Below are the current best cards. Note Credit cards can be evil — but if used properly can provides great benefits. If you have read THE Frugal Factor you know how to get FREE hotels, Airplane Flights and more without spending real money!
Pay your bill off every month!
A sign up bonus or cash back is of no value if you do not pay your bill off every month.
Those who pay monthly interest charges, because they do not pay their bill off every month are those who provide
the rest of us with FREE hotel nights and plane flights. (Thank You)
.
Note – many websites/blogs have glowing reviews of cards. The reason, they receive affiliate payment for getting you to sign up for the card. I do not receive any payment of any type for my links and comments about these cards.
Best Every Day use cards:
1. Citi Double Cash, Master Card – provides 2% cash back on all purchases. No annual FEE LINK
2. Fidelity American Express – Provides 2% cash back on all purchases. No Annual FEE LINK Note: you can use to buy gift cards or deposit to a fidelity account.
GAS
1. Pentagon Federal Credit Union Cash Rewards – LINK Provides 3% or 5% cash back. You can join National Military Family Association and then join PenFed. Penfed has the best deal on car loans and mortgages. At the end of each month the cash back is automatically credited to your credit card bill!
Hotel
1. Carlson Club Visa – Provides 5 points for each dollar spent. LINK Most nights cost 28000 points. You get 85,000 points after a $2,500 spend and 40000 points each year. The annual fee is $75, less than the cost of a night. So if you spend one or two nights a year in their hotels this is a good deal. The value per dollar spent is a little over 2%.
The IHG and Mariott rewards cards are also excellent for the sign up bonus, but not as an every day use card.
Plane Flights
No current airline credit card provides better than a 2% reward value. Therefore a 2% card is better. But airline cards are excellent for the sign up bonus. Do not sign up unless the card will at least provide 2 round trip flights, which usually costs 50,000 points or 25,000 points per round trip ticket.
In general do not sign up unless the offer is 50,000 points after X dollar spend in 90 days. For example a current deal is the UNITED Airlines Credit card which provides 50,000 point after $3,000 spend CLICK this LINK for info..
OTHERs
Well Fargo Rewards Visa – Provides 5% back for only the first six months on Gas, Grocery, and Drug Store purchases. LINK NOTE: This card offers FREE Cell phone insurance if you pay your cell phone bill with the card! LINK for CELL PHONE info
TD Bank Visa – Provides 5% back for only the first six months on Gas, Grocery, and Drug Store purchases. LINK
Barclay Arrival – Provides 40,0000 points(value $400) after spending $3000 in 90 days. But there is an $89 annual fee (no fee the first year). LINK