The holiday season is now officially upon us. Before long you’ll be shuffling off to family events and eating far more than your belly can handle. Of course getting presents for loved ones and friends is also part of that holiday tradition, and it can cost you a pretty penny at that. However, there is a clever way to score some of those gifts, cash in your reward points. You can totally hook up your family and friends with some swag just by using your card. Let’s map out your master plan to making this years holiday season the most cost effective one yet.
- Take advantage of those 6 month 0% APR offers that credit card companies like Citi are offering Earn points toward merchandise by purchasing gifts with your card Maximize the ways you earn points
That’s it. It’s as simple as 1-2-3. You can spoil your friends and family without any heavy lifting. All you need to do is put the gifts you were already planning on buying on your credit card, pay the bill at the end of the month (0% interest remember), any then sit back and reap the reward benefits. The best card by far for scooping up mad points is Citi’s Forward card for students.
The Citi Forward card offers its new members a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for six months, if you qualify, and gives you ample opportunities to score some sweet points.
You earn one point for every dollar spent and five points for every dollar you spend on books, movies, music, and restaurants. In addition the Citi Forward card rewards you 5,000 points when you sign up for paperless statements within three months of opening your account and hands you another 6,000 points after $250 in purchases are made within the first three months. You also earn 100 points at the end of every billing cycle for simply making your minimum payment on time and staying under your credit line. So basically, you are handed 11,000 points right out of the gate. How sweet is that?
Below is a sampling of reward gifts you may qualify for along with their current point value.
| Reward | Total Points |
| $25 Gap Gift Card | 3,500 |
| Prodyne Automatic Chrome Peppermill with Light | 3,800 |
| Madden NFL for XBox | 5,000 |
| $50 Best Buy Gift Card | 6,000 |
| Solvit PupSTEP Plus Pet Stairs | 6,600 |
| Apple iPod shuffle 2 GB | 9,700 |
| GPX Karaoke Party Machine | 10,600 |
| Swiss Army Maverick II Chrono Watch | 27,200 |
| Blue Topaz Earrings & Pendant Set | 34,500 |
| Golf Buddy Pro GPS Range Finder | 56,500 |
So save yourself money this holiday season with Citi’s Forward card. Reward your family. Reward your friends. Reward yourself.
Best Rewards Card for College Students: Citi Forward card
ScholarshipPoints code: GIFTSRULE