Cool Offers from the Best Cash Back Credit Cards

14 March 2010

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Cash back credit cards are a shoppers delight and have proven to be a huge success after the innovation of the credit card itself. True to its name, the cash back credit card provides cash rebates or cash rewards to cardholders for making purchases using the card. The best cash back credit cards gives a higher rebate on purchases. Cash back programs have been in vogue from the middle of the twentieth century. Initially, they started with a flat rebate (about 1%) of the total purchase made by the customer.

Components of the Best Cash Back Credit Cards

The best cash back credit card can be evaluated on two components – the percentage earned on purchases and the method of its delivery to the customer. With plenty of options to entice you into spending more, it is important to consider certain things when choosing cash back credit cards. This includes – the rebate percentage, Annual Percentage Rate (APR), card partnerships with merchants and other services (like gas, restaurants), the method of getting the money back, and your annual fees. Some cards may have limitations like number of rebate points earned per year and validity period of the earned rebate points.

These cards are more suited for those who do not carry monthly balances. The APR for these cards tend to be higher than the normal cards, which in effect means that if the bill is not paid in full, it would cost more for the borrower than it should and could be. As a customer, you should be aware of the APR on the card, in order to determine if the ultimate finance charges will be more or less than the actual reward benefits earned. Most of the cards do not have an annual fee, have very low or 0% introductory APR, with the facility of balance transfer and attractive gifts. The best cash back credit cards have a higher percentage rebate on certain category purchases like grocery or fuel.

Most credit card companies offer a standard cash back percentage of 1%. Some might offer 5% or 2% in mutual partnership with select merchants like gas stations or drug stores. Certain cards may offer higher rebate percentage for the introductory period and then revert to a standard 1%. The customer should look for higher rebate percentage as higher the rebate percentage; the greater amount of money that can be earned by them. Some cards may offer higher cash rebate percentage with increased usage and others may offer a higher cash back percentage at select merchant or retailers like gas stations or supermarkets. It is important for the customers to choose a cash back credit card that provides special incentives with merchants or services the consumer uses frequently.

How the Best Cash Back Credit Card Works

Typically, most of the best cash back credit card companies offer cash back or reward on purchases, not on balance transfers or cash advances. Cash back programs can prove to be very expensive for credit card companies and they normally charge an annual fee for it. Nevertheless, with competition, many of these cards now have zero annual fees. In case annual fees are charged, it is worthwhile for you to ensure that enough is earned by way of rebate to justify the annual fee payment.

The best cash back credit cards credit the rebate back to the cardholder account. However, different credit card companies adopt different methods of repaying the customer. Some companies pay the cardholder once per year, some pay back as statement credits, while others require the cardholder to request for refund once enough points have been accumulated. Cash payment methods could be as varied as the reward credit cards. These include gifts, gift vouchers, statement credits, cheques, or deposits to bank accounts.

Eligibility for Cash Back Credit Card

Generally, companies require you to have a good or an excellent credit history to qualify for the best cash back credit card. With myriad of options, shopping for the best cash back credit card can be an overwhelming task. Yet with prudence, cash back credit cards provide a fantastic opportunity to get back part of the money that is spent on purchasing and using your credit cards.

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Choosing the Best Cash Back Credit Cards for You

03 February 2010

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If you have decided that a cash back credit card is the right choice for you, then the next step is to choose the one that fits your needs the best. Therefore, you need to take a few things into consideration when trying to choose the best cash back credit cards.

Lifestyle

The first thing you need to take into consideration when looking for a cash back credit card is your lifestyle. Not all cash back credit cards are the same and, as such, not all of them will suit you well. For example, some cash back credit cards only supply you with rewards for purchases made at specific stores or on specific items. Therefore, these cards will not do you a whole lot of good if you never make purchases at these stores or on these items. Make sure to choose a cash back credit card that provides rewards for something you already purchase regularly. Never change your spending habits based on a cash back credit card. Instead, find one that conforms to you and your lifestyle.

In addition to having different ways for allowing you to accumulate cash back rewards, there are different ways for you to receive the reward as well. Some will cut you a check automatically once you have earned a certain amount of money, while others will expect you to monitor your own rewards and to request your cash back reward. Yet others will automatically apply your reward toward your credit card balance or will invest your money in certain savings programs.

Once again, you need to assess your lifestyle to determine which option is best for you. A cash back credit card that invests you cash rewards into a college savings plan, for example, is not best for you if you do not have children or someone else to help through college. Similarly, if you know that you do not have the time or inclination to monitor your own rewards program and to request your cash back, then be sure to select a cash back credit card that issues checks automatically.

Spending Habits

When choosing a cash back credit card, you also need to assess your own spending habits and find a card that compliments your habits the best. If you tend to leave a balance on your credit card from time to time, then you want to find a cash back credit card with a low interest rate. Otherwise, you might end up spending more in finance charges than you receive from the cash back program.

You also need to pay attention to limits and restrictions the cash back credit card might have. Some have a maximum on the amount of cash back rewards you can spend. This could cause you to lose out on money that you could get with other cash back credit cards. For example, if a credit card only supplies cash back rewards for the first $10,000 you spend per year, but you typically spend $15,000 per year on your credit card, then you are losing out on $5,000 that could be earning you money. Therefore, you want to be sure to apply for a cash back credit card that provides rewards for at least up to $15,000 worth of purchases.

Additional Benefits

In addition to providing you with cash rewards, cash back credit cards also come with a number of other benefits. The benefits provided by these cards, however, are not the same from card to card. For example, some cash back credit cards might provide you with extended warranty protection and purchase protection while others may not. Some might also provide emergency roadside service, fraud protection, travel insurance, and auto rental insurance. If any of these benefits are important to you, you need to take them into consideration when choosing the cash back credit card that is best for you.

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Cash Back Credit Cards – Finding the Best Available

19 January 2010

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Cash back credit cards provide fantastic opportunities for those that carry them. For every purchase a cardholder makes with one of these cards, a cash rebate is earned. This makes cash back credit cards potentially very profitable for those that take the time to choose the best card available and then, of course, use it effectively. When looking for the best cash back credit cards, it is important to take several things under consideration.

One of the most important features to consider when searching for the best card is the actual rebate percentage provided. Most cash rebate cards provide cardholders a percentage of the amount charged to the card. Obviously, the higher the rebate percentage, the greater amount of money that can be earned so the consumer should look for the greatest rebate percentage available.

Most cash back credit cards are partnered with certain businesses that derive mutual benefit from cardholder purchases. For example, a cardholder may receive a 1% rate of return on general purchases, but a 5% rate if purchases are made at a certain gas station. Therefore, it is important for consumers to choose a cash back credit card that provides special incentives with businesses or services the consumer uses frequently. It certainly would not make much sense for a consumer to use a cash back credit card providing a special 5% rate for purchases made at a restaurant if the consumer never dines out!

The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of the cash back credit card also needs to be taken under consideration. Many cash back credit cards tend to have a higher APR than those without special rewards programs. The consumer must be aware of the APR of the card in order to determine if the ultimate finance charges will be more or less than the actual reward benefits earned. If the finance charges will cost the consumer more than the rewards he or she will earn, then the card is not worth keeping. But cardholders that pay their balance off in full each month do not need to be overly concerned with the APR.

Just as the APR must be considered when looking for the best cash back credit card, it is also important to look at the annual associated with the card. A rebate card with an annual fee may not be worthwhile in the long run. Therefore, the cardholder needs to be sure that he or she will earn enough cash back during the year to make the annual fee worth paying for.

Not all cash back credit cards are created equal. Some send money to the cardholder once per year while others will credit the rebate back to the cardholder account. Still other cash back credit cards place the money in interest earning accounts or in special college savings accounts. With some cards, the points toward cash back earnings are calculated and sent to the cardholder automatically. Still others require the cardholder to request the refund once he or she has accumulated enough points. All of these need to be taken into consideration when determining which card is best.

Some cash back credit cards have limitations to how many rebates can be earned per year. For some cardholders, this is not an issue because the limit is much higher than they will ever spend. For others, this cap can be a concern. In addition, some cash back credit cards place an expiration date on how long the rebates are good. Therefore, those that think they may not cash in on their rebates on a frequent basis need to consider whether or not they will be able to use the rebates before they expire.

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BestCash Back Credit Cards – Earn 5% Cash Back

15 January 2010

BestCash Back Credit Cards – Earn 5% Cash Back Automatically

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With so many scams out there and businesses trying to pull the wool over consumer’s eyes, it seems impossible to believe that a credit card would really offer to pay 5% cash back just for making purchases with the card. Nonetheless, it is true. Several of the best cash back credit cards are really giving their customers 5% cash back rewards – and you just might be able to take advantage of these special deals.

Beating the Competition

With so many credit cards out there, credit card companies are in a bind to find a way to draw more customers in. One of the answers they have come up with is to offer cash back credit cards. With these credit cards, you earn money back for every purchase you make. As cash back credit cards rise in popularity, credit card companies are once again at the drawing table looking for a way to bring customers their way. All of this fierce battling is perfect for the consumer, who can take advantage of the resulting deals.

One of these great deals is the increase in credit card companies willing to provide cardholders with 5% cash back. In addition, this cash back reward is earned from making everyday purchases, such as those made at drugstores, gas stations, and grocery stores. These cards also offer 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Finding a 5% Cash Back Credit Card

The best cash back credit cards provide the 5% cash back reward. Some credit cards offering this special deal are Citi Dividend Platinum Select MasterCard and the Blue Cash Card from American Express. Whether you are an individual or a small business, you can find a great cash back credit card. The Advanta Platinum with Rewards and American Express OPEN: The Small Business Network are two great cash back credit cards for business owners.

The Downside

There is one downside to the 5% cash back bonus offered by certain cash back credit cards. Certain major stores, such as Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart, do not earn the 5% rebate. This is not because the credit card company has excluded them. Rather, it is because these stores have not coded their items as grocery, gas, or pharmacy. Therefore, the credit card company has no way to properly track the items. Therefore, you will need to go to major drug stores, grocery stores, and gas stations to take advantage of the special 5% incentive. Otherwise, you will only earn 1% cash back.

The Mindset of the Credit Card Company

Credit card companies are able to offer the great incentives of these cash back credit cards for many reasons. First of all, they are willing to pay out a little extra in order to grab a larger portion of the consumer market. Secondly, American spending habits have traditionally been to use a check or cash for everyday necessities, such as food, health, and home purchases. Therefore, they are counting on you setting the plastic aside when you visit drug stores, gas stations, and grocery stores.

The trend for credit card usage is, however, changing. More and more, consumers are using their credit cards for everyday purchases. Retailers are assisting in this trend by providing incentives for using credit cards, such as fast moving self-service aisles that accept only credit cards. So, if you are able to pay your credit card balance at the end of the month and if you make sure to use your cash back credit card for all of your purchases, particularly the everyday ones, you will be sure to start earning money back in no time!

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Airline Credit Cards Are They Offering The Best Value?e

07 November 2009

Airline Credit Cards Are They Offering The Best Value?e

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There are more reward credit cards around now than ever before. There are cash back credit cards, points cards and American Express even have a new nectar card out. One of the long running popular rewards has been the airline credit card. These are offered by many of the main card providers and they offer as their reward scheme the chance to collect airmiles as you spend. Airmiles are an extremely popular reward as they can be redeemed on major airlines for free or upgraded flights. However, the question customers have to keep asking themselves in this respect is whether or not they offer the best value.

Looking at airline credit cards as a whole, they typically reward you with one airmile per pound spent. This seems fair enough but when you look at airmile redemption prices, you can see that it costs thousands of airmiles for even the shortest flights. For the vast majority of customers, it will take literally years to spend enough on the card to redeem a free flight, even within the UK. Some customers will be able to add these miles to ones they also collect on flights and in this way build up miles faster.

If you compare this to other rewards however, you may be forced to ask yourself if they are worth the hassle. First, compare this type of reward with similar rewards for using say a cash back credit card. While it will depend on the specific circumstances of your card, it may well be the case that you would have got back enough cash to buy a flight out right before ever getting enough miles to claim a free one.

Also, if you are paying high interest on an outstanding balance then airmiles will be the last thing you should be thinking of. Rather you should consider getting a good balance transfer card that will allow you to switch your balance to it and enjoy a substantial interest free period on the balance. This will likely save you far more than any reward scheme will b e worth to you. Also, you may want a card that gives you lower rates on purchases if you do not pay off your balance in full each month. As a general rule, if you dont pay off your entire balance in full each month, you should be more concerned with interest rates and balance transfer possibilities than reward schemes on credit cards you use.

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Airline Credit Cards Are They Offering The Best Value?

05 November 2009

Airline Credit Cards Are They Offering The Best Value?

Word Count:Article Body:
There are more reward credit cards around now than ever before. There are cash back credit cards, points cards and American Express even have a new nectar card out. One of the long running popular rewards has been the airline credit card. These are offered by many of the main card providers and they offer as their reward scheme the chance to collect airmiles as you spend. Airmiles are an extremely popular reward as they can be redeemed on major airlines for free or upgraded flights. However, the question customers have to keep asking themselves in this respect is whether or not they offer the best value.

Looking at airline credit cards as a whole, they typically reward you with one airmile per pound spent. This seems fair enough but when you look at airmile redemption prices, you can see that it costs thousands of airmiles for even the shortest flights. For the vast majority of customers, it will take literally years to spend enough on the card to redeem a free flight, even within the UK. Some customers will be able to add these miles to ones they also collect on flights and in this way build up miles faster.

If you compare this to other rewards however, you may be forced to ask yourself if they are worth the hassle. First, compare this type of reward with similar rewards for using say a cash back credit card. While it will depend on the specific circumstances of your card, it may well be the case that you would have got back enough cash to buy a flight out right before ever getting enough miles to claim a free one.

Also, if you are paying high interest on an outstanding balance then airmiles will be the last thing you should be thinking of. Rather you should consider getting a good balance transfer card that will allow you to switch your balance to it and enjoy a substantial interest free period on the balance. This will likely save you far more than any reward scheme will b e worth to you. Also, you may want a card that gives you lower rates on purchases if you do not pay off your balance in full each month. As a general rule, if you dont pay off your entire balance in full each month, you should be more concerned with interest rates and balance transfer possibilities than reward schemes on credit cards you use.

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