Credit card to get benefits
Discussion
Hi all,
I have never had a credit card as I’ve always been along the lines of ‘if I don’t have the cash, don’t buy it …’ but I have a load of flights and holidays to pay for ( circa 30k) and have been told by someone in the pub that I’d be better off using a credit card to pay as I would get a lot of points and maybe free flights in the future by buying on a credit card.
I would ask the bloke in the pub but I can’t remember who it was. . . Or which pub. .
So, anyone recommend a credit card that I could get that would give me good rewards ?
Would a BA credit card be the best if I buy flights from BA for example ??
Cheers all,
dan
I have never had a credit card as I’ve always been along the lines of ‘if I don’t have the cash, don’t buy it …’ but I have a load of flights and holidays to pay for ( circa 30k) and have been told by someone in the pub that I’d be better off using a credit card to pay as I would get a lot of points and maybe free flights in the future by buying on a credit card.
I would ask the bloke in the pub but I can’t remember who it was. . . Or which pub. .
So, anyone recommend a credit card that I could get that would give me good rewards ?
Would a BA credit card be the best if I buy flights from BA for example ??
Cheers all,
dan
I've got a Tesco club card credit card and put all my daily and big spends on it, it's paid off in full every month.
I get a fair chunk of Tesco points which can be converted into vouchers for days out, transport etc. I usually have enough for a couple of ferry trips to France each year with it
I get a fair chunk of Tesco points which can be converted into vouchers for days out, transport etc. I usually have enough for a couple of ferry trips to France each year with it
Definitely worth having one for the extra protection (https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/section75-protect-your-purchases/) they provide and sign-on bonuses. I use an Amex for daily spending and earn cashback or points depending which one I use.
Always pay it off in full and you have free cashback/points which can be redeemed against purchases. The Amex Gold also has a few extra benefits too such as airport lounge passes and free Deliveroo credits.
I'm happy to recommend you - we both get points/cash if you sign up
Always pay it off in full and you have free cashback/points which can be redeemed against purchases. The Amex Gold also has a few extra benefits too such as airport lounge passes and free Deliveroo credits.
I'm happy to recommend you - we both get points/cash if you sign up
Not sure many places will offer you a 30k limit, Amex might if you qualify for some of their posh people cards
I have a NatWest reward one I use in the supermarkets, I get 1% back, not a great deal but adds up over a year.
Also have a M&S one which i use for clothes, housewere and the food hall etc
Pay off in full every month or a single months interest will wipe out any reward
I have a NatWest reward one I use in the supermarkets, I get 1% back, not a great deal but adds up over a year.
Also have a M&S one which i use for clothes, housewere and the food hall etc
Pay off in full every month or a single months interest will wipe out any reward
swanseaboydan said:
Hi all,
I have never had a credit card as I’ve always been along the lines of ‘if I don’t have the cash, don’t buy it …’ but I have a load of flights and holidays to pay for ( circa 30k) and have been told by someone in the pub that I’d be better off using a credit card to pay as I would get a lot of points and maybe free flights in the future by buying on a credit card.
I would ask the bloke in the pub but I can’t remember who it was. . . Or which pub. .
So, anyone recommend a credit card that I could get that would give me good rewards ?
Would a BA credit card be the best if I buy flights from BA for example ??
Cheers all,
dan
Did you get your 30k credit card. ? Answers on a robot post card. ! I have never had a credit card as I’ve always been along the lines of ‘if I don’t have the cash, don’t buy it …’ but I have a load of flights and holidays to pay for ( circa 30k) and have been told by someone in the pub that I’d be better off using a credit card to pay as I would get a lot of points and maybe free flights in the future by buying on a credit card.
I would ask the bloke in the pub but I can’t remember who it was. . . Or which pub. .
So, anyone recommend a credit card that I could get that would give me good rewards ?
Would a BA credit card be the best if I buy flights from BA for example ??
Cheers all,
dan
fourstardan said:
Virgin used to do points cards with AMEX, dunno if they still do.
You get nothing for nothing now days to me from airlines.
As you can see from the above post AMEX do still transfer points to virgin, just got back from LA upper class paid for with points.You get nothing for nothing now days to me from airlines.
Going again at Christmas to LA but saving points going premium economy.
Already got enough AMEX points for eight premium economy seats, just got to decide where and when.
Might go upper-class but less trips obviously. AMEX have a new Prada card.
I’m the same as you, if you can’t afford it don’t buy it
However, I have an Amex as pre covid I travelled a lot with work etc. it gives you extra protection over debit cards
My Amex does give me a % back on stuff, which when spending a couple of k a month on expenses it added up
Also, the Amex often has offers like £5 of x spend
I have set mine up to fully pay off at the end of the month by direct debit, but usually I manually do it weekly as well to not get any surprises
Always books holidays and tickets in cc now
However, I have an Amex as pre covid I travelled a lot with work etc. it gives you extra protection over debit cards
My Amex does give me a % back on stuff, which when spending a couple of k a month on expenses it added up
Also, the Amex often has offers like £5 of x spend
I have set mine up to fully pay off at the end of the month by direct debit, but usually I manually do it weekly as well to not get any surprises
Always books holidays and tickets in cc now
Like the OP I am of the mindset of you can't afford it don't buy it. However, I buy everything I can on my credit cards. Have always paid off every month.
Currently use a Lloyds card for most purchases. Also a Barclaycard for use in our local Morrisons supermarket as that returns 1% & sometimes a special short time offer of 10% back.
Currently use a Lloyds card for most purchases. Also a Barclaycard for use in our local Morrisons supermarket as that returns 1% & sometimes a special short time offer of 10% back.
I've always had my CC set to be paid off each month directly from my current account. When I was working I used a separate CC just to help me keep track as I'd then claim back off expenses for the work stuff.
I have the same mindset as the OP, but the protection the CC gives is useful too: I once ordered some bedroom furniture and the company went bust before it was delivered. My CC refunded the money (about £1,400 I think it was) so we went and bought elsewhere and it was years later I got a letter off the administrator basically saying I'd get nothing. If I'd bought on a debit card or cash then I would have got nothing back even waiting years. They've never had any interest or other charges off me in 20+ years, though of course they get a cut on every spend I make, so I don't feel guilty.
Thanks to this thread I've had a quick look and my wife is now thinking to get a Sainsburys CC since we shop there and can get extra Nectar points (since she's buying there anyway and might as well get something out of it). I've found that I could get a Virgin CC and get their reward points for flights or holidays. Not that I'm spending huge amounts since retiring, but since most purchases are by card these days anyway, might as well get some benefit back. I suppose it depends on what/where you usually spend to maximise the advantage of any benefits, but I can't seem to find anything else that would be more useful to me so far.
I have the same mindset as the OP, but the protection the CC gives is useful too: I once ordered some bedroom furniture and the company went bust before it was delivered. My CC refunded the money (about £1,400 I think it was) so we went and bought elsewhere and it was years later I got a letter off the administrator basically saying I'd get nothing. If I'd bought on a debit card or cash then I would have got nothing back even waiting years. They've never had any interest or other charges off me in 20+ years, though of course they get a cut on every spend I make, so I don't feel guilty.
Thanks to this thread I've had a quick look and my wife is now thinking to get a Sainsburys CC since we shop there and can get extra Nectar points (since she's buying there anyway and might as well get something out of it). I've found that I could get a Virgin CC and get their reward points for flights or holidays. Not that I'm spending huge amounts since retiring, but since most purchases are by card these days anyway, might as well get some benefit back. I suppose it depends on what/where you usually spend to maximise the advantage of any benefits, but I can't seem to find anything else that would be more useful to me so far.
Worth looking at money saving expert for this sort of stuff.
I use Amex for everything and get 1% back, and also have a Santander 1-2-3 account that gives 2% back on utilities bills - I think - but the 1-2-3 monthly fee has gone up so I’m not sure it’s still worth having. I need to have a look at that.
Online I always use topcashback or quidco for anything and everything - eBay, insurances, pet food etc.
Run enough email addresses with cash back accounts linked to them and you can be a new customer every time
I use Amex for everything and get 1% back, and also have a Santander 1-2-3 account that gives 2% back on utilities bills - I think - but the 1-2-3 monthly fee has gone up so I’m not sure it’s still worth having. I need to have a look at that.
Online I always use topcashback or quidco for anything and everything - eBay, insurances, pet food etc.
Run enough email addresses with cash back accounts linked to them and you can be a new customer every time
David Beer said:
As you can see from the above post AMEX do still transfer points to virgin, just got back from LA upper class paid for with points.
Going again at Christmas to LA but saving points going premium economy.
Already got enough AMEX points for eight premium economy seats, just got to decide where and when.
Might go upper-class but less trips obviously. AMEX have a new Prada card.
How much did you need to spend to get that? And over what time? Going again at Christmas to LA but saving points going premium economy.
Already got enough AMEX points for eight premium economy seats, just got to decide where and when.
Might go upper-class but less trips obviously. AMEX have a new Prada card.
As suggested above, MSE is a good resource to look at.
Airline credit cards: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/air...
General rewards, cashback, etc: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/bes...
Airline credit cards: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/air...
General rewards, cashback, etc: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/bes...
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