[UPDATE: Some offers mentioned below have expired and/or are no longer available on our site. You can view the current offers from our partners in our credit card marketplace. DISCLOSURE: Cards from our partners are mentioned below.]
Valentine's Day is almost here and you're strapped for cash. No worries! Here are three credit cards that want to help you put a smile on your sweetheart's face without busting your budget.
I've also suggested the perfect gift to go along with each credit card. See how hard I work for you? Hey, I don't mind because I love my readers.
1. Blue Cash Everyday from American Express
Gift: Cook dinner
Wait a minute! Before you scoff at this idea, let me make it clear this isn't directed at the ladies. No, I expect you men to either do the cooking or be an equal participant. Really, making a Valentine's Day dinner together can be quite romantic. But if you're a guy who knows his way around a kitchen, then treat your wife to a home-cooked meal. Trust me, this will be perceived as very romantic.
You get 3 percent cash back on groceries, which is pretty good. Note that you don't get cash back at superstores and warehouse stores, such as Costco, so shop at a regular grocery store. You also get 2 percent cash back at stand-alone gas stations and department stores. Then 1 percent cash back on everything else with this card.
Welcome Offer: Earn $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in the first three months. When you get the welcome offer credited to your account, then go out for a nice meal.
Annual Fee: None
Variable Purchase APR: Zero percent intro APR for 15 months; after that, your rate is 14.99% to 25.99%.
See [carddata api_url="https://static.ccom-cdn.com/credit/api/creditcard/v2/offer/amex_blue_cash_everyday-americanexpresscreditcardoffers?af=32806" option="cardTermsLink"]
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2. Citi Forward Card
Gift: Dinner and a movie
Now, if you're on a tight, tight budget, don't overdo it. No dinner is worth going into debt over. But you do get a zero percent purchase APR for seven months. Put the dinner and movie on your Citi Forward card only if you can pay it off before the intro period ends.
I call Citi Forward the "entertainment card" because you get a whopping five points for every $1 spent on restaurants, movies, music and bookstores. The downside is that it's hard to pinpoint the exact redemption value for each point because it depends on how you use your points. But if you use this card for entertainment expenses, you'll rack up tons of points that you can use to redeem for cash, gift cards and more. However, there's a limit of 75,000 ThankYou points that you can earn during a calendar year.
Here's another reason this card is great for lovers on a budget: You get up to a 2 percent purchase APR reduction when you pay on time and stay under your credit limit for three billing periods in a row. That's a .25 percent reduction for each quarter and up to a maximum of 8 times.
Sign-up Bonus: Earn 10,000 bonus ThankYou Points, which you can redeem for $100 in gift cards after you spend $650 in purchases within the first three months. To get the points you also have to sign up for paperless statements within the first three months.
Annual Fee: None
Variable Purchase APR: Zero percent intro APR for seven months; after that, your rate is 12.99 percent, 20.99 percent or 22.99 percent.
3. Chase Freedom Visa - $100 Bonus Cash Back
Gift: Flowers and a gift from Amazon.com
Sound too expensive? Check this out: Through the end of March, you get 5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 on gas purchases and Amazon.com. Okay, you can't give gas as a gift unless you attach a shiny new car.
But getting 5 percent cash back on purchases you make on Amazon.com is a good deal. And from now through February 13, you can order the Ultimate Sweetheart Tulips Package from ProFlowers, which includes 20 tulips, a teddy bear, chocolates, and a vase for only $29.99 at ProFlowers.com (over 50% off).
So there you go. Flowers and a gift without breaking the bank.
Sign-up Bonus: Earn $200 bonus cash back after you spend $500 in the first three months.
Annual Fee: None
Variable Purchase APR: 15.99 percent to 22.99 percent.
Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.
Main image: Steve-h, via Flickr.com
