Cash-Back Cards

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World MasterCard

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World MasterCard comes with a signup bonus worth approximately $440, and effectively generates a 2.2% cash return on all purchases.  Continue reading . . .

The Fidelity Investment Awards American Express Card

The Fidelity Investment Awards American Express Card is a true 2% cash back card, earned in $50 increments for every $2,500 spent.  The drawback to this card is that, to earn the 2% rate, the cardholder must open an “eligible Fidelity account” and authorize the rebate to be direct-deposited into that account.  Most Fidelity accounts are “eligible,” however, so 0pening one is not a huge obstacle.  Continue Reading . . .

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The hallmark of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is its whopping 6% cash rebate on all supermarket purchases (for up to $6,000 per year), which, standing alone, is a powerful incentive for people who eat.  It also happens to yield an impressive 3% cash back at gas stations and department stores (with no spend limit).  All other purchases earn a 1% cash rebate, so I use this card for its bonus categories and use other cards for purchases in non-bonused categories.  Continue reading . . .

The Chase Freedom Card

The Chase Freedom card is a no-annual-fee credit card that yields 5% cash back on a rotating list of three categories each quarter, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.  If used in combination with a a Chase Ultimate Rewards credit card, each cent of cash rewards generated by the Freedom card can be converted to a much more valuable Ultimate Rewards point, which gives the Freedom card more potential than its rotating-bonus-category rivals.  Continue Reading . . .

The Capital One Venture Card

The Capital One Venture Card effectively yields 2% cash back on all purchases and, unlike its 2%-cash-back competitors, it carries no foreign transaction fees.  Each dollar spent on the card technically earns two “no hassle miles,” but “miles” is a bit of a misnomer as these “miles” simply equate to one cent each and can be redeemed for a statement credit against any previously incurred travel expense.  Continue Reading . . .