I began my bank card rewards journey with the Uncover it® Money Again Credit score Card over 10 years in the past.
On the time, it was an ideal match for my spending habits — till I noticed I may very well be incomes a better reward charge for certainly one of my greatest bills: groceries.
The knowledge for the Uncover it Money Again has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
This led me to pivot to the Blue Money Most well-liked® Card from American Categorical, which turned my major card for practically all of my bills for a number of years.
In 2024, I lastly added the American Categorical® Gold Card to my rotation in order that I might begin incomes factors on U.S. grocery store purchases along with the money again* I used to be getting from the Blue Money Most well-liked.
*Money again is obtained within the type of Reward {Dollars} that may be redeemed as an announcement credit score and at Amazon.com checkout.
At current, each playing cards function my grocery retailer go-tos.
You is perhaps questioning why I would have a couple of card for a single bonus class, however there is a technique to the insanity right here. Let’s get into it.
Associated: Foolproof methods to maximise rewards on grocery purchasing
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2 playing cards, 2 totally different reward currencies
For a lot of, cash-back playing cards really feel extra approachable than factors and miles merchandise. This was true for me, which is without doubt one of the explanation why I opted for the Uncover it card as a school pupil.
Although I’ve graduated to extra premium merchandise, I nonetheless have not settled on only one grocery card.
I’ve thought-about downgrading my Blue Money Most well-liked card to an Amex product with no annual payment, however the worth I get from it, each in cash-back* rewards and assertion credit, all the time stops me.
Alternatively, my Amex Gold earns Membership Rewards factors, which I really like as a result of I can switch them to companions like Delta SkyMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership.
Each of those playing cards shine in numerous bonus classes, however their grocery incomes charges are unbeatable:
| Amex Gold | Blue Money Most well-liked |
|---|---|
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Once I used the Blue Money Most well-liked as my fundamental card, I simply earned greater than $500 in cash-back* rewards every year.
Now that almost all of my grocery purchases get charged to my Amex Gold, I nonetheless earn at the very least $200 money again* yearly with my Blue Money Most well-liked — greater than double the cardboard’s $95 annual payment (see charges and costs). Observe that the cardboard has an introductory $0 annual payment for the primary 12 months.
I’ve determined to unfold my grocery purchasing throughout two totally different playing cards as a result of diversifying the reward forex you earn is the important thing to a robust card technique.
*Money again is obtained within the type of Reward {Dollars} that may be redeemed as an announcement credit score and at Amazon.com checkout.
Associated: The perfect time to use for these fashionable American Categorical playing cards based mostly on provide historical past
How I store good for meals and factors
As for the way I divvy up my grocery purchasing, my method is easy.
As a result of I’ve had my Blue Money Most well-liked for thus lengthy, and 15% of your general credit score rating is tied to the size of your credit score historical past, I ensure to maintain this account open and in good standing.
I sometimes hit the grocery retailer two to 3 occasions every month.
One journey is to top off on pantry and fridge necessities like meat, produce, nuts, milk and eggs. The second and third journeys are to restock smaller objects like seasonings which are operating low, and particular elements if I am testing a brand new recipe.
My Amex Gold covers the dearer objects, like meat, produce and dairy merchandise, whereas I exploit my Blue Money Most well-liked for smaller purchases. This setup helps me use my spending to earn the cardboard reward forex I worth most, whereas nonetheless netting me money again and serving to me hold an outdated account open.
Associated: The entire information to American Categorical Membership Rewards
Each playing cards are workhorses for netting assertion credit
Along with beneficiant reward charges on grocery purchases, each playing cards additionally characteristic assertion credit I incessantly use.
The Amex Gold and Blue Money Most well-liked work additional time to web me assertion credit and factors and money again.
We have gone over the grocery reward charges on every card, however each additionally provide varied forms of credit that I exploit repeatedly. These embody:
| Amex Gold | Blue Money Most well-liked |
|---|---|
Enrollment is required for choose advantages. |
Legitimate for U.S. web sites solely; enrollment is required. |
The Blue Money Most well-liked’s up-to-$120 streaming credit score is sufficient to fully offset the cardboard’s annual payment.
If you happen to subscribe to any of the eligible streaming platforms coated by it, you primarily get entry to the cardboard and its perks for gratis — and that is earlier than you make the most of different elevated incomes charges featured on this card.
Backside line
Having two playing cards that earn elevated reward charges in a particular class is probably not perfect for everybody, but it surely works nicely for me.
Searching for a method to earn a couple of sort of reward forex in your greatest bills? Contemplate my two-card method.
If you happen to choose to stay with one card, there are a few nice choices, however my prime suggestions are the Amex Gold and the Blue Money Most well-liked. If you happen to choose a no-annual-fee choice that earns elevated rewards on grocery retailer purchases, think about the Capital One Savor Money Rewards Credit score Card.
And bear in mind, you’ll be able to apply this technique to any class you incessantly spend in — whether or not it is groceries, transit purchases, fuel fill-ups or eating. Tailoring your card technique to your particular person spending patterns is a good way to accrue worthwhile bank card rewards.
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluate of the Amex Blue Money Most well-liked and our full evaluate of the Amex Gold Card.
Associated: Earn rewards on a finances with these no-annual-fee card methods
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Blue Money Most well-liked, click on right here.
