Fuel and credit cards

[qwerty]

I spend a lot of money on fuel (as I know we all do, these daze). What is the best program, group, or company to do business with that reward fuel savings. For instance, I think Wal-Mart has a card where you save 2.9 cents a gallon?

Also, non-fuel wise, is it possible to save/make money with a credit card if you pay the principle off every month, there will be no interest charge? I understand I would have to shop for a card with no monthly or yearly fees. What credit cards do you recommend, and why?

I like pinching

In search of wisdom from the wise,
Qwerty

 

[asa42]

not sure why i chose to read this, i dont drive & dont have a credit card.

when i did carry a card paying the full balance when it came was very helpful. i'm considerin getting a prepaid credit card.

 

[Dan42nepa]

Why not use a debit/check cashing card? I got rid of all my credit cards a few years ago because I would charge and NOT pay off the monthly balance.
My bank doesnt charge for debit card usage and i reconcile my checking account online so I dont over draw.

 

[Guest]

While not relating specifically to fuel, I find that I like those 6mos no interest. If theres no annual fee I sign up for 'em. I charge everything to it, and earn interest in an etrade savings if about 5.05% for the free account. This is compounded monthly. When you put everything on it and let it sit in a high yield savings it adds up.

Folks have warned me about overextending myself, but I see it as building credit, because once my 6 months are up, the balance is 0, and stays that way, and I have plenty of emergency funds available for bribes.

So making money by paying it off? I pay one dollar more than minimum that way its checked on the credit report as "paid more than minimum" for the monthlies.

Theres no shortage of these offers runnin round these days, just make sure you don't get the annual fee shaft, because with my limits and my spending habits I cant sock away to offset 'em.

This is a pretty dangerous system for someone that tends to spend money they don't have.

 

[qwerty]

Why not use a debit/check cashing card? I got rid of all my credit cards a few years ago because I would charge and NOT pay off the monthly balance.
My bank doesnt charge for debit card usage and i reconcile my checking account online so I dont over draw.

I have been using one of these for 7 years.

You can't make/save money with these.

 

[qwerty]

Very interesting, Sgt.

 

[Verite]

You arent going to make/save on any credit plan. The name of the game is building credit without incurring fees. For that you need to use the card. Pay off the balance and you avoid interest fees and still build up credit. Dont have more than 1-2 primary cards and 1-2 backup cards and always pay them off. Dont use cards that charge yearly fees.

If your card company doesnt increase your max credit or lower your interest in 12 months call them up and ask them to. Odds are if they dont have a reason to say no and they cant find one they will do small boosts.

Imo gas cards that rope you into one station dont save you even with a 2.9c a gal discount. Shopping around your area for whos got the best price can probably save you more than 2.9c a gallon.
http://www.gasbuddy.com/

When the time counts you'll wish you started the road to good credit early.. cause theres times when you wont be able to avoid paying interest like on a car or a house loan.. thats when the diff between good and bad credit mean saving big $$ to not being able to even qualify for the loan.

 

[Fat Albert]

When the time counts you'll wish you started the road to good credit early.. cause theres times when you wont be able to avoid paying interest like on a car or a house loan.. thats when the diff between good and bad credit mean saving big $$ to not being able to even qualify for the loan.

How true....I'm fixing my credit history after years of reckless behavior....once you find out that you can't even get a Radio Shack Battery Club Card unless you have good credit, you want to start fixing it right away....

Cheers!
Fat A

 

[qwerty]

You arent going to make/save on any credit plan. The name of the game is building credit without incurring fees. For that you need to use the card. Pay off the balance and you avoid interest fees and still build up credit. Dont have more than 1-2 primary cards and 1-2 backup cards and always pay them off. Dont use cards that charge yearly fees.

If your card company doesnt increase your max credit or lower your interest in 12 months call them up and ask them to. Odds are if they dont have a reason to say no and they cant find one they will do small boosts.

Imo gas cards that rope you into one station dont save you even with a 2.9c a gal discount. Shopping around your area for whos got the best price can probably save you more than 2.9c a gallon.
http://www.gasbuddy.com/

When the time counts you'll wish you started the road to good credit early.. cause theres times when you wont be able to avoid paying interest like on a car or a house loan.. thats when the diff between good and bad credit mean saving big $$ to not being able to even qualify for the loan.

Verite,

Thank you for replying. Yes, I indeed need to build my credit. Thanks for the pointers. And for the gasbuddy link.

I am starting to get in the game as a small lender myself. I am interested on deals CC companies offer, such as 3% cash back. That is how I was wondering I could possibly save a dollar.

 

[Dan42nepa]

I have been using one of these for 7 years.

You can't make/save money with these.

I dont understand what you mean by in for life? This is a debit card which withdraws directly from my checking account with no fee. Its not really a credit card.

 

[qwerty]

How true....I'm fixing my credit history after years of reckless behavior....once you find out that you can't even get a Radio Shack Battery Club Card unless you have good credit, you want to start fixing it right away....

Cheers!
Fat A

Indeed. I will be needing a somewhat large loan in about 5 years.

 

[qwerty]

Also, nobody else has an opinion on gas? What gas cards do the big corporations use?

 

[Dan42nepa]

the corporation i worked for didnt use gas cards. Just corporate credit cards you could use anywhere.

 

[JJScorpio]

The average American spends nearly 10 percent of their earned money on interest. I try to avoid it at all costs. It's tough buying a car or house with cash, but most things people buy could be saved for and paid for in cash.