CREDIT CARD RATINGS

2008 EDITORS CHOICE - BEST STUDENT CREDIT CARDS Best Student Card to Build / Re-Build Credit HSBC Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard® [Read Review] Best Student PLATINUM Credit Card Bank of America® Student Platinum Plus® Visa [Read Review] Best Student CASH BACK Credit Card Capital One® No Hassle Cash(SM) Rewards for Students [Read Review] Best Student GAS Credit Card Discover® Open Road(SM) Card for Students [Read Review] Best Student REWARDS Credit Card Chase +1(SM) Student MasterCard® [Read Review] Best Student PERSONALIZED Credit Card Discover® Student Card - Monogram Collection [Read Review]

How to maximize your Credit Card Rewards Program

The reward credit card programs offered by credit card companies are very beneficial for consumers, mainly for those pay off their credit card balances regularly. The rewards earned through credit cards validate large purchases made by consumers who would prefer to use this method of payment rather than any other. Even spending small sums and consolidating numerous purchases will add to credit card rewards. It would thus help tremendously if you could devise a plan to balance your household expenditure in such a way that you obtain the best possible value from your reward credit cards.

Enumerated below are some pointers that would help you to control your household expenses in order to avail maximum benefits out of your rewards credit cards program.

1) A couple can collectively earn more rewards on their credit cards. If only one of you has a rewards credit card, then you could ask the bank for a companion credit card for your partner entitling you to further benefits

2) Instead of paying for your groceries and other household expenses via checks, cash or debit cards use only your rewards credit card. After a thorough evaluation of your monthly bills you will see that a great deal of daily and essential expenditure can be used for receiving additional rewards.

3) Online billing for daily expenses can also be charged to rewards credit cards. Many public utility companies today, even the most stringent ones, have started accepting credit card payments for instant as well as recurring payments. For those companies who may charge a fee for credit card payments, sometimes, it is perhaps best to avail of an alternative method of payment like check or cash. But upon examination of your monthly check payments to daily service providers like cable, internet, dentist, doctor, etc., you will find that there is plenty of opportunity for you to earn back your points.

4) Monthly rents and mortgage payments can also be charged to credit cards. Many of the apartment and property management companies as well as mortgage companies, in the recent past have started to accept credit cards for such monthly payments. This can prove to be a good way to earn huge and frequent rewards. However, it is important to be regular on your monthly rentals or mortgages and ensure that you have paid off all outstanding balances, because even a single finance charge levied on such a large monthly payment would obliterate the value of total rewards earned.

The objective for rewards credit card should be clear – to transfer most of your discretionary and non-discretionary expenses for every month on to your rewards credit card. In addition to your earning any extra rewards there is always the advantage of acquiring a monthly statement that accounts all your expenditure and helps to maintain a thorough record of the same.

2008 EDITORS CHOICE - BEST STUDENT CREDIT CARDS Best Student Card to Build / Re-Build Credit HSBC Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard® [Read Review] Best Student PLATINUM Credit Card Bank of America® Student Platinum Plus® Visa [Read Review] Best Student CASH BACK Credit Card Capital One® No Hassle Cash(SM) Rewards for Students [Read Review] Best Student GAS Credit Card Discover® Open Road(SM) Card for Students [Read Review] Best Student REWARDS Credit Card Chase +1(SM) Student MasterCard® [Read Review] Best Student PERSONALIZED Credit Card Discover® Student Card - Monogram Collection [Read Review]