Credit cards

• SportsAndLady

  

  In the market for a new credit card. What card do you guys use/like?
• Automatik

  

  Chase Sapphire Preferred
  
  
  Use it with other Chase cards to be extra baller and get those pointz.
• Mulva

  

  I also rock the sapphire preferred, but I believe they are changing/removing the points dividend after this year so its going to become less appealing
  
  edit: Actually looks like last year was the last year for the 7% annual dividend.
• Midstate01

  

  We use an American express delta card, the intrest rate is too high, but we only use it on purchases of over 100 and pay it right away. Only use it to gain miles.
  Otherwise our USAA debit cards have rewards so we just use them.
  
  Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk
• Iliketurtles

  

  Capital One Venture is what I use. It works for me, rate isn't too bad, and the 2x points for miles is nice.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  I use a PNC Credit Card. Get about 1.5% cash back, dont pay attn to interest rates, never paid a penny of interest in my life for a credit card. No clue if it's the best one out there, it's the only one I have and got through my bank which I've had an acct at since I was 6 yrs old.
• Con_Alma

  Amex for everything.
• Laley23

  

  Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express.
  
  If you like to travel, I think airline specific cards are the way to go, and I happen to be a Delta customer.
• Automatik

  

  Regarding pairings cards....
  
  
  http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2015/05/07/best-credit-card-combos-ultimate-rewards/
• gut

  You should never carry balances on cards, so interest rates are mostly irrelevant. There are some good cards for points - some I've seen 6% cash back on groceries up to $6000 in purchases, another on gas....add it all up and you can save yourself maybe $500 or more a year with 3 or 4 cards.
  
  Be wary of annual fees - I think it's good sense to have both a VISA and AMEX for everywhere you go, but I'm paying $85 a year for my AMEX and I honestly don't know why (should use the points and cancel).
  
  Most of the airline cards are GARBAGE. But if you want to get yourself the equivalent of a $300 airline ticket, do it and then cancel after a year before paying fees.
  
  
  Note that taking out multiple credit cards, or even applying, will ding your credit for up to 2 years. HOWEVER, have credit capacity (that you don't use) actually HELPS your credit in the long-run (you want to pay off every month, and stay below 60% of you total limit across all cards)
• iclfan2

  

  gut;1803841 wrote:You should never carry balances on cards, so interest rates are mostly irrelevant. There are some good cards for points - some I've seen 6% cash back on groceries up to $6000 in purchases, another on gas....add it all up and you can save yourself maybe $500 or more a year with 3 or 4 cards.
  
  Be wary of annual fees - I think it's good sense to have both a VISA and AMEX for everywhere you go, but I'm paying $85 a year for my AMEX and I honestly don't know why (should use the points and cancel).)

  Agreed with the first statement, disagree about Amex. Unless you travel a lot, Amex's aren't worth the fees at all, and some places still don't take it. It seems like Capital One has some good free ones, and Ally just came out with a credit card that I am looking into. I have had a USAA credit card for over 15 years, but their points aren't very good so I have been looking to upgrade recently. I was going to upgrade prior going to Europe for vacation but never pulled the trigger. I will probably end up buying the card with the best points at grocery stores because that is where we spend the most consistently, and also buy $50 gas cards for $40, so I never actually use a credit card at the pump.
• FatHobbit

  

  I have a capital one signature card. I'm not sure how it's different from the venture card but I pay $59/year for double miles and I use it for EVERYTHING and pay it off every month. We travel frequently to see my wife's family and I've gotten quite a few flights with it.
• j_crazy

  

  it depends. I had a job up until June where i was flying 2-4 times a month, I loved the perks that the United Mileage Plus card gave me. I was also able to be reimbursed for the fee since I wasn't paying to check bags every flight. I don't need to fly for work anymore, so likely when the $75 fee is due on 9/1 I'll just cancel it. I currently have a credit card linked to my IRA from Fidelity where 2% of my total spend is direct deposited into my IRA. I really like that card and will likely keep that as my sole/primary card until something changes.
  
  I'll echo some of the sentiments here, in general cards with fee's are stupid. But there are specific circumstances where the benefit from the card can justify paying the fee. It's ALWAYS stupid to carry a balance on a credit card IMO. Even during the 0% introductory time. I say this because with the way the time/value of money is calculated 6 mos to 1 year of 0% interest is insignificant.
  
  In general I've found Nerdwallet.com to have some really good suggestions and even some thorough break downs of credit cards and benefits. Most of the other credit card comparison sites are openly pushing for a card or card company.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  I have an AmEx Black card.
• gut

  iclfan2;1803859 wrote:Agreed with the first statement, disagree about Amex. Unless you travel a lot, Amex's aren't worth the fees at all, and some places still don't take it.

  There are really good if you travel a lot - first class consumer protections (including car rentals). However I'm sure you can find a bank Amex (rather than the frequent airline linked ones which are, honestly, borderline worthless beyond the intro miles) that waives the fee if you have certain account balances there.
  
  I should have said never travel without at least 2 credit cards - VISA and Mastercard/Amex and preferably 3 (in case VISA doesn't work, and Mastercard or Amex aren't accepted).
  
  But I suppose if your credit can afford the dings, the way to go on Amex is to sign-up for a year (usually fee is waived first year), get the free hotel night or flight or other points promo, and then cancel after a year and open a different one.
• Laley23

  

  Amex fee is waived every year...if you call and cance if they won't waive it again.
  
  Its a great card if you travel internationally a lot, since there are no international fees. The Delta one gets you access into certain lounges internationally. Free bags. Etc. There are a LOT of benefits outside of the intro miles if you fly enough to couple it with status.
• gut

  Laley23;1803891 wrote:The Delta one gets you access into certain lounges internationally. Free bags. Etc. There are a LOT of benefits outside of the intro miles if you fly enough to couple it with status.

  Friend has a Delta one. It's solid. I have American and it sucks - group 2 boarding!!! Sounds good until you realize there are 10 different status programs ahead of you.
• Laley23

  

  gut;1803895 wrote:Friend has a Delta one. It's solid. I have American and it sucks - group 2 boarding!!! Sounds good until you realize there are 10 different status programs ahead of you.

  Well yeah, I guess that's my point. If you are using the CC for the status, and don't actually have better status from actual flights, it won't do much, you just don't fly enough.
  
  But it if you do, it is a great card to couple it with.
• gut

  Laley23;1803896 wrote:Well yeah, I guess that's my point. If you are using the CC for the status, and don't actually have better status from actual flights, it won't do much, you just don't fly enough.
  
  But it if you do, it is a great card to couple it with.

  No, I've had gold status on American. The CC does NOTHING. May not be surprising, Delta/NW I feel has always been a little more premium airline than American/US Air and United/Continental.
• kayo

  gut;1803841 wrote:Note that taking out multiple credit cards, or even applying, will ding your credit for up to 2 years. HOWEVER, have credit capacity (that you don't use) actually HELPS your credit in the long-run (you want to pay off every month, and stay below 60% of you total limit across all cards)

  I'm a lender and people ask me all the time about the 'dangers' of getting their credit pulled. If you've taken good care of your credit and your score is over 750 or even 750 the few points that an extra pull costs you isn't going to hurt you in any significant way.
• Trueblue23

  

  Just max a bunch out then never pay them, had a friend buy TWO Xbox 360s doing that. Good dude.
• gut

  kayo;1803904 wrote:I'm a lender and people ask me all the time about the 'dangers' of getting their credit pulled. If you've taken good care of your credit and your score is over 750 or even 750 the few points that an extra pull costs you isn't going to hurt you in any significant way.

  Good info. I had a big hit, but that was mainly because of identity fraud (not sure if one collections was the main factor or not...probably).
• thavoice

  Am thinking about getting one as well. I don't have a credit card and haven't in over ten years.
• gut

  thavoice;1804049 wrote:Am thinking about getting one as well. I don't have a credit card and haven't in over ten years.

  Don't know how you manage - I rarely carry cash, and usually not much. I guess I could use my debit card, but I'm very paranoid over using a card that links directly to MY money.
• thavoice

  gut;1804062 wrote:Don't know how you manage - I rarely carry cash, and usually not much. I guess I could use my debit card, but I'm very paranoid over using a card that links directly to MY money.

  Cash and debit card pretty much. I make sure I am careful with my debit card and not use it at the gas station outside pumps and such where skimmers can screw ya. The main reason I am looking into one though is to make things a little more convenient and just pay it off that evening or the next day as I don't want any debt, well other than my house payment but you get the gist. It has been well over ten years since I had one.