20 Easy Ways to Earn Credit Card Rewards Points

Many assume you must travel to earn credit card rewards points or that you have to go on a massive spending spree. That is not the case; most credit card rewards points are acquired on the ground. You can collect thousands of credit card reward points without ever leaving home. Once you have received credit card reward points, you can use them to travel the world. If you get good at this, travel will become cheaper and often free!

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Must Know About Credit Card Rewards Points

These strategies are only advisable if you are not in debt and can pay off your balances at the end of the month. If you take on credit card debt to earn points, you are doing yourself more harm than good. Ensure you have the funds to pay off your credit card immediately if you plan to use any of these ideas.

1. Sign up for credit cards that offer sign-up bonuses.

Almost all credit cards offer a sign-up bonus, and most waive any annual fees for the first year if applicable. There is usually a spending requirement to get the reward, and the amounts vary. This is by far one of the most lucrative ways to earn credit card rewards points.

2. Add an authorized user.

Many credit cards give you bonus points, usually around 5,000, for adding an authorized user who makes purchases in the first few months. In addition, anytime the authorized user spends on the card, you earn credit card rewards points. It’s a win-win; think of this as a double play.

3. Sign up for emails with the credit card to take advantage of specific offers.

Credit cards always send exclusive offers; some can be lucrative, like triple points for dining out or buying gas. Often, it requires you to “sign up” for the promotion, but it’s a click or two at most. And signing up for a new credit card is one of the easiest ways to rack up credit card rewards points. For example, if I know I am going to make a large purchase like appliances for a house. I will open a new credit card that has a special offer. When I make the large purchase that I was going to make anyway, I earn tons of credit card rewards points.

4. Close your credit card and then reapply.

Policies on reapplying vary, so I don’t advise this for cards you want to retain. However, let’s assume you have a card that you are using to acquire points. Cancel the card and wait a year or so before reapplying. If you only got the card for the credit card rewards points bonus, you can cancel it. Typically, you can reapply 24 months later, and for some cards, you can only get the bonus once in a lifetime.

5. Ask for a retention bonus.

Suppose it’s a credit card you love and want to keep. When it comes time to renew the credit card, ask for a retention bonus in the form of credit card rewards points. If there is an annual fee, ask to have it waived. It may not work, but it sometimes does, and it’s worth asking!

6. Pay all your utilities.

By “all,” I mean paying your phone bills, cable bills, electricity bills, water bills, and so on with your credit card. You can also include any subscriptions you have! Think about it, we all pay bills, so what better way to automatically earn credit card rewards points?

7. Pay for all services.

Do you get your lawn cut every month? Do you use a cleaning service? Put all of these on your credit card! Think of this as a continuous way to automatically earn credit card rewards points.

8. Use your credit card for all purchases.

Buying groceries? Add them to your card. Buying shoes? Add them to your card. All purchases can be added to your card! Well, there are some. For example, you can’t buy a yacht with a credit card!

9. Use your credit card to buy gas.

Let’s face it: we all have to buy gas if we own a car. You can earn credit card rewards points on gasoline purchases. Many cards offer double points on gas, so this is a must when you are collecting credit card rewards points.

10. Use your credit card when you dine out.

Date night is here, and you are off to dinner – charge it. Lunch at Subway – charge it. Even food trucks accept credit cards!

11. Pay your property taxes on your credit card.

You can earn credit card rewards points by paying your property taxes on a credit card. Some counties charge a fee or a %, but it’s a small fraction of the points you can earn.

12. Pay your mortgage.

Not all mortgage companies will allow you to do this, but some will. If you can, this is a must! Paying your mortgage alone on a credit card will easily score you a flight a year.

13. Pay a down payment for a car.

Most dealers will let you put at least $5,000 on a card. Some will allow you to do more.  If you use cash, you are missing a rewarding opportunity!

14. Pay your car payment.

If you have a car payment, see if you can set the payments up using your credit card.

15. Pay your auto insurance.

Rather than getting a monthly bill, pay it in total and use your credit card. I just switched insurance carriers. I paid in full and earned over 1,000 credit card rewards points.

16. Pay for tuition

Most colleges now allow you to pay tuition with a credit card. Some will charge a fee; some won’t investigate it if you have tuition fees or pay for your child’s. This is a considerable expense, and you will earn thousands of credit card reward points.

17. Pay for daycare or afterschool programs.

If you have children, think about how much you spend on daycare or afterschool programs. Think about how many credit card reward points you could be earning.

18. Pay for home improvements.

Planning renovations? Use your credit card for these expenses.

19. Pay your taxes with a credit card.

A lot of people already do this out of necessity. Even if you have the cash, see if what you would earn is worth the approximately 2% fee.

20. File a complaint

Have you experienced a delay, cancellation, or shoddy service? Complain! Often, this results in a generous number of points. I’ve earned as many as 5k credit card reward points for a billing mistake and 20K credit card reward points for canceled flights!

Here is another tip:

Assign the credit card you collect credit card reward points to eBay, Amazon, and any other retail sites you use. This way, you automatically receive points for purchases.

Again: These strategies are only advisable if you are not in debt and can pay off your balances at the end of the month. If you take on credit card debt to earn points, you are doing yourself more harm than good. Ensure you have the funds to immediately pay off your credit card if you plan to use any of these ideas.

Have any additional ideas? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

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