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It's sizzling times at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, the fictional ad agency on Mad Men. With all the drinking, dining and carousing going on every week, you just know the characters have to be packing some powerful plastic. Here's a look at what's in each character's wallet.
Don Draper: Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
You probably thought that Don would carry The Centurion Card from American Express. Oh, he got invited to be a cardmember, but was declined. Although he likes nice things, he'll never forget growing up poor as Dick Whitman.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is not unlike Don himself. They're both elite, but not too pretentious. And they're both eye-catching and loaded with, ahem, great features.
With his job and his new wife, Don is on the go a lot. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, he'll earn 40,000 bonus points after he spends $3,000 within the first three months, which is good for $500 toward travel rewards. With 2 points per dollar spent on dining and travel, Don will rack up points in a hurry.
Since Don doesn't like limitations, he's really happy that the number of points he can earn is unlimited and that they never expire. That really suits his style.
Don's new wife, Megan, has a problem. And no, I'm not talking about a recent episode where she hurled a plate of spaghetti at the wall when Don was late for dinner. Okay, she probably does have a problem with anger management.
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But the problem I'm referring to is that Megan can't qualify for a credit card on her own. She just quit her job at the ad agency to pursue acting. So without an income of her own, she'll have to settle for being an authorized user on Don's credit card account. Remember, this is the '60s.
Fast forward to 2012. Isn't it ironic that a regulation in the Credit CARD Act of 2009 created a situation where stay-at-home moms are being told they need the hubby's permission to get a card? Hey, it's like we're back in the '60s.
It was originally meant to protect young adults without sufficient income from getting a credit card. Unfortunately, it's been interpreted broadly and is sending the message that stay-at-home parents aren't making a valuable contribution to the world. Fix the wording on the bill, Washington.
Oh, my goodness, this pick was way too easy. Notice that the theme for Roger this year is that he's blowing up his life? And to think it all started with the ultimate escape from reality, an LSD trip. By the time he left fantasy land, he and his wife had called it quits and he realized he was getting old. Anyone else think Roger might be island hopping by the end of this season?
Escape by Discover gives Roger exactly what he needs: Double miles for every dollar spent. Whenever he feels the need to take off, he can draw on his cache of miles. This card also has a low starting APR of 10.99 percent in case he starts carrying a balance. With two ex-wives to support, I kind of see cash flow issues in his future. We won't even mention the baby.
Peggy is a young, single professional living in Manhattan. She works hard and rarely goes home. She needs to get out and enjoy life a little more. The Citi Forward Card gives Peggy a chance to earn 5 ThankYou points for every dollar spent at restaurants and on music, movies, and books. After she spends $650 within the first three months, she gets 10,000 bonus points, which is worth $100 in gift cards.
And given that she's a woman who grew up in the '40s and '50s, I'm guessing her parents didn't teach her money management skills. The Citi Forward Card can help her develop a lifelong habit of paying bills on time. If she stays under her credit limit and pays her bill on time for three months in a row, she gets a 0.25 percent reduction on her APR. She can earn up to a 2 percent reduction.
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Image: Lan Bui, via Flickr
What's in Don Draper's Wallet? (cont.) ยป
At publishing time, Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card, Escape by Discover Card and Citi Forward Card offered on Credit.com product pages and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply for and ultimately sign up for these cards through the American Express Affiliate Program. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment.
Pete Campbell: Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card
Here's the guy that everyone loves to hate. Just when you think he might have a redeeming feature, he opens his mouth and ruins the moment. I think he's the most pretentious character on the show so he needs a card to bolster his ego. And since he's such a womanizer who likes to frequent posh hotels, with the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card, he'll quickly rack up points with all the rooms he'll reserve.
Sure, he should use cash to cover his tracks, but he's not smart enough to realize that. He also doesn't seem smart enough to realize that his latest female obsession appears to be a wacko.
This is an exceptional card and that's reflected in the $395 annual fee. In spite of being a tormented soul, Pete will enjoy the world-class service he'll get with this card. After he uses the card for the first time, he'll get 50,000 points, which he can redeem for a complimentary night at one of the Ritz properties. Maybe he'll actually take his wife this time.
For obvious reasons, men love Joan. But she's not just beautiful, she's also a skilled office manager. She makes a good living at the advertising agency, but she's also got a baby and all the expenses that come with that.
In the latest episode, she makes a decision that improves the outlook of her financial future. But for now, she'll still play it safe and focus on saving every dollar she can, especially now that she's getting her freedom and will be a single, working mom.
Basically, Joan's smart and practical. The Chase Freedom Visa matches her needs and her approach to life at this point in time. She'll get a $100 bonus cash back after she spends $500 within the first three months. She'll get 1 percent cash back on everything plus 5 percent cash back on rotating categories. If she runs her life the way she runs the agency, you can bet she'll track her rewards and not waste a single penny.
The former Mrs. Draper has the same problem that the new Mrs. Draper has. She may have enjoyed some successful years as a model when she was young, but all that matters now is that she's not employed outside the home.
So she'll have to settle to be an authorized user on husband Henry's card. Henry is involved in politics and he seems nice enough, but kind of boring. I don't know why, but this screams The Platinum Card from American Express to me. The cool, silver color of the card also seems to match Betty's icy persona.
From Betty's "Go watch TV" parenting style to her shrewd, but failed, attempt to mess up Don's marriage, she can be a bit tough to like. Unfortunately, she can't redeem Membership Rewards points for the psychological counseling her children will surely need when they're older, but at least she can enjoy the status of whipping out The Platinum Card.
She'll earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points if she spends $5,000 within the first three months. She'll get great perks, including a 24/7 concierge service, which I'm pretty sure she'll need to run her life.
Lane is suddenly in the spotlight. He's up to his eyeballs in debt due to tax evasion back in London. He manages to get a new line of credit from the bank, but his strategy to use the money to give himself a Christmas bonus was foiled. Ultimately, his tax woes led him to forge Don's name on a check.
Lane needs to get the Slate from Chase - No Balance Transfer Fee credit card. He'll get a zero percent intro APR on balance transfers for a whopping 15 months. And the 3 percent balance transfer fee is waived if he completes the balance transfer within the first 30 days. He can use the 15 months to pay off the debt without paying any interest.
Some friendly advice for Lane: Get a grip, fella, or you're going to end up in the Big House. That would be very bad for your credit report.
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At publishing time, Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card, Chase Freedom Visa $100 Bonus Cash Back + 0% Intro APR, The Platinum Card from American Express and Slate from Chase - No Balance Transfer Fee offered on Credit.com product pages and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply for and ultimately sign up for these cards through the American Express Affiliate Program. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment.
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.