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cover of episode Cash Back vs. Points: Are We Playing the Wrong Credit Card Game?

Cash Back vs. Points: Are We Playing the Wrong Credit Card Game?

2024/5/1
logo of podcast All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins

All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins

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Chris Hutchins:在积分和里程领域发生了一些变化,让我开始考虑现金返还是否更好。首先,我更深入地研究了一些信用卡,特别是美国银行优质奖励卡、美国银行Altitude Reserve卡和即将推出的Robinhood卡,后者提供所有消费3%的现金返还。其次,我观察到许多积分贬值,而现金的价值却在上升。第三,我发现可以通过多种方式获得积分,而不仅仅是通过信用卡。我发现,通过航空公司和酒店集团的积分促销,可以以低于1.5美分的价格购买积分。通过信用卡支付某些费用(例如税款、礼品卡),也可以有效地以较低的价格购买积分。拥有灵活的积分(如Chase或Amex积分)比拥有特定航空公司或酒店的积分更有价值,因为它们可以转移到多个合作伙伴。在比较信用卡积分和现金返还时,不应使用积分的最高兑换价值,因为总能找到有效购买积分的方法。如果可以随时以1美分的价格购买Chase积分,那么就没有必要再赚取Chase积分了。信用卡积分的价值取决于个人使用积分的方式和所需的积分数量。本集旨在比较专注于赚取现金返还并购买积分与专注于赚取积分的优劣。现金返还具有税收优惠、灵活性和流动性等优点。Robinhood卡目前是整体消费的最佳现金返还卡,美国银行优质奖励卡提供2.625%的现金返还,前提是您在美银或美林证券账户中拥有10万美元。Discover It卡和Freedom Flex卡每季度提供5%的现金返还,但返还类别是轮换的。亚马逊Prime卡为亚马逊和全食超市提供5%的现金返还。美国银行Altitude Reserve卡提供3%的现金返还,用于旅行和移动支付,并通过实时奖励计划提供更高的返还。Capital One Savor卡和美国银行Altitude Go卡在餐饮方面提供4%的现金返还。美国运通金卡提供4倍积分,可兑换为现金返还,如果与Schwab白金卡配对,则相当于4.4%的现金返还。美国运通白金卡和Schwab白金卡在旅行方面提供5%或5.5%的现金返还。大量信用卡提供3.5%到3%的现金返还。Abound Visa白金卡提供5%的加油返现,无上限。多张信用卡在杂货方面提供4%到6%的现金返还。Ink Cash卡和BMO现金返还卡在互联网、有线电视和电话账单方面提供5%的现金返还。我创建了一个信用卡优化工具,可以帮助用户优化信用卡策略。通过使用我的信用卡优化工具,我每年可以额外赚取500美元到800美元。大多数人只需要四张卡就能获得90%的价值。针对积分和现金返还,我分别列出了四张卡的组合。现金返还组合的年返现额为2965美元,积分组合的积分额为210652分,这意味着积分的购买价格为1.41美分。如果选择现金返还,之后需要积分,可以通过支付信用卡费用来有效地购买积分。如果选择积分,之后需要现金返还,则会损失约25%的价值。亚马逊Prime卡的现金返还率高于积分卡。在移动支付方面,使用Altitude Reserve卡比使用2倍积分卡更划算。在其他消费方面,使用Robinhood卡比使用VentureX卡更划算。最佳策略是根据个人情况,在各个消费类别中选择最优的信用卡。信用卡的欢迎奖金回报率远高于其他任何类型的回报。专注于欢迎奖金可以获得最高的回报率,但需要开设多张信用卡。与配偶一起开设信用卡可以降低开卡数量。选择合适的信用卡和开卡顺序非常重要,因为每个发卡机构和信用卡都有其特定的规则。有人在一年内开设了26张信用卡,并获得了超过200万积分。我将采用混合方法,既关注最大的欢迎奖金,也关注其他信用卡的回报。0% APR信用卡可以提高信用卡的回报率。通过使用0% APR信用卡并投资余额,可以获得更高的回报率。我的最终策略是结合使用欢迎奖金和现金返还。我计划尝试Robinhood卡,并分享使用体验。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Chris Hutchins introduces the episode and discusses his history with credit card points and miles.

Shownotes Transcript

#170: Chris makes a case for cash back in your credit card strategy based on some recent changes in the points and miles world. He goes deep on strategies for every spending category and shares his analysis of how to optimize points vs. cash back for the best ROI.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://allthehacks.com/cash-back-vs-points-credit-cards)

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All the Hacks

- Credit Card Optimization Tool v2) (w/ $10 Discount)

Credit Cards Mentioned

Overall Spend

Higher Cash Back in 1-2 Categories

Rotating Categories

Chase Freedom)®) Flex®)

Dining/Restaurants

Travel

Grocery/Supermarkets

Internet/Cable/Phone Bills

Gas

Entertainment/Streaming

Drugstores

- Chase Freedom)®) Unlimited)

- Chase Freedom)®) Flex)®)

Rent

Office Supplies

Amazon/Whole Foods

Mobile Wallet:

- U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card) + Real Time Rewards)

Resources Mentioned

Wealthfront: Get $5k managed free) & get a 0.5% APY boost)

Copilot: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2)

X (Twitter) post: Couple opened 26 credit cards in 2017 and earned 2M points)

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(01:55) Chris' Personal Points & Miles History

(02:48) 3 Big Changes to Chris' Credit Card Strategy

(04:29) How to Take Advantage of Transfer Bonuses to Book Flights

(11:49) The Basics of Cash Back

(12:50) Best Cash Back Cards for Overall Spend

(14:06) Cards for Higher Cash Back in Certain Categories

(15:11) Other Category Spend

(19:42) Best Cards for Dining

(20:40) Travel Category

(21:44) Uncapped Card for Gas

(21:56) Cards for Groceries

(22:26) Internet, Phone Bill, and Cable Category

(22:35) Chris' Revamped Card Optimization Spreadsheet

(26:35) Main Cards for Team Points Vs. Team Cash Back

(27:44) Chris' Analysis & Category Run Through

(33:42) The Biggest Takeaway on Cash Back

(36:24) Cards for Spending Categories Like Rent, Entertainment, and Office Supplies

(39:32) The Big Wrench: Welcome Bonuses

(41:58) The Points & Miles Game With Player 2

(43:14) Credit Card Issuer Rules for Welcome Bonuses

(48:03) Quick Summary and Chris’ Final Takeaway

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