Using charge cards wisely is part of an overall financial plan that should include budgeting, savings/investment, debt management and insurance. In your economic life, money is “fungible,” meaning that all these areas are interconnected, and a dollar saved in one area can be spent in another. It all comes out of one “pot,” so to speak, so any time you reach into that pot for more than is budgeted, you will affect your entire financial plan.

That said, there are ways to save cash on charge card accounts – shopping around for interest rates, getting cards with no annual fee, paying your balance off monthly – but there are also ways to make cash with them. This is where rewards and/or “points” programs come into play. Remember, though, that credit card companies do not promote rewards programs out of kindness or on a whim. They do it because they can make cash doing so. Therefore, you need to know how rewards programs work, and have the discipline to work them to your advantage, or they will just be another expense to you, regardless of the occasional item you get to trade points for (and it may even come in a box with ribbon on it).

Rebates vs. points

When considering what charge card reward programs to join, make sure to research the subject well and think it through. You also need to ensure that the type of program you choose fits your lifestyle and temperament. If you are a bachelor, you don’t need a card that builds rewards points at “Baby & Boo’s Clothes for Youths” or anything like that. You should get reward cards whose advantages that are of real value to you, and valuable right now, not in three years. Naturally, the primary advantage of a rewards program that is well-managed (by you and by the credit card company) is the fact you will be obtaining benefits worth more than the programs cost you.

The two most popular rewards programs are (1) accumulating points toward merchandise or services and (2) getting cash rebates, usually annually. The Discover card is famous for its rebate programs, but the fact is that there are a number of limitations and you have to work diligently to get anything close to the maximum 5% annual rebate. Other cards, from Visa and MasterCard to oil company cards, have rebate programs, too, but most often have points-based rewards programs that are geared to travel or shopping. You need to make this decision, cash back or points, when deciding among the credit card accounts and rewards programs in effect today.

Tailoring the programs

You may decide that you want a “cash back” card or, better yet, one that does not offer just cash, but also gives you the option of taking rebates in the form of gift certificates or cards. Sometimes, for extra incentive, gift certificates that are used at specified businesses can result in up to double the cash back. If you are a big fan of getting real “bang for your buck,” then you should consider getting a credit card that offers these expanded choices.

Rewards programs in which you build up points can be advantageous especially when used for travel redemption. In fact, among the very first credit card account rewards programs were some that let you build up “miles” for use with certain airlines. Today, of course, you can do many more things with your points, and anything you want with your annual cash rebates. Programs run by the different credit card companies share a number of basic characteristics, of course, but then offer incredible variety when it comes to how they operate, what they cost and what they really offer in value.

Making the choice(s)

Whatever rewards program you join, read all the fine print. Make sure you understand what purchases are not qualified, that is, do not earn you any points or rebates. There will always be exclusions. Some cards offer rewards programs with no annual fee, while others will waive the first year’s fee if your spending reaches a certain threshold, but it is very hard to get a no-fee program unless your credit is excellent and your purchases add up to a hefty number.

You should take the time to crunch a few numbers to see if joining a rewards program or two is worth your while. The annual fee, the interest you pay, the amount you use your card – all of these will affect your total cost of membership, and your benefits need to exceed the cost or you will simply be handing over extra money to the charge card company and the bank behind it. Talk to some friends or coworkers about their experiences with rewards programs, and interpret what you hear in terms of your own needs, buying patterns and financial status. The last thing you want to do is make the rewards program a reward for the charge card account company instead of yourself!

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