Lamarr and Anthiel received a patent in 1941, but the enormous significance of their invention was not realized until decades later. It was first implemented on naval ships during the Cuban Missile Crisis and subsequently emerged in numerous military applications.
Cash back credit card reward programs started out rather simply, offering a flat percentage rate (typically 1 percent of purchases) rebated back to the customer in the form of a check at the end of the year or a statement credit.
To avoid the pitfalls and get the most back from your reward credit card, Consumer Reports offers these tips: 1  Consider where you shop. 2  Project your spending. 3  Favor cash back. 4  Skip credit if you carry a balance. 5  Do the math on do-good programs. 6  Use airline miles fast. 7  Avoid temptation. Consumer reports found that cash back credit cards tend to offer better rewards. 2  On top of that the cards that give points, often the points end up going un-used. 3  Get a cash-back card to optimize your returns. 4  Skip credit if you carry a balance.