[bobf]

American Express Blue Cash is great if you spend more than about $9000/year on it. The first $6500 in a year provides cashback at 0.5% on everything, 1% on "everyday purchases" (gas, groceries, drugstore, etc). After that, cashback jumps to 1.5%/5%. On average, people spend 15-18% on "everyday purchases", so that makes average cashback 2.025% after the first $6500 -- slightly better than a straight 2% cashback card, which are rare these days. To do the math:

- Regular 1% card: $9000 at 1% = $90

- Amex Blue Cash: $5525 at 0.5%, $975 at 1.25% (for the first $6500), then $2125 at 1.5%, $375 at 5% = $90.44 (the splits assume the average spending habits of 15% on "everyday purchases")

[stretchwithme]

seems complicated enough

is there an annual fee?

[bobf]

No.

[stretchwithme]

Yeah, I think I would come out ahead with that deal.

They do have a calculator to help you figure it out.

  https://www295.americanexpress.com/cards/loyalty.do?page=bluecash.maximize.new