4 Things You Can Get With Your Houston Credit Card Rewards

Update: Some offers mentioned below may have changed or are no longer available. View current credit card offerings from our partners at CardCritics here or on the issuer’s website.

This content is brought to you by Air Force Federal Credit Union, a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned entirely by its members and operated for the benefit of all who belong. From the time of its inception, the credit union has taken great pride in serving the financial needs of our military and their families. 

Some people might say that Houston is the style capital of the South with more than 12 shopping districts. So whether you’re shopping for clothes, shoes or accessories, it shouldn’t be hard to locate a retailer offering exactly what you need. And if you’re a big shopper, it only makes sense to earn rewards for each purchase.

If you don’t have a credit card that lets you earn points or cash back for every $1 you spend, you’re missing out on a fantastic opportunity. The more points you accumulate, the more items you can redeem. Here are four things you can do with your Houston credit card rewards.

1. Take a Vacation

Everyone needs a vacation from time to time, but the cost of airfare, hotel and car rental can break the break. You might think you can’t afford a vacation or a mini-getaway, but traveling from Houston is affordable when you redeem your credit card reward points for travel.

Getting to a point where you have enough points accumulated for a travel redemption might seem far off, but fortunately, some reward credit cards offer opportunities to earn bonus points. For example, with the Visa Platinum credit card offered by Air Force Federal Credit Union, you’ll earn one point for every $1 spent, plus there are year-round opportunities to earn double points or quintuple points.

Related: How to Save Money on Travel From 11 Experts

2. Redeem for Merchandise

Reward points aren’t only redeemable for travel, you can also redeem points for merchandise. Once you have enough points, log into your reward program’s website and browse the various categories. You’ll find a wide selection of merchandise including electronics, personal items, sports equipment and more. The points you use toward a purchase are automatically deducted from your points balance.

3. Book an Experience

If you can’t escape town for a couple days, no problem — you can also redeem points for experiences. There’s plenty to do in and around Houston whether you’re planning a staycation or looking for a fun filled weekend. Use points to spend a relaxing day at a spa or redeem points for tickets to a sporting event in the area.

4. Earn Cash Back or Gift Cards

Then again, maybe you’re not interested in travel, merchandise or special experiences. Some credit card reward programs let you redeem points for cash, gift cards, a check or statement credit. Some programs even let you donate cash to a charity.

“Gift cards [are] just like getting cash back as you can spend the money on what you want, when you want,” said April Mann, vice president of remote services at Air Force FCU. If you redeem points for a gift card, you can choose from several retailers and restaurants.

If you use a credit card on a regular basis, skip the no-frills card that offers nothing in return and get a rewards credit card. It pays to have a card that gives back and lets you earn points redeemable for travel, merchandise, gift cards and more.