mastercard

Review: Huntington Voice

⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Huntington Voice Mastercard is an uncommon credit card which lets people choose a category for earning 3% cash back. This can be changed each quarter, and if you don’t change the category, then it remains the same until you decide to change it. The Voice card is similar to the more popular Bank of America Customized Cash Back Rewards. It does have some key differences, which we’ll explore in this review. The versatility of choosing one’s own category can be extremely useful. Especially with almost a dozen options at hand.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 3x points on a chosen category ($2,000 quarterly spending limit)
  • 1x points on everything else

3% eligible categories:

  1. Gas
  2. Travel and Entertainment
  3. Restaurants
  4. Discount and Warehouse Stores
  5. Grocery
  6. Utilities and Office Supply Stores
  7. Electronics, Computer, and Camera Stores
  8. Department Apparel, and Sporting Goods
  9. Auto Part and Service Stores
  10. Home Improvement Stores

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Review: Citi Custom Cash Card

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The Citi Custom Cash Card (CCCC) is a no-fee credit card which gives 5% cash back on your top spending category each month. Citi automatically calculates which category you spend the most in, giving you rewards at the end of each billing cycle. It requires zero effort from the cardholder. The Custom Cash is easier to use than competing cards, and may have higher rewards. It’s versatile enough that almost everyone can get use out of it, although it does depend on one’s spending habits.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • 5% cash back for the first $500 spent each billing cycle in 1 of 10 categories (see below)
  • 1% cash back on everything else

5% eligible categories:

  1. Restaurants/dining
  2. Gas
  3. Grocery stores
  4. “Select travel” (airlines, hotels, cruise lines, travel agencies, etc.)
  5. “Select transit” (car rentals, ferries, trains, taxis, bridge/road tolls, parking lots/garages, bus lines, etc.)
  6. “Select streaming services” (Includes “Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Apple Music, CBS All Access, Disney+, AT&T TV NOW, ESPN+, fuboTV, HBO Max, NBA League Pass, Netflix, Pandora, Showtime, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, SiriusXM, Vudu, YouTube Red, YouTube TV, and Tidal.”)
  7. Drugstores/pharmacies
  8. Home improvement stores
  9. Fitness clubs
  10. Live entertainment (concerts, theaters, etc.)

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Credit and Debit Cards Earning Cryptocurrency

Credit Card Roundups /

Some companies allow customers to earn rewards in cryptocurrency. As of late 2021, there are 8+ known options available. More are coming soon like Nexo and Celsius.

The main downside is how this complicates finances. Some issues to consider:

  • Tax implications for some cards and/or transactions, including any rewards earned (capital gains or losses may apply)
  • At this time, most people would rather earn than spend cryptocurrency, since crypto is an asset which generally appreciates in price
  • It can be more cost-effective to stick with traditional credit cards (which typically have higher earn rates) and manually purchase cryptocurrency with those rewards (or dollar-cost averaging)
  • Services aren’t available in every country or state, which may potentially cause issues with cross-border transactions (or if you decide to move)
  • Most of the below cards don’t have sign-up bonuses or other obvious incentives to get a crypto-specific card
  • Variable value makes it difficult to accurately calculate rewards, and cash back rates could be as low as 0%

Overall, cryptocurrency-focused cards aren’t attractive at this time. They’re mostly novelties with niche use cases. This is hopefully subject to change as blockchain technology gains wider adoption.

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Credit Card Issuers: Cardless (4+ Cards Reviewed)

Credit Card Reviews, Credit Card Roundups /

Update 2: IMPORTANT! As of August 2022, the below information no longer applies. Cardless gutted every credit card’s earn rates. And they reduced sign-up bonuses to almost nothing. None of these cards are worth getting anymore, unless MAYBE you’re a fan of the below teams. If not: Cardless has zero benefits compared to competitors. Very few people will find these cards useful – many better options exist!

2 out of 5 stars for everything from Cardless.

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Update 1: As of April 2022, there are now 6 cards, and all of them now have the same sign-up bonus.

Although at first glance the “Cardless” credit cards look like novelties for certain sports teams, they’re surprisingly interesting. The sign-up bonuses and earning structures are reasonable for no-fee cards. Points are a standard $0.01 each as a statement credit. (Slightly more if you get gift cards related to the specific sport team instead.) Even if you don’t care about the team featured on each card, these are worth considering for long-term cash back benefits.

Cardless uses the Mastercard network. “Issued by First Electronic Bank, Member FDIC. Offers subject to credit approval.“ They reportedly use the Experian bureau. We haven’t verified yet if there are special benefits like World Elite status. Cards don’t have any fees. No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, no late fees, nothing. Several reports say that Cardless doesn’t allow applications to more than one card. If you’re going to pick one of the below options, choose carefully, because that’ll be the only option for your foreseeable future.

Most of these cards earn cash back on streaming. This might be limited. According to their FAQ: “Purchases on subscription streaming services (including eligible music and video streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu and Disney+.) Some services, such as Apple Music, Apple TV+, ESPN+, Prime Video, AT&T TV and Verizon FIOS On Demand, are excluded, as well as audiobook subscription services & fitness programming.” Some cards have an extra monthly benefit, “$5 towards Peacock Premium after $500 in monthly spend.”

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Review: Capital One SavorOne

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The Capital One SavorOne Rewards Mastercard is a no-fee card which earns unlimited rewards in popular categories. Although it usually isn’t considered the “best” for any single category, few cards have a decent earn rate in 4+ spend categories. This makes the SavorOne worth considering as a general everyday card, especially for grocery spending. Their new Uber partnership is another strong point to consider.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

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Review: Capital One Quicksilver

⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Capital One Quicksilver Rewards Mastercard is a no-fee card which earns unlimited 1.5% cash back rewards on all purchases. It’s simple and easy to use, but is now outclassed by many other credit cards for earning rewards. Banks and fintech startups have created aggressive offerings which make the Quicksilver difficult to justify in someone’s wallet. Dozens of cards earn 2% or more cash back on everything.

Note that 4 different versions of the Quicksilver card exist. In this review, we’re going to cover the “best” one for earning rewards..

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 1.5% cash back on everything else

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The Top 5+ No-Fee Credit Cards For Streaming

Credit Card Roundups /

Streaming is a category that’s growing in popularity, although it isn’t as important as other categories. Most people probably spend $30-40 monthly on a couple of streaming services. If you’re spending $50-100 every month on streaming, you’re probably oversubscribed; consider cutting down on your subscriptions. Streaming is typically a low-ROI activity as it is.

Remember that bonus offers and free trials exist for most services on a limited basis. Existing credit cards may give small discounts for new subscribers. As another example, Discovery+ can be free via Verizon, and Amazon Prime members can get Showtime for $5 per month for 6 months. Check deal sites before signing up for a new streaming service. A free or discounted introductory period is likely available.

Note: Credit card issuers have different definitions for “streaming” eligibility. The top cards might not be the best cards for you. Check your subscription(s) against each card’s list of eligible categories.

 

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Review: Kroger World Elite Mastercard

⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Kroger World Elite Mastercard is a simple and flexible option for everyday spending. It was updated in late 2021 to add more features and cash back benefits. This was a big upgrade, considering how the old version was outclassed by competitors. The main draw of the Kroger card is now its 5% cash back on all mobile wallet purchases. We’ll explore the pros and cons here, since restrictions apply. Also note that different versions of the card exist with Kroger’s various affiliates (“Kroger Family of Companies Rewards Elite Mastercard”).

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • 5% cash back on mobile wallet purchases (the first $3,000 spent each year)
  • 3% cash back on dining/gas (the first $6,000 spent each year; feature only available on Kroger Family of Companies variant cards)
  • 2% cash back at Kroger stores
  • 1% cash back on everything else

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The Top 5 No-Fee Credit Cards For Travel

Credit Card Roundups /

Travel experienced a big downturn in 2020, but it’s picking up again. A 2021 CNBC article said the average American household spends $2,244 per year traveling. To maximize cash back rewards without annual fees, this list has the best general options. Keep in mind that airline-specific or hotel-specific credit cards may have more benefits. Cards with annual fees can be good too. It depends on your region, spending habits, and preferences. This list applies broadly to “any” travel expense; we’re trying to cover all the bases at once.

If you come across a credit card which should be on this list, feel free to let us know so we can make updates.

Options are a little limited in this category. It’s also best to have a Visa card when possible, since that’s accepted in far more places than American Express or Mastercard. Having multiple cards from different networks is helpful (to have backup options). Though most of the good travel cards have annual fees (and a few don’t cover certain travel categories like parking or tolls). No-fee cards rarely touch the travel category in any serious way, partly because premium cards are usually superior.

Without further ado, let’s explore the options.

 

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The Top 5 No-Fee Credit Cards For Restaurants

Credit Card Roundups /

“Restaurants” includes dining in, eating out, takeout, food delivery, and more. A 2021 CNBC article said the average American household spends $3,675 per year with restaurants. To maximize cash back rewards without annual fees, these are the best options. Note that cards with annual fees may have greater rewards. But if you don’t want to deal with fees, these are the top 5 credit cards to consider.

As always, to see which credit card is best for you, you’ll need to understand your spending habits. Everyone has different preferences and lifestyles, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. If you do find something that should be on this list, feel free to contact us for updates.

 

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