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4 Credit Card Rewards Perks to Drool Over

By U.S. News & World Report

When it comes to credit card rewards, cash back is the undisputed king. No matter where you’re from, how much money you make or — gasp! — your political views, it doesn’t make any difference. Americans love, love, love their cold, hard cash.

But what if you’re looking for credit card rewards that go beyond cash? What if you’re looking for a rewards experience that money can’t buy? You’re in luck. More and more cards are offering up exactly that benefit.

From backstage access to the hottest concerts to private dinners with Michelin-starred chefs and beyond, credit card issuers are ramping up efforts to lure in people who value experiences and adventures more than cash and merchandise. As you might expect in the ultracompetitive credit card marketplace, which has been in the throes of a rewards card arms race in recent years, these types of credit card perks are becoming more common and more compelling.

Here are a few recent examples of outrageous credit card perks.

[See: 8 Ways to Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards.]

Private dinner at Michelin-starred restaurant Daniel in New York City with Chef Daniel Boulud. There’s nothing quite like indulging in a special meal cooked just for you by a world-class chef, but that’s just the perk that Starwood was offering via its SPG Moments program. The dinner with Boulud is described as “a rare and exclusive evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, an interactive cooking demo, a kitchen tour, and a five-course tasting menu with wine pairing.” It’s the kind of rewards event foodies would jump to take advantage of. Boulud is a winner of the prestigious James Beard Award and a titan in the culinary world. While Starwood is a hotel chain, not a credit card company, one of the fastest ways to rack up its Starpoints and earn rewards is through its Preferred Guest credit card from American Express. The winning bid on the SPG website was 75,500 Starpoints.

[See: 12 Simple Ways to Raise Your Credit Score.]

Watching Boston Red Sox pregame batting practice on the field at Fenway Park. Sports fans relish the chance to watch their heroes up close. If you have the Boston Red Sox Extra Bases MasterCard, you can do just that. For 40,000 rewards points, you can stand on the warning track behind home plate and watch Sox stars Hanley Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, Mookie Betts and other baseball stars take batting practice before a game. The rewards package also includes a tour of the stadium, four tickets to the game and your name on the scoreboard — and you’ll do it all in one of the most beautiful, historic sports stadiums in the entire nation.

On the track with Lamborghini at Pocono Raceway. Sometimes your credit card gets you in the door for an extravagant experience, but you have to pay to walk through it. That’s the case here. Thanks to American Express’s “By Invitation Only” Membership Experiences program, cardholders get the opportunity to drive a Lamborghini Aventador S, Huracan Coupe and Huracan RWD Coupe on one of the most famous racetracks in the country. American Express says drivers will take part in “cornering, acceleration, braking and full-track driving exercises under the guidance of professional Lamborghini instructors” and will also have a private lunch with a Lamborghini executive. It’ll cost cardholders $750 for either a morning or afternoon session.

[See: 10 Easy Ways to Pay Off Debt.]

Backstage tour for Eric Clapton concert at The Forum in Los Angeles. He’s a bona fide legend and unquestionably one of the greatest guitar players in rock history, and Chase Ultimate Rewards just offered its members a chance to see Clapton in concert and have a unique experience afterwards. The package: Two tickets to Clapton’s Sep. 13 show and a backstage tour prior to the show. There’s not a lot of detail about what that “backstage tour” entails — except that it would be “followed by light bites and cash bar in the Chase Lounge” — but the chance to go backstage before a show like this is an opportunity that most folks never get. The cost was 50,000 Chase points, and it sold out.

The bottom line. The right credit card, used the right way, can make your life better. But no one should ever overspend to get credit card rewards, regardless of how cool those rewards might be. So, before you apply for that new rewards card, make sure you can comfortably reach any minimum spending thresholds you have to hit and can pay your balance off in full each month. If you can do both of those, the credit card can be great, getting you access to people, places and things that would otherwise be out of reach.

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4 Credit Card Rewards Perks to Drool Over originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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