“Rakuten Points will expire in 3 days for a limited time” — Have you ever felt panicked when you saw this email? Regular points last for one year, but Limited-time points disappear in about two weeks at the earliest. The worst thing to do is to end up thinking, "But I don't have anything I want to buy right now..." and then it expires. In this article, we have compiled 10 recommended ways to use up Rakuten's limited-time points without wasting any money. We accept everything from small amounts of points to large amounts of points.

Learn the basics of limited time points in 30 seconds

First, let's quickly review the basics. There are two types of Rakuten points: "regular points" and "limited-time points". Regular points are valid for one year from the last time you earned them, but limited-time points have a fixed expiration date for each campaign and cannot be extended.

More importantly, limited-time points cannot be charged to Rakuten Edy, purchased investment trusts, or exchanged for ANA miles. What you can do with regular points is limited for a limited time. That's why so many people have trouble using it.

You can check the point breakdown and deadline on the Rakuten PointClub top page. If you haven't checked it out yet, please do so now.

Recommended ways to spend a small amount (~500 points)

1. Convenience store payment with Rakuten Pay

The easiest way to use limited-time points is Rakuten Pay. You can use points on everyday purchases such as convenience stores, drug stores, and supermarkets. If you set the Rakuten Pay app settings to "Use Points" → "Use All", limited-time points will be prioritized and used automatically, making it super easy.

2. Buy daily necessities at Rakuten Market

If you search for ``shipping included/point usage'', you will find many products that can be purchased for a few hundred yen. A smart way to use points is to buy things you would buy anyway, such as detergent, tissues, and masks. Try searching for ``point usage, free shipping'' on Rakuten Market.

3. Use it to pay for Rakuten Mobile

Rakuten Mobile users can apply limited-time points to their monthly smartphone bills. To set it up, simply turn on "point payment" from Rakuten Mobile's My Page. It's automatically redeemed every month, so you don't have to worry about it expiring!

4. Rakuten Denki/Rakuten Gas payment

People who have switched to Rakuten Denki or Rakuten Gas can also use points for utility bills. It's nice to be able to pay fixed costs with points.

Recommended uses for medium to large amounts (500 points and up)

5. Make a reservation at a beauty salon with Rakuten Beauty

When you book a hair salon through Rakuten Beauty, you can pay with points for a limited time. If you go to a hair salon anyway, it's better to use points to get a discount. Sometimes the cut fee is actually free.

6. Book your stay with Rakuten Travel

If you have a lot of points, you can use them for accommodation expenses at Rakuten Travel. You can even get a night's stay at a business hotel for a few thousand points. If you're planning a business trip or trip, make sure to book within the expiration date of your limited-time points.

7. Buy used items at Rakuma

You can also use the limited-time points on Rakuten's flea market app Rakuma. It's fun to look for bargains on books, games, clothes, etc. If you pay with Rakuten Pay, you can use your points as is.

8. Buy books and magazines at Rakuten Books

Rakuten Books is the perfect place to use your points as you can receive your books with free shipping. Buy the books you're interested in, such as business books, manga, and magazines, with points for a limited time.

Bad actions that you should not do

9. Don't buy unnecessary things for points

Buying something you don't need because your points will expire is putting the cart before the horse. If your goal is to use up your points, you end up wasting your money. First of all, the golden rule is to use Rakuten Pay for everyday purchases, fixed expenses, and other things that you will spend anyway.

10. Rakuten Edy cannot be charged using limited-time points

It is a common mistake, but limited-time points cannot be charged to Rakuten Edy. Just when you're thinking, "I'll charge Edy and use it," you realize it's expired... and that's it. Rakuten Pay supports points for a limited time, so if you want to use them as electronic money, Rakuten Pay is your only choice.

3 habits to prevent points from expiring

Finally, I would like to introduce three habits to prevent your limited-time points from expiring.

If you turn on notifications in the Rakuten PointClub app, it will notify you when the deadline approaches. Install Rakuten PointClub app and turn on notification settings.

If you set up automatic redemption on Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Denki, points will be used automatically every month, making it less likely that they will expire without you even realizing it.

By using Rakuten Pay on a regular basis, you will naturally earn points when shopping at convenience stores and supermarkets. The return rate is 0.5% to 1.5%, so it's better than paying in cash.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Where can I check the expiry date of limited-time points?

You can check it on the top page of Rakuten PointClub. The expiration date is displayed in the "Limited Time Points" column. You can also check it from the Rakuten PointClub app.

Can I send limited time points to my family?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to send Rakuten Points (including for a limited time) directly to another account. However, it is possible to use points when sending money using Rakuten Pay's "Send" function.

Can I pay hometown tax with limited-time points?

Yes, you can! You can use points for a limited time at Rakuten Furusato Nozei. You can receive a gift in return for just 2,000 yen, so it's perfect for using up a large amount of points.

Can I use limited-time points even if I present my Rakuten Points Card?

With the Rakuten Point Card (presentation type), only regular points can be used, and limited-time points cannot be used at most stores. If you want to use limited-time points, pay with Rakuten Pay.

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