Cashback and loyalty cards: a bargain or a trap?
Bonuses, points and discounts really do save money — but only if they don't make you spend more. How to use them wisely. · 4 min read
How it really works
Cashback and bonus programmes return part of what you spend — usually 1 to 5%. Shops and banks don't do this out of generosity: loyalty programmes encourage you to buy more often and more. There is a benefit only if you buy what you would have bought anyway.
Rules for using them wisely
Keep one simple principle in mind: cashback is a bonus on a purchase, not a reason to make it.
- Don't buy for the points: spending 1,000 lei to get a 30-lei bonus is not saving.
- Use cards from the shops where you already buy regularly, and don't collect dozens “just in case”.
- Watch expiry dates — many bonuses vanish if you don't use them in time.
- Compare prices: a “card discount” in one shop can still be dearer than the regular price in another.
Keep your cards in one place
Plastic loyalty cards take up half a wallet and are often at home when you need them. It is easier to keep them on your phone: in Moldonyan Finance you can photograph a card and the app shows its barcode or QR code full-screen for the cashier to scan.