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With Black Friday in full swing, your credit card is bound to get a workout. But choosing the right kind of credit card could help you get even more bang for your buck when you’re snatching bargains.
So in the spirit of the sales, here’s a rundown of the credit card features you can use to get more points or save on costs during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, plus what to watch out for.
The best Black Friday cards are those that offer some combination of strong rewards, a valuable welcome offer, or a helpful intro APR on purchases. Choose your credit score below and click Show cards to compare some of our favorite picks for Black Friday.
Here’s an example of some possible earnings you could generate this Black Friday using the Chase Freedom Flex℠.
Purchase total | Cash back earned | |
---|---|---|
Walmart purchases | $1,000 | $50 |
Purchases made through Paypal | $500 | $25 |
Amazon purchases | $500 | $5 |
Welcome offer | (Earned for spending $500) | $200 |
Total | $2,000 | $280 |
By making purchases around the card’s rewards categories for that quarter, you can earn nearly $300 back from $2,000 in spending. And as an extra cherry on top, the Chase Freedom Flex℠comes with a 0% intro purchase APR for 15 months, giving you plenty of time to pay off those Black Friday purchases, interest free.
The Chase Freedom Flexâ„ also offers other reward categories that will prove useful heading into the winter holidays, including dining, travel and (for new cardholders) groceries. So this is a rewards card that will keep paying off well past Black Friday.
There are many credit cards to choose from, but certain ones are especially well suited for Black Friday shopping.
Getting a credit card is the first step. Once you’ve received yours, use these tips to get the most out of it.
On the downside, you typically have to monitor price changes in the items you buy. If you don’t want to do this, consider services like Paribus and Earny. They’ll monitor price changes for you and liaise with retailers to get you refunds.
Also, look for extended warranties, where your credit card provider may repair or replace your purchase after your product’s original warranty expires.
Before starting your Black Friday spending in earnest, consider setting a budget. You may want to cap your spending at a level you can pay off within your card’s interest grace period. Or, you might choose to pay off your purchases within a few months and pay a bit of interest. Whatever you choose, it’s helpful to have a limit in mind so you can use your credit card responsibly.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when choosing a Black Friday credit card. Depending on your financial situation and financial needs, consider the following:
To make sure you get your card on time for Black Friday sales, apply at least one month prior.
Most credit card applications are made online and usually take up to 15 minutes. In some cases, the card company may require additional information and it could take up to 10 days to get approval. Once approved, expect your credit card to arrive in up to 10 business days.
You have a variety of credit card options to choose for your Black Friday shopping spree, including rewards credit cards, 0% intro APR credit cards and store credit cards. Whichever card you choose, make sure you can pay off your balance on time to avoid accruing interest.
If you still haven’t found the right card for you, compare your credit card options to find a card that best fits your needs.
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