Thursday, September 8, 2011

Get 3-6% Cash Back on Groceries and 2-3% Cash Back on Gas! - American Express Blue Cash and Blue Cash Preferred

American Express Blue Cash

Advantages:

1) 3% cash back on Groceries and 2% cash back on Gas and Department stores

2) No limits on how much you can get back

3) No annual fee

Disadvantages:

1) Superstores and Warehouse clubs do not count so Walmart Superstores, Costco and BJ's will likely not count for this deal.

2) It is an American Express so it is not as accepted but chain stores almost always accept American Express.

3) Another credit card to carry.  It is up to you to make a cost benefit analysis of whether it is worth the money to carry around a few cards.


Keep in mind that if you have the Fidelity American Express you are already getting 2% back on everything so only need to use this card for groceries.

American Express Blue Cash Preferred

This is a big improvement from the old American Express Blue.  You used to have to spend $6,500 before you got any big rewards, not anymore!

Advantages:

1) 6% cash back on Groceries and 3% cash back on Gas and department stores.

2) No limits on how much money you can get back

Disadvantages:

1) There is a $75 annual fee.  However, if you spend $500 in the first 60 days you get $100 so the first year the annual fee can be a non issue.

2) Superstores and Warehouse clubs do not count so Walmart Superstores, Costco and BJ's will likely not count for this deal.


3) It is an American Express so it is not as accepted but chain stores almost always accept American Express.

4) Another credit card to carry.  It is up to you to make a cost benefit analysis of whether it is worth the money to carry around a few cards.




Which one should I get?

If you spend more than $50 a week on groceries, which is most people, you should go for the annual fee card.  I am not normally a fan of annual fee cards but when they offer rewards like this card you can make back the fee very quickly.