NOTE: I do NOT get paid to promote any of these cards. If you look at other web sites that promote cards as being the best PLEASE be aware that they may be doing this because when you sign up they get PAID a fee if you are approved for the card. If you want me to get paid – then buy the book at THIS LINK
Those who have read The Frugal Factor know how I have used credit card sign up rewards to pay for my vacations (Click for Vacation info) and more. But after the sign up bonus has arrived I stop using the card!
EVERY DAY Credit Cards — The best of the best.
The cards below offer a better everyday percentage back. I have 3 of the cards below and use them for everyday purchases. The card I use depends on the purchase – I always use the Pentagon card below for gas because it provides 5% Cash back — with the price of gas, that adds up FAST. Also, none of these card change their rewards each month like Discover and some Chase cards, Discover makes you sign up each month for the new rewards – I just do not have time for that!
The CitiForward card – Offers 5% back on Amazon.com purchases (because its treated at a bookstore), all Restaurant, and movie purchases. $100 Gift Card: Earn 10,000 bonus ThankYou Points when you sign up for Paperless Statements and make $500 in purchases in the first three months. The rewards are redeemed online for gift cards etc….
The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Card – Offers 5% cash back on all GAS purchases! The cash back is credited to your balance every month!
New card from Pentagon CLICK this LINK its as good as the one above put uses points, so you need to go online to redeem. But they supply 25,000 points after you spend $1000 in the first 3 months. That’s worth $250 FREE
The Fidelity rewards American Express Cards offers 2% Cash Back on ALL purchases, the Fidelity Visa offers 1.5%. The cash back is deposited to your fidelity account each month.
New – The Venture card from Capital One provides 2 miles per dollar, which can equal 2% cash back depending on what you redeem the miles for. The miles can be redeemed for Ailine tickers, Hotels room, and gift cards.
Now, 2% and 5% cash back may not seem like much but over a year of purchases (especially gas right now), it can really add up. Plus your spending the money anyway, might as well get something back.
The above cards only work if your living a Frugal Factor Lifestyle. You must pay off your balance every month! If you carry a balance each month the above cards are of little use…. get those cards paid off and keep them paid off. If you can’t control your spending, stop using credit and debit cards and go back to the Cash Method.
You must be a weird person like me to make this work —– That means paying the card off every month ———- David Ramsey would say that I am weird, and I am! If you can not pay off the cards EACH MONTH – do not get them.
A great credit rating is worthless unless you use it to improve your life style. If you READ The FRUGAL FACTOR book (search for it on Amazon.com) you will see how to successfully sign up for multiple cards, tricks to meeting the minimum purchase requirements and fund a VERY nice vacation.
Worried about your credit rating – monitor it FREE at www.CreditKarma.com — Read the Frugal Factor, it explains how your credit rating works, and tricks to getting the most form these cards.
===============================================
Sign up for DEALs ONLY
Do the cards below for the DEAL, then go back the the cards above. The only two cards mentioned below that I keep are the Marriot Premier Visa, and the Priority Club Visa – they each have a small annual fee but give me a free nights stay every year. Since I plan to do vacations with my kid the next few summers I will keep these cards. They annual fee is less than the cost of a hotel stay ($65, and $49).
NOTE: These links can change at any time, and offers expire quickly. Be sure to check for the minimum spend required to get the bonus points, also check for an ANNUAL Fee. Most waive the fee for the first year – that great because after 6 months we will cancel any card with a fee.
Now before you start clicking decide what you need – Cash, Hotel nights, Airline Points…… plan out your Vacation first………….
Deal #1 Get 30,000 American Airlines points after spending $1,000. There are Three cards from CitiBank. CitiBank only allows 2 credit card applications per 60 days. Follow the information in the FrugalFactor Book to sign up for mutiple cards. CLICK this LINK for world MasterCard Click this LINK for American Express CLICK this LINK for VISA. Visit AA.com to see what 60,000 points will get you. Remember you can sign up for TWO cards, and get 30,000 points for each. Thats 60,000 points. Married – that means both Husband and Wife can get there own card, that makes it 120,000 points. Spend them right and that equals over $1,200 in value.
Deal #2 From Citibank – CLICK this LINK 40,000 Hilton points after spending $1,000 Good for one night at a Hilton hotel. Another from Amex CLICK this LINK Get both for 2 FREE Nights.
Deal #3 Hyatt TWO FREE nights, Chase credit card – CLICK this LINK,
Deal #4 SouthWest Airlines – ONE FREE flight – 25,000 points. CLICK this LINK. In the past they have offered 50,000 points. So, if you do not need it now – wait on this one.
Deal #5 NFL card from Barclay — FREE $200. You get 20,000 points which can be applied as a statement credit CLICK this LINK
Deal #6 Marriott Premier Visa – 30,000 Points – enough for two nights stay. No fee the first year, then $65 per year. FREE night stay every year. (one of the two cards I keep that have an annual fee).
Deal #7 Whdham 18,000 points = one FREE night —– CLICK this LINK
Deal #8 Chase Sapphire – 25,000 Points (worth $250 cash) after spending $3,000 in three months.
Deal #9 Priority Rewards – 60,000 points – Enough points for up to 4 might stay OR two nights are a really nice hotel! I really like this card. It is one of two cards I keep that have an annual fee. This one is $49. But I get a FREE night hotel. So, its like prepaying for a hotel room. Also, I have found that Holiday Inn Express has good rooms and an excellent FREE Breakfast.
Deal #10 Amex Green – 10,000 points (equal to $100) after spending $500 in three months – YES you can have both gold and green.
Deal #11 US BANK Travel Perks Visa – 10,000 points equal to $100 after you spend $500.
Deal #12 Starwood Rewards by Amex – EXCELLENT Card – 25,000 Points after first use. Some hotels need 4,000 points, others 7,000, ones on the beach 10,000.
Deal #13 Laquinta – Two FREE nights after first use. Nice hotels, good FREE Breakfast. I have only done this deal one time – only spent two nights in the hotel, but it was good!
Deal #14 Royal Caribbean – $100 Credit on your next Cruise. I did this twice!
Deal #15 Citi Hilton Honors – 40,000 Points after spending $500, Basically good for one or two nights stay at a Hampton inn.
FINAL Note – After you have gained the points wait until 6 months pass before canceling the card. Some cards now require you to keep the account open 6 months to keep the bonus. After 6 months you can cancel. By canceling the card you will not loose the points you have gain in the rewards account.
The rules are always changing, but in the past I have signed up for a card, canceled the card —- waited another 5 or 6 months and signed up for the card again, and got the point again, SWEET deal!!!!