Credit Cards

What’s in Don Draper’s Wallet?

May 28, 2012 by Beverly Blair Harzog 0 Comments

It’s sizzling times at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, the fictional ad agency on Mad Men. With all the drinking, dining and carousing going on every week, you just know the characters have to be packing some powerful plastic. Here’s a look at what’s in each character’s wallet.

Don Draper: Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

You probably thought that Don would carry The Centurion Card from American Express. Oh, he got invited to be a cardmember, but was declined. Although he likes nice things, he’ll never forget growing up poor as Dick Whitman.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is not unlike Don himself. They’re both elite, but not too pretentious. And they’re both eye-catching and loaded with, ahem, great features.

With his job and his new wife, Don is on the go a lot. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, he’ll earn 40,000 bonus points after he spends $3,000 within the first three months, which is good for $500 toward travel rewards. With 2 points per dollar spent on dining and travel, Don will rack up points in a hurry.

Since Don doesn’t like limitations, he’s really happy that the number of points he can earn is unlimited and that they never expire. That really suits his style.

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Megan Draper: Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card (authorized user on husband Don’s card)

Don’s new wife, Megan, has a problem. And no, I’m not talking about a recent episode where she hurled a plate of spaghetti at the wall when Don was late for dinner. Okay, she probably does have a problem with anger management.

But the problem I’m referring to is that Megan can’t qualify for a credit card on her own. She just quit her job at the ad agency to pursue acting. So without an income of her own, she’ll have to settle for being an authorized user on Don’s credit card account. Remember, this is the ’60s.

Fast forward to 2012. Isn’t it ironic that a regulation in the Credit CARD Act of 2009 created a situation where stay-at-home moms are being told they need the hubby’s permission to get a card? Hey, it’s like we’re back in the ’60s.

It was originally meant to protect young adults without sufficient income from getting a credit card. Unfortunately, it’s been interpreted broadly and is sending the message that stay-at-home parents aren’t making a valuable contribution to the world. Fix the wording on the bill, Washington.

Roger Sterling: Escape by Discover Card

Oh, my goodness, this pick was way too easy. Notice that the theme for Roger this year is that he’s blowing up his life? And to think it all started with the ultimate escape from reality, an LSD trip. By the time he left fantasy land, he and his wife had called it quits and he realized he was getting old. Anyone else think Roger might be island hopping by the end of this season?

Escape by Discover gives Roger exactly what he needs: Double miles for every dollar spent. Whenever he feels the need to take off, he can draw on his cache of miles. This card also has a low starting APR of 10.99 percent in case he starts carrying a balance. With two ex-wives to support, I kind of see cash flow issues in his future. We won’t even mention the baby.

Peggy Olson: Citi Forward Card

Peggy is a young, single professional living in Manhattan. She works hard and rarely goes home. She needs to get out and enjoy life a little more. The Citi Forward Card gives Peggy a chance to earn 5 ThankYou points for every dollar spent at restaurants and on music, movies, and books. After she spends $650 within the first three months, she gets 10,000 bonus points, which is worth $100 in gift cards.

And given that she’s a woman who grew up in the ’40s and ’50s, I’m guessing her parents didn’t teach her money management skills. The Citi Forward Card can help her develop a lifelong habit of paying bills on time. If she stays under her credit limit and pays her bill on time for three months in a row, she gets a 0.25 percent reduction on her APR. She can earn up to a 2 percent reduction.

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Image: Lan Bui, via Flickr

What’s in Don Draper’s Wallet? (cont.) »

At publishing time, Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card, Escape by Discover Card and Citi Forward Card offered on Credit.com product pages and Credit.com may be compensated if our users apply for and ultimately sign up for these cards through the American Express Affiliate Program. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment.

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