Explore the Advantages of These Four Credit Card Perks You Can't Afford to Ignore
In the face of rising costs due to trade war impacts, finding the right credit card can help offset these increasing expenses. Here's a guide to help you make the most of your purchases.
Firstly, focus on cards offering high-value sign-up bonuses and credits that help offset these costs. The American Express Platinum card, for instance, offers 175,000 Membership Rewards points and multiple travel and shopping credits totaling over $400 annually. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, on the other hand, provides 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points, a $500 cash bonus, and travel credits. Both cards have high annual fees, but their perks can offset these costs.
Secondly, look for cards with category bonuses on purchases likely to be affected by tariffs and inflation, such as groceries, electronics, and travel. The Chase Sapphire Preferred, for example, offers increased points (3x) on dining and groceries, and 5x on travel booked through Chase Travel.
Thirdly, use cards that provide benefits linked to international travel costs. Visa Signature and Infinite cards, for instance, offer complimentary data roaming plans, helping reduce international expenses that might increase due to tariffs or trade tensions.
Fourthly, monitor cashback deal sites and exclusive promotions to maximize savings on everyday purchases. Apply the credit card with the best rewards in that spending category.
Lastly, regularly check updated lists and reviews from reliable sources like NerdWallet and Credit Karma, which track the best credit card offers, bonuses, and reward structures relevant for 2025.
Beyond cashback and points, credit cards may offer other money-saving perks. For instance, some Visa credit cards provide a benefit from GigSky, offering international data services in over 170 countries. Additionally, certain cards provide insurance for a lost or damaged cell phone if the wireless bill is paid with the card.
It's also important to check whether your credit cards offer benefits such as auto rental insurance, trip delay insurance, and cell phone insurance. The American Express Platinum and Gold cards, Capital One Venture and Venture X, and Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve, for example, offer auto rental insurance for theft and accidental damage, and some provide trip delay insurance that can provide compensation for food and accommodations during airline delays and cancellations.
In summary, seek credit cards that combine large sign-up bonuses, category-specific rewards on tariffs-impact-prone goods (groceries, electronics, travel), and valuable credits or perks that help offset the upward pressure on prices as the trade war evolves. Combining these strategies will maximize your savings and rewards on rising-cost purchases.
For more information on deals for various categories, including credit cards, refer to Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, which has assessed deals for investments, groceries, electronics, clothing, cars, travel, and credit card perks, with a focus on products and services most prone to rising prices due to the trade war.
A personal wallet might include credit cards offering sign-up bonuses and categories bonuses, such as the American Express Platinum card and Chase Sapphire Preferred, to help manage rising finance costs in the context of trade war impacts. It's also beneficial to look for cards offering international travel benefits, such as data roaming plans, to save on expenses during trips abroad.
