A commenter on a recent article of mine on credit card usage, suggested a follow-up post with an eye to uncovering the mysteries of credit card rewards programs.
And in my research, I discovered it’s a murky world of points, rebates, fees, and interest rates out there! A lot of it comes down to personal choice, but here is some information to aid your plight for a suitable credit card rewards program:
Three types of rewards
There are typically three types of rewards programs: point-based, cash back, and frequent flyer miles. Some programs offer combinations of these rewards, with varying value for point redeemed.
Points-based programs involve accumulating points (based on the amount you spend), and then redeeming your points for merchandise from their catalogue. Points leave a little to be desired, since depending on what you redeem your points for you might not get a lot of value.
For example, Smart Money has an article on this topic , where they show you the Good, Bad, and Ugly of credit card rewards programs. Case in point for the ugly:
You could trade 39,200 Bank of America WorldPoints for a 30GB iPod, which retails for $249. Or you could use just 35,000 points to get a $350 check — enough to buy the iPod at your local electronics store. You'd come out roughly $100 ahead, and saved 4,200 points to use for another reward.
Gift certificates tend to be the best value for your points when flipping through the catalogue, and it is generally recommended that you stay away from the merchandise, since it is over-priced and lacking in quality. The gift certificate option also carries an added value advantage, since credit companies strike deals with the retailers to give them a deal on the gift certificates, whereas a dollar is a dollar when it comes to cheques or merchandise.
Cash back is most common, and offers quick rewards for your buck. However they can also have limitations; Some will only start to honour the cash back policy once you have spent a minimum amount of money, and yet others will cap the total amount of cash they’ll reward.
Frequent Flyer Miles for airline tickets will sometimes give you the best bang for their buck, but can be a pain to redeem. Many issuers have blackout times, while others only designate a certain number of seats per flight as airline rewardable seats. If you don’t book your ticket early enough you can be out of luck, especially if you want a flight that’s commonly flown and redeemed for.
Saving for airline ticket rewards can also be tedious and take some time to accumulate for, and in this changing airline world, increasing fees and limitations could pose problems in the future. I have already noticed that one of the rewards programs I use have imposed a stipulation that if you do not use your points within seven years of the point being rewarded to your account, you lose it. So if you are saving up for a big reward (or on the flip side have accumulated tons of points over the years and haven’t used them), you may lose your chance.
Also, expect to pay out of pocket for the taxes, fuel surcharges, and other miscellaneous expenses (like a special booking charge if you redeem on the phone with an agent as opposed to online). But hey – a buck is a buck. To fly across the country (or around the world) for the cost of the taxes is rarely something to complain about.
Tips for the reward-hungry credit card user
Pay off that balance!
As stressed in my previous article and related comments, using a rewards program is for responsible credit card users. If you rack up a balance with an eye to getting rewards, and then spend the next 6 months or more trying to pay off the balance (and paying interest all the while), then the value of your rewards decreases significantly. Pay off those darn cards every month and treat your credit card like a debit card or chequebook– if you don’t have the money in your account, don’t whip out the plastic.
Don’t get sidetracked by the smaller rewards
Initially it can take time to build up a big enough balance to start redeeming for the rewards you really want. Don’t lose patience and redeem your 800 points for an item of insignificant value when what you really got the card for was airline tickets, or special gift certificates. Most rewards programs have tiered systems that offer sweeter rewards (with better value) for those with more points. Your patience in saving up will be rewarded.
Get the card for the rewards you want
If what you want is an airline ticket to Hawaii, then search for the best card to get you there. I found a program (in Canada) where flights to Hawaii required fewer points than even some continental flights, and I chose that card with an eye to getting that ticket. It took time, but my boyfriend and I are now living (temporarily) in Hawaii, and got return tickets for a total of $76 in taxes for both of us (whereas paying in cash would have been over $1,600 for both of us).
Look for bonus points
Lots of programs will offer bonus points depending on where you spend your money or what you buy. Check online for bonus offers regularly, and spend wisely. You can often get triple the miles with a little research and effort.
Look at points conversion programs
Some programs are in cahoots with each other, and you can transfer or convert miles from one program to another. Be wary of those that charge a fee to do so, and take a close look at the conversion ratio. Sometimes they’re way out of whack such that is makes no sense to convert.
Specific programs vary from country to country (and sometimes even within regions), so I won’t go into many specifics with regards to individual program choices. It's up to you to decide which rewards will ultimately benefit you the most. Just remember to use it wisely or else the interest fees will end up costing you more than you're getting in rewards, and it's a safe bet that that is exactly what the credit card companies are counting on.
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