Military Star Card

AndreaArdelean

Hi - I hope this question isn't too off topic, but it has to go with savings-before-having-Baby...

Do any of you have Military Star Card? I see they advertise a $0.07-$0.09 off of every dollar when you fuel up on Post, and in the food courts. 

Luckily, we are living off of his income as it makes sense for me to stay at home at this point. I work at home, but when baby comes, I may make under $10k/year. I know on a lot of cards, they look at your income to see if you're approved. I have one other credit card but pay it to $0 every month (no debt).

I know when we have the baby, every penny will count. Are there any catches to this card?

LemonLover33

I work at AAFES. It is 5 cents off a gallon every day and then promotions cn take off from 7-20 cents. The interest rate is not too terribly bad. The problem I have with it is that they give a decent amount of available credit to people who can be irresponsible with money. You can buy giftcards with it and people use those when strapped for cash. People who get in trouble with regular credit cards will get in trouble with the MSC. I personally plan on never getting one. Instead I shop at kroger and get my .10 off at the shell station. Gas isn't cheaper on base.

AndreaArdelean

Thanks. I was looking at using the card to buy a crib on Post. They offer a huge discount for your first purchase (sometimes 10%). It is just that I'm so wary of deals that seem too-good-to-be-true...

samanthadarneille

We have military star cards and they are great!! Our gas prices are waayy expensive in the DC area and so 5 cents off a gallon or $4.07 (on base) seems like a good deal compared to the $4.45 gas prices in some areas in the city.

Just make sure to pay off your credit cards after you use them (common sense) but most people don't do that. We were suprised that our credit limit was as high as it was with them. But you can only use the cards at the shoppette or the exchange. So you wont get into too much trouble with buying groceries from the commisary (which I like).

LemonLover33

AndreaArdelean:

Thanks. I was looking at using the card to buy a crib on Post. They offer a huge discount for your first purchase (sometimes 10%). It is just that I'm so wary of deals that seem too-good-to-be-true...

it's 10% off your first day of use. So I would only use it for a big purchase that I had saved up for so I could pay it off asap and sve 10%

Smudges*Mom

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that if one does not pay as necessary on their MSC, AAFES (or whomever) is able to have funds taken directly from the service member's paycheck. Their potential loss is mitigated--that is one reason why credit limits are higher. If a service member gets in trouble with their MSC, they are screwing themselves. If you are able to manage your money and credit cards, then opening an account can be a positive. Just be very careful and make your payments on time!

PhotoFan

You'll most likely get approved.  I got my Military Star Card when I was an E-1 in the Navy with NO credit history and they gave me a $500 credit limit.   Now 11 years later my Credit limit is $8200 and this charge account has helped my credit score immensely!  I would definitely invest in one.

LemonLover33

Smudges*Mom:

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that if one does not pay as necessary on their MSC, AAFES (or whomever) is able to have funds taken directly from the service member's paycheck. Their potential loss is mitigated--that is one reason why credit limits are higher. If a service member gets in trouble with their MSC, they are screwing themselves. If you are able to manage your money and credit cards, then opening an account can be a positive. Just be very careful and make your payments on time!

You are most certainly correct.

theaustins05

I love my military star card. I just wish we could use it at the commissary too.

MyHusbandMyHero

Love our star card.. at the end of the month you can be strapped for extra cash, when you are a lowering ranking enlisted member. You can buy milk and bread at the shopette or gas. We do that then pay it off the next pay check -- seems like a vicious cycle but thats how the ball bounces haha. They do offer a LOT of credit. It was great when my DH first came into the military because he was 18 and had no credit and they were the first to extend him some to build his credit. Its a credit card, just be responsible.

HisChamaoleGirl

The only time I find my MSC to be usefull is when we purchase gas on base. Other than that I prefer to use my USAA credit card because there is a reward system in place in the form of cash back. I dislike that MSC raises the credit limit on its own and if you request that it be lowered it will not go back up later if you request a credit increase.

PhotoFan

*HiS ChAmAoLe GiRL*:

The only time I find my MSC to be usefull is when we purchase gas on base. Other than that I prefer to use my USAA credit card because there is a reward system in place in the form of cash back. I dislike that MSC raises the credit limit on its own and if you request that it be lowered it will not go back up later if you request a credit increase.

 

Lots of credit cards/charge cards do this....I have a credit card through Navy Fed and they raised my limit without me asking. So it's not just the MSC and to say that they are the only ones that do that is a false statement.

LemonLover33

PhotoFan:

*HiS ChAmAoLe GiRL*:

The only time I find my MSC to be usefull is when we purchase gas on base. Other than that I prefer to use my USAA credit card because there is a reward system in place in the form of cash back. I dislike that MSC raises the credit limit on its own and if you request that it be lowered it will not go back up later if you request a credit increase.

 

Lots of credit cards/charge cards do this....I have a credit card through Navy Fed and they raised my limit without me asking. So it's not just the MSC and to say that they are the only ones that do that is a false statement.

um. She never said they were the only one who did that...

carecamp

samanthadarneille:

We have military star cards and they are great!! Our gas prices are waayy expensive in the DC area and so 5 cents off a gallon or $4.07 (on base) seems like a good deal compared to the $4.45 gas prices in some areas in the city.

Just make sure to pay off your credit cards after you use them (common sense) but most people don't do that. We were suprised that our credit limit was as high as it was with them. But you can only use the cards at the shoppette or the exchange. So you wont get into too much trouble with buying groceries from the commisary (which I like).

I believe you can only use it at the Commissary if you have the visa/mastercard one(don't know which company they use) but I could very possibly be wrong as I haven't lived near a base since last year.

HisChamaoleGirl

LemonLover33:

PhotoFan:

*HiS ChAmAoLe GiRL*:

The only time I find my MSC to be usefull is when we purchase gas on base. Other than that I prefer to use my USAA credit card because there is a reward system in place in the form of cash back. I dislike that MSC raises the credit limit on its own and if you request that it be lowered it will not go back up later if you request a credit increase.

 

Lots of credit cards/charge cards do this....I have a credit card through Navy Fed and they raised my limit without me asking. So it's not just the MSC and to say that they are the only ones that do that is a false statement.

um. She never said they were the only one who did that...

 

I was just pointing out that if you want your credit limit lowered you CAN request it, but I was told the amount would never go up again. I personally don't mind that limitation bc I can't see myself spending $9,000 on base and I don't want that high of a credit limit for a card I rarely use.

atchaleigh

carecamp:

samanthadarneille:

We have military star cards and they are great!! Our gas prices are waayy expensive in the DC area and so 5 cents off a gallon or $4.07 (on base) seems like a good deal compared to the $4.45 gas prices in some areas in the city.

Just make sure to pay off your credit cards after you use them (common sense) but most people don't do that. We were suprised that our credit limit was as high as it was with them. But you can only use the cards at the shoppette or the exchange. So you wont get into too much trouble with buying groceries from the commisary (which I like).

I believe you can only use it at the Commissary if you have the visa/mastercard one(don't know which company they use) but I could very possibly be wrong as I haven't lived near a base since last year.

 

You're right. You can actually use the visa/mastercard one anywhere. It's just harder to get approved for and you get a lower limit.

UberTroll

Smudges*Mom:

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that if one does not pay as necessary on their MSC, AAFES (or whomever) is able to have funds taken directly from the service member's paycheck. Their potential loss is mitigated--that is one reason why credit limits are higher. If a service member gets in trouble with their MSC, they are screwing themselves. If you are able to manage your money and credit cards, then opening an account can be a positive. Just be very careful and make your payments on time!

 

Leaving Tech School (AIT) this actually happened to me. I got a $13 check arriving at my first base. As with any credit card, just be sensible.

yvonneg89

Our MSC doesn't have an interest rate...idk how that happened but I love it!

UberTroll

yvonneg89:

Our MSC doesn't have an interest rate...idk how that happened but I love it!

The Military Clothing part of it never has an interest rate, but the other part, for everything else should. That's awesome!

yvonneg89

See I thought it was just for his uniforms too! but we bought our $1600 tv plus bluray and stuff for the house no interest, no promotions and we've had the card for 3 years now....weird! Anyone know why?

PhotoFan

yvonneg89:

See I thought it was just for his uniforms too! but we bought our $1600 tv plus bluray and stuff for the house no interest, no promotions and we've had the card for 3 years now....weird! Anyone know why?

I think it's automatic that you get interest free for so many years, depending on what you buy, if you use your Star Card.  I know I purchased my Mac using my Star Card.....I paid it off in 5 months.....but it would have been interest free for 2  years.  

yvonneg89

PhotoFan:

I think it's automatic that you get interest free for so many years, depending on what you buy, if you use your Star Card.  I know I purchased my Mac using my Star Card.....I paid it off in 5 months.....but it would have been interest free for 2  years.  

 

Ohhhh...well that explains it! LOL I knew about uniforms, but maybe it applies to big purchases like you said...

rothcomilitaryclothing

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