Selecting the Right Credit Card for Holiday Purchases

We are in the thick of the holiday “hustle and bustle” and all we see is a sea of red and green – especially green, as in cha-ching!

If you plan on sliding the little plastic card to pay for your holiday purchases, here are some important things to keep in mind.  Check for interest rates and read into them, make sure you understand the terms of lower ones vs higher ones.  Sometimes the incentives outweigh a higher interest rate so be sure to check for any offered, such as cash back all year long and not just at the holidays.  It is a great way to get some money back while shopping!

For example, this Chase Freedom Review points out the sign up bonus of $200 cash back as long as you spend $500 in the first 3 months!  In essence you get almost half of what you spend on purchases back!

It also gives 5% in various categories each quarter up to $1500.  Through 12/31/11, you get 5% back on $1500 spent on dining, department stores, movie theatres and charitable organizations.  Every 3 months, you will enjoy 5% categories such as grocery stores, home improvement stores, gas etc.

As if that wasn’t enough, the Chase Freedom also provides unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases with no limits on what can be earned; 10% cash back when you shop online at selected stores through Chase!

Cashback rewards NEVER expire and there is no annual fee.  Be sure to opt-in to the Chase Freedom Reward program every quarter.  You will be notified ahead of time and even if you forget and remember later, the opt-in is retroactive so you still get incentive if you missed out on one month!

Chase Freedom is definitely one of the better credit cards to look into because of all they offer but no matter which card you end up going with, be sure you spend responsibly!  Happy Shopping!