Travel & Lifestyle

How I earned nearly 30,000 American Express Membership Rewards points with help from Rakuten

The opportunity to earn a large number of points on one transaction does not come often. That’s why I was ecstatic when I looked at Rakuten’s 2024 cash back unfold calendar and saw that it matched the TV I planned to buy. Through November 20, 2024, Rakuten is offering 20% ​​cash back (or 20 American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent) on LG purchases.

Here’s how I made the most of this opportunity and how you can find opportunities to earn thousands of Membership Rewards points yourself.

Rakuten offer

Earning 20% ​​cash back on anything you buy is nothing short of phenomenal, but since I’m in the market for a new TV, I know I’m in a great position to score a ton of rewards. The TV I have my eye on is the 65-inch LG C3, which was reduced to $1,299.99 on Black Friday.

Since Rakuten’s LG special only lasts for one day, I had to be careful about the right time to buy. I charge my new TV American Express Platinum Card®I recently opened a card and am working on earning the welcome offer.

Through the Rakuten offer, I earned 26,000 Membership Rewards points. Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each, according to TPG’s December 2024 valuation. That means those 26,000 points are worth $520 when used at Amex’s hotel and airline transfer partners.

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If you want to take advantage of Rakuten offers, make sure you start your shopping trip on the Rakuten website and click through to the merchant you want. Alternatively, download the Rakuten Chrome extension and activate applicable offers when prompted by merchants.

By default, you will receive cash back rewards from Rakuten. If you’re like me and want to earn Membership Rewards points, you have to connect your American Express Membership Rewards account.

Keep in mind that Rakuten does not offer Membership Rewards points immediately. In fact, it can take up to 100 days for your reward to be confirmed. Also keep in mind that Rakuten only pays out points every three months.

My American Express Platinum Card Points

In addition to earning 26,000 points through Rakuten offers, I also earned American Express Platinum Card. The TV I purchased was not in any of Amex Platinum’s bonus categories, so I only earned 1 point per $1. I can’t complain about that in this case, though.

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Since the total purchase was $1,299.99, I earned 1,300 points on my Amex Platinum. This brings my total Membership Rewards points to 27,300 points, worth $546 according to TPG’s December 2024 valuation. This definitely eases the pain in my wallet.

Xavier Lorenzo/Getty Images

It’s worth noting that you don’t need to use a Membership Rewards earning card to earn bonus points from Rakuten. You can use any card you want, even a cash back card. No matter what card you use, your Rakuten Rewards can only be earned in the form of cash back or Membership Rewards points.

You also don’t have to worry about linking your card to Rakuten unless you’re taking advantage of one of their in-store offers.

How to find great deals

First, make sure you’re signed up for Rakuten. In fact, new members who join through this link and spend at least $30 at qualifying merchants within the first 90 days will receive a one-time $30 bonus. The initial bonus will be paid out in the form of cash back, but you can change your earning preference to Membership Rewards points to ensure additional rewards are delivered in the form of points.

After setting up your account, don’t worry if you missed out on previous offers. Rakuten offers dozens of great deals throughout the year. I’ve seen PetSmart and Lululemon offer 10% back on purchases, and many merchants offer up to 15% (or more) during Rakuten’s Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday sales.

Very few credit cards offer more than 5% to 6% back on purchases, so whenever I see a Rakuten discount, I definitely try to take advantage of them. I also highly recommend installing the Rakuten Chrome extension. When there is a bonus offer, it will automatically pop up a window to remind you.

Rakuten even offers in-store deals at select merchants. Just activate them online (or through the Rakuten app) and link the cards you plan to use for purchases. Popular stores eligible for in-store incentives include CVS, Petco and Carter’s.

Andres De/Getty Images

In addition to Rakuten, keep an eye out for special offers on credit cards. I check my American Express card offers two to three times a week because they usually fit my lifestyle and spending habits. You can also take advantage of the Chase offer if you have an eligible Chase card. Since these usually require purchasing directly from the merchant, they can often be stacked with shopping portals such as Rakuten.

Finally, check other online shopping portals before purchasing. Sometimes you’ll find better deals from the same merchant on different sites, but you can only earn rewards through a single portal. Other popular options include:

Shopping portal aggregators are a great way to see all the offers from a single store and make sure you choose the best one.

RELATED: Beginner’s Guide to Airline Shopping Portals: How to Earn Reward Points and Miles

bottom line

Seeing so many Membership Rewards points fall into my hands literally brought a smile to my face. This makes all the time I spend looking for deals on Rakuten worth it. Whether you’re new to points and miles or a pro, using a shopping portal is one of the best ways to get the points you need for your next dream vacation.

Don’t have a membership rewards card yet? Check out our picks of the best American Express cards to help you make your choice, and be sure to join Rakuten today for a chance to earn a one-time $30 bonus.

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