While inflation has put a lot of pressure on household budgets, food and energy costs—including gasoline and fuel—tend to be more volatile than other expenses. Most of my friends have children, so groceries constitute a significant pain point in their budgets.
For that, I recommend the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees) for its rich rewards rates. You’ll earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit on Amazon.com at checkout.
The main catch is that the U.S. supermarket category doesn’t include popular retailers like Walmart and Target or wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club. Additionally, the rewards rate is capped at $6,000 in annual spending. But even if you spend more than that, you’d earn $360 in rewards by maxing out the spending cap.
While the card charges a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95, the bonus rewards on eligible grocery spending are enough to cover that nearly fourfold.
And that’s not even mentioning the card’s other features, including a decent welcome bonus and a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers requested within the first 60 days of account opening, followed by a variable APR of 19.24%-29.99% variable. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies. The card also offers up to $84 in monthly statement credits each year when you use your card to pay for an eligible Disney Bundle subscription (enrollment required).
Featured Partner Offer
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Up to 6% Reward Rate
Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%); Earn 6% cashRead More
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
Regular APR
19.24%-29.99% Variable
Credit Score
Excellent/Good (700 – 749)
Editorial Review
Big spenders at US supermarkets and road warriors who frequently spend at US gas stations or transit like taxis, rideshares or transit can rack up impressive cash back rewards.
Pros & Cons
- High cash-back rewards in several categories of spending
- No enrollment is required, cash back is automatic
- Comes with several travel benefits and protections
- Charges an annual fee
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets is capped at $6,000 in annual spending (then 1%)
Card Details
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% – 29.99%.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit on Amazon.com at checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Terms Apply.
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