(This is a lengthy one, so get comfortable 😉 )
You can use Microsoft Rewards points for a few different things, but if, like me, you're an Xbox user, they are essential!
Points can be earned VERY easily and very quickly (2/3 mins a day), and cashed in for Xbox / Microsoft giftcards, or for Xbox live Gold and game pass memberships.
Just the standard points that can be earned per year will easily pay for your 12 month Xbox Live Gold account. Do it right and you could be getting retail games free too!
So, the chances are that if you are using an XBox, you already have a Microsft account, but if not grab one now!
Once you have your account and are logged in you need to navigate to the Rewards section (easy way is to click on your avatar and it will be one of the options)
Now, on a daily basis, you will be given the opportunity to earn points by searching on your PC/Mac, on your mobile and by clicking on links (called Daily Sets) on your Rewards home page. A new addition too allows you to earn bonus points by maintaing a daily streak of clicking these links.
Here's a snapshot to show you the options available each day to earn points
And here's a snapshot to show you what the links look like (as you can see, I've also just earned my daily streak bonus.)
There is a tier system to the points you can earn, but getting to the top (there are only two, as you can see below) takes no time at all. Using the example above, when you have reached tier 2, and ignoring the bonus points, this is the minimum amount of points you will earn a day (170)
This link will show you everything that you can redeem your earned points for
https://account.microsoft.com/rewards/redeem/all
If we consider a 12 month Xbox Live Gold as an example to work towards, you can see that it takes 29,000 points to redeem this (notice too the option to set this as your goal)
So referring back to the minimum points you can earn a day, you could earn enough to buy this in 171 days (6ish months)
But remember, that's the minimum amount of points you can earn.
There are bonus points acheivable with daily quizes, email links and of course, the daily streak bonus.
Here are the extra points I have earned this week
If we take these and my daily streak extra points as a usual week (which isn't too far off the mark) this drops the amount of time needed to pay for your yearly sub to less than three months!
Still not convinced and think that is too long? OK, now what you can do is get friends* or other family members to sign up and you can invite them to join your Microsoft Family.
(*if you have more than one email address, you could always sign up for another account, but if you do do this, make sure to change your identity 😉 If MS think you are using more than one, they may cancel your points earned, or even your account)
Click on the 'Community' tab on your rewrads home page (above) and on this same section will be an 'add family members' link
Once you have added your family members, you can ask (or give) up 5000 points per calender month. Which of course, can slash the time it takes to earn enough points for your Live membership to no time at all, and even allow you to buy games and other things too!
Here's a snapshot of what myself and my MS family have earned since starting in June. Their available total points are less, because they have gifted me points in the past, to allow me to purchase a game.
I Hope you made it this far and think this is a worthwhile venture - I'm certainly enjoying the spoils 😉
If you have any questions, just shout!
