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Expecting parents have a lot to do in a short time frame. They’ve got to prepare their home for a new arrival, coordinate doctor’s visits, put together a birth plan and more.
If you’re expecting a child, you may want to add choosing a new credit card to your to-do list. Your current credit card may be not be enough to reward the types of purchases you’ll be making for the foreseeable future. There are several cards that can help you afford the various expenses that go along with parenthood.
Here are four cards for expecting parents.
Rewards: Earn 2% cash back: 1% cash back on purchases and an additional 1% back upon payment
Signup Bonus: None
Annual Fee: None
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 15.24% – 25.24% (variable) ongoing APR for purchases and 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers.
Why We Picked It: Parents get extra motivation to pay off their baby-related purchases. (Full Disclosure: Citibank advertises on Credit.com, but that results in no preferential editorial treatment.)
Benefits: All purchases earn 1% cash back and another 1% upon payment, for a total of 2% cash back on everything.
Drawbacks: You’ll have to wait until you pay to earn your full cash back.
Rewards: 6% cash back at on up to $6,000 in yearly spending supermarkets, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and 1% cash back on everything else
Welcome Offer: $250 statement credit when you spend $1,000 in the first three months
Annual Fee:
APR: , then
Why We Picked It: New parents may be spending a lot at supermarkets and gas stations.
Benefits: You’ll earn 6% cash back at supermarkets, 3% cash back at gas stations and 1% cash back everywhere else. Plus, there’s a nice $250 welcome offer if you spend $1,000 within the first three months of opening your account.
Drawbacks: The card has a $95 annual fee.
Rewards: 3% cash back on gas, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1% back on everything else
Signup Bonus: $150 bonus cash back when you spend $500 in the first 90 days
Annual Fee: None
APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months, then variable 13.74% to 23.74%
Why We Picked It: If you plan to chauffeur your kid to and from daycare, and in a few years, team practices and sleepovers, this card can save on gas.
Benefits: With 3% cash back on gas and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, you’ll get plenty of ways to put some money back in your wallet. Bank of America customers get an additional 10% redemption value when they deposit their cash back into a Bank of America account.
Drawbacks: You’ll have to be a Bank of America account holder to unlock this card’s full value.
Rewards: None
Signup Bonus: None
Annual Fee: None
APR: 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers and 15.74% – 25.74% (Variable) ongoing APR.
Why We Picked It: If your current card’s interest is too high, you can use this card for 21 months of interest-free purchases and balance transfers.
Benefits: The 18 month intro 0% APR offer gives you a chance to pay down purchases and balance transfers. Whether you’re buying diapers or setting up your nursery, this card can help you avoid interest.
Drawbacks: Once the 18 month intro period expires, the card’s value tanks.
Choosing a card for family expenses is a personal decision, and depends on your parental spending habits.
Cash-back card rates vary, so you’ll want to look at the cards that best reward the way you spend. If you’ll be spending at many different types of stores, a card with a flat cash-back rate on all purchases might be the best move. If your purchases will be concentrated at a few merchant types, you may want to find a card that best rewards those purchases.
However, a card with a strong balance transfer offer might be the best option if you’ve put a lot of upfront expenses on a high-interest card.
In short, the best credit card for your family will depend on your specific needs and goals.
Cards with cash back rewards or strong 0% APR offers often require good to excellent credit. You should know your credit score before you apply, because a hard credit inquiry can lower your credit score a few points. You can check two of your credit scores for free at Credit.com.
Image: monkeybusinessimages
At publishing time, the Citi Double Cash, Blue Cash Preferred Card From American Express and Citi Simplicity credit cards are offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply and ultimately sign up for this card. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment. This content is not provided by the card issuer(s). Any opinions expressed are those of Credit.com alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer(s).
Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.