Earning Points is the easy part. Getting the most out of them can take a little more thought.
Maybe you’ve forgotten to scan your card, missed an offer by a day or held onto your Points because you’re waiting for the “perfect” reward. It happens. And while there’s no single right way to use a loyalty rewards program, knowing how to maximize reward points can help you get more from the Points you’re already earning.
Whether you’re saving for something big or just looking to make everyday spending go a little further, here are 15 common Points mistakes to watch for, plus some simple ways to fix them.
1. Forgetting to keep your account active
Good news: Blue Points don’t expire based on how long ago you earned them. But it’s still important to keep your Blue Rewards account active.
If you go 24 months without earning or redeeming Points, your account may become dormant and the Points you’ve saved may be removed. So even if you’re saving your Points for something down the road, make sure you’re still using your account along the way.
Want to know more? Read up on how Blue Points and account dormancy work.
2. Saving every Point for “someday”
There’s something satisfying about watching a Points balance grow. But saving indefinitely can mean missing opportunities to actually enjoy what you’ve earned.
You don’t necessarily need to wait for a flight or a big-ticket item, either. Your Points may be useful for everything from everyday purchases to e-gift cards, merchandise and travel.
Blue Rewards, for example, gives Members one Points balance they can redeem in different ways.
So go ahead and save for something big if that’s your goal. Just don’t forget that a small win can be pretty rewarding, too.
3. Forgetting to show your card or earn with Partners
You do the shopping. You pay. You leave. Then you remember the one thing you forgot: your rewards card.
It’s an easy way to miss out on Points for a purchase you were making anyway. Get into the habit of checking how you earn with your favourite Partners before you shop, whether that means showing your Blue Rewards card, shopping online or following another earning step.
And because new Partners and offers can pop up, make checking the Blue Rewards website or app part of your routine. It’s an easy way to stay in the loop on new Partners and find more opportunities to earn as they become available.
Before your weekly grocery run, online order or other planned purchase, take a quick look at your latest offers. You may find an opportunity to earn Bonus Points on something that was already on your list.
The important part is that last bit. An offer is most valuable when it fits the spending you were already planning to do, so make a habit of checking your latest offers before you shop.
5. Missing the big events
Sometimes, when you earn or redeem can make a difference.
Blue Rewards often runs limited-time events that offer additional value, from opportunities to earn more Points to promotions that stretch your Points further when you redeem.
For Blue Rewards Members, that can mean keeping an eye out for events such as Shop the Block and other limited-time promotions. If you have some flexibility around a purchase or redemption, it’s worth checking the latest Blue Rewards offers first to see if there’s an opportunity to get more from your Points.
6. Earning without knowing what you’re earning for
You don’t need a colour-coded spreadsheet or a five-year Points plan. But having some idea of what you want to do with your Points can make them much more useful.
Maybe you want to offset some everyday expenses. Maybe you’re saving for a new coffee maker. Maybe you’d rather put your Points toward your next trip.
Having even a loose goal gives you a points redemption strategy. It can help you decide which offers are worth your attention, when to keep saving and when it’s time to enjoy what you’ve earned.
7. Only checking one place for ways to earn
If the only time you think about your rewards program is when you’re standing at the checkout, you could be missing other ways to earn.
Some features may only be available through certain channels. With Blue Receipts, for example, Members can earn Bonus Points on participating products at major retailers, including almost any grocery store in Canada, simply by snapping a photo of their receipt and uploading it to the Blue Rewards app.
The fix is simple: get familiar with your program’s website and app, and explore features like Blue Receipts to see if there are more ways to earn on the things you already buy.
8. Assuming every redemption gives you the same value
A Point is a Point, right? Well, not always when it comes time to redeem.
Different types of rewards have different redemption structures, and the reward points value you get can depend on what you use your Points for. That doesn’t mean you need to pull out a calculator every time you want to reward yourself.
Instead, compare your options before you redeem. Ask yourself what your Points are getting you and, just as importantly, what would actually be useful to you.
Understanding reward points value can help you make a more informed choice without turning Points into a second job.
9. Spending more just because there are Points involved
We love Bonus Points. Spending $40 you hadn’t planned to spend just to earn them? Maybe not so much.
One of the simplest answers to how to maximize reward points is to look for opportunities that fit into your existing spending. If you already need groceries, gas or something for the house, an offer can make that purchase more rewarding.
If you’re buying something you don’t need purely to earn Points, the math may not work quite as well.
10. Skimming the offer details
You spotted the Bonus Points. You made the purchase. So where are your Points?
This is where the fine print matters.
Offers can have specific dates, eligible products, participating locations, minimum spends or other requirements. Some may also require you to take an action before you shop.
You don’t need to study every set of terms like there’s going to be a test. Just give the details a quick read before making a purchase specifically to take advantage of an offer.
11. Forgetting to opt in
This one deserves its own spot because it’s so easy to do.
You see a great offer and mentally add it to your plans. But if the promotion requires you to opt in first, simply making the qualifying purchase may not be enough.
When you see an offer you want to use, check whether there’s an opt-in step and take care of it right away. Your future self will thank you.
12. Getting distracted by the biggest Points number
More Points sounds better. But the biggest number isn’t automatically the best offer for you.
An offer for 1,000 Bonus Points may require a much larger purchase than an offer for 500. If you were already planning to meet that spend, great. If not, the smaller offer could make much more sense.
Look at the whole offer, not just the Points number. What do you need to spend? Would you buy those things anyway? Does the timing work for you?
The best offer is often the one that fits naturally into your life.
13. Only thinking about Points when it’s time to redeem
A good points redemption strategy actually starts much earlier.
The Points you have available to redeem are the result of all those smaller decisions you made along the way: checking offers, remembering to show your card, shopping with participating Partners and taking advantage of Bonus Points opportunities.
With Blue Rewards, there are multiple ways to earn, including in store, online through earnmore.bluerewards.ca, through bonus offers and with Blue Receipts.
A few small habits throughout the year can make a big difference when you’re finally ready to reward yourself, so it’s worth exploring all the ways you can earn Blue Points.
14. Forgetting to check your Points before a purchase
Most of us think about how we’re going to pay for something in dollars. It’s easy to forget that Points might be another option.
Before making a purchase, especially a larger one, check your balance and your redemption options. You may decide to keep saving, but you may also discover that you can use some of your Points toward something you were about to pay for anyway.
Blue Rewards Members can redeem Points in several ways, including toward purchases at participating Partners, e-gift cards, merchandise and travel rewards.
It takes a few seconds to check, and you can always decide your Points are better saved for another day. Take a look at all the ways you can use your Blue Points before deciding.
15. Using the same Points strategy forever
You figured out your rewards routine years ago, so why mess with it?
Because rewards programs change. New Partners join. New offers arrive. New ways to earn and redeem become available. And your own priorities can change, too.
That’s especially worth remembering if you’re a Blue Rewards Member. Blue Rewards has one Points balance that Members can redeem in different ways, including toward everyday purchases and bigger-ticket rewards such as merchandise and travel.
Every once in a while, take a fresh look at how you’re earning and using your Points. You may find there’s a better way to reach whatever you’re saving for now.
A little attention can go a long way
You don’t need to become a Points expert to get more from your rewards.
Remember your card. Check your offers. Know the rules. Pay attention to promotions. And most importantly, use your Points in a way that makes sense for you.
Whether you use a travel rewards program, a retail loyalty rewards program or Blue Rewards, the best strategy is usually the one that fits into the life, and the spending, you already have.
With a few good habits, those everyday purchases can add up to something worth looking forward to explore Blue Rewards to find more ways to earn and use your Points.
