Get: The Best Credit Cards Ever
It's overwhelming to choose a credit card. There are so many incentives and rewards to be had; you don't want the complication and clutter of having too many cards, but using just one isn't great for your credit score. As always, I evaluate this decision through the lens of SIMPLE and THRIFTY: what's going to simplify my life, and give me the most perks?
For a long time, my favorite credit card has been the American Express Blue Cash Card. It has no annual fee (it's free!) and it gives me straight up cash back for my purchases. No web of "figure out how to use my points to buy flights, but better plan far in advance or else you're screwed." I apply the cash credit to my bill every few months, and we're done. It's that easy, and the rewards add up surprisingly fast.
Costco is a store I frequent and spend lots of money at, but they no longer accept American Express; no cash back for me. I'm happy to announce that has now been changed. Last week, I took a big step and welcomed another credit card into my wallet: the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi. This free credit card gives me 2% cash back on Costco purchases, plus lots of other cash back opportunities.
Before diving in, I had one question you might have as well: I have the Costco Executive membership, which gives me a 2% annual reward on my Costco purchases. (This 2% always comes close to covering my annual membership fee.) The Costco Citi Card gives 2% cash back on Costco purchases. Is this the same 2% from my Executive membership? Yesterday I inquired and was ecstatic to learn the answer is NO, this is not the same 2%; this is another 2%. Badda bing badda boom. See explanatory image below.
Between these two cards, I'm happily raking in as much cash back as possible.
QUICK SUMMARY OF EACH CARD
American Express Blue Cash:
- 3% cash back at supermarkets
- 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores
- 1% cash back on everything else
Costco Citi:
- 4% cash back on gas (including Costco gas, always the lowest gas price in town)
- 3% cash back on travel and restaurants
- 2% cash back on Costco purchases
- 1% cash back on everything else
Let the Cash Back Maximization Game begin! I might need to create a cheat sheet for my husband and me: Costco Citi for gas, restaurants, travel; AmEx for groceries, department stores. Better yet, a song might aid memorization. Rake, rake, rake in cash back, all throughout the town.
***We pay our credit card bills in full every month. Nothing is so necessary that I would pay interest to have it before I can afford it (nothing except a house).
