5 Tips for Adopting a Rewards-First Mindset to Shift from Passive to Purposeful Spending

The art of money management is among the most discussed on social media these days. It’s partly because of rising incomes, but it’s also because spending big is much easier in today’s frictionless shopping environments. If you’re still struggling to make every peso count, you may want to try shifting from a passive “come what may” attitude to purposeful spending.

Purposeful spending means thinking beyond just “how much will this cost?” and also asking “what will this do for me in return?”. It’s about prioritizing things and experiences that serve you through long-term utility or useful perks. A rewards-first mindset takes this basic idea even further by forcing you to be mindful about whether a given card, account, or tool will help you earn something back.

To get into this mindset, finding and using the right cashback credit card can be a huge help. Some digital banks even offer credit card points for almost all purchases, making every card purchase more sulit than cash by default. 

Even then, not all cashback cards are designed for wais shoppers. If you count yourself among them, then the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card by Maya might just be the best cashback rewards card for you and anyone else who understands what real value is like. Before you apply, use these tips to make your transformation into a wiser spender a resounding success.

1. Know Where You Spend the Most

Start by reviewing your regular expenses and separating them into different categories. How you do this is up to you, but you can try sorting them between essentials, nice-to-haves, and non-essentials. This way, it becomes clear which way your lifestyle skews, making it possible to find the right credit cards and develop realistic spending strategies.

That said, if you live in a typical Filipino household, chances are that a large chunk of your monthly budget goes to groceries and dining out. If a credit card is part of your mindful spending strategy, you can’t do better than the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card.

The Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card offers up to 5% cashback at Landers, 2% on dining spends, and 1% on all other qualified transactions,* making it an ideal match for extended families and other larger households, especially ones with members that are already part of the exclusive Landers shopping club. Don’t waste time on credit cards with measly or downright incompatible rewards, no matter how slick they might look.

2. Pay Attention to Reward Milestones

To unlock the full 5% cashback at Landers, you must hit PHP50,000 in total monthly spend. Fortunately, this spending does not have to be at Landers only. So long as you use your Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card for qualified purchases, you’re still moving toward maximizing your monthly reward rate. Purposefully planning your spending around these thresholds can make it that much simpler to enjoy bigger and better rewards, later on.

3. Use Better Apps for Better Spending Control

One of the easiest ways to maintain a rewards-first mindset is by sticking to tools that simplify your financial monitoring. You might be surprised to learn that some banks don’t offer simple ways to track purchases or rewards, sometimes requiring you to make a call to get the details you need. If you can’t get that info when you need it, it gets a lot tougher to stay on track with your spending.

That’s why the best options tend to come from digital-first banks. For example, the Maya app simplifies the management of all Maya tools, including savings accounts and, yes, even credit card rewards. On the Maya app, you can track your card usage, monitor cashback progress, and manage your credit limits with just a few taps. You can even set daily spending caps and freeze your card for finer control over your spending.

4. Don’t Let Points Sit Idle

A common mistake is hoarding points and forgetting they exist. While they are valuable, they don’t gain interest and really only benefit you if you remember to spend them.

With Maya’s Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card, redemption is refreshingly easy. Not only does the Maya App make tracking simple, but you can also use your points directly at checkout at any Landers branch. Just tell the cashier you’d like to redeem points and let them and the Maya App prompts guide you with the process.

5. Choose Cards That Fit Right into Your Current Lifestyle

Filipinos now have access to a truly wonderful selection of credit cards, including travel-focused cards like the Maya Black Credit Card. Even then, just because a credit card works for someone else, it doesn’t mean it will be good for you. This is even more true if you’re trying to be a goal-oriented spender. Take the time to learn what your desired credit cards can offer, especially when it comes to more mindful spending.

Make Your Everyday Spending More Rewarding

Even if you don’t have it now, a rewards-first mindset can become second nature. Better still, it gets easier with the right tools. With Maya and the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card, you’ll find it easier to notice the value of every purchase since everything you need is right on your app. And unlike many other cards, you can be sure that your cashback rewards are well worth your time. Soon, you’ll be making smarter decisions without even realizing it. Apply now through the Maya app and start spending with real purpose.

*Transactions that don’t qualify include: cash in, cash advance, quasi cash purchases, casinos and gambling, fuel, supermarket, pharmaceuticals, utilities, telco, and government. 

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