If you don't currently take advantage of credit card rewards, the holidays are a great time to start. This is the time of year when you will likely be spending the most money and credit card companies that are eager for new business are currently offering the most generous promotions I've seen in more than a half a decade.
The two most generous rewards offers presently available come from Chase and Discover. Both companies are offering a $100 cashback bonus to new customers. However, there are two key differences between these cards. The first is relevant if you know you will need a few months to repay your holiday purchases. With the Discover offer, you get a 0% introductory rate for six months on new purchases. This provides you time to pay off your credit card without paying interest.
While the Chase cashback offer doesn't come with a 0% interest rate, it does allow you to earn 5% cash back at grocery and department stores on up to $1500 in purchases. If you take full advantage of this, you can earn an extra $75 on top of the $100 sign up bonus.
Although these two offers are the most generous available, they may not be best for everybody, particularly if you think you will need more than six months to pay off your holiday expenses. If you are in this situation, your best bet is to find a credit card that offers rewards and a 0% APR for 12 months so you have enough time to pay off your credit card before the regular interest rate kicks in.
Below I have put together my top reward credit card picks for the holidays. All of these offers can put a little extra money in your pocket and some can also help you save money on interest.
