Recommendations for Credit Cards?

Shoxt3r

Hi there,

We have held credit cards with both Barclaycard and Sainsburys for a little while now and I'm just weighing up if there are better options for us. I should point out from the outset that we never use the balance transfer features and we always pay the Direct Debit off in full every month.

The Barclaycard Freedom Rewards card has been pretty good, netting us about £100 a year in vouchers which we normally spend on Amazon or Argos purchases, though our spending on Amazon has greatly slowed since having a baby since we spent a lot more getting things on the Baby Wishlist using vouchers before the baby arrived and only tend to buy on Amazon for Christmas orders these days apart from maybe the odd £10 item, opting instead to buy things second-hand from local businesses and charity shops for various reasons. The Barclaycard has seen our regular point balance drop significantly since we switched to using the Sainsburys card which I'll come onto, as we are now obviously spreading our payments around between the two cards. We've had this card for approximately 8 years now.

We have been using the Sainsburys since January 2022 and only really signed up because of the 8,000 Nectar points bonus we could net, as well as being regular shoppers with Sainsburys online using our Nectar card. However, when we started using it we could get 2 points per £1 spent which is due to be reversed from 31st October (1 point for every £2 spent) which hardly seems worth it. We did notice a boost in Nectar points with every shop though and typically had a £2.50 voucher every couple of weeks or so - some of this could be related to Nectar-based point offers on products we buy though. It's difficult to calculate but based on this alone we have received around £50-60 back in vouchers from using this card over the course of the year.

I've always been pretty sceptical of credit cards anyway but we were encouraged to get one when we applied for our first mortgage just to boost our credit score, and also because it gives an added level of protection for high-value purchases. However, I'm really not sure if these cards are for us now based on the benefits received.

We rarely shop in the same shops apart from Sainsburys for the weekly shop, preferring instead to buy things in charity shops or from local, independent businesses.
I'm obviously not expecting huge rewards, especially as companies tighten up with the cost of living etc. but if anyone has any recommendations (ideally that don't cost a subscription to use) that would be much appreciated!

Average spend on our credit cards is about £1-1,500 a month and covers petrol, grocery shopping and general expenses but as I say is spread across a number of different companies.

Thanks in advance!

Lumiona

American Express platinum everyday (0.75% to 10k, 1.25% afterwards and a chase debit card (1% cashback) are pretty good returns.

Shoxt3r

Ah thanks - not so sure about the Chase card since it's only for a year but the American Express Platinum Everyday looks good. The only issue is that there seems to be restrictions on where it can be used - mainly supermarkets seem to accept it but otherwise it's a bit hit-and-miss?

jimroy

Do you have the option to switch your Barclaycard to the free Barclaycard Avios Mastercard? I've just done that in light of the two thirds reduction in Nectar points on the Sainsbury's Mastercard from the 1st November. You can convert Avios points to Nectar points. It's a cash equivalent rate of 0.8% cashback. You need to check in-app under "Cards" and 'Change to a different card' to see if you're eligible to switch. And if you are, there's no new hard credit check. You keep your existing credit limit and APR too. There's currently an Avios bonus point incentive if you switch and spend a certain amount within the first three months too. (I can't remember the details off the top of my head sorry). I remember it working out at being worth £5 in Nectar points though.

[Deleted User]

The AmEx Nectar card is supposedly still 2 points per £1 last time I looked it wasn't changed.. I am umming about closing the Sainsbury's Mastercard as I won't use it now as it's better for me to use the Lloyds cashback one and get the 0.5% cashback for this year and the weekly shop helps the £4000 annual spend to get the higher rate for next year.

The Nectar app is a boon of bonus points for stuff you already buy, just load all the offers and buy what you normally buy. They also do promotions e.g. the fruit and veg month was easy points and they are doing a Christmas one now, you just need to do 6 shops before 31/10 for a free 300 points on top of the bonus points for collecting x number of points so just means a couple of extra top-up shops for me

jbrassy

Shoxt3r said:

Ah thanks - not so sure about the Chase card since it's only for a year but the American Express Platinum Everyday looks good. The only issue is that there seems to be restrictions on where it can be used - mainly supermarkets seem to accept it but otherwise it's a bit hit-and-miss?

I think nowadays you can do 90%+ of your spending on Amex. All the supermarkets, petrol stations, national chain stores and restaurants accept Amex. The only places that typically won't accept Amex are small independent shops and restaurants, but even some of these accept it nowadays if they use an iZettle card reader. Further, when you shop online, even if the store doesn't accept Amex, it might accept PayPal in which case you can use your Amex via that. 

I would suggest getting an Amex as your main card, then having a Mastercard/Visa (Chase or Barclaycard Rewards) as a back up.

dcfc67

I have an AMEX gold,

free for first year so cancel before year is up then get other half to get one, you can add each other as a supplementary card holder.

Spend 3K in first 3 months get 20000 membership points which can be turned into Avios or nectar points. even Amazon vouchers

I used mine for Radisson Rewards and got a £260 hotel room in London for £100 worth of points.

You also bet a 10% points bonus on sign up if you are referred.

You also get lots of other benefits including money off deliveroo and now 4 free lounge passes at airports

CURRENTLY OFFER ON 30000 POINTS UNTIL 8TH NOVEMBER

Shoxt3r

Thanks for the recommendations all!
I think I'll opt either for the Amex Gold or the Amex Nectar Card. I've cancelled our Sainsburys card so once that clears in a few days I'll get the application in. I've already done a preliminary check via the MSE checker and all is well.