600 total charged each month…the remaining $1900 would only get 1% cash back. Amex Blue Cash would be a much better choice.

For Cheapster Bob (Comment #4)…read the terms and conditions of the card…. it’s not rocket science.

]]> By: PK http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132263 PK Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:17:52 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132263 I was going to verify this too, but I was beat I was going to verify this too, but I was beat

]]> By: revo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132238 revo Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:28:56 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132238 I've been using the Amex Cash Rebate Card for the past 2 years, which is the same exact deal as the Amex Blue Cash Card, and the results are amazing! I've spent $31,500 through all of 2007, and my cashback reward is $550 that I just got credited back! This is on all of the stuff I *need* to buy on a daily basis, plus, some miscellaneous company expenses that bumped me over the 5% cashback reward level for gas, drugstore, groceries. It's absolutely critical at the very beginning of the year to exceed $6500 minimum expenses!! That way all your additional expenses will incur rewards at the much higher reward levels. Learned that the hard way in 2005.. You have to properly plan how much you need to spend in order for these rewards to show up in your account next year. I’ve been using the Amex Cash Rebate Card for the past 2 years, which is the same exact deal as the Amex Blue Cash Card, and the results are amazing! I’ve spent $31,500 through all of 2007, and my cashback reward is $550 that I just got credited back! This is on all of the stuff I *need* to buy on a daily basis, plus, some miscellaneous company expenses that bumped me over the 5% cashback reward level for gas, drugstore, groceries. It’s absolutely critical at the very beginning of the year to exceed $6500 minimum expenses!! That way all your additional expenses will incur rewards at the much higher reward levels. Learned that the hard way in 2005.. You have to properly plan how much you need to spend in order for these rewards to show up in your account next year.

]]> By: Brian http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132192 Brian Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:17:57 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132192 Within the next year I am going to be making a very substantial single purchase (Engagement ring). I have very good credit and am not worried about the temporary "ding" for opening another card; which card would give me the largest cash-back amount for that single purchase? Many cards seem to have a "cash back in sectors you buy often in" like groceries, but this will be my only purchase in the "jewelry" sector this year :p. Also, some cards seem to have a maximum to the monthly cashback you can get, which I'd want to avoid. Thanks in advance. Within the next year I am going to be making a very substantial single purchase (Engagement ring).
I have very good credit and am not worried about the temporary “ding” for opening another card; which card would give me the largest cash-back amount for that single purchase? Many cards seem to have a “cash back in sectors you buy often in” like groceries, but this will be my only purchase in the “jewelry” sector this year :p. Also, some cards seem to have a maximum to the monthly cashback you can get, which I’d want to avoid.
Thanks in advance.

]]> By: Cheapster Bob http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132190 Cheapster Bob Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:54:44 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132190 I've had the American Express Blue Cash for around three months now. I have spent around 2500 dollars and the last time I checked my cash back amount was $ 1.73. I'm not impressed thus far and AMEX refuses to disclose where to shop for the best cash back rate. I emailed them and they responded that they had no idea what their own cashback tiers were for various stores. Lame. I like the 529 idea a lot and since I'm earning chump change with AMEX Blue I might as well switch to that. It seems like an easy way to fund your child's future and make it automatic! I’ve had the American Express Blue Cash for around three months now. I have spent around 2500 dollars and the last time I checked my cash back amount was $ 1.73.

I’m not impressed thus far and AMEX refuses to disclose where to shop for the best cash back rate. I emailed them and they responded that they had no idea what their own cashback tiers were for various stores.

Lame.

I like the 529 idea a lot and since I’m earning chump change with AMEX Blue I might as well switch to that. It seems like an easy way to fund your child’s future and make it automatic!

]]> By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132181 Flexo Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:42:17 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132181 Ross: That's good to know -- thanks! Ross: That’s good to know — thanks!

]]> By: M.B. http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132175 M.B. Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:50:24 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132175 The Fidelity 529 Rewards American Express has been great so far for us. We earned $122 last quarter. In addition, you can open a Fidelity 529 account but you don't have to fund it - just let the AMEX rewards add up. The Fidelity 529 Rewards American Express has been great so far for us. We earned $122 last quarter. In addition, you can open a Fidelity 529 account but you don’t have to fund it – just let the AMEX rewards add up.

]]> By: Ross http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132174 Ross Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:19:30 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2008/01/08/15-credit-cards-with-the-best-rewards/#comment-132174 I have a Chase Freedom Card, and I can verify the information is correct. If you save $200 worth of cashback rewards you can redeem it for a $250 check. I have a Chase Freedom Card, and I can verify the information is correct. If you save $200 worth of cashback rewards you can redeem it for a $250 check.

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