lifestyle

These 7 Credit Cards Will Help You Save More On Your Grocery Shopping

Only for those who are serious on saving!

Cover image via bbazaar.my

In an age where you can get almost anything delivered to your doorstep, going to a grocery store can seem like a needless chore

But, what if you can get rewarded handsomely every time you make an effort to drop by a store, stock up on essentials like groceries, and pay for it with your credit card?

From cashback to reward points, you’ll be able to make the most of your monthly grocery expenditure with the right credit card. Wondering what makes a credit card great for grocery shopping?

Here’s an up-to-date list of 7 credit cards that offer grocery shopping-related perks (in no particular order):

1. Citi Cash Back Platinum Credit Card

The Citi Cash Back Platinum Credit Card allows you to earn up to 10% as cashback every month when you spend on groceries. However, there are binding conditions for you to earn the rebate amount. Click here for more information about this card.

Firstly, the total rebate you can earn in a billing month on grocery spends is limited to RM15. Secondly, only the grocery spends made at participating outlets are eligible to earn cashback.

Image via Citibank

What are the other benefits of this card?

  • Up to 10% cashback for every RM1 spent on petrol, dining, and Grab rides
  • 0.2% unlimited cashback on other retail spends
  • Exciting offers and privileges at more than 24,000 outlets in Malaysia and across the world with Citi World Privileges
  • Round-the-clock personal concierge services
  • Exclusive discounts on health care packages at participating hospitals operated by KPJ

What you’ll need to look out for

  • Maximum cashback you can earn is subject to a minimum monthly spend of RM1,500
  • The cashback you can earn on each spending category is limited to RM15 per month
  • Selected grocery outlets include AEON Big, Ben’s Independent Grocers, Cold Storage, Econsave, Everise, Giant, Jaya Grocer, Mydin, Servay, Tesco, and Village Grocer
  • Health care promotions offered by KPJ don’t include medical officers’ and specialists’ consultant fees

Key benefits

  • Up to 10% cashback on petrol, grocery, dining and Grab spends
  • Unlimited 0.2% cashback on all other retail spends
  • Automatic credit of cashback to your account
Eligibility
  • Minimum income – RM60,000 p.a.
  • Minimum age – 21 years old
  • For Salaried Employees: Copy of MyKad, latest EPF statement, last 6 months’ salary slips, latest 6 months’ bank statements, and form BE with tax payment receipt
  • For Self-Employed Professionals: Copy of MyKad, Business Registration Certificate (ROC & ROB), last 6 months’ bank statements, and form BE with tax payment receipt
Fees
  • Annual fee: Principal card – RM195 (with 0% GST). The annual fee will be waived for the first three years if you activate your card within 60 days of approval. Supplementary card – RM100 (with 0% GST)
  • Interest rates: 15-18% p.a.
  • Late payment fee: 1% of the outstanding balance subject to a minimum of RM10 and a maximum of RM100
Apply for the Citi Cash Back Platinum Credit Card here.

2. HSBC Amanah MPower Visa Platinum Credit Card-i

If you’re looking for substantial savings on your grocery expenses, then the HSBC Amanah MPower Visa Platinum Credit Card-i is another great option. Pay your grocery bills using this card at selected stores and you’ll get up to 8% as cashback every month. Click here for more information about this card.

Image via HSBC

What are the other benefits of this card?

  • Up to 8% cashback for every RM1 spent on petrol
  • 0.2% unlimited cashback for every RM1 spent on other retail transactions
  • Deals and discounts at over 6,500 participating shopping outlets throughout Malaysia with the VIP SmartPrivileges Programme
  • Timely financial assistance in case of emergencies with the HSBC Amanah Cash Advance programme

What you’ll need to look out for

  • To earn maximum cashback, you’ll need to spend RM2,000 or more
  • If your monthly spend is less than RM2,000, you earn 2% cashback on groceries and petrol
  • The total amount of cashback you can earn per month with this card is capped at RM50
  • Participating grocery outlets include AEON Big, Giant, Mydin, and Tesco

3. Standard Chartered Cashback Platinum Mastercard Credit Card

Saving on your grocery expenses is great, but saving on most other retail spends too is better. With the Standard Chartered Cashback Platinum Mastercard Credit Card, you can earn up to 5% as cashback every month on all spends except petrol and insurance transactions. Click here for more information about this card.

What are the other benefits of this card?

  • Exclusive promotions at more than 6,500 participating shopping outlets in Malaysia and across Asia
  • Large retail spends can be converted into monthly instalments that are more affordable
  • Withdraw cash and pay it back across a range of flexible repayment periods

What you’ll need to look out for

  • To get 5% cashback, you’ll have to spend at least RM1,500 excluding petrol and insurance expenses. This amount is capped at RM50 per month
  • If your monthly spend is between RM800 and RM1,500 excluding petrol and insurance expenses, you earn 3% cashback. This amount is capped at RM25
  • The total cashback rate drops to 2% if your monthly spend is between RM500 and RM800. This amount is capped at RM10
Image via 27707/Pixabay

Key Benefits

  • Up to 5% cashback every month on all spends except petrol and insurance transactions
  • Offers and privileges at over 4,000 outlets in Malaysia and across Asia
Eligibility
  • Minimum income – RM24,000 p.a.
  • Minimum age – 21 years old
  • For Salaried Employees: Copy of NRIC (both sides), last 1 months’ salary slip and bank statement, last 6 months’ salary slip and bank statement for commission earners, latest EPF Statement, and latest Borang BE (Full submission to LHDN)
  • For Self-Employed Professionals: Copy of NRIC (both sides), last 6 months’ bank statement and Business Registration Form 9, 24, 49, latest EPF Statement, and latest Borang B/BE (Full submission to LHDN)
Fees
  • Annual fee: Principal Card – RM175 (inclusive of 0% GST) 1st year Annual Fee waiver, Supplementary card : RM100 (inclusive of 0% GST) 1st year Annual Fee waiver. Effective 1 August 2018, subsequent years will be waived with minimum spend of RM20,000 per year
  • Interest rates: 15-18% p.a.
  • Late payment fee: 1% of outstanding balance subject to a minimum of RM10 and a maximum of RM100
Apply for the Standard Chartered Cashback Platinum Mastercard Credit Card here.

4. CIMB Cash Rebate Platinum Credit Card

The CIMB Cash Rebate Platinum Credit Card is another option on this list that lets you save just as much on other retail spends as groceries. From cinemas and petrol expenses to mobile and utility bill payments, you can earn a cash rebate of 5%. Click here for more information about this card.

Image via CIMB

What are the other benefits of this card?

  • 2% cashback when you transact with a foreign currency either online or in a retail store
  • 0.2% unlimited cashback on all other online and retail expenses
  • Complimentary Touch N’ Go Zing Card

What you’ll need to look out for

  • For a 5% cash rebate, you should spend RM3,000 or more in a month
  • If your monthly spend is less than RM3,000, the rebate rate drops to 2%
  • Maximum amount of rebate you can earn in either case is RM30 per month

5. ÆON BiG Visa Gold Credit Card

Things take an interesting turn with the ÆON BiG Visa Gold Credit Card. Head over to an ÆON BiG store on the 28th of every month—the ÆON BiG Thank You Member Day—to earn 5% cashback on your retail spends made in the outlet.

You can also earn Member Points for every RM1 that you spend at ÆON BiG stores across Malaysia. These points can then be redeemed for rebates on future retail spends made at the store. Click here for more information about this card.

Image via AEON

What are the other benefits of this card?

  • 5% cashback every day on Visa payWave transactions made at ÆON BiG stores
  • 5% cashback on petrol transactions every Sunday
  • 2% rebate on online and overseas retail expenses
  • Complimentary travel personal accident insurance worth up to RM200,000
  • Access to Plaza Premium Airport Lounges across Malaysia every year

What you’ll need to look out for

  • AEON BiG Thank You Member Day rebate is limited to RM100 per month
  • Visa PayWave transaction rebate is capped at RM25 per month
  • Cashback on petrol spends is limited to RM25 per month

6. Maybank American Express Gold Credit Card

While you’ve only seen cashback credit cards on the list until now, it doesn’t mean that rewards credit cards aren’t good enough for savings on grocery shopping. This credit card from Maybank Malaysia is one of two exceptions on this list.

With the Maybank American Express Gold Credit Card, you can earn 5x Membership Rewards points on grocery-related transactions. If you love to dine out once in a while, this card also lets you enjoy exclusive dining privileges at SPG Hotels & Resorts in Malaysia. Click here for more information about this card.

Image via Maybank

What are the other benefits of this card?

  • 5x Membership Rewards points for every RM1 that you spend on petrol, Telco charges, or at a major cineplex and selected bookstores
  • All other retail spends get 2x Membership Rewards points
  • Emergency medical, legal, and financial assistance when you’re travelling
  • Referrals to embassies, consulates, medical services, and legal counsel on your travels
  • Low finance charges

What you’ll need to look out for

  • Any transactions made at government bodies will not be eligible for cash rebates
  • You must be a Maybank account holder to apply for this card

7. Alliance Bank Platinum Credit Card

The Alliance Bank Platinum Credit Card is the second rewards credit card on this list. With this card, you can earn 2x Timeless Bonus Points on all your grocery spends. These points can be redeemed for travel perks, lifestyle products, and gift vouchers. Click here for more information about this card.

Image via Alliance

What are the other benefits of this card?

  • 3x Timeless Bonus Points on overseas retail transactions
  • 2x Timeless Bonus Points on petrol and utility expenses
  • 1x Timeless Bonus Points on all other local retail spends
  • Complimentary unlimited access to Plaza Premium Lounge in KLIA1

What you’ll need to look out for

  • Unlimited airport lounge access is valid for Alliance Privilege (PB) and Alliance Personal (AP) members only
  • Transactions made at government agencies will not be eligible for reward points

Why grocery credit cards make a difference

Now that you’ve got all the important information you need, it’s time you assess your options carefully. To begin with, keep a tab of where you spend the most and pick a card whose benefits suit your spending habits and lifestyle needs.

Don’t go by annual fees and interest charges alone as some credit cards come with benefits that more than justify what you need to shell out to use it.

With the price of daily essentials like groceries mostly on the up, it makes sense for you to try every trick in the book to save some money. Whether your grocery savings are small or big, the money saved will amount to something greater if it’s put to good use.

This article first appeared on BBazaar.my

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