Originally posted by PlatoSVT:
Allright, long as we're on topic here, here's my issue. I want to start building some good credit. I've already been working on it for a few years with small, introductory credit cards, utility paynments, car loan, etc. I want to get a credit card that can start helping me out with rewards and such. I'd like to get one of those cards that puts the change left over from each purchase into a High-Yield Savings Account. Should I just find one and apply, or should I check my credit first? If I check first, won't that hurt my credit just a bit, which could be enough to not get accepted? Are there other, better rewards credit cards that I should be looking to as a college student? Should I look to going through USAA for my future military purposes? Just lookin' for some opinions here.



Checking your own credit report does nothing at all to your score. You can check it every single day if you'd like.

Check it first before applying if you'd like, but it's not going to help you get accepted at all, or even give you an idea of your chances.

As for what reward card is best for you -- it's purely up to you. Some people travel a lot, so it makes sense to get the air mile cards (be aware these almost always have annual fees and significantly higher interest), or if you travel by car, a gas card that saves $0.10/gallon. The 'change left over' cards are nice, but be aware that they all have caps on what you can save -- usually around $300/year. So it's not quite as cool as it might seem. I'd max-out the reward limit on those cards in just a couple months. Cards like Citi Dividend and Discover probably give the most cash-back on everything you buy, but the percentage is very small. It takes quite a lot of purchasing to add up to much and they usually only ket you 'cash-out' your rewards when they add up to a high amount. I doubt as a college student you spend enough to get significant amounts of rewards from any company. A gas card with its' immediate rewards on gas savings, rather than having to save-up, might provide the most immediate benefits to you.

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