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Retail Reward Credit Cards

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Retail reward credit cards are meant to entice customers to shop more often at the stores offering them. You may end up spending more on things you don't really need or want just to build up rewards. So be cautious about using your Retail Reward credit cards.

Department stores and specialty shops are giving their "very special" card customers another reason to shop: Retail Reward credit cards. The aim is to keep loyal customers coming back for more. But don't let the promise of a 10 percent discount, exclusive offers and rewards lull you into agreeing to a lousy Retail Reward credit cards deal. There's nothing rewarding about having your money sucked away by high interest rates.

"These Retail Reward credit cards don't provide rewards for free," says a financial expert, "Put the pencil to it and see if it's really going to benefit you."

With most Retail Reward credit cards, you earn points for a rewards certificate good toward a future purchase at the shop or department store. Rewards certificates range from $10 to $25, and the rate that you earn rewards varies widely from store to store. Three percent of each purchase you make goes into your Retail Reward credit cards tally. So spend $100 and you've earned three reward dollars. To earn 25 reward dollars, you'll need to charge about $834. If you shop at a double rewards event when 6 percent of each purchase gets counted toward rewards, you only need to spend about $417 to earn a $25 rewards certificate.

Folks who carry a plain old account with stores who provide Retail Reward credit cards may get advance notice of sales and private preview days, but they can't earn a single rewards point -- not until they charge $1,000 in a single calendar year.

So when you think about it, to earn a $25 reward at a retail store you'd have to spend at least $1,834 or $1,417 if you shop during a double rewards event. That's not much of a reward is it? And the interest rate on Retail Reward credit cards is nothing to brag about either: a hefty 21.6 percent.

A rewards program, even a good one, is just another way to entice you into spending more money in a particular store. "Retailers want you to visit the store again and again," says a financial expert, you may end up spending more on things you don't really need or want just to build up rewards. So be cautious about using your Retail Reward credit cards.

The trick is to take advantage of Retail Reward credit cards without going overboard with your spending. Buy things that you need during special sales and pay off your balance every month. If you earn points toward a future reward or discount, that's great.

Applying for Retail Reward credit cards sometimes helps you score same-as-cash deals for larger purchases such as computers, appliances or furniture, allowing you to pay smaller monthly installments with no interest for a period-usually 6 or 12 months. Just be sure to pay off the full amount before the finance charge-free period comes to an end, advises an expert. "If your payment is not made in full by the same-as-cash period end, finance charges will retroactively apply from the date of purchase."

Find out what the APR rate is and add in any fees or minimum purchases required by the Retail Reward credit cards. Then compare that with your potential store savings to make sure everything balances out. Are you going to have to spend more money than you normally would in order to earn the perks and discounts?

Never sign on for Retail Reward credit cards without reviewing the fine print and finding out what you are signing up for. It might take away some of the fun of a shopping splurge, but in the long run you'll be happier because you are safeguarding your credit.

 
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