USAA Rewards vs Cash

[chadwick]

Hi! Got approved for a USAA Rewards MC (happy dance) and I'm curious what everyone thinks is better: the rewards points program or good ol' cashback?

[myjourney]

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@chadwick wrote:

Hi! Got approved for a USAA Rewards MC (happy dance) and I'm curious what everyone thinks is better: the rewards points program or good ol' cashback?

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Congrats 

[DigitalArk]

I switched from cash to usaa rewards. With usaa rewards, you can see how many points you have earned and keep track of it, but not with cash rewards.

[ezdoesit]

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@DigitalArk wrote:
I switched from cash to usaa rewards. With usaa rewards, you can see how many points you have earned and keep track of it, but not with cash rewards.

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I have both opened within a month of each other. I like the rewards program better for the same reason as above even though the program redemption is not that good.  Its ok but 1 cent per point on cash back over 20k points but like .7 per point on gift cards is terrible. 

It does does give you 2x on gas and grocery so it really is higher than 1 cent and .7 cents on that alone.

[DaveSignal]

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@ezdoesit wrote:

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@DigitalArk wrote:
I switched from cash to usaa rewards. With usaa rewards, you can see how many points you have earned and keep track of it, but not with cash rewards.

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I have both opened within a month of each other. I like the rewards program better for the same reason as above even though the program redemption is not that good.  Its ok but 1 cent per point on cash back over 20k points but like .7 per point on gift cards is terrible. 

It does does give you 2x on gas and grocery so it really is higher than 1 cent and .7 cents on that alone.

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The 2x is only for the USAA AmEx, afaik.   I have the point rewards card.  points > cash, but I actually only use this card for paying my car / renter's insurance once a month. 

[takeshi74]

I prefer cash back.  It's really a subjective matter.  The rewards structure seems a bit better but I just didn't want to deal with points.  My USAA cards are pretty much sock drawer cards these days though as USAA's rewards -- whether cash or points -- really aren't that great overall compared to the other options out there.

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@DigitalArk wrote:
I switched from cash to usaa rewards. With usaa rewards, you can see how many points you have earned and keep track of it, but not with cash rewards.

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My cash back earned is clearly listed to the right of my account details for each of my cash back cards.