Membership Rewards points are good.
We know this.
I started saving up my Membership Rewards points (which come with all American Express signature Charge Cards) at 18, when I got my very first Amex, and in the years since have used them to fly everywhere from California for a friend’s wedding to Bangkok (for our honeymoon).
Nowadays I put all my major purchases on my Amex (and pay them off the very next month, like a responsible little cardholder), because points are just so phenomenally useful…both for big things (like the aforementioned flights) and littler things like the stuff pictured above (they can be redeemed for everything from cameras to laptops to other back-to-school musts like…cute fall bags).
And! Interesting little piece of info that’s new to me: if you’re a Cardmember, you can get 5,000 points (equivalent to a $50 Gift Card at places like Saks, Barneys, Banana Republic, The Gap) just for referring a friend (though keep in mind that the friend has to actually sign up and get approved for the card). So two friends = 10,000 points = $100 at, say, Old Navy (which will make quite the dent in your fall wardrobe needs – I personally saw a seriously cute star-print button-down there the other day).
You can even go ahead and make a $100 dent in a big, ridiculous purchase…like that Louis Vuitton bag that will never go on sale in your lifetime. Hey, everyone needs their splurge item.