Credit Card Usage | Credit Card Topics | CardRates.com

How Many Credit Cards Should I Have for Good Credit?

By: Brittney Mayer, 7/20/2018

"How many credit cards should I have for good credit?" It's a question I've asked myself when I was younger, and I suspect I'm not alone. If you're like the average American, you might have two credit cards in your wallet. If you're a rewards enthusiast, you may have more than 40 cards. And if you're a credit card collector, you could have over a thousand credit cards (and a custom wallet). But, what's the right number of credit cards? Better yet, consider it another way. Most... read more »

21 Best Credit-Building Credit Cards for 2021

By: Brittney Mayer, 6/11/2018

Identifying the best credit-building credit cards can be challenging with so many options available these days. Keep reading for our take on some of the best credit cards that can help you work your way to a healthy credit score. In today's world, having good credit is a bit like having a decent internet connection: while you can technically get by without it, it definitely makes many things a whole lot easier. Of course, building good credit takes a bit more work than phoning up... read more »

21 Best Vacation Credit Cards in 2021

By: Brittney Mayer, 5/25/2018

As one workday blends into the next, it can become hard not to feel sometimes as though your life has become a mediocre remake of the movie Groundhog Day — and you're Bill Murray. It's at this point that you know it's time to take a vacation. But whether you make a solo getaway or take the whole crew, vacations are budget busters at the best of times. That's where a little smart credit card use can come in remarkably handy. By using the right credit cards for your vacation... read more »

21 Best Credit Cards for Teachers in 2021

By: Brittney Mayer, 5/23/2018

If you're an educator, finding the best credit cards for teachers can help ease the up-front costs that are often necessary for a fully functioning -- and effective -- classroom. We'll take a look at some of these cards in the article below. Between classroom supplies, snacks, and professional development purchases, the average teacher spends as much as $1,000 of their own money each school year. For a new teacher, that could mean as much as 3% of your entire income spent on things... read more »

7 Tips to Pay Your Rent or Mortgage with Credit Cards

By: Ray FitzGerald, 5/21/2018

Upon entering the real world for the first time, one of the most shocking things to many young people is often the exorbitant cost of housing. Whether you rent or pay a mortgage, you're looking at an average of at least $800 a month in many areas — and that's assuming you don't live in an expensive city. With so much of our monthly wages going toward that roof over our heads, it seems a shame to miss out on potential credit card rewards. But paying your rent or mortgage with a... read more »

2021 Chase “Refer-A-Friend” Offer: Earn Credit Card Bonus Points

By: Brittney Mayer, 5/16/2018

Friends share. Whether it's recipes, gossip, or financial advice, most people often pass on what they've learned to their friends. But the smart friends get rewarded for all that sharing. With Chase's Refer-A-Friend program, you can earn bonus credit card rewards simply for, you guessed it, referring a friend who signs up — and is approved — for an eligible Chase credit card. Of course, the keyword here is "eligible." Only a handful of Chase cards qualify for the Chase... read more »

13 Best Credit Card Benefits for 2021

By: Brittney Mayer, 5/11/2018

As an avid credit card fan, I am often flummoxed by those who choose to pay with debit or cash. Even if you discount the security and convenience of credit cards — though those are no small things — just think about all the rewards you could be earning! And purchase rewards are just some of the major benefits of using a credit card. The modern market is full to bursting with credit card options and, as with any good capitalist industry, that means consumers get to benefit from... read more »

14 Best Credit Cards for Uber Rewards

By: Brittney Mayer, 4/30/2018

Although ridesharing and carpooling are hardly new concepts, the modern digital platforms that allow users to summon an affordable ride from (and to) just about anywhere have certainly caused a surge in popularity for the old-school concept. Together with its main U.S. competitor, Lyft, the ridesharing platform Uber has started to transform how millions of people around the world travel. In fact, the service has become so ingrained in our lives that Uber even launched its very own... read more »

18 Best Credit Cards for Families in 2021

By: Ashley Dull, 4/25/2018

Kids aren't cheap. Ask any parent, and it will soon become obvious that those little bundles of joy come with great big price tags, ones that only seem to get larger as they age. In fact, several studies peg the cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 is over $230,000 — or around $13,000 a year. For a frugal family, those costs can certainly be decreased, and it doesn't necessarily take a bare-bones budget, either. Smart credit card use can be an easy way to find a little... read more »

How to Use Credit Card Price Protection & Top Card Offers

By: Brittney Mayer, 4/23/2018

It seems inevitable. You spend weeks comparison shopping for the best deal and finally, sure in your research, you confidently make your purchase. Then, not two weeks later, you see an ad for the exact same item — $50 cheaper. If only there were a way to ensure you always got the best price, even after you've made your purchase. Enter: credit card price protection. This handy credit card perk can save consumers from frustration and buyer's remorse by having the opportunity to... read more »

9 Best Credit Cards for Paying Bills & Utilities

By: Brittney Mayer, 4/11/2018

Using credit cards to pay bills and utilities may be viewed as a precarious method that could ultimately lead to more debt. But if used wisely -- and paid off each month -- the best credit cards for paying bills and utilities can actually help cardholders save money through rewards. In the last century, we've gone from the introduction of household electricity to lives that often wholly depend on it — a fact that is struck home every time we open a new utility bill. While... read more »

Is the Chase Freedom a Visa or Mastercard Credit Card?

By: Brittney Mayer, 4/2/2018

As you rummage through your wallet, trying to decide which credit card you should use to make your next purchase, you may find yourself asking, "Is the Chase Freedom a Visa or Mastercard?" Let's take a quick look at the differences between these two major credit card networks and why it matters. If you're a regular credit card user, chances are relatively good that you've encountered the rare merchant that doesn't accept a particular credit card network. And it always seems that... read more »

16 Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping in 2021

By: Brittney Mayer, 3/9/2018

In only a few decades, we've traveled from the days when we first heard, "You've got mail!" to an era in which nearly every facet of our lives now involves the internet — particularly our consumer lives. If you can name it, you can likely buy it online without ever needing to interact with another human being (or put on pants). So, let's take a look at which card may be the best credit card — for you — for online shopping. Because avoiding human interaction does come with one... read more »

4 Credit Card Comparison Charts for Rewards, Fees, Rates & Scores

By: Brittney Mayer, 3/6/2018

A credit card comparison chart can be an extremely valuable took when exploring the numerous cards that are available to consumers these days — hopefully saving both time and money. Once upon a time, credit cards were simple devices, used to conveniently make purchases at your favorite store or restaurant that you paid off when your bill came due. Today, however, credit cards are a much more complicated beast. The huge number of features and functions offered by the modern-day... read more »

Chase Freedom FlexSM vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

By: Brittney Mayer, 2/13/2018

Although all the major credit card issuers have long since jumped on the rewards card bandwagon, few have embraced it as fully as Chase. Of the two dozens credit card options Chase offers, all but one of them feature some type of purchase rewards (and the one that doesn't, the Chase Slate®, is one of the best balance transfer cards on the market). And it's each card's rewards that are the biggest differentiator between them. If you want cash back rewards, the Chase Freedom FlexSM... read more »

12 Best Credit Cards for Wedding Expenses in 2021

By: Ashley Dull, 2/9/2018

For some couples, finding the best credit cards for weddings should rank right up there with finding a great caterer because tying the knot can be expensive. While paging through bridal magazines can give soon-to-be brides a lot of grand ideas, it often fails to prepare them for the real expenses that come with a wedding. From the venue to the food to the flowers, costs often end up with an extra zero on the end that you weren't expecting. For some couples, the costs are easy to... read more »

8 Cute Credit Cards & Designs (2021)

By: Ashley Dull, 1/16/2018

For many of us, credit cards are utilitarian products — a means to an end — but there's a lot to be said about aesthetic appeal. Have you ever considered what kinds of options are out there for cute credit cards? Between gas, lunch, and that mid-afternoon pick-me-up, chances are good you pull out your trusty credit card several times a day to make a purchase. But despite the fact that many of us look at our credit cards on a daily basis, the sad fact is that most of those little... read more »

12 Socially Responsible Credit Cards from Banks & Credit Unions

By: Ashley Dull, 12/22/2017

Socially responsible credit cards not only provide consumers with the convenience that comes with plastic — swipe and go or make online purchases — but they also offer a simple way to support worthy causes in the process. While many of us are happy to do our parts to help protect nature, wildlife, and each other, it's often difficult to know how to really execute those goals. Even something that seems like a no-brainer, like reducing carbon output by driving an electric car, can... read more »

6 Pros and Cons of a Credit Card

By: Brittney Mayer, 12/13/2017

With a history that stretches back over 200 years, the versatile pro-con list has long been used to simplify the decision-making process. And while the pro-con list is not without its controversies — as described by this pro-con list about pro-con lists — it remains a popular practice for analyzing both parts of a problem to aid decision-making. Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of a credit card. If you're on the fence about whether to get a new credit card, a... read more »

7 FAQs —The Different Types of Credit Cards & Which to Carry

By: Brittney Mayer, 12/4/2017

The types of credit cards available are vast and diverse. When I first discovered the world of credit cards, I was amazed at the breadth of the selection offered to consumers. Even today, after years of exploring the farthest reaches of credit cards and personal finance, I still occasionally come across an awesome card I never knew existed. While experienced cardholders and rewards churners may revel in the abundance and diversity of credit card types available to them, a novice to... read more »

What is a Good Credit Card APR? The 15 Best Low Interest Rate Cards

By: Ashley Dull, 11/15/2017

While credit cards are popular among consumers for their perks and convenience, it's easy to forget that credit cards aren't only popular with consumers; the card issuers and banks love them too — but for different reasons. For instance, credit cards are a consistent (and abundant) source of income. In fact, according to the Federal Reserve, credit card interest fees account for nearly 10% of the income of credit card banks, and almost 3% of the income for the average commercial... read more »

12 Best Credit Cards for Everyday Use

By: Brittney Mayer, 11/13/2017

For many of my friends, the search for the perfect partner centers around the idea of finding someone who isn't "crazy." What I always advise them to remember, of course, is that everyone is crazy, in their own ways. The key to a successful relationship isn't searching for someone "normal," but finding someone whose particular brand of crazy complements your own craziness. Coincidentally, my sagest bit of relationship advice parallels one of my most well-worn pieces of credit card... read more »

3 Ways Closing a Credit Card Can Hurt Your Credit

By: Brittney Mayer, 10/17/2017

Closing a credit card account can be tricky — will it damage your credit score? Will you benefit in any way from having one less open account on your report? I still remember getting my first credit card in the mail. I can recall the feelings of wonder and excitement as I thought about everything I could now do and the huge sense of awe that such a little piece of plastic could hold so much financial power. No matter how fantastic your initial experience, of course, the novelty... read more »

15 Best Credit Cards for Large Purchases (2021)

By: Brittney Mayer, 10/9/2017

Finding the best credit cards for large purchases may seem like a daunting task, with so many card options available to consumers these days. But we've narrowed the list for you to present our choices for just such cards. As ubiquitous as it's become, many of us likely take the credit card for granted, forgetting how much more difficult it was to make large purchases in the once-upon-a-time. To put it in perspective, consider this: if you were to purchase a new $5,000 furniture set... read more »

12 Best High-End Credit Cards (2021)

By: Adam West, 10/3/2017

The phrase "high end" can mean take on different meanings for everyone. Some may envision luxurious fabrics and sparkling jewels, while others imagine fast cars and rivers of champagne. Or perhaps, as part of the digital generation, you picture the epitome of modern technology and automation. While the world of high-end credit cards doesn't have a lot of silk or octane, it is rich with exclusive perks and rewards that can make you feel like more than an ordinary consumer. These... read more »

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