It really depends on your personal situation, you need to take some things into consideration; personal finance, reward preferences & travel preferences.
Personal Finance
I know it's a devil's circle, but if you don't have a good credit score & history, some banks and credit cards will automatically deny you. Even if you have a high income currently. So it might be smart to look for a card with a low entry barrier. Typically these are the ones with little to no annual fee & much fewer benefits. I was very lucky that my parents added me as an authorized user to one of their accounts when I was 12 years old. However, I still had trouble getting accepted for other credit cards at around age 20. Age is definitely another factor that could result in being denied quickly, even if you have significant income
A lot of cards have annual fees, some as low as $50 per year to as high $695 (the infamous Amex Platinum Card). It's important to evaluate if, firstly, this is something you can afford, and secondly, if you will actually make full use of the value the card has to offer. I personally love the Capital One Venture X card that has a $395 annual fee. It includes a $300 hotel travel credit, which is easy for me to use since I travel a lot.
Reward Preferencs
What kind of rewards can you get with your earned miles/points? It's not just airline miles. You can get gift cards, cash back, credit on your bill, premium statuses at partners (ie. rental cars & hotels), access to lounges, travel insurance, credit for global entry or TSA pre-check application, exclusive early access to events & more!
Do you travel a lot? Would extra points/miles help you upgrade your travel? Would you prefer cash back on all of your purchases? Do you travel enough to value access to lounges globally? Is higher status at specific airlines, hotels or rental car companies important to you? All good things you need to consider and evaluate if you will be able to get the full value out of the card. Basically, make sure the annual fee you're paying is worth your while.
Travel Preferences
Most credit cards have at least some level of travel integrated into their rewards system. Some give your rewards for one specific airline or hotel. Others allow you to transfer points to a variety of travel partners. Be sure to check which travel partners you actually use before applying for any card.
If you have preference for one or a few airlines, it is definitely worth it to get the credit card associated with that airline. Most help you reach airline status more quickly, offer free first checked bag, lounge passes & Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit. Usually after just 2-3 domestic flights, you have used the value of the annual fee.
I have two United credit cards. I aim to fly almost solely United to build status. United partners with Swiss and I travel frequently to Switzerland. I have been able to book many long haul flights (USA-Switzerland) on almost miles entirely. I also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card which helps me earn even more for United (which is a partner, so you can transfer points to United miles). For this card, I get 3x points on dining whereas the United cards give me 2x.
But maybe you don't travel so much and a cash back card would be better for you. There's plenty of great ones our there, like the Chase Freedom. Evaluate how you might get the most value out of a card.
Conclusion
Overall, it is important to look at your own preferences and financial situation. While I think it is a waste to not use credit cards at all, they aren't for everyone. You should treat credit cards like cash, do not spend what you don't have, and always pay your bill on time. Ideally, you want to be able to earn rewards from your every day expenses. Maybe it helps you to book a cool trip you would not have gone on otherwise, save money with cash back on your purchases, or elevate your trip with upgrades. Whatever it is, take advantage!
Disclaimer: If you are in a difficult financial situation, please seek help from a professional. This is not financial advice. If you would like advice, please seek help from a professional. Some of the links are my personal referral links. I will not earn money if you use them. If you sign up with some of them, I may earn miles/points on those cards. Thanks!
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