The Points Audit

Once a year, calculate the actual value of every loyalty program you're in. Take the rewards you redeemed, subtract any fees or extra spending the program caused, and look at the real number. Many people find they're earning only a few dollars an hour in points — less than almost any job would pay. And the mental energy of tracking points, chasing tiers, and picking stores by rewards is a hidden cost nobody adds up. If a program isn't clearly profitable after this audit, quit it.