Credit Card Rewards: Are You Getting the Most From Your Card?
Does your credit card offer rewards? More importantly—are you actually using them?
One of the reasons I love my Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is that I earn points on purchases I’m already making. 💳
I earn at least one point per dollar on eligible purchases, with the opportunity to earn more points in certain spending categories. Travel purchases can be especially rewarding, and I always look at the current earning opportunities before booking a trip.
But points aren't the only benefit I look at.
Depending on the card and current offers, rewards can also include things like statement credits, travel credits, cash back opportunities, shopping benefits and promotions that can help stretch the value of your points even further.
Does the Annual Fee Make Sense?
I opened my Chase Sapphire Reserve in 2019, and every year I look at the benefits I actually use compared with the annual fee.
For me, the credits, rebates and other benefits I've used have historically helped offset the cost of carrying the card.
That's an important distinction because a credit card with a high annual fee isn't automatically a good deal just because it offers a lot of benefits.
The real question is:
Do the benefits fit your lifestyle—and will you actually use them?
That's what I look at when deciding whether a credit card continues to make sense for me.
And one very important part of our strategy: we pay the balance in full every month so we aren't paying interest just to earn rewards.
I Use My Points for More Than Flights
Over the years, I've used rewards for:
✈️ Trips
🏨 Hotels
🎟️ Excursions and experiences
💻 Products—including the MacBook Air I'm using to write this blog! 😀
So even if your travel calendar is light, there may still be ways to get value from the rewards you're earning.
The key is understanding what your points are worth and deciding when it makes sense to use them versus save them for something bigger.
Coming Up Next
This is the first post in my credit card rewards series.
Next, I'll share:
Part 2: Using Credit Card Points for Travel
How we use points toward vacations and how I decide when a redemption makes sense.
Part 3: Using Points for Excursions & Experiences
Why we sometimes use points for activities—and why other times I would rather skip the excursion and upgrade our hotel room instead.
If you already have a rewards credit card, take a look at your account. You may have benefits or points sitting there that you haven't used yet.
Follow SimplyLindaLee as I share more about earning points, redeeming them and deciding when it makes more sense to spend them or save them. ✈️💰💻
Interested in a Chase Sapphire Card?
At the time of this post, Chase is offering eligible new cardmembers:
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 100,000 bonus points after meeting the required spending requirements.
Chase Sapphire Preferred®: Earn 75,000 bonus points after meeting the required spending requirements.
Offers and eligibility requirements can change, so always review the current offer details before applying.
Referral disclosure: If you apply through my referral link and are approved, I may receive a referral bonus from Chase. There is no additional cost to you.
Apply through my Chase referral link
This post reflects my personal experience and is for informational purposes only. Credit card benefits, fees, point values and offers can change. Always review the card issuer's current terms and determine whether a credit card makes sense for your own financial situation.
