Credit Cards Points

I use the points I earned on my credit cards (which I typically accummulate) on those items I consider more of a "caprice" than a necessity, e.g., for myself-a designer purse, fine jewelry, or if for my kids-electronic gadgets, games, etc.  Reward points do not entice me to use my credit cards more (which I learned the hard way).  Nowadays, I do my best to use my credit cards as a last resort (just my debit card) but if I had to use one, I would use the one that has the lowest interest rate and with the most reward points.  I do shop around for the best interest rate (I call the Bank) as I have various credit cards but use only 1 or 2 of them.  At the time of my call, the Bank would usually try to sell you other products or upgrade your credit card or increase your credit limit to get more monies out of you but I just cut them off politely (who has the time to listen when you know what they are tyring to do) as all I truly need is an interest rate break.  Bottomline, with the given economy and past experience, I am wiser nowadays when it comes to credit cards.

 I never was able to use my advertised points except once for some gas cards through AT&T Universal. That was really the only decent card that I had, but I believe that it changed at some point to another company.

*Hack* Well after STRUGGLING for YEARS to pay off debt I began to rack up while in college...you know, the part that begins with small limit, no fee, low percentage, no annual fee cards that quickly become monsters that eat all your salary making you earn less than you did when you just earned minimum wage...I now only carry a debit card from my local bank. It's cash only. I have considered getting a genuine credit card again, but likely won't until there is a some sort of credit slave's bill of rights like proposed by Obama/Biden in the present war on terror...I mean presidential campaign. LOL! Just kidding. But truthfully, I am one of the victims of the ever moving adjustable interest rates, nightmarish fees without any checks and regulated balances, and even credit repayment agreements where my terms changed there as well! I've sent payments in early and been charged late fees AND had MY INTEREST RATES raised to 30% default rates on ALL MY CREDIT CARDS because A CREDIT CARD COMPANY had my payment in their MAIL ROOM! AND THAT's NO LIE or exaggeration! They took the fees off and reduced the interest on the card in question when I complained and proved that they cashed the check BEFORE the due date, but then they did not reduce the rates on the other cards, they added the fee back on the card 3 months later and I continued to wrestle with issues such as this the entire time I owed thousands of dollars to them. NEVER, NEVER go into any significant debt to credit companies, never take out the insurance that really only protects them, and NEVER file bankruptcy that really only helps them out (I didn't do that...didn't have to, but know people who have...credit cards are UNSECURED debt...meaning THEY take the risk of loaning the money.).

Yes I am using my reward airline credit card more but over the last few month I have been very careful to pay off the entire balance I have a airline reward card for Continental and a Hilton AMEX card.  Last year I was able to get 2 first class tickets to london and stay five nights at the Hilton in London for free!!!

We use our credit card for everything we get cash back not points and to collect the interest on my bank account for an additional month. . With that said we also pay off the credit card every month. If you dont pay it off in full your really not getting anything cash or points.

Ignore the "bonus points" and just use your card as normal. Then around Christmas, look and see what you may qualify for as a present to yourself. Realistically, it's already paid for with your finance charges on the balance.

I used credit cards for points but pay off the balance in total every month.  I often use points for dining out and watch for special promotions.  If I have earned a $40. restaurant card I get the $45. card for $40.  That's an additional savings.

I usually get cash back for my credit card points. I've cashed in $1475.00 this year with my Wells Fargo Visa. This is the max Wells Fargo would allow me to take out in cash, so I actually had to buy gift cards with the leftover points this month. I found I get most bang for my points with cash and gift cards. I use my credit card for most everything to take advantage of my points.  I pay many of my utilities, grocery shopping and gasoline, I even use it to pay my car and homeowner insurance.  Use the card for as many purchases as you can, as long as you can pay it off every month and avoid finance charges. I can make as many payments as I like on my  card, so most days, when I make charges on my Visa, I'll go in at night and transfer the charges from my checking account into my Visa.  For instance, if I use my card for $50.00 worth of gas, I'll go in that night and pay it off, I won't wait until the end of the month, that way, I sort of use it like a debit card and won't spend more than I have available. 

When I had a credit card I used it for everything from food to vacations.

Then the bank that owned the card got bought out by another and they started charging $10 per transaction for domestic cash advances.

I decided it wasn't worth it to pay that, paid off the card, and closed the account. I find it really freeing to not need to worry about having to pay the balance off at the end of the month. It's not that difficult to save up for things that I want to buy.