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While credit cards have been available in the Philippines since the 1980s, Filipinos have traditionally held a cautious attitude when it comes to paying with plastic. Concerns about high interest rates and debt traps meant that cash remained king for decades.
However, this attitude is fast changing. The rise of e-commerce, as well as the growing availability of consumer-friendly financial products, have made credit cards a lot more appealing to a wider set of people. It’s no longer just frequent travelers or very high net-worth individuals who find value in them these days. Practical-minded shoppers will tell you that today’s cashback and rewards-based credit cards can actually be a great way to enjoy the better things in life, without increasing your monthly budget.
Indeed, many cards now offer competitive rewards and cashback structures that can easily match your daily spending habits. For example, you can get the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card, a Maya credit card that gives you cashback on all qualified purchases, effectively bringing your monthly grocery and online shopping costs down.
Even then, if you want to make the most of these benefits, it’s not just about having the right credit card. More than anything, it’s about knowing how to integrate rewards into your daily life. Here are a few realistic ways to make credit card rewards part of your everyday spending habits:
1) Use Your Card for Essential Shopping
Groceries, toiletries, and household items are things that you have to buy, regardless of anything. Charging these purchases to a card that offers bonus points or cashback for them lets you effectively earn rewards without changing your habits or increasing your typical expenses. Some cards even have better cashback or point rates for partner supermarket chains, making it easy to boost your points with just your regular grocery run.
2) Earn While Dining Out or Ordering In
Most households will, at least, order delivery, pick up food, or eat out at restaurants a few times a month. If you do these frequently, you should consider getting a credit card that rewards these expenses. The rewards you earn here can be reinvested into future dining experiences or redirected towards more meaningful expenses.
3) Charge Recurring Digital Subscriptions
Given that many of us are now subscribed to multiple streaming and app services, this is a spend area that you may want to look into when choosing a card. Once you link them to your card, you’ll rack up points or cashback automatically each month without any extra effort. Fortunately, many rewards and cashback cards also categorize digital services under online spend.
4) Take Advantage of Partner Merchant Multipliers
Some card issuers partner with select merchants to offer boosted rewards multipliers, sometimes up to 10x points, simply by choosing a specific seller. If these merchants already fit your spending pattern, spending more of your monthly budget at their stores can help you accelerate your reward earnings without any added effort.
5) Track Your Rewards Closely
As fun as they are to collect, points are only valuable if you actually use them. Keep an eye on your rewards balance and be mindful of any expiry dates to avoid losing any hard-earned points or cashback. Digital-first issuers generally provide easy mobile app tracking, so that you can monitor your progress without having to make a phone call, like with traditional cards.
6) Stack Rewards with Existing Discounts and Promos
You can multiply your savings by combining your credit card rewards or cashback with store vouchers, loyalty points, or seasonal discounts. For example, you can pay off a purchase during a flash sale with your rewards-earning card to get both the immediate discount as well as the points or cashback from your card.
7) Use Rewards for Special Occasions
In addition, you can use your rewards to help with everyday spending. But, if you’re not careful, this can lead you to a habit of spending more over time. Instead, use your rewards to offset the costs of special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. Whether it’s paying for a restaurant bill, buying gifts, or booking a weekend getaway, your rewards can ease the financial load of celebrations.
8) Earn Your Rewards Responsibly
Earning rewards can be fun. Still, getting them for their own sake can sometimes lead to unnecessary debt. To get the most from your cashback or reward card, you only want to buy things you can actually afford, with the cash you have in the bank. This is because you want to be able to pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges, which can easily outweigh the benefits you’ve earned.
Make Rewards a Part of Your Daily Financial Routine
These days, you can easily find credit cards that naturally fit into the spending you already do. Start by identifying where you spend the most, then shop around for an issuer that rewards your usual expenses. Without even thinking much about it, you’ll create a positive cycle of transactions and rewards. Once that happens, you’ll accumulate rewards and enjoy the good life without spending extra.