Since you'll pay in full, APR isn't the top priority, but it's still nice to have a reasonable one for emergencies. Focus on no annual fee and simple, flat cashback with no rotating categories or caps, and a $0 or very low redemption minimum that can post as a statement credit or bank deposit automatically. Make sure the card reports to all three bureaus, has a standard purchase grace period, and doesn't tack on junk fees like setup, monthly maintenance, paper statement, or authorized user fees. If you're in school, a student card is perfect; if not and your history is thin, a secured card that graduates and refunds your deposit beats a subprime unsecured card with fees. Use soft-pull prequalification and consider a credit union for easier approval and a better starting limit.
Watch for gotchas like foreign transaction fees (often 3%), cash advance fees and higher cash advance APR that starts accruing interest immediately, penalty APRs after a late payment, and sign-up bonus minimum spends that don't fit your budget. Rewards fine print matters: some cards make you wait until $25 to redeem, let rewards expire if the account is inactive, or require quarterly activation for rotating 5% categories with low caps. Check how credit limit increases work (no fee, ideally automatic after 6–12 on-time payments), whether balance transfers are available and at what fee, and that late and returned-payment fees are standard, not inflated. Practical habits: set autopay to the full statement balance, keep reported utilization under about 10% by making an extra payment before the statement closes, and aim for a limit you won't regularly max out. After 6–12 months of clean history, request a higher limit or product change to a better rewards card, and keep your first card open to preserve account age.
