How do you use your credit card points?

[getbent]

very good advice that very many people simply cannot seem to follow

i trust my driving skills, yet I wear a seatbelt and I don't take risks when it's just as easy not to

agree. I wear seatbelts because while I try to be safe, I do make mistakes. In watching the footage from my dash cam, other people do not deserve my trust. I am obliged to share the road with them, but many of them abuse the privilege, so, the seatbelts are more for what I cannot control than what I can control.

 

[craigs63]

My Apple Card gives me 3% cash back for every purchase….I can actually transfer it as cash to my bank account….it’s called “Daily Cash”.

I think it's 3% on stuff from Apple and less for other purchases.

 

[oatsoda]

No points, I get about 1.5% cash back at the end of the year.

 

[trandy9850]

I think it's 3% on stuff from Apple and less for other purchases.

On second thought I think you’re right….the only reason this never occurred to me is because, so far, I’ve only used it on Apple purchases….I purchased an iPhone 14, two sets of Air Pod Pros, and an Apple Watch Ultra….all with my Apple Card.

 

[telepicker52]

We usually cash our points in shortly before going on vacation!

 

[redhouse_ca]

I ask this because I rarely pay attention to my points as a debit card is my weapon of choice. However I noticed today on my statement that to pay down my balance, 10,000pts was worth $60. But a $100 Apple gift card would cost just 11,765pts. In other words, 1,000pts is $6 cash value, or $8.50 in trade value. A difference of over 40 percent. Other gift cards averaged about $$7 to $8 per 1000pts.

Feel free to check my maths. ( I have been watching BBC lately so I say maths now. My spellchecker does not like it but I do.)
Granted paying down the bill reduces interest, but not that much. Also an Apple card means you will be paying the "Apple Tax" on anything you buy. If I can find a supermarket gift card from my card issuer, that would be my first choice!

I save them for looong time periods and then blow them on one vacation.

 

[__HKGuns__]

I use my Cabelas points to buy either Guns, ammo or reloading materials.

 

[imwjl]

and you enjoy your justifications for serving a predatory system
( while it's true the masses will never understand it, I am far from alone in these thoughts)

You sure are full of contradictions. There always was and always will be some who lack control and discipline in important areas. All of us should not suffer for that and especially in this era with help, understanding and regulation to aid those problems. We would have to get rid of automobiles, coffee and beer in your way of thinking - no thanks.

Closer to topic, after doing more homework I'm not sure I care to have a few or several cards just for perks as some I know do. The combo of 2 cards we have or getting the Apple Card as a secondary looks good. The bank we use for lobby functions has good card perks but a horrible back end system and customer service compared to others.

 

[imwjl]

I think it's 3% on stuff from Apple and less for other purchases.

Yes, my recent conclusion. There are more than Apple purchases but I did not find a card that's always going to be giving me 3% without some baggage attached.

 

[blowtorch]

You sure are full of contradictions.

blowtorch is not just one thing-blowtorch is complex

Yes I am well aware our society allows people to run riot and operate with zero discipline and ruin their lives and negatively affect those around them

that does not mean I approve

 

[imwjl]

blowtorch is not just one thing-blowtorch is complex

Yes I am well aware our society allows people to run riot and operate with zero discipline and ruin their lives and negatively affect those around them

that does not mean I approve

No, some in our society don't meet or comply with standards. Very troubled pockets or places do not fully or even part-dominate our society. Don't let whose who sell and spread fear dominate you. Fear makes people do stupid things.

 

[blowtorch]

Very troubled pockets or places do not fully or even part-dominate our society

Disagreed. Yet you and I would possibly disagree on what constitutes "very troubled"
fear does not dominate me...reality does

 

[getbent]

blowtorch is not just one thing-blowtorch is complex

Yes I am well aware our society allows people to run riot and operate with zero discipline and ruin their lives and negatively affect those around them

that does not mean I approve

going third person is a big step!

 

[blowtorch]

going third person is a big step!

The blowtorch agrees

 

[P Thought]

I'm trying to follow the wisdom, here, of someone who said, "Just because you don't know what it is, doesn't mean you know what it is."

 

[ddewerd]

I only have a couple of credit cards, and I always pay them off each month.

I get 2% cash back on the one I use for almost everything. I use the other as a backup (I had a case when I was traveling where my main card was declined, so I used the backup. The CC company noticed the attempted charge was in a different state from where I live, so they denied it for security reasons. But they had sent me a text asking if it was me and a legitimate purchase, but I didn't have my phone with me at the time, so I missed it)

I usually let the points rack up and then apply them as a credit to my January bill, since Christmas purchases usually bumps that one up a bit.

I only use my debit card at my local liquor store. They give a 5% cash discount, which the debit card qualifies for. So getting a 5% discount is better than the 2% cash back.

One thing I've noticed recently is that my CC is now somehow affiliated with my grocery store. When I check out, it asks me if I want to apply some CC points to get a discount. But the thing is, they want 1250 points for a $10 discount. But if I were to redeem the points directly to my CC bill, 1250 points equals $12.50. I guess they figure people aren't paying attention, and the grocery store probably gets a kickback on the $2.50 delta that they're saving the CC company.

My main card is 2% on everything. I had one where you could get more (like 3-5%) on different categories, but you had sign up for them each quarter. Plus, they had pretty low maximum bonus amounts for those categories, so it just wasn't worth the hassle of trying to juggle which card for which purchase, just to eek out a few more cents.

Cheers,
Doug