While a lot of people are naturally suspicious of credit cards, there are certain credit card rewards programs that take the sting out of using credit cards. Just like any other financial tool, credit cards can either be used for good things or can be used in such a way as to get you into a debt hole you can’t get out of. Using credit cards with rewards programs are definitely in the former category. Using these cards, you get the convenience of cashless purchases while reaping promotional rewards after you rack up enough points, purchases, or meet certain deadlines. Regardless of the program specifics, credit card rewards programs give you an incentive to use your card and rewards responsible credit card usage.

When it comes to convenience and value, one particularly valuable credit card reward program is the Chase Southwest credit card rewards program. Part of the Chase rewards family of credit card incentive programs, Chase southwest gives you free round trip tickets courtesy of one of the most respected names in domestic airline carriers, Southwest Airlines, if you rack up enough points with your Chase credit card. The great thing about this program is that you are being rewarded with free airline tickets to Southwest Airline destinations just by doing the shopping you’ll already be doing in the first place. In other words, it doesn’t cost you anything. You will already be doing shopping anyway so why not get rewarded with free airline tickets?

 

The Secret To Getting The Most Out of Chase Rewards Programs

Chase Southwest Card
Chase Southwest Card

Just like with other incentivized credit card rewards programs, the secret to getting the most out of the program is to make strategic buys and pay your balances off regularly. This might seem like common sense but you’d be surprised at how uncommon common sense is for many consumers-especially when it comes to buying decisions. The truth is that most of us are creatures of impulse and we instinctively whip out a credit card, any card, whenever the urge to buy hits. By applying a few filters to your next purchasing decisions, you will increase your chances of coming out ahead with your next purchases. In fact, using the right credit card reward programs, you can reduce your costs throughout the year. All it takes is a little more planning, lots of thinking, and a strategic approach to shopping.

 

Strategic shopping

Chase rewards programs, along with other credit card companies’ rewards and promotional programs, only pay off in an optimal way if you shop strategically. You can’t just shop in a very random and chaotic manner and expect to come out ahead. If you really want to tap the full potential of such credit card rewards programs, you have to be very conscious of how you shop and establish certain patterns. First of all, you need to be clear about your objectives. Your objective is to rack up as many points in as short a time as allowed by Chase Southwest’ promotional program. Per the terms of this specific Chase rewards program, the more southwest airline tickets you buy with your Chase card, the faster you rack up points. After all, you get 2 points for every Southwest Airlines ticket purchase you make. Additionally, using this card to book rental cars or hotel accommodations yields 2 points as well. You have to be very strategic in how you travel. Schedule it in such a way that you rack up tons of points, meet your business objectives, as well as gain business deductions. If done right, you basically get compensated for doing something that you need to do anyway.

 

Paying your balance off regularly

While the Chase Southwest Card is a great tool, it is still a tool. And just like any other tool, whether financial or not, it can be used in a good way or a bad way. It is very easy to get stuck in a debt hole because you kept whipping out your card in a mad dash to rack up points quickly. Racking up points is not the problem. The problem is when you whip out your credit card without thinking that you will have to manage your debt. As a result, your balance balloons and you suddenly find yourself in a situation where you can’t dig your way out of debt. The key to fixing this all too common problem is to set a fixed balance budget for yourself. This budget is the amount of debt you can comfortably pay off at the end of every given month. You have to be realistic about this budget. You need to check it twice to make sure you have all your costs taken care of before you set a budget. Make sure you don’t have any leftover or hidden costs. Once you have all your costs figured out, leave yourself a 25% to 33% margin. Set aside the rest for your budget.

 

Cheers

Paul White

The  “Rapid Rewards Enrollment Promotion Code“  Guy :)