Articles | How to Get the Best Rewards from Rewards Credit Cards

Availing of rewards credit cards is a great way to get something valuable back while you re using the card for your daily expenses. But how do you get the best reward for your points? Here are some tips:

Buy from the merchant partnered with the card. This will usually qualify you for bigger rewards than what you would get when you use the card with other merchants. For example, if you have a Best Buy card you can get higher rewards when you use it to make purchases at Best Buy.

Consider getting gift cards as your reward. It usually takes fewer points to redeem a gift card than to save up for a certain product, and you can use the card to buy that item. In addition, if the particular reward isn t offered by the program, gift cards offer you the flexibility to spend them on that item.

Use the points to pay for your credit card bills. Although this may not be as satisfying as getting a new TV or DVD player, using your points to get a credit against your credit card bill can be as rewarding.

Go for the smaller rewards. You can get many good low-end rewards for fewer points that can be just as good as the regular rewards. They can also be a good way to cash in your points before the expiration date so they won t be wasted.

Don t redeem your points to get electronics. These items generally have higher point values compared with other products, meaning that you ll end up having to spend more to earn the points compared with the genuine value of the item.

Consider buying the points you need to redeem your desired reward. Many rewards credit cards programs allow you to buy points or you can become a member of rewards programs management sites that allow you to augment or trade your points.

Check the retail price of the item to decide if it s the best reward. Remember to treat your points as if they were actual cash and spend them accordingly to get the most beneficial deal.

Look for the sales. Your rewards program might sometimes offer products that you can redeem for discounted points that you may need.

Share your points. If there is a certain reward that you want but the point value is too high for you to earn on your own, you can merge your points with a friend s. Many rewards programs now allow you to do this, and they re a great way to get an item that neither of you could afford individually.

Make sure you keep track of your points. You can do this using a simple Excel spreadsheet or you can sign up with rewards programs management sites that allow you to monitor your points online using applications on their site.

Don t spread your point accumulation across several rewards credit cards. If you want a particular reward then you should concentrate on accumulating points on that card.