Credit Cards

Rich150001 · 11-21-2015, 08:36 PM

Looking into acquiring another credit to maximize returns on spending.

What credit cards do you have and why (gas, food, flights, hotels, cash back, etc.)?

kprocivic · 11-21-2015, 08:47 PM

Chase freedom, or sapphire preferred.

jstnstr · 11-21-2015, 08:57 PM

I have the sapphire preferred too, it's good card for rewards and travel. $95 yearly fee but there is a good sign up bonus, that and the card itself is metal and has a very nice finish to it. Has a very premium feel and people notice...though I didn't know it was metal when I signed up.

Rich150001 · 11-21-2015, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstnstr

I have the sapphire preferred too, it's good card for rewards and travel. $95 yearly fee but there is a good sign up bonus, that and the card itself is metal and has a very nice finish to it. Has a very premium feel and people notice...though I didn't know it was metal when I signed up.

From my initial searching, this seems to be the highest ranked card on a few sites. Their sign up bonus is:

"Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening*"

kprocivic · 11-21-2015, 09:03 PM

Take advantage now because that's going to fall down to 40k points after holiday season.

EALm4 · 11-22-2015, 01:10 PM

Sapphire Preferred - got it for the airline points

Capital One quick silver cash back - 1.5% cash back and no fee. I only use this one to pay large bills though. Hardly ever for day to day purchases.

I also have a Amex platinum which I'm about to cancel. They cut a large majority of perks and I cant justify the $450 year fee now.

shoei · 11-22-2015, 02:18 PM

Same as everyone above... Chase Sapphire Preferred is easily one of the best rewards credit cards out there right now...

RickFLM4 · 11-22-2015, 03:49 PM

Presuming you pay off monthly, Discover or a number of other cards with no fee. Personally, I prefer cash back or points that can be redeemed for cash or statement credit. I won't pay a fee for a credit card. If you carry a balance then interest rate should be a bigger consideration than rewards.

Rich150001 · 11-22-2015, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Presuming you pay off monthly, Discover or a number of other cards with no fee. Personally, I prefer cash back or points that can be redeemed for cash or statement credit. I won't pay a fee for a credit card. If you carry a balance then interest rate should be a bigger consideration than rewards.

Yes, I pay off my cards monthly. Just trying to get as much return on spending as I can (who doesn't, right?).

zx10guy · 11-23-2015, 08:29 AM

My AMEX Cash Rewards card is one of the cards I won't do without. Cash rewards on purchases. No annual fee. And the big perks. Automatic warranty extension on many products I purchase up to an additional year. I use this on any electronics purchases. In addition, the same card provides lost/stolen/accidental damage coverage for 90 days after date of sale.

I've used both the warranty extension and the accidental damage coverage. In the case of the warranty extension, I had a Xerox Phaser 8560MFP/D printer needing a main board replacement just after the one year manufacturer's warranty was up. AMEX paid the $950 repair bill. I had a item I accidentally dropped and damaged. AMEX paid the $150 to reimburse to replace it.

Alfisti · 11-23-2015, 08:53 AM

I am unusual in that i fly a LOT of long haul, at times 4 tickets at once, Toronto to Sydney and back. As a result i still cannot find anything that redeems better than the Aeroplan card with TD, more than 2% back on the right flights.

bimmerfrk · 11-23-2015, 08:56 AM

I just got a chase slate. They gave me 0% for 16months on all balance transfers

csu87 · 11-23-2015, 09:52 AM

capital one venture - double points for every purchase; travel purchase eraser means you can book whatever you want and use your points for it.

ive looked at the chase sapphire preferred, but you only get double points on dining and travel, and you have to use their rewards program to book travel. Doesnt give you the flexibility of the capital one.

C5driver · 11-23-2015, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EALm4

I also have a Amex platinum which I'm about to cancel. They cut a large majority of perks and I cant justify the $450 year fee now.

$750...

OP...check out Barclay Arrival +

Biorin · 11-23-2015, 10:52 AM

I'm happy with the Amex gold preferred. 2x gas, groceries, and restaurants, 3x flights, and that's pretty much exactly what I spend my money on. $195 a year, and I've made that up in points at least 12x over in the 2 years I've had it.

John 070 · 11-23-2015, 11:29 AM

Right now, I have a credit union "everyday" card to get the 1.5%. No games, it is redeemable as little as $0.01 as soon as it posts.

I use amazon.com Chase for amazon, but have been using Discover IT to get 5%. Now, starting today there is 10% with Chase Freedom--I don't have that card, so I'll use my wife's and let her keep the 10%.

For groceries, Amex Blue. I get 3%--the one that costs $75/yr. gets 6%. Either one is a no-brainer, we all buy groceries.

For gasoline, I get 5% straight up, it's automatically deducted every month, true 5%, again, no-brainer this is PenFed.

For Costco, Costco AMEX but looking forward to when it opens up to Visa.

I do have a tendency to open new accounts when they offer $100+. We just needed a convertible baby seat, and that was $279 after discount. I saw an offer on the bay window, $100 when you open and spend $500. So I got the baby seat, plus 4 new tires for $683. Now I got a bonus $25, 683 (technically worth $6 and change) points, plus another 10,000 for $100. Many of my buddies say they can't be bothered and they can't, over $125, but I can....I even test drove a Passat TDI for $25, also a 2015 WRX for $25, although my price is usually $50 or more or I won't do that. I was seriously interested...

JasonCSU · 11-23-2015, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csu87

capital one venture - double points for every purchase; travel purchase eraser means you can book whatever you want and use your points for it.

ive looked at the chase sapphire preferred, but you only get double points on dining and travel, and you have to use their rewards program to book travel. Doesnt give you the flexibility of the capital one.

Actually, you don't have to use the Sapphire Preferred rewards program to book travel. You can transfer your points to other reward programs. For example, I transfer my points on a 1:1 basis from Chase to United Mileage Plus as miles to book travel.

KingOfJericho · 11-23-2015, 12:56 PM

***ALWAYS TRANSFER POINTS TO PARTNERS***

With that said, I have an Amex Platinum that I'm riding out until the renewal then I will downgrade to Gold Rewards. It's geared toward frequent travelers (TransitCheck refund, TSA PreCheck refund, PriorityPass access, gold status at Hilton, $200 airline credit every calendar year, etc.). With two little kids, we don't travel enough to make use of the $200 airline credit and the points are only 1x. I ended up pairing it with an Amex EveryDay Preferred to acquire points faster (2x on gas, 3x at supermarkets) and when you hit 30 swipes in a month, you get an extra 50% on all points, making it 3x on gas and 4.5x on groceries. It's a great card and the points can be pooled with my Platinum card.

Amex aside, the best combo out there right now is Chase Sapphire Preferred in addition to the Chase Freedom card. The freedom is free and each quarter they have a 5x points category (3Q was gas stations and Kohls, 4Q is always Amazon/Zappos/Diapers.com and they just announced that they're bumping it up to 10x points!!!). These points can also be pooled with those of your Sapphire Preferred.

kprocivic · 11-23-2015, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

***ALWAYS TRANSFER POINTS TO PARTNERS***

With that said, I have an Amex Platinum that I'm riding out until the renewal then I will downgrade to Gold Rewards. It's geared toward frequent travelers (TransitCheck refund, TSA PreCheck refund, PriorityPass access, gold status at Hilton, $200 airline credit every calendar year, etc.). With two little kids, we don't travel enough to make use of the $200 airline credit and the points are only 1x. I ended up pairing it with an Amex EveryDay Preferred to acquire points faster (2x on gas, 3x at supermarkets) and when you hit 30 swipes in a month, you get an extra 50% on all points, making it 3x on gas and 4.5x on groceries. It's a great card and the points can be pooled with my Platinum card.

Amex aside, the best combo out there right now is Chase Sapphire Preferred in addition to the Chase Freedom card. The freedom is free and each quarter they have a 5x points category (3Q was gas stations and Kohls, 4Q is always Amazon/Zappos/Diapers.com and they just announced that they're bumping it up to 10x points!!!). These points can also be pooled with those of your Sapphire Preferred.

do you work for chase?

Rich150001 · 11-23-2015, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

Actually, you don't have to use the Sapphire Preferred rewards program to book travel. You can transfer your points to other reward programs. For example, I transfer my points on a 1:1 basis from Chase to United Mileage Plus as miles to book travel.

You don't HAVE to, but my understanding is that you get the most benefit from the Sapphire preferred when you use it to book travel using their rewards program.

It also allows you to transfer 1 to 1 to some non airline reward programs, i.e. Marriot.

Rich150001 · 11-23-2015, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John 070

Right now, I have a credit union "everyday" card to get the 1.5%. No games, it is redeemable as little as $0.01 as soon as it posts.

I found a Citi Card that gives 2% cash back across the board, which is nice.

Overall it looks like you have great choices in credit cards for different types of spending. I really like the AMEX blue you mentioned too!

Itsed65 · 11-23-2015, 06:06 PM

USAA Preferred Cash Rewards World MasterCard is what I use. If you qualify to join, they have a few different rewards cards depending on your needs.

11-21-2015, 08:36 PM	#1
Rich150001 Lieutenant 109 Rep 461 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Arlington (Ballston), Va iTrader: (0)	Credit Cards Looking into acquiring another credit to maximize returns on spending. What credit cards do you have and why (gas, food, flights, hotels, cash back, etc.)? __________________ 16 M4 / 17 C7 (Sold) / 08 E92 M3 AW (Sold) / 09 Yamaha R6 (Sold)
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11-21-2015, 08:47 PM	#2
kprocivic Lieutenant Colonel 813 Rep 1,575 Posts Drives: ecoboost s to the t Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: 92346 iTrader: (7)	Chase freedom, or sapphire preferred.
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11-21-2015, 08:57 PM	#3
jstnstr Lieutenant Colonel 927 Rep 1,496 Posts Drives: G20 M340xi Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SWFL iTrader: (2)	I have the sapphire preferred too, it's good card for rewards and travel. $95 yearly fee but there is a good sign up bonus, that and the card itself is metal and has a very nice finish to it. Has a very premium feel and people notice...though I didn't know it was metal when I signed up. __________________ \| M-Performance Exhaust \| JB4 Map 4 on E35 \| BMC Red Panel Filter \| \| Previous: 18 M3 ZCP \| 17 M3 6MT \| 15 M235i \|
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11-21-2015, 09:03 PM	#5
kprocivic Lieutenant Colonel 813 Rep 1,575 Posts Drives: ecoboost s to the t Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: 92346 iTrader: (7)	Take advantage now because that's going to fall down to 40k points after holiday season.
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11-22-2015, 01:10 PM	#6
EALm4 Colonel 3347 Rep 2,009 Posts Drives: SO 16' M4 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Baltimore iTrader: (1)	Sapphire Preferred - got it for the airline points Capital One quick silver cash back - 1.5% cash back and no fee. I only use this one to pay large bills though. Hardly ever for day to day purchases. I also have a Amex platinum which I'm about to cancel. They cut a large majority of perks and I cant justify the $450 year fee now.
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11-22-2015, 02:18 PM	#7
shoei Banned 7779 Rep 2,602 Posts Drives: MW Vespa w/pink racing stripes Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Peeing in your garden iTrader: (3)	Same as everyone above... Chase Sapphire Preferred is easily one of the best rewards credit cards out there right now...
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11-22-2015, 03:49 PM	#8
RickFLM4 Brigadier General 10955 Rep 4,819 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: PB County, FL iTrader: (0)	Presuming you pay off monthly, Discover or a number of other cards with no fee. Personally, I prefer cash back or points that can be redeemed for cash or statement credit. I won't pay a fee for a credit card. If you carry a balance then interest rate should be a bigger consideration than rewards. __________________ Current: 2018 SO/SS F83 ZCP Gone: 2015 SO/SO F82
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11-23-2015, 08:29 AM	#10
zx10guy Brigadier General 5150 Rep 3,241 Posts Drives: 2013 135i Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: DC iTrader: (0)	My AMEX Cash Rewards card is one of the cards I won't do without. Cash rewards on purchases. No annual fee. And the big perks. Automatic warranty extension on many products I purchase up to an additional year. I use this on any electronics purchases. In addition, the same card provides lost/stolen/accidental damage coverage for 90 days after date of sale. I've used both the warranty extension and the accidental damage coverage. In the case of the warranty extension, I had a Xerox Phaser 8560MFP/D printer needing a main board replacement just after the one year manufacturer's warranty was up. AMEX paid the $950 repair bill. I had a item I accidentally dropped and damaged. AMEX paid the $150 to reimburse to replace it.
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11-23-2015, 08:53 AM	#11
Alfisti Brigadier General 6496 Rep 3,030 Posts Drives: 2008 Saab 9-3 Combi Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	I am unusual in that i fly a LOT of long haul, at times 4 tickets at once, Toronto to Sydney and back. As a result i still cannot find anything that redeems better than the Aeroplan card with TD, more than 2% back on the right flights.
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11-23-2015, 08:56 AM	#12
bimmerfrk Lieutenant 591 Rep 534 Posts Drives: Ferrari Red F83 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Tristate Area iTrader: (0)	I just got a chase slate. They gave me 0% for 16months on all balance transfers __________________
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11-23-2015, 09:52 AM	#13
csu87 Banned 2134 Rep 3,554 Posts Drives: 09 335xi Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Northern Colorado iTrader: (0)	capital one venture - double points for every purchase; travel purchase eraser means you can book whatever you want and use your points for it. ive looked at the chase sapphire preferred, but you only get double points on dining and travel, and you have to use their rewards program to book travel. Doesnt give you the flexibility of the capital one.
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11-23-2015, 10:52 AM	#15
Biorin Lieutenant 2785 Rep 421 Posts Drives: to get cheeseburgers Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Sweatervests & Range Rovers iTrader: (0)	I'm happy with the Amex gold preferred. 2x gas, groceries, and restaurants, 3x flights, and that's pretty much exactly what I spend my money on. $195 a year, and I've made that up in points at least 12x over in the 2 years I've had it.
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11-23-2015, 11:29 AM	#16
John 070 Lieutenant General 1705 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	Right now, I have a credit union "everyday" card to get the 1.5%. No games, it is redeemable as little as $0.01 as soon as it posts. I use amazon.com Chase for amazon, but have been using Discover IT to get 5%. Now, starting today there is 10% with Chase Freedom--I don't have that card, so I'll use my wife's and let her keep the 10%. For groceries, Amex Blue. I get 3%--the one that costs $75/yr. gets 6%. Either one is a no-brainer, we all buy groceries. For gasoline, I get 5% straight up, it's automatically deducted every month, true 5%, again, no-brainer this is PenFed. For Costco, Costco AMEX but looking forward to when it opens up to Visa. I do have a tendency to open new accounts when they offer $100+. We just needed a convertible baby seat, and that was $279 after discount. I saw an offer on the bay window, $100 when you open and spend $500. So I got the baby seat, plus 4 new tires for $683. Now I got a bonus $25, 683 (technically worth $6 and change) points, plus another 10,000 for $100. Many of my buddies say they can't be bothered and they can't, over $125, but I can....I even test drove a Passat TDI for $25, also a 2015 WRX for $25, although my price is usually $50 or more or I won't do that. I was seriously interested...
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11-23-2015, 12:56 PM	#18
KingOfJericho Major General 2452 Rep 7,341 Posts Drives: Yes Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 135i Coupe [5.26]	*ALWAYS TRANSFER POINTS TO PARTNERS* With that said, I have an Amex Platinum that I'm riding out until the renewal then I will downgrade to Gold Rewards. It's geared toward frequent travelers (TransitCheck refund, TSA PreCheck refund, PriorityPass access, gold status at Hilton, $200 airline credit every calendar year, etc.). With two little kids, we don't travel enough to make use of the $200 airline credit and the points are only 1x. I ended up pairing it with an Amex EveryDay Preferred to acquire points faster (2x on gas, 3x at supermarkets) and when you hit 30 swipes in a month, you get an extra 50% on all points, making it 3x on gas and 4.5x on groceries. It's a great card and the points can be pooled with my Platinum card. Amex aside, the best combo out there right now is Chase Sapphire Preferred in addition to the Chase Freedom card. The freedom is free and each quarter they have a 5x points category (3Q was gas stations and Kohls, 4Q is always Amazon/Zappos/Diapers.com and they just announced that they're bumping it up to 10x points!!!). These points can also be pooled with those of your Sapphire Preferred. __________________ The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Bimmerpost. 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee High Altitude Hemi \| 2010 S4 Sold \| 2010 BMW 135i Retired \| 2006 Lotus Exige Sold
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11-23-2015, 06:06 PM	#22
Itsed65 Brigadier General 2609 Rep 3,535 Posts Drives: 2014 X1 28i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Midcoast Maine iTrader: (0)	USAA Preferred Cash Rewards World MasterCard is what I use. If you qualify to join, they have a few different rewards cards depending on your needs.
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