Comments on: The perfect holiday gift? Great gifts at no cost.

By: David

David — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:39:05 +0000

Yes. Airline points only seem to have the same ROI as hotel points if you are traveling overseas in business class. Else, hotel points trump.

We have 600,000 + NWA points…so the last thing I need is more of them.

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/support/program_tour.html

By: The Sage

The Sage — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:02:13 +0000

Not sure I’d use a $600 hotel room but can it be had w/o blackout dates?

By: David

David — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:45:50 +0000

A lively debate indeed. My biggest issue, besides re-gifting, is that I could not possibly keep track of multiple rewards cards. Sage - You can turn 10K in spending into a $600 hotel room - much better ROI than airline miles.

By: The Sage

The Sage — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:39:37 +0000

Good work on making the most of your reward points. I still prefer to use mine for airline travel as $25k in spending would only get me $250 in cash or cash equivolent but it buys me an airline ticket worth up to $500 for US travel with no blackouts.

As long as people pay off the balance in full each month a CC with rewards is the way to go.

By: Kara McGuire

Kara McGuire — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:55:43 +0000

I can see you and I could have a lively debate about re-gifting, David

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:35:13 +0000

As my husband would argue these aren’t “free” - she could have gotten the cash back from discover and likely gotten something for herself from the points…still a sacrifice of something (hence a cost) just not a cash/credit transaction directly

By: Allison

Allison — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:28:39 +0000

David, isn’t it the thought that counts? Things don’t have to cost money to be valuable. Good for Kara for using her good financial sense to get further ahead and not blowing her budget on gifts!

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:29:21 +0000

I have to disagree with David in two ways. The act of giving means you offer something and expect nothing in return. It does not require effort or sacrifice. But in this case, Kara did both: she made an effort to find gifts that are desired by the recipients, and she sacrificed the value of those gifts, which would have otherwise been available for her own personal benefit.

By: David

David — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:28:27 +0000

Not to be a scrooge…but doesn’t the act of giving imply some sort of effort or sacrifice? It seems odd to give away free stuff….