Credit card rewards - are you taking advantage of them?

[cantdrv55]

I’ve been using my Costco card for almost everything and pay off the entire balance every month so I don’t incur any finance charges. I like getting the cash back from Citibank and Costco voucher every year. Since we do fly on vacation every year, I might start charging on my Southwest Airlines card instead and pay off the balance. SWA’s mileage plan is pretty generous and flexible plus they fly everywhere we want to go.

Anyone else using credit card rewards? Share your tips here.

[stevej37]

Yes, I do the same with American Airlines...If a person is flexible with flying times, it's great.

I also use my Prime CC for all Amazon purchases to get the 5% cash back. No annual fee if you already are a prime member.

[wdfifteen]

Yes.
Amex gives 6% back on food and fuel, less on other things.
Our bank was paying 3% of your balance up to $25000 on our debit cards as long as we used each one 12 times a month. That was a good deal when interest rates were .5% They only pay 2.5% now, so I put the $50k in a 5.5% CD. Screw 'em.

[jcommin]

Same - I have a PNC card that has a cash back option.

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, I get "cash back" on all my credit card purchases. The "Cash" is a accumulated in an account that I can then just apply it to my balance, or they have some crap I could buy. I always just apply it all to my balance.

I too pay of the statement balance with a automatic payment so never any interest. It used to be super simple to get the cash back to dump into my balance, but they recently introduced a "new and improved" way to do it. Now it takes a bit more time and many mouse clicks to get it to get the payment.

[fireant911]

We had a VISA credit card through one of the nearby banks while living in Alabama - we used this card for several years. Upon our relocation to Michigan in 2020, I contacted the bank after about six months and tried to close that credit card account... only to find out that I was unable to do this??? I then was 'forced' to call and speak with a real person in order close the account. Imagine my surprise when the friendly person on the phone told me that we cannot close the account immediately as there was $3,300 worth of reward point/dollars! The balance of $0 was required before deactivating that account - they promptly mailed us a check and then closed our account.

[911 Rod]

Just the Costco card and it's nice to get a cheque for a couple hundred every 6 months.
I need to vent a bit about these programs.
All the reward cards have a higher service fee to the retailer to pay for this.
I'm a retailer and it irks me when companies use their personal credit card and then brag to me how it pays for their vacation. I've corrected a couple of them saying it's me paying for your vacation.

[craigster59]

I have Southwest cards for both personal and my LLC. I use them exclusively to track my personal and business spending for tax filing and pay them off every month.

With the lockdowns and not taking any personal flights in a few years, I've racked up almost 300k in Southwest miles. I might take a trip this summer.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Just the Costco card and it's nice to get a cheque for a couple hundred every 6 months.
I need to vent a bit about these programs.
All the reward cards have a higher service fee to the retailer to pay for this.
I'm a retailer and it irks me when companies use their personal credit card and then brag to me how it pays for their vacation. I've corrected a couple of them saying it's me paying for your vacation.

We have one customer that is a good client, yet he always pays us with his American Express card. We learned to jack his invoice up 4% to cover his credit card fees. We just roll the increase into the invoice as a little extra flying time.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

We have one customer that is a good client, yet he always pays us with his American Express card. We learned to jack his invoice up 4% to cover his credit card fees. We just roll the increase into the invoice as a little extra flying time.

Yeah .... I've ranted about feeding the Credit Card industry and banks before on here . Nothing is "free", and it always gets passed on to the consumers .... I don't participate. I don't use coupons at the grocery store either.

They should bring back S&H green stamps though

[JackDidley]

Sams card is my go to and I have others. Seldom use cash. I get about $500 free money every year. Never pay intrest.

[aschen]

We use our united card for big purchases to get the miles.

However, I dont make it a sport to carefully maximize returns. I don't join most of the rewards programs that you are seemingly offered daily. I go out of my way not to shop at grocery stores that have 2 prices for "members" and lessor customers.

Life is too short to have a dozen cards, logins, membership numbers, points scales ect. I know several people that gamify the rewards programs but not for me.

[Zeke]

Went to use a rewards card yesterday at the grocery store and it was declined. This is the norm for me so I don't fall for this crap. My wife has 350,000 miles on some airline card and she isn't healthy enough most days to walk around the block.

Stupid.

[Rick Lee]

I have Sams and Costo Visas and the rewards easily pay for the membership fees and then plenty. Otherwise, I live on my Amex Bus. Platinum. I can get close to a free trip to Europe once a year, unlimited airport lounge access for Mrs. Lee and myself, free Global Entry, $200 airline credit per year and $400 credit at Dell per year, plus plenty more I haven't figured out how to use yet.

[juanbenae]

I use an amazon CC for amazon purchases that earns 5% cash back.

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by KC911

Yeah .... I've ranted about feeding the Credit Card industry and banks before on here . Nothing is "free", and it always gets passed on to the consumers .... I don't participate. I don't use coupons at the grocery store either.

They should bring back S&H green stamps though

I have a b of a card that pays a big cash back bonus. Its absolutely terrific. Previously we used a different card that earned ‘points’ to redeem for air travel, now i redeem them for cash every month, free money.

B of a is a terrible bank, the worst customer service, etc, etc, but i moved an ira there and use their card because it rocks. 3.25-5 percent tax free rebate on everything i buy, including my property tax. Makes no sense but ill take it.

Article i read, these premium cards are subsidized by all the people that dont pay their bill every month, is yet another tax on the poor.

[911 Rod]

I just got a notice that my Costco MasterCard rates are going up.
Poor bank. I guess they need the money.

[wildthing]

I have a Chase Sapphire that we got with the intent to use the points for some nice travel, but barely used the points 3 years on, and I'm paying $95 a year...

[PorscheGAL]

I have a CC through Fidelity where the rewards go straight into my investment acct. Rewards are anywhere between 2 and 6%.

[Tobra]

I have a ton of frequent flyer miles. I guess maybe I go to Hawaii or something