So this credit card comparison thing? Been itching to tackle it since my wallet’s been full of crap plastic. Heard friends raving about Nate & Kara cards last week. Grabbed my laptop, brewed some coffee, and just dove in.
The First Look
Started by pulling up Nate’s site. Instant headache. So. Many. Pages. Scrolled past flashy travel pics until I hit the “Compare Cards” tab. Jotted down what stood out:
- No yearly fee (nice!)
- Gas station points look decent
- Sign-up bonus is a free flight
Switched to Kara’s site. Way cleaner. Could actually find the deets fast. Their big sells:
- Flat 2% cash back everywhere
- $100 bonus if you spend $500 quick
- Card comes in purple (fr tho, it’s pretty)
Digging Into the Fine Print
Okay fine print time. Pulled both card agreements up side-by-side on my dusty tablet. My notes:
Nate’s got traps man: That flight bonus? Only with specific airlines. Points expire in 18 months. Interest rate’s 20% if you carry a balance (ouch).
Kara’s downsides: No fancy perks like travel insurance. That 2% only kicks in after three months of payments. Foreign transaction fees sting at 3%.
The Cold Hard Math
Grabbed last month’s bank statement. Did the calculator thing:
- Groceries: $412
- Gas: $189
- Takeout coffee addiction: $87 (don’t judge)
Ran numbers with Nate’s gas points versus Kara’s flat rate. Kara gave $14 back total. Nate? Only $9. Surprised me. Always thought fancy points systems win.
Customer Service Face-Off
Called both companies pretending I lost my card. Nate’s line rang forever. When Keith finally answered, he sounded half-asleep. Kara? Got Rose in two minutes. She stayed on hold while I “looked for my wallet.” Absolute champ.
My Pick
Grabbed Kara’s card next morning. Took five minutes online. Feels lighter than my old brick-card. Seriously Nate, why yours so thick?
Three weeks in – works fine at Target. App doesn’t crash. Still mad about foreign fees when I got dumplings downtown though.
So yeah. Wanted shiny travel perks but reality’s dirtier than my laundry basket. Kara’s boring but she pays me back consistently.
