Miles vs Cashback

Best Credit Cards for Furniture Shopping

A new sofa, bed and dining set add up fast, and that is where category caps hurt. The bonus rate on most cards stops after a low monthly spend, so a flat-rate card or a strong online-shopping card tends to earn more on a big furniture haul.

  1. Cashback

    Why it fits: Uncapped flat cashback, so a large furniture order is not throttled by a monthly cap.

    Annual fee S$196.20 · Min income S$30,000

    Pros

    • +Flat 1.6% cashback on every purchase with no minimum spend and no cap
    • +Cashback is earned on foreign-currency spend as well as local spend, with no spend categories to track
    • +First-year annual fee waived, and the standard S$196.20 fee can typically be waived on request thereafter

    Cons

    • 1.6% flat rate is lower than category cards that pay 5-8% on dining, groceries or transport, so heavy category spenders earn less
    • Standard S$196.20 annual fee applies from year two unless waived
    • On overseas spend the ~3.25% Mastercard FX/admin fee exceeds the 1.6% rebate, so net return is effectively negative
    • The headline sign-up rate (e.g. 8% welcome cashback) is a capped promo for the first months only, not the ongoing 1.6% rate
  2. Why it fits: Strong on shopping spend, in store and online, up to its monthly cap.

    Annual fee S$196.20 · Min income S$30,000

    Pros

    • +Up to 6% cashback on both shopping (online and in-store) and transport, including overseas spend that falls in those categories
    • +Entry-level income requirement (S$30,000 for Singaporeans/PRs) makes it accessible to first-time cardholders
    • +Annual fee is waived in the first year and can typically be waived again on request

    Cons

    • S$800 minimum monthly spend required to unlock the 6% bonus rate; below that you only earn 0.3%
    • Monthly cashback is capped at S$70 (S$50 shopping + S$20 transport), so the upside is limited for higher spenders
    • Base rate of 0.3% on non-bonus spend is uncompetitive versus flat-rate cashback cards
    • Card was repositioned in March 2024, removing the previous standalone contactless cashback category
  3. Why it fits: High cashback on online furniture orders, within its monthly cap.

    Annual fee S$196.20 · Min income S$30,000

    Pros

    • +8% cashback on online, contactless mobile and foreign-currency spend
    • +Low entry bar: S$30,000 minimum annual income for Singaporeans/PRs (S$15,000 if aged 55+)
    • +Annual fee waived for the first two years, then auto-waived with S$10,000 annual spend

    Cons

    • Requires at least S$800 in qualifying spend each month, or the rate drops to the 0.3% base
    • Cashback is capped at S$25 per category and S$100 per month, so the 8% effectively maxes out around S$312.50 of spend per category
    • 8% foreign-currency cashback does not offset the ~3.25% foreign transaction fee (1% Visa + 2.25% OCBC) plus DCC risk for heavy overseas use
    • No lounge access or travel perks
  4. Cashback

    Why it fits: Flat cashback with no categories to track on a one-off big buy.

    Annual fee S$174.40 · Min income S$30,000

    Pros

    • +1.5% flat cashback on everything, uncapped, no min spend
    • +3% intro cashback first 6 months, up to S$5,000 spend
    • +First-year annual fee waived
    • +Simple and beginner-friendly, no categories to track

    Cons

    • S$174.40 annual fee from year two
    • 1.5% base rate is low vs tiered cashback cards
    • Amex less widely accepted in Singapore than Visa/Mastercard

Frequently asked questions

Cashback or miles for furniture shopping?
For a large one-off purchase, an uncapped flat cashback card usually wins because category bonus rates are capped at a low monthly spend. Miles can work if you put the spend on a card with a strong, uncapped general earn rate.
Do furniture stores charge a card surcharge?
Some smaller retailers do, and a surcharge can wipe out your cashback. Ask before paying, and factor it in when deciding between card and bank transfer.