When applying for credit cards, the excitement of a high sign-up bonus often can be overshadowed by a high spending requirement. Not all consumers can reach minimum spending requirements within a few months, so they end up not applying for the most lucrative travel credit cards. Luckily, there are plenty of cards out there with great benefits and low minimum spending requirements.
Chase Freedom
Chase Freedom is a cash-back credit card. The card offers 5 percent back on purchases in rotating categories plus 1 percent back on all other purchases. The cap for the 5 percent is set at $1,500 every quarter, so the rewards are somewhat limited. However, there’s no annual fee and the minimum spending requirement is just $500 in the first three months after opening an account.
Chase Freedom is a great starter card for those looking to boost their credit score. Because the annual fee is $0, it’s also a nice card to keep in your wallet year after year to increase the average age of credit. The best part is, the card comes with a sign-up bonus of $150 after meeting the minimum spending requirement.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Unlimited is another cash-back card issued by JPMorgan Chase. This card earns a flat 1.5 percent back on all purchases, no matter what. There are no rotating categories to keep track of and no reward caps.
As with the previously mentioned credit card, there’s no annual fee, and the minimum spending requirement is also low. The card offers a welcome bonus of $150 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from the account opening date. It is possible to earn another $25 after adding an authorized user. The most attractive feature of this card is the simple rewards earning structure, and they are on par with many cash-back cards on the market.
Amex EveryDay Credit Card from American Express
Amex EveryDay Credit Card from American Express is another contender for those looking for decent rewards and a low spending requirement. This card earns 2x points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (capped at $6,000 annually) and 1x point per dollar spent on all other purchases. A 20-percent bonus is added to statements with 20 or more transactions.
The card offers a welcome bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months. Although the spending requirement is a bit higher than on Chase’s cards, Amex EveryDay Card is not simply a cash-back card. MR points can be transferred to a variety of travel partners, including airlines and hotels—all for no annual fee.
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Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express
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$0 first year
$0 after first year |
Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. Read Review » |
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Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express |
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Hilton HHonors Card from American Express
The no-annual fee Hilton HHonors Card from American Express comes with a sign-up bonus of 50,000 HHonors Points after spending just $750 in purchases on the card within the first three months of card membership. Members can use the sign-up bonus to book 10 nights at a Category 1 hotel, five nights at a Category 2 hotel or one night at a Category 5-9 hotel.
The card earns 7x Hilton HHonors Points per dollar spent at Hilton properties and comes with complimentary Silver status. A low minimum spending requirement and no annual fee makes this hotel card a no-brainer.
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Hilton HHonors™ Card from American Express
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$0 first year
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Earn 50,000 Hilton HHonors(TM) Bonus Points After you spend $750 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Read Review » |
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Hilton HHonors™ Card from American Express |
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Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card is an airline credit card that offers 30,000 bonus Mileage Plan miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening an account. The card earns 3x miles per dollar spent with Alaska Airlines and 1x mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Although the annual fee of $75 is not waived, the card also comes with an annual companion certificate for just $121. It allows passengers to buy an additional ticket for a friend or family member for just $99 plus tax. This alone can potentially save members hundreds of dollars.
Alaska underwent multiple changes in the last couple of months, and its award chart has a few sweet spots, including distance-based domestic flights or stopovers on international awards. Mileage Plan is a great airline program for earning miles.