Credit Cards Rewards: Cash in hand
One of the best ways to get some extra benefit from using our credit cards is to have a credit card which gives you cash back on purchases.
For much more information on credit cards with cash back, miles or rewards, visit Credit Card Excitement.
Credit Cards Cash Back
Credit Cards With Cash Rebate
Most people prefer getting cash back over gifts, air miles, or other rewards. If you're frequent credit card user, you may well find that cash rebate credit cards will give you a nice little chunk of extra spending money.
Usually, this type of card involves higher fees and a higher interest rate. You definitely should not carry a high balance on these cards, as it would end up costing you more in interest than you'd get cash back as a reward. If you can pay off your balance at the end of every month, then the interest rate won't affect you. Paying off your bill in full every month will let you take full advantage of the cash rebate.
The cash back percentage varies from company to company and card to card, although a common rate is 1%, with 5% applied only to certain purchases. You'll get a small amount of cash back every time you make a purchase using your cash rebate credit card. If you use your credit card frequently, you could get a nice chunk of cash back when payout time rolls around.
Do you make big purchases? If so, you might get a lot of cash back by using your credit card, although some cards may have a limit on just how much of a rebate you get back. Check into your card's "fine print" and find out what the rebate is on larger purchases if you plan to purchase large items such as furniture. Better rebate cards will send more cash your way when you purchase larger items.
Before getting a cash back credit card, always find out how much of a reward you will get for each purchase, and what the payout limit is. When you have reached the limit, the bank might deposit the reward into your bank account, send you a check, or credit the reward to your card. All three are useful options, although most cardholders prefer to have the reward deposited to their bank account so it can earn interest.
If you carefully research the rebate cards you are considering, and find out what other features are included, you'll normally come out a winner. Make sure to inquire about:
- credit limit
- annual or other fees
- standard rebate percentage
- bonus rebate percentage
- circumstances where rebates are not paid
- limits on rebate amounts
- company requirements for credit score
... and any other things that you feel you should know. Once you have done your research, you can get a cash rebate credit card and spend money as usual knowing you will be getting cash back for just about anything you buy.
The Most Important Thing
Make sure the rewards you get are worth more than the fee or extra interest you pay!
Are Cash Back Credit Cards a Good or Bad Idea?
Yes, there are cards that give you cash rewards, although it is normally only about 1% cash back. But, free money is free money, right? Well, maybe.
If you normally buy lots of things each month on your card, this kind of credit card probably sounds great to you. You need to keep in mind, though, that the card company won't give you cash back on every single purchase that you make. Even if they claim to do so, you will only be paid up to a certain amount for each transaction. The company often has a strict limit on the amount that they will give back to each customer. When you read the tiny fine print on the application form, you will see text with their limits in the terms and agreements. It's the usual case of: "the large print giveth, and the small print taketh away".
Credit card companies use reward or cash back cards as another way to try to draw in new customers. They will, of course, have to check your credit rating before they will give you their card, and the best deals are often only available to those with good credit ratings.
You should research different credit card companies to check out their offers, since they change all the time. Ideally, you are looking for a card that offers you a high cash back percentage, few limits on the amount they will give you back, and instant cash deposits when you make each purchase with their card. If you already have a regular credit card and your card company offers a reward card, it may be worthwhile asking for better terms since you are already a good customer.
Normally, companies offering these cards will require your credit rating to be great. However, there are some companies that offer reward cards to people with a low credit rating to help them rebuild their credit. Research all of your options. If credit-rebuilding is your priority, you should look primarily for a card which will do the best job of that.
