What is the best way for Rhonda to determine which credit card rewards program is right for her?
With over 1,000 different credit cards to choose from, this task can be quite daunting. That said, the first step is to visit a reputable Web site that compares different credit card options. Cardratings.com and bankrate.com are two companies that make it easy to compare different credit card options across many scopes. Secondly, look for credit cards with the lowest Annual Percentage Rate (APR) versus the best rewards program if you think you may be carrying a balance. Finally, if a rewards program is what is most important, try to seek out a credit card with cash back rewards. The rules for earning and redeeming cash rewards are usually much simpler than those for redeeming merchandise or airline tickets. Keep in mind that with many rewards programs, you are ultimately spending more on a particular item than it is actually worth. For example, a $300 camera may actually cost you $400 in points, and many airlines rewards have blackout dates or allocate very few seats to free flyers (on
