If you’re able to pay off your credit card balance in full each month, I highly recommend that you opt for a card that will reward you with free travel! Choosing the right travel rewards card can make all the difference in your travel experiences, enabling you to explore new destinations without breaking the bank. I signed up for the Delta American Express card and after meeting the minimum spend requirement, I was rewarded with a fantastic 80,000 Delta miles, which was enough for 2 roundtrip tickets in the US! The process was seamless, and I found that every dollar spent contributed to my goal of accumulating miles for future travels.
There are a lot of great card offers out there, so if you’re new to travel rewards, I recommend starting with one that either has no annual fee or has it waived for the first year. That way, you’ll be able to see if the benefits outweigh the annual fee for your situation. Plus, as you become more familiar with the ins and outs of these cards, you can strategically use them for specific purchases, optimizing your rewards potential. Below are my suggestions for making the most of your spending to get rewards quickly!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
How To Meet The Minimum Credit Card Spend Responsibly
- Buy gift cards in large amounts at stores like Walmart or grocery stores where you shop frequently. For example, if your bills total $3000 over 3 months, purchasing $1000 in gift cards helps you reach the minimum spend for one of my favorite travel cards.
- Another option is to pay your phone bill ahead by a month or two, as there is usually no surcharge for doing this. This can help prevent any late fees, improve your credit score, and provide you with peace of mind knowing that your bill is settled in advance.
- Plastiq – pay any bills, including rent, with a credit card. There’s a fee for this service, so calculate if the rewards from your credit card outweigh the cost before use.
- Consider paying utility bills in advance. There may be a small surcharge, but it could help you meet your spending goals. If you have questions about managing your bills or credit, feel free to head here for assistance.
Put Your Online Shopping To Work For You
- If you shop online at all, you’re going to want to bookmark THIS site and start all your shopping there, as it offers a fantastic opportunity to maximize your savings and get the best deals available across various retailers, ensuring that every purchase you make contributes to your financial advantage.
- You simply type in where you want to shop and once you type in the store or brand, this site aggregates all possible cash back options for you in order from highest payouts to lowest, ensuring that you maximize your savings and get the most value out of every purchase you make, all in a convenient and user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of earning cash back without any hassle.
- My favorite part is that it includes the airline portals, so you can earn in MILES, not just dollars – it’s up to you! You can see all the options in the example below that I generated for shopping at Lowe’s Hardware. Once you choose the site you want to start at, you’ll need to sign up for an account, then complete your purchase through their site (they track it automatically), and you usually receive your miles or cash back within 90 days. Since this method does take some time to credit you, you’ll want to be strategic and start planning your larger purchases at least 6 months to 1 year before any trip that you need miles for!
- There are plenty of good cash back sites that you’ll find on the list, but one of my favorites is definitely this gem that I have been earning with for 10 years now! This site consistently offers great deals and a user-friendly interface, making it easy to maximize savings on everyday purchases, and I find myself returning to it time after time for the best cashback opportunities.
The Planking Traveler 