Best rewards credit card?

[VBelle68]

I am shopping for a new rewards credit card. I have the Chase Disney Visa, and have had the Chase Southwest card in the past. I feel like I could get better bang for my buck using something other than the Disney card. I generally use my points for travel, but cash works too! However, I don't like to remember to sign up every month for "bonus" points at certain merchants. Which cards do ya'll use that don't require a lot of hoop-jumping to get rewards?

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I am shopping for a new rewards credit card. I have the Chase Disney Visa, and have had the Chase Southwest card in the past. I feel like I could get better bang for my buck using something other than the Disney card. I generally use my points for travel, but cash works too! However, I don't like to remember to sign up every month for "bonus" points at certain merchants. Which cards do ya'll use that don't require a lot of hoop-jumping to get rewards?

I have both the Chase Freedom and Discover It card both of which you consider a lot of work. I think it takes me a total of 8 seconds to do all the work I get an email before the quarter begins and click the link it provides and voila! I'm all signed up. They're both free of annual charges and then 1% back on everything else. I also like the Discover card because you can use your rewards for gift cards that are discounted up to 50%.

But, since you weren't interested in the quarterly cash back cards, you might like the AMEX Blue Preferred:
Earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations , 3% Cash Back at select U.S. department stores, and 1% Cash Back on other purchases. (This one has a $75 annual fee) They have a version with no annual fee with the percentages at 3, 2 & 1.

If you're looking for travel awards with flexibility, research the Chase Sapphire. It has a great start up bonus and can be used on a few different airlines, hotels and Amtrak. Another good travel card is Barclays Arrival card (one with a fee, one without). Again, good start up bonus but is good for ANY travel.

 

[hsmamato2]

it depends on what rewards you are looking for.... the disney visa has a dismal reward program in terms of money spent.... the southwest card is one of the best, if you're looking to fly.... for cashback, chase freedom is good- and free to use- there are lots of choices , but you have to know what rewards you want.

 

[MillauFr]

I have a Fidelity Visa. I get 1.5% cash back on the first $15k of charges every year and 2% cash after that. I used to have one of the airline credit cards but unless you were using the miles for international first class tickets the most the reward worked out to was 1.5%

 

[ekatiel]

We have the Chase Sapphire Preferred and have been very happy with it. You can use the points to transfer directly to Southwest or United-- 1 point equals one mile, which can be a great deal for Southwest especially. We like that we have the flexibility to use the points on Southwest, United (one point equals one mile) or for other travel, with 100 points equaling $1.

 

[miolet]

i like capital one quicksilver for a basic 1% cashback on all - easy to transfer the reward points to credit your account; chase freedom is also good

 

[SUSIEQ]

Take a look at the Citi Double Cash card. 2% back.

 

[bluezy]

I agree with the others that it really depends on what you want to get out of the rewards. We like to travel to Disney every 2 or 3 years, so the Disney Visa works for us in that in addition to the reward dollars, we like the discount when shopping at Disney and the other occasional special deals (like Broadway shows and the ability to book a few days early when Disney World discounts are released). We also use the Chase Freedom card for charges in the quarterly bonus category. That 5% adds up quickly. Like a PP mentioned, it takes about 10 seconds to enroll the 4 times a year you have to do it. You can get a text or e-mail alert and then click on the link. I don't usually have trouble remembering what the bonus category is each quarter but my husband can never remember so I put a small post-it note on his card to remind him. Between the two cards, we usually accumulate at least $800 in Disney Rewards Dollars and cash back each year to use towards our Disney trips. If we didn't go to Disney World, we'd probably just use the Chase Freedom card for everything.

 

[Eighty8Keys]

My current favorite credit card is my American Express Blue Cash Preferred, even with the $75 annual fee. I signed up for this last year after realizing that the 6% cash back at grocery stores includes the purchase of gift cards. It's an automatic 6% savings on many of my favorite gift cards, including Target, Starbucks, iTunes, Amazon, plus 2x (sometimes 3x & 4x) fuel rewards. I also use my Chase Freedom and Discover cards for the 5% bonus categories and find that signing up each quarter only takes a few seconds. Some of the bonus categories are for things that I can't really take advantage of, but when I can, I try to take full advantage. This quarter, Chase Freedom is offering the 5% bonus on grocery stores, Starbucks and movie theaters, and I'll have no trouble earning the maximum $75 bonus. I have a Disney Visa, but I rarely use it since the 1% reward is so low compared to my other cards. I know some people like the six month, 0% financing option for Disney packages, but we always do room-only reservations, so I've never been able to take advantage of that. I also like the flexibility I have in redeeming the rewards, which we save exclusively for travel related expenses. I can choose cash to pay for airfare, taxis, dining, Target gift cards to purchase Disney Gift cards (with an additional 5% off at Target.com), or Best Western gift cards for our hotel when we visit Disneyland.

 

[havaneselover]

My current favorite credit card is my American Express Blue Cash Preferred, even with the $75 annual fee. I signed up for this last year after realizing that the 6% cash back at grocery stores includes the purchase of gift cards. It's an automatic 6% savings on many of my favorite gift cards, including Target, Starbucks, iTunes, Amazon, plus 2x (sometimes 3x & 4x) fuel rewards. I also use my Chase Freedom and Discover cards for the 5% bonus categories and find that signing up each quarter only takes a few seconds. Some of the bonus categories are for things that I can't really take advantage of, but when I can, I try to take full advantage. This quarter, Chase Freedom is offering the 5% bonus on grocery stores, Starbucks and movie theaters, and I'll have no trouble earning the maximum $75 bonus. I have a Disney Visa, but I rarely use it since the 1% reward is so low compared to my other cards. I know some people like the six month, 0% financing option for Disney packages, but we always do room-only reservations, so I've never been able to take advantage of that. I also like the flexibility I have in redeeming the rewards, which we save exclusively for travel related expenses. I can choose cash to pay for airfare, taxis, dining, Target gift cards to purchase Disney Gift cards (with an additional 5% off at Target.com), or Best Western gift cards for our hotel when we visit Disneyland.

Mine too. I max out the $6,000 at grocery stores by buying gift cards (at Kroger which earns me fuel points). I also have a capital one card which earns 1.5% on everything and am getting 3% on all purchases on a Citicard but that's temporary. The other nice thing about the Amex is the offers (I think I've saved $400 in the last 18 months) and the small business Saturday credits.

 

[Eighty8Keys]

Mine too. I max out the $6,000 at grocery stores by buying gift cards (at Kroger which earns me fuel points). I also have a capital one card which earns 1.5% on everything and am getting 3% on all purchases on a Citicard but that's temporary. The other nice thing about the Amex is the offers (I think I've saved $400 in the last 18 months) and the small business Saturday credits.

Ooh, I forgot about the offers. I've been able to take advantage of a few of those, Only $65 in the past five months mainly because I forget to check for them more often. I'm looking forward to the next small business Saturday. I found about it too late last time to be able to take advantage of it.

 

[LSchrow]

also, chase freedom gives cash back (you can apply it to your balance) & no annual fee, which makes it one of our favorites. chase SWA is great if you fly SWA, and the only card I would pay an annual fee for.
we have (too) many CCs, and those are our main go-to's.

 

[havaneselover]

Ooh, I forgot about the offers. I've been able to take advantage of a few of those, Only $65 in the past five months mainly because I forget to check for them more often. I'm looking forward to the next small business Saturday. I found about it too late last time to be able to take advantage of it.

I just checked and I'm at $430 since 11/2013. I've saved $75 in the last 3 months by using my Amex to pay my Verizon fios bill. It seems like the offers were better last year, but I'm not complaining (at this point). I also get 6% off gas using this card by loading a Kroger gift card in the grocery store and using it to pay for gas at the Kroger fuel center.

 

[Sheree]

I have an emex for Hilton honors. what offers? I like the Hilton and the southwest. Never pay for hotels and fly pretty cheap!

 

[scard192]

[QUOTE="havaneselover, post: 53211861, member: 257408" I've saved $75 in the last 3 months by using my Amex to pay my Verizon fios bill. .[/QUOTE]

Amex has an offer if you use the card to pay your cell phone bill. not as good as the Fios one, but $30

Enroll your eligible Card by 4/14/15 & pay your cell phone bill of $75+ online @ these accepting major US Carriers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, or Verizon) by 7/15/15 & get $10 back. Limit 3 statement credits.

 

[VBelle68]

So many ways to save! My problem is I always think I will remember to check for offers, or click the e-mail and I never do! I don't like having to remember to do things. Just age, (or laziness) I guess! I think I am going to go for the Citi Double Cash for everyday purchases such as groceries and gas, and keep the Disney chase for the discount potential at Disney. Thanks for all the replies!

 

[Plutofan]

Fidelity investments has a 2% cash back Amex card