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Can you use your rewards card to pay off your credit card debt?

Published on November 23rd, 2020
  Written by 
Bill Tsouvalas
Bill Tsouvalas is the managing director and a key company spokesperson at Savvy. As a personal finance expert, he often shares his insights on a range of topics, being featured on leading news outlets including News Corp publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun, Fairfax Media publications such as the Australian Financial Review, the Seven Network and more. Bill has over 15 years of experience working in the finance industry and founded Savvy in 2010 with a vision to provide affordable and accessible finance options to all Australians. He has built Savvy from a small asset finance brokerage into a financial comparison website which now attracts close to 2 million Aussies per year and was included in the BRW’s Fast 100 in 2015 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He’s passionate about helping Australians make financially savvy decisions and reviews content across the brand to ensure its accuracy. You can follow Bill on LinkedIn.
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Reward cards come with benefits of earning points while you swipe for various purchases. Such features can be suitable for big spenders, but what happens when you overspend and attract credit card debt? Is it possible to use your rewards to pay off your debt? Here is what you need to know when it comes to your options and how to use your reward points to pay off your debt.

Is it possible to use your rewards to pay off your debt?

Reward credit card comes with big bonus point sign ups that can be converted to cashback rewards which can be used to help card owners reduce their card debt. Overspending on your reward cards may unlock reward points in the process, but it could also cause cardholders to default on their credit card repayments which can cause a debt spiral. Another thing to consider is that the interest rate that is applied to your card balance can outweigh your rewards.

Using reward points to pay off credit card debt

The main way that you can use your reward points to help pay off your credit card debt is by redeeming your points as a cashback which is deposited in your account. Keep in mind that reward programs vary in terms using your points for a cashback based on whether you have an account credit or an annual fee credit. Therefore, check your reward program to see how you can redeem your points as a cashback. This could take up to 2-30 days until it is reflected in your account.

Will it be cost-effective?

It is important to weigh the pros and cons of converting your reward points to cashback if you want to get more value for your money. This will depend on your reward program and what type of value they place on each point. Cashbacks credit cards tend to reward cardholders with a minimum of $100 to $250 at most depending on the type of card you are using. Furthermore, you need a certain amount of points that can be redeemed as cashback points. Compare your options to see whether redeeming your points as cashbacks will offer you the most value.

Other considerations

Although it is possible for you to use your reward points to help you reduce some of your cards debt, it is important to keep in mind that it will not reduce your monthly minimum payment which means that you will stay have to pay this off. Consider looking at alternative options to reduce your credit card check by checking if your card is suitable for the type of buyer that you are.

Checking things such as your cards interest rate, fees, and charges will let you know whether the card is affordable for you. Balance transfer credit cards also come in handy when it comes to managing credit card debt.

Changing the way you spend money by tracking what you spend it on can help you maximise your balance transfer card.

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This guide provides general information and does not consider your individual needs, finances or objectives. We do not make any recommendation or suggestion about which product is best for you based on your specific situation and we do not compare all companies in the market, or all products offered by all companies. It’s always important to consider whether professional financial, legal or taxation advice is appropriate for you before choosing or purchasing a financial product.

The content on our website is produced by experts in the field of finance and reviewed as part of our editorial guidelines. We endeavour to keep all information across our site updated with accurate information.

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