The Difference Between Kohl's Cash and Rewards: Maximize Your Benefits

Want to get the most out of your shopping at Kohl's? Understanding the difference between Kohl's Cash and Kohl's Rewards can make a significant impact on your overall savings. While both programs offer substantial incentives, they operate very differently, and savvy shoppers should know how to leverage each one for maximum value. Let's dive into the key differences and how you can use them to your advantage.

Kohl's Cash: A Time-Sensitive Opportunity

Kohl's Cash is essentially a coupon that shoppers earn during promotional periods, typically based on a minimum purchase amount. For example, Kohl’s often runs a promotion where you earn $10 Kohl's Cash for every $50 spent. The catch is, Kohl's Cash is only redeemable during a specified redemption period, usually about a week after you've earned it.

• How You Earn It: You earn Kohl's Cash during select promotional events, usually based on the amount you spend. The more you shop, the more you earn.
• How You Use It: Kohl's Cash is redeemable during a set period that starts after the promotional event ends. It acts like a discount coupon and can be used to reduce the total cost of future purchases.
• Expiration: One of the critical limitations of Kohl's Cash is its expiration date. Once the redemption period ends, you can no longer use the Kohl's Cash you've earned, meaning any unused balance is essentially forfeited.

Kohl's Rewards: A Consistent, Year-Round Program

Kohl's Rewards, on the other hand, is a year-round loyalty program. Instead of being tied to promotional events like Kohl's Cash, rewards are accumulated based on your total purchases over time. Every dollar you spend earns you 5% back in Kohl's Rewards, and once you accumulate $5 in rewards, you can apply it as a discount on future purchases.

• How You Earn It: With every purchase, regardless of whether there’s a special event or not, you earn 5% back in rewards points. This is automatic and doesn’t require any promotional periods.
• How You Use It: Once your rewards balance hits $5, you’ll receive an email or notification that your rewards are available to use, similar to a store credit that you can apply on your next purchase.
• Expiration: Kohl’s Rewards points do not expire as quickly as Kohl's Cash, but they do have an expiration window of 12 months from when they were earned. It’s more flexible and allows you to accumulate savings over a longer period.

Key Differences Between Kohl's Cash and Kohl's Rewards

Now that we've broken down the essentials of both programs, let’s compare them directly.

Feature	Kohl's Cash	Kohl's Rewards
Earning Period	Promotional events only	Year-round
Spending Threshold	Earned typically with $50+ purchases	No minimum spending threshold
Usage	Redeemable during specific redemption periods	Available once you earn $5 in rewards
Expiration	Usually expires within a few weeks	Points expire after 12 months
Flexibility	Low—time-sensitive usage	High—can accumulate and use anytime

Maximizing Your Savings

To get the best of both worlds, combine Kohl's Cash with Kohl’s Rewards. Here's how:

1. Strategic Timing: During Kohl's promotional events, aim to make purchases that qualify for Kohl's Cash. If you're already a part of Kohl's Rewards, you'll earn both rewards points and Kohl's Cash simultaneously.
2. Stacking Discounts: Kohl’s often allows you to stack coupons and discounts with Kohl's Cash and Kohl’s Rewards. This means you can apply your Kohl's Cash and rewards points on top of already discounted items.
3. Holiday Shopping: Kohl’s frequently holds major sales during the holidays, where you can earn Kohl’s Cash while also getting a deal on products. Use the rewards points you’ve accumulated all year to further reduce costs on gifts.

For instance, imagine you spend $150 during a holiday event where you earn $10 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent. You walk away with $30 in Kohl’s Cash. Let’s say you also have $10 in Kohl’s Rewards from previous purchases. If you return during the Kohl’s Cash redemption period and buy something for $40, you could apply both the $30 Kohl’s Cash and the $10 in Rewards, essentially getting your next purchase for free.

Why Kohl’s Cash Might Expire (And How to Avoid It)

One of the biggest complaints from shoppers is the expiration of Kohl's Cash. To avoid this, set reminders on your phone for the start and end of the Kohl’s Cash redemption period. It’s easy to forget about Kohl’s Cash, especially if the redemption period is a week or more after you’ve earned it.

Pro Tip: Leverage Kohl’s App

The Kohl's mobile app allows you to keep track of both your Kohl’s Cash and your Rewards points. You won’t need to worry about forgetting when your Kohl’s Cash is available or when your rewards points have hit the $5 mark. The app will notify you of both, making it easier to apply them during checkout.

Final Thoughts: Which Program Is Better?

Choosing between Kohl's Cash and Kohl's Rewards depends on your shopping habits. If you're someone who shops frequently during promotional periods and doesn't mind a bit of urgency, Kohl's Cash can provide great savings. However, if you prefer a more flexible, consistent reward system, Kohl's Rewards is the way to go. Ideally, you should use both programs in tandem to maximize savings. Kohl's Cash offers more immediate rewards but requires more planning, while Kohl’s Rewards offers long-term value without the pressure of expiring coupons.

Bottom line: If you want to save the most at Kohl’s, leverage both Kohl’s Cash and Kohl’s Rewards strategically. Keep an eye on the promotional periods to earn Kohl's Cash, and always stay on top of your rewards points so you can make the most out of every purchase.