It can be very confusing to
try and figure out the truth about which rewards card is really the most rewarding.
Each rewards card has a different rebate formula for cash
or "points" or "miles." And it's quite unequal: usually
a point is worth only a fraction of a dollar. A mile is normally worth
one dollar, sometimes a little less, sometimes even more.
Here's how the scorecard helps: Its "Estimated
Yearly Reward" gives you a fair
head-to-head comparison. For example the estimated reward for the Citi Diamond Card was
reduced because 6,000 points gets you only a $50 gift card. And two Discover cards were
given a 25% boost because they let you exchange a $20 cash reward
for a $25 gift card at popular merchants like AMC Theatres, Bed
Bath and Beyond, Borders Books and Music, and Staples (a good source for paper, office supplies
and school stuff.)