Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com, has been educating consumers about credit cards since 1998. He is the author of the 2008 book “How You Can Profit from Credit Cards: Using Credit to Improve Your Financial Life and Bottom Line” and the “Complete Idiot’s Guide to Person-to-Person Lending” published this past spring. Arnold’s CardRatings is an online nonprofit based in Arkansas that allows consumers to shop for cards. Arnold has experienced the severe consequences of credit card debt,   struggling to repay as much as $40,000 in plastic debt after his graduate studies in business at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Good question. We often just consider applying for cards from the big boys...such as Citibank, Chase, etc. Consumers should consider smaller issuers...often that are definitely not household names.

My wife and I are are looking for a credit card that has a cash back rewards option. We both have excellent credit (Fico 802 and 796). We will charge roughly $3000.00 a month on the card and expect to pay it off 10 of the 12 months of the year. Purchases will mostly be supermarket, gas, occasional night out and daycare expenses.

Any suggestions for a card that would fit our profile?