Search Results for: blog credit cards and rewards

Avoid the Credit Card Sign On Bonus Programs

Some credit cards offer very tempting sign on bonus rewards in the form of points, cash back or even prizes. The problem is that these bonus programs may also come with a price, a very large price that can lead you into debt. Here is what you need to know. The reason that credit card sign on bonuses are so popular is because they work. There are some ridiculous rewards out there, and it seems silly not to take advantage of them. With any sign on bonus, as with anything having to do with credit cards, it is important to … Continue reading →

The Road to Zero Credit Card Debt

If you are like the tens of millions of Americans, who have racked up large credit card debt since the economy took a dive, you may be wondering how to dig yourself out of the abyss of hopelessness. Many financial experts advise against debt consolidation unless you can find a very low interest rate. Instead, their method of choice is to systematically and aggressively pay down the accounts beginning with the ones that have the highest interest rates. Regardless of what method you employ, financial experts warn that you will never truly be debt free unless you analyze your spending … Continue reading →

Grocery and Gas Station Discount Promotions

When the Tom Thumb supermarket moved in roughly 14 miles away, I wasn’t excited about the attached gas station. It was one of the more expensive stations in the area. The three cents per gallon discount I would get just for using my Tom Thumb rewards card wasn’t worth it. I could get cheaper gas on my way to somewhere else. I don’t remember when Tom Thumb decided to change its price structure, but the gas was more affordable. A three cent a gallon discount after shopping for groceries was a nice perk. I could save three cents a gallon … Continue reading →

CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens

One of the best deals you can consistently get is to shop at the three major drug chains: Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid. Each have really fantastic reward programs. CVS has Extra Care Bucks, Walgreens has Register Rewards, and Rite Aid has Single Check rebates. With CVS and Walgreens, you get the rewards right at the register. You need a CVS card to earn Extra Care Bucks, which are credited for special purchases and on a percentage of your spending quarterly. You can spend the Extra Care Bucks on just about anything in the store except gift cards and prescriptions. … Continue reading →

How I Use My Credit Cards to Earn $200+ Each Year

Yesterday I wrote about how I changed my thinking about credit cards and changed my debt status. But in finding spending harmony I didn’t shun credit cards altogether like many financial advisors tout. (Having too many credit cards was never my problem, though. Maxing out the one I did have was.) No, instead I learned how to use credit cards to make them earn for me. Sign Me Up for That Reward Program! For the longest time I couldn’t get a Discover Card because my credit was so bad. (Not only did I have that maxed out balance on my … Continue reading →

Ensure your Credit Security Through Credit Cards

I realize many people out there shun credit cards entirely. While I can see their point, they are actually bucking a system ingrained in society. By doing this, they are inadvertently hurting themselves. Yes, credit cards can be black holes into debt and financial ruin, except, they are not a loaded gun. You have to use them incorrectly to get yourself in trouble. There is no accidental debt. The problem with not having credit cards is our society has become so reliant on them. Therefore, so have the credit bureaus for their credit reports and scores. By avoiding credit cards … Continue reading →

Tired of High Credit Interest?

Want to start the New Year off right? Make a few phone calls to your credit card companies. Most people don’t realize that both your interest rates and your credit limit can be negotiable. From a credit score standpoint, keeping the same credit cards with the same accounts for a long time helps your score. Credit history is a key component of both your credit report and the scoring system lenders use to evaluate your credit risk. When you get all these great offers in the mail to switch for a lower rate or even a 0% APR for a … Continue reading →

Are Credit Cards Tools or Traps?

Many view credit cards as useful tools. They can help you get something that you want now, that you do not have the money for. Others view them as a way to get cash back, or earn points for prizes, vacations and flights. It is important to realize that with the convenience that credit cards offer, also cards are also dangerous. It is important to avoid charging your wants on your credit card. If you are paying for your wants with cash at the beginning of the month, but charging your groceries at the end, then you are still charging … Continue reading →

Stop that Credit Junk Mail

Do you receive credit cards offers in the mail? Well, take that as a good sign about your credit, but a bad sign about your vulnerability. These offers not only fill up the recycling bin, they leave you exposed to mail crime and identity theft. Many of us can easily say we receive at least a handful of pre-approved credit offers in the mail each week. What do you do with these? If you don’t plan to use any of them, they probably end up in the trash. Hopefully you also put them through the shredder first. If these offers … Continue reading →

Negotiating Credit Card Rewards

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If you have reasonably good credit history and a handle on managing your use of a credit card, then you absolutely should be making money with credit card points. In order to remain competitive most credit card companies are offering some sort of rewards program. Often you don’t even need to open a new account to start receiving rewards. The best type of rewards program pays you cash. Money can be used to buy almost anything and is a far more flexible reward then points toward travel, cars, or mortgages. I highly recommend you find a rewards program that pays … Continue reading →