15 Ways to Get Rewarded By Your Reward Credit Card

If you own a reward credit card or if you plan to apply for one, consider these 15 tips on how you can get rewarded: 1. Choose a no annual fee card. Some reward cards carry annual fees which can range anywhere from $50 to $80 or higher. But why pay the yearly cost when you can go with a reward credit card that carries no annual fee? 2. Check your bill. Make it a habit to examine your monthly statement of account to make sure that you are not being charged for purchases you did not make. 3. Don’t carry a balance. The best way to manage a reward credit card is to use it regularly and pay the full balance on time. Thus, you can avoid expensive interest rate charges. 4. Plan your spending. Don’t use your reward card for unplanned purchases. This increases the risk of debt build-up and when left unchecked, could lead to debt problem. 5. Sign up for auto payment. If you’re having trouble remembering due dates or if you are managing multiple accounts, consider signing up for automatic payment to avoid being late. 6. Charge utility bills. Use your reward card to pay your monthly utilities such as electricity and internet so you can earn points more quickly. However, make sure that you will be able to pay your charges on time. 7. Choose online payment. Paying online is a quick and convenient. Most issuers offer customers bonus points for paying online and is a great way to avoid being late. 8. Read the fine print. Even if you already own your reward card for quite some time, you should review the Terms and Conditions regularly. This way, you’ll know exactly how to earn points, redeem rewards, and you will be aware about any changes in the terms. 9. Redeem your points on time. Some reward credit cards impose an expiration period on the points you earned. If you fail to redeem your points on time, you could end up losing all points you worked hard for and not get rewarded at all. 10. Stick with one or two reward cards. Instead of acquiring different kinds of reward credit cards, you will be able to earn points more quickly and get rewarded sooner if you will stick with just one or two types of reward credit cards that match your lifestyle. 11. Shop at affiliates. You can earn bigger points per dollar spent if you choose shops and merchants which are affiliated with your reward credit card. 12. Pay on time. If you miss your due date of payment even for just one day, you will be penalised with a penalty fee. 13. Choose a reward card that fits you. Don’t just sign up because of attractive rewards. Make sure that the rules of the program fits well with your needs and spending style. 14. Check the limits. Is there a limit to the value of rewards you can earn in a month or year? Will you stop earning points once you reached a specific value of rewards? You should understand your privileges and limits as a cardholder. 15. Check your credit limit. Be careful not to max out or exceed your credit limit in your effort to collect more points as doing so can get you penalised or even hurt your credit score.