Post by Admin on Aug 5, 2014 18:49:05 GMT -4
What does it mean to own this baby :
There once was a time I was rich, but never famous as I traveled internationally four times a year for business. Each destination hosted loads of other folks who wanted to learn about the next money making idea in the global financial markets. With me was an American Express corporate card where I could expense relatively freely to the tune of ~$50,000 a year. The card provided travel insurance, access to airport lounges, concierge services, and more. 50K may sound like a lot, but that’s nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands in expenses I hear from some Black Card spenders!
I don’t have much coming in anymore, but I do have a lot of freedom. It’s a tradeoff many will take at some point in their lives. Given my desire to simplify things, I’ve only got one personal credit card, which is the Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard with no annual fee. There’s no annual fee and all my spending is concentrated here to maximize my rewards points.
Since we live in the land of consumerism where we want things and we want them now, I thought it’d be a good idea to do a post for all you Black Card aspirees out there. Some get Black Cards just for its status symbol. Meanwhile, other people are a little less vain and use their Black Card for better access and service. Whatever the case, I’d like to introduce my guidelines for those who can and should not get a Black Card.
SHOULD YOU GET A BLACK CARD? LET’S SEE IF YOU QUALIFY
* High income individuals. Given the official definition of a middle class income is up to $200,000 per individual, only people with income of $200,001 and above are allowed to have a Black Card according to the powers that be. In fact, anybody with income of less than $200,000 should probably not have any card with an annual fee of greater than a couple hundred dollars a year!
* High net worth individuals. Having a high income is not impressive if you can’t match it with a robust net worth. If you don’t have a net worth at least 3X your income, then please reconsider getting a Black Card. In this scenario, the definition of robust is at least $600,000 based off a $200,000 annual income. Higher the better obviously.
* Responsible people. When you have a Black Card, you will have an urge to use your Black Card. You can very easily blow a whole in your finances given the naturally larger line of credit that comes with such a card. Responsibility can be measured by a credit score of 760 or higher. After all, the average credit score of a rejected mortgage applicant is 729. Those who demonstrate the historical ability to pay their bills on time are target candidates.
* People who aren’t in consumer debt. If you are already in consumer debt, then you are acting foolishly if you are even considering apply for a Black Card. Potentially adding even more debt is not a smart thing to do because credit card interest rates are some of the highest debt rates around. Even if you don’t plan to add on more consumer debt, it’s a good idea to resolve current debt problems first.
* People who pay a premium for convenience. When you are rich, you are willing to pay someone to mow your lawn, clean your house, and change your oil. Funny enough, middle income people do this already! But, that’s why they will stay middle income because the time not spent mowing a lawn is used to sit on the coach and watch TV. Rich people are better at utilizing their time to generate more income. They appreciate services that lead to better lifestyles. Black Cards almost always come with annual fees which can be a hurdle to cross if you don’t utilize the card enough. A $500 annual fee means you need to roughly get at least 50,000 in rewards points to just break even.
* People who expect to be saved. Here’s an interesting one. Let’s say you make less than $100,000 and have a net worth of less than $200,000. You have no business owning a Black Card with a large annual fee. But, let’s say you expect to be taken care of by your parents, the government, or spouse, then maybe you’ve got an argument! Your saviors might drop you in the future, but for now, you can milk them for all they’re worth.
* People who look as good as the models in the picture above. Let’s be real. If you are hot, life is good. People will treat you better. They’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, let you make more mistakes than the average person, and want to take care of you as long as you stay hot. Good looking people get away with murder, so why not enjoy spending a little more?
If you qualify for at least six out of the seven items above, you are ready to get yourself a shiny new Black Card! But, let’s be honest, you probably don’t qualify.
CREDIT CARD RECOMMENDATION ALTERNATIVES
Barclaycard World Master Card: If you are an avid traveler and looking for a travel rewards credit card, you can sign up for the Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard with no annual fee with double the points on travel and dining and 20,000 signup miles ($200 value). Barclaycard offers $200,000 in automatic travel accident insurance, reimbursement for expenses if your bag is lost or delayed, trip cancellation coverage, and $0 fraud liability.
Discover Credit Card: Are you looking for the best credit card for balance transfers, flexibility, and rewards? Check out the benefits of the Discover it® credit card and maximize your purchasing power. You can earn 5% cash back rewards without any annual fees, over limit fees, or foreign transaction fees. And did you know Discover has been ranked #1 for customer loyalty for 17 years in a row? Discover it cards are accepted at over 9 million merchants nationwide and their U.S. based customer service team is available 24/7. Just remember to spend within your means!
Check Your Credit Score: Take a moment to check your free TransUnion credit score through GoFreeCredit.com, a company I trust. 30% of credit reports have errors, which could put a serious hamper on your refinancing or new loan borrowing abilities. I had a $8 late payment I didn’t even know I owed crush my score by 100 points come up during my last refinance. The average credit score for rejected mortgage borrowers has risen to 729 due to more stringent lending requirements. Do you know what your score is?
Regards,
Sam
