With rising gas prices, it makes sense that more credit card companies are offering gas rebates and discounts for using their credit card. But are they worth their rewards? And how can you choose the one that fits your life? Knowing yourself When youre first looking at a gas credit card, you probably feel that youre spending too much on gas. But if youre not spending a lot on gas because your car is fuel-efficient or you just dont drive all that mucha gas card might not be the best choice for you. While most people need gas for one thing or another, if thats the only bonus youre receiving from the card, and you dont really need it, then you may want to look for other bonuses. What do you have to do? With a gas credit card, you generally have to spend so many dollars in order to build up an account of money that can then be used to purchase gas. But the items that you buy might be restricted, so youll want to be sure that you arent spending most of your money on things that wont count toward the actual gas rebates. How much are you getting? Just like cash back cards, you want to see if the actual rebate is going to be worth the use of the card. If youre only getting a few dollars for every hundred that you spend, it might not be the best value for you. This is especially true when you have a larger gas tank that needs to be filled more often. Make sure that its worth your while. You dont want to have a credit card that doesnt pay off as well as you had hoped. Where can you use it? What a lot of people dont realize is that some gas credit cards can only be used at certain gas stations. If the station is regional and you travel a lot, you might not be in town to redeem your rebate. Check with the card to see where your gas credits can be redeemed for your convenience. With a gas credit card, you can help yourself with gas prices as you buy the things that you need. And to make sure that youre getting the most fuel for your finances, be sure to ask your self the previous questions. |