Credit card rewards are perks and benefits that you earn simply by using your card for your payments. A little bit of reading up, a few tweaks to your spending habits, and you could by flying your family out for free on the next business trip to Japan.
Maximising your rewards can help you get that Bose audio system in your new car. An easy way to earn more rewards is to route your spending on business, travel, online shopping, and even household expenses through your preferred credit card.
Here are some tips on how to maximise your credit card rewards and choose the right card that perfectly endorses your lifestyle.
7 Tips on How to Maximise Rewards on Your Credit Card
Select the Right Card for Regular Use
Scout around on the websites of primary credit card issuers to see which bank offers you the highest rewards on your regular expenses. Make your credit card the default payment option on all online groceries or monthly purchases you make, for instance, on Amazon and Nature’s Basket, or your favourite organic store.
It would be essential to note that there are special cards that offer incentives on differing categories. Some credit cards offer more reward points for expenses made on flight or hotel bookings, while others reward you for dining out or shopping with their partner merchants, just like American Express SmartEarn™ Credit Cards. These speciality cards can earn some great membership reward points when spent on Flipkart, Swiggy, Uber, BookMyShow, and more.
Select based on sign-up bonus points
Various cards offer different amounts of bonus reward points when you sign up with them. While this may be a hefty incentive in some cases, an excellent joining bonus in your rewards account can help you decide which card to go with.
Use your card for the big spends
Make sure you make all the major purchases on the same credit card to rack up points. Use your credit card to pay for Electronic items, home décor, and even tuition fees. You can imagine the points that will tally at the end of the month.You will be happy to see your points adding up to your account at the end of the month, which you can redeem for other purchases.
Use your credit card for mobile wallets
You can also use your credit card to top up your mobile wallets like PayTM. Doing this will help you rake in points for living your life in your usual style, without making additional purchases just for
points. You can add up massive credit card reward points to use for airline miles, hotel discounts, online shopping vouchers, or cashback into your card.
Shop online through your credit card’s website
Most issuers will usually have a list of online retailers that they have tied up with. Shopping online for that winter long-coat for your London vacation, or the perfect leather boots, can also quietly add up reward points that you can trade-in as miles for the same trip. Cards often reward you with points for the amount swiped on the card as well as a further cashback from the retailer.
Sign up for the perks
You may have to sign up for some individual perks offered by different cards. For instance, ensure you have registered your American Express® Platinum Card with car rental programs like Hertz, and the Hilton and Marriot hotel chains, to gain access to their complimentary memberships.
Use your card for business expenses
It may look difficult to achieve the minimum amounts you need to spend on your credit card, to optimize the benefits and points. However,you could obtain this figure by using your credit card for work or business bookings, for yourself as well as your team. If your team needs to travel, then consider giving them add-on cards, with limits, that they could use for their actuals. All this will help set off business expenses with travel rewards and benefits of hotel chain memberships. In some cases, like the American Express Membership Rewards® Credit Card, the annual fees can also be waived off if you achieve a certain spend.
However, do ensure you pay off the entire amount at billing, as the interest charged on the amount may set back any cashback or reward benefits you earn. In case you are not able to pay off the amount, then do
remember that the interest you pay can be used as a tax write-off.
Maximising Reward Points as a Valued Amex Customer
The fine art of capitalizing on all your credit cards has to offer is indeed as exciting as it is rewarding. The child-like thrill of gaining free travel, or bonus hotel stays, or generous discounts at your family’s favourite Michelin starred restaurant, is immense.
If employed with a clear strategy, credit card rewards can enhance your life without you even worrying about it. All you need is to spend a little time initially to study the offers and set up some online details for your shopping and outgoing expenses.
The American Express Membership Rewards® Credit Card is exclusively created around incentivizing the use of the credit card with fantastic benefits, cashback, and reward points. You get off to a great start with 4000 bonus points when you sign up, then get 1000 points for making 4 transactions of minimum Rs. 1000 a month – be it your membership to a club or to upgrade your home theatre system. You can redeem your points from the exclusive 18 and 24 Karat Gold Collection of products and benefits. The annual fee gets waived off if you spend INR 1.5 Lakhs in a year.
The exemplary customer service and ease of use of Amex cards aside, its rewards program is enough to make them your lifestyle habit.
