Credit card perks can be very useful and with one or two good cards — you could be enjoying free airline flights, free hotels stays and more.

Just in case you’re not familiar with USAA, it’s a large financial services provider that’s been around since 1922. I’ve been looking at their credit cards and the USAA Secured Credit Cards really caught my eye.

Understand that a 600 credit score will not bring you reasonable mortgage offers. While you may have an option or two, you will not find a choice that mirrors the home loan rates you read about. You might find a lender willing to offer you a mortgage if you can strongly defend the circumstances that caused your depressed credit score. Your best option, in these circumstances, is an FHA loan.

With an American Express Blue Cash Preferred Credit Card you will get $150 back after you spend $1,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months and you will receive $150 back in the form of a statement credit.

If you’re nervously waiting to see if that mortgage loan you have applied for will be approved, here is what the bank is basically looking at — Your 4 C’s.