To be clear, credit cards in the hands of an unwary and financially irresponsible person can be disastrous. But for people who are money conscious and disciplined, they can be a tool to earn excellent rewards. Furthermore, having a credit card and paying it off is a great way to build credit. Here are some of the most rewarding credit cards to have:
Cash Back
If you are looking for a great cash back credit card you should check out the Citi® Double Cash Card. This card offers you 1% cash back when you make your purchase and 1% back when you pay your balance. The best part? The amount you can get back is limitless. Dollar for dollar, this is one of the best cards for getting cash back on consistent spending.
If you’d prefer a card that provides bonus categories to earn you extra cash back, you should look into the Chase Freedom® card. This credit card offers a rotating list of bonus categories like gas, groceries, and restaurants. The only problem is that if you don’t eat out much, and that is the current category, you are out of luck.
Travel
If you travel for work or for fun, it might be best to find a card that will compliment your lifestyle. If you want a nice and consistent card for travel, you might want to try the Capital One® Venture® card. That card offers you a one time bonus of 40,000 miles if you spend $3,000 on purchases within three months of signing up for the card. You’ll also get 2x miles on all travel expenses and no foreign transaction fees. If traveling is a way of life for you, this might be the right card to maximize your money.
If you want a bigger bonus, and don’t mind losing some flexibility, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is a pretty good option. You’ll get a huge 50,000 mile bonus if you spend $4,000 dollars in the first three months of having the card. You’ll also get 2 points for all travel expenses and 1 point for all other expenses. Chase also offers 20% off travel if you book your travel through them. This limits your flexibility, but if you don’t mind that, and are able to spend the money necessary to get the benefits, this card could benefit you in the long run.
Again, credit cards should only be used by the financially responsible. But if you’ve got the money savvy to use one of these cards to your advantage, it can be a great way to help you save money on purchases that you regularly make.