Credit Card Rebates

For years, the Discover Card has been the major player in the credit card cash-rebatefield, offering up to 1% cash back on purchases made with the card. TheDiscover rebate schedule is tiered, however, starting as low as 0.25% on purchasesup to a certain level, before rising to 0.5%, and eventually to the full 1%.Now, Discover is getting some competition from the likes of AARP (888-595-0542; www.aarp.org/benefits-financial), which is hawking a card that gives back1% on all purchases from the get-go. Although the card carries no annual fee,you do have to join AARP to apply for one (you must be age 50 or older), whichwill set you back $12.50 a year in annual dues. You can take your rebate in cash orin the form of a gift certificate to one of AARP's 25 merchant partners, whichinclude companies like Home Depot, Borders, and Lands' End.