It has taken me years to figure out what credit cards are the best. You need a good everything card and the best consistent rate is 2%. I used to use the Citi Card, but I have since switched to Fidelity because Fidelity gives you the money in your investment account right away whereas Citi doesn’t give you half of it until you pay your bill. For Fidelity, you have to open an investment account with them first, and then apply for the card. There are other 2% cards out there. I would stay away from cards that only give you 1% or 1.5%. They are weak.
Next, if you use Amazon or Whole Foods, you need to get the Chase Amazon 5% cash back card. You get 5% on everything you buy through Amazon or Whole Foods. It is a good deal.
Here comes the big one. Everyone goes grocery shopping and if you are only getting 2% on groceries, you are selling yourself short. You want to get the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred card that not only gives you a whopping 6% on groceries, but it gives you 3% on gas (as well as ride share and other transit). I use this card for both groceries and gas and it does not disappoint.
And finally, I use a the Capital One Savor restaurant card that gives me 4% cash back on eating out. When you are spending $50-$150 to feed your family at a nice steak house, it is always nice to know 4% is coming back to you. Eating out is painful, but this card eases the pain nicely.
You also want to make sure you have a good travel card. I have found the Chase Sapphire Reserve (make sure it isn’t the “Preferred” – not as good) to be the easiest and best overall for maximum points, especially if you go through their portal to book travel. But even if you don’t, you get 5% back in points for hotels, airlines and more and $5k in cash benefits the first year. The annual fee is $795, but that is completely removed when you add in the value $420 Doordash credits, $300 Dining Credit with Opentable, $300 Travel Credit and $2,500 in points just for signing up.
This is not a credit card, but it has saved me hundreds of dollars each year in discounts – the Capital One Shopping browser extension. When I am about to checkout, it scans the internet for a better discount or deal. Very impressive.
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