Using American Express Membership Rewards Points for my Home Project

Last week I cheerfully posted on how I had accepted an offer from American Express to demonstrate all the things you can buy with Membership Rewards points.  Since that post, I’ve been evaluating my options for  refashioning/refurbishing my home entertainment center using Membership Rewards points.  Frankly, it’s been a little overwhelming trying to decide how to spend the windfall of the 300,000 points I have been given. I’ve been looking at my floor space, measuring the space, checking existing furnishings and evaluating what I might need.  I know I need to replace the 20 year old TV with the VCR, but I have been seconding guessing how to furnish the room.  It became an almost T.S. Eliot  The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock dilemma. Instead of “should I eat a peach.” I wondered, should I get a media center, a cabinet, an armoire?  It’s so hard to know what the right decision is.  Membership Rewards features furniture brands as well as gift certificates that can be cashed in at retail stores like William Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware.  These are all stores that are a bit pricey and usually I do try to avert my eyes from the treasures on display there as it can lead to charge card bingeing.  Now, with the points, I was free from that buyer’s remorse over the spending, I just needed to make the choice.  So…I choose to cash in my first 50,000 points for two Pottery Barn gift certificates valued at $250.00 US each.  This gives me approximately $500.00 worth of mad money to work with at Pottery Barn.  I’ve always loved their home decor pieces, accessories and even lightening. Right now, I love all the “Coastal Style” pieces that they are showing on their website.  The style looks perfect for my coastal home on the beach in Los Angeles.  Snap! A decision was made.

I’m not here to sell anyone on Membership Rewards points (you’re all savvy shoppers, that is why you are reading here), but I am here to tell you about the value that I have received from their use. I was using the points way before I accepted this challenge.  In 2005 I used Membership Rewards points for Home Depot gift certificates to remodel my kitchen. These points are very handy, especially in these tough times.  I became acutely aware of this today while I was on Twitter, reading about Jim Kennedy, an unemployed Orange County California man, who has been living off his stash of one-million-mile-plus  hotel and airline points.  During his period of unemployment, which thankfully has now ended, American Express Membership Rewards points, plus points from other loyalty programs sustained him.  In an ABC-TV interview he revealed that he used points for hotel stays when he lost his home. Without his reward points from his charge cards or frequent flyer programs, he would’ve been homeless the last few months while he was job hunting.  Instead he has been living at hotels by cashing in his points.  True story. Whether you’re shopping for fashionable clothing or jewelry, home decor, a new TV or just the basics like a roof over your head, accumulating rewards for your charge card spending is a good deal.  Just make sure you’re not accumulating nasty finance fees and other charges in the process of building up your points.

Tune in next week, for the next installment of the challenge as I continue this home project. And here’s the most exciting news for you dear reader, there is something in all this for you!  In the final week of the challenge, after I have completed my home entertainment redo I will be doing a giveaway. So stay tuned!

Disclosure: In the interests of full disclosure, I was given American Express Membership Rewards  to  spend on a home decorating.  However, the opinions here are my own and not controlled by American Express.  I am an American Express cardholder, who has used the  Membership Rewards program for years with good results. This is why I agree to partner with American Express for this challenge.