[Bemapayople]

Folks,

I want to open a new credit card that has some kickbacks (points, gallons of gas, frequent fly miles, etc). I have an excellent credit history/score, so approval should not be a problem.

All of my credit cards now have terrible APRs (I got them back in college) and no perks. I am ready to move on.

What cards do you have? What do you recommend?

[FateHostera]

First of all what you want to do is get a Cash Advance and then pay them back with a credit card, and eventually pay that credit card with another credit card.

Continue the cycle until you can't get another credit card and then complain you have no government assistance

Other than that, I cannot help you

[GECEDEANY]

TBH right now is probably the worst time to get a credit card. Everyone of them seems to carry extremely high interest rates.

If I was to get another (had captial one then they jacked up my rates for no reason) I would go to a credit union.

[Nikitka]

I had an American Express Platinum until recently, it gave me points for everything I buy on plastic that never expire, loads of good stuff to get with the points, frequent flyer miles and benefits and perks on vacations or business trips.

AM/EX Gold are also very good, rewards are much the same as a platinum card, but the annual fee is only one hundred rather than four hundred. the special platinum-card perks are not found, and there's a smaller number of things to get with your rewards points as well, but for second best its still damned good.

[barsikjal]

I can´t say i´d advise anyone to get a credit card.
Once you´re in - they rape you with their interest costs.

[crycleascentyv]

I can´t say i´d advise anyone to get a credit card.
Once you´re in - they rape you with their interest costs.

That's why I never let them charge me interest. I just collect Airmiles with them.

[Nikitka]

That's why I never let them charge me interest. I just collect Airmiles with them.

Exactly. Spend what you can afford to pay off that month, reap the benefits. Leave a little on the card so you're not flagged for cancellation, and profit.

[vioppyskype]

Exactly. Spend what you can afford to pay off that month, reap the benefits. Leave a little on the card so you're not flagged for cancellation, and profit.

Never heard about having to carry a balance before & can't say I ever have carried one... what's the story here?

[Bemapayople]

Guys, I appreciate the financial advice, really. But, this is not my first credit card or line of credit. I am aware of the risks, I have plenty of available balance on my current cards.

I find myself only using a debit card for all of my purchases while my peers are getting miles and whores and ****. I am jealous.

SusieQ, do you recommend AMEX?

[Zugaxxsn]

Guys, I appreciate the financial advice, really. But, this is not my first credit card or line of credit. I am aware of the risks, I have plenty of available balance on my current cards.

I find myself only using a debit card for all of my purchases while my peers are getting miles and whores and ****. I am jealous.

SusieQ, do you recommend AMEX?

I like the Amex Blue Sky card. It's a credit card, so you can carry a balance unlike most of their other ones, plus it has skymile rewards and no anual fee.

http://www201.americanexpress.com/ge...-about/BlueSky

[obegeLype]

My tip for credit cards are...If your an individual and wont use it for business.

• Get a no annual fee card. (the rewards on cards with fee never fruit more than the value of the fee unless you have high turnover of money like running business expenses on them)
• Don't worry about interest rates. Pay the card off each month, go for card with best rewards that suit you.
• Don't spend spend more than you earn. Always know how much you have in your bank account
• Minimise the credit level to something you can afford to help control your spending.
• Maximise turnover on your card. Pay as much as you can on it, hell even pay your employers bills and get refunded. Eventually if you get enough turnover you may get offers for some of the cards with fee to have for free + all the extra rewards. Also doing this you will receive your rewards faster.

[Nikitka]

Never heard about having to carry a balance before & can't say I ever have carried one... what's the story here?

This is actually a bit more hearsay more than fact, but, a friend had a card canceled on her for what seems to be no reason. She paid early and in full every month for a little more than a year, had a well paying job, 10 or 15k left over in college debt, excellent credit score and they canceled her card. The only part of the situation I can think would have led to the cancellation is that they weren't making money off of her (interest), Was a Citi card by the by, it might not hold true for every company, or every card.

But her credit score and took a hit, her career growth slammed to a halt for a year, and she was ****ing miserable about it. I'm willing to pay some interest so I don't have the same thing happen to me. I don't let it live there month after month, but 11.99% on a few hundred $ for a month or two was easy to compensate for, and the relative security was well worth it for me.

SusieQ, do you recommend AMEX? For me, they're great. The majority of the perks I made use of, and still do, and many of the rewards are things I would get anyway. I also spend a lot of money on the card, so I get rewards very quickly. Do the rewards that you're likely to earn (for however much you'd be spending) interest you? http://www.membershiprewards.com/

[CathBraunn]

For me, they're great. The majority of the perks I made use of, and still do, and many of the rewards are things I would get anyway. I also spend a lot of money on the card, so I get rewards very quickly. Do the rewards that you're likely to earn (for however much you'd be spending) interest you? http://www.membershiprewards.com/

I'm also an advocate of the AmEx charge cards, but it depends whether will is looking for that or a balance carrier.

[Nikitka]

I'm also an advocate of the AmEx charge cards, but it depends whether will is looking for that or a balance carrier.

Oh damn it. I'm sitting here talking about my card and how great it is, while I only carry a balance on my husband's business platinum, which is credit. My card is and was charge, and I'm a ****ing idiot.

[Jorcelirl]

Capital One Platinum is offering 0% interest on purchases and transfers up to July 2011... must have a credit score of over 700. Escape by Discover has 0% for 6 months as well, plus 2 miles per $1 spent, then 10.66% after 6 months and Citibank is offering a load of 0% interest, again you must have a high credit score (700+).

I personally like American Express, I get about $700 a year cashback (I carry no balance and pay not interest) and rack up about 20,000 points a year... I have almost enough for a free PS3 right now.

You should sign up with MINT.com, there is a calculator there that tells you which credit card to get depending on your spending habits, income, credit score and how much of a balance you usually carry.

[hauptdaunnila]

I like my Discover card. Cash back is great.

[Alina20100]

Does US have the MBNA Smart Cash Mastercard? For me hands down the best reward card. Interest doesn't matter to me as I always pay off my card, use it purely to get cash back.

- 3% for groceries and gas (5% for first 6 months)
- 1% everything else

Pretty nice card. See if they have that in the states.

[refsherne]

I can´t say i´d advise anyone to get a credit card.
Once you´re in - they rape you with their interest costs.

You only get high interest costs if you let it run and run with a high balance. I have a credit card, I use it for online buying and anything of high value. Main reason is security and the second is I get extended warranty and accidental damage on anything I buy. My current APR is 15.9, I rarely have a balance over £1500 and pay it off after a maximum two months.

[HRS1H7gO]

I find myself only using a debit card for all of my purchases while my peers are getting miles and whores and ****.

Now there's an idea the pimp points card.

[CiccoineFed]

i had american express blue but because my home short sold they decided to call me and tell me they were closing my account.. wtf.. i was using the crap out of the card to build points only for them to be taken away.. sucks.