How do I choose the right cashback credit card?

# The main thing is don't go for a card just for the cashback! A lot of people get tempted by 3-5% returns, but then they end up spending more on the card than they planned, or they're paying annual fees that eat up all the cashback. First, check if you're actually going to use it and whether it'll pay for itself at all. If you're getting a card for yourself, not for status - that's the right approach!

Cashback of 1-3% is considered normal baseline, 5% is already decent, and anything higher - watch out for the catch! Banks often give high percentages only on specific categories (movies, groceries, gas stations), everything else is symbolic. Plus there might be a cap: like, max 500 rubles a month in cashback, after that you get nothing. Or they require a minimum monthly spending to activate the conditions!

Before you sign up, carefully read the agreement: are there fees for cash withdrawals, what's the annual maintenance, do you need to make purchases in a certain period so they don't freeze your cashback. Sometimes a card looks profitable until you find out the cashback only applies if you spent more than 50 thousand rubles a month! Pick ones where the terms are as simple as possible - that way you'll actually get the benefit without any surprises!