ds, you have the option. It’s easier to switch from spending a few to saving a few, than it is to start from scratch or only a few points.

Whichever way you go, just be careful to get what you’re really going to use. A box of cereal no one likes will take up as much shelf space as a Belgian waffle iron you never use – and it’ll last abou

When the supermarket cashier says, “Redeeming any points today, ma’am?”, what do you answer? Do you use a few points every week to get free or discounted food? Or do you save them up over the months toward something from the reward catalog? Which is better?

I’ve done both. Right now I’m going with points for food. Here’s why:

*Food’s necessary for life. None of the stuff in the catalog is. (No, not even the movie tickets.)

*There’s a much bigger selection of groceries than rewards – well, it is a grocery store.

*Those times when I need extra food (there’s a holiday, or we just run out of everything at once), getting some items free keeps my grocery budget more manageable.

*Food items take a lot fewer points than the catalog rewards. I don’t find myself suddenly starting over from zero, which can be discouraging.

Of course, it means you miss out on advantages like:

*“Free” birthday parties for kids (for my son’s last birthday, I cashed in most of my points for restaurant gift cards and tickets to the local science museum)

*Guilt-free movie nights and new gadgets

*The little extra push you sometimes need to get the family off on vacation (“Look, we can get a free night in a hotel!”)

*No-cost Christmas and birthday gifts

But if you ever decide to go back to saving up for one of these rewards, you have the option. It’s easier to switch from spending a few to saving a few, than it is to start from scratch or only a few points.

Whichever way you go, just be careful to get what you’re really going to use. A box of cereal no one likes will take up as much shelf space as a Belgian waffle iron you never use – and it’ll last about

’s necessary for life. None of the stuff in the catalog is. (No, not even the movie tickets.)

*There’s a much bigger selection of groceries than rewards – well, it is a grocery store.

*Those times when I need extra food (there’s a holiday, or we just run out of everything at once), getting some items free keeps my grocery budget more manageable.

*Food items take a lot fewer points than the catalog rewards. I don’t find myself suddenly starting over from zero, which can be discouraging.

Of course, it means you miss out on advantages like:

*“Free” birthday parties for kids (for my son’s last birthday, I cashed in most of my points for restaurant gift cards and tickets to the local science museum)

*Guilt-free movie nights and new gadgets

*The little extra push you sometimes need to get the family off on vacation (“Look, we can get a free night in a hotel!”)

*No-cost Christmas and birthday gifts

But if you ever decide to go back to saving up for one of these rewards, you have the option. It’s easier to switch from spending a few to saving a few, than it is to start from scratch or only a few points.

Whichever way you go, just be careful to get what you’re really going to use. A box of cereal no one likes will take up as much shelf space as a Belgian waffle iron you never use – and it’ll last abou

dget more manageable.

*Food items take a lot fewer points than the catalog rewards. I don’t find myself suddenly starting over from zero, which can be discouraging.

Of course, it means you miss out on advantages like:

*“Free” birthday parties for kids (for my son’s last birthday, I cashed in most of my points for restaurant gift cards and tickets to the local science museum)

*Guilt-free movie nights and new gadgets

*The little extra push you sometimes need to get the family off on vacation (“Look, we can get a free night in a hotel!”)

*No-cost Christmas and birthday gifts

But if you ever decide to go back to saving up for one of these rewards, you have the option. It’s easier to switch from spending a few to saving a few, than it is to start from scratch or only a few points.

Whichever way you go, just be careful to get what you’re really going to use. A box of cereal no one likes will take up as much shelf space as a Belgian waffle iron you never use – and it’ll last abou

ift cards and tickets to the local science museum)

*Guilt-free movie nights and new gadgets

*The little extra push you sometimes need to get the family off on vacation (“Look, we can get a free night in a hotel!”)

*No-cost Christmas and birthday gifts

But if you ever decide to go back to saving up for one of these rewards, you have the option. It’s easier to switch from spending a few to saving a few, than it is to start from scratch or only a few points.

Whichever way you go, just be careful to get what you’re really going to use. A box of cereal no one likes will take up as much shelf space as a Belgian waffle iron you never use – and it’ll last abou

ds, you have the option. It’s easier to switch from spending a few to saving a few, than it is to start from scratch or only a few points.

Whichever way you go, just be careful to get what you’re really going to use. A box of cereal no one likes will take up as much shelf space as a Belgian waffle iron you never use – and it’ll last about as long, too.