Play Your Credit Cards Right

Play Your Credit Cards Right

Play Your Credit Cards Right, and You Could Earn Big Rewards

There’s nothing quite like that little spark of joy we get whenever we’re rewarded for something. Whether it’s a high-five or just a pat on the back, a little extra boost can go a long way to brightening the day. Now, imagine you get a reward every time you buy something. When you have a credit card with a good rewards program, that idea isn’t as far-fetched as it may sound.

Making sure your credit card has a good rewards program might seem insignificant, but rewards are actually a great way to help you save BIG. The two most common types of credit card rewards are cashback and travel perks.

What does Cashback Mean?

Cashback means that a percentage of cash spent on qualifying purchases goes back into your pocket. 

Most credit cards offer at least 1% cashback, but many offer more, like these cards:

  • Discover It Cash Back Card offers 1% cashback on all purchases and up to 5% cashback on qualifying purchases. Discover also matches the amount of cashback earned within the first year of having the card, doubling your cashback at the end of the year.

  • Citi Custom Cash Card offers 1% cashback on all purchases and up to 5% cashback on purchases made within your most eligible spending category of each billing cycle.

 

  • Chase Freedom Unlimited Card offers 1.5% cashback on all purchases,  3% cashback on dining, 3% cashback at drugstores, and up to 5% cashback on travel.

 

With cashback programs like these, you can recoup a percentage of your money on nearly every purchase.

Travel perks are another common type of rewards program.

 

Travel perks can include discounts towards things like checked baggage, rental cars, hotel stays, etc, but the most popular perk is earning free airline miles. With a travel card, you can earn miles for purchases made, and then redeem them with a qualifying airline. By earning miles and other travel perks, you can take that much needed vacation without having to dip into your savings!

Here are some cards that offer travel rewards:

  • Capital One Venture X Card offers 2x miles on all purchases, 5x miles on flights, and 10x miles on rental cars and hotel stays purchased through Capital One Travel. It also allows you to transfer your miles across 15 different travel loyalty programs.

  • Bank of America Travel Rewards Card uses a points system and offers 1.5 points for every dollar spent on all purchases. Points can then be redeemed and used towards travel without restrictions, expiration, or blackout dates.

Imagine: you could be earning miles towards your next vacation with every purchase you make. That dream vacation could become a reality without going broke. All you have to do is know how to get the most out of your credit card rewards.

Get your next vacation off the ground with Kiwii.

Kiwii is a free Chrome extension that ensures you get the most rewards out of each online purchase. It doesn’t require any personal information; you just select the types of credit card you use and then shop online like normal. At checkout, Kiwii will suggest which card to use to get the most rewards. It’s that easy! Download it for free today.

This article was written by Chloe Allen in association with Nouvel Age Media.