Electrifying Rewards For Credit Cards

Posted by Nick Niesen on October 29th, 2010

We all love freebies of any kind. Credit card companies have been making use of this fact to get more customers. Thus we have credit cards that provide rewards. Cash back credit cards and cards that help you earn frequent flier points are a few of the popular bonuses. People are always enthusiastic about freebies of all kinds. So credit card rewards are in great demand. However, some points should be noted. One is that rewards are given to only those cardholders who are frequent users of their credit cards. Another is that there is usually some fine print involved. So even while you are thinking about that new cash back offer, see to it that you read the terms and conditions thoroughly.

Many of us are tempted by the potential rewards to spend more than they would have otherwise. A reward may become insignificant if you overspend your budget just to try and get that reward. Thus, it makes sense to thoroughly consider which of your expenses you should be paying using your credit card. Ideally, utilities like gas and cable, that is, expenses that recur, should be paid using the credit card. Check out your other expenses to see which you should put onto your credit card. Certain bills charge you interest if you pay via card. So before making the payment, ensure that you will definitely not cough up more interest than the rewards are worth.

Using up your credit card points is another thing that you must not ignore. It would be a shame if, after spending enough to collect those points, you did nothing to get the rewards. If you have collected any points, make sure you wring out the best value out of them. Most reward credit cards come with an expiry date. If you do not make use of your points by a certain date, all those points will vanish into thin air. Do not let that happen to you. Also, do not let your points disappear by your being a defaulter on the payments. Not only do late payments result in higher interest rates, it may also mean a farewell to the rewards you had been working for.

By all means, avail of the various credit cards that offer rewards. However, take care that they don't become a drain on your income. Do not spend too much and use your card wisely to make sure that you benefit from the maximum value out of your card. Don't let the rewards go to waste simply because you chose not to plan your spending sprees prudently.