How Non-Travelers Can Turn Credit Card Purchases into Serious Upgrades
People who travel a lot can get a lot from a travel reward credit card, but those who rarely (or never) travel for business or pleasure can also use their rewards that their credit card gives them. Here are some creative, non-travel ways to use those travel rewards that you earn.
1. Get drunk. Well, you can't actually use your rewards for alcohol, but you can use the rewards to get a hotel room at the next wedding that you attend. You can party as much as you want without having to worry about how you'll get home. Even if you don't want to drink, it's a lot more convenient to stay at the hotel that the reception is at, because you'll be close to all of the action. With a lot of weddings these days, there might be a gap between the ceremony and the reception, meaning you need something to entertain you. Use your rewards to get a room and spend the time lounging by the hotel's pool or taking a nap to refresh you for the night's activities.
2. 2 for 1. If you plan on spending two or more nights in a hotel, upgrade to a better hotel room by using your rewards. Instead of paying $50 each night, book yourself into a $100 hotel room and use your rewards for one night and charge the second night on your travel rewards credit card. Not only will you get extra points for using your credit card at a travel related location, but you'll also have a better hotel room for the same cost you would normally have paid.
3. Move. Instead of renting a moving van for your next move, which is really expensive to do because of the mileage charges, rent a big van from a car rental agency. Instead of paying $29.95 plus $3 per mile, you can rent a cargo van using your rewards for free. Take the money that you would have normally spent and buy yourself a housewarming gift.
4. Be a local tourist. There was a movement a couple of years ago to be a tourist in your own town. This means you are going to do things that you would recommend to tourists coming to your area but maybe haven't done yourself. Go online and find out what there is to see in your area and see if you can use your rewards towards it. If you book travel-related activities through some sites, you are able to get more points and with some cards, you might even be able to redeem your rewards to make your in-the-area vacation interesting.
5. Donate to charity. Almost every credit card reward program allows you to donate your rewards to charity. With a travel reward program, you can donate your points to families who have to travel long distances to get treatments for their sick children and so on. If you have a lot of points, your donation might even be tax deductable. If you aren't going to use the rewards yourself, you might as well give them to someone who will.
Budget travelers and non-travelers are those who don't spend a lot of (or any money) money on travel. Even if you never leave your area, you can use your travel reward credit card for some serious upgrades that will save you money and make life for you (and maybe for those around you) better.
