Holiday shopping with credit cards is a tempting option, and plastic certainly comes in handy. It allows you to shop online, for one thing, and thus avoid the long lines and craziness of crowds. In some cases, using a credit card will speed you through checkout lines. It’s also much safer than carrying cash around, which you might lose. Shopping with a credit card also helps you keep track of your spending and even earn cash back rewards. It’s a smart idea to do holiday shopping with a card that gives you bonus points for purchases. The following is a list of tips for holiday shopping with credit cards:
1.) Before you start shopping, set yourself a spending limit for gifts and stick to it.
2.) If you intend to carry a balance from month-to-month, use a credit card that offers the lowest available interest rate.
3.) Choose a card that awards bonus points on your everyday purchases, with no annual limits on the number of points you’re allowed to earn. Preferably, your card also offers plenty of opportunities to accumulate double or even triple points. Some credit cards grant you a substantial amount of bonus points after you make a qualifying purchase.
4.) Know which cards offer you the most points on everyday purchases, and use them accordingly. For example, if you earn triple points on a card for qualifying travel purchases, use that card to book holiday travel. If you receive double points for groceries and drugstore items, use that card for holiday food purchases, candy and stocking stuffers. If a card offers superb bonuses for retail purchases, use that card to buy gifts.
5.) Register on a points aggregator website such as ScoreCard Rewards or CardPower, where you can combine your points from different credit and debit cards.
6.) Redeem your points for holiday gifts and merchandise. Your accumulated rewards points can be exchanged for gifts in many ways. You may be able to convert points to cash back starting at a specified number of points. Or redeem your points for gift cards to popular retailers and restaurants.
7.) Redeem your points for vouchers whenever possible. You can use these vouchers for holiday travel, flights, car rentals, vacation packages and tickets to various attractions. Vouchers are a convenient alternative when you’re short of cash around the holidays.
8.) If you should lose your credit card during the holidays, call the issuing bank immediately. Usually, they will send you a new card overnight. Be sure your card provides 24/7 fraud protection and a zero liability policy for any fraudulent or unauthorized purchases.
9.) If you choose to pay for holiday travel using your credit card, ensure that it allows you to opt for travel accident insurance.
10.) If your card provides concierge service, take advantage of this wonderful perk. Concierges may help you get a hard-to-find gift or assist you with travel and restaurant reservations. You can use a concierge service almost like a personal assistant, which is quite a convenience during the busy holiday season.