What are Credit Card Rewards?

Today one cannot imagine life without credit cards. Most people have a least one credit card. Most of the cash transactions you do today, whether booking a flight ticket or railway ticket, whether you shop in a mall or over the net will require a credit card. Without a credit card you will be totally lost.

The Demand Brings its own Rewards

The credit card demand in the market has grown so much that there is now heavy competition between the providers - be it financial institutions or banks, because the returns on the credit cards are very high. In order to lure more customers their way, the banks and financial institutions have introduced the rewards system by which the customer or the user of the card get reward points everytime they use the card. These credit card rewards points can be redeemed either by encashing it or by exchanging it with items that are of equivalent value.

There are different schemes for earning points through credit card rewards and a wide variety of ways for redeeming the earned points. Some banks have a minimum limit for the number of points that can be redeemed; for example you can redeem your credit card rewards points only after you accumulate 500 or 1000 points and not before. Some can be instantly exchanged with instant discounts at different shopping outlets, while others can be used for paying the annual fee or renewal fee of the card.

The Best way to use your Credit Card Rewards

The best way to redeem your credit card rewards points is of course, by exchanging it for cash. However, not all banks or financial institutions allow cash redemption. Many prefer gift vouchers or discounts in retail shops where the card will be used even while redeeming the points.

You can redeem your points even while shopping online. Many major credit card providers will allow you to use the earned credit card rewards points to shop online.

The Caveat

All said and done, you should always keep in mind that the credit card rewards are actually a lure to push you into shopping more and as a result getting indebted more. Do not be penny-wise and dollar foolish. Do not chase the reward points while spending fortunes on things that you actually can do without. It is easy to spend when you have a credit card, but very hard to honor the bills when they come. Always keep in mind the fact that for every purchase you make, you are paying a whopping 3% interest or more per month! The reward points are just a ruse to get your mind away from this fact.

"I tell you Doris , he was making $150,000 a year and had been working at the same place for a decade and they wouldn't approve his loan! They told him straight up that no credit history means no loan - all because he didn't have a credit card ."

A woman's car is broken into, her wallet is stolen and the crooks rack up $1,000 on her credit cards in just two hours. Their crime is all caught on tape.

Wayne County commissioners have voted to accept payments from residents in the form of credit or debit cards. Plastic can now be used for the payment of court costs, fines, real estate taxes, personal property taxes, recording fees, auto title fees, vehicle registration fees, and any other fee, cost, assessment, fine, penalty or other expense owed to a county office. The only exceptions are dog ...

So you're at the gas station filling up your vehicle, and without warning the gas pump shuts off. What? The tank isn't full, and you know your credit card isn't over its limit.

BUTLER TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Police in Butler Township said they are looking for a person responsible in a local theft. Investigators said someone stole a car last month and a woman is using the victim’s credit cards and checks.

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