WASHINGTON — Looking for a new credit card? Look no more. Find the credit card that best suits you, your expenses and needs.
Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger Personal Finance, gives her take on the nine rewards cards that can help you spend less by spending more.
1) Citi Double Cash
If you’re looking for flat-rate cash rewards, Bodnar suggests the Citi Double Cash. You will receive 1 percent cash back when making a purchase and another 1 percent when paying the bill. Therefore, each purchase will leave you with 2 percent cash back. Once you have $25 in cash back, you can either add the credit or statement credit to your account, or opt for a check or gift card.
2) Chase Freedom
This rewards credit card is viable if you’re interested in receiving cash back in rotating categories. You can get 5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 spent in a specific category. In addition, gas purchases can earn 5 percent from July through September. For purchases outside of the 5 percent category, you can earn 1 percent all year long. You can receive cash back through gift cards, rewards, travel, bank deposit or statement credit.
3) Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard
For easy travel rebates, consider the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard. Traveling can be less expensive if you earn miles and redeem them for a fixed value. For each dollar spent, you can get two miles. If you don’t want to use the rewards for miles, you have the option to trade them for other travel expenses.
4) Chase Sapphire Preferred
For frequent travelers, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card allows you to transfer earned points to different travel programs including: Southwest, United, Amtrak, Hyatt and Marriott. You earn two points for spending money on anything travel or restaurant related, and one point on everything else.
5) Discover It Miles
If you’re a traveler that would rather skip the annual fee, the Discover It Miles card can earn you 1.5 miles for each dollar you spend. Discover doubles earned miles at the end of the first year. You also have the option to trade in miles for cash back.
6) Fidelity Investment Rewards
For saving and investing, this rewards card sends 2 percent of every purchase to college-savings, retirement, cash management checking or brokerage accounts. If you spend $2,500 on the card, you receive $50 cash back. Trading points for travel, cash and gift certificates is also an option.
7) American Express Blue Cash Preferred
Groceries are a necessity, and if you want to put your rewards toward them, you can with the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card. You can get 6 percent payback on supermarket purchases of up to $6,000 a year. Additionally, you get 3 percent cash back on gas and department stores, and one percent on everything else.
8) PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature
Commuters may want to choose this rewards card to earn payback on gas purchases. For each dollar spent, you get five points. Supermarket purchases earn three points and other purchases earn one point. Only Pentagon Federal Credit Union participants can use the card.
9) Amazon.com Rewards Visa From Chase
If you’re an online shopper, consider getting the Amazon.com rewards credit card. You can earn three points on Amazon, two points on gas, restaurants and store purchases, and one point on everything else. One point is worth one penny when redeemed for Amazon purchases. You can also trade points for cash.
For more information on the interest rates, annual fees and annual rebates of the rewards credit cards, visit Kiplinger Personal Finance’s website.
