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_posts/2025-02-05-Military-credit-cards.md

@@ -1,3 +1,14 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "Credit Card Recommendations for Military Service Members"
+author: "Kyle Gorak"
+date: "2025/02/05"
+output:
+html_document:
+keep_md: true
+comments: True
+tags: [Army, Military, Credit Card, Credit]
+---
 # Credit Card Recommendations for Military Service Members
 
 The audience for this is active duty military service members. Although many recommendations have nothing to do with
@@ -6,15 +17,13 @@ attempt to keep this strictly about credit cards, however, some credit cards do
 relationship as well.
 
 **If you have poor financial responsibility and would ever charge an amount to a credit card without the ability
-to pay off the credit card in full by its due date, do not apply for and use credit cards.** Credit cards can be a
-phenomenal tool for building credit, receiving additional benefits, and receiving cash back on purchases you are already
-planning on making and can pay for in full but can also land you in serious debt that could take years to overcome.
+to pay off the credit card in full by its due date, do not apply for or use credit cards.** 
 
 
 ## Before applying to a new credit card:
 
 1) Ask your coworkers for a referral; typically you both will benefit from a referral. There are **no** referral links
-   in this post. Do not post referral links in comments, they will not be approved.
+   in this post. I only highlight primary category benefits of each card. Benefits are all subject to change. 
 
 2) Be cognisant of credit inquiries, credit card company
    [application restrictions](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/credit-card-application-restrictions/), and timeline
@@ -36,13 +45,13 @@ planning on making and can pay for in full but can also land you in serious debt
 
 ## Getting Started with an "Everything" Card
 
-At the very least, you should be getting a minimum of 2% cashback on all purchases with your credit card. There are many
+At the very least, you should be getting a *minimum* of 2% cashback on all purchases with your credit card. There are many
 ways to earn higher than 2%, but many require additional steps. For example, with the
 [Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards](https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/products/unlimited-cash-back-credit-card/),
-you can earn 1.5% at baseline, however, if you have \$100,000 in a Merrill Lynch brokerage account you can earn a 75%
+you earn 1.5% at baseline, however, if you have \$100,000 in a Merrill Lynch brokerage account you can earn a 75%
 bonus through [Preferred Rewards](https://promotions.bankofamerica.com/preferredrewards/en) resulting in 2.62% cashback
 on all purchases. Similarly, the [U.S Bank Smartly Visa Signature](https://www.usbank.com/credit-cards/bank-smartly-visa-signature-credit-card.html) offers to 4% cashback on everything with \$100,000 in a U.S Bank Brokerage/Savings account. The new [Robinhood Gold Card](https://robinhood.com/creditcard/) earns 3% cashback on all purchases,
-but requires a RobinHood Gold subscription (\$5/mo). Below are the "no-hoops" 2% cashback credit cards. 
+but requires a RobinHood Gold subscription (\$5/mo or $50/yr). Below are a couple recommended "no-hoops" 2% cashback credit cards. 
 
 1) [Citi Double Cash](https://wwww.citi.com/credit-cards/citi-double-cash-credit-card): 2% cashback
 
@@ -51,7 +60,7 @@ but requires a RobinHood Gold subscription (\$5/mo). Below are the "no-hoops" 2%
 ## Restaurants
 
 1) [Chase Sapphire Reserve](https://creditcards.chase.com/rewards-credit-cards/sapphire/reserve): 3x points (50% bonus
-   on all Chase points when redeemed through the Chase Travel Portal so effectively 4.5x points), \$300 travel credit.
+   on all Chase points when redeemed through the Chase Travel Portal so effectively 4.5x points).
 
 2) [American Express Gold Card](https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/credit-cards/credit-intel/gold-card-rewards-points/):
    4x points on up to \$50,000/yr, 4x points on up to $25,000/yr on groceries, \$120 dining credit, \$10/mo Uber credit,
@@ -60,14 +69,14 @@ but requires a RobinHood Gold subscription (\$5/mo). Below are the "no-hoops" 2%
 ## Online Purchases
 
 1) [Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards](https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/products/cash-back-credit-card/)
-   3% on up to \$2500/quarter. Bank of
+   3% on up to \$2,500/quarter. Bank of
    America [Preferred Rewards](https://promotions.bankofamerica.com/preferredrewards/en) increases the cashback to 5.25%
    if you have \$100,000 in an IRA or brokerage in a Merrill Lynch account.
 
 2) [Chase Prime Visa](https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Visa/dp/BT00LN946S): 5% at Amazon
 
 3) [Amex Blue Cash Everyday](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/blue-cash-everyday/): 3% on up to
-   \$6000/yr
+   \$6,000/yr
 
 ## Travel
 
@@ -77,9 +86,9 @@ but requires a RobinHood Gold subscription (\$5/mo). Below are the "no-hoops" 2%
 2) [Chase Sapphire Reserve](https://creditcards.chase.com/rewards-credit-cards/sapphire/reserve): 5x points on airline
    purchases through Chase Travel portal, 50% point bonus (for all Chase cards) when redeemed for travel in the Chase
    Travel portal, Priority Pass, Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge access (note: if you have multiple credit cards with a
-   Global Entry credit, you can use the other credits on other people)
+   Global Entry credit, you can use the additional credits on other people)
 
-3) Airline Specific with Lounge Access (and other benefits):
+3) Airline Specific (lounge access):
 
    - Delta:
    [Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/delta-skymiles-reserve-american-express-card/)
@@ -106,27 +115,25 @@ but requires a RobinHood Gold subscription (\$5/mo). Below are the "no-hoops" 2%
 ## Grocery Shopping
 
 1) [American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/blue-cash-preferred/):
-   6% cashback on up to \$6,000/yr, 6% cashback on select streaming subscriptions, 3% cashback on gas.
+   6% cashback on up to \$6,000/yr.
 
 2) [American Express Gold Card](https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/credit-cards/credit-intel/gold-card-rewards-points/):
-   4x points on up to \$25,000/yr, 4x points on up to $50,000/yr at restaurants, \$120 dining credit, \$10/mo Uber
-   credit, \$100 Resy Credit, \$7/mo Dunkin' Donuts Credit
+   4x points on up to \$25,000/yr.
 
 ## Gas
 
 1) [PenFed Platinum Rewards](https://www.penfed.org/credit-cards/platinum-rewards-visa): 5x points on gas and EV
    charging
 
 2) [American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/blue-cash-preferred/):
-   3% cashback, 6% cashback on up to \$6,000 in grocery store purchases, and 6% cashback on select streaming
-   subscriptions.
+   3% cashback.
 
 ## Rotating Categories
 
 1) [Discover It](https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/cash-back/it-card.html): 5% cashback on quarterly category. These
    categories include grocery, Amazon/Target/Walmart, PayPal, restaurants, etc.
 
-2) [Chase Freedom Flex](https://creditcards.chase.com/cash-back-credit-cards/freedom/flex): 5x points (7.5x with
+2) [Chase Freedom Flex](https://creditcards.chase.com/cash-back-credit-cards/freedom/flex): 5x points (effective 7.5x with
    Chase Sapphire Reserve) on quarterly category
 
 3) [Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards](https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/products/cash-back-credit-card/)
@@ -152,7 +159,7 @@ but requires a RobinHood Gold subscription (\$5/mo). Below are the "no-hoops" 2%
 2) Having many credit cards does not mean you will have poor credit (the *number of open accounts* is a small factor
    relative to others when your credit score is calculated. *Credit inquiries* are a predominately temporary impact to
    your credit score. If you are anticipating taking out a loan, especially a mortgage, you should avoid necessary
-   credit inquiries for several months prior to applying). I have close to 30 active credit cards and over an 800
+   credit inquiries for several months prior to applying). I have nearly 30 active credit cards and over an 800
    credit score across each credit bureaus.
 
 3) Paying with a credit card is *always* safer than paying with cash or a debit card due to the liability and