
If you're a New York Times subscriber, you're in luck - many credit cards offer rewards points for your loyalty. Some cards offer 1 point per dollar spent, while others offer 2 or even 5 points per dollar.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card, for example, offers 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining purchases. This can add up quickly, especially if you use the card for daily expenses like groceries and gas.
You can redeem your points for cash, travel, or other rewards, such as gift cards or merchandise. Some cards also offer a sign-up bonus, which can give you a boost of points right off the bat. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card, for instance, offers a 60,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
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Credit Card Options
If you're looking for a credit card that offers rewards points, there are several options to consider.
Citi Double Cash Card offers 2% cash back on all purchases, making it a great choice for those who want a straightforward rewards program.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, which can be redeemed for travel or other rewards.
American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card offers 6% cash back on groceries and 3% on gas, making it a great choice for those who spend a lot on these categories.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers 2X miles on all purchases, which can be redeemed for travel or other rewards.
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Rewards Programs
Some credit cards offer rewards points for dining out, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which earns 2X points at restaurants worldwide.
If you frequently use your credit card for travel, consider the Citi Premier card, which earns 3X points on travel, including gas stations.
Other cards, like the Capital One Venture card, offer rewards points for everyday purchases, with no rotating categories or spending limits.
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Make Partnerships Work
Make partnerships work for you by choosing a co-branded card, like the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature, which can help you achieve status faster with that airline.
Co-branded cards with airlines often offer perks like priority boarding, free checked bags, and lounge access, making them a great option if you tend to fly on one carrier.
The Alaska card offers a $99 companion ticket each year when spending requirements are met, which can be a big plus for frequent flyers.
Hotel chains also offer co-branded cards, such as the World of Hyatt Visa and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa, which give cardholders one free night at their low- to midtier brands on the anniversary of sign-up.
If you choose a card that's not co-branded, you can still transfer your points to your preferred airline's loyalty program, like transferring points from Capital One to Aeromexico to book a code-share seat on Delta.
Using code-sharing can be a workaround when your card doesn't have a direct partnership with your preferred airline, allowing you to still redeem your points for travel.
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Stretch Points to Pennies
Credit card companies are now paying consumers to use their cards, with half of all cards being reward cards, up from about half of all cardholders in 2002.
This shift is due to the changing dynamics of the industry, where 70 percent of revenue comes from finance charges.
Discover gave away $500 million in 2005 alone, showing that credit card companies are willing to spend money to keep customers.
However, it's not all about the rewards - it's also about how you redeem them.
Redemption values can change depending on how you use your points, so it's essential to explore your options.
Citi ThankYou points are usually worth at least one penny when buying gift cards from various retailers.
American Express cardholders can get 1 cent per point when using their Membership Rewards balance to purchase airline tickets or hotel rooms on the Amex website.
Some American Express cardholders even earn five points per dollar spent, making their points worth even more.
For another approach, see: Are Credit Cards with Points Worth It
Credit Card Information
Credit card companies sent out about six billion letters in the last year, making it seem like you're getting a lot of credit card solicitations.
Half of all credit card offers are for reward cards, which is a significant shift from the past. Two-thirds of all cardholders have a reward card in their wallets, up from about half in 2002.
The number of households using a cash-back card has grown 38 percent, to 32.6 million, since 2002. Discover, the industry leader in cash-back reward cards, gave away $500 million in 2005 alone.
70 percent of MasterCard and Visa card issuers' revenue comes from finance charges, which is a significant source of income for them. This is why they're offering more cash-back reward cards to make up for the lost revenue from reduced finance charges.
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