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Tag: best cash back credit cards

  • How to Maximize Cash Back Credit Cards Rewards and Rebates (Tips)

    How to Maximize Cash Back Credit Cards Rewards and Rebates (Tips)

    The bar has been raised. In terms of cash back credit cards, LendingTree’s saying holds true, “when banks compete, you win.” Or, at least you do in the current cash back card environment. It used to be that the common cash back reward was 1%. Now, we are seeing the most common is 1.5%. That is definitely good news for consumers. Below are some tips on choosing and using a cash back card to maximize your cash rewards.

    HOW TO CHOOSE A CASH BACK REWARDS CARD

    Deciding which is the best cash back rewards card for you depends entirely on how you spend your money. For example, if you spend a lot on groceries then you’ll likely want a card that gives you the best rewards for groceries. You’ll also want to take your goals into consideration. For example, is travel a big part of your life, or are you planning and saving for an upcoming trip? Then you may want to consider a cash back card that maximizes your cash back which pays out a generous 2% cash back (click graphic above to read cashback card reviews). IF air miles are more your thing, you may want to look for a card that provides bonus points at signup and offers a great point accrual system that allows you to use those points for travel.

    Other things to consider include fees. Each card comes with a different list of fees, so make sure to read the terms of service before applying.

    You’ll also want to know whether you qualify for a card before applying. Applying and getting rejected for too many cards at once can seriously harm your credit score. Make sure you’re realistic when applying and that your credit score is good enough to qualify for the card.

    TYPES OF CASH BACK CARDS

    You’ll find three types of cash back rewards, in the order of ease of use:

    Unlimited cash back – This is by far the simplest form. Unfortunately, you usually won’t find the very highest 5%+ rewards this way, but you can find some great cards that get you 2-3% or more in some popular categories.

    Cash back with limits – This is more commonly found for the higher percentage back offers. Basically, this is where a card limits the cash back you can earn by putting a cap on the spending which earns the cash back. Limits are found in one or more specific categories or the card as a whole.

    Quarterly rotating categories – These are the cards with the brightly advertised 5% rates. It’s easy to fall for attractive offers such as these. Who wouldn’t want 5% back? Here’s where you read the fine print. Although you can earn the 5% rate, it may take some work on your part. Instead of automatically getting the higher rate, you may have to opt in to categories each quarter manually. Of course, there will be limits at this rate and you can max out this rate and then drop to a lower rate.

    BEST PRACTICES FOR USING YOUR CASH BACK REWARDS CREDIT CARDS

    Earn more cash back from your credit cards this year!

    Stay on Top of Things: Change is constant. As your needs change so will the credit cards you use. Additionally, rewards programs are constantly changing. For example, airlines devalue their points or mergers happen that can make reward programs less rewarding. The same can happen with cash back rewards. As such, you’ll always want to keep an eye on term changes and point expiration. Don’t be afraid to drop a card if it no longer fits your life.

    Savvy Tip: Put reminder notes on your calendar to help you remember these important expiration dates so you can take the appropriate action.

    Watch the Categories and Activate Each Quarter Many cards have special offers such as 5% cash back for rotating categories. This quarter, it may be gas stations, UBER rides and taxis. Next quarter it could be on restaurants and dining. Most cards require you to activate the card for that particular quarterly offer. Keep up with those offers and try to use the right card at the right place.

    Card to Consider – Discover it® Cash Credit Card: For new Discover cardholders, there is a very compelling offer that ties in nicely with their cash back offerings. They offer a 5% cash back on specific types of purchases that changes each quarter. Beyond those, all other purchases get 1% back. At the end of the first year, Discover will double the amount earned during that time. This means all the 5% category cash back earned becomes 10% cash back and the 1% base feature of the card essentially turns the card into 2% card for all other purchases. They currently offer a 12 month 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers, albeit with the 3% balance transfer fee.

    Savvy Tip: Label your cards that give you the most cash back for certain categories so you can grab the right card at the right place.

    Actually Use It: The best way to accumulate points is to actually use the card! That simply means using your credit card more often. This makes some people uncomfortable, but as long as you spend within your means, you’ll be fine. Additionally, you’ll actually want to use the points you accumulate. Far too many Americans have point balances that go unused and run the risk of expiring. Besides, what’s the point of accumulating points if you don’t actually use them?

    PITFALLS TO AVOID

    It should go without saying, but the only way to really get the most bang for your buck with cash back rewards is to make sure you pay your balance in full each month. Otherwise, the interest will eat away or cancel out your points.

    CASH REWARDS VS. MILES and POINTS CARDS

    In the world of credit cards, choosing between cash back rewards and credit cards that help you rack up airline miles can be a conundrum. After all, out of all the types of discounts, rewards and points available, these two are by far the best types of programs. What’s the point of saving 10 percent at Victoria’s Secret if you can cash in on hundreds, if not thousands, via cash back or free travel?

    The option you choose really depends on your lifestyle and goals. For example, do you have to travel for business? Is traveling something you truly value and enjoy? If so, you may want to go with a card that helps you accumulate airline miles. Otherwise, you may be better off with cash back. Some cards actually let you rack up both simultaneously.

    Savvy Tip: When comparing miles cards, pay attention to the way that points are redeemed. On some cards, 25,000 points equates to 25,000 actual airline miles, but on a growing number of cards, 25,000 points equates to $250 worth of air travel purchase, whereas 25,000 actual airline miles may be worth more than $250.

    Then, there are also hotel point cards which earn you free and discounted stays at a number of locations, and those can be quite valuable. On both airline and hotel point cards, there is usually some form of initial points bonus and/or a points bonus that occurs at a spend amount. Cash back cards offer something similar in a cash bonus of $100 or $150 for $500 spend in the first 90 days. I do admit to getting a card mainly for the $150 bonus. I knew I had $500 in things I could put on the card, and getting a free $150 was not too shabby. Here at BestPrepaidDebitCards.com, we hope you have an even more rewarding experience.

    Our Ratings/Disclaimer:
    When reviewing these cards, we do our best to put ourselves in your shoes. We choose cards based on (lack of) fees, rewards and ease of use. In other words, if we wouldn’t use these cards ourselves, we wouldn’t recommend them. In fact, we do actually use cash back cards ourselves! 🙂

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    Co-written by Curtis Arnold, a nationally recognized consumer advocate and founder of CardRatings.com, the pioneering website that started posting the first credit card ratings online around 20 years ago, and Shane Tripcony, personal finance blogger and web marketing consultant. They are the founders of BestPrepaidDebitCards.com, which provides ratings and reviews of prepaid cards and reward credit cards.

  • Which Cash Back Rewards Credit Cards are Rated Highest for April 2019?

    This article is Part Two of a Two-Part Roundup of the Highest Rated Cash Back Rewards Credit Cards for 2016 (see link below for 2019 offers). Also, be looking for another article coming soon to where we will discuss some savvy tips for using cash rebate cards, or more commonly known as cash back cards.

    In part one, we showcased our picks for the overall cash rebate rewards card winners for 2016, including cards that offer up to 2% Cash Back on all purchases. You can also find our picks for the best cash back cards for excellent Credit, building or rebuilding Credit, travel and specific categories of spending: groceries, gas and dining.

    Without further ado, here’s part two of our roundup of some of the highest cash back reward cards for 2016:

    Please Note! The Reviews Below are for 2016- Please Click Here for our Latest 2019 Reviews of Cash Rewards Credit Cards, including cards that offer up to a $500 cash bonus within 3 months(Ad Link)

    This is part two of a two part story about the best cash back cards of 2016, For part one, click here.

    BEST CASH BACK REWARDS CARD FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL

    PenFed Defender Visa Signature Card

    Editor’s Note: As you may guess from the card name, the PenFed Defender Visa Signature card is designed for a military personnel and offers a very respectable 1.5% cash back on all purchases as well as no foreign transaction fees. Truth be told, there are no fees at all.

    Cash earned is automatically added in to your account each month. Rates are as low as 10.24% and enhanced with 24/7 concierge services. If collecting rewards points are more interesting than traditional cash back, PenFed also has a compelling offer in their Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card.

    A Closer Look: You earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase and a $100 cash bonus when you spend $500 in the first 90 days after opening an account. There’s a 4.99% balance transfer for 12 months with no balance transfer fee and you can even earn a $100 bonus on qualifying transfers.

    Another nice feature is the travel and emergency assistance services. Need help managing warranty information? The card provides an extended warranty on purchases and several other features through its warranty manager service.

    USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express®*

    Editor’s Note: Another strong card for military personnel is the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express. Cardholders can earn 5% back on the first $3,000 in gas and military purchases. On groceries, you earn 2% on the first $3,000 and then 1% thereafter for the remainder of the year for both of these categories. Aside from these special categories, all other purchases earn an unlimited 1% cash back. The purchase APR is between 12.15% to 26.15%.

    A Closer Look: Military personnel get some unique benefits we have not seen with other cards. For example, they offer a special Deployment/PCS rate that provides a 4% APR on all balances for up to 12 months during deployment or PCS. Another feature is a special 4% SCRA rate for people entering active military duty.

    If the cardholder has a balance on their account at the time they enter active military duty, they will get a 4% APR on that existing balance until one year after they complete active duty. Finally, the Military Campaign Benefit is for those serving in qualified military campaigns. During that time of service, USAA will rebate all finance charges accrued while serving in that capacity.

    Please Note! The Reviews Below are for 2016- Please Click Here for our Latest 2019 Reviews of Cash Rewards Credit Cards.(Ad Link)

    Honorable Mention: cashRewards Credit Card from Navy Federal Credit Union
    Military members and their families can also qualify for membership to Navy Federal Credit Union. The cashRewards card offers an attractive purchase rate between 9.90% and 18.0% based on creditworthiness. In addition, this card offers 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases. There is no annual fee and no fee on foreign purchases, a big plus for those traveling with the military.

    • Rewards Details:
    • Rewards Expiration: Never
    • Rewards Limit: None
    • Start Redeeming: Anytime once earned

    BEST CREDIT UNION CASH BACK REWARDS CARD

    NASA Federal Credit Union Platinum Cash Rewards Credit Card

    Editor’s Note: Even if you do not work for NASA, you can show off a NASA FCU cash back credit card to your friends. They have a number of membership eligibility options, and one that allows anyone interested to gain membership. According to their website, a complimentary membership to the National Space Society (NSS) entitles you to join NASA FCU, and they offer a one year introductory membership fee of $20.

    That’s not too much to pay for a card that offers up to 2% cash back and 7.9% on balance transfers completed within 90 days for the lifetime of the balance (not a limited time rate) with no transfer fees. The purchase rate is between 14.15% – 17.99%.

    A Closer Look: You don’t start out earning 2% with this card, but must spend $2,001 annually to start earning 2% cash back (which is still a pretty low threshold). Here’s how the cash back tiers work: Card holders earn a 1% rebate for annual purchases up to $1,000, then a 1.25% rebate for annual purchases from $1,001 up to $2,000 and it is then 2% thereafter. The 2% rebate tier can be achieved fairly quickly for many active households.

    HEADS UP ON NEWER CARDS

    The bar has been raised. It used to be that the typical cash back reward percentage was 1%. Now, we are seeing the most common earn rate is 1.5% (Citi® Double Cash has raised the bar even higher as it offers an amazing 2% cash back rebate). This all is definitely good news for consumers! Before we leave our best cash back card roundup, there are a few new cards worth mentioning.

    BEST NEWCOMER

    Barclaycard CashForward World MasterCard Credit Card*

    Editor’s Note:A newer offering, released in November 2015, the new Barclaycard CashForward World MasterCard is a strong contender as it features a 1.5% Cash Back earn rate and a $100 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 90 days.

    It also offers a 0% APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers. After the 0% ends, a variable APR will apply, currently 15.24 -23.24% based on the applicant’s creditworthiness. This card is designed for people with excellent credit.

    A Closer Look:There are a couple of things to note on this card. It has a pretty high minimum threshold for cash redemption at $50, but they encourage cardholders to redeem by offering a 5% redemption bonus. So, your actual cash rebate percentage is effectively higher than 1.5%.

    Chase Freedom UnlimitedSM Credit Card

    Chase launched a 1.5% cash back card in April. Competing with Capital One’s QuickSilver and other similar offerings, the new “Freedom Unlimited” card pays back 1.5 percent on all purchases, a higher standard rate than the current Chase Freedom card which pays back 1 percent. It is available to customers with good and excellent credit scores.

    Please Note! The Reviews Below are for 2016- Please Click Here for our Latest 2019 Reviews of Cash Rewards Credit Cards.(Ad Link)

    MOST INNOVATIVE CASH BACK REWARDS PROGRAM

    QuickSilver From Capital One*

    Editor’s Note: Although expired at the time this is being published on BestPrepaidDebitCards.com, what initially set this card apart from all the others was your ability to get 20 percent cash back on all Uber rides through April 2016. This was a great bonus for those who use the car sharing service often.

    A Closer Look: Aside from the 20 percent cash back on Uber rides, Capital One’s QuickSilver is an overall good program. You earn an unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase, a $100 cash bonus when you spend $500 in the first three months after opening an account, there’s no annual fee and the card offers a 0 percent introductory APR.

    You can also use it for travel upgrades, there are no foreign transaction fees, the rewards don’t expire, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount, anytime.

    BEST BUSINESS CASH BACK REWARDS

    Ink Cash Business Credit Card*

    Editor’s Note: The Ink Cash Business Credit Card by Chase is often hailed as one of the best credit cards for small business owners. You get 5 percent cash back on the first $25,000 you spend each year on business expenses, including office supplies, cellular and landline phones, Internet and cable TV. You also get 2 percent cash back on the first $25,000 spent on gas and restaurants. A 0 percent introductory APR and no annual fee also make this card very attractive.

    A Closer Look: In addition to the great cash back offer on things all businesses need, you also get $200 bonus cash back when you spend $3,000 in the first three months after opening an account. You can redeem points for cash, travel or gift cards.

    HONORABLE MENTIONS

    Discover it® Cash Credit Card*

    This means all the 5% cash back earned on certain purchases effectively becomes 10% cash back and the 1% base feature of the card doubles and becomes 2% back on all other purchases. They currently offer a 12 month 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers. After that 12 month period balances revert to the standard rate, which is between 11.24% and 23.24%.

    A Closer Look:Discover adds some additional security features to help protect your account. Their Freeze It program allows cardholders to pause cards, preventing new purchases, cash advances or balance transfers on your account. Cardholders can easily freeze and unfreeze accounts via a mobile app or their website. As they monitor your account, if something looks fishy, they will notify you by phone, email or text message. If you are tracking your FICO credit score, you can get your score each month for free on your statement as well as on their website.

    PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards Visa Plus*

    Editor’s Note:The Plus card is actually the premium version for this particular card, which comes in two flavors: standard or plus. For cardholders that have qualifying accounts at PenFed, they can qualify for the Plus bonus on this card. Where the standard card features an unlimited 3% cash back on gas purchases at the pump, the Plus version raises that to an unlimited 5% at the pump. There is a 0% balance transfer for 12 months.

    A Closer Look:There is an opportunity to earn up to $200 in bonus cash back. This is a bit higher than many of the other similar $100 cash bonuses, but it does require you to spend $1,500 on the card during the first 90 days (compared to the $500 spend required by others). Another bonus up to $100 can be earned by transferring balances to the account. Transferring between $5,000 and $9,999 earns $50. Transferring $10k or more earns $100.

    Wells Fargo Cash Back Visa Signature® Card

    Another card worth considering is the Wells Fargo Cash Back Visa Signature card. For six months, cardholders get unlimited 5% cash back rewards on all gas, grocery and drug store purchases. Unlike many of the other 5% offers, this one has no cap, at least for six months, and many families can easily spend a few thousand in these categories over a six month time frame. All other purchases get 1% cash back. There is also a 0% APR balance transfer for 15 months to encourage cardholders to bring along existing balances as well.

    COMING SOON: Coming soon to a Costco near you: The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citibank. A new Costco credit card from Citi will replace the existing TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express. In addition to accepting the new Visa card, starting June 20, Costco will accept all Visa credit cards. This card is great for travelers: you get 4% back on gas purchases at Costco and other gas stations for the first $7,000 spent per year and 3% back on restaurants and most travel purchases such as airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruise lines and Costco travel.

    Cardholders will get 2% back at Costco and Costco.com and 1% back on everything else. The rewards are not distributed as easily and quickly as other cards: cardholders get a Costco coupon once a year that they must redeem by the end of that year. The benefits of this upcoming card are worth looking into, especially if you have travel plans on the horizon and do not mind cashing in all of your rewards at Costco.

    Other Related Reviews and Resources That Might be Helpful:

    PRIMER: HOW TO CHOOSE A CASH BACK REWARDS CARD

    Now that you know the best card picks in each category, we’d like to help you simplify your selection process as the process can be overwhelming. Deciding which is the best cash back rewards card for you depends entirely on how you spend your money. For example, if you spend a lot on groceries then you’ll likely want a card that gives you the best rewards for groceries. You’ll also want to take your goals into consideration. For example, is travel a big part of your life, or are you planning and saving for an upcoming trip? 2016-03-31-1459442839-9612854-BestChoice300x240.jpgThen you may want to consider a cash back card that allows you to use points for travel or awards bonus cash back for travel related purchases.

    You’ll also want to know whether you qualify for a card before applying. Applying and getting rejected for too many cards at once can seriously harm your credit score. Make sure you’re realistic when applying and that your credit score is good enough to qualify for the card. Many cards are listed indicating what kind of credit is needed to apply for the card. For example, you could apply and have a good chance of being approved for cards labeled as “excellent credit required” if you have a credit score of 720-750 or higher.

    PRIMER: THREE MAIN TYPES OF CASH BACK CARDS

    You’ll find three types of cash back rewards, in the order of ease of use:

    Unlimited cash back: This is by far the simplest form. Unfortunately, you usually won’t find the very highest 5%+ rewards this way, but you can find some great cards that get you 2-3% or more in some popular categories, and you can even find cards that give 2% cash back on all purchases, such as our current cash back winner, the Citi Double Cash Card.

    Cash back with limits: These cards are more commonly associated with higher percentage cash back offers. Basically, this is where a card limits the cash back you can earn by putting a cap on the spending which earns the cash back. Limits are found in one or more specific categories or the card as a whole.

    Quarterly rotating categories: These are the cards with the brightly advertised 5% rebate rates. It’s easy to fall for attractive offers such as these. Who wouldn’t want 5% back? Here’s where you read the fine print. Although you can earn the 5% rate, it may take some work on your part. Instead of automatically getting the higher rate, you may have to opt in to categories each quarter manually. Of course, there will be limits at this earn rate and you can max out this rate and then drop to a lower rate.

    BEST PRACTICES FOR USING YOUR CASH BACK REWARDS CARD

    Stay on Top of Things: Change is constant. As your needs change so will the credit cards you use. Additionally, rewards programs are constantly changing. For example, airlines devalue their points or mergers happen that can make reward programs less rewarding (some change is good though!). The same can happen with cash back rewards. As such, you’ll always want to keep an eye on term changes and point expirations. Don’t be afraid to drop a card if it no longer fits your life.

    Savvy Tip: Put reminder notes on your calendar to help you remember these important expiration dates or quarterly 5% category changes so you can take the appropriate action.

    Get Organized: If you really want to play the game, and you have significant expenses each month in multiple categories, you may want to look at cash back cards the way some people look at couponing. This works well with the 5% rotating cards. Print out labels for the category that a given card offers the greatest reward in. For example, if you get 5% cash back on gas and travel related purchases with one card, label that one gas, for the card with 5% back at restaurants, label dining, for groceries, well, you get the idea! This ties in with staying on top of things. You will have to sign up for these rotating categories (typically every quarter) and make card label changes as needed.

    Actually Use It: The best way to accumulate rewards is to actually use the card! That simply means using your credit card more often. This makes some people uncomfortable, but as long as you spend within your means (stick to your budget closely), you’ll be fine. Additionally, you’ll actually want to use the rebates you accumulate. Far too many Americans have reward/point balances that go unused and run the risk of expiring. Besides, what’s the point of accumulating rebates if you don’t actually use them?!

    PRIMER: PITFALLS TO AVOID

    It should go without saying, but the only way to really get the most bang for your buck with cash back rewards is to make sure you pay your balance in full each month. Otherwise, the interest you pay will typically more than cancel out your earnings (i.e. you’ll lose money on the deal). Beyond paying off your balance in full every month, you really need to also stick closely to your budget as cash back cards are designed with the express purpose to make you spend a lot. Studies show that consumers do spend more with plastic than cash- be very disciplined!

    If you have a great cash back card and you have a significant purchase where a card can be used, don’t forget you have that card and accidentally write a check, such as for a major home remodeling expense. If they take cards, a check is definitely better for the person getting paid, but they get the bonus, not you! 🙂

    CASH REWARDS VS. MILES AND HOTEL POINTS CARDS

    In the world of credit cards, choosing between cash back rewards and credit cards that help you rack up airline miles or hotel points can be a conundrum. After all, out of all the types of discounts, rewards and points available, these three card types are among the most popular programs out there. What’s the point of saving 10 percent at your favorite retailer if you can cash in on hundreds, if not thousands, via cash back, free travel or discounted hotel stays?

    The option you choose really depends on your lifestyle and goals. For example, do you have to travel for business? Is traveling something you truly value and enjoy? If so, you may want to go with a card that helps you accumulate airline miles. If you are constantly staying in the same hotel chains, a hotel points card may be just right for you.

    It’s a good idea to do the math on this, though. Over the years, we have found that it’s hard to beat a cash back card (and they’re usually simpler to use as well). Some cards do actually let you choose the way you redeem – for cash, points, gift cards, etc. And you can typically change your redemption preference whenever you want if you so desire.

    FINAL NOTES

    We hope you enjoyed our overview of the top cash back cards of 2016. Click here for more information and tips that can help you maximize your cash back earnings.

    This article is Part Two of a Two-Part Roundup of the Best Cash Rebate Rewards Cards in 2016. The first article can be found here.

    Our Ratings/Disclaimer:

    When reviewing these cards, we do our best to put ourselves in your shoes. We choose cards based on (lack of) fees, rewards and ease of use. In other words, if we wouldn’t use these cards ourselves, we wouldn’t recommend them. In fact, we do actually use cash back cards ourselves! 🙂

    This is part two of a two part story about the best cash back cards of 2016, For part one, click here.

    * NOTE: About half of the credit card offers that appear in this article are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation (these cards are listed as such on our site). They are noted above with an asterisk. We are proud that we list cards that don’t advertise with us—- almost all of our competitors ONLY list cards that advertise with them. The bottom line is that we don’t know of another site that prominently lists as many non-advertiser cards.

    NOTE: This article is part two of two and was originally published on the Huffington Post. Click here for the original article.

    Click here for part one on Huffington Post.

  • The Best Cash Back Rewards Credit Cards: July 2018

    The Best Cash Back Rewards Credit Cards: July 2018

    Everyone likes to have the flexibility of having a credit card around, even if it’s just for emergencies. These days, most cards have a rewards system for those who use their card frequently, but those systems often have rotating categories of purchases, points that have to be redeemed in a special store, rewards that expire, or a hundred different ways of ensuring that the rewards you get don’t actually cost the credit card company much.

    They’re often a pain in the neck to understand and using your reward is often a hassle. There are some cards, though, that cut through all that nonsense and simply refund a portion of everything you purchase.

    Here’s a comparison of some of the best cash back rewards cards (including online applications) (Ad Link*).
     

    Looking for a great cash back credit card?

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    Discover it® – Cashback Match™

    Discover pioneered the idea of the cash back reward and has continued to push the rest of the industry forward. The Discover it card offers 1% cash back on every purchase. In addition, every quarter there is an additional category of purchase for which you can earn 5% cash back. These categories include things like Amazon.com, grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants and it’s important to note that you do have to opt in every quarter. There is a $1500 max per quarter, but unless you’re spending $30,000 per quarter, or $10,000 per month, you’re not going to hit the limit.

    In addition, there are several deals Discover has with specific companies that offer extra rewards. These rewards are as simple as 5% cash back when you buy Apple products online or as varied as the four separate rewards available at Avis.

    The truly beautiful thing about the Discover it Cashback Match card is that new card members have their first year of cash back rewards doubled. That’s right. I you earn $250 cash back throughout the year, you’ll receive a total of $500 cash back. These cash rewards can be applied to your balance, paid to charitable organizations, deposited in your bank account, or spent on Amazon.com.

    Discover it® Chrome

    The Discover it® ChromeGas & Restaurant Card is a simplified version of the Discover it® card. Instead of 1% cash back on everything with a host of ways to get 5% back on other purchases, the Chrome card offers 1% cash back on everything and 2% cash back on purchases at gas stations and restaurants with a $1000 cap every quarter. It’s the perfect card for someone who spends much of their life on the road.

    As with the previous card, the cash reward is doubled for new members in their first year.

    Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card

    The beauty of investing is that small investments can reap significant rewards down the line. The beauty of the Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Card is that it offers 2% cash back on everything you buy and deposits that 2% directly into your Fidelity retirement, college savings, or money market account.

    If money is tight, or if you don’t get paid on a monthly schedule, it might make some sense to route routine payments like groceries and gas through this card. You can make your payment when you get paid, and you’ll effectively be investing 2% of everything you spend.

    Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card

    The Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card offers cash back in three different ways.

    • If you spend $1000 in the first three months, you’ll get $200 in cash back rewards. It’s just that simple.
    • You get 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no rotating categories or limits.
    • You get 1.8% cash back on purchases made in the first twelve months with mobile e-wallets like Apple Pay and Android Pay.

    Click here for more information and to apply online to this card.

    Sam’s Club MasterCard

    Unsurprisingly, the Sam’s Club MasterCard is intended to provide the most benefit for those who shop at Sam’s Club. They do that by offering 5% back on all gas purchases at Sam’s Club—up to $300 back for the first $6000 spent—and 1% on purchases beyond $6000. In addition, you’ll receive 3% back on dining and travel and 1% on purchases at Sam’s Club and other locations that accept MasterCard.

    This card is perfect for those families that are just trying to stretch their budget a bit further.

    Walmart Credit Card

    Walmart is one of the largest retailers in the world, so of course, they offer a cash back credit card. With it, you can get:

    • 3% cash back on everything purchased on Walmart.com, including grocery pickups.
    • 2% cash back on all purchases of gas at Walmart or Murphy stations.
    • 1% cash back on all other purchases.

    There are no limits and the savings are paid out as a credit on your account.

    This card is particularly useful for busy families just trying to squeeze the most out of their budget. Walmart’s grocery pickup service is an immense time-saver and getting 3% cash back to use it is like being paid to do things the easy way.

    PenFed Defender Visa Signature Card

    The PenFed Defender Visa Signature Card offers the best of both worlds in a remarkably simplified package. The rewards are simple. You get 1.5% cash back on all purchases. That alone is pretty good, but PenFed combines it with a remarkably low 10.74% APR to make this card an outstanding all-around value.

    Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card

    The Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Cash back is redeemable in any amount, and the rewards never expire.

    In addition, the Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a host of credit tools to help you monitor and improve your credit rating. There’s a $39 annual fee for the card, and this card is more accepting of those who have lower credit. Click here for more information from our partner site, CardRatings.com.

    NASA FCU Platinum Cash Rewards

    For those that qualify, the NASA FCU Platinum Cash Rewards card can be a tremendous value. Not only do you get 1.5% cash back on every purchase, you can get a rate as low as 15.65% APR.

    In addition, if you’re looking to pay down the balance on your current credit card, NASA FCU Platinum Cash Rewards offers a 9.9% APR on balance transfers until it’s paid.

    Amazon Store Card

    The Amazon Store Card comes with a host of benefits, especially for Amazon Prime members. First, you’ll get a $40 Amazon Gift Card as soon as you’re approved for the card. If you’re a Prime member, you’ll also get 5% cash back on all purchases made at Amazon. Cash back is issued monthly and can be applied to your balance or used to purchase items on Amazon.

    Amazon Rewards Visa

    The Amazon Rewards Visa offers 3% back for purchases on Amazon and at Whole Foods, 2% at restaurants, gas stations, and drug stores, and 1% back on everything else.

    But, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you get 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods. If you think you’re likely to spend at least $2380 on Amazon over the course of a year, the 5% cash back will pay for your Prime membership, essentially giving you two-day delivery and all the Prime Video and Music benefits in return for your everyday purchases.

    Target REDCard

    Strictly speaking, the Target REDCard doesn’t offer cash back. Instead, it offers a 5% discount on every purchase at Target stores and in-store Starbucks locations as well as a host of other specific discounts. If you purchase a specialty gift card for travel, restaurants, movies, and more, you can get 5% with your REDcard. Note, this includes Disney gift cards. Target subscriptions to everyday items offer everyone a 5% discount. With a REDCard, you get an additional 5% discount.

    Finally, Target stole a play from Amazon’s playbook and offers free shipping for all purchases made on Target.com with your REDCard.

    Fort Knox Credit Union Platinum Visa

    The Fort Knox Credit Union Platinum Visa offers a host of features that make it an excellent value. First, you get 5% cash back on all gas purchases. That alone makes it an excellent value for those on the run. In addition, you get 1% back on all other purchases.

    The benefits don’t stop there, though. The interest rate is low, as low as 10.75% APR, and there are no balance transfer or annual fees. If you’re looking to make a permanent credit card switch, this is an excellent value.
     

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    Citizens Bank Cash Back Plus World MasterCard

    The Citizens Bank Cash Back Plus World MasterCard is designed to ensure their best customers get the best rewards. Everyone gets 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no annual or foreign transaction fees and no limits to the rewards you can earn.

    If you make at least one eligible purchase every month for six months, you’ll receive a 10% bonus to your cash back applied retroactively and for all future purchases provided you make at least one eligible purchase a month.

    If you have your cash back directly deposited into a Citizens Bank checking or savings account, you’ll get another 10% bonus on your cash back.

    If you live in a state where Citizens Bank operates (MA, CT, RI, VT, NH, PA, NY, NJ, DE, MI, OH) and you’re willing to route routine purchases like gas and groceries through your Citizens Bank card, you can up your cash back to 1.8% and have it directly deposited into a savings account to build the rainy day fund all those financial advisors tell you to have.

    Payback Rewards World MasterCard® Credit Card from Patelco Credit Union

    The Payback Rewards World MasterCard® Credit Card offers a tremendous value for those who love to travel. Their rewards program is a simple 2% cash back on every purchase with no limits or categories. Cash back is redeemable at any time with a minimum of $25 redeemed. There is an annual fee of $35 that is waived for the first year, and rates are as low as 11.65%.

    The card also gives you access to a suite of travel services including concierge services, emergency card replacement, and travel accident insurance. If you travel for work, or just love to travel, this card might be the right one for you.

    PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card

    The PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® Credit Card is perfect for families trying to stretch their budget just a bit further. There’s a tiered system of cash back rewards on things families buy every day:

    • 4% Cash back on gas.
    • 3% Cash back on restaurants, including fast food.
    • 2% Cash back on groceries.
    • 1% Cash back on everything else.

    The higher tiers of rewards for gas, restaurants, and groceries apply to the first $8000 in purchases combined across categories after which, rewards are given at the 1% tier. Cash back is earned per purchase and is available a few days after each purchase. It is redeemable at any time and may be applied to your balance or deposited in any PNC Bank account.

    Cash back credit cards are an outstanding way to make your budget go just a bit further. The key to maximizing the benefit you get is to match your routine spending patterns to the card you use. If you routinely shop at Amazon, Walmart, or Target, you should seriously consider getting their store cards. If you’re not looking for an immediate reward as much as you are simply trying to get the best deal, look at the Discover cards that offer cash back match for the first year or the Fidelity Rewards Visa.

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