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Message
Credit Card Recommendations…
Posted on 2/4/25 at 11:35 am
Posted on 2/4/25 at 11:35 am
So; we’re looking to upgrade/switch up credit cards to take better advantage of points/miles.
Currently we’re using a bank issued card; low annual fee with pretty minimal cash back perks.
We’ve had no personal debt now for a few years; so our credit score does reflect that. Our utilization isn’t very high other than our current card.
We use our current credit cards for everything. Utilities, groceries, dining, etc. All of our day to day expenses so the net spend is pretty high. We pay the card off each month and have the needed financial discipline to keep that going.
Not sure if we’d be better off with a cash back or a travel type card. We do enjoy travel and usually do one or two trips per year.
Not afraid to pay a larger annual if the rewards are truly worth it.
Gimme your thoughts and recommendations.
Thanks!
Currently we’re using a bank issued card; low annual fee with pretty minimal cash back perks.
We’ve had no personal debt now for a few years; so our credit score does reflect that. Our utilization isn’t very high other than our current card.
We use our current credit cards for everything. Utilities, groceries, dining, etc. All of our day to day expenses so the net spend is pretty high. We pay the card off each month and have the needed financial discipline to keep that going.
Not sure if we’d be better off with a cash back or a travel type card. We do enjoy travel and usually do one or two trips per year.
Not afraid to pay a larger annual if the rewards are truly worth it.
Gimme your thoughts and recommendations.
Thanks!
This post was edited on 2/4/25 at 11:38 am
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Posted on 2/4/25 at 11:59 am to wiltznucs
I just got an Amex Gold card this year. If you spend $6k within the first 6 months, you can get 90k bonus miles.
4X cash back at restaurants, grocery stores, and travel.
PM me your email address and I'll send you a referral so I can get the referral bonus miles
4X cash back at restaurants, grocery stores, and travel.
PM me your email address and I'll send you a referral so I can get the referral bonus miles
This post was edited on 2/4/25 at 12:01 pm
Posted on 2/4/25 at 12:00 pm to wiltznucs
We've only ever been in the Chase ecosystem, so I can't comment on the others, but Chase has been fantastic for us. App is very easy to use, customer service has always been great for us.
Anyway, we've got the "trifecta" - Chase Freedom Unlimited ("everyday" card, Chase Sapphire Preferred ("travel" card), and the Freedom Flex (rotating categories). Regardless of the route you go, I'd definitely give Chase a hard look. If anything, get the Preferred for the sign up bonus (60,000 points ($600/cash), or 75,000 points when you book through the app).
Anyway, we've got the "trifecta" - Chase Freedom Unlimited ("everyday" card, Chase Sapphire Preferred ("travel" card), and the Freedom Flex (rotating categories). Regardless of the route you go, I'd definitely give Chase a hard look. If anything, get the Preferred for the sign up bonus (60,000 points ($600/cash), or 75,000 points when you book through the app).
Posted on 2/4/25 at 12:07 pm to TheJunction
I've got a Chase Freedom card. I got it back when I was 20 before I knew/thought about the point system. To the OP, I'd definitely recommend getting the Unlimited or Sapphire Preferred over just the plain Freedom card if you want to go with Chase. Seems like the benefits are a lot better.
With my Chase Freedom, they have quarterly rotating categories to get 5% cash back. It's nice when they are things you use frequently (grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, etc), but other times they're kind of random so it's hard to capitalize on the 5X stuff.
With my Chase Freedom, they have quarterly rotating categories to get 5% cash back. It's nice when they are things you use frequently (grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, etc), but other times they're kind of random so it's hard to capitalize on the 5X stuff.
Posted on 2/4/25 at 12:23 pm to wiltznucs
I use Amex gold and while the fee has increased, it's still worth it.
Annual fee is $325, but I accumulate average over the last few years $1,100 worth of points per year.
On top of that, I get $7/m to Dunkin, $10/m to Uber Eats, and $10/m to GrubHub, which I use every month for lunch (and a coffee/donuts morning with the kids).
It's my every day card for everything minus fuel and Costco runs, which I use my Citi Costco card for fuel and Costco. That card is free and generates a $300+ gift certificate to Costco every year.
Those two work well for me and my family.
Annual fee is $325, but I accumulate average over the last few years $1,100 worth of points per year.
On top of that, I get $7/m to Dunkin, $10/m to Uber Eats, and $10/m to GrubHub, which I use every month for lunch (and a coffee/donuts morning with the kids).
It's my every day card for everything minus fuel and Costco runs, which I use my Citi Costco card for fuel and Costco. That card is free and generates a $300+ gift certificate to Costco every year.
Those two work well for me and my family.
Posted on 2/4/25 at 12:27 pm to HogPharmer
quote:
I just got an Amex Gold card this year. If you spend $6k within the first 6 months, you can get 90k bonus miles.
The net spend is in excess of $50K per year easily. We literally put everything on the cards. Insurance, property taxes, groceries, etc. As long as we aren’t charged an additional fee for using a credit card we use them.
Posted on 2/4/25 at 12:28 pm to wiltznucs
If you want to maximize rewards then you'll probably need multiple cards. Here's what I have:
Delta Amex Reserve (flights / first class companion cert)
Chase Sapphire Preferred (3% dining / travel)
Chase Amazon (5% Amazon)
Citi Costco (5% gas)
Fidelity visa (2% general cashback)
You can also play the sign up bonus game. I did that with Amex Gold / Platinum and have 500K in MR points to use.
Delta Amex Reserve (flights / first class companion cert)
Chase Sapphire Preferred (3% dining / travel)
Chase Amazon (5% Amazon)
Citi Costco (5% gas)
Fidelity visa (2% general cashback)
You can also play the sign up bonus game. I did that with Amex Gold / Platinum and have 500K in MR points to use.
Posted on 2/4/25 at 12:28 pm to wiltznucs
I don't know much about any of the cards with fees as I've always had the no-fee cards. One thing to be mindful of if you like to travel out of the country is if the card has foreign transaction fees. This is what we just ran into when pre-purchasing some things on our Chase Freedom card. Luckily it was early enough before we left for the trip to find another card that doesn't charge the foreign transaction fee.
Posted on 2/4/25 at 12:35 pm to Witty_Username
The Amex Gold card does not have foreign transaction fees. However, in my 2 trips to Europe last year, you will find some places that do not accept AMEX.
Posted on 2/4/25 at 12:48 pm to wiltznucs
Based on reviews and recommendations.
Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Gold look to be the two best general use cards right now.
I have a Southwest card (also Chase). But after a few years, I'm ready to move on and not be tied to Southwest points/flights only.
Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Gold look to be the two best general use cards right now.
I have a Southwest card (also Chase). But after a few years, I'm ready to move on and not be tied to Southwest points/flights only.
Posted on 2/4/25 at 1:42 pm to wiltznucs
For travel I'd get an Amex Platinum and a Chase Sapphire (either works). Their travel partners and points redemptions are unparalled. Amex has partners that offer transfer bonuses 1-2 time a year,
Before people complain about the annual fees if you use the benefits of the cards to their fullest the fees are offset. Also, American Express concierge service is unrivaled.
I've also used points from both for hotel stays and their point redemptions for hotels are great and there is a huge list of hotels the points can be used for.
Before people complain about the annual fees if you use the benefits of the cards to their fullest the fees are offset. Also, American Express concierge service is unrivaled.
I've also used points from both for hotel stays and their point redemptions for hotels are great and there is a huge list of hotels the points can be used for.
This post was edited on 2/4/25 at 1:45 pm
Posted on 2/4/25 at 2:41 pm to wiltznucs
quote:
We do enjoy travel and usually do one or two trips per year.
International? I find it amusing that people blow tens of thousands of points to fly to Nashville or Seattle, but getting business class overseas is worth it (usually.) As others have noted, do *not* tie yourself to one airline. Not sure where you live, but if Delta, for instance, decides there's no award space out of Atlanta to Europe for all but two days during each month during the summer, you're screwed.
Posted on 2/4/25 at 3:15 pm to wiltznucs
We have been in the Chase family the past few years and use them extensively for travel. We use the Marriott card because we often found ourselves primarily staying at them anyway. I then use my Business Ink & Freedom card to rack up points to pay for the other parts of our vacations not covered by the Marriott. For example, we will be heading to Disney for a week and using only credit card points/reimbursements. And probably looking at an east coast summer trip primarily on credit card points (not sure I will refill the balance 100% yet)
On this topic, what do people find to be the best Delta or American credit card? May have an international trip next spring, and those 2 appear to have the best options.
On this topic, what do people find to be the best Delta or American credit card? May have an international trip next spring, and those 2 appear to have the best options.
Posted on 2/5/25 at 10:26 am to Weekend Warrior79
So after some deliberation I ended up going with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
We really wanted to do a single card and not get bogged down with “the trifecta” or coupon book models.
After reviewing AMEX a large number of their clients complained about the cards not being useful overseas, as well as not being accepted at Costco.
We do travel internationally quite a bit and Costco sees a lot of our money. So that definitely impacted our decision making.
The $300 annual travel credit with the Chase card is something we will definitely use so that really felt like it was reducing the annual fee significantly.
Really appreciate all the insights. Thank you all…
We really wanted to do a single card and not get bogged down with “the trifecta” or coupon book models.
After reviewing AMEX a large number of their clients complained about the cards not being useful overseas, as well as not being accepted at Costco.
We do travel internationally quite a bit and Costco sees a lot of our money. So that definitely impacted our decision making.
The $300 annual travel credit with the Chase card is something we will definitely use so that really felt like it was reducing the annual fee significantly.
Really appreciate all the insights. Thank you all…
Posted on 2/5/25 at 6:32 pm to wiltznucs
If you travel internationally, have two cards with no foreign transaction fees. I had to cancel a card while abroad due to fraud (US transaction). Without the second card, that would have been a much bigger issue.
Can’t go wrong with the CSR. After the $300 prepaid gas fee, it takes very minimal spend to break even.
However, nearly all my household spending goes on Amex platinum. It’s straight forward in terms of point usage and earning so it’s tough to make a game out of the points. Like the CSR, there are a lot of prepaid credits like Uber, Walmart, etc that make it fairly easy to break even. The real benefit is in the Fine Hotel benefits. You can pay for the card after one weeklong stay.
IMO, get both
Can’t go wrong with the CSR. After the $300 prepaid gas fee, it takes very minimal spend to break even.
However, nearly all my household spending goes on Amex platinum. It’s straight forward in terms of point usage and earning so it’s tough to make a game out of the points. Like the CSR, there are a lot of prepaid credits like Uber, Walmart, etc that make it fairly easy to break even. The real benefit is in the Fine Hotel benefits. You can pay for the card after one weeklong stay.
IMO, get both
Posted on 2/5/25 at 8:38 pm to wiltznucs
Great choice. Hope you got a great welcome bonus. And not too much spend to hit it.
Posted on 2/6/25 at 5:23 pm to wiltznucs
Just got my chase sapphire reserve today. It took 6 weeks of jumping through hoops to get it but it finally came in. Fiance' and i travel alot and have never had credit card debt so its been past time for us to start taking advantage of points. This was the top rated one i could find after research. $450 annual fee though
Booking a cabo trip with it this weekend so that should give us the $60k bonus
Booking a cabo trip with it this weekend so that should give us the $60k bonus
This post was edited on 2/6/25 at 5:24 pm
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