The only thing better than shopping is shopping for a deal. Some of our favorite stores to get lost in—hello, Target!—offer credit cards with even cooler in-store perks. It can be hard to say no to 20% off your first purchase or the promise of future member discounts. But not all store cards are created equal. Some perks aren’t worth the high APRs that come with the card or the temptation to spend money on unnecessary items.
You should make credit decisions carefully, understanding the effects of a hard inquiry on your credit report, as well as the APRs and other terms of any credit card you apply for. Still, store cards are some of the easiest credit cards to get, making them attractive if you’re trying to build or rebuild credit. In fact, many store credit cards are available for people with a fair credit score.
If you’re a big shopper, here are some of our favorite options to help you build credit and shop easy.
An Option if You Don't Want a Store Credit Card
Not everyone is loyal to a single store—and we can’t say we blame you. There’s a lot of good shopping to do out there. But if you're not going to shop at the store often, you may not build up enough rewards to make it worth holding the store's card. That's true no matter how awesome the perks seem when you first look at the offer.
When used responsibility, credit cards can be a great financial tool. Before you apply, check your credit score so you have a better sense of what cards you might be approved for. You can sign up to see your credit score using our Free Credit Report Card.
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.
