How To Get Your Best Cash Back Credit Card

09 August 2010

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A very popular option these days is the credit card that gives you cash back on some of the purchases you make. A couple of credit cards are even giving back as much as 5-10%. But before you go out and get one of these for yourself, there are some things you should know about first. This article will give you some tips on how to make the right choice in order to get the best cash back credit cards.

The first thing that you need to remember is that the credit card company is a business. Of course – you knew that. But what that means is that they are not giving you all that it may seem. They are doing it because money can be made from it – one way or another. Their financial planners have looked long and hard at how to offer one thing that looks like a real good deal, and still makes them money – lots of it.

The temptation is to look at the percentage promised, and to make a decision based only on that. This is just what they wanted you to do. In most cases, the higher the percentage offered means that they are simply getting their money back from other charges. Here are some things to look at when deciding on your cash back credit card.

The Standard Rate of Interest

This is the amount of interest you will pay if you do not pay off the balance each month. It can vary anywhere between about 12% all the way to 32%. Many of the higher paying cash back credit cards have the higher interest on them. So if you do not plan on paying the balance every month, for sure you will want to take note of this figure.

Balance Needed To Qualify For Cash Back

Some cash back credit cards have the stipulation on them that you need to carry a balance on the card in order to qualify for the reward. A neat little thing they tucked in there somewhere to take back what they give. Watch out for this one. If you are paying 23% interest on the balance, and they are paying you 5% – are you really coming out ahead? No, not really. The way to get that best cash back credit card is to make sure that you have both a low interest card, and also can pay it off each month – and still get the rewards, too!

The Cash Back Cap

Some cards have a maximum amount of cash that you can receive in a year – called a cap. This could be good for you if you do not make purchases that would bring you over the cap amount. But if you do make a lot of purchases, then you will want to get your cash back credit card without a cap.

Items That Qualify For Cash Back

Many of the cash back credit cards will only give you cash back for food, medicines, and gas. Other cards have different percentages that apply to these things, and then another percentage, usually 1%, that will go toward other purchases you make.

Percentage Needed For That Level Of Cash Back

Some cards have different levels of purchases needed in order to get the full percentage of cash back that was promised. For instance, on a 5% cash back credit card, you may only receive 2% if you buy less than $1,000 per month. Then, another 1% might be added for purchases totaling up to $2,499, and the full 5% may be given only on purchases that exceed that amount.

The best cash back credit cards are the ones that will benefit you the most in your particular situation. A card that is good for someone else may not be the best for you. It would be a good idea to figure out just how much of what type of item you purchase (Especially food, medicine, and gas) each month, and how much you might put on a particular cash back credit card before you make your final decision. Then, by careful consumer comparison – you should be able to find your best cash back credit cards.

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How Find The Best Student Credit Cards

23 July 2010

If your son or daughter is in college or planning to attend college in the near future, it might be a good idea to sit and talk about student credit cards before they leave. This talk may be one of the most beneficial and useful talks that you can have with them as they become young adults.

The main topic of this talk should be centered on the high degree of probability that your child will receive numerous offerings for credit cards while they are at school. Credit card issuers have long known that college campuses are fertile ground for picking up new accounts.

Parents have long known that when children get to college age they want to exhibit some form of independence. This desire to be independent, coupled with these numerous offers for credit cards is where the trouble can begin.

The best way to keep your child from becoming loaded with credit card debt is to teach him or her about money and about credit before they get into trouble. It is important that you tell them about the way lenders can act sometimes, and that receiving numerous offers for credit cards does not mean they have to apply for each one. Some college students end up with a dozen cards and then the temptation to use those cards kicks in. Within a very short time, many of students have maxed out their cards and are faced with incredibly high payments at the end of each month.

The truth is many students have to drop out of school in order to go to work full time in order to make these payments. That is certainly not what most parents anticipate for their college bound children.

When you talk with your child make sure you go into the some practices that are being used by credit card marketers. It is not uncommon for these people to use offers of free merchandise or other promotional offers to entice students to fill out credit card applications. Some students are asked to fill out the cards and told that they can simply cancel the card later. This may be true but they rarely tell the student that canceling cards can be a negative entry on their credit score.

In the past, many credit card issuers would set up tables in dining halls or other places where students gather. This made the temptation to fill out an application form even more intense. Some schools have since curtailed the number of places that these tables can be set up, but do not assume that the college your child will be attending has done this. Let your child know that they are under no obligation to sign up for a credit card from anyone. Ensure that they know that just because their friends are doing it does not mean they have to do it as well.

Many parents have found it safer to get the student a credit card before he or she leaves for school with the caveat that the card is to be used for certain things and not to be used for other things. When you explain to your child that one credit card is enough to handle most circumstances, they often understand the reasoning behind your not wanting them to get more cards.

Lastly, one good way to show your child how a credit card works is to show them one of your current statements. Explain to them that a credit card is just thatcredit. This money has to be paid back and often it has to be paid back with interest. Explain to them what a credit report is and what a credit score is and how important it is that they not get into credit trouble this early in their life. Your talk can save them years of financial turmoil.

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