This holiday season, Goldenwest Credit Union has been offering triple Extra Awards points on every purchase made with the Visa Rewards Credit Card. This offer extends through December 31st, so it is not too late to take advantage of this excellent deal.

Credit cards may spell disaster if used without proper knowledge and spending habits, but they can also offer you rewards that cash and debit cards don’t. When used correctly, rewards credit cards offer you an array of benefits simply for spending money on things you would be purchasing anyway. With three times the rewards points through the month of December, now is the perfect time to think about how you are going to utilize all your rewards points.

When it comes to cashing in your credit card points, not all rewards are created equal. We took the liberty of finding the best rewards deals for you so you don’t have to.

GOOD

Cash rewards are universally useful- you could always use a little extra cash!

$50 = 7,400 points
$100 = 14,500 points
$500 = 71,000 points

Cash is the easiest to spend, but it also has the highest “price” of points used per dollar you will earn back.

BETTER

We offer gift cards for almost anything you can think of, from entertainment, restaurants, and movies to groceries, gas, and retail, as well as stock investments. You may redeem points for gift cards from iTunes, Cinemark, Disneyland, Whole Foods, Chevron, Buffalo Wild Wings, IHOP, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Texas Roadhouse, Target, Costco, Amazon, Cabellas, Best Buy, and so much more!

$50 = 6,700 points
$100 = 13,200 points
$500 = 64,600 points

Gift cards may limit where you can spend, but you will be able to get more value on your gift cards than you would with just cash.

BEST

Travel is expensive, but you can ease those expenses when you use your credit card rewards. You can either purchase gift cards for travel, or better yet, receive a rebate after your travels.

Hotel and Car Rental Gift Cards:
$50 = 5,000 points
$100 = 5,000 points
$300 = 30,000 points

Travel Rebates:
$100 = 9,000 points
$500 = 35,000 points

Receiving rebates after you travel gives you a bit of an advantage over travel gift cards. However, no matter which way you spend your points, travel will give you the most bang for your buck.

Want to learn more about maximizing your Visa Rewards? Visit gwcu.org/visa/rewards, or call toll-free 877-909-1450 for more info.