[UPDATE: Some offers mentioned below have expired and/or are no longer available on our site. You can view the current offers from our partners in our credit card marketplace. DISCLOSURE: Cards from our partners are mentioned below.]
There are so many ways to find great deals today. Deal websites will do the legwork for you, delivering deep discounts on a range of products right to your inbox. But old-school bargain hunters know the thrill of finding a great deal yourself isn’t easily replicated.
Certain credit cards can help sweeten a deal or even guide savvy sales seekers in the right direction. Here are three.
Card Details +
Rewards: 5% cash back on quarterly rotating purchase categories (on up to $1,500 per quarter), 1% cash back on all other purchases
Signup Bonus: $150 bonus cash back when you spend $500 in the first three months
Annual Fee:
APR: then
Why We Picked It: Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on rotating purchase categories, offering an extra incentive for hunting down certain deals.
Benefits: Quarterly rotating purchase types like gas, groceries and drug store purchases earn 5% cash back. All other purchases earn 1% cash back. Chase will refund you the difference if you find a purchase listed for a cheaper price within 90 days.
Drawbacks: If you’re not interested in the 5% cash back category for a quarter, you’ll have to wait it out.
Rewards: Three points for every dollar spent on gas and dining, two points for every dollar spent with eBay and PayPal, one point for every dollar spent on everything else
Signup Bonus:Â None
Annual Fee: None
APR: Variable 20.74% or 24.74%
Why We Picked It: Those that love the thrill of the auction can earn points as they hunt for eBay bargains.
Benefits: Dining and gas purchases earn three points per dollar, eBay and PayPal purchases earn two points per dollar and every other purchase earns one point per dollar. Points can be redeemed for gift cards, cash back in your PayPal account and more.
Drawbacks: The APR is high right off the bat.
Rewards: 5% back on Amazon purchases with a Prime member (3% without Prime), 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores, 1% back on everything else
Signup Bonus: $70 Amazon gift card upon approval
Annual Fee: None
APR: Variable 14.99% to 22.99%
Why We Picked It: Amazon is the definitive online retailer, and Amazon bargain hunters will get extra 5% cash back with a Prime membership.
Benefits: The percentages you earn back on purchases can be redeemed for Amazon orders, cash back and more. With 5% back at Amazon, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores and 1% back on everything else, you’ll be saving on a wide range of purchase types. For the frequent online shopper, this card could be valuable.
Drawbacks: You’ll have to pay for a Prime membership to get the most value out of this card.
To choose a card that helps you find and extend bargains, examine the types of deals on which you’re most focused.
If an incentive will motivate you to find a bargain on any purchase type, you might be better off with rotating purchase categories. If you frequently hunt down bargains of the same variety, like gas or online purchases, try to find a card that rewards those purchase types most.
A credit card that provides bargains on purchases you don’t make won’t do you any good. Choose the card that rewards the deals you love to find.
Cards that bestow rewards upon deal lovers may require good to excellent credit. As a savvy shopper, you should know where your credit stands before you apply. A hard inquiry from a credit card application can cause your credit score to dip a few points. If you aren’t sure about your credit, you can check two of your credit scores for free at Credit.com.
Image:Â DragonImages
At publishing time, the Chase Freedom credit card is offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply and ultimately sign up for this card. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment. This content is not provided by the card issuer(s). Any opinions expressed are those of Credit.com alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer(s).
Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.
