Today we are shifting gears and talking financial fitness, friends!
True story: During college orientation, my mom had me sign up for my first bank account and credit card! It was a basic “student” credit card with no fees, but also, no rewards.
While it was great building my credit during those years, it would've been even better if I was actually earning something for spending that paper!
I felt so overwhelmed by all of the different rewards programs that it took roughly 10 years before I decided to take the plunge and figure out which rewards program would suit my lifestyle best.
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Before we jump into figuring out how to choose a rewards program that supports your lifestyle, I want to take a beat and tell you WHY it took me 10 years to make a change with my credit card…
You see, I am usually of the mentality “if it ain't broke, don't fix it!” and while I never had an issue with my credit, I never really thought about how I could use it to actually benefit my lifestyle and work for me. Which is what rewards programs do, they provide you some benefit so you aren't just doling out your hard earned cash money to every Tom, Dick, & Harry!
I was TERRIFIED to apply for a new credit card! The very thought would lead to a chain reaction of anxious thoughts:
“How much will this hard inquiry hurt my credit score? What is a credit score? Do I even need my credit score right now?!? I can't adult today.”
The reality, though? By not making the switch to a rewards card, I was leaving money on the table!
What do I mean by that? Well some rewards programs will literally give you cash back (which I was missing out on), others will give you travel points (so rather than spending the dollar bills earning interest in my accounts, I could've used those), and some will give you gift cards to your favorite stores (again leaving your cash money earning interest in your accounts!).
You see, finances shouldn't be scary, they should be working for us, not against us, and one simple change to start making that a reality in your life is with a rewards card. Creditcards.com makes it really easy to find the card that will best match your lifestyle with their Cardmatch tool.
Creditcards.com believes in empowering people to make smart choices around their credit cards, which means using the right card for you in the right way. Their Cardmatch tool securely matches you with offers in less than 60 seconds without impacting your credit score in any way.
I spent 10 years hesitating to make the change to a rewards program because I felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there. I wish I had found the Cardmatch tool sooner to help make the decision process a breeze and start having my finances work for me sooner.
Ultimately we decided to get the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express. Since making the switch we've use this card for basically everything and earn points to enhance our travels with hotel upgrades, discounts on airfare and car rentals –> in other words, it helps me live an “insta-ready” life, without breaking the bank!
Our card has also allowed us to leave our cash in interest barring accounts, while we spend the points instead, which leaves us feeling much more financially fit and like we are investing in our future.
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These are all such important things to look for when getting a credit card! I’m on the hunt for a good one right now.
Greta | http://www.gretahollar.com
Hope the cardmatch tool helps you!
I totally use credit cards to my advantage. I pay for everything with them to rake in rewards but always pay off the balance immediately!
Woot woot!! That’s the way to do it Chelsea!
I so agree! I think a lot of people are like, “oh i don’t want to open another credit card!” but SO many companies will let you consolidate or transfer any balance you have and if you do your research it’s better in the LONG term to have a CC that actually works FOR you! Plus, it can really help a young person build a substantial credit score for later in life!
Exactly! It really doesn’t need to be scary!
I have been needing this kind of post! I have been researching around for the best credit card- there are so many options it’s overwhelming!
Yay! happy it was helpful Jamie!
Finding a credit card always feels super intimidating to me! Thanks for the great tips and resources!
Same girl!! I totally wouldn’t make a decision because I felt so overwhelmed!
Having a credit card with perks is HUGE! I had a whole trip (flight wise) paid for last year because of my Venture card. I mean, if you’re spending anyway – why not get rewards back right?! Love this!!
Fo’ Sho’!!! Exactly!
I have a cashback card – and I love it! I got $100 back over a few months of using it!
YASS!! Isn’t that the best feeling!
I love this! I 100% agree. We do everything with our mileage cards and never pay for travel!
It’s so nice!!
I only have one credit card at the moment and don’t plan on getting another one anytime soon, but I have a Discover Card that gives cash back which has been awesome! My bf uses the Capital One Double Cash card currently and he loves it. I’ll have to show him this site!
Kayla | kaylablogs.com
Love those rewards!