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How to get cash-back on credit cards, and other sweet deals?

idyllhands — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:00:03 -0800

My first credit card..looking for cash-back (and other sweet deals) I have never had a credit card before, and have basically no credit. I recently got a well-paying job, and am seeking recommendations for cards that offer cash back perks. I don't want to pay more than a few bucks in yearly fees, and plan on paying back everything I purchase immediately. I am just a penny-pincer, looking to make the most of my money =)
It seems most banks these days aren't offering any savings interest (a few tenths of a percent), so I figure this is one way to make some money (by saving on purchases). As a sub-question, I would appreciate any other ways to make my money work for me; I can put a few grand away for a year, but a few tenths of a percent interest doesn't really appeal to me...
I recently found out about Bing cashback, so am looking for other sweet deals like that as well.

Do Europeans Mail-in Rebates?

unmake — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:43:13 -0800

Outside of North America, how common are rebates? Especially for electronics, it's common for products to be promoted with a mail-in-rebate, often for up to 30% of the sale price. I'm simply wondering whether a similar situation exists elsewhere (Europe in particular), or if it's an American peculiarity.

Credit cards worth it?

Flamingoroad — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:36:03 -0800

I'm thinking of getting a credit card -is it worth it? I'm 22, in the UK and thinking about getting a credit card -I don't feel I need one (not a big or enthusiastic spender) apart from establishing a credit rating -is it worth it?

I understand the benefits -insurance, cash-back etc but it seems like a hassle -I'm perfectly happy just spending money that I have using my debit card.

However, as credit scores are partly based on duration of credit history I'm thinking I should get a credit card if only to prove to future mortgage providers (perhaps 3 or so years in the future) that I'm responsible with credit etc.

As I've also learnt that cancelling cards reflects badly on credit rating so any card I do take out is hopefully going to last me a long time.

I bank with Natwest and am thinking of taking out a credit card with them as it would be easy to pay it off each month with my current online banking setup. But there are no benefits/cash back with it. Aren't credit cards desperate for people to sign up? I might not too excited about credit cards but I don't want to miss out on decent benefits like cash-back etc if there's available.

In summary is it worth getting a credit card and if yes, which is the easiest to use, best 'perks' and recommended over the long term so I don't end up dealing with the 'financial clutter' resulting in opening up other cards in the future?

Any UK specific advice/opinion would be much appreciated!
Thanks

Just give me my 1% please

tasty — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 19:53:41 -0800

Which major credit card(s) will give you at least 1% cashback on everything, credited on your statement, with no annual fees? I want a good cash back card I can use for the rest of my life, with no hassles. The abundance of choices and clutterness of credit card websites makes them hard to find.

I'm tired of exchanging my points for rewards, logging into member sites, getting gift cards as rewards, having to cash in $20 checks, or all the other hassles cash back cards seem to have. And I don't want air miles or to buy magazine subscriptions, gift cards, or vacations with my points.

A friend I knew once had a card that would just give a 1% credit of the current statement on the next statement (I saw the statement). This seems like the simplest and straightforward way to do this.

Does anyone know what card this is, or has a similar or better card that is hassle-free?

There are a few cards that say they give you "rebates" but I can't tell if it's checks in the mail of the (way way better method) automatic credit on your next statement.

The closest I could find is a 2% cash back card with a small annual fee that credits to your statement. I wouldn't mind just getting 1% if I didn't have to worry about the fee.

Best cashback/miles card in the UK

Mossy — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 02:01:17 -0800

Best value UK cashback/points credit/charge card? Looking at this question started me thinking about what the best value UK card for a similar situation would be. I pay off my balance monthly and will probably spend £50-80,000 on it this year. I currently have an amex platinum credit card (2% cashback over £7,500) and an amex green corporate card (membership awards available for £25 or so on that). I travel a lot (mostly BA), but have never got around to signing up for any frequent flyer or hotel membership programs. Any recommendations on a good UK card?

How do grace periods on credit cards work?

zsazsa — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 09:33:11 -0800

How do grace periods on US credit cards work and how can I avoid paying finance charges? I recently got AMEX and Citi "cash back" cards to use for all of my regular purchases. I plan to pay off both in full every month and reap the cash back benefits, but reading about grace periods leaves me wondering. Both have a 25-day grace period. The common definition that I know is that a grace period is the period after a purchase is made during which interest is not charged. So, to me, it seems that it is impossible to avoid finance charges on items I purchase at the beginning of my billing period, unless I pay off the card off twice a month (which AMEX doesn't let you do online!). This seems at odds with the fact that I've always heard that if you just pay your bill in full by the due date each month, you won't be charged interest. Am I misunderstanding things?