Comments on: The Easiest $486 I’ve Ever Made: How To Use Cash Back Credit Cards To Your Advantage https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/ Financial independence and simple living Mon, 22 May 2023 13:07:29 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.6 By: Mim https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-423215 Tue, 16 Nov 2021 03:13:31 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-423215 Looking for advice for tracking CC spending. Ultimately, my question is: can Personal Capital make it (relatively) easy to categorize and track transactions if just about everything goes on a CC each month? I currently use Simplifi and it pulls in my monthly CC payment as one massive transfer and then I need to manually split that one transaction into dozens and dozens of individual expenses, which are then categorized correctly but don’t have a merchant’s name attached unless I manually insert a note. It’s labor-intensive and I find myself putting it off, which is counterproductive. I’d consider switching to Personal Capital, but not if it requires that same level of monthly work. Any advice is appreciated. I used to track on a spreadsheet, so a software program feels mildly better but not great.

]]> By: Sonjia Saffle https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-404762 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 23:00:15 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-404762 My husband and I use our Chase Sapphire exclusively for everything we buy. We pay off the balance each month. In 7 years we’ve amassed 600,000 points. We’re saving it for a trip to Italy. If we use our points to book our trip through Chase, we get 25% more value equal to $7500 in travel credit. If we need money before then, we can redeem points for cash instead

]]> By: Sharon https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-372089 Wed, 02 Jun 2021 22:31:48 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-372089 Do you have advice for someone who is looking to use a CC again? I haven’t had one in years and would like to build up controlled usage slowly to encourage a higher credit score. I cut all CC’s off years ago when I was spending too much. Really enjoying your tips. Thanks.

]]> By: Holly https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-366838 Wed, 05 May 2021 01:20:41 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-366838 Do you switch the cash back card you use frequently when you see a better deal? Should you leave the old accounts open? What are the best practices?

]]> By: Mallory https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-366795 Tue, 04 May 2021 20:11:41 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-366795 In reply to Kumar.

YESS. Fellow Amazon and Costco card holder here. I also have the Walmart card because I use their grocery pickup. It gives 5% back. Everything gets paid off every month and we move our cash back into a “fun account” and use it to buy things that aren’t in the budget. Last year we were able to upgrade our TV.

]]> By: Lindsay https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-365935 Wed, 28 Apr 2021 00:09:24 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-365935 I have used my Chase credit card for years. But today, I was listening to an interview with Paul Greenberg who wrote The Climate Diet: 50 Simple Ways to Trim Your Carbon Footprint, and he pointed out that one of the ways we can improve our carbon footprint is by supporting banks and credit cards that are dedicated to green practices. Many of these big credit companies, including my Chase CC are contributing to climate change.
This article is worth a read:
https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/responsible-credit-cards

I’m looking into switching to a Green America card. Would love to know if anyone else has done the same. Thanks!

]]> By: Kumar https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-364149 Wed, 14 Apr 2021 15:48:08 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-364149 In reply to Tom Just Tom.

I do exactly the same thing. Prime Visa for Amazon/Whole foods, Costco card for Costco/gas station/Restaurants, Citi double for rest everything for 2%

]]> By: kruidigmeisje https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-362513 Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:54:59 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-362513 Cash back credit cards. No monthly fees. America does have some nice bits, then. In our low country on the other side of the pond, I cannot find a card without a montly fee, let alone a cash back. How lucky you are!
Though this does save me the hassle of choosing the right one.
(In this country most people buy with de debit card of their bank. Online one needs a credit card for foreign purchases, within the country banks offer a good online payment system, free of charge)

]]> By: Amanda Kroll https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-359540 Tue, 30 Mar 2021 14:41:37 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-359540 I have a card that I pay the $95 annual fee for – it offered a $500 sign-on bonus, paid for my TSA pre-check, and offers pretty decent rewards for traveling. I have considered getting rid of this card since I haven’t been able to travel over the last year, but I am holding out hopes that it will soon return (and I am due to renew my TSA pre-check).
I do urge you to look at the other benefits some of these cards offer and whether or not you will use them. Some of them really do pay for themselves (especially airline/hotel cards if you travel a decent bit).

]]> By: Aurora Leigh https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-359079 Mon, 29 Mar 2021 21:07:55 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-359079 In reply to Jen.

Amazon is often more expensive that Walmart/ the grocery store, but I live in a rural area so Amazon is our go to for a lot of things (especially things that aren’t strictly necessary). It may be a little more than in the city stores, but I don’t have to spend the gas money and time so it works out well for us.

]]> By: Debbie M https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-358976 Mon, 29 Mar 2021 16:45:11 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-358976 I decided to leave big banks and thought I would be stuck with lower cash back. But no, now I use Alliant Credit Union’s Platinum Rewards Visa which pays 2% cash back on everything. Currently, you can earn 5000 reward points (worth $50) if you spend at least $500 during the first 90 days.

Anyone can become a member by paying a one-time $5 membership fee to Alliant’s partner charity, Foster Care To Success.

More information is here: https://www.alliantcreditunion.org/bank/visa-platinum-rewards-card

]]> By: Isa https://frugalwoods.com/2021/03/25/the-easiest-486-ive-ever-made-how-to-use-cash-back-credit-cards-to-your-advantage/#comment-358878 Mon, 29 Mar 2021 13:11:52 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=30650#comment-358878 In reply to Melissa.

PC Mastercard user here too, I love it!

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