How reward points expire (and how to stop wasting them)

Unredeemed points are a rounding error on a company’s balance sheet and a real loss in yours. Most programs use one of three clocks: a hard date after earning, a rolling date that resets when you earn or redeem, or inactivity (no account action for 12–24 months).

Common expiry patterns

• Fixed: points from a campaign die on 31 December even if regular points last longer.
• Rolling: any earning activity extends the whole balance. A tiny qualifying purchase can save a large stash.
• Inactivity: the account, not the point, expires. Logging in may not count — a purchase might.

A habit that actually works

1. Keep a single note with program name, login, point balance, and expiry rule.
2. Calendar a quarterly 20-minute “redeem or extend” block.
3. Redeem leftover balances into statement credit or a known-value voucher before they dribble away.

Where the expiry rule actually lives

1. Open the program’s official terms or “points expiry” help article — not a third-party roundup.
2. Check whether bonus / promotional points use a shorter clock than base points.
3. Look at the last activity date in the app. Inactivity clocks care about qualifying activity, not just logging in.
4. If the app shows an expiry date on the balance, screenshot it into your notes the same day.