Beware: The Best Cash Back Credit Card Offer May Disappear Before You Can Apply

The Best Cash Back Credit Card: Don’t Wait Too Long

If I’m considering a certain card, I’ll do my best to wait around for a limited time offer but I generally won’t wait forever. The bonuses on some of these cards are constantly fluctuating but they are hard to predict.

So if you see a card that you like with a bonus that is suitable for your needs, don’t wait. There’s the chance that points could get devalued and be worth slightly less when you get them and it’s better to secure the points now in case the bonus actually goes down. You may not ever find the best cash back credit card and you will just have to settle for what looks good.

Summer Time Limited Offers

A lot of credit card companies like to use the summer as a time to release limited time offers. So this is an especially good time to stay vigilant for new offers. Here are a few examples of common summer time limited time offers for the best cash reward credit card:

• Amex: Normally increases the bonus on its Starwood Preferred Guest card from 25,000 to 30,000 points every summer. 30,000 points might not seem like a whole lot but Starwood has over 30 airline transfer partners and you can get up to 5 cents per point in value when redeeming at Starwood properties across the world.
• Chase: Although they have a wide variety of cards, Chase likes to raise the bonus on its entry level Freedom card towards the beginning of the summer. This is a great card for beginners because there’s no annual fee and it doesn’t require an extensive credit history.
• Barclaycard: Lufthansa and Barclaycard normally offer a sign-up bonus of just 20,000 miles on the Miles & More card but during the summer, it’s gone as high as 50,000 miles. Lufthansa is a member of the Star Alliance so you can redeem these points on United Airlines and not pay any fuel surcharge fees.

Limited Time Offers Aren’t The Best For Newbies

A lot of newbie credit card churners might be lured in by great limited time offers but remember that these cards often have the highest credit standards and spend requirements. If you’re just getting into the miles and points game, you should start with a more entry level card like the Chase Freedom or the Citi Thank You Card. These cards won’t offer bonuses in the 50,000 point range but you can still get a good limited time offer and get your credit headed in the right direction.