Hey everyone. I’m a 19 year old college student who has begun to take interest in domestic trips (potentially an international in a year or two), short weekends to visit friends or just explore the U.S. I’m wondering if you all have any recommendations for cards that will help me not only earn good cashback for this trips, but potentially stack up some nice rewards points/perks to make the trips more affordable.
Current cards:
• Capital One Savor One Student, May 2025, $2500 (might get an increase soon as income increased)
• Discover It Student, $1800, July 2025
• FICO Score: 700ish
• Oldest account age: 1 year, 8 months
• Chase 5/24 status: 2/24
• Income: Around $15k-20k
• Average monthly spend and categories:
• dining $250
• groceries: $50
• gas: $100
• travel: $0
*will be paying $1000 in rent, utilities monthly next year*
• other: $50
• Open to Business Cards: no
• What's the purpose of your next card? travel, cashback
• Do you have any cards you've been looking at?
Chase family, Wells Fargo Autograph
• Are you OK with category spending or do you want a general spending card? whatever you all think is best
Thank you so much for your help. If the answer is “don’t open another, you don’t need it” that’s totally fine too!
Should I get another card now that I’m interested in travel?
byu/clockworkbluee inCreditCards
Posted by clockworkbluee
3 Comments
I started with discover it and savor lol! I’d recommend the Chase sapphire preferred as a nice intro travel card. Pretty low annual fee, good sign up bonus, nice points earning. That would be my first thought, happy to provide something more tailored with more info
In your position cash is king and you already have a good cash back setup–especially with the Savor card.
You’re just not spending enough to justify any card with an annual fee and you’re not going to earn enough rewards points to practically redeem through miles (you generally need at least as many points as the total ticket/reservation cost and this only works through certain airlines/hotel). Also: most rent and utility payment portals charge more in fees to pay with a CC than you’ll get back in rewards.
I think the best system is what you already have for the time being, especially with no AF with your capital one savor student card.
In the future, I’d strongly consider the capital one venture X (duo with savor card) as this not only maxes your 3x grocery/entertainment/streaming category (savor) but venture X can be your 2x “catch everything else” card with the ability to transfer all your cash back rewards from savor card as miles to your venture X.
Venture X is $395 AF, but you get $300 every year in travel credit, plus 10,000 anniversary miles ($100 value at 1cpp) every year. This of course is more lucrative once you’re able to qualify for the sign-up bonus. You just don’t have enough spending power (understandably) at this time.
Just something to keep in mind in the future –