Super chargers
Credit-card rewards are often offset by high fees. That's why we analyzed all the potential perks--from rebates on gas and groceries to VIP passes--to distinguish the bunk from the benefit. Choose a reward, and charge ahead.
Travel
Look for cards with the fewest hurdles to collecting and redeeming miles, as well as added perks, says Liz Pulliam Weston, author of Deal with Your Debt.
CHARGE THIS:！ American Express Platinum
This card offers comped companion tickets on domestic and international flights, as well as upgrades at 550 hotels; access to Legal and medical experts when traveling; and admittance to airport VIP Lounges. The $450 annual fee is high, but the perks are worth it for travelers.
NOT THAT: 𝘅 Capital One No Hassle Miles
Other travel cards earned cross-country trips an average of 43 percent faster.
Cashback
Visit creditcardtuneup.com to match rebates with your spending habits; look for refunds of 1 percent or more.
CHARGE THIS: ！ Blue Cash from American Express
This card gives 5 percent back on food and fuel, or $266 a year for the average household. You'll save 1.5 percent on everything else, with no limit or annual fee. One catch: You must spend more than $6,500 annually.
NOT THAT: 𝘅 Discover Platinum
You'll earn less cash back--and keeping track of the incentives is a full-time job.
VIP programs
The best have an army of agents on call to assist with your most pressing needs.
CHARGE THIS: ！ Visa Signature
Every VIP program offers unique Luxury packages, but the exceptional concierge service sets this one apart. Call 24 hours a day to reserve tables, score sold-out tickets, or book travel. Less-luxurious perks stand out, too, like reimbursements for lost or stolen luggage up to $3,000.
NOT THAT: 𝘅 MasterCard World Cardholders
The automated "VIP" service is farmed out through online-only iseatz.com.
Reward points
Browse the available rewards for a card, pick several you like, and calculate their actual value with this equation: dollar value of reward + points x 100. If the result is less than 1, you'd be better off using a cash-back card. "If a card company doesn't make the reward values available, it's a sign that its points are grossly inflated," says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at bankrate.com.
CHARGE THIS: ！ Citi Simplicity Rewards
This entry-level card outperforms higher-status cards by returning five points to the dollar at gas stations and drugstores for a year, plus a $100 gift card after your first purchase.
NOT THAT: 𝘅 Green Rewards from American Express
AmEx's rewards program suffers from severe point bloating. To earn a $350 iPod, you'd need to charge as much as $58,000.
WIRELESS WALLETS
Your plastic purchasing power won't always be at the mercy of a fickle magnetic strip. Three emerging technologies:
RFID CARDS
A small, unique radio-frequency TD chip is embedded in your credit card. Swing the card near a scanner and your receipt prints. (A recent reissue shielded data from "sniffers.") American Express, MasterCard, and Visa all use the technology; and 30,000-plus stores across the United States accept the new method of payment.
BIOMETRICS
Your fingerprint triggers payments; a 7-digit pin safeguards against potential doppelgängers, They're testing the technology now at 3,000 stores in 44 states. paybytouch.com
CELLULAR CASH
Near Field Communication (NFC)--enabled cellphones feature wireless chips that allow you to pay with a wave of your handset. Phones can also broadcast virtual business cards. Fourteen cell carriers worldwide have recently signed on, nfc-forum.org
Travel
Look for cards with the fewest hurdles to collecting and redeeming miles, as well as added perks, says Liz Pulliam Weston, author of Deal with Your Debt.
CHARGE THIS:！ American Express Platinum
This card offers comped companion tickets on domestic and international flights, as well as upgrades at 550 hotels; access to Legal and medical experts when traveling; and admittance to airport VIP Lounges. The $450 annual fee is high, but the perks are worth it for travelers.
NOT THAT: 𝘅 Capital One No Hassle Miles
Other travel cards earned cross-country trips an average of 43 percent faster.
Cashback
Visit creditcardtuneup.com to match rebates with your spending habits; look for refunds of 1 percent or more.
CHARGE THIS: ！ Blue Cash from American Express
This card gives 5 percent back on food and fuel, or $266 a year for the average household. You'll save 1.5 percent on everything else, with no limit or annual fee. One catch: You must spend more than $6,500 annually.
NOT THAT: 𝘅 Discover Platinum
You'll earn less cash back--and keeping track of the incentives is a full-time job.
VIP programs
The best have an army of agents on call to assist with your most pressing needs.
CHARGE THIS: ！ Visa Signature
Every VIP program offers unique Luxury packages, but the exceptional concierge service sets this one apart. Call 24 hours a day to reserve tables, score sold-out tickets, or book travel. Less-luxurious perks stand out, too, like reimbursements for lost or stolen luggage up to $3,000.
NOT THAT: 𝘅 MasterCard World Cardholders
The automated "VIP" service is farmed out through online-only iseatz.com.
Reward points
Browse the available rewards for a card, pick several you like, and calculate their actual value with this equation: dollar value of reward + points x 100. If the result is less than 1, you'd be better off using a cash-back card. "If a card company doesn't make the reward values available, it's a sign that its points are grossly inflated," says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at bankrate.com.
CHARGE THIS: ！ Citi Simplicity Rewards
This entry-level card outperforms higher-status cards by returning five points to the dollar at gas stations and drugstores for a year, plus a $100 gift card after your first purchase.
NOT THAT: 𝘅 Green Rewards from American Express
AmEx's rewards program suffers from severe point bloating. To earn a $350 iPod, you'd need to charge as much as $58,000.
WIRELESS WALLETS
Your plastic purchasing power won't always be at the mercy of a fickle magnetic strip. Three emerging technologies:
RFID CARDS
A small, unique radio-frequency TD chip is embedded in your credit card. Swing the card near a scanner and your receipt prints. (A recent reissue shielded data from "sniffers.") American Express, MasterCard, and Visa all use the technology; and 30,000-plus stores across the United States accept the new method of payment.
BIOMETRICS
Your fingerprint triggers payments; a 7-digit pin safeguards against potential doppelgängers, They're testing the technology now at 3,000 stores in 44 states. paybytouch.com
CELLULAR CASH
Near Field Communication (NFC)--enabled cellphones feature wireless chips that allow you to pay with a wave of your handset. Phones can also broadcast virtual business cards. Fourteen cell carriers worldwide have recently signed on, nfc-forum.org
posted by Ann at
11:49 PM
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