Tom
Beta Return
I believe half a percent is .005%, so it would take $5000 in spending to break even. For example, if I want to figure out sales tax in my state, which is 7%, I multiply the price by .07, that would make 1% = .01 and a half percent = .005.
You're right. That's what I get for trying to answer and do math at 11:30pm. On the Disney Visa CC, it's 1% (or .01, or a penny per dollar spent). With the Debit Card, it's .5% (or .005, or a penny per two dollars spent).
Somehow, we racked up our 25 pts in no time this year. Lots of bills (insurance payments, cable, Christmas purchases, etc).
The bottom line is that this card is only a decent deal for someone with terrible credit who can't get a credit card with better rewards.
....or, for those of us who have Credit Scores in the 700's, but prefer to eliminate a line of revolving credit from our record AND simplify the process by just having it deduct money from checking right away rather than putting it on CC, then paying another bill.
Credit cards are actually better for your credit score. Assuming you're using the cards the same way (paying off your balance in full each month), the credit card has the definite advantage. In that case, the fee increases are irrelevant.
They're better only if you keep a low balance and have a low credit limit. Disney keeps increasing our limit and it's VERY high right now. We're going to be calling soon to have it cut in half, actually. But, when you have a mortgage, home equity loan, 2 cars and student loans - having a CC on your report does more damage than good.