I like these cards. I use these cards. The rewards are unparalleled in my opinion. I could make an awesome pitch on how great these cards are, but every time I try, I have to change the post because Amex changes the rules of what I can and can not say.
So I’ll just leave you with this information:
The USDA says that the average couple spends around $7165 a year on groceries (get the latest numbers here). Saving 3% of the USDA average would be $215 and 6% of the USDA average would be $430.
Go get the Amex Blue Everyday or the Amex Blue Preferred card.
And here are the other details:
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
• Earn 100 Reward Dollars after you make $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of Cardmembership.
• Get 3% cash back at U.S. stand-alone supermarkets, 2% cash back on gasoline at U.S. stand-alone gas stations and select major department stores; 1% cash back on other purchases.
• The first $6,000 of purchases at U.S. stand-alone supermarkets in a calendar year qualifies for 3% cash back; 1% thereafter.
• Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. Cash back is earned only on eligible purchases.
• Simple and Straightforward: With the Blue Cash Everyday Card, you can start earning cash back. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
• No annual fee, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months. After that, your APR will be a variable rate, currently 12.99%-21.99% with flexibility to pay over time.
• Terms and Restrictions Apply.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• Earn 150 Reward Dollars after you make $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of Cardmembership.
• Get 6% cash back at U.S. stand-alone supermarkets, 3% cash back on gasoline at U.S. stand-alone gas stations and select major department stores; 1% cash back on other purchases.
• Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. Cash back is earned only on eligible purchases.
• The first $6,000 of purchases at U.S. stand-alone supermarkets in a calendar year qualifies for 6% cash back; 1% thereafter.
• Simple and Straightforward: With the Blue Cash Preferred Card, you can start earning cash back. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
• Terms and Restrictions Apply.
The AmEx Blue preferred is well worth it, especially if you have a family. I use this as my main card along with the Chase Freedom. Between the two we save roughly 3-4% average across all purchases.
Even with the $75 fee, it’s well worth the cost.
I forgot to mention the best part. Each month you can withdraw the cash rewards. Unlike the Costco AmEx, where you have to wait until the end of the year.
Thanks Tom, that’s valuable feedback… and quick too.
I think I am grandfathered in, because my AMEX Blue Cash card gives me 1% on everyday purchases and 0.5% on everything else up to $6,500. Everyday purchases are classified as grocery (not superstores), drugstores and gas. After spending $6,500, it is 5% on everyday and 1% on everything else. And no annual fee.
I manage to get some work expenses on there once in a while that I get reimbursed for, so my annual spending on the card is significant. With what I spend in gas and groceries and drugstores, it is a nice bonus every few months.
Tom is right about the cash back anytime. That is a recent change. I used to have to wait until my anniversary date.
Personally, I like to keep it simple. I have only two cards: One that gives 1.5% on everything that I use for most epenses, and a Discover that I use for my child’s day care (it’s the only kind of card they accept). I refuse to deal with rotating categories and I couldn’t get my wife to remember which card she is supposed to be using at which kind of store if I tried. And that’s assuming that the amalgamation of farmers markets, produce stands, traditional grocery stores, past-date grocery stores, and superstores (grocery + general merchandise) were all coded as “grocery stores.”
I agree Steve – I like to keep it simple also. That’s why I use the Amex everywhere, and the occasional place that doesn’t take it I have a backup cash back Visa that I use. No rotating categories…just 5% off the places I spend the most money for no annual fee.
I could definitely take advantage of this card as I spend enough to get that bonus. Now I just need some motivation to actually get one. Hmmmm