 TITLE: The Worst Ways to Redeem Credit Card Rewards CONTENT: Some reward options offer excellent value, but others generally give cardholders the worst bang for their buck. There are exceptions, of course, but you should think twice before redeeming rewards in the following three ways:\n1.  Merchandise: Some rewards programs allow you to cash in points for items in their catalog, often ranging from jewelry to electronics to sports equipment. These things can be tempting, but the value of the points required may outweigh the actual cost of the merchandise.\n2.  Cash back on a travel card: Travel cards usually offer excellent value on travel redemption options, but your value can plummet if you go for cash back instead.\n3.  Pay with points: Some issuers let you use points to pay for new purchases, though the value per point can be poor.\nRead on for more on why these options may not be the best ways to redeem your rewards. END