Rewards programs that'll make your trip cheaper

Rewards programs and memberships can seem like a scam, and plenty of them are. But some are actually pretty legit, and could prove beneficial, especially during trip planning, and it can pay to not let your eyes glaze over at the checkout line. Booking trips is a lot more fun when it’s not putting such a huge dent in your wallet. So next time the clerk is making a pitch for you to join her company’s rewards program, pay attention. It could save you some serious cash. Here’s a look at five rewards programs or memberships that could make your upcoming trip slightly less expensive.

Courtesy of Veggiefrog.

REI membership — $20

Heading out for some adventure? Becoming an REI member will likely be beneficial for all your outdoorsy needs. It costs $20 to join, and it’s worth it, as members are held in high regard at this company. Each March, members get 10 percent back on almost all the purchases they made at REI that year. So if you plan on forking out $200 for equipment, the membership has paid for itself. Members also enjoy discounts on trips and excursions booked through REI, and in-store discounts, including bike and ski shop services. Some ski resorts also offer discounted lift tickets to REI members. REI has a great return policy in general, but being a member makes taking equipment back even easier. So if your hiking boots wore out a little too quickly or the hiking pants you bought didn’t fit like you thought they would, REI will take care of you.

Courtsy of Wetwebwork.

Spotify Premium — $9.99

What’s a trip without some quality tunes? Spotify is available for free, but for your travels you’ll likely want to invest in Premium. It allows you to stream music without an internet connection, which is key when traveling to far-flung places. It’s $9.99 a month, and those intervals will make it easy to cancel if you want to just sign up for the service during your trip only. You can try it for free for 30 days, and students get a 50 percent discount.

Courtesy of Josué Goge.

Barnes & Noble membership — $25

If you’re beach bound and need a some good reads to take with you, a Barnes & Noble membership may be the way to go, especially if you aren’t the type of person that likes to wait for new best sellers to come out in paperback. It costs $25 a year to be a B&N member,and perks include 40 percent of hardcover best sellers, 10 percent off almost everything else (including treats at the cafe), and free shipping in under three days. Be careful though — the membership automatically renews each year, so remember to cancel if you only want in for 12 months.

Courtesy of Xlibber.

Cheap Tickets rewards program (CheapCa$h) — Free

One of the best things about flight reward programs is that it costs you nothing more than you were already going to spend. Cheap Tickets’ reward program CheapCash gives you what they call CheapCash every time you book a flight. You can then turn around and use that CheapCash on hotel bookings. You have to use the CheapCash within 30 days, but there’s literally no downside to this one. Make sure to keep checking their website for special deals and promotions, which run often. PROMO CODE HERE?