4 Easy Ways to Earn More Credit Card Rewards

It might be interesting to start using rewards credit cards. Instead of getting nothing back on your bill, you can earn cashback, points, or miles. Over time, this can add up to hundreds of dollars in your savings account, or enough travel points to pay for your next flight.

People often want to know how they can get their rewards faster. Here are some easy ways to do this:

1. Open a new credit card and get a sign-up bonus.

The fastest way to earn rewards is through sign-up bonuses. This is an introductory offer offered to new cardholders. It’s one of the most valuable credit card benefits because card issuers use it to attract new customers.

Check out our best sign-up bonuses to see what’s currently on offer and find one that catches your eye. Most of them have spending requirements that must be met to qualify for the bonus. For example, a card might offer $200 bonus cash back after you spend $1,000 in the first three months. Alternatively, a travel card might offer 60,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 in the first six months.

Before applying for a card with a sign-up bonus, make sure you spend enough on your regular bills to meet the spending requirements. This way, you don’t risk spending more than usual or missing out on bonuses.

2. Get a card that gives you bonus rewards on your biggest spend

Many rewards cards earn bonuses on specific spending categories. You can find cards with all kinds of bonus opportunities, from groceries and restaurant spending to streaming services.

Review your usual bills to see where you’re spending the most. Then look for cards in your area that offer bonus rewards. Here are some of the best credit card options for popular categories:

3. Use the 2% card for all non-bonus spending.

Most credit cards with bonus categories have one major drawback. You will only earn 1% (or 1 point per $1) on purchases outside of the bonus categories. If you spend $20,000 per year outside of the card’s bonus categories, you’ll receive $200 back. It’s better than nothing, but it’s less than you can get.

There are also cards that earn higher flat rates but don’t offer bonuses. Typically, the highest flat rate you can find is 2%. If you spend $20,000 per year in non-bonus spending, you’ll get an extra $200 back. If you don’t mind having more than one credit card, your best bet is to have a bonus category card and a 2% card.

Use your bonus rewards card whenever your purchase falls into a bonus category. For everything else, use the 2% card.

4. Share your referral link with your friends and family.

Many credit card companies offer referral programs. Here’s how it works:

• You will receive a referral link from your card issuer.
• Share the link with people you know who might be interested in the card.
• If someone applies through your link and is approved, you will receive a referral bonus from the card issuer.

The referral bonus amount varies depending on the card. Referral bonuses of $50 to $100 are common for no-annual-fee credit cards. Bonuses can be much larger for travel and business credit cards. We’ve seen bonus amounts of 25,000 to 40,000 points (worth $250 to $400) on some cards.

Information about your card issuer’s referral program can be found on their website. Alternatively, call your card issuer at the phone number listed on the back of your card.

Earning more credit card rewards doesn’t have to be complicated. All of the above methods are easy to perform and can help you maximize your rewards.

NOTE: Our top-tier cashback cards now offer a 0% introductory APR through 2025.

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