We’re more than halfway through September and it’s less than 100 days until Christmas. Christmas music is already playing on Sirius XM if you listen on the app (Note from Sharon: YAY!), and you should because now it’s included with even the cheap select subscriptions.
Besides getting ready to pull holiday decorations out of the attic, it means I have to give a good, hard look at my plans for our credit cards for the rest of the year.
Right now, I’ve finished with all of our spending requirements for new cards and I’ve almost reached the one spending threshold I set to achieve. That only means it’s time to look for new cards.
What’s out there that looks interesting to me? As a preface to my choices, I’m currently at 4/24 and Sharon’s at 5/24. I’m not looking at Chase right now for me because I already have 5 personal cards and 1 business card with them and I’m happy with that portfolio.
So what’s looking interesting for me right now?
CNB Crystal Infinite Card
This card is forever going to be the one that got away for me. I almost signed up for it last year but opted to get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant instead. The card has a lofty $400 a year annual fee but I can learn to live with that. While the card had a sign-up bonus for part of the year, I was never close to a branch to apply. Now, the card cut the bonus and it’s rumored that some of the other benefits of the card might be getting reduced. Even with what remains, the card would still be a good value for the two of us and we’ll be back in New York to be able to sign up at a branch. If the time is right, I might just pull the trigger this time and get it.
American Express Gold Card
This is the one American Express personal charge card that I’ve never had. It comes with a $250 annual fee. I thought I’ve sworn off cards with AMEX credits but this card has a $100 airline fee credit and monthly restaurant credits. Earning 4x points at restaurants and supermarkets is great since I’m thinking of getting rid of my Citi Prestige. There’s no charge for an additional card so I could get one for Sharon and get rid of our Amex Everyday Preferred and its $95 annual fee.
I’m still on the fence about this one, but the 50,000 Membership Rewards sign up bonus might be enough to push me over the edge.
Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature
The only decent card I have for everyday spending is the Barclays Arrival+ which earns 2 points per dollar spent. The only issue is that the card has an annual fee which severely cuts into the amount of money back we make with the card. I’m looking for a pure cash back card and I think this might just be it.
I already use Fidelity for my banking since they have fee-free checking with my investment account and I’m also able to use any ATM worldwide with no fees. I’ve been looking at the Fidelity Rewards card which is a simple 2% cash-back program where the money is deposited directly into my Fidelity account.
The addition of a $150 cashback offer with the first $1,500 in spending (10% back) makes this appealing. I wouldn’t waste a 5/24 spot to get it but since I’m over anyway, what’s the harm.
American Express Blue Business Plus
I’ve recommended this card to so many people that it’s almost embarrassing that I don’t have it myself. This falls into the category of needing a card for everyday spending that doesn’t earn bonus points in other categories. The Blue Business Plus card earns 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar for the first $50,000 spent each year.
While I’d like to earn 2% back with the Fidelity card, I’d rather earn 2 Membership Rewards points. Now that there’s reportedly a 20,000 point sign up bonus available for the card, it’s definitely worth looking into.
Capital One Venture Card
I’ve always ignored Capital One cards but now that points with the Venture card can be transferred to airline partners, I’m paying attention. I doubt they’d want me as a customer since I pay off my bills every month but it couldn’t hurt trying for a 50,000 point sign-up bonus.
Final Thoughts
I’m probably more than a decade into signing up for travel credit cards and I still have five cards off the top of my head that I can try to sign up for. That’s not counting ones that I’ve had already like the United, American and Alaska airline cards. While we spend our share of points, it always seems that I earn them quicker than I can spend them.
Not a bad problem to have if you ask me.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
