The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: MountainLakeMama on March 27, 2021, 07:40:40 AM
-
I am just getting started. Where do I find the best CC to start "churning?" I'm skeptical of online searches because I don't know how affiliate links work.
-
There are tons of resources out there. Here is one. https://www.thesimpledollar.com/
We looked into it and decided that actively churning to maximize cash rewards was not worth the trouble us. Instead we looked for cards that best fit with our needs and lifestyle. For example, we like to take long road trips and we almost always stay at a particular motel chain, so we got their rewards credit card. We got a $300 sign up bonus and some other perks and use it all the time.
-
One resource that doesn't have affiliate links for credit cards is www.doctorofcredit.com
There are beginners guides on both Doctor of Credit (DoC) and The Points Guy. (Note that the Points Guy makes millions on affiliate links but still contains good info.) DoC also has a spreadsheet that shows most credit cards with their current signing offer and historically signing offer.
-
One resource that doesn't have affiliate links for credit cards is www.doctorofcredit.com
There are beginners guides on both Doctor of Credit (DoC) and The Points Guy. (Note that the Points Guy makes millions on affiliate links but still contains good info.) DoC also has a spreadsheet that shows most credit cards with their current signing offer and historically signing offer.
I'll reiterate Doctor of Credit as an excellent and unbiased source.
Credit card affiliate fees are easily $50-$100+ so most websites will push the cards with the best affiliate fees. Now if a website gives you a lot of good information that you find valuable, why not click on their affiliate link. It doesn't cost you anything, and they make a few bucks for providing you valuable content.
Most credit card rewards come down to sign-up bonuses ($200 if you spend $3k in the first three months for instance) or ongoing rewards based on your spending (3% on restaurants, 2% on travel, 1% on everything else, etc.). This is complicated by the annual fees some of the cards with better rewards charge.
-
The Frugalwoods just posted about this on their blog. Lots of good info there, too.
-
I'd add the churning subreddit (http://www.reddit.com/r/churning/) to the list. It's focused on sign up bonuses, not ongoing rewards. The links in the subreddit sidebar provide a very good overview for beginners. I'd especially recommend starting with:
- Beginner's Chase guide for folks under 5/24 (https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/9sgpmk/beginners_chase_guide_for_folks_under_524_v_20/) (if you don't know what this means, you should definitely read it)
- Miles vs points, what are they? (https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/74hghz/miles_vs_points_what_are_they/)
- Credit card recommendation flowchart (https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/kaeycv/credit_card_recommendation_flowchart_neverending/)
-
Couple of Mustachians run this site.
Many of us got a strong churning start through their course
https://www.travelmiles101.com/
-
Thank you so much everyone! I'm going to read everything. I have a lot to learn :)
-
Couple of Mustachians run this site.
Many of us got a strong churning start through their course
https://www.travelmiles101.com/
This is where you should start. They are awesome and have a Facebook group. I have been to Hawaii for three weeks for $63 thanks to the knowledge learned from this site.
-
Best sign up bonuses at the moment:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/best-current-credit-card-sign-bonuses/
But do your reading first.