First credit card at 23… any advice?

Help Needed / Question Forum
1

I’m 23 and have never had a credit card before. I’ve been using a TD Bank debit card for the past 5 years or so. I don’t have any regular bills at the moment, just student loans. Most of my spending is on food and clothes right now. What card would be best for a first-time cardholder like me, considering my current expenses? Thanks!

2

TD has a couple of options that might work for you.

They have a 2% cash-back card that covers all purchases or a TD Cash card that gives you 3% back in one category (food, gas, etc.), 2% in another, and 1% on everything else.

Since you already bank with them, it might be easier to get approved for a decent limit.

3

@Devlin
Thank you!

4

For a first card, it’s less about the specific card and more about finding one that will approve you. TD Bank is a good place to start since you already have an account. Otherwise, you could look at Discover IT, Chase Freedom Rise, or Chase Freedom Flex—these are popular for first-time cardholders.

5

@Blayne
Thank you!

8

I started with the Discover IT card, which gives 5% cash back in rotating categories and 1% on everything else. Plus, for your first year, they’ll double the cash back. If you earn $350 in cash back, they’ll give you another $350 at the end of the year.

Chase Freedom Flex is another good option with 5% rotating categories, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on everything else. If you’re spending a lot on groceries, they sometimes have a 10% grocery cash back offer in your first year.

9

@Brady
Here’s the link for the Chase grocery offer.

10

@Brady
Wish I had seen this sooner. Good find!

11

@Brady
That’s great info, thank you!

12

You should think about getting two cards: one for everyday purchases and another that offers higher cash back on food and groceries.

Since you already bank with TD, their 2% card (the Double Up Visa) is a good option for everything. For a “food” card, I’d suggest the Capital One SavorOne, which gives 3% back on dining, groceries, entertainment, and streaming with no foreign transaction fees. Capital One has a pre-approval process, so you’ll know if you’re likely to get the card before applying.