Best Credit Card?

[robtattoo]

I recently ditched my Alaska Airlines credit card and am looking into opening up a new credit card, mostly focused on cash back. I have a Cabelas card that I'll hold onto to take advantage of sales, but want to do better than earning 1% on purchases. With a couple of young kids, we aren't traveling much these days so mostly interested in cash back. I'm looking at the Wells Fargo Active Cash since it offers 2% cash back on all purchases. Most of our spending is on gas/groceries/restaurants but not heavily weighted in one direction. Any recommendations for what y'all use and like?

If there's a card out there that offers increased cash back for tag/license applications, that'd be a no brainer

Man, I have to ask.
As someone that tries to never use credit cards. Why not pay yourself back?
I just feel like its a scam to use a CC for cash back or frequent miles whatever they are offering.
I will use the zero percent financing and pay it off in time.
Why not toss a hundred or two in some sort of high earning savings account?
Open an IRA?
Too many better options than making payments for "cashback".
Just my opinion here.

Have you looked at Credit Karma? The credit score tracking folks?
Hands down THE best thing I've done, financially (outside of investments etc...) is sign up to their site.

I took my credit score from what they call a 'slim file' which is essentially zero credit, to the mid 600s in the space of 8 months & up to 805 within 3 years.

They list all the cards that are commonly available to you (excluding store cards) with easy to follow details regarding rewards, cash back, transfer rates etc & best of all, they'll tell you your approval odds so that your score won't take a hit. If you only apply for cards with 'excellent' or 'guaranteed' odds, your score takes no more than a 1 or 2 point hit on application & then jumps back by up 5 to 10 minimum within a month, depending on spending limit.

I was terrified of getting a credit card due to stupidity when I was a kid, but age & common sense finally kicked in & these days I check my bank balance before I use the card & pay it off immediately.
I mostly use a Chase Amazon card & I've had well over $2000 of literally free Amazon purchases in the last couple of years.

I'm about to apply for another Amazon visa, simply because I'll automatically get $200 credit on my Amazon account, plus 5% on all Amazon purchases & a minimum 2% on everything else.

 

[tony]

Have the app on my phone, they took over Mint.
I am in the mid 800s.

 

[waspocrew]

I have one debit card and rarely use it. I use my credit cards for everything. Like others mentioned, I prefer the security offered - if there's fraudulent activity, that's on the CC company to sort out, not me.

I have a Scheels CC and use it for most of our purchases. It didn't take long to accrue enough gift cards to make some awesome free purchases.

 

[Lawnboi]

Same as a lot of folks. Did the debit card thing for too long. Much easier to manage with one credit card for everything.

I use a scheels card. On top of 1.5% I can often get reloading components for 7% back plus.

 

[Beendare]

@tony, as stated, the credit card thing only makes sense if you pay it off every month and CC yearly fees are low.

I buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff on CC- through 3 businesses and personal. I get a significant amount back yearly.

The caveat is; Don't buy something you cannot pay off as the rate they charge is obscene. And don't buy stuff the vendor charges you a fee to use a CC.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

So I'm gonna go against the grain here and piss on the parade a bit....
NOTHING is free...All you guys going on about points and earn back must have never owned/run a small business and see how much those fees cost merchants every month.
No business "absorbs" those processing fees just for you to have the convenience of swiping a card instead of bringing cash or a check. They ALWAYS get passed back to the consumer in the form of higher prices or more recently an upfront charge of an additional 3-5% to use a credit card.
Get used to that up front charge for not carrying cash, its gaining more and more traction. We are contemplating taking that route with our business...We pay tens of thousands a year just for people's convenience of swiping a card...like every business expense, that factors into what we charge.
Long of it short, you feel like your getting rewards and 'Cash back'....but your really just paying for it yourself through inflating costs of goods and services your buying with that card, you just dont see it to know that so you think your getting something for "free"....just something to think on.
That being said, I have multiple cards but use them as sparingly as possible and certain occasions like when the cash option isn't available such as online shopping, or when out of town and don't want to carry much cash.

Credit cards are the devil...but unfortunately a necessary evil in what our society/economy has become

 

[NRA4LIFE]

The Citi Costco card is hard to beat. But we use ours only until we get enough cash back to pay for our executive membership. Then it's the BOA Alaska airlines card. They now credit all purchases towards miles. We fly Alaska almost exclusively living in the Seattle area (I know, poor me).

 

[CorbLand]

So I'm gonna go against the grain here and piss on the parade a bit....
NOTHING is free...All you guys going on about points and earn back must have never owned/run a small business and see how much those fees cost merchants every month.
No business "absorbs" those processing fees just for you to have the convenience of swiping a card instead of bringing cash or a check. They ALWAYS get passed back to the consumer in the form of higher prices or more recently an upfront charge of an additional 3-5% to use a credit card.
Get used to that up front charge for not carrying cash, its gaining more and more traction. We are contemplating taking that route with our business...We pay tens of thousands a year just for people's convenience of swiping a card...like every business expense, that factors into what we charge.
Long of it short, you feel like your getting rewards and 'Cash back'....but your really just paying for it yourself through inflating costs of goods and services your buying with that card, you just dont see it to know that so you think your getting something for "free"....just something to think on.
That being said, I have multiple cards but use them as sparingly as possible and certain occasions like when the cash option isn't available such as online shopping, or when out of town and don't want to carry much cash.

Credit cards are the devil...but unfortunately a necessary evil in what our society/economy has become

Yea but it is factored in and not going away anytime soon so I can pay cash and still pay the inflated prices and get nothing back or I can pay with a CC and get something back. Factor in the protection that you get from a CC, its really pretty cheap insurance.

 

[doc holiday13]

For the doubters, you are leaving hundreds if not thousands of free money on the table every year. The wife and I just churned a couple cards and got $1500 back in signup bonuses. Just to buy normal stuff we buy anyway.

Today I was told about a cash back card that does 3% on every day purchases and up to 5% at restaurants etc. I was told there is a $60 yearly fee. I’ll probably get one since there isn’t much out there that can beat that.

what is this card you speak of?

 

[ODB]

the average APR for newly issues cards is almost 25%. holy shit.

I've never paid them a dime because I never carry a balance, but that is indicative of some serious mis-management of funds.

We have too many CCs but never use them. Only one that gets point is Scheels.

Credit is mid 800s.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

Yea but it is factored in and not going away anytime soon so I can pay cash and still pay the inflated prices and get nothing back or I can pay with a CC and get something back. Factor in the protection that you get from a CC, its really pretty cheap insurance.

For sure, credit cards arent going away.
In most cases your likely right. I'd love to see that change, but fact is CC's are convenient...and convenience trumps all in this country these days.
I was more pointing out that we are all basically paying a 3-5% convenience tax on everything we buy because of Rampant credit card use...so your earn backs really aren't as great as they seem all things considered. But if those points,miles and cash back make you feel like your beating the system then pick your poison and spend away... the options are endless and there are plenty of websites to help you find the best card for what your after.

I'd like to see more places offering a 5% cash discount, have seen it popping up here and there. I'd pay cash for 5% savings every time possible.

 

[Beendare]

I was more pointing out that we are all basically paying a 3-5% convenience tax on everything we buy because of Rampant credit card use...

Thats probably true....and we are all paying for the rampant crime literally caused by bad gov policy. We have also been robbed by the Gov for over 20% of the money in our bank accounts in the last 3 years due to the Gov's inflationary policy of spending money that don't have. If the avg citizen understood how inflation literally steals money from them, they would be appalled- but I digress.

If companies gave a 3% discount for check or cash....then it makes sense to go that route. Very few do.

I have to admit to liking the cards and not packing a bunch of cash around in a big fat wallet.

 

[Mike Islander]

I'm a Delta card customer. Free flights because we put a lot of money on it.

 

[Andrew12gauge]

Costco credit card does me pretty well. I may have accidentally let about $100 of balance roll past the payment date in October and ended up paying $31 in interest because of it(apparently if the entirety of the statement balance isn’t paid down by due date you pay interest on the whole balance not just the remainder) first time in 3 years I’ve paid a cent in interest.

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[dirtytough]

what is this card you speak of?

It's RH's card. I skipped on it.

US Smartly Visa is a card you can get up to 4% back on every purchase. I'm going to get that instead. It'll be easier to just use 1 card for most purchases. Might be able to start paying everything with it. If I get charged a 3% convenience fee to pay bills/mortgage/taxes with a CC, I still make 1% using the US Smartly Visa.

 

[cardiac5]

The US smartly visa is 4% if you have 100k in their savings account.


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[CorbLand]

Timely that this popped back up. I am most likely going to be looking for a new card. Always had the Cabelas card but have been going the rounds with Capital One on some fraud.

Reported the fraud on my card and they said we will send you a new card. Get said new card, which is the exact same card number as my old one. Call them back and get a new one on the way but they left my old card open but somehow linked to my new card. Got hit with another fraud purchase on my old card that passed through to my new card so we had to shut down my new card and get a new new card sent to me.

Started this in end of December and just got a card yesterday that actually works ...at least I think it works, havent bought anything.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Don’t be loyal to any card. We use the Costco Citibank for hotels, fuel, and Costco purchases. Alaska airlines for all else.
Pick what works best for you and your buying habits.

Now, for the naysayers who claim cards cost us all money. Yes you are correct. However, I routinely offer to use cash if given a 3% discount and it is exceptionally rare if a business accepts my offer (unless a sign is posted). So in these cases I would be a fool not to use a card.
PS: scratch off the 3 digit code on the back. It is only needed for online transactions

 

[CorbLand]

Don’t be loyal to any card. We use the Costco Citibank for hotels, fuel, and Costco purchases. Alaska airlines for all else.
Pick what works best for you and your buying habits.

Now, for the naysayers who claim cards cost us all money. Yes you are correct. However, I routinely offer to use cash if given a 3% discount and it is exceptionally rare if a business accepts my offer (unless a sign is posted). So in these cases I would be a fool not to use a card.
PS: scratch off the 3 digit code on the back. It is only needed for online transactions

I dont think I have ever seen a sign that offers a discount for not using a CC, outside of gas. Most I see, state there will be a 3% fee added for use of a CC. Those I pay in cash or with debit.

 

[WCB]

I dont think I have ever seen a sign that offers a discount for not using a CC, outside of gas. Most I see, state there will be a 3% fee added for use of a CC. Those I pay in cash or with debit.

I've seen many restaurants with a credit $ and a cash $. If they give a cash discount I pay with cash 100%. Guess I haven't really paid attention regular retail wise. I know at local gun shops, co-ops and smaller independent places I almost always ask if cash is cheaper. I've gotten 3-5% nocked of a bunch of places with cash.