You’ve heard of all those point and reward cards, but may be wary about trying them. Some people swipe their debit cards for every purchase imaginable. However, they don’t see any payback like bank and airline credit card programs. As long as you use them responsibly, you end up winning in the end. With airfares costing thousands of dollars for just one seat, it’s comforting to know that you can redeem points or miles to get to your favorite destination.

Apply for More Than One
Many travelers don’t realize that there are some cards that allow you to combine your miles or points into a frequent flyer account. It has been observed by the experts that savvy consumers use the Chase United Miles program to fill up their MileagePlus account. They apply for two separate Chase cards, one for each spouse in a household. With all the bonus miles you receive for just signing up, you can have over 70,000 miles in the first three months! Although your credit score dips slightly with each application, all charges and payoffs slowly bring that number back up for a nearly perfect score.

Use It Everywhere
Some cards make it difficult to earn points. It used to only include specific travel expenses such as hotels or rental cars. Today’s point cards reward you for almost every purchase. One point for each dollar is earned when you simply pick up groceries or pay for dry cleaning. Instead of using the debit card at restaurants, use the point card to receive two points for each dollar. If you have a busy family, both spouses can quickly rack up the points while picking up that coffee before work.

Talk to Your Provider
Some of the spending perks are often forgotten, including earning 10,000 miles when spending $25,000 in one calendar year. Talk to your card provider frequently to refresh your memory. Although you can go online to look at all the perks, sometimes it pays to talk to a representative. For example, they may have a new perk add-on that you weren’t aware of. In these cases, you can discuss the perk’s particulars to see if it fits your needs. Your next vacation could be closer than you think!

Pay off Monthly Balance
To travel cheaply, you need to keep your interest rates down. If you are charging extensively on the card, pay the balance off each month to avoid interest accumulation. This strategy forces you to live within your means, but still adds up the points and miles to travel with heavy discounts. Your credit limit may increase as a result of on-time, full payments as well. Credit scores rise with more point accumulations. The reward credit card ends up working for you. Traveling cheaply has never been so easy.

Reverse Those Questionable Charges
Avoid paying for items that are defective and apply those savings to your next travel arrangements. For example, you purchase a dishwasher on your point’s card. However, the unit has a manufacturing defect. Although the maker should cover all expenses to return, replace or fix the unit, you can use your card to reverse the charges as soon as possible. You won’t see any interest fees for the charge, saving you money, time and stress. Because the card is not charged, you can deal with the manufacturer without worrying about interest and the amount sitting on your card history.

Peace of Mind
Most points cards have some form of trip insurance. If you take a cruise, for instance, any issues are covered by the card as long as you charged the trip. Shortened trips from sickness or engine malfunctions are redeemable through the card using the insurance, depending on the provider. This travel insurance ensures that you don’t lose precious savings, allowing you to apply them to the next vacation. Saving money but maintaining peace of mind is worth the credit card application process. Vacations can cost nearly $5,000 or $10,000, so insurance helps you in times of unforeseen circumstances.

Instant Budgeting
To save money effectively, you need to budget yourself. Points credit cards give you a chance to see all your charges laid out in an easy-to-read manner. You’ll see all the businesses and their charges. If you need to cut some expenses, highlight charges that should be avoided during the next billing period. You’ll save money by analyzing your spending, allowing you to save toward that next vacation. When coupling card rewards with your saved money, you’ll have a vacation to remember.

With strategic applications to charging responsible amounts for point bonuses, rewards credit cards give you the power to discover the world. You even rack up points with just everyday purchases, including groceries and meals at restaurants. Try a new credit card to see your options widen to include global travel.