Playing the points game

Besides things like travel, dining, and retail, people often overlook everyday spending categories such as petrol and utilities that can contribute significantly to their rewards balance.

If you find yourself spending heavily in specific categories, it would make more sense to use specialised spending cards rather than general spending cards that earn the same rate regardless of the transaction. While general spending cards typically earn 1.2 to 1.6 miles per dollar (mpd), specialised cards can offer up to 4 mpd for certain transactions. This means that you will have to spend roughly three times as much on a general card to accumulate the same number of air miles.

An example of a specialised spending card is the Maybank World Mastercard. It allows customers to earn up to 8X TREATS Points (equivalent to 3.2 miles) on any foreign spend, as well as commonly-excluded categories such as charitable donations, education, hospital bills and utilities. Together with an offer of 10X TREATS Points (equivalent to 4 miles) on petrol and other selected merchants, rewards can add up substantially over the month.

Those who spend at least $800 per month can also get 7X TREATS Points (equivalent to 2.8 miles) – higher than most other general spending cards. This goes up to 8X TREATS Points (equivalent to 3.2 miles) with a minimum monthly spend of $4,000. If you find yourself constantly hitting the limit of specialised spending cards, the good news is that these miles are uncapped and non-expiring, giving you unlimited opportunities to accumulate rewards.

Staying in the fairway

When deciding on your credit card strategy, an important thing to ask yourself is what kind of value you want to get out of your card. Do you prefer to save as you spend through cashback? Or would you rather accumulate miles and rewards points that can be traded in for other privileges?

Beyond the coveted miles, Maybank World Mastercard holders can also tap new opportunities to experience the things they love. For instance, cardholders can enjoy complimentary green fees till 31 December 2025 at more than 100 participating golf clubs across 19 countries if they have spent at least S$2,000 in the previous calendar month. This is on top of 10X TREATS Points (equivalent to 4 miles) and 10 per cent off at selected golf merchants in Singapore.

To make the most of these premium benefits, it’s important to ensure that your usual spending habits align with the card's minimum requirements without you having to make massive adjustments to your lifestyle.

Designed exclusively for those with who enjoy opportunities to travel and golf in style, with an annual income $80,000 and above, the Maybank World Mastercard is perfect if you have financial flexibility and want to make the most of your everyday.