Cash Back On Everything You Buy Can Add Up

Summary: Cash back credit cards can generate some substantial savings. That can add up over time.

Maybe it isn't so bad to be broke while in college, I hear that's what you're supposed to be. None the less, I still feel like maybe something is out of place when 8 year olds have better cell phones than I do and spend more in Dairy Queen than I do in a grocery store. I find myself yearning for more cash in my pocket. Actually that's a lie. I'm yearning for any cash in my pocket. I've thought of a few ways to acquire said cash, but the problem is most of them involved working more. Call me lazy but I feel like holding three jobs is enough already. That leaves me with two possibilities. Get real good at gambling real fast, or get a cash back credit card. Seeing as how I can't lose as much money with the cash back card, I'm leaning towards it. Though I bet if I defaulted on enough payments it would be pretty pricey for me, but I get to keep my knee-caps intact. Besides, Vegas is a long way from here and I don't have a Flyer Miles card either. But I digress. Cash back cards work pretty simply. The customer spends money, and gets some percentage of it back. The typical return rate on such a card is 1% on most purchases, and 5% on selected purchases. What the selected purchases are depends on the card. Some offer the 5% for things you buy from the company's partners. Many are targeted at gas station purchases, supermarket purchases, or drugstore purchases. It varies, and its best to buy according to your own tastes. Think of how much money you spend in a month. Rent, phone bills, internet bills, television bills, utilities, groceries, gas. Let's say your rent is $500 a month. Phone is another $25. Internet, $25, cable, $25, $100 on utilities, $200 for food, and $125 for gas. So we'll pretend that your bills add up to $1,000 per month, disregarding a vehicle, car insurance, your membership to that one website, yes that one, etc. If you had the minimum cash back percentage, over one year, just on these bills that are probably much smaller than anything in the real world, you could receive $120 back only for using a particular credit card. Odds are you use one already, so what is there to lose? And the main reason for getting a cash back card is, of course, the cash. Although you will probably never actually see the cash, you will receive a check or credit to your card and not have to endure the embarrassment of paying for your date's dinner with a gift card. I could go on for pages with scenarios showing how much a person could benefit from a cash back card. Or I could save my fingers and your eyes and not do that. Instead I may just apply for one. I recommend you do the same if you are also made fun of by small children with bikes that cost more than your car. Or if, you know, you just want some more cash. Either or.