There is a lot to maximizing cashback, as well as using reward credit cards for your spending and billing. You should also first make sure you have a proper cashback credit card and make sure you are handling the best redemption options available.
Even if you need tips on how to choose the right card, you want to limit yourself to the maximum. Your cashback Check out some simple moves that you can quickly tackle reward strategies.
Please select the cashback card on the right
The first step to maximizing cashback is to guarantee you Choose the absolute best card (or cards) for the way you spend. You can choose from a flat cashback credit card or a bonus category card. Many consumers use several different cashback credit cards to earn more rewards for everything they buy.
Check your spending habits
Analyze your cash flow before switching your credit card spending strategy or considering applying for a new credit card. How much money do you spend a month? Year? Which categories do you spend the most? Ultimately, what do you want and need in your reward credit card?
Start by using Budget app Or pen and paper that determine what you spend each month. Some issuers analyze the categories they spend the most on their invoices each month. Whether you order food delivery every Friday night or travel with your favorite airline every month, understand where your money is headed.
Understanding how much you are spending will help you estimate what your reward yield is each year – The annual fee is worth it. Even if you spend a sufficient amount of money on your credit card to offset the annual fees of your card, that card is probably not the best option for you, so you should choose it. Card with no annual fee It will suit your needs instead.
If you notice how you use your credit card, what Credit Card Types Perfect for your lifestyle and typical spending habits.
Compare Sign Up Offers
If you’re in the market for a new cashback card, your first sign-up bonus or welcome offer can accelerate your revenue. Fortunately, most cashback credit cards have great welcome offers that can easily meet your minimum spending requirements.
some Best Cashback Sign Up Bonus Currently available:
-
American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card:
- You will earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on a new card within the first six months.
-
Wells FargoActiveCash® Card:
- Earn $200 cash reward bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months
-
Discover IT® Cashback:
- Intro Offer: Unlimited cashback matches for all new card members – from Discover. Discover automatically matches all cashback you earn at the end of your first year! There is no minimum spending or maximum reward. You can convert your $150 cashback to $300.
-
Ink BusinessUnlimited® Credit Card:
- After spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening an account, you will earn a bonus cashback of $750.
Combine boosted category cards and flat rate cards
One of the most popular strategies to maximize cashback is to pair it with a flat cashback credit card with a reward booster in a specific spending category. This means pairing your flat rate card with those that earn an increasing fee in everyday categories such as grocery shopping or gas station purchases, or in categories with a rotating bonus category. The spinning category card requires activation, but offers a high cashback in return. Let’s break down these two strategies further.
Flat rate cashback cards and boosted category cashback cards
Best flat rate cashback credit card Typically, you will receive 1.5% to 2% cashback on all purchases without spending caps. These cards pair well with cards that offer cashback in some bonus categories, as these cards only earn 1% on purchases outside of these bonus categories.
But which cards should you pair to get more rewards? Let’s say you choose Wells Fargo Active Cash, a flat rate card that offers 2% back on every purchase. Also, say, for example, that the biggest monthly cost is always groceries. To get the most out of your card, you need to choose one that offers solid cashback on grocery purchases.
No annual fees American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card It’s one of Best credit cards for groceries:
- 3% cashback at US supermarkets is up to $6,000 per year, or 1%.
- 3% cashback on online retail purchases, up to $6,000 per year, 1%.
- 3% cashback at US gas stations, up to $6,000 per year, 1%.
- 1% cashback on other purchases.
If you spend $500 on groceries every month and $1,000 on other purchases, you can earn $15 cashback from your Blue Cash Enyroad Card and $20 from your active cash card. This will total cashback of $35 each month. This does not include cashback from purchases that may fall under the Blue Cash Everyany Card gas station or online retail purchase category.
Bankrate credit card expert and author Ryan Flanigan likes to use this strategy on his two Bank of America credit cards And his two Chase Card. For others who want to build a flat rate card with a cashback card in the boost category in this way, he offers the following advice:
Flat rate cashback cards and spinning category cashback cards
This strategy uses a flat cashback card in almost all cases, except for purchases that can be covered by rotating category cards. Rotation Category Credit Cards work by changing the categories that allow you to earn cashback per month or quarterly.
It is important to pay attention to the issuer as these cards require activation to earn rewards Cashback Calendar Activate the bonus category when the time comes.
Let’s say you still have a Wells Fargo Active Cash and it’s paired with a Discover IT Cashback. Rotation Bonus Category Expenses per quarter (1%).
By spending $500 on monthly activated bonus categories, you can earn $25 a month from discovery if you can make the most of your quarterly spending cap. If you spend $1,000 on other purchases with your active cash card, you can earn an additional $20. That totals $45 per month.
If your cashback card has a spinning bonus category, you are eligible for a bonus cashback rate. Otherwise, you will only earn the base fee. This is usually 1% for all expenses.
The cards remain organized
If you are using multiple cards as part of your cashback strategy, it is important to remember which card is best. To stay organized, you can give each card a useful nickname for your digital wallet, or slide a handwritten legend into your wallet, ready to use the right card at the right moment.
Apps like CardPointers and Maxrewards help you track and manage reward cards. You can also use Google Sheets and organize your spending and rewards manually. Update them on a regular schedule.
Before you shop, look for card-related offers from your credit card issuer, whether in person or online. Some Popular shopping portals include:
-
Shop through Chase: Chase Shopping Portal stores frequently include options such as Walmart, Sephora, Best Buy, Macy’s.
-
Barclays Rewardsboost: At the time of writing, transactions such as Nike, CVS, Lenovo and more can be found through the Barclays Shopping Portal.
- Capital One Shopping: Unlike other issuer shopping portals, Capital One Shopping does not need to be a cardholder to access the portal. At the time of writing, you can find deals from brands such as Adidas, Tuney, and Target.
Some publishers also offer additional reward opportunities. American Express, Chase, and Capital One have programs – Amex OfferChase and Capital Offers, respectively – you can choose it and earn additional cashback from some retailers.
Make the most of your cashback app
If you want to earn more cashback for your online purchases, you can often increase your revenue. Cashback Apps and Websites.
Cashback apps and sites like Upside, Ibotta, Rakuten offer a percentage of qualifying purchase spending on cashback earned with credit cards. Rakuten, for example, you can earn additional cashback by clicking on your website before shopping at stores such as Kohl’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Old Navy, or Priceline.com.
Have a smart cashback
Maximizing the cashback you earn from your spending is important, but that’s just part of the equation. You also need to pull back cash in a way that makes sense to your goal, whether you want to reduce the amount you owe on your credit card bill, splurge for fun purchases, or use your reward to improve your finances in any way.
Redeem cashback as credits for statements
One of the easiest ways to redeem your cashback is for statement credits to your account. This redemption will help you save money over time as it effectively reduces the amount you owed on your credit card bill.
For example, earn 2% cashback on every purchase and redeem your reward for cashback, which ultimately saves 2% on everything you buy with your card.
Remember that you will only get a reward “first” if you pay your credit card bill in full each month to avoid interest. For example, if you pay more than 20% in credit card interest, you’re just getting 2% cashback and you’re not benefiting.
Save cashback for big purchases
You can also save on the rewards of purchases you want to run, whether it’s a splurge purchase you don’t want to cover with cash or whether you need to buy something for your daily life or not. In either case, most cashback credit cards can increase the reward balance over time until you are ready to use it.
Compare and consider the value of points before purchasing
Using product rewards doesn’t always mean you get the best value. If you go this route, you’ll want to be strategic. For example, on some Chase cards, one cent of cashback you earn is equivalent to one cent of cashback you redeemed for a statement credit. However, each cent of cashback you earn is worth just 0.8 cents for your purchases via Amazon.com or PayPal.
If you want to use your reward for your Amazon or PayPal purchases, it makes more sense to pay for your purchases in full with your card.
Use cashback to pay off your debts
You can also use your reward to pay off certain types of debt. This can also be repaid directly or indirectly by redeeming your cashback depending on the card you have. Regarding options that allow you to redeem rewards for debt payments, Wells Fargo credit cards (including Wells Fargo Active Cash Cards) allow you to redeem cashback with Wells Fargo Mortgage in addition to options such as gift cards and statement credits.
Also, using many cashback credit cards will redeem your email check rewards. This can be deposited into a bank account and used to pay your debts.
Conclusion
If you spend your time strategically, you will be charged cashback rewards before you know it. You can use one of your credit cards to maximize cashback from your credit card Best cashback credit card In the market for as many everyday purchases as possible.
In the meantime, you’ll also want to avoid balancing so that you don’t have to pay interest on your purchase. in Average credit card APR Currently, earning long-term debts above 20% makes no sense to earn rewards.
Bank of America content for this post was last updated on March 26, 2025.
Information about Chase Freedom Flex is collected independently by Bankrate. Card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.
