Did you know that some banks offer points or rewards for using your debit card? Some offer reward points if you swipe your debit card as a credit card (my former bank did). This is a very easy way to earn rewards that can be cashed in for gift cards, credit or cash for your Disney fund!
You can usually find out if the bank offers rewards right on their website. My bank gives me cash back at select merchants when I use my debit card as a MasterCard. It shows up underneath the charge on my online banking statement and I have to manually select that I want cash back. It also offers me additional discounts at some merchants.
Also, be sure to check your credit cards and make sure you are redeeming the rewards you earned by using them. A lot of these rewards will expire without people knowing. Some places offer Disney gift cards as one of the rewards. Be sure to check to see if yours does!
If you discover that your debit card or credit card are offering rewards or incentives you weren’t aware of, leave a comment and let me know! I love hearing that I helped someone find money they didn’t know they had.
Want to find out how to find even more money in your budget? Be sure to check out all the articles in the your fund series.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
So I knew our Chase card had amazon rewards, but I haven’t ever looked at the balance or anything….was able to get a 25.00 Amazon.com gift card with them! I have 55.00 now for Christmas gifts in amazon.com gift cards thanks for this and swagbucks! AWESOME!
Woo hoo!!! :)
I never thought about using my bank of America keep the change savings for Disney…thanks Kristin!
Mine used to but they ‘nerfed’ the bonuses offered on it and now we get nothing. I’m half tempted to switch banks just to get something with bonuses, but the bank’s branch is so close to home and work for us that we save gas and sanity getting to the bank when we need to.
The bank that I bank at which is pnc they have a 2 day magic your way….hopper option-child for 66,000 points and the adults is 77,000.
I should at least have one by next year. I don’t know what my husband has but, it will be going for the same thing.
Thanks for the reminder! My credit union has these bonuses but I have forgotten about it now. Gonna go check out my balance now!
I have Bank of America Power Rewards credit card. I use it for everything even to pay my bills. I rack in the rewards come Christmas I have enough points to get gift cards to everyone or a big check for myself.
I have been banking with Citibank for 10 years and have been a member of their AA frequent flier program. I have seriously gotten about 8 to 10 free plane tixs over the years. I always look for their saver fares and used the lower points charts that you get as a perk for having a Citibank credit card. Free airfare :-) I pay every single bill that I can with my debit card so I can add up the miles. I have enough now for another ticket but there is an annual fee of $55 per year. I still think it is a good deal.
Marsha
I just signed up for the rewards program through my bank (Intrust), and tonight I signed up for the Capital One rewards also! I’ve had my cc with them for years, and my auto. loan as of June. I had no idea they had a rewards program until now though!
My credit union offers points when we use their credit cards. Currently I’m redeeming points for needed things, like little stocking stuffers or a DVD player to replace the old skippy one. What I should have done was redeem for a gift card though, maybe next time.
I have just opened an account with Chase. I can’t decided if I should pay the $25 fee to have a rewards card. I use my card for groceries, gas, clothing and even pay all bills that I can with it other than credit card bills. I would say I put an easy 800 a month on my card if not more. What are your thoughts is it worth the fee. I can even do a cash back and would be able to get once a month 1-3% back in cash.
my bank does offer rewards. 1 point for every $4 i spend using my debit card as a credit card, or 1 point for every $1 i spend when i use my credit card. and sometimes, i evem get 2 points for ever $1 depending on where i made the purchase and what the item was.
my only question is that you said you use the envelope method for your money, how do you tie in using that method with getting cash back or using your Disney Visa? ive always wondered about this because when i think about it, i would sometimes just rather use my credit card instead of the cash, but i find i limit myself better with cash…. so advice is appreciated :-)
Great tip! I am striving to save more in 2011 so this will be one of my first moves.
Testing Testing. Could someone please reply to this comment so I can see if it sends me an email?
Thanks
Sure! Does it work?
Nope. No email. I think I’ve seen on some other blogs that you can check a box if you want to be notified by email of responses / replies to your comment.
I have a chase Disney rewards card. we use it for everything and pay off at the end of the month.So far i have enough rewards for free admission to one of the parks for the family. They dont expire for 5 years so hopefully ill have enough to pay for all admission to the parks we wanna visit. also thinking about a disney cruise since my kids are older!
I have one also…got a card in the mail today offering 3x points from jan 1-march ?? only after 1000. though….but I put everything on the card and pay it off right away..this month that means a lot as we just replaced our stove and dishwasher today!!
I have 2 checking accounts now and I love both banks. The first is Chase and their rewards program was awesome when they had the 1 point for every $1 spent when you used your debit card like a credit card. I received over $75 in gift cards back in 1 year. Now it’s 4 points for ever $5 spent so it takes longer to get rewards but they have an awesome sign up bonus where you get $100 cash for opening a new checking account right now so definatly worth it.
The second account is with Bank of America. They had a promotion with my job so I got a $50 worklife reward bonus for opening an account and they have the keep the change program that matches your contribution 100% for the first 60 days. LOVE THAT part because I use my card for everything and when ever stop to get gas, I make sure I always pump like $20.02 so I put in .98cents and BOA matches it. Yay free dollar! lol. You also get your first order of checks free and it is a lot easier to do deposits with BOA. Both awesome IMO.
We have a Chase card and they have certain things each month that give you back more than normal such as this month I get 5% back when I use it at drugstores and grocery stores. The trick is though that you have to to into your account and enroll every 3 months when the higher percentage places change.
We have a card through Chase, and have found that it is really worth paying for all of the normal expenses with it. You get points for every dollar spent, and we save them up until around Thanksgiving and cash it in for Christmas money. We live on a farm, so we do end up having some larger purchases…but we always pay it off each month to avoid any finance charges. One year, we had $500 in rewards cash to spend for Christmas. It’s like a little savings account if used responsibly…
Ashley
For those wondering about getting the Chase Disney Debit Card:
I got mine back in October. I did not like paying the $25 annual fee to have it, but hoped that I would be able to make at least the $25 to off set the fee. I use the card for EVERYTHING. (Gas, groceries, eating out, gifts, medical bills, cell phone payments, and payments for anything) You have to remember to use it as a credit card, and not a debit card, but when you do you get 1 Disney Reward Dollar for every $200 you spend. They started you off with 25 Disney Reward. (Which makes up for that $25 fee instantly. In three months I have accumulated an additional 25 DR$. At the start of 2011 I have $50 in Disney Reward Dollars and I did not change anything in my life. I still buy what I normally do, but make sure to use that card. It is simple, painless, and I am earning free Disney money just by living my normal life.
I use my Discover card for most of my purchases. They have certain categories that are worth 5% more bonus points. I pay the entire balance every month. I usually use the points for gift cards for clothing (American Eagle, Kohls, etc.) but you can also redeem for cash back instead. I have another card (also paid off every month). We don’t cash it in regularly. We have saved enough on that one to buy a new television.
My credit card has a rewards program, but it’s not that great. You earn points to get things at a discount (not for free) from their catalog. I’ve tried applying for better rewards cards, but I was denied for too little credit experience! Well excuse me for not borrowing money more often. :-/
I just found out that Chase is DISCONTINUING the Disney debit Rewards program =(
such an easy way for rewards that i never thought about!!!! checking mine now!!!!