Miles and Points Giving
We have one of the most generous hobbies out there. Credit card rewards enable us to gain large amounts of points, miles, and cash back with relatively little effort. As the rewards balances pile up, it’s easy to get caught up with our own selfish redemption goals. But many miles and points giving strategies exist. I encourage you to participate, during the holidays and throughout the year. Here are just a few options.
The Meal’s On You
Dining with friends and family is one simple opportunity to generously give to others. Thanks to Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature, Sapphire Reserve cardholders can redeem Ultimate Rewards at a solid 1.5 cents per point value to cover dining charges. Considering how easy it is to earn Ultimate Rewards points across a variety of Chase cards, many are sitting on healthy point balances. So take your friends or family out for a meal, or maybe cover a stranger’s tab! But do so sooner rather than later – dining is only guaranteed as a Pay Yourself Back category until 31 December of this year. Plus, many of us have hoards of Uber credits each December thanks to the Amex Platinum. Consider using those on Uber Eats orders for others.
Pass the Fuel Points
As I’ve previously described, giving away fuel points is one of my favorite ways to help others. I enjoy throwing fuel points at perfect strangers throughout the year. It’s a quick, simple gesture which provides an immediate benefit based on a personal interaction. And with any given fuel program, you may have way more points than you could ever redeem yourself before the expiration date. I tend to give fuel points to others during daylight hours, when I’ve found people to be more approachable.
Clothe Those In Need
My favorite niche currency, Banana Republic Rewards points are also one of the easiest to earn in large chunks. Program members can easily redeem points for staple clothing articles at an economical rate, especially at Old Navy. Consider picking up several items and donating them to your preferred charities. Or take someone you know who’s in need on a shopping trip.
Use Credits for Traditional Gift Giving
For years, I’ve focused the Amex Platinum’s Saks credit on gifts for others. You can check out some reasonable options for this biannual $50 credit here. Dell may not initially sound like a promising store for gifts, but many practical options exist for using your biannual $200 Amex Business Platinum credit. The list goes on. Also, consider doing your holiday shopping throughout the year, as outstanding deals and portal payouts routinely pop up.
Other Options
Remember that you can use your miles and points to book travel for someone other than yourself. Enabling travel for those who otherwise don’t have the option feels great. And don’t forget that many friends and family earn points but aren’t that skilled at using them. A huge gift is teaching them how to effectively use their currencies. Helping them book travel with their rewards sets them up for success now and in the future. And of course, hobbyists can donate miles and points with the programs themselves. You can check out options here.
Conclusion
It’s remarkable how rewarding our hobby is. I encourage you to take a step back, total the rewards currencies you’ve accumulated over the year, and give a bit to others. It’s much easier than you think, and perhaps selfishly, it feels outstanding to do so. What have been your favorite miles and points giving methods over the years?
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