The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A new credit card for rewards
Editor’s note:
This article was written by Nick Cole and
originally appeared on Clark.com.
After years without a change, money expert Clark Howard has added a new credit card to his wallet. For years, Clark has recommended the Citi Double Cash card to readers and listeners.
And now he has one so he can earn 2% cash back (1% when he buys, 1% when he pays) on everyday purchases. Until the summer of 2020, Clark relied on just four credit cards for his personal use: Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi; Sam’s Club Mastercard; Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card; and British Airways Visa Signature Card.
But with the financial changes caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Clark decided to make a shift in his longstanding personal credit card strategy. Here are a few of the reasons he decided to add the Double Cash to his wallet:
A change in travel habits
Loyal readers and listeners know that Clark is an avid traveler. But like many of the rest of us, Clark is staying home while the nation weathers the coronavirus. That means he’s not traveling nearly enough to justify half of the credit cards in his wallet being geared toward travel rewards. “I am a travel nut, so I’ve always put a special emphasis on cards that earned me points,” Clark said. “But I’m not going anywhere right now.”
2% return on everyday purchases
The Citi Double Cash card offers up to 2% cash back on all purchases with no spending limit or category requirements — and no annual fee. You get 1% cash back when you make a purchase, and you earn an additional 1% cash back when you pay your bill on that balance. Once you accumulate $25 in rewards, you can redeem them for a statement credit or get a check in the mail.
His situation will stay the same
Just as he’d advise each of us to do, Clark has taken inventory of how he anticipates spending money in the age of the coronavirus. Spoiler: It’s no longer on traveling.
For now, Clark anticipates making more purchases from home. And the Citi Double Cash offers a reliable, steady cash back amount that he can count on as his new method for reaping rewards.