5 Ways to Earn Points and Miles on Everyday Purchases

Posted on 06. Sep, 2012 by PointsAdvisor in Earn Points, Miles and Rewards

It is the rare individual who doesn’t have an everyday purchase they need to make whether it’s picking up a carton of milk or making plans for a family getaway. Here are a few ways to make those every day purchases more rewarding by earning points and miles while you shop!

1) Choose Your Stores Wisely

Some of us are old school. We like getting in the car and heading to the store. We like to be able to see, feel and touch what we are about to buy. But that doesn’t mean we’re stuck in the past when it comes to loyalty programs. We can pick and the choose retailers we frequent to ensure we’re taking advantage of miles and points on offer. If two stores offer essentially the same items at relatively the same price but one is going to give you points for your loyalty, well then the decision is simple. Points please.

 2) Use a Rewards Earning Credit Card

If you don’t have a rewards credit card then you may be missing out. Imagine earning points or miles on every purchase you make. Yes every purchase. That means your morning tea, your afternoon soup and after work drink(s). If you can earn while you spend then go for it. You may consider putting together a monthly budget, using your credit card for all purchases and then paying it off at the end of every month. Watch the points and or miles just roll in.

3) Be Choosey When You Shop Online

You may be cyber savvy and do most of your shopping online. Yes there are people that even do their groceries online. And while they tend to miss out on the tasty samples they appreciate the time saved and convenience of online ordering. Others enjoy shopping for clothes online as they can take their time and scour the web for sales, discounts and unique finds. And almost all of us book our travel online. It’s beneficial to search for retailers and service providers who offer miles and points in exchange for loyalty. Especially if you know you will be a repeat customer. Net-a-porter anyone? Bonus tip: use your rewards earning credit card to make online purchases to double dip.

 4) Leverage Partnerships Between Programs

If you’re a member of one loyalty program you may be eligible for the privileges of another. Many programs have partnerships with other relevant loyalty programs. For instance if you travel a lot and have a particular airline loyalty card you just might be eligible for discounts, savings or additional points/miles at a partner hotel. Check out the choice privileges offered by Jet Blue and Hawaiian, two loyalty programs with plenty to make you feel like one of the privileged few.

5) Purchase Points or Miles to Top Up

Now for the crazy points and miles collectors out there who are super savvy when it comes to getting the most out of their loyalty programs. They probably know the terms of their program inside out and could repeat it verbatim. In short they live to collect points and miles. For this special group, and the rest of you eager to get in on the action, look into your particular loyalty programs about points and miles for purchase. Most make the purchasing of extra points a cinch. So if you need to top up for a key reward, go for it. You might also want to look at transferring miles and points between your loyalty programs. And if you want to make an trade with someone, you can do that too.

Do you have any tips on how to earn points and miles on every day purchases? Leave a comment below!