Points, Miles, Rewards Update

My points are really starting to add up.  It looks like I'm going to get sail right past my 240,000 Hilton Honors points goal way early.  I'll have to figure out if I want to start using some of it, or what else I would want to use it for.  Well, here it is...

Southwest Rapid Rewards:  One free ticket voucher in hand, and 13.5 points needed for another free ticket.  I flew twice in October, and they gave me 2 points per leg.  I'm not sure why, but I'm not going to argue against it.  I guess it was some sort of promo. 

Hilton Honors Points:  195,444.  Our 240,000 goal was for our honeymoon more than a year away.  So, like I said, we're going to hit this early.  Maybe we can use it at another hotel also on our honeymoon.

MBNA WorldPoints:  23,698.  25,000 points seems to be the magic number.  At that level, we can redeem it for a free flight anywhere in the continental 48, 250 bucks, or some pretty decent merchandise like a digital camera (no, I still don't own one).  Here's what's completely baffling.  The $250 or a free flight seems like a good equal value swap.  A cross country flight is likely to run about that much or more, depending on your destination.  You can also redeem for gift cards, but the redemption rate sucks.  You can get a $100 GC to a number of popular places like Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Banana Republic, but it will cost you 12,000 points!  That doesn't make any sense.  Even worse, you can get a $250 Visa gift card for the bargain price of 32,500 points.  What?  Why wouldn't you just take the cash?  Anyway, I think I'll use it for a flight once I get over 25,000.

Discover Cash Back Bonus:  $29.45.  I think I'll get more Hollywood Video vouchers.  It's pretty cool.  You can exchange $20 worth of cash back bonus for ten Hollywood Video or Blockbuster vouchers.  Given that movie rentals are more than four bucks these days, you're getting double value.

American Airlines:  6,450 miles

MyPoints Balance:  3,078.  For 5,750 points I can get a $50 Stuart Anderson card.  That's a pretty decent free dinner.  The same $50 card at Target would cost 7,250 points.  How lame is that?  $50 at Old Navy runs 6,250 points.  I think I'll get the dinner out.  Of course, I still have a lot of points to go.

There you have it.  My points, miles and stuff.

Comments

[John Dent]

I am desperately trying to acquire 7000 worldpoints, and the only way to get them seems to be a transfer from someone else. Would you be willing to sell me 7000 worldpoints for $70?

I am trying for tickets to the Rose Bowl, which will be sold out soon, and only have 41000 worldpoints. AGGGHHH.

Please help. [email protected]

[Credit card oner]

If you pay off your balance in full each month a reward credit card can be very profitable. But if you don't, a reward credit card may not make sense as they tend to come out with higher interest rates, which can contradict the value of the rewards card. In such case, try to find rewards program with the lowest rate available if you intend to carry a monthly balance.

[rewards credit card user]

I have to add that you should check in the reward credit card conditions, whether the point accumulation is on all types of purchases or limited to items. For some reward programs, different purchases may offer different returns, ranging from 1% to 5%.

[credit card specialist]

As far as I know bonus points and miles are not the main incentive anymore. People tend to get those caredit cards that have 0% ballance transfer option.

[Credit Card Cashback Reward Enthusiast]

Hmmmm... I hear about people playing the balance transfer game, but I see even more people working on getting the most rewards from their normal spending. This observation is based on people I know as well as the conversations I see happening at sites like FatWallet, Credit Card Goodies, and SlickDeals.

[pandora bracelets sale]

I won an online writing contest once, and got hard cash money. It was 25 dollars. Never won a TV or anything.

[MBT Shoes]

It's so nice to have you do all of the research for us. It makes our decision making so much easier!! Thanks.