Hello everyone. I'm new here. I came across this forum while researching lately for the best credit card to have for reducing costs of vacationing to Disney World. Any advice on which cards I should apply for would be greatly appreciated. I have never had a credit card in my life, so this would be my first at 26 years old. I've always been content with just a debit card until I realized the kind of rewards you can get with credit cards. I would be spending probably $1000 per month on the credit card (gas, food, bills, insurance, entertainment, etc.), and plan on paying it off in full every month. As I mentioned before, the main reason I want to get a credit card is to use the rewards to reduce expenses on vacations to Disney World. I try to go to Disney World at least once a year, but sometimes has to be every other year. I am a solo traveler. I typically fly out of Chattanooga, TN, with a layover in Atlanta, and then on to Orlando. I have on occasion driven to Atlanta to forgo the layover since it is only a 2 hour drive. I have sometimes driven the entire distance, instead of flying. It really just depends on the circumstances. I usually fly Delta, but will fly any airline. Southwest does serve Atlanta, but not Chattanooga. Again, I would appreciate any advice. Thanks!
Glad you found us!
There are some huge Southwest fans here, and they just enhanced their rewards program, but I'm thinking that since you have no credit card history, maybe you should start small and build history. And I wouldn't be surprised if SW has
direct flights from Nashville to Orlando.
Discover it is a good starter card with no Annual Fee (AF). The
Discover Sign Up Bonus (SUB) is small by our standards at $50, and has 5% cash-back rolling quarterly reward categories, that are doubled during your first year. Essentially a 10% discount on everything you buy that falls within the current bonus category, during year one.
The
SUB is where the money is. There are cards out there that easily have $500 to $1,000 SUBs. You'll want to keep your credit score up, not cancel old cards (can always Product Change them, but don't cancel), and pace your new cards to one every 3 month or more.
Chase Freedom Flex (CFF) might be your next card in a few months, but wait until later to decide because there might be something better by then. The no AF
CFF has a $200 SUB and earns 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on drug stores, and has 5% quarterly bonus categories. Plus 5% back on groceries the first year.
Down the road,
don't be afraid of high AF cards, because that's where the big bonuses are (I just got a $1,250 SUB on the
Amex Platinum which has a $550 AF). After holding the card for one year, when the next AF hits, I'll decide if the other benefits from the card out-weigh the AF, or if I should Product Change (PC) it down to a no AF card. Always ask here before making a move though, because, Amex for instance, has some really tricky rules, especially dealing with new cards and spending.
In the future Business (Biz) cards might be beneficial.
Chase has a 5/24 Rule, where they only allow a new Chase card if you've had less then 5 cards (from
anyone) in the last 24 months,
except business cards don't count. Now you might say, I don't have a business, but you might have some side-hustle that will count. I have a rental house. Others tutor, sell on eBay, or preform services on the side. It seems your Biz income doesn't have to be large. Right now, Chase seems to just be starting to relax new business cards approvals, since the economy tanked in March. So keep in mind some kind of Biz you might have going for the future, because Biz cards are a great way to stay under Chase's 5/24 rule.
Let's see what other think. Welcome to the group and good luck!
ETA: Thanks to
@miztressuz for
clarifying CFF's travel benefit (which I didn't even catch)
ETA:
@Scrappy94 If you join our private DISchurners group, you can find support links from our group here to pay it forward by benefiting one of our members, while still earning your Sign Up Bonus. If you're interested, let SouthFayetteFan know by posting here, because I don't think you have enough postings to Private Message him, yet.