This Was My Biggest Credit Card Mistake When I Reached Good Credit

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Not doing my homework cost me a lot of money.

Like a lot of people, I didn't have much knowledge of credit cards when I started using them. I understood the basics of how credit cards work and how credit card debt is bad, but that was about it.

Still, after less than two years, I reached a good credit score. I had been using my starter card from my bank with a $500 credit limit, and I paid on time every month. With better credit and a higher-paying job, I figured I'd open a new credit card.

That's when I made a big mistake, and it also happens to be a very common one. Instead of shopping around for my next card, I called my bank and got the first card it offered me. Although this may not seem like an issue, it ended up being an expensive error.

How choosing the wrong card cost me money

I was happy with my bank, so I assumed it made sense to get another one of its credit cards. After all, I was already a client. So, I gave them a call, applied for a card over the phone, and got approved.

This was in 2011, and my new card had no annual fee and earned 1% back on purchases. Rewards were redeemable for cash back or products in the card issuer's rewards mall. I was thrilled and had dreams of one day turning my points into a TV. (Fortunately, I later discovered that this isn't a great way to use credit card points before I made the redemption.)

What I didn't realize was that other rewards credit cards were offering much more value. Had I done some research, I would've seen that my card was lacking:

• A sign-up bonus: Many cards start you off with at least $150 for spending $500 in the first three months. The best sign-up bonuses can be worth significantly more. I didn't get any sort of introductory bonus.
• Bonus categories: I wasn't earning extra points on dining, travel, groceries, or any other spending categories where card issuers often have bonus rewards. My card earned the same rate on all my spending.
• A competitive rate on purchases: For cards that don't have bonus categories, 1.5% has become the standard flat rate. I missed out on quite a bit of rewards because I was only earning 1%.

And here's where it gets worse -- I stuck with this credit card for five years.

That's a long time to earn subpar rewards and not get any sign-up bonuses. The credit card marketplace was different back then, but there were still much better rewards cards available.

For example, I could've gotten the and earned big grocery rewards. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was also around at that time and was offering valuable travel points.

Don’t pick a credit card you'll regret

Having good credit opens the door to all kinds of rewards card offers. If you pick a subpar credit card, you're not taking full advantage of your credit score.

This is a credit card mistake that happens to many consumers, and it's not always as obvious as it was in my case. Sometimes people apply for store cards with limited rewards they can only use at that store when they'd be better off with a cash back credit card. And there are those who apply for specific airline or hotel cards instead of more versatile travel credit cards.

Here are a few important lessons about selecting a credit card that you can learn from what I did wrong:

• You don't need to be loyal to your bank: A great bank won't always have great credit cards. Even if your bank does offer respectable credit card options, you should still be open to other card issuers.
• Always compare your options: I would have never chosen a credit card that earned a flat 1% back had I known there were cards that earned so much more. But since I didn't compare cards, I missed out.
• Check out credit card offers at least once per year: You don't need to apply for new credit cards this often, but you should know what's out there. If you keep an eye on what's available, you may spot a more valuable card than what you currently have. I spent years with a mediocre card just because I never considered any alternatives.

Choosing the wrong credit card isn't as disastrous as, say, racking up $10,000 in credit card debt. But it can cost you, and you may not even realize the potential rewards you're leaving on the table. Before you apply for a new card, it's a good idea to take your time and make sure you've found one that works best for you.