You're in your 20s, navigating your career, and come to the realization that the world is your oyster. The right credit card can be the perfect wingwoman on your journey to financial independence and adulthood. Part of the adventure is organizing your finances and building that all-important credit history you keep hearing everyone talk about. Though building credit may seem daunting and confusing, the rules of the game are pretty easy to understand once you sit down and read through all the bells and whistles. These credit cards aren't just pieces of plastic—they're your partners in building a successful financial future. Nothing is more comforting than knowing you’re taking all the necessary steps toward financial freedom and adulting in the way your fellow 20-somethings are adulting, too. A credit card is your golden ticket to financial adulthood, and if you're a woman in your 20s on the hunt for the perfect starter card, we've got you covered.
Why bother with credit cards? Well, there are many stellar reasons to get started other than buying that new makeup product you’ve been eyeing. A credit card—and a good credit score—is your ticket to a successful financial future, whether buying a car, starting a business, or getting a mortgage is in the cards for you. Credit cards are not unlimited streams of income. It’s money given to you from banks in good faith which you’ll have to pay back preferably monthly (or else you can get slammed with some pretty serious interest charges that will only grow larger with time). It’s very important to note that unless absolutely necessary, you should not be spending more than you’re earning. A credit card is tangible proof that you have a large amount of money available to you, but you live well within your means. It’s basically saying, “Hey, I don’t overspend even though I could.” Plus, there are so many benefits and rewards that many credit cards offer which can very well mean extra discounts and cash back for your weekly groceries or the yearly girls’ trip. Here are some of the best that we’ve seen take over the young adult credit card game.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card
Starting the perks off with no annual fee, this card rewards you with 1.5% cash back on any and all purchases. You’ll also receive 5% back on travel purchased exclusively through Chase, as well as 3% back on dining and drug store buys. Plus, you’ll earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Along with other benefits such as purchase protection, 24/7 fraud monitoring, and rotating bonuses through the Chase app, this is the perfect all-around starter card to add to your wallet (or buy a new one with)!
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card
If you’re always plotting your next adventure or are planning a special getaway soon, Chase has you covered with this card. It offers an appealing sign-on bonus—spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months after opening the card and you’ll get $750 dollars worth of points back. It does come with a $95 annual fee, but you’ll also get a $50 dollar credit annually for hotel stays, 5x points on travel purchased through Chase, 3x points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out, and 2x on other travel purchases. With this card, your dream trip to the Italian Coast is one step closer to reality.
Fair warning—this card does come with a hefty $250 annual fee. But, if you look at the benefits, this card might just be perfect depending on your needs and where you spend your money most. It offers a whopping 4x points on restaurants and grocery purchases and 3x points on flights. What’s more, you’ll receive $120 in dining credit and $120 in Uber Cash annually. As with other cards that offer sign-on bonuses, Amex Gold will give you 75,000 reward points if you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months of using your new card. Overall, if you can afford the annual fee, this is a generous card with great perks if you’re a big spender.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
With a $0 annual fee, this credit card from American Express has 0% interest on statement balances for the first 15 months of the account opening. For the ladies paying for the bulk of their grocery hauls, this might be a card to consider as you get 3% cashback on purchases made at U.S. supermarkets up to $6000, then it goes down to 1%. EIther way, this would be a great card to put your grocery haul expenses on because you’re reaping the benefits through ultimately making money on your spending. The same cashback benefit is applied to U.S. online retail purchases and gas spending. Then, the icing on the cake: 1% cash back on all other purchases. So, if you’re looking for an amazing bang for your buck, try out this fitting starter card for no annual fee. Take back your finances and then some!
I bet you’re thinking, “Man, another Chase card?”. Yep, we’re big Chase fans over on this side. This card also boasts a $0 annual fee, which is never a bad thing when it comes to starter cards. The last thing you want to worry about is paying back your statement balance on top of a hefty bill simply for owning the card. What’s the deal with that? For the traveling women, they offer a 5% cashback deal when you purchase through Chase Travel (which you can find in your Chase app). They also offer 3% cashback on restaurant dining for espresso martini-riddled nights, and even for food delivery you might want after happy hour. When you open the card, they offer a $200 statement credit if you spend $500 on the card within three months of your account being opened. You are likely spending this much in a singular month, so instead of putting your expenses on a debit card, reap the benefits of the Freedom Flex and get your $200 bonus!
Discover it® Cash Back Credit Card
Another awesome card with no annual fee! With this card, you’ll earn 5% cash back on a multitude of places like Amazon, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations along with 1% cash back on all other purchases. Discover also offers an unlimited cash-back match for your first year—any amount that you earn, Discover will give the exact number back into your account. Awesome, right? And, for when you’re traveling, this card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, this is a great all-around card no matter where you’re spending your money.
Capital One Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
This Capital One card is perfect for the traveler who wants to avoid foreign transaction fees when putting expenses on one of their cards. Additionally, booking your hotel through Capital One Travel will earn you unlimited 5% cashback on hotels and rental cars. After a while, the bulk of your vacations will start paying for themselves. That’s the thing about credit cards: you’re rewarded for spending money, unlike when you charge your debit card. With the $0 annual fee and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, this card seems like a no-brainer. Similar to the Freedom Flex, you’ll get an extra $200 to keep if you put $500 of your expenses onto the card within the first three months. A little fun bonus: if you apply before 11/14/2024, you’ll get up to six months of a complimentary Uber One membership where you’ll save on taxes, fees, and get delicious discounts on your favorite delivery spots and ride shares. Eating out isn’t cheap, but every gal needs a little treat once in a while.
This card from Citi Bank is another great contender for the girls who don’t want to worry about annual fees creeping up on us before pay day. You’ll earn 5% cashback up to $500 on your most eligible spending category each billing cycle up to $500. Billing cycles occur every month, so the opportunity to get rewarded for spending money only continues! If you’re spending anyway, you might as well try to get some extra dough out of it. They have a special travel offer going on right now, so if you have a big trip coming or you simply yearn to get away from normalcy for a little while, consider seeing if you’re eligible for this card. Through 6/30/2025, you can earn an additional 4% cashback on hotels, car rentals and select attractions if you book through the Citi Travel portal. Opening up a credit card pending a large expense month makes all the difference in your finances.
No matter which card you choose, punctuality is key. Always pay your card in full and on time to avoid any late fees or less-than-stellar credit reports. Furthermore, it isn’t a race to rack up those points—always make a budget and stick to it, which includes keeping your card balance at a solid spot below the limit. It’s recommended that you never use more than 30% at any given time, otherwise your limit might not increase (and therefore, your credit reputation might become a bit tainted). Of course, don’t forget to reward yourself! Take advantage of cashback and rotating discounts to treat yourself to those new shoes or have some extra spending money for the upcoming family vacay. If used correctly, any card will lead you to a brighter financial future, one swipe at a time. Remember: work smarter and not harder, ladies!
