Rewards Cards

• Innumerable rewards credit cards give card users a wide range of benefits and offers, yet these "freebies" often are anything but. Cards that offer rewards programs typically come with higher interest rates than non-rewards cards. If you're the kind of card user who likes to carry a balance, a rewards card is probably not your best option. If, however, you pay your bill off every month, matching a good rewards card with your spending habits is a viable option.
  
  

Cash-Back Rewards

• One of the more popular rewards programs are the cards that come with a "cash back" offer. These cards credit you with a small percentage of your purchase price every time you use the card, or every time you use it to make specific kinds of purchases. These rewards can be as high as 5 percent, essentially giving you a discount each time you make a purchase.
  
  

Airilne Miles

• For frequent travelers, a card that offers airline miles or airfare discounts can bring significant rewards. While you don't have to constantly travel to reap the rewards of airline miles, you should travel more than just a few times a year to get the full benefits of these cards. If you travel only occasionally, an airline rewards card is typically not worth the relatively higher interest rates that accompany these cards.
  
  

Store Cards

• If you regularly shop at a store that offers a card with discount or reward bonuses, the store credit card may be a good choice for you. However, you should carefully read through the card offer, as the initial discounts typically don't last long, sometimes only for your first purchase. Some store cards offer discounts on a certain day of the week, for example, that are ideal if you frequently shop at the store. Just remember to pay the monthly balance so you don't get slammed with the notoriously high interest rates associated with store cards.