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New Africa / Shutterstock October 19, 2022 Margaret has written for Money Under 30, MoneyGeek, The Simple Dollar, CreditCards.com, Interest.com and Fiscal Tiger, among other publications. She writes about subjects including saving, credit, insurance, investing and other financial topics. Joey Robinson is a credit cards contributor for Bankrate and upon graduating with a Bachelor’s degree concentrated in Finance, Joey worked at “Big Four” (Ernst and Young) accounting firm before exploring the world of credit cards. Over the past two years, he’s shared his expertise and has brought understanding to complex topics as a writer and editor for sites like Bankrate, CreditCards.com and NextAdvisor. His advice on avoiding common credit card fees, top balance transfer tactics and more financial tips have been featured on MSN Money and other various news publications. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to: Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options. Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make confident decisions. Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you. At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. When used wisely, credit cards are a great way to get the most out of everyday spending. Rewards credit cards allow you to earn points, miles or cash back when you use your card to make purchases — all of which can add up over time with regular spending. These cards offer a great opportunity to earn rewards on purchases you would have made anyway. The best credit cards offer rewards with a high earning potential, competitive rates and few fees. You can ensure you’re maximizing your rewards by knowing the ins and outs of your rewards credit card. But if you aren’t sure where to start, here are a few strategies you should reference to make the most of your credit card rewards. Ensure your reward structure matches your spending habits
To select and apply for the best rewards credit card for your financial situation, you need to start by identifying your spending habits. Different credit cards reward different types of spending, so you should clearly understand what you spend your money on to maximize your earnings. For example, if you travel frequently, you might want to select a credit card that rewards cardholders with extra for travel expenses. If you spend a lot on groceries and gas, you should choose a card with higher earning potential in those categories. If your spending habits are generally mixed, and you don’t tend to spend a lot in any one category, a could be a good fit for you. Optimize reward categories
Check your card stack for the one that offers the best rewards for what you’re spending on. Suppose you’ve just opened the , which gives 6 percent cash back rewards on the first $6,000 you spend at U.S. supermarkets in a calendar year (then 1 percent). If you’ve been paying for groceries with a card like the , which offers unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases, you’ll want to use your Amex card instead. You’ll earn higher rewards on groceries if you pay with your new Amex card when shopping in this category up to the cap. If groceries are consistently a big expense, take a look at our picks for the . Also, if your new card has , you should activate the categories as soon as possible. You’ll also want to check out the rewards calendar so you can plan ahead. You may want to buy supplies for a remodel during a quarter when purchases at home improvement stores earn extra cash back, for instance. Earn your sign-up bonus
Many credit cards come with lucrative sign-up bonuses that can earn cardholders hundreds of dollars in rewards if they meet certain requirements after opening an account. In most cases, credit card issuers require cardholders to spend a certain amount of money during the first few months after opening a card to be eligible for the sign-up bonus. To ensure you qualify, read the terms of the bonus offer carefully and . It can be worth getting this bonus because of the many ways it could benefit you financially: apply it towards a monthly payment, or some other expense. While you should always practice responsible borrowing and refrain from spending more than you can afford, the qualifying period for the welcome bonus is a great time to make any significant purchases you’ve been planning. Here are our picks for the . Explore redemption options
Go to the rewards portal for your card to learn more about the redemption possibilities. If your card offers , you may be able to choose from a statement credit, direct deposit or a check. If you’re , the portal will tell you how to redeem those miles for airfare, hotel stays or other benefits. And if you’re earning points, you may be able to choose from gift cards, merchandise, digital media or . Keep in mind that with points and miles, the value of your redemptions is not always the same. For instance, redeeming for travel purchases might get you a 1-cent-per-mile value, while merchandise only gets 0.8 cents of value out of each mile. If there’s a specific reward you want, make a note of how many miles or points you’ll need to achieve it. You can then estimate how long it will take you to earn the reward and keep tabs on your progress. Take advantage of all your card s perks
In addition to earning rewards like points, miles or cash back, most rewards credit cards also come with many other perks. Travel credit card perks can include , credits for hotel stays and insurance for lost or delayed luggage. Cardholders can often also take advantage of discounts on Global Entry or and covering your trip’s interruption, cancellation or delay. If you think a travel card is the route you’re heading, here are our picks for the . Many cards come with perks related to shopping and entertainment, including on items purchased with your card and discounts and special offers for shopping with certain retailers. Cards can also come with additional features like fraud and . The higher the annual fee, the more perks the card will likely come with. More premium rewards cards with fees in the $500 range often come with statement credits toward eligible travel or shopping purchases each year, but you’ll have to read the terms closely to ensure you get the full value out of these offers. If you can manage to get the most out of your rewards credit card, odds are you will spend enough to . While many cardholders are understandably focused on the earnings potential of rewards credit cards, it’s definitely worth taking other related into consideration when choosing a card. These benefits can often save you money on things you would buy anyway. Track your spending
Putting all of your purchases on a credit card can help you to maximize your rewards. Still, the earning potential of a rewards credit card is typically negated if you carry a from month to month. This is because cards with a revolving balance accumulate interest, which you’ll have to pay off in addition to paying off your existing purchases. Over time, using a credit card to spend above your means can result in a mountain of debt that is difficult to climb out from under. While many people understandably turn to credit cards when times are tight, we recommend whenever possible. If you avoid carrying a revolving balance, you can take advantage of credit card rewards and benefits without paying unnecessary interest. That being said, you should use your credit card for every purchase as long as you can pay your bill in full at the end of the month. And if you want to be able to hold yourself accountable, establish a budget and keep track of your transaction history to ensure that you’re on track. Read the fine print
Some issuers have particular rules regarding how some retailers are coded and whether or not they fit a bonus spending category. For example, even though you can buy groceries at Walmart or Target, many credit cards won’t reward you for grocery purchases at superstore locations. Some issuers, such as Chase, can add extra value to your rewards points when you redeem them a certain way. Depending on the card, Chase offers boosted redemption values for points redeemed in its portal. Finally, some cards have difficult processes for redeeming rewards, or even limits on how much cash back or points you can accumulate at once. You should also pay attention to what kind of redemption offers the most value. Cash back, statement credits, gift cards and travel accommodations will have different redemption values based on the card issuer’s rules. In either case, knowing is important, and an easy-to-understand and flexible redemption structure can go a long way. The bottom line
Credit cards can be a great tool to earn rewards on purchases, if you use them responsibly and don’t borrow more than you can afford. In addition to earning points, cash back or miles, most of the also come with plenty of additional perks and card benefits. While the world of rewards credit cards can seem intimidating, knowing how to maximize credit card rewards in different ways can help you get the most out of your credit card spending. SHARE: Margaret has written for Money Under 30, MoneyGeek, The Simple Dollar, CreditCards.com, Interest.com and Fiscal Tiger, among other publications. She writes about subjects including saving, credit, insurance, investing and other financial topics. Joey Robinson is a credit cards contributor for Bankrate and upon graduating with a Bachelor’s degree concentrated in Finance, Joey worked at “Big Four” (Ernst and Young) accounting firm before exploring the world of credit cards. Over the past two years, he’s shared his expertise and has brought understanding to complex topics as a writer and editor for sites like Bankrate, CreditCards.com and NextAdvisor. His advice on avoiding common credit card fees, top balance transfer tactics and more financial tips have been featured on MSN Money and other various news publications.