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Credit Card Reward Percentages
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Every credit card offers different rewards. For example, my Citi Dividend card offers 5% cash back at drugstores this quarter which makes it perfect for buying Vanilla Reloads, while my American Express Blue Cash Preferred offers 6% cash back at grocery stores, which makes it great for buying Visa gift cards. When you are MSing it is very important that you are buying the points for less than they are worth, otherwise this game would be pointless (ha!). So, I have put together an estimated point value system that includes the Southwest Devaluation and the United Devaluation.
Point Values
| Program | Value |
|---|---|
| Ultimate Rewards | 1.5 |
| American Airlines | 1.5 |
| Starwood Preferred | 1.5 |
| Membership Rewards | 1.5 |
| United Airlines | 1.1 |
| Delta Airlines | 0.8 |
| Hilton | 0.7 |
| Fairmont | 1 |
| Southwest | 1.4 |
The next table gives you an idea of your cost per point based on what percentage card you are using. Of course, you cannot always be using a 3-6% cash back/miles card, but try to use the card that gives you the best percentage back. This will require a lot of trial and error, to see which stores will accept credit cards and fit your categories.
| 1% Credit Card | ||||
| Denomination | Cost | Points/Miles Gained | Cost Per Point (cents) | |
| Meijer Visa GC | 100 | 4.95 | 105 | 4.7 |
| Staples, OM, OD Visa GC | 200 | 6.95 | 207 | 3.4 |
| Family Fare Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 505 | 1.0 |
| Speedway Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 505 | 1.0 |
| CVS Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 505 | 1.0 |
| CVS Vanilla Reload | 500 | 3.95 | 504 | 0.8 |
| 2% Credit Card | ||||
| Denomination | Cost | Points/Miles Gained | Cost Per Point (cents) | |
| Meijer Visa GC | 100 | 4.95 | 210 | 2.4 |
| Staples, OM, OD Visa GC | 200 | 6.95 | 414 | 1.7 |
| Family Fare Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 1,010 | 0.5 |
| Speedway Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 1,010 | 0.5 |
| CVS Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 1,010 | 0.5 |
| CVS Vanilla Reload | 500 | 3.95 | 1,008 | 0.4 |
| 3% Credit Card | ||||
| Denomination | Cost | Points/Miles Gained | Cost Per Point (cents) | |
| Meijer Visa GC | 100 | 4.95 | 315 | 1.6 |
| Staples, OM, OD Visa GC | 200 | 6.95 | 621 | 1.1 |
| Family Fare Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 1,515 | 0.3 |
| Speedway Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 1,515 | 0.3 |
| CVS Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 1,515 | 0.3 |
| CVS Vanilla Reload | 500 | 3.95 | 1,512 | 0.3 |
| 4% Credit Card | ||||
| Denomination | Cost | Points/Miles Gained | Cost Per Point (cents) | |
| Meijer Visa GC | 100 | 4.95 | 420 | 1.2 |
| Staples, OM, OD Visa GC | 200 | 6.95 | 828 | 0.8 |
| Family Fare Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 2,020 | 0.2 |
| Speedway Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 2,020 | 0.2 |
| CVS Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 2,020 | 0.2 |
| CVS Vanilla Reload | 500 | 3.95 | 2,016 | 0.2 |
| 5% Credit Card | ||||
| Denomination | Cost | Points/Miles Gained | Cost Per Point (cents) | |
| Meijer Visa GC | 100 | 4.95 | 525 | 0.9 |
| Staples, OM, OD Visa GC | 200 | 6.95 | 1,035 | 0.7 |
| Family Fare Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 2,525 | 0.2 |
| Speedway Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 2,525 | 0.2 |
| CVS Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 2,525 | 0.2 |
| CVS Vanilla Reload | 500 | 3.95 | 2,520 | 0.2 |
| 6% Credit Card | ||||
| Denomination | Cost | Points/Miles Gained | Cost Per Point (cents) | |
| Meijer Visa GC | 100 | 4.95 | 630 | 0.8 |
| Staples, OM, OD Visa GC | 200 | 6.95 | 1,242 | 0.6 |
| Family Fare Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 3,030 | 0.2 |
| Speedway Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 3,030 | 0.2 |
| CVS Visa GC | 500 | 4.95 | 3,030 | 0.2 |
| CVS Vanilla Reload | 500 | 3.95 | 3,024 | 0.1 |
