We Got a New Credit Card

It's an MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus card.

It must have something to do with my Myers Briggs personality type (INTJ) but I'm always trying to find the best deal for things we use often.  

My Fella and I pay all of our daily living expenses with credit cards, which are then paid off immediately.  And I only use credit cards that offer rewards.  It's all about the points, baby!

I was researching charge cards a few months ago and stumbled across this discussion about the MBNA Smart Cash card on the Red Flag Deals forum.  It's a long discussion but it really breaks down the pros and cons of this particular card.

The rewards of the Smart Cash card are the best I've found for our shopping habits:

• 5% cash back on gas/grocery purchases (up to $600) for the first 6 months
• 3% cash back on gas/grocery purchases (up to $600) thereafter
• 1% cash back on all other qualifying retail purchases
• NO ANNUAL FEE

If you spend $600 on gas/groceries every month, you'll get $216 cash back every year just by using this card. And that's not including the 1% cash back you receive on all other retail purchases.

After tons of online research we decided this was definitely the best rewards card available to us.  

Special note:  when applying for a new credit card, have a good answer ready when the applications rep asks about your employment.  Keep in mind they are only trying to confirm that you are a responsible consumer with some form of monthly income and that you are able to pay off your card.  

If you're only 40 and too young to be retired DO NOT JOKE THAT YOU MADE FANTASTIC MONEY WITH YOUR MARIJUANA GROW-OP, ENABLING YOU TO RETIRE SUPER EARLY. If you do make a stupid comment like that, pray that you get a customer service rep with a sense of humour - like the one I got.  

After the first rep hung up on me. 

 

Comments

[Don]

That's a good card and the price is right! You are like us, go for the cash back, not the gifts or trip vouchers. We have a Visa Platinum that is similar, but it is not available anymore and one day they will change it on us. Do you have a second back up card? We got stranded once when our only card got cancelled while its replacement sat in the mail while we were traveling.

[kelsi]

Mr P - we have two other cards as back-ups. They both have rewards as well but they aren't as good so we'll use them sporadically just to keep them active.
But the MBNA smart cash card is definitely a winner.

[kelsi]

Hey Carol - sure, I'd love to be part of your blogroll. I can't return the favour cause I don't have one... but I DID go back through your archives and your blog is really well written. Funny stuff. Love the 'Old, Fat and Cranky' post. And the one about your Aunt Florence.
Interesting tidbit about Pensionize Your Nestegg - I haven't read the book but one of the authors (Alex McQueen) contributes to one of my online biz forums. She gives solid, thoughtful advice so I'm sure her book is a great resource.
p.s. My Fella and I also met online.

[amy amster]

Citibank credit cards offer the best in rewards and offers.

[Jacq]

Aha, I figured you were an INTJ too. Most young retirees are. :-)
Glad to see the summer has finally come around for you. We've had awesome weather wherever we've gone, but I've heard it wasn't so great back home. :-(

[kelsi]

jjolie - I was wondering where you drove off to. Hope you're having a wonderful RV getaway!
More importantly, did you 'lasso a fella' yet?

[Jacq]

LOL - The fella lassoing will be a project for when I get home. I'm completely clueless for how to go about these things these days. :-)

We've been having a great time, but I'll be glad to be home again in a couple of weeks. Just in time to rip up the front lawn and re-plant if the weather holds. And to make some home-made refried beans. I cheated and stocked some cans up to bring home in the pantry. Will also be importing excessive quantities of Tillamook cheese (don't tell the border agents...)

This trip was CO, UT, ID, WY and MT. We're outside of Missoula right now and heading up to Flathead today. Then I need to remember how we got to this great place that we camped last year in BC down some washboard road out in the middle of nowhere. Fred Dorr road is all I can remember...