What card to get?

ClunkClunk · #1 (**permalink**) 12-09-2006, 04:27 PM

I need a card that's going to be used primarily for groceries, gas, some recurring bills and other home-related purchases (IKEA, K-Mart, etc). I live with my girlfriend, and a separate card that we can both use will simplify our purchases that we split the cost of. I'm unsure what card to apply for.

Here's my quick history: I have been building credit for about 4 years now, previously when I worked full time, but also continuing while I'm a student. I currently have a Wells Fargo Visa card. It has a $2300 limit. I also have a Capital One card, which has a paltry $500 limit (same amount as when I started 2+ years ago). I have never carried a balance on either card, but I do use them regularly for purchases. WF seems to give me credit line increases about once every 6 to 9 months, and Capital One has never offered one.

What cards are good ones to consider? Since we're primarily going to be using this for groceries, gas, and some recurring bills, perhaps a rewards card would be a consideration. I'll also need to get a second card on the same account with her name on it (and yes, I do trust her to be responsible). About the only thing I've eliminated is Amex, since they don't accept it at our most frequented grocery store.

I'm just feeling lost and overwhelmed with the choices, perhaps a little guidance from the Obi-Wans of the finance world would help me out.

Thanks!

sweeps · #2 (**permalink**) 12-09-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClunkClunk

perhaps a little guidance from the Obi-Wans of the finance world would help me out.

Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view.

Broken Arrow · #3 (**permalink**) 12-09-2006, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Since we're primarily going to be using this for groceries, gas, and some recurring bills, perhaps a rewards card would be a consideration.

How about the Discover card

As for your girlfriend, why a second card? Can't you just add her to one of your cards? Opening too many credit cards can cause a disturbance in the Force, especially when guiding a Padowan.

ClunkClunk · #4 (**permalink**) 12-09-2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

As for your girlfriend, why a second card? Can't you just add her to one of your cards? Opening too many credit cards can cause a disturbance in the Force, especially when guiding a Padowan.

That's what I meant, adding to my existing account, but a physically separate card. The terminology escaped me at the time :-)

I'll check out the Discover option, thanks for the tip.

neatdesign · #5 (**permalink**) 12-10-2006, 09:26 AM

Personally, I would advise against adding anyone who's not a spouse to your credit card account. Adding her as an authorized user means she'll be able to charge to your account, but she is not financially responsible for any of it. If you're married and you split up, that's one thing. But if you're not married, then she is totally off the hook financially for paying anything back. Just something to think about...

~ Jenney

vsjhoc · #6 (**permalink**) 12-11-2006, 12:31 PM

Check this site and this site for lists of available cards. You can sort them according to your interest, e.g., low intro rate, no annual fee, rewards, etc. May the low interest rates be with you.

abowers · #7 (**permalink**) 12-11-2006, 02:59 PM

Fiance just got the Citi Driver's Edge card
http://hhonorscard.com/us/cards/card...vers/index.jsp

genmed · #8 (**permalink**) 12-11-2006, 03:17 PM

We've had a Barnes and Noble Card, since I buy a lot of my books for school there, but if you are going with a reqards card make sure you pay off your balances, and either go for a card with rewards you use often, or Discover is good.

Budgeteer · #9 (**permalink**) 12-12-2006, 09:50 PM

I would personally recommend a Citi card. I have two different cards from Citi (mostly because they came out with a better rewards card than the one I originally had). My current rewards card from Citi is rather ridiculously good - it gives rewards points for every dollar spent PLUS it gives you points for any miles that you fly on tickets that you purchase with the card.

For instance, we buy a couple tickets to fly to Texas. So that's $400 or 400 rewards points, which is like $4 or so of rewards. But we also get 800 points for EACH ticket for EACH way, because it's 800 miles. So we end up getting 800x2x2 = 3200 plus the 400, for a total of $36 cash back. That's pretty huge. Obviously if you don't travel at all, it won't be a big bonus, but they have a lot of different cards.

P.S. I'd recommend against Discover. I have one of their cards, they have great customer service and I have no real complaints, but Discover has limited acceptance and there are so many other rewards cards these days that there's not a real compelling reason any more. Just my opinion.

omicron · #10 (**permalink**) 12-12-2006, 09:58 PM

Chase Perfectcard

3% credit back at any gas station
1% credit back all other purchases
automatic credit on next billing cycle (no waiting or calling in like the Discover Gas card)