Advantages to Using

Using credit 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 money on credit cards – shopping around for interest rates, getting cards with no annual fee, paying your balance off monthly – but there are also ways to make money 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 money 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. pointsWhen considering what credit 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 cards and rewards programs in effect today.