The Best Reward Credit Cards and 0% Offers For Christmas Shopping
Thursday, November 6th, 2008Updated List Of The Best Christmas Credit Card Offers With Shopping Rewards and 0% APR Deals Below
Well it’s almost that time of the year again. No, not tax season – I’m talking about Christmas! For many Christians, Christmas is first and foremost a deeply religious holiday tradition that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. For the vast majority of folks though, the Christmas holiday season is all about shopping, buying gifts, and exchanging presents. The incredible compulsion to shop till you drop is so potent and all pervasive because the holiday starts so early and ends so late. Currently, the winter shopping season starts on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when retail stores unleash their tidal wave of heavily discounted sales and free giveaways to jump start the holiday shopping race. Black Friday is quickly followed by Cyber Monday, when online shoppers take to the Internet airwaves after their Black Friday shopping binges to seek out the best online shopping deals and offers. Helped along by the shopping demand of other winter holidays like Hanukkah, the cycle of Christmas bargains and shopping deals doesn’t let up until well into the new year. Even then, hardcore shoppers still continue to raid the retail outlets and department stores for leftover holiday closeout sales and bargains.
Overwhelmed by the sheer number of retail store sales, promotional discounts, and limited time offers during the Christmas shopping season, it’s no wonder the amount of money spent on Christmas presents for many far exceeds the seasonal spending rates of other holidays during the rest of the year. Whether it’s the strong social pressure to buy more and more expensive gifts for friends and family, or whether it’s the competitive aspect of obtaining that perfect gift for your child (talking Elmo, Nintendo Wii, or Playstation video game system for example), we all seem to succumb to the inevitable Christmas shopping craze in one way or another.
Take me for example. I’m ordinarily a frugal shopper throughout the year, preferring to stay conservative and disciplined in my purchase habits. However, even I tend to let go a little bit during the Christmas months. That’s why as much as I enjoy the Christmas holiday festivities along with the cheerful sights and sounds, I often secretly dread this time of the year. Despite my better judgment, I know my frugal wits are likely to be laid to waste when all is said and done due to societal gift exchanging pressures. However, it’s important not to get too carried away with our shopping exuberance, lest we risk falling into a serious financial trap when the bills come in. Like an alcoholic hang over, the actual party and festivities may be quite enjoyable, but the post game reality may be too difficult to handle if you’re not smart with your wallet and spending decisions. That’s why it’s more important than ever to hold onto your financial senses and not abandon your frugal, deal hunting ways. During this time of year, online cash back deals, shopping coupon codes, and all sorts of discounts and promos abound – and it’s important to seek them out.
Christmas Shoppers Maximize Their Money With Cash Back Rewards and 0% Credit Card Offers
Like it or not, it’s an undeniable trend that more and more consumers are utilizing the convenience and shopping incentive perks of credit cards to make their Christmas purchases. Frankly, it’s not hard to see why. Credit cards offer a higher degree of ease and convenience compared to cash. Because of online credit card tracking, it’s much easier to budget, analyze, and control your spending during the holiday season when all of your purchases are charged to your credit card. Due to the extensive fraud and unauthorized purchase protections offered by major credit card issuers, credit card purchases also tend to enjoy greater security oversight and more liberal return policies than ordinary cash purchases.
However, probably the number one reason why holiday shoppers utilize credit cards to do their Christmas shopping is to earn cash back credit card rewards and to take advantage of attractive 0% APR deals that allow them to make interest free credit card purchases for an introductory period of time. While those who struggle with credit card debt ought to stick with cash spending, those who have a good track record of responsible credit card use have the potential to save a sizable amount of money through credit card spending rewards, and enjoy a degree of financial flexibility with interest free shopping. Remember, unlike the use of balance transfers, you must actually charge purchases to your reward credit card to earn incentive rewards, and you must use it to make purchases to take advantage of any introductory 0% APR rates. Never use your credit card to request cash advances. Cash advances are almost never included in any introductory rate promotions so avoid using them.
List Of The Best Credit Card Reward Offers and 0% APR Deals For Christmas Holiday Shopping
Cash Back Reward Credit Card Offers – Whether you opt for cash back cards or credit card point rewards redeemable for gift cards, cash, and airline travel, both offer cardholders the competitive opportunity to spend and save money at the same time. Reward credit cards that offer point rewards for qualified purchases tend to offer a higher reward rate than straight cash back cards, however they often require a bit more micro managing of reward redemptions. For those of you who need to do your shopping now, you may want to take advantage of the $100-$200 gift card promotions offered by a select number of credit card issuers for new applicants – check out my compiled list of credit card sign up bonuses.
In terms of credit card reward earning potential, bear in mind that most credit cards have programs geared towards certain types of purchases (such as grocery, gas, or restaurants) with higher reward percentages for purchase made with those merchants. However, because most purchases via the Internet and or made in malls and department stores do not usually qualify for one of these special higher rebate categories, they generally must settle for the default reward rate – generally around 1%.
Here is my list of the best Christmas shopping reward credit cards (I’ve bolded the percentage rate you will most likely earn for purchases made at online stores and at most brick and mortar department stores and malls):
- Blue Cash® From American Express – Get up to 5% cash back for everyday purchases like groceries and gas, and up to 1.25% for everything else when you exceed $6,500 worth of usage. Prior to that you’ll earn 1% cashback.
- Starwood Preferred® Guest American Express Card – Get 1 point for every $1 spent, redeemable for versatile hotel and airline travel rewards. Potential to earn up to a potential 1.5% back with bonuses.
- Discover More Card – Get 5% cash back bonuses in purchase categories like department stores, travel, home improvement, gas, groceries, and restaurants, 5% to 20% cash back at retailers through Discover’s online shopping site, and 1% unlimited rewards for everything else. With Discover’s special Christmas promotion, you can get $20 back for every $200 that you spend at participating mall locations.
- Chase Freedom(SM) – Get 5% bonus cash back in popular, rotating categories like gas, groceries, airlines, home improvement and more. Earn 1% cash back on everything else with no spending tiers.
- HSBC Weekend Card – Earn 2% cash back rewards on everything you buy on Saturday and Sunday. During the rest of the week, you get 1% cash back for everything, with unlimited reward earning potential.
- HSBC Platinum Mastercard Cash Back Rewards - Earn up to a potential of 2% cash back with a limit of $400 worth of rewards, or 1% unlimited cashback on all purchases depending on qualification level.
- Capital One® No Hassle Cash(SM) Rewards Card – Get up to 2% cash back on gas and groceries, and 1% cash back on all other purchases, with no earning limit or expiration.
- Fidelity Investment Rewards Visa Signature Card – Enjoy a full 1.5% back on all purchases with no merchant restrictions. Points can be redeemed for cash and deposited into your Fidelity brokerage account.
Credit Cards That Offer 0% APR Rates For Interest Free Purchases (Ideal For Christmas Shopping)
- American Express Blue – 0% APR for purchases (up to 12 months)
- American Express Blue Cash – 0% APR for purchases (6 months)
- American Express Blue Sky – 0% APR for purchases (6 months)
- American Express Clear Card – 0% APR for purchases (12 months)
- Citi Platinum Select Card – 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and 18 months on balance transfers
- Discover More Card - 0% APR for purchases (6 months) and balance transfers (15 months)
- Discover Open Road Card - 0% APR for purchases (6 months) and balance transfers (12 months)
- Capital One Platinum Card – 0% for purchases and balance transfers (Until August 2011)
- Capital One No Hassle Cash Rewards Card – 0% for purchases (until August 2011)
- Chase Flexible Rewards Platinum Visa – 0% for purchases and balance transfers (both 12 months)
- Chase Perfect Card – 0% APR for purchases and balance transfers (both 6 months)
- Chase Platinum Visa Card – 0% APR for purchases and balance transfers (both 12 months)
- Citi Business Card - 0% APR for purchases (12 months)
- Citi Business Card With ThankYou Network – 0% APR rate for all purchases (12 months). Extra bonus offer of 10,000 ThankYou® Points after $250 in purchases, redeemable for a $100 gift card.
- HSBC Weekend Card - 0% promo rate for purchases and balance transfers (both 12 months)
- HSBC Platinum Mastercard Cash Back Rewards - 0% interest rate for purchases and balance transfers (both 12 months)


3) JetBlue Card From American Express – With the Jet Blue Airlines credit card, you earn 1 Award Dollar for every one dollar you spend with it. However, you get to earn double Award Dollars on purchases for travel, dining, entertainment, and leisure. With the conversion rate of 200 Award Dollars for 1 TrueBlue Point, and 100 TrueBlue points equating to one free round trip airline flight, cardholders can earn a free flight after spending $10,000 worth of purchases on double point category expenses. As a special signup card offer, new applicants earn an instant 50 TrueBlue points with their first purchase. The annual fee is $40.
4) Chase Travel Plus Visa Card – With the Chase Travel Plus, you can earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all purchases. Your purchase rebate miles can be redeemed for airline tickets, hotel stays, cruises and car rental rewards. You are free to decide on how you’d like to spend your loyalty credit card rewards. Your mileage rewards also enjoy no blackout date restrictions.




2) Disney Rewards Visa Card from Chase – With this cute Disney reward credit card (there are multiple designs to choose from), you earn 1% in Disney Dream Reward Dollars for all purchases. With the Disney card, you are also eligible for discounts at Disney resorts and parks like Walt Disney World and Disneyland. This card has no annual fee.
1) Capital One No Hassle Points Rewards – With this no hassle (pun very much intended), point based credit card from Capital One, you earn 2 points per dollar spent on purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, and drugstores. You also get 1 point for every dollar spent on everything else. There is no expiration date for your accrued reward points and no limit to the number of points you can earn.
2) The Chase PerfectCard – With this perfect card (another silly pun for me), you earn 6% rebates on gas purchases made at any gas station for the first 90 days. Thereafter, you still get to earn 3% reward rebates for gas. For everything else, you earn 1% back. There is no annual fee.
2) Capital One No Hassle Cash Rewards – With this Capital One cash back credit card, you earn up to 3% cash back on purchases at gas stations and grocery stores as well as a full 1% cash back on everything else. There is no limit on cash back earnings, and your rebate rewards never expire – hence the “no hassle” moniker.
The credit crisis is bumming me out. Because of the current economic recession, an important source of free money and money making opportunities has all but dried up on me and pretty much everyone else in the country. I’m talking about lucrative balance transfer credit cards – namely, the once abundant credit card terms and conditions that offered amazing 0% APR balance transfers for 12 months with no pesky balance transfer fees.
One could argue that the period of amazing credit card offers during the early part of this decade was actually a disaster in the making – the unsustainable spark that triggered an out of control credit market that would ultimately consume the entire financial investment banking sector, conclusively wiping out pillars of American investment and banking might such as Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch, Countrywide Financial, Washington Mutual, and Wachovia Bank. With the way the credit markets are now, it’s unlikely the glory days of awesome credit card offers will return anytime soon.
JP Morgan Chase bank is one of the biggest issuers of credit cards in the United States and is a dominant leader in the multi-billion dollar credit card industry. With its huge network of credit card programs, Chase competes intensely for new customers by offering incentives such as free gift certificates, frequent flyer miles, and cash back rewards. As such, Chase credit cards come in a variety of lifestyle categories and card types such as student cards, cash back cards, travel rewards, and 0% APR credit cards. Thus it’s no wonder the company is one of the most popular providers of credit cards and diversified banking services.
1) Chase Freedom (SM) – Excellent high purchase reward credit card:
2) Chase Platinum MasterCard – 0% APR for both balance transfers and purchases (12 months):
3) Chase Flexible Rewards Platinum Visa – 0% APR for both balance transfers and purchases (12 months), with flexible shopping and spending rewards:
4) Chase Platinum Visa Card – 0% APR for both balance transfers and purchases (12 months):
5) Chase Perfect MasterCard – Excellent gas credit card to earn purchase rewards:
6) Chase Business Cash Rewards – 0% APR balance transfer and interest free purchase card (12 months), with excellent rewards:
7) Chase BP Visa Rewards – Highly recommended gas reward credit card:


