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

by Lyle Daly | Jan. 27, 2021

The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation.

A man sitting on a couch and holding a credit card in one hand and a phone in the other.

Image source: Getty Images

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 every purchase. 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 every purchase: 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 Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express 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.

Top credit card wipes out interest until 2022

If you have credit card debt, transferring it to this top balance transfer card can allow you to pay 0% interest for a whopping 18 months! That’s one reason our experts rate this card as a top pick to help get control of your debt. It’ll allow you to pay 0% interest on both balance transfers and new purchases until 2022, and you’ll pay no annual fee. Read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

About the Author

Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly icon-button-linkedin-2x icon-button-twitter-2x

Lyle is a writer specializing in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. His work has also appeared on MSN Money, USA Today, and Yahoo! Finance.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.

The Motley Fool has a Disclosure Policy. The Author and/or The Motley Fool may have an interest in companies mentioned.

The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation.

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