BestCreditCard Home
BestCreditCard Home
BBB
Only BestCreditCard Finds the Best Card
Based on How You Spend.

When should I use Rewards Points?

You can use your rewards points whenever, but make sure to read about the rewards system.
Abhiram
Abhiram Kotireddy

June 8, 2020

Credit Cards
See Best Credit Cards by Category:
All content is written by editorial staff or writers engaged by the site, not by marketers/sales staff. Editors responsible for producing the content are not in contact or affiliated with any advertiser and are not compensated based on success of the affiliate links. All decisions regarding recommendations are determined separately from advertising relationships. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

This Offer Is Not Available

This offer is not currently available on BestCreditCard. Please take a look at similar offers!

You can redeem and use your rewards points whenever you like as long as there is no redemption minimum. Although there is no perfect time to use your rewards, we recommend using your rewards points when you have a big purchase coming up. For example, if you have a vacation coming up and you have been accumulating points, then you should use your rewards for that if you can. Your rewards should be used when you can maximize your savings on big purchases. 

Expiration

Many rewards point programs have an expiration, so you need to make sure that you use those points before they expire. You should plan your big purchases before most of your points expire so you can get the most savings from your points. You can also lose your rewards points if you make a late payment, close your account before you use the rewards points, or break the rules of the program. You need to make sure to stay on top of your payments so that you can use your rewards points to save. 

What should I use my Rewards Points on?

Certain cards have specific rewards systems that only allow their points to be used on certain purchases. For example, many hotel cards will allow you to earn points at select hotels and then use those points to get free stays. It is important to recognize that some rewards points can only be used on specific types of purchases. It is important to read the terms and conditions of your program to know where and when your points can be used. 

How can I redeem my points?

There are many ways you can potentially redeem your rewards points. They can be used on select travel purchases such as hotel stays and airline tickets. Some rewards programs also let you redeem gift cards, make charitable donations, get cash back, or get other merchandise with your points. Make sure to check how you can redeem your rewards points so you know where and when they can be used. 

Takeaways

You can use your rewards points whenever you like, but you should keep track of what they can be spent on and when they expire. We recommend that if you have a big purchase coming up and your rewards points are applicable, save them up and use them then. This is to ensure that you are saving the most money with your rewards points.


Serious Security

We encrypt data you share with us to ensure your experience is both easy and safe.

100% Free

BestCreditCard is completely free. Making the right financial decision shouldn’t cost you.
General Disclaimer
The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which BestCreditCard receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). BestCreditCard does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.
Editorial Disclaimer
All content is written by editorial staff or writers engaged by the site, not by marketers/sales staff. Editors responsible for producing the content are not in contact or affiliated with any advertiser and are not compensated based on success of the affiliate links. All decisions regarding recommendations are determined separately from advertising relationships. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
Approval Odds
BestCreditCard calculates your approval odds by comparing your credit profile to other BestCreditCard members who were approved for this product. These approval odds are estimates only and do not guarantee approval. Credit card issuers use a variety of different types of credit scores and criteria to make credit decisions. The TransUnion credit score we provide is based on the VantageScore 3.0 model and may not be the credit scoring model used by financial institutions presenting offers on our website.