The Problem with Rewards Credit Cards
Rewards credit cards offer an alluring proposition — the promise of free points and miles for each dollar you spend. Many rewards cards even offer signup bonuses worth $500 or more right out of the gate, and that’s in addition to the rewards you earn when you shop or pay bills.
The problem? Not everyone can or should pursue rewards, for several reasons. In some cases, trying to earn rewards can even wreck your finances, damage your credit score, or both.
The High Costs of Balances and Interest
A recent analysis of credit card data from the Federal Reserve from Experian revealed that only 45 percent of Americans with credit cards are paying their balances in full each month. This means the other 55 percent carry a balance at least part of the time, and it’s easy to assume at least some of those people are pursuing rewards.
Because the average credit card now comes with an APR over 17 percent, this is a real problem. It makes almost no sense to try to earn 1 to 3 percent back while also paying over 17 percent in interest. The math just isn’t there.
If you’re charging purchases you can’t afford to pay off each month just for the rewards, credit card rewards are not for you. You’ll be much better off using cash or debit instead since those options won’t leave you grappling with high-interest debt.
The Temptation of Signup Bonuses
Most cash back and travel rewards credit cards offer initial welcome bonuses to entice you to sign up. Many times, these bonuses are worth $500 or more in points or miles, and all you are required to do is meet a minimum spending requirement (e.g. spend $3,000 within three months of opening the account to earn 50,000 bonus points).
While these offers are tempting, they can be problematic if you need to spend more than you normally would to meet the threshold. If your normal spending and bills don’t add up to the minimum spending requirement within the allotted amount of time, what are you going to do?
Way too many people use minimum spending requirements as an excuse to splurge for new furniture or plan a vacation. Unfortunately, this means the rewards they earn won’t leave them ahead financially. They may wind up with new stuff or a trip to look forward to, but they also wind up with less money than when they started. There’s nothing rewarding about that.
The Hidden Costs of Travel Rewards
Another pitfall of travel rewards points is the simple fact you often have to spend money to redeem them. Let’s say you sign up for a hotel or travel credit card that offers a free night certificate and initial rush of bonus points and you decide to cash them in for a week in Hawaii. All of a sudden, you’re splurging for pricey flights, a week-long car rental, and food and fun for seven days. Sure, your hotel may have been free, but what was the total cost?
Also, redeeming travel rewards can come with costs you may not anticipate outside of regular travel expenses. Cashing in airline miles for international flights can require you to pay several hundred dollars in airline taxes and fees, and some airlines tack on hundreds in fuel surcharges to boot.
Higher end hotels you redeem points with may also have unavoidable fees for valet parking or resort privileges. These expenses can and do add up over time, so don’t forget to factor them in.
The Impact on Your Credit Score
Don’t forget that the way you use credit cards can negatively impact your credit score. For example, opening new credit cards means having another hard inquiry on your credit report, which could cause your score to temporarily drop. Since your payment history makes up 35 percent of your FICO score, falling behind on your credit card bills can also create a big problem. With your credit utilization — how much you owe in relation to your credit limits — making up another 30 percent of your FICO score, carrying large balances can hurt your score as well.
Credit cards that dole out points and miles can help you score free travel, earn cash back, or get other freebies, but that doesn’t mean they’re destined to leave you better off. Ultimately, the way you use your credit cards will determine whether they’re a net positive for your finances.
A Smart Approach to Rewards Credit Cards
Before you sign up for a rewards credit card, it can help to have a basic game plan in place. Figure out how you can earn a big signup bonus without making unplanned purchases, and make sure you have the discipline to pay your balance in full each month. From there, make sure you’re only paying annual fees on cards that are worth it.
If that sounds like too much work, then it probably is. Cut your losses and stick with debit instead.
