Needle in the Hay Stack: Picking the Right Credit Card

If you’re a Gen-Z within the Gen-Z demographics, it’s likely you just got your first credit card, you have a couple (if you’re ahead of the pack) or you’ve never had one.

And, chances are that you’ve been warned against the use of them completely (referencing a guy named Dave Ramsey) or you’ve been encouraged to get one for the points.

Either way, you might be confused as to whether or not you should have one (here is a post running through that decision making process), and if you do decide to get one, you may be confused as to which one to get.

Well let’s try to make this a little easier.

The following is a list of categories and what card fits the said category.

*One note before we get into it: never ever ever ever ever carry credit card debt (this means pay off your statement balance every month)

Best Card for Students

• Discover It Student Cash Back card

• Chase Freedom Unlimited card

• Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards card

*it’s best to not get a card with an annual fee as a student b/c you probably don’t spend enough

Best Card for General Travel (not specific to one airline or hotel)

• Chase Sapphire Preferred card (annual fee of $95)

• Capital One Venture Rewards card (annual fee of $95)

• Chase Freedom Unlimited card

*I prefer cards without annual fees, but if you travel enough then it may be worth it

Best Card for General Spending

• Capital One Venture Rewards card (annual fee of $95)

• Blue Cash Everyday card from American Express 

• Citi Double Cash card

Random Other Card

• Amazon Signature Visa (5% back on Amazon purchases)

*If you tend to travel with one airline (United, Delta, American, Southwest, etc.) or you stay at one hotel brand (Hilton, Marriot, etc.) then you are probably better off just getting their card and stacking up the miles/points.