rewards points

This Is When It Pays to Stay Loyal to a Rewards Credit Card

Holly Johnson — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 08:00:11 +0000

The best travel and rewards credit cards offer a tantalizing game of risk. If you can charge your purchases and rack up rewards without carrying a balance or paying interest, you usually win. If you overspend with credit and wind up in debt, on the other hand, you lose the game — and will pay through the nose.

Still, there are more facets to this game that extend far beyond the risk of debt. If you choose your rewards and travel cards wisely and use them strategically, you can earn a lot more points and miles over time. Staying loyal to a brand can also help you make the most of your efforts, but only in certain situations.

This is why it's important to know when loyalty pays off. Here are some scenarios where sticking to one rewards credit card or one loyalty program can work in your favor.

When you can reach your redemption goals faster

Staying loyal to a rewards brand can pay off by helping you reach optimal redemptions faster. For example, let's say you mostly stick with flexible rewards programs that let you transfer points to your favorite airline loyalty program. If you were to focus all your spending with one brand of cards that lets you transfer miles, your collective efforts with a single card brand would let you rack up points you can transfer a lot faster than attempting the same thing with several cards from different brands.

Or perhaps you're loyal to a single airline or hotel loyalty program. So, imagine you want to fly first class with a particular airline to Europe for 115,000 miles round-trip. It might be difficult to secure this redemption if you were earning miles and sign-up bonuses with several airlines within a year. However, it would be a much easier task to earn the miles for this flight if you specifically used that airline's co-branded credit card, cashed in any sign-up bonuses, and flew mostly with that airline for a while.

When you can earn free hotel stays

There are also situations in which pooling your points can help you earn better redemptions. One example is with hotel loyalty programs that let you earn a fifth night stay for free. With fifth-night-free promotions, keeping all your hotel in points with one brand makes a lot of sense since you get to book five nights for the price of four. (See also: 6 Ways My Family Scores Free Travel With Credit Cards)

However, this only works when you have enough points to book four consecutive nights, which may not happen if you're enrolled in several hotel programs at once.

When you can earn category bonus points

If your goal is earning a ton of points and miles, you need to make sure you're maximizing the travel cards you have. By and large, this means using the right card for the right purchase and making the most of category bonuses when you can (e.g. using a card that offers bonus points on dining when you eat at a restaurant).

Take the guesswork out of that by downloading an app like Reward Summit. This service will take a look at your rewards cards before you make a purchase and tells you which card would be optimal based on the rewards you will earn.

When you strategically pursue sign-up bonuses

While ongoing rewards can be lucrative, credit card sign-up bonuses are where the real value is at. Many cards let you earn bonuses worth $500 or more just for spending $3,000 or $4,000 on your card within a few months.

To get the most out of these offers, expect to sign up for a new rewards card with your preferred card issuer or rewards program every year. This way, you're always working toward a minimum spending requirement and a big chunk of cashback, airline miles, or flexible travel rewards.

When you get your spouse or partner on board

Remember that you don't have to chase sign-up bonuses or ongoing rewards alone. Your spouse or partner can earn the same rewards you are, including sign-up bonuses — and this is true even if you share the same address.

When you get your spouse involved, you can easily earn double the rewards in the same amount of time. You could even do better if you're able to pool your points with a spouse for optimal redemptions. (See also: 9 Surprising Ways Marriage Can Make You Richer)

When you pay all your expenses with credit

Don't forget the importance of paying all or most of your bills with credit — at least the ones that don't charge a fee for paying with plastic. This should include bills like groceries, gas, insurance premiums, utility bills, and dining out. The more expenses you can pay with a rewards card, the more points and miles you will rack up by default.

When you pay your balances in full

It's important to remember the ultimate credit card hack: Paying your balances in full every month. None of these tips and tricks will work in your favor if you're carrying a balance and paying credit card interest every month. With the average credit card now charging over 17% APR, that interest will wipe out your rewards and then some. (See also: 15 Ways Your Life Is Better When You Have Good Credit)

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This article is from Holly Johnson of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Score a First or Business Class Seat With Rewards Points

Carrie Kirby — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 08:30:18 +0000

There's a practical reason to save up miles to fly first or business class: You often get more value per mile than you do on a coach trip.

But the real reason that I've been gathering miles for my first international business class trip isn't so practical. It's fanciful. I want a flight attendant to bring me warm nuts in a cloth napkin. I want an amenity kit. I want to feel special.

In a couple of weeks, my mother and I will be flying business class from Brisbane, Australia, to Honolulu. I'm already poring over menus — will I choose the short ribs or the shrimp? Our seats will transform to lie-flat beds. We paid 65,000 American AAdvantage miles each to take this flight on American partner Hawaiian Airlines. (See also: Best Airlines for Scoring First or Business Class Award Seats)

Is first class unattainable to the average person? Not if you play your points right. There are several ways to leverage your miles and points to get that upfront seat.

Use miles to purchase a first class ticket from the airline

Using your miles to book seats in business or first class can be a bargain. For example, many airlines only require twice as many miles for a business class award as for an economy seat — sometimes even less. That's a deal, considering that business class seats often cost three to four times as much as the economy seats if you pay in dollars.

The cost in miles of first class seats ranges from just 14,500 for a short domestic one-way Delta flight to 280,000 KrisFlyer miles to ride in one of Singapore Airlines' luxurious suites from New York to Sydney. Those numbers aren't apples to apples, since some airlines' miles are more valuable than others, but the take-away is that you need quite a few miles to sleep in Singapore's double bed in the sky.

You book premium class seats the same way you'd book economy class seats using miles. On the search page of the website, look for a check box labeled "use miles" or something similar. Some airlines, such as Hawaiian, require you to log in before the option to see prices in miles. (See also: 4 Tools That Help You Find Free Award Flights)

If you have almost but not quite enough miles to book your first class trip, some airlines allow you to pay with a combination of miles and cash. Others offer you the chance to purchase miles. If you're considering buying miles, make sure you compare the final price of the ticket with purchased miles to the cost of just buying the ticket outright.

Use miles to upgrade

A word of warning here. While it's possible to upgrade your ticket with miles, it's rarely a good idea. Many airlines require you to buy a higher fare in order to be eligible for upgrading with miles. In addition, the number of miles charged for these upgrades is often high — sometimes nearly as many as you'd pay for a full award ticket. On top of that, airlines sometimes require a cash copay when upgrading with miles.

Also note that if you used miles to book an economy ticket, you probably won't be able to upgrade that ticket to a premium cabin. (There are a few exceptions for members with elite status.) But if you bought the ticket with cash or used credit card points to buy it through an online portal, you can probably still upgrade it.

If you still want to go this route, the first thing you would need to do to check for upgrade eligibility is find out your ticket's fare class. For instance, American Airlines allows miles upgrades for full fare economy tickets in the Y fare class, or discount economy tickets purchased in the H, K, or a number of other fare classes. Look for one of these letter codes on the screen when you purchase your ticket, or on your email receipt afterward. If you can't find it, you can call the airline and ask.

For an American Airlines domestic flight, it costs 15,000 miles to upgrade from a discount economy fare to business class, or 15,000 miles to upgrade from discount business to first (both one-way). If you're flying to Europe or South America, those upgrades will cost you 25,000 miles each way. The airline also charges fees of $75 to $550 for the upgrades, and they warn that you may owe more taxes or fees on top of that. Again, these fees and mileage requirements are so steep, you may be better off just paying for a premium seat with miles or dollars. (See also: Which American Airlines Credit Card Should You Get?)

What's more, having the miles in your pocket does not guarantee that you'll get an upgrade. You'll have to request it from the airline. With American, you have to call reservations to do that. If there are seats available for upgrade, the agent could upgrade you immediately. Otherwise, they will put you on a waitlist with other people who have requested upgrades. If you don't have status, you're at the back of the line. If you don't hear from the airline before you leave for the airport, you'll be on the upgrade standby list. Just hope the gate agent calls your name before the flight.

Use points to purchase a first class ticket through a portal

Several banks or credit card issuers have travel portals, where you can spend credit card points to purchase flights, including first class flights. The same banks generally have airline partners that you could transfer your points to. So it's a good idea to weigh the pros and cons of using credit card points on the travel portal versus transferring the points to an airline. (See also: Best Credit Cards That Transfer Points to Airline Miles)

You might get more value per point by transferring to an airline. However, booking through the credit card portal has advantages too. The airline usually views flights purchased this way as revenue flights, not award flights. That means you'll probably earn frequent flyer miles for the flight, and you might be able to use miles to upgrade the flight as described above. Another advantage is that airlines may offer a limited number of seats as award seats on any given flight, and have holiday blackout dates, but buyers using a travel portal shouldn't run into those limitations. (See also: Airline Credit Card or Flexible Rewards Card: What's the Best Way to Earn a Free Flight?)

The number of points it will cost to purchase the flight this way generally corresponds to the flight's cost in dollars. For instance, a premium class flight from San Francisco to New York on one such portal cost $649 — or 64,900 points. (See also: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards)

But how would you ever get so many points?

It may seem pie in the sky to dream of amassing 280,000 miles to fly one way in a suite with turndown service. But it's not as out of reach as it seems, even for people who don't fly constantly.

For my business class flight, I collected the American AAdvantage miles I needed by signing up for just one new credit card. (See also: The Best Sign-up Bonuses for Travel Rewards Credit Cards)

For another one-way business class flight I'm planning, also on Hawaiian Airlines, I got the needed miles by applying for a credit card, having my husband apply for the same card and transfer the miles to me, and by transferring points from a partner credit card to my Hawaiian Airlines account. Not all programs allow transferring points from person-to-person, so read the fine print before attempting a hat trick like that.

But neither of my premium flights are as expensive or as luxurious as a suite in the sky. What if you have your heart set on that? It'll take longer, but it's doable. There are premium credit cards out there that reward new sign-ups with as many as 100,000 miles or points after spending a certain amount of money. If you go with a card for your airline of choice, or one that partners with your airline of choice, and you put all your spending on it, it's not inconceivable that you could amass several hundred thousand miles within a year or two. (See also: 5 Steps to Picking the Best Airline Credit Card for the Most Rewards Value)

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This article is from Carrie Kirby of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Why You Should Sign Up for Airline Rewards Even If You Don't Travel Much

Carrie Kirby — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 08:30:09 +0000

So you've got a busy job that never sends you on trips. Or you're terrified of flying. Or you have small kids whom you dread dragging onto an airplane. Sign up for some frequent flyer accounts anyway. (See also: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards)

Why bother if you're not going to be earning miles by buying airplane tickets? Because there are a lot of ways you can accumulate miles besides flying. Once you have all those miles, you can save up for a dream trip or one amazing vacation per year. And if you truly plan to never fly, you can even spend your miles on stuff other than flights.

How to earn miles without flying

My friends say they can't understand how I travel for free through frequent flyer miles, when they have never flown enough times to earn a single free flight. My answer is that I haven't bought enough plane tickets to earn free flights either. I earn the bulk of my miles right here on the ground. There are so many ways to earn frequent flyer miles without flying.

Credit cards

The fastest and easiest way to accumulate frequent flyer miles is by getting a new credit card. Just today, I signed up for a card that will pay me 40,000 miles after my first purchase of any amount. Typically, a new card will pay a similar or larger bonus after you meet a required minimum spend in the range of $1,000 to $5,000.

These cards will also pay you one or more mile per dollar you spend. If you are responsible for running a household of multiple people, like I am, you may find it easy to accumulate 3,000 or more miles per month paying for things such as groceries, kids' day care or activities, gas, etc. Even without the sign-up bonus, that would amount to more than 30,000 miles per year — enough for a round-trip domestic flight on most airlines or a one-way ticket to Europe. (See also: How to Use Travel Rewards Cards to Get Free Trips)

By combining bonuses and points for my monthly spend, I've been able to get my whole family to Australia and back, among other trips — with few of those points coming from actual flights.

Online shopping

You may find it more rewarding to use an airline shopping portal than a rebate site, such as eBates, when making online purchases. During the past two years, I earned about 5,000 miles each year through online purchases, and I am not a big shopper.

Other partner purchases

Rental cars and hotel stays are also good ways to accumulate frequent flyer miles without flying. Don't forget to put down your frequent flyer number at check-in.

Also, you can often get a mileage bonus for switching cable companies or signing up for a new phone plan. I currently get just over 400 miles after I pay my bill every month, which will net me another 5,000 miles this year.

Finally, don't forget to register all your credit cards with airline dining programs, so that you can get miles for eating out at participating restaurants without even thinking about it.

What to do with the miles

The best value for miles is generally flying — especially international flights in business or first class. So if you don't travel much, but you would like to take a trip one of these days, saving up for a really great one is a smart move. Don't worry too much about the miles expiring, because most programs push the expiration date back every time you make a transaction, including earning more miles. (See also: 12 Expert Tips for Redeeming Miles for Free Travel)

If you abhor flying and never plan to redeem your miles by taking a flight, you're probably better off choosing a cash-back credit card as your main card. But that doesn't mean you have to pass when the only rewards offered for signing up for a new service or making a transaction are miles. There are lots of ways to spend those miles other than flying. (See also: 6 Tricks to Making the Most of Your Reward Miles)

1. Book travel that doesn't involve an airplane

On Points.com, you can transfer miles from some frequent flyer programs into an Amtrak account. Just note the exchange rate. For instance, if you want to convert Hawaiian Air miles to Amtrak, you will end up with only one Amtrak point for every five Hawaiian points you cash in.

You can book a car/hotel package, including activities, with miles on American Airlines Vacations, or pay for a cruise with miles through United.

2. Subscribe to a magazine

If you are the kind of person who still likes having paper magazines on your coffee table, the site MagsforMiles.com can be an affordable way to subscribe. For example, to get a year of my favorite, Sunset, would cost me only 600 Hawaiian Air miles. Since these miles are worth about 1.2 cents each, that's a year of the magazine for about $7, which is not a bad price, especially if you're looking to spend a few "pocket change" miles that will never amount to a larger transaction.

3. Go shopping

Delta allows members to exchange miles for retail items such as Tumi bags as well as vouchers for the $100 Global Entry fee, or even gift cards for the airline. United allows you to redeem miles for tickets to Broadway shows, among other things.

4. Get gift cards

Points.com will exchange many kinds of airline miles for gift cards, which could be helpful if you need to get a birthday gift for someone and are short on cash. The individual airline sites may also have information about trading miles for gift cards. However, be sure to check the rates and make sure you're not throwing away large amounts of miles for small value cards.

5. Donate to charity

Each airline has its own list of charities to which you can donate miles. If you were going to give cash anyway, this can be an efficient way to get the miles off your hands while helping the organization. The only drawback is that, unlike a cash gift, a miles donation is not tax deductible.

6. Send a loved one on a flight

Many airlines will charge you a fee to transfer your miles to another person, but there's a way around that: You can use your miles to book a flight for someone else just as you would book it for yourself. So even if you plan to never set foot onboard a plane, you can send your niece on a graduation trip or pay for your mom to come visit you.

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This article is from Carrie Kirby of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Overwater Bungalows You Can Book With Rewards Points

Holly Johnson — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 09:30:17 +0000

Nothing says luxury travel quite like an overwater bungalow. These freestanding hotel rooms, which often sit just feet above some of the clearest waters in the world, are one of the most sought-after lodging options available.

These are no ordinary thatched roof huts. Many feature huge, luxurious rooms with private splash pools, sundecks, and butler service. Opulent overwater bungalows are iconic to the South Pacific and Maldives, but you'll also find them in Malaysia, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The obvious downside of overwater bungalows is the price. Depending on where you stay, you could easily pay $1,000 or more per night.

The good news is you can book some overwater bungalows with rewards from some of the biggest hotel loyalty programs, many of which have co-branded credit cards that help you rack up rewards quickly. If you don't like those options, there are other ways to cover your overwater vacation with credit card points.

To be sure, most of these bungalows require more points than a regular hotel room. But if you've accumulated a healthy stack of points, it may be worth blowing them on these dream accommodations.

Here are some of the overwater bungalows you can book with rewards.

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is a Hilton property that's world-renowned for its luxury accommodations. This property sits in the middle of the clear waters of the Indian Ocean, flanked on all sides by amazing water and sea life, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, and dramatic beach views. (See also: 5 Amazing Travel Destinations You Thought Were Unaffordable)

A beach villa or basic overwater villa starts at 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night, while overwater villas with special amenities and views can cost a lot more. In May of this year, for example, a "retreat" water villa with lagoon views, a whirlpool, a sundeck, and a spa treatment room would set you back 308,000 Hilton Honors points per night. The cash price for overwater villas typically starts at over $500 per night, but can surge to nearly $1,000 per night during peak travel times.

Hilton Honors members with Gold or Diamond status may also be able to book a regular room and be upgraded to an overwater bungalow, though Diamonds would get preference for those upgrades. Fortunately, you can get elite status with several different Hilton credit cards.

Keep in mind, however, that just getting to the Maldives can be pricey, and you need to book an expensive private boat transfer or seaplane to get here. The round-trip seaplane transfer offered through the Conrad costs $500 per adult and $250 per child under 12, for example.

Conrad Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa

The Conrad Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa offers spectacular sea views, a supreme location in Bora Bora's lagoon, and a wide range of room options. Whether your goal is simply taking in the views, snorkeling with sharks or stingrays, or relaxing with one of the resort's spa treatments, you won't be disappointed by this property's location or amenities.

You can also book your stay with points, starting with a King Garden View Suite for 80,000 Hilton Honors per night. An overwater bungalow will typically cost you a lot more points (overwater bungalows in March started at 408,000 Hilton Honors points per night), but you could potentially score a free upgrade if you have elite status with Hilton. (See also: Amazing Destinations You Can Visit With Rewards Points and Miles)

Book any overwater bungalow you want

In addition to these options from the major hotel brands, certain flexible travel credit cards that offer travel credit make it easy to book any lodging option you want, including overwater bungalows. Cards like these allow you to redeem points you've earned for either a statement credit that you can use to pay for a travel purchase, or for reservations that you book using the card's travel portal.

Often, you'll be able to use your points at a value of around a penny a piece, meaning that a $400 room will cost 40,000 points. Some cards offer even better redemption rates.

If you decide to book an overwater bungalow using flexible travel credit, you can score some that require fewer points than those in the pricey overwater bungalow havens like the Maldives, Bora Bora, and Moorea. Take the Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu, for example, which offers overwater bungalows with a king bed starting at $296 per night. Or consider the Pangkor Laut Resort in Malaysia. Here, you'll find overwater bungalows that start in the $400 per night range.

You can save even more by booking a resort closer to home. There are many overwater options you could book with flexible travel credit that don't require days on a plane or ridiculous nightly rates.

Anthony's Key Resort, Roatan, Honduras

Roatan Island sits squarely in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Honduras, which is in Central America. That means getting there from the U.S. takes a lot less time and usually costs less than flying to Bora Bora or the Maldives.

In addition, you can find hotels that offer overwater accommodations for a fraction of the price of those in far-flung locations. Anthony's Key Resort is a family-owned hotel that offers wooden bungalows perched over a tranquil lagoon. Although it doesn't have much of a beach, it does feature scuba and snorkel packages in what is considered one of the best diving locations in the Caribbean. A 400-square-foot "Key Deluxe" villa with Honduran hardwood finishings, a cozy hammock, and a private covered deck starts at $539 per night.

St. George's Caye Resort, Belize

Another option closer to home is St. George's Caye Resort in Belize. Situated on a private island in the Caribbean, this resort is reachable after taking a short boat ride from Belize City. Fortunately, you can fly many airlines into Belize, including discount carrier Southwest Airlines.

This property features a small footprint, with only 12 thatched cabanas and three private suites, making it ideal for seclusion or romance. All room rates include airport transfers, as well as unlimited use of kayaks, windsurf boards, Hobie Cat sailboats, stand-up paddle boards, snorkel gear, and a free introductory scuba lesson in the pool. Overwater cabanas, which feature a private porch, hammock, and spectacular sunset views, start at just $139 per person, per night. (See also: 9 Ways to Travel Big On a Tiny Budget)

Azul Paradise Resort, Panama

You'll also find luxury overwater bungalows in the Central American country of Panama. Azul Paradise Resort offers deluxe bungalows with a king bed, Wi-Fi, proximity to the rainforest, and a full wraparound deck with a hammock starting at $425 per night for two adults.

The 500-square-foot overwater space makes it easy to enjoy your own nautical paradise without staying too far away from attractions like the Ngobe Bugle Indian Village and local wetlands, and adventure activities like zip-lining, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and sailing.

Whether you're using flexible travel points or points specific to a particular hotel chain, the cheaper the overwater bungalow you book, the fewer points you'll need to cover your stay. As with any other type of travel, shopping around for the best deal can help you stay in an overwater bungalow at a price you can afford.

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This article is from Holly Johnson of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Rack Up Extra Rewards Points by Buying Gift Cards

Jason Steele — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 09:30:09 +0000

When you're out of ideas for buying a present, a gift card can be an easy way out. Not only are gift cards available for use at most major retailers, but they're easy to find. You can buy gift cards while doing your other shopping at supermarkets, office supply stores, and drugstores. And if you're trying to maximize the amount of credit card rewards you earn, buying gift cards can be an important tool in your arsenal.

Buying gift cards at the right store

Since many different stores sell gift cards, buying a gift card can be an opportunity to earn additional rewards for your purchase. For example, some credit cards offer bonus rewards at grocery stores, which typically have large racks full of gift cards. Also, there are small-business credit cards that offer as many as five points per dollar spent at office supply stores, which can have a vast selection of gift cards.

In fact, some credit card rewards enthusiasts will often buy gift cards for their own personal consumption, in order to earn bonus rewards for their purchases. For example, if you have a large home improvement project, you might choose to purchase Home Depot gift cards at an office supply store using a small-business credit card that offers you 5x points there.

Purchasing gift cards to meet a minimum spending requirement

Many credit cards offer extremely valuable welcome bonuses of points, miles, or cash back to new applicants. However, these offers usually require you to spend a specific amount, often several thousand dollars, within a limited time period — typically three months. If you are unable to meet that requirement through your normal spending, you could consider purchasing gift cards that you can use later. Of course, you shouldn't consider doing so unless you are able to avoid interest charges by paying off your entire statement balance in full.

Retail versus general purpose gift cards

When purchasing gift cards, you have two options. The first is to purchase a gift card for a specific retailer. These are sometimes called "closed loop cards," because you can only use them at that retailer. Closed loop cards will not carry any additional fees, so a $100 gift card will only cost $100.00. On the other hand, these cards can only be used for purchases at a single store or restaurant.

The other option is to purchase a general purpose gift card that allows you to make purchases at any retailer that participates in a payment network such as Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. These are known as "open loop gift cards." While they offer additional flexibility, you'll have to pay fees to activate and use them, which can be as high as $8.95 per card. Furthermore, there are some retailers that won't allow you to purchase generic gift cards with your credit card.

Earning additional rewards from your gift card purchases

Beyond the rewards offered by your credit card issuer, it's also possible to earn additional rewards directly from a store. For example, some supermarkets will give you fuel points for all purchases including gift cards. These points will allow you to save money when purchasing gas from their fuel centers. And wholesale stores often give their members some amount of cash back for their annual purchases, which can include gift cards. (See also: Best Credit Cards to Use at Costco)

Gift card reselling

Some hobbyists have found a way to earn credit card rewards by buying discounted gift cards and then reselling them. With these transactions, the buyer might take a small monetary loss, break even, or even make a very small profit, all while earning enough points, miles, or cash back from their credit cards to justify the purchase.

However, this isn't an easy way to generate reward points or to earn money. Anyone who gets into this hobby should be extremely organized with their finances, and should never incur credit card debt in the process. The debt will negate any small value you gain from the rewards you earn. Also, there's no guarantee you can offload the gift cards, or that selling fees won't eat up any of those gains, either.

Gift cards can make for good gifts, but there are a lot of other uses for them. By buying the right gift cards from the right retailer, you can possibly earn valuable rewards for your purchases.

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This article is from Jason Steele of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

All-Inclusive Resorts You Can Book for Free With Points

Holly Johnson — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 09:30:10 +0000

All-inclusive resorts offer a convenient vacation option for people who don't want to deal with details or face too many surprise expenses when they travel. These properties offer much more than a place to lay your head. Food and drink (including alcohol), entertainment, and other perks like internet service are usually included in your nightly rate. With everything taken care of for you, all you have to do is show up and go with the flow. (See also: 8 Amazing Hawaiian Resorts You Can Book With Rewards Points)

While many all-inclusives are affordable already, some are part of larger loyalty programs that make it possible to book your stay for free. You may not have considered this option when thinking of what to redeem your travel rewards for. If you're angling for an all-inclusive getaway but don't want to pay an arm and a leg, check out these resorts and their respective programs. (See also: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards)

Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay — Jamaica

A Holiday Inn on the beach may not sound overly exciting, but the Holiday Inn Resort in Montego Bay might surprise you. This property sits on a beautiful and sprawling oceanfront with several sections of beach designated for families and adults only, crystal clear waters with hardly any movement, and its own private island. And when it comes to food, not only does the property offer an international buffet with a merry-go-round of changing food options, but also several a la carte restaurants serving Japanese, Italian, and classic Jamaican food.

This property belongs in the IHG Rewards Club, meaning you can book it with points from that program. Right now, you can book a free night for 40,000 points, or less if you pay with points and cash. Best of all, kids 12 years old and younger stay free. (See also: Family-Friendly Hotel and Resort Chains Where Kids Stay Free)

Hyatt Ziva — Cancun, Mexico

The Hyatt Ziva Cancun is a family-friendly property that sits on a beautiful stretch of beachfront framed by the Caribbean Sea. This property offers spacious rooms, an on-site spa, 24-hour in-suite dining, a dedicated kids' club, and numerous dining options featuring cuisine from around the world.

As part of the World of Hyatt program, you can book this property with 25,000 Hyatt points per night with double occupancy. (See also: Benefits and Value of the Best Hotel Rewards Programs and Credit Cards)

Hyatt Zilara Montego Bay — Jamaica

Hyatt's Zilara brand is the adults-only arm of its all-inclusive properties. The Hyatt Zilara of Montego Bay offers a retreat just for adults that sits in the historic and gorgeous Rose Hall region of Montego Bay.

This property features unlimited dining, multiple pools for relaxing, waveless crystal clear waters, an on-site spa, and special activities just for adults. Like Hyatt Ziva properties, this all-inclusive resort will set you back just 25,000 Hyatt points per night for double occupancy.

Viva Wyndham Maya — Riviera Maya, Mexico

Viva Wyndham Maya is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort that sits within Playacar, a gated community of Playa del Carmen. This property boasts several a la carte restaurants, a gorgeous beach with amazingly clear water, a huge pool with swim-up bar, and plenty of organized activities that range from water sports to fitness classes.

The property's proximity to Playa del Carmen's famous 10th avenue makes it a popular property for all-inclusive enthusiasts who want the convenience of an all-inclusive while also experiencing local culture.

Like all properties in the Wyndham Rewards program, you can book a free night's stay at Viva Wyndham Maya for just 15,000 points per night. You may need to call to make your reservation, however, because many dates don't show availability online. (See also: Caribbean Island Vacations Anyone Can Afford)

Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace — La Romana, Dominican Republic

Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach is another 15,000-point per night Wyndham property you can book entirely with points. This all-inclusive paradise resides in the La Romana region of the Dominican Republic — an area known for its beautiful beaches and family-friendly resorts.

At Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach, you'll have access to four huge pools, plenty of sports like volleyball and canoeing, an on-site spa, and five restaurants serving cuisines that include Italian, Asian, and Mediterranean. Once again, you may need to call Wyndham to make this reservation over the phone. (See also: 5 Most Affordable Cruise Lines for Families)

Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort — Mexico

Hilton's Puerto Vallarta Resort is an all-inclusive, AAA Four Diamond Resort located along the gorgeous Bay of Banderas. The property offers four restaurants, two bars, a dedicated kids' club, and beachside pool and cabana service, along with a full-service on-site spa.

Use your points to book a spacious room featuring a king bed or two doubles. Since this property is part of the Hilton Honors program, you can book a free room starting at 53,000 Hilton Honors points per night for double occupancy. You can also pay 115,000 points per night for a junior suite with a balcony, or splurge on an ocean front junior suite for 144,000 points. (See also: 8 Most Affordable Beach Towns in Mexico)

Hilton Sharks Bay Resort — Egypt

Egypt may not come to mind when you think of all-inclusive resorts, but the country actually boasts quite a few. One of its most family-friendly is the Hilton Sharks Bay Resort, which sits in the popular Sharm el Sheikh resort area of Egypt. Not only does it offer a charming stretch of beachfront, but it has expansive pools, a fitness room, playgrounds for kids, and plenty of activities that range from snorkeling and scuba diving to horseback riding.

When it comes to dining, guests can choose from nine restaurants and bars serving everything from sandwiches and pizza to Mediterranean and Asian fusion cuisine.

Staying in Egypt is extremely inexpensive, and this property is easy to book with points or cash. Right now, nightly rates start at just $60 for Hilton Honors members and reward nights start at just 15,000 Hilton Honors points per night. An extra $20 fee applies for kids ages five and older with paid adults, but kids under five are free.

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This article is from Holly Johnson of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Easy Ways to Save on Travel Gear

Nick Wharton — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 10:30:25 +0000

If you're getting ready for a big trip in the near future, you're probably discovering that buying travel gear can add up pretty fast. Maybe you're looking into investing in a good pair of hiking boots, a tent, and a sleeping bag. Maybe you just need new luggage or a backpack.

Having the right supplies is a good way to ensure that the trip goes well, and some expenses just can't be avoided no matter what. The good news is your gear doesn't have to break the bank.

1. Shop Around for the Best Sales

Depending on where you're planning to go shopping, you'll always want to try to buy your items when they are on sale. This might mean buying last year's model, but if it's an investment piece such as sturdy luggage, you'll want to pick something that is timeless anyway.

Some stores will have semiannual or annual sales, so ask a sales representative when their next sale will be. You can also subscribe to a store's email list to be notified of upcoming sales.

When you're looking for the best deals on gear, start shopping earlier rather than later. Give yourself ample time before you leave on your trip and avoid paying full retail price at the last minute.

2. Check the Chain Discount Stores

Discount stores like TJ Maxx and Marshalls are great places to look for steeply discounted travel gear. Find cheap travel gadgets like portable scales to weigh your bags (so you can avoid airline overweight baggage fees) and space-saver bags, which vacuum seal to store your clothing flat.

These little items can add up faster than you'd imagine, but buying them at a discounter will ensure that your budget for gear goes much further.

3. Use Rewards Points

Some retailers offer rewards programs to encourage you to shop at their store more frequently. Eastern Mountain Sports, for example, offers a good rewards program that gives you a certain percentage back on your purchases in the form of a coupon that they mail out every so often. Especially when you're planning big purchases, make sure that you are getting reward points that can help defray the cost of future purchases.

Other stores may further reward you for opening a credit card with them. Store credit cards can help you earn points faster and entitle you to special sales and discounts. If you're not familiar with their program, ask a sales representative before making your purchases. Just be sure you pay off your balance every month, because interest rates tend to be high on store cards.

4. Shop at the Right Time of the Year

To return to the example of Eastern Mountain Sports, this can be a great place to shop around the holidays. Often if you spend a certain amount, you will receive a gift card (usually for December, before Christmas).

Even better are end-of-season sales (which often take place before the season is really over). Winter gear may go on sale as early as January; summer gear as early as July. Again, by planning ahead you can strategically purchase your travel gear when there are the best offers.

5. Consider Buying Secondhand

You don't always need your gear to be completely new and buying secondhand can be a great value if you're looking to significantly cut your costs. You can count on saving of at least 50% compared to buying new gear.

There are some stores that specialize in secondhand gear and clothes, so check listings in your area to find out what your options are. You can also check online resources, like Craigslist and eBay, that will connect you directly with a seller.

6. Buy It When You Get There

Depending on where you're planning to travel, it may make more financial sense to hold off on your travel gear purchases until you arrive.

For example, Nepal is a very common trekking destination and in the capital, Kathmandu, you can find entire streets filled with people selling sleeping bags, tents, and other trekking gear at steeply discounted rates from what you'd find in the United States.

You can get quality, discounted gear in other places, too. In France, the store Decathlon offers good technical gear that is much more affordable than in the United States. Chamonix Alpine Equipment in Hong Kong has great prices on rock climbing shoes and other gear.

Research your destination and find out how prices compare. Sometimes just waiting until you set off on your trip can save you a lot of money, plus the cost of transporting your gear there.

7. Does It Make Sense to Rent?

This is something every traveler needs to carefully consider. Sometimes rental costs can be exorbitant. Consider, for instance, renting a canoe at $45 a day. If you have the canoe for a week, you’d have paid for the cost of the entire canoe.

On the flip side, while you may not own the canoe, you do not have to haul it to your destination and back, store and maintain it, or find a buyer for it. All of that takes time — and money.

Rentals often offer great convenience, especially if it's a one-time experience and not likely to be something that you will use again in the future.

Whether you're buying new or used gear, or renting, there are many options to get a great value on travel gear. Decide what your priorities are and consider your budget before you get to the store. By doing a bit of research ahead of time, you can save a lot of money once you're ready to buy.

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This article is from Nick Wharton of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Ways NOT to Spend Your Credit Card Rewards

Brittany Lyte — Tue, 31 May 2016 09:30:18 +0000

Most credit card rewards go the way of our food scraps — down the drain. But it's not because they aren't valuable. Credit card rewards can fly you to places you couldn't otherwise afford to go. You can even redeem them for free hotel stays and rental cars. Yet many rewards go wasted because cardholders either don't understand how to redeem them or they mistakenly fail to do so by the expiration date. (See also: 7 Biggest Mistakes When Redeeming Credit Card Rewards)

Even if you're one of those card holders who uses their rewards, there's a good chance you could be flubbing it. Not all redemption offers are created equal. In fact, some rewards are far less valuable than others. Read on for our roundup of the worst ways to spend your credit card rewards.

1. Buying Stuff You Don't Actually Want

Redeeming your rewards for gift cards can be a great move — if you use them to purchase items you were going to buy anyway. Otherwise you'd be spending unnecessarily, which is contrary to the concept of a reward. Here's another tip: If you're going to trade in your rewards for a gift card, it's best to do so when the gift card is discounted (usually points are valued at one cent per point, so if you can get a $50 gift card for 4000 points, that’s a good deal).

2. Redeeming Them for Overpriced Merchandise

With sites such as Amazon and eBay, it's easy to buy home goods and electronics for less than the retail price. And since credit card reward programs typically offer these items at an inflated price, redeeming your points or miles for a coffee maker or a digital camera is rarely a smart move. Better option: Get a gift card for Amazon or preferred vendor, and then buy the item at a discount.

3. Opting for a Cash-Out

Some credit card providers let you trade your points or miles for cash. Beware: It’s likely you'll take a big hit on the redemption value. However, it can be better than nothing, if there are no other options (like gift cards) that you would use. It’s better than letting your points expire. Again, look for a minimum one cent per point value.

4. Redeeming Them for Gas Cards

Gas is a major expense that most of us would love to trim down. Even still, don't be so easily romanced by credit card rewards that offer gas card redemptions. Many of these gas cards are tied to annual fees that you wouldn't otherwise pay at the pump. Others will require you to drive miles out of your way to the inconveniently located gas station that services your card, which could end up costing you more money than the gas card is worth. (See also: Best Credit Cards that Offer Gas Bonuses)

5. Gifting Them to a Friend

In life, generosity isn't always rewarded — especially when it comes to your credit card points. If you decide to gift your points to a friend, you can get hit with fees to facilitate the transfer from your account to the other. If it helps, get a gift card instead, or redeem your rewards for whatever it is your friend needs.

6. Hoarding Them

Credit card rewards are only valuable if you use them. And while many people like to hoard as many points as possible in order to redeem a grand prize, this strategy is risky for two reasons.

First, it puts you at risk of ending up empty handed. Many people save their rewards so long that they blow past the expiration date and end up with nothing.

Second, since credit card companies and banks can alter the terms of their rewards programs at any time, the let-them-accumulate strategy could leave you with a load of rewards that have declined in value. That's why many experts advise you to redeem your rewards regularly. (See also: Expert Tips for Redeeming Rewards for Travel)

How do you maximize the value of your credit card rewards points?

This article is from Brittany Lyte of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

12 Reasons Your Debt Isn't Diminishing

Max Wong — Thu, 12 May 2016 10:30:04 +0000

Your 2016 New Year's resolution was to finally pay down all your debt. But it's now May, and your balance has hardly budged. What's going on? Here are the top 10 reasons why your debt isn't dwindling — and what you can do to get debt-free by the end of the year:

1. You Are Still Using Your Credit Card

To quote my old sailing instructor: "The boat is taking water, Missy. You might want to plug that hole before you start bailing. A'yup."

Don't add to the debt you are trying to pay down. Leave your credit card at home, freeze it, or even cut it up. Just. Stop. Using. It. If you cannot pay cash for something, then you cannot afford it.

2. You Don't Have an Emergency Fund

Your car breaks down. Your computer breaks down. You break down. If you don't have an emergency fund in place, all those unplanned costs go right back onto your credit card. Before you start reducing debt, you should first put $1,000 into a savings account.

Life happens. Think of your emergency account as the financial equivalent to your car's air bag. It's more likely that you'll walk away from an accident if you've got something to cushion you against the crash.

3. Your Income Is Too Low

If you are using your credit card to pay for necessities like groceries or utility bills because you are short on cash, you will be in debt for a long time. Credit cards are a very expensive method of borrowing money.

If you are in this situation, you need to raise your income by any (legal) means necessary. Can you get a part-time job? Can you save on housing by renting out a room in the house, even if that means you have to sleep in the living room or share a bedroom with your kids? Can you apply for food assistance? Now is not the time for vanity. Vanity is for rich people. (See also: 100+ Ways to Make More Money This Year)

4. You Are Keeping Up With the Joneses, and the Joneses Are Stupid

Peer pressure keeps you poor. It's true. Many people would rather struggle to pay their huge credit card bills than admit that they can't afford lunch, concert tickets, private school for the kids, car insurance, etc.

The people who make you feel bad about not spending money that you don't have are never the people who will help you get out of debt. Don't let other people dictate how you spend the money that you earned.

Shut down the Joneses by telling them that you are saving up for your dream. For example, anytime anyone pressures me to spend money that I don't have I say, "That sounds lovely, but I can't afford that because I am saving up for a camera body so I can work professionally as an architectural photographer." What's your dream? A home? A vacation? An education? Early retirement?

Your dream is also a great motivator to get out of debt. My husband really wants to go to Easter Island for his 50th birthday (he's currently 48). He got serious about paying down our line of credit when he realized that we won't have the time to save up for that vacation if we don't pay down our debt by the end of this year.

5. You Are Only Paying the Minimum Balance

Banks love it when you only pay the minimum balance. The longer you take to pay down your debt, the more money they make by charging you interest. Even if you can only pay $20 more than your minimum balance per month, every little bit helps.

For example, say you are carrying a $5,000 balance on a credit card with a 12% APR. If you pay the minimum monthly payment of $100, it will take you 70 months to pay off the card and you will pay an additional $1,966 in interest! But, if you raise your monthly payment to $120 per month, you can pay off the card in 50 months and pay $1,500 in interest. Just about anyone can create a side hustle to make an extra $20 per month. That little bit of extra work will save you $466 in interest!

6. You Aren't Paying Off Low-Balance or High-Interest Cards First

According to a Gallup survey, the average number of credit cards Americans carry in their wallets is at an all time low. (Good job, Americans!) Although 33% of Americans only have one or two credit cards, 18% of Americans have three or four cards, and 7% of Americans have more than seven cards. So, if you have debt spread over multiple cards, how do prioritize which card needs to be paid down first?

There are two main schools of thought when it comes to paying down debt quickly: Pay off the loan with the highest interest rate first (the Avalanche Method) and pay off the loan with the lowest balance first (the Debt Snowball). (See also: Snowballs or Avalanches: Which Debt Reduction Strategy Is Best for You?)

When budgeting for either method, remember you will still have to pay the minimum balance each month on your other cards.

With the Avalanche Method, you devote all your extra funds to paying down your credit card with the highest interest rate first. Obviously, the higher the interest rate, the more expensive it is to borrow money using that card. So, you will pay less interest in the long run, if you pay down your high interest rate card first. Once you pay down your card with the highest interest rate, you move on to throwing all your extra cash against the debt on the card with the next highest rate. Repeat until all your debt is gone.

The only downside to this method is that your highest interest rate might also be the card with the highest balance. If this is the case, it will be a marathon, not a sprint, to pay down that debt. (See also: How to Use a Balance Transfer to Cut Out Interest Fees)

The Debt Snowball is similar to the avalanche method except you use all your available cash to pay down the card with the lowest balance first. With this method you get the sense of accomplishment by paying off a card quickly, which can give you the motivation to continue throwing money at your debt.

Both methods work if you are diligent. Use whichever method works best for you.

7. Your Payments Are Going Toward Fees

The best card is the one that combines the lowest APR and annual fee with the greatest perks for your life. In order to compare cards and loans, you need to know how much you are paying in interest and fees on each tool.

Speaking of fees. Don't be late with your payments. Late fees are a totally unsatisfying way to spend your money. If you get dinged with a late fee, call your lender and see if they will waive the fee for you. Lenders often have secret grace periods for late payments, but you have to ask. Pro tip: ask nicely.

Banks also love to charge extra should you happen to use the wrong ATM. I have seen ATM fees as high as $3 per transaction! If you are like me and live far away from where you bank, make sure that you withdraw enough cash to pay for your life between bank runs, and be crystal clear about what ATMs you can use without getting dinged.

Before you travel, make sure that your debit or credit card doesn't charge you an additional money exchange fee on top of the ATM fee.

8. You Are Buying for Reward Points

Many reward cards are more expensive than cards that don't have perks. Not only do reward cards generally have higher APRs, they also tend to come with a yearly fee. Are your rewards worth the extra cost? Do the math. (See also: How to Decide If an Annual Fee Credit Card Is Right for You)

It's important to note that most reward card perks are only perks if you don't pay extra interest costs. If you cannot zero out your card balance every month, it might be less expensive to just buy discount airfare instead of trying to use mileage points to travel on the cheap.

Even if you are one of those rare birds who pays off their card every month and never accrues interest, you can still fall victim to purchase acceleration. People often buy things on credit that they would not have bought with cash if they know they are close to "earning" a reward.

9. You Don't Understand the Scope of Your Debt

A recent study showed that people have a pretty good idea about how much they owe on their homes and their cars, but are terrible at estimating other types of debt. Researchers found that people estimate their credit card debt to be 40% less than what lenders report, and families underestimate their student loan debt by 25%!

I have more than one bank account. I have more than one loan. I have more than one retirement fund. I use Mint.com to get a snapshot of all my banking on one page. This kind of finance app is good for keeping track of all your accounts.

10. Your 0% Balance Transfer Period Has Expired

Obviously if you go from paying 0% interest to paying anything more than 0% interest for the privilege of using credit, it is going to cost you. But before you move your debt, do the math. Is it cheaper to pay the fee to transfer your debt to another credit card with a 0% balance transfer period, or is it cheaper to just pay down your existing debt quickly?

It's important to note that every time you open or close a card, your credit score will take a hit. Even if you are turned down for credit, just the act of having your credit checked by a lender will ding your credit. The lower your credit score, the harder it will be for you to get the best home or car loans. Think strategically.

11. You Are Not Talking to Your Lender

Have you called your credit card company recently and asked them to lower your APR? If you have been a longtime customer or have received a better offer in the mail, call your credit card company and ask for an interest rate reduction.

While we are on the subject of lenders, have you talked to your bank or credit union about a debt consolidation loan? The interest rates on a Home Equity Line of Credit or a debt consolidation loan are often much lower than credit cards.

12. You Lack a Plan

Only one out of every three Americans has a detailed household budget. This means that the majority of Americans have no clue where their money goes. It is impossible to make smart financial decisions if you are only guessing how and where you spend your money.

People that successfully pay down their credit cards quickly throw every spare dollar at their debt. The only way to find every spare dollar is to create a budget. If you have never created a budget, don't stress. It is way easier than you think.

Have you successfully paid down a debt? What did you do? Share your debt-killing techniques with your fellow readers in the comments section.

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This article is from Max Wong of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

9 Store Loyalty Programs That Are Worth It

Andrea Cannon — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 09:00:24 +0000

If you've never taken advantage of store loyalty programs, then it's time to start. If you frequently visit the same stores, then you deserve to be rewarded for your purchases. But not all rewards programs are the same. Some are more of a hassle than they're worth, while others are ultra-generous.

Here are nine store rewards programs that are definitely worth your loyal dollars.

1. Starbucks

If Starbucks is a place that you visit frequently, then the My Starbucks Rewards program is a must. You can simply register online or download the app to your smartphone and accumulate points every time you visit Starbucks. There are different levels to the program, so the more you visit Starbucks, the more you will be rewarded. For instance, once you reach the gold level, every 12 drinks you purchase will earn you one free drink. You can even pay for your drinks using the app, and rewards members also receive exclusive deals and discounts throughout the month.

2. Target

Target offers its own unique apps to help shoppers find what they need faster, while saving more at checkout. Their Cartwheel app (available for Android or iOS) offers access to hundreds of coupons, which you can add to your mobile barcode to quickly scan at checkout. Additionally, Target's REDcard saves 5% in-store and online, and you can still use all of your favorite coupons and money-saving apps along with it.

3. Sephora

Sephora's Beauty Insider program is perfect for anyone who frequently purchases beauty products. With this multi-level program, you will earn points for every dollar spent, which can later be used to purchase items in the store. As a Beauty Insider, you will also have exclusive access to special products, free in-store beauty classes, select promotions, free items from time to time, and even a free birthday gift. When you accumulate enough points, you may receive an invitation to the Beauty Insider VIB Program, which grants you access to exclusive events and specialty products. U.S. News and Refinery29 selected this as the best loyalty reward program for makeup mavens.

4. CVS Rewards

CVS Rewards offers its shoppers coupons, exclusive deals, and cash back to spend in the store. This program is unique because it tracks what you purchase to provide you with customized coupons that fit your shopping habits.

5. Best Buy

With the Best Buy Reward Zone, shoppers are rewarded in a number of different ways. You can earn points for every dollar spent, receive exclusive offers and promotions, and have access to special events. The more you spend every year, the higher your status will be, which translates to even more money saved.

6. Safeway

Safeway has mastered the art of the grocery store loyalty program. Now, every time you save at the market, you can save at the gas station as well. That's because with Safeway's Rewards Points program, you can turn every point earned into a discount at Safeway and Dominic's, as well as most Mobil stations. Simply use your rewards card at checkout to earn one point for every dollar spent. Once you hit 100 points, you will earn $0.10 off per gallon of gas.

7. Century 21

Century 21 is one of the largest retail stores, and with its delightful array of offerings, it can be difficult to leave with only what you came in for. This is why the C21 Status program is so beneficial to frequent shoppers. It allows you to earn cash back, as well as access to express checkout lines and exclusive discounts. Refinery29 selected this as one of the best store loyalty programs.

8. Bloomingdale's

Bloomingdale's Loyalist program offers points for every purchase made and double points for cosmetics and fragrance purchases. For every 5,000 points, you receive a $25 gift card. If you make big purchases at Bloomingdale's, then these rewards will add up quickly, and you can save even more by signing up for a Bloomingdale's credit card as well.

9. Gilt

Gilt offers a unique online-only loyalty program. You can earn points for things like visiting the site, making purchases, and connecting with the brand. The points can be redeemed for discounts, early access to sales, free shipping, and a variety of other goods and services.

Do you know of any other store loyalty programs that are actually worth it? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

NFL Extra Points Card: Fumble or Touchdown?

Jason Steele — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:36:54 +0000

Because teams play only eight regular season football games at home, tickets to America's favorite games can be incredibly hard to obtain and increasingly expensive. According to the Team Marketing Report, the average cost of an NFL ticket is $92.98, assuming you could find one. But wait — Barclays offers its NFL Extra Points credit card that can earn rewards in the form of tickets to any regular season game and even the Super Bowl.

How the Card Works

NFL Extra Points cardholders earn rewards for spending in the form of points in the NFL rewards program. You earn 1 point per $1 spent on most transactions, with 2 points earned per $1 on NFL or team purchases, such as game tickets and merchandise purchased in-stadium and at team Pro Shops.

Redeeming Points

When it comes time to spend your points, you have several options.

Points can be redeemed for game tickets, gift cards at the NFL shop, or as statement credit or cash.

Other Benefits

NFL tickets aside, this card does offer a handful of other valuable features:

Special financing on football tickets. When cardholders use this card to purchase tickets to football games from any participating NFL ticket team office, they will be eligible for financing on tickets.

20% off at NFLShop.com. All cardholders receive a 20% discount at NFLShop.com.

Visa Signature benefits. As a Visa Signature card, NFL Extra Points cardholders are eligible for travel accident insurance, purchase protection policies, and a concierge program.

As always, I strongly recommend against getting a rewards card if you do not plan on paying all of your balances in full. Those of us who have credit card debt should look for a product with the lowest interest rate and not be tempted to spend more to earn rewards.

Considerations

Only one point per dollar on most purchases. This nominal rate of rewards is like getting 1% cash back. Other cards offer bonus points for gas, groceries, or other common purchases. (See also: Best Credit Cards for Everyday Purchases)

Unsure Super Bowl seats. Before I go on a quest to earn points for Super Bowl tickets, it would be nice to know approximately how good those seats will be.

Foreign transaction fee. You should reconsider if you plan on using your card for foreign transactions because the fee will cancel out any rewards you earn and end up costing you more. Instead choose a card with no foreign transaction fees to save yourself some money on foreign purchases. (See also: Best Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees)

Who This Card Is Best For

Since there is no annual fee for this card, it may be tempting to conclude that cardholders have nothing to lose by applying. Instead, you should consider what other rewards you could have earned if you spend the same amount of money on a different reward card. But if you would rather have NFL tickets, then this is the card for you. Since these are some of the most sought after and expensive tickets in the world of sports, this credit card can represent an excellent way for NFL fans to attend the game of their choice.

Back to the Credit Card Guide

This article is from Jason Steele of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Maximizing Rewards Programs with Points.com

Little House — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:00:10 +0000

I don't fly or travel frequently enough to make the most of rewards points, but I still like earning them with the notion that someday I might be able to take advantage of them. However, I recently found out that most of my frequent flier rewards points had expired, and that made me angry! Although I accrued them for "free," I would have liked the opportunity to use some of them even if they didn't equate to a rewards ticket. (See also: Perform a Credit Card Rewards Annual Review)

While I was checking on all of my points through various websites many years ago, I grumbled to my husband how nice it would be to manage the different rewards programs through one website. Of course, I wasn't the only one to think about how convenient that would be: Points.com created a website that does just that and more. Points.com actually offers alternatives for those of us who never accrue enough points to make the most of our benefits! I know I'm a bit late to the party since this service has been around a few years now, but I recently signed up and was amazed at how easy it was to view all of my remaining points throughout various programs.

Easy to Use

With just a quick email and password to sign up for a new account, I located most of my rewards and loyalty programs through their "Add Programs" widget in their right sidebar. Since most frequent flyer and hotel rewards programs only require an account or member number and a password, I didn't feel like I was divulging all of my personal information in one place when I entered my information for each program. Within a few seconds, Points.com was able to connect to most of my individual accounts and show me my most recent points summaries, or at least the points I had remaining in each of my programs.

Make the Most of Your Points

Out of a possible 104 rewards programs listed on Points.com, each program has a "Learn More" link that shows what you can do with each program on their website. For example, Aero Mexico's Premier Rewards program allows you to track and earn points through Points.com. Tracking points is easy since Points.com automatically pulls the rewards information directly from the Aero Mexico website. But Points.com also lists additional ways to earn points besides booking a flight, such as renting a car or reserving a specific hotel.

The most beneficial service Points.com offers for me is their redeem option. I can redeem a select group of rewards program points for gift cards to various vendors. From Amazon.com gift cards to Starbucks gift cards, I can select one of my rewards programs that offers redemptions from a drop down menu and choose a dollar amount. Points.com will calculate how many rewards points I need to purchase the gift card. Of course, not all of my rewards programs offer this feature, but for those that do, I no longer have to worry about unused points.

Swap and Trade with Others

Another feature of Points.com is the ability to share, swap, and trade points with other Points.com members and between existing rewards programs. I haven't tried exchanging points with any other members yet, and there are some limitations depending on the individual rewards program, but it's another alternative to help make the most of my points in any one account.

In the past, I've swapped points between individual rewards programs to take advantage and utilize rewards points. Making these transfers on one website is convenient, and I can track all of my transactions through my account history.

The few drawbacks that I came across while adding my accounts through the site were fairly minor and wouldn't discourage me from using this program in the long run. They have partnered with 14 hotel rewards programs, which covers the majority of hotel chains. However, a popular hotel chain that is absent from their list is Marriott, which I happen to be a member of. I also experienced a small problem with registering my American Airlines AAdvantage; the site kept timing out and wasn't able to register my account at all. However, registering my remaining accounts was successful, so it could just be a temporary glitch.

All in all, now that I've realized I can keep track of all of my points online, I look forward to maximizing those rewards programs to my benefit, instead of watching them expire.

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This article is from Little House of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Financial Perks of Marriage

Ben Edwards — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:00:06 +0000

Have you heard the stories about how finances are one of the leading causes of divorce? What exactly are people arguing about? Being married actually has some pretty good financial perks!

I don't mean to downplay the financial challenges of married life. We've had our share of heated discussions over money; but there are some definite benefits to pooling together your resources in marriage. Here are ten ways that you and your spouse are hooking each other up. (See also: 8 Tips for Planning a Last-Minute Wedding)

1. Employer benefit options

If you're both working, you have access to each other's employee benefit plans. You can mix and match between the two to pick the best fit for your family. If one spouse loses their job, they can fall back on the other's benefits. If only one spouse is working, then the obvious benefit is that the non-working spouse has access to benefits.

2. Multi-car auto insurance discount

As a married couple, you have the added benefit of being able to add multiple cars to one insurance policy. This multi-car discount can help you save money on car insurance.

3. One rent/mortgage payment

For those who live separately before getting married, the notion of combining homes or apartments is one of the best financial perks of marriage. By consolidating to a single mortgage or rent payment you can save hundreds of dollars each month.

4. One utility bill

Similar to making only one rent or mortgage payment, married couples enjoy the added advantage of having to only make a single payment for their utility bill. When you take away a whole set of water, gas, electric, and trash bills you'll definitely save money each month.

5. One insurance bill

See a pattern here? Consolidating to one set of bills can really make a difference. Not only are you getting rid of an insurance bill, now you're covering all the same stuff with only one deductible instead of two.

6. One set of furniture/appliances

When married couples move in together, they often downsize their furniture and appliances to only one set. Not only does this mean less to take care of and maintain, you can also make decent money by selling your furniture and appliances.

7. Fewer property taxes

This one only applies if you owned a house or apartment before getting married. Since marriage usually means moving in together, you only have to pay property taxes on a single property instead of two.

8. One tax return

Filing your taxes can cost a chunk of change if you hire an accountant. If you file jointly, suddenly you have one tax prep bill instead of two. It won't save you as much if you're just using tax prep software, but it still saves you at least an e-file.

9. More valuable rewards points

If you use a rewards credit card with a tiered reward structure, having both spouses using the same account can boost you into the higher tier of rewards more quickly. For example, we share a credit card where the higher tier means 5% cash back instead of 1% — a big difference.

10. Spending accountability

While everyone likes to splurge on purchases every once in a while, doing so too often can put a big dent in your bank account. If you know your spouse is going to see a big charge on your card or debit from your bank account you may be less likely to spend money on something you don't really need.

It's not just the fear of being quizzed by your spouse about a big bill that keeps you honest with your money. Having to share the same financial resources means you're more likely to discuss spending ahead of time and make shared decisions. That other voice of reason can sometimes help save you from bad money choices.

This article is from Ben Edwards of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: