Autumn is upon us once again in the world – and with it, several traditions are just beyond the horizon. Baseball season will subside as football begins, as hundreds of thousands of children, teens and college-age students once again return to their studies.
Although this may be one of the most disappointing times of the year for those returning to the rigors of academia, frugal travelers often look to this time of year as a prime opportunity to earn points and miles atop their regular spending. Because of the targeted sales and points multipliers available to savvy shoppers, back-to-school time can be the perfect opportunity to replenish all the points and miles spent throughout the summer.
If you have not begun back-to-school shopping for points, now is the perfect opportunity to start planning a list around your next vacation. Here are three ways to get the most out of your must-purchase list!
Targeted Bonuses: Many credit cards offer points multipliers when shopping at different establishments. Through September, those shopping at restaurants and wholesale clubs can get five percent cash back with the Chase Freedom card. Those who would rather have hotel points can earn three Hilton HHonors points for every dollar spent at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations with the Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature card. However, the holy grail of points earning may benefit small business owners the most.
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Chase Freedom®
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$0 annual fee
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Get a $150 Bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Read Review » |
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Chase Freedom® |
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Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Visa Signature® Card
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75,000 Hilton HHonors™ Bonus Points After making $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening* Read Review » |
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Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Visa Signature® Card |
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With the Ink Plus Business, cardholders earn 5 points per $1 on the first $50,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, Internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year. Earn 2 points per $1 on the first $50,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases — with no limit to the amount you can earn.
Through choosing the right credit card, travelers who are obligated to make back-to-school purchases can get major rewards for their spending. It is all about knowing where to place what purchase.
Shopping Portals: Although we have extolled the virtues of shopping portals before, the topic is worth revisiting now that back-to-school shopping is back in the forefront of everyone’s minds. Many of the favorite retailers that will be in fashionable demand this summer offer bonus points to shoppers who use their airline’s portals.
At the United Airlines MileagePlus Mall, travelers can earn four MileagePlus miles per dollar spent at eBags and JCPenny online, while earning six miles per dollar spent at Finish Line. On the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Shopping portal, travelers can earn two Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent at Kohls and three points per dollar spent at Lands’ End. With the right amount of creativity and searching, every frugal traveler can get bonus points on top of their regular points!
Tax-Free Holidays: In addition to earning points and miles through targeted bonuses and shopping portals, travelers can also save money through taking advantage of tax-free holidays. Every year, 24 states and Puerto Rico offers tax-free weekends, where travelers can purchase more without taxes being added to their overall bill.
Several states, including Connecticut and Maryland, still have tax holidays coming up for consumers. By taking advantage of these sales on top of multipliers, travelers can get more and earn bonus points and miles through the back to school shopping they will already partake in.
While back-to-school shopping often seems like a daunting task, it can be made a whole lot easier when it comes time to shop. By knowing where to shop, travelers can get a bonus of points and miles on top of their regular shopping with little effort at all.
Where do you make the most of your back-to-school shopping? Share your frugal secrets in the comments below!
[Image via Getty]