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Use credit card rewards to help your love life — here’s how to do it
Love is priceless, but the right credit card helps too.
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Best for dinner and a show
Savor® Rewards from Capital One®
Earn 4% cashback rewards on all your dining out and entertainment expenses.
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Best credit card for VIP access
Platinum Card® by American Express
Great for earning extra points on flights and hotels, the best part of this card are the VIP perks — Uber, Coachella, Wimbledon, and more.
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Best for buying an engagement ring
QuickSilver® from Capital One®
A 0% introductory APR, plus a $150 cashback bonus make this card a great option for paying down a big purchase.
See Details
By Hannah L. Rounds
Match and eharmony may have changed how 21st century couples meet, but a healthy love life still depends on spending time together. The thing is though, these dates often cost money. And when you’re on a budget, or simply looking to up your date night game, the right credit card can give you a much-needed boost.
SEE ALSO: The best dating sites to find a connection this weekend
What credit card is the best for your love life? It all depends on your goals. Looking to earn rewards for a night on the town? There’s a credit card for that. Want to book a romantic getaway using hotel points or miles? You can find a credit card for that, too. Credit cards even offer perks that can help you book impossible dinner reservations or exclusive experiences.
Not sure what the best credit card is for your love life? We’ve rounded up the eight best credit cards for every stage of your relationship.
Best credit card for VIP access
Image: american express
The Good
$200 worth of Uber ride credits each year • 60,000 point sign up bonus when you spend $5,000 on the card in the first three months • $200 in statement credits for airline expenses like checked bags or in-flight purchases • 5 points for every dollar spent on flights when booked through American Express Travel • 5 points for every dollar spent on prepaid travel when booked through American Express Travel
The Bad
Yearly fee of $550 per year
The Bottom Line
If you and your love have VIP tastes and a VIP budget, The Platinum Card will help you find winning experiences. Plus it’s great for earning extra points on flights and hotels.
1. Platinum Card® by American Express
Great for earning extra points on flights and hotels, the best part of this card are the VIP perks — Uber, Coachella, Wimbledon, and more.
- Pricing:
Card must be paid in full each month. No foreign transaction fees. Late fee up to $38.
Want to wow your special someone with a peak experience? Credit card perks like exclusive seats (paid for with credit card reward points) may be the ticket to your date’s heart.
Several brands including Chase, Citi, and American Express offer rewards cards that include perks like discounts on entertainment, preferred seating, and more to cardholders. But the Platinum Card® by American Express will help you dazzle a lover with a once in a lifetime experience.
People who hold the Platinum Card are eligible for American Express’s “By Invitation Only” experience passes. With this access you can buy VIP access to Coachella, or seats at center court for the Wimbledon tennis tournament. More perks? Cardholders get $200 worth of Uber ride credits each year (perfect for transporting your date) and a 60,000 point sign up bonus when you spend $5,000 on the card in the first three months. You’ll also get statement credits for airline expenses like checked bags or in-flight purchase, not to mention access to The American Express Global Lounge Connection.
Best for wine country
Image: capital one
The Good
Earn 20,000 sign up bonus points (worth $200) when you spend $1,000 in your first three months • No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees • Earn 10 points for every dollar you spend on select hotels
The Bad
Interest rates on the card can soar to nearly 25% • Cashback rewards on everyday spending are low (1.25 points per dollar spent) • Capital One decides whether the card is a Visa Signature card (whch comes with the wine country perks) or just a typical Visa card
The Bottom Line
When nothing sounds better than a getaway to Sonoma, the VentureOne card is the best card for you. You’ll know you’re saving money on your tastings while you bond with the one you love.
2. VentureOne® from Capital One®
Find huge discounts at over 50 wineries around Sonoma County and pay no annual fee.
- Pricing:
0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months that your account is open. After that, rates increase to 14.24-24.24% 3% balance transfer fee Up to $38 late payment fee.
Imagine sipping wine and strolling through a Sonoma vineyard on a romantic getaway. If a tour through wine country sounds like the perfect way to spark your love life, the VentureOne® from Capital One® may be a great choice for you. In many cases, when you receive a VentureOne credit card with more than a $5,000 limit you’ll be eligible for Visa Signature benefits.
What does that mean for oenophiles and their romantic partners? With the VentureOne credit card (or other credit cards labeled Visa Signature or Visa Infinite) you can find huge discounts at over 50 wineries around Sonoma County. For example, you can buy one standard tasting and receive a complimentary tasting for free. You may also have savings on wine, reserve tasting, or wine and food pairings at certain wineries.
Earn 20,000 sign up bonus points (worth $200) when you spend $1,000 in your first three months with the card. On top of that, the card comes with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
Best for dinner and a show
Image: capital one
The Good
4% cashback rewards on all your dining out and entertainment expenses • 2% cashback rewards on groceries • $500 sign up bonus when you spend $3,000 in your first three months • Free monthly subscription to Postmates Unlimited • Annual fee waived the first year
The Bad
Only 1% cashback on most categories • Interest rates up to 25.74% • $95 annual fee
The Bottom Line
Earn money during date night. Just be sure to pay off the card in full each month: The rewards aren’t worth a nearly 25.74% interest rate.
3. Savor® Rewards from Capital One®
Earn 4% cashback rewards on all your dining out and entertainment expenses.
- Pricing:
Annual fee $95 (waived the first year) Interest rates range from 16.74-25.75%.
Just getting to know a new partner? The classic dinner and a movie date is classic for a reason: it’s a great, low-pressure way to get to know someone new. Whether your budget is Applebee’s and a $2 movie matinee or Aquavit and a Broadway premier, you may as well earn cashback rewards for your spending.
The best card for cashing in on dinner and a show is Savor® Rewards from Capital One®. With the Savor card, you’ll earn 4% cashback rewards on all your dining out and entertainment expenses.
The cashback isn’t the only reason to use the Savor card. Cardholders gain exclusive access to hard-to-book reservations at top restaurants in New York City, Washington D.C., and Austin. These nearly impossible-to-book dining experiences are sure to wow your partner.
The Savor card isn’t just ideal for dining out, though. If you and your sweetheart have upgraded to intimate home cooked dinners for two (or a rotisserie chicken and a bottle of wine from Trader Joes), you’ll earn 2% cashback on all your grocery purchases. If you’re not skilled in the kitchen, you can also enjoy free Postmates delivery when you order with your Savor card. That’s right, the Savor card entitles you to free monthly subscription to Postmates Unlimited through December 2019.
The best card for Netflix and chill
Image: wells fargo
The Good
30,000 point sign up bonus when you spend $3,000 in three months • Earn three points for every dollar spent on eating out, ordering in, gas, rideshares, transit, flights, hotels, homestays, car rentals, and streaming services • No annual fee • 0% APR for 12 months
The Bad
Interest rates as high as 27.24% after 12 months
The Bottom Line
Not every couple needs to spend time at clubs, shows, and bar-hopping. As long as you pay off the Propel in full each month, this is the perfect credit card for the couple that enjoys nothing more than Postmates, Netflix, and time alone (together).
4. Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card
The card that rewards you and your beau for staying home and ordering takeout.
- Pricing:
No annual fee 0% APR for 12 months 14.74-27.24% APR after 12 months No foreign transaction fees.
Are you and your partner grannies at heart? Have you been claiming to be “practically 40” since you were 22 years old, just so you could avoid going out to bars? Couples don’t have to spend every moment out on the town to have a great love life. After a busy day of work, Netflix and chill sounds just right for some couples. And a weekend drive and hike in the mountains could be the ideal way for you to spend time with your partner.
With the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card, you can earn big rewards for the activities the two of you actually love. This card offers three points for every dollar you spend on ordering in (or eating out), streaming services, and gas. Cardholders also earn triple points on travel related activities like flights, car rentals, and hotels or homestays.
Best of all, this card that has no annual fee comes with a massive sign up bonus. When you spend $3,000 in the first three months, you’ll earn 30,000 bonus points. This translates to a $300 bonus which you can apply directly to your credit card statement.
Best for buying an engagement ring
Image: CApital one
The Good
0% financing for 15 months • $150 cash bonus • 1.5% cash back on all purchases
The Bad
Interest rates jump after 15 months • Interest rates as high as 26.24%
The Bottom Line
Get help paying off the ring and get a $150 signup bonus and 1.5% cashback rewards to boot.
5. QuickSilver® from Capital One®
A 0% introductory APR, plus a $150 cashback bonus make this card a great option for paying down a big purchase.
- Pricing:
0% APR for 15 billing cycles (including balance transfers). No annual fee After 15 months. 16.24% to 26.24% APR
“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” So goes Billy Crystal’s famous line from When Harry Met Sally.
Are you ready for the rest of your life to start right now? If the next step is popping the question, it’s time to start setting a budget for the ring. According to The Knot’s Jewelry and Engagement study, the average couple spends over $6,000 on an engagement ring. For average earners, it can take months or even years to save that kind of money. While engagement rings don’t have to be that expensive, even a more modest ring could cost more than you have in savings.
Paying cash for an engagement ring is a fiscally sound move, but if your love life can’t wait, a 0% credit card offer is the next best option. Don’t put the ring on a high interest credit card or a store’s expensive payment plan. Instead, look for a 0% introductory financing offer from a credit card. Right now, the QuickSilver® from Capital One® offers 0% financing for 15 months on all purchases. On top of that, you can earn a $150 cash bonus when you spend $500 in your first three months with the card. Plus you’ll earn a total 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Combining the money in your savings account with the 0% financing and the rewards from the QuickSilver card could help you pay off the ring before the wedding and the rest of your life together.
What’s sexier than no debt?
Image: u.s. bank
The Good
0% APR for 18 billing cycles • Free cell phone insurance (up to $600 with a $25 deductible) • Lower than average 3% balance transfer fee
The Bad
Interest rate jumps after 18 months • No reward points
The Bottom Line
Getting yourself in financial shape may not be as fun as exotic vacations of dinners out. However, if you’re inching towards a long-term relationship (or already there), almost nothing is as sexy as paying off credit card debt. Just be sure that you pay off the whole balance within 18 months, or your interest rate will jump up again.
6. U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Everyone looks better naked when they’ve paid off their debt.
- Pricing:
0% APR for 18 billing cycles. 14.74-25.74% APR after 18 months. 3% balance transfer fee. No annual fee.
While expensive, splurge-worthy events may help you woo a partner, financial stability looks sexiest in a long-term relationship. In a lot of cases, the best way to flame your love life is to pay off high interest debt. Need a little boost to pay that debt off faster? A promotional 0% balance transfer can help you transfer high interest debt to a low interest card. That way, every dollar you throw at the debt goes straight towards paying it off instead of going towards interest.
Looking to impress your beau by becoming fiscally fit? The right credit card can help. Right now, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers an introductory 0% APR on all balance transfers for 18 billing cycles. You only have to pay the 3% balance transfer fee, and then you have a year and a half to eliminate all your high interest debt. Just remember, the interest rate goes up at the end of 18 months, so take the debt repayment seriously.
Topics:
Business, Mashable Deals, personal finance, sex-relationships, Culture, work/life
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