I was looking at the best cards to earn the maximum points and not having to pay through the nose for annual fees and keeping in mind other privileges etc (insurances, free flights, etc). Of course this is subjective and depends on one's spending habits and assumes groceries and petrol are the major expenses.
QFF Amex
The David Jones Amex Card gives 2.25 points per dollar at major supermarkets and petrol stations for a modest $99 annual fee. They have a signup bonus of 22,500 QFF points currently.
Velocity Amex
The Amex Platinum Edge Card gives 3 reward points at major supermarkets and 2 reward points at petrol stations (1 reward point = 1 velocity point) hence 3 or 2 velocity points per dollar. The annual fee is not bad at $195 p.a but this does include a free return airfare every year so it could be worth it + it has the usual suite of platinum insurances.
I'm currently not spending enough on credit cards to justify a card with annual fees etc and have just applied for an ANZ Rewards Platinum (1.33 velocity points per dollar and fee free for the first year) but has dismal rewards on the Visa. I am not eligible for the Citibank Signature card (1 velocity point for a dollar, fee free for life is good though).
I was wondering which other cards there have decent rewards a Visa/MC ?
Spending Strategies
1) How do you use utlise your arsenal of cards ? Is this the 'best' way
Purchases < 100 + Paywave available - ING (since that 2% is better than the points redemption - via gift cards at least)
Other purchases or no paywave - Rewards card
Overseas purchases and withdrawals - Citibank Plus Debit Card
2) For cards that give the maximum points for spends in supermarkets, can I buy say JB Hifi gift cards from Woolies/Coles to get the highest tier of rewards since using the card at JB Hifi directly won't give me the maximum points ? Are gift cards included at supermarkets included ?
I'm relatively new to credit cards and hoping to learn the best ways ! Thank you !
I'm not too up to date on the best rewards currently, to compare the points though, you will need to select a common way to translate each reward programs points.
For example, my flybuys are worth 0.5% to me and my QFF are worth 0.67% to me (based on redemption via gift card as you highlighted) So when I use my Coles Mastercard (2 flybuys/$) I take 1%. When I use my ANZ FF Black AMEX (1.5 QFF / $) I take 1%. So regardless of points, same reward, except it's harder to use an AMEX everywhere.
If big savings on groceries and petrol are what you want, for Woolies at least, get an entertainment book, use the online ordering for eWishgiftcards (take about 4-10 hours to arrive in your inbox), to save your 5%. Pay using your rewards card so you still get the points (Pretty sure they take AMEX). When you shop at WOW group, use your EDR card to collect a few extra QFF points.
Also, buying a jb-hifi gift card for example does get EDR rewards points, but WOW group ones do not (as they are loaded with money, not purchased as such) if that's what you meant by your question about gift cards.