Rewards credit cards

What is the best way to use credit card rewards?
There are two schools of thought here. First, from a purely economic perspective, the ‘best way’ to use a credit card with rewards is to use them for something you need in a way that maximizes the value of the points. Let’s say your credit card company offers a 20% bonus if you redeem them for a gift card to a retailer that you frequent – ‘the best’ way to use the rewards then, is to use them on products/ services that you need, which have the highest bonus (i.e., points that have the highest dollar value).

A second perspective is, rewards are a bonus and should be used for something that you really want but may not necessarily need. For example, perhaps you always wanted to take an all-inclusive trip to the Caribbean but could never justify the expense. Amassing enough points to cover the trip is a great way to justify it. This may not maximize the economic value of the points but it does provide tremendous value to the credit card holder and for some people is likely the ‘best-way’ to use credit card rewards.

What’s one question everyone should ask before getting a rewards card?
Paying an annual fee on a travel card is worth it only if you can reasonably make back the fee through its benefits and rewards or if it provides desirable optionality for redemption. Statement credits, discounts at retailers, and other card benefits can get you back to par. But the most important consideration is whether the card affords you the option to redeem for rewards that you can use.

Before applying, count how many ways you can redeem your miles or points with the airline or the credit card issuer itself. And pay attention to the quantity and quality of travel partners that are a part of the redemption network.

What are the most important features of a rewards card?
The feature itself is not as important as understanding how to earn and redeem those rewards to its fullest potential. Not only should the rewards match what you want to redeem for, but you should also be intimately familiar with the value and options provided within the rewards program. And if you understand how to arbitrage your rewards for maximum value, even better!

What is the best way to use credit card rewards?
My advice is to match the rewards to your interests. If you like to travel, take advantage of that. If you like going out to eat, then use your rewards for restaurants. The biggest tip is to align rewards with your interest! If you like to shop pick one that’s accepted where you want to shop. Trading points for gift cards is always a smart move.

The more you use your credit card, the more points you will get, but be careful you don’t spend too much and over budget. Always pay your balance in full each month, otherwise, even the rewards you earn may be eaten up by the interest payments. And don’t sit on those rewards. You may forget about them or the program may change and you could lose those points.

For the average consumer, is it better to get cash back or points on a rewards card?
It depends on what this average consumer wants. Earning cash is frequently an immediate next statement
reward. It is an instant deduction in payments that gives a feeling of actually getting something back from the credit card. Earning points may be beneficial if someone is aiming at a higher-priced award (e.g., airline tickets) or is looking for a discount for an expensive item. However, the reward is frequently delayed and may require a longer commitment to spending to earn this reward.

Why might credit rewards make you spend more?
Rewards are a great benefit of credit cards when used properly. However, there are several ways in which our brain can trick us into overspending.

For example, whenever a reward is framed as part of a challenge (like many introductory credit card offers), our brain triggers a gaming mentality, by which we don´t want to miss out on a prize: we pay a disproportionate amount of attention to the prize, compared to the cost incurred to earn it…

But the main risk is that this overspending may trigger the habit of revolving instead of paying the bill in full every month, in which case interest cost can break the bank.

How can consumers get the most value from their rewards credit cards?
It is tempting to sign up for multiple rewards credit cards given the rewards and the fact that many of them have very appealing sign-up offers. However, it is important to always keep in mind one’s own interests and behaviors in determining if signing up for and using a rewards credit card is worth it. For example, getting a Disney rewards credit card makes sense and will provide good value for someone who is a big fan of Disney and visits Disney parks frequently but would be of little value to someone who buys Disney products or visits Disney parks sporadically.

What is the ideal number of rewards cards to own?
The ideal number of reward cards to hold will vary by individual… It is very likely that most consumers can handle 2 to 3 reward cards and recall when they are best to use, but beyond that number would be very taxing for most. If two or three cards offer quarterly rotating benefits, then it would be difficult for a consumer to evaluate which card to select in the moment of checking out at the grocer, gas station, department store, or restaurant. If the cards also carry annual benefit maximums, then the decision becomes even more challenging.