Is It Really A Reward?

Rewards Cards.

In college towns, every restaurant has them. Buy five pizzas, get the sixth one free. Purchase ten Blizzards, receive the 11th for free. However when it comes to retail stores, the system can be a bit different.

For instance at Wet Seal and Books-A-Million, you pay a yearly fee to get a discount on future purchases. For book nerds like me, I used my Books-A-Million card about once a month, and it paid off in the end. For shopping addicts like my roommate, her Wet Seal card was worth it to her; she could get a new outfit and receive a discount just for purchasing it. However, if you don't shop at a store often enough to use the discount (at least once a month), then the card isn't
even worth purchasing.

Places like Sephora, Arden B, and Ulta allow you to receive a free rewards card, and every time you purchase something from these stores, you receive points. These points add up to free samples, free gifts, and major discounts. This type of rewards card is beneficial to have because even if you don't ever use it again, you didn't spend money to get a discount on future purchases in the first place.

So if you are ever approached by a pushy salesperson who wants to get commission and asks you to purchase a card, just say no. Unless of course, they know you by name.