Card | Cheaper Gas & Electricity Bills

March 9, 2010

Is a Gas Rebate Credit Card a Good Deal?

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: card, Credit, Deal, Good, Rebate — admin @ 6:56 pm

Gas prices are still high by anyone’s definition. In these times of recession we’re all looking foe ways to cut the cost of filling our tank. You may have recently received a promotion offering a gas rebate credit card, and you’re wondering if this might be a good opportunity.

Gas rebate cards are the province of credit card companies and branded gas retailers. There are a number of ways these cards are better than conventional credit cards.

Lower interest rates. Lenient approval standards. Savings on every purchase of gas. Discounts on auto maintenance and repairs.

If your credit has been damaged and you’re looking for a chance to repair it, these cards offer you a good option. They’re also helpful if you are striving to develop a timely payment history.

While gas rebate cards offer you a real value, you’re not going to save a fortune. However, if you’re realistic, these gas rebate cards are beneficial.

There are many gas rebate cards on the market. You’ll need to research in order to find the one ideal for you.

Signing up always results in big rewards – Those rewards get smaller with time. Some gas rebate cards are brand-specific. The biggest rebates come from buying a certain brand name gasoline. Other cards can be used to purchase almost anything, with the rewards exclusive to gasoline. It is best to be thoroughly familiar with the restrictions and expectations of your particular card.

Your gasoline rebates are not automatic. You will have to request rebates in a manner similar to using bonus points with other credit cards.

Always familiarize yourself with your particular cards limits and restrictions. Some gasoline rebate credit cards will limit the amount of rebates you can receive in any given year.

Remember, as well, that the terms and limits of any credit card can change (read it in the fine print) often and, sometimes, without notice. For these reasons, try to go with a reputable credit card issuer or a familiar brand name. There’s no guarantee this precaution will save you problems, but better the devil you know than the one you do not.

Many gasoline companies have started offering gas rebate cards. They are useful for keeping your gas bill and other car expenses in control. Chintamani Abhyankar tells you what to expect from such cards in this article.

Comments (0)

February 27, 2010

3 Terrific Reasons to Apply for a Gas Rebate Credit Card

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: Apply, card, Credit, Reasons, Rebate, Terrific — admin @ 5:50 am

It’s no secret to anyone that credit has become a big part of how the modern people of today manage their finances and streamline their budgets. However, with credit becoming more and more of an essential, credit providers are naturally finding it necessary to become more creative when it comes to the incentives they’re willing to offer consumers in exchange for choosing their program over their competitor’s. With gas prices continually on the rise, one of the most popular options when it comes to credit has quickly become the gas rebate card – a terrific way to manage your expenses and lower your gas bill at the same time.

1. Help take the edge off of today’s hefty gas prices.

This is probably the most obvious reason to think about filling out a gas rebate credit card application, but it’s also the most important. With gas prices continually on the rise and economic woes at an all time high as well, who would even dream of saying no to an opportunity to earn cash back on gas purchases…no questions asked? Thanks to these lifesaving cards, more and more people are finding a way to make ends meet a little more easily, and they’re doing it simply by using their credit the way they normally do – to manage their everyday finances and budget.

2. Enjoy a higher reward rate in comparison to similar rewards cards.

This is especially so when it comes to the introductory rates that come attached to some of the most popular and trusted gas rebate credit cards. The usual rate of return on your gas purchases is around 3% which can definitely add up to huge savings over time. However, some introductory rates can offer you savings of up to double that as a special welcome to new customers. Before signing on the dotted line once and for all, shop around a little and figure out which of the cards available to you will offer you a savings opportunity that will help get things off on the right foot.

3. They let you enjoy the benefits of your rewards sooner rather than later.

With many rewards cards or cash back credit cards, you don’t actually get to enjoy the fruits of your decision to sign up in the first place until you’ve been spending on your account for an entire year. However, with a gas rebate credit card, you see a check each and every month which can be much more helpful when it comes to managing bills you need to pay right now, as opposed to at the end of the year. Many consumers – especially those that deal with long commutes – can shell out hundreds of dollars in gas costs a month. Gas rebate credit companies understand that you need the relief of your rebate sooner rather than later.

If you’re still using a typical run of the mill credit card when you could be using a gas rebate credit card, then you’re literally losing money that you could be putting toward your monthly expenses. Isn’t it time you started getting the most out of your credit at long last?

Comments (0)

January 7, 2010

How a Gas Rebate Credit Card Could Actually Cost More

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: Actually, card, Cost, Could, Credit, More, Rebate — admin @ 10:46 pm

With gas prices still very high, people want to save some money at the pump. Gas rebate credit cards are becoming a very popular alternative. The average gas rebate credit card can save you up to five percent on gas purchases. If you’re not careful with your credit card use, a gas station credit card could make you pay more for your gas.

Misleading Gas Credit Card Applications

Before applying for any credit card, read the terms and conditions. Most gas credit cards claim high cash back percentages, but there is usually a catch. Here are some examples:

• cash rebates limited to one gas station company

• high cash rebates only during an introductory period of usually 6 to 12 months

• a monthly or annual limit on how much cash back you can earn

• a tier structure with varying cash back percentages depending on spending

The credit card companies are very careful with their marketing wording. A cash back percentage is usually quoted as ‘up to 5% cash back’. Once they say ‘up to’, you know you won’t get that high cash back all the time. So know what you are applying for to prevent disappointment.

Keeping a Balance Will Blow Your Cash Rebates

With any credit card, if you only make the minimum payment and keep a balance, you will pay interest charges. Over time these interest charges could cost a lot more than any cash rebates you earn. Try to only use your credit card as much as you can afford to pay off next month. This can be difficult to adjust to for some people. Suddenly they are paying for everything with their credit card to earn more cash back. Meanwhile it seems as if their bank account is unaffected. This could lead to impulsive spending. Before they know it, their bank account is empty and a big credit card bill shows up. Then the interest charges add up. This is how credit card companies can afford to offer cash back. Ideally you should keep track of your credit card spending and keep that much cash aside as money already spent.

Gas Rebate Credit Cards Offering Rewards Other Than Cash Back

If you are trying to save money with a gas credit card, choose your credit card rewards carefully. You could earn airline rewards on your gasoline purchases, but they cost more money in the end. Airline rewards would likely only cover a portion of you or your family’s airline tickets. Then factor in vacation expenses and lost wages. Other gas station reward credit cards offer gift certificates. Again it usually only covers part of the purchase and it is something you wouldn’t normally buy. To really save with gas credit cards, apply for a gas credit card that offers cash rebates as checks or statement credit.

Why Are Gas Rebate Credit Cards Still So Popular?

Gas prices are a major economic factor. We hear about gas price fluctuation in the news. The credit card companies are aware of this concern. Nearly every gas station company has its own credit card and many of them are heavily marketed. Despite some reward limitations, many of these gas rebate credit cards are very good deals.

If you spend a lot of money on gasoline, a gas rebate credit card can get you the cheapest gas prices. A gas rebate credit card used responsibly could save hundreds on dollars off your gas bill each year. Ensure you are familiar with your credit card rewards program details though. Pay off your credit card each month and avoid interest charges. Compare credit card offers carefully and read the fine print.

Compare the best gas station credit card, then apply for a gas card online today and start saving. Also click for more low interest credit card application information.

Comments (0)

December 17, 2009

Cut your gas bill with the help of your credit card

Filed under: Cheaper Utility bills — Tags: Bill, card, Credit, help — admin @ 8:58 pm

With the price of gas seemingly going up by the day, motoring is becoming an expensive pastime. What you may not know, however, is that you can cut the cost of gas with the help of a credit card. Any old card won’t do, though. What you need is a gas rebate credit card.

As the name suggests, these cards repay a portion of your total spending on gas. The proportion is typically 4 or 5 per cent, though some cards offer higher percentages (up to 10 per cent) during the introductory period. The money will normally be credited to your account by the end of the month concerned, though you may have to wait until you have accrued a certain amount – say $20 – before you can redeem it.

Many gas rebate credit cards offer rebates only for certain brands, and some can only be used at specific locations. This is excellent for people who regularly use the same gas station to fill up, but may not be so good if you are the sort of person who likes to shop around for the cheapest fuel, or if your job regularly takes you many miles from home. Likewise, if you are running low on gas, looking for somewhere that will accept your particular credit card can be tedious. Fortunately, however, there is a growing number of cards that can be used at any outlet, with any brand of gas.

Another advantage of gas rebate credit cards is that they will often give you cashback on your other purchases as well, albeit at a lower rate. For example, you might get 5 per cent cashback on your gas purchases, and 1 per cent on any other purchases made with the card.

Gas rebate credit cards are becoming increasingly popular with drivers who want to reduce their motoring costs. This is especially true if you drive a truck or SUV with high fuel consumption, or if your job involves a lot of driving.

Most card issuers pay back the customer in the form of a credit to their account, but some offer gift certificates or other rewards. In some cases you are given a choice. The rewards on offer will have a greater monetary value than the cash rebate, so if you genuinely need the items concerned you may be better off accepting the rewards.

Finally, it’s important to shop around before you buy a gas rebate credit card and read the small print carefully. Work out your typical annual spend on gas, and then see which card’s terms will offer the most advantageous deal for you. One thing to watch for is that many cards impose an upper limit for the top rate of cashback. The Discover® Platinum Gas Card, for example, pays back 5% on your first $1,200 in gas purchases every year, but after that the rate falls to a less exciting 0.25 to 0.50 per cent.

Nick Davis is the owner of http://www.finest-credit-cards.com , which aims to match you up with the ideal credit card to suit your situation. The site has an entire section devoted to gas rebate credit cards. You can view this at http://www.finest-credit-cards.com/categories/gas .

Comments (0)