Comments on: Label Your Cashback Cards With Offer Terms

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 26 May 2007 07:02:18 +0000

i have the info in my excel spreadsheet that i track my budget. i’ve thought about writing the info on the card, but decided that the extra step of checking before i use is a built in spending alarm. plus, i keep track of points on my budget spreadsheet, so i can see which card i need to use to get the cash back check. In reality, though, it seems that my cards all have the same benefits, so i don’t need to keep track of everything. all the 0% BT cards are never used, b/c they are maxed out. 0% purchase cards are only used for major purchases.

the 0% purchase cards are a bit dangerous. i realized that i was using them to buy everything rather than paying normal expenses from my debit card. i was a little unsettled by the final payment amount, despite it being 0%. what’s the problem with doing this since it is 0%? the problem is the big fat payout you have to make and how easy it is to get a high balance very quickly.

By: Posco

Posco — Fri, 25 May 2007 23:40:50 +0000

My credit cards that have “0% until 1/1/2008″ are usually 0% for balance transfer or cash advance ONLY, not for purchases. So those cards aren’t even in my wallet!
Instead, I have the offer expiration date listed in Microsoft Money, where I keep track of all my accounts. There, I have a constant reminder that I need to fully pay the card before 1/1/2008.

By: Blaine Moore (First Time Home Owner)

Blaine Moore (First Time Home Owner) — Fri, 25 May 2007 19:10:05 +0000

I label my cards, but not because I have them in my wallet. I like to know of any promotional rates that are in effect and when they end, despite the fact that I don’t make use of those promotions. Most of the cards just sit unused in my safe.

By: Punny Money

Punny Money — Fri, 25 May 2007 18:39:19 +0000

All my credit cards are similarly labeled. I have five in my regular wallet rotation and another half-dozen or so on standby for various purchase categories, so I’d be lost without the labels.

I do wish I had a better option for the ever-changing Discover rewards since they’re different every three months AND they’re often specific to certain stores (like 5% at Lowes but not at Home Depot). Maybe they could program their cards with little LCD screens that display the current reward.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:30:55 +0000

lol. i do the same thing.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:26:35 +0000

I do something similar with my debit cards – I have two debit cards that are identical except for the card number. One is from my joint checking, the other from my personal checking. I only use my personal checking card for things that are for me only, or when I buy gifts I for my wife and I don’t want to ruin the surprise. I sue my joint debit card for everything else. To differentiate them, I wrote “PERSONAL” amd “JOINT” on the front with a sharpie.

Labeling rewards cards with specifics is also a good way to maximize returns. Nice post!