I Earned Thousands of Dollars in Extra Credit Card Rewards for One Simple Reason

Could this technique also help you earn more rewards?

Key points

• I spend a lot of money on credit cards to earn rewards.
• I was able to maximize the rewards I earn by switching cards as my spending needs changed.
• This technique is easy to implement and it can really pay off.

Credit card rewards can be very valuable, especially if you tend to charge a large portion of the purchases you make. The ability to earn money is one of the main reasons I use credit cards whenever I can, and I’ve earned a substantial amount of money over the years just by opting for a card that pays me to use it.

Because I really enjoy the rewards credit cards give me, I’ve actually implemented an approach that allows me to maximize the rewards I’ve earned over time. My technique has helped me earn thousands of dollars in additional rewards, all of which I have deposited into investment accounts to help me build wealth.

The technique I’ve used to maximize the credit card rewards I’ve earned is to make sure I always use a card that’s optimized for my spending habits.

You see, many people sign up for a credit card and then stick with the status quo as they become familiar with using it and it seems very complicated to explore other options. But I made a conscious choice not to because I realized early on that my habits change over time and my card rewards program should change with it.

When I was younger, for example, I usually spent a lot of money on trips and dining out because I didn’t have kids yet and those were the hobbies I loved. But as I got older and had two kids, it became harder to take long, expensive trips — and then COVID-19 essentially put a stop to traveling and eating out for a long time. And this is just one example of the many changes in life circumstances that have taken place over time.

To make sure I always have the right credit card to earn the optimal rewards, I pay attention to where most of my spending goes. Budgeting apps that categorize purchases have made this really easy. When I notice that my spending habits have started to change, I know it’s time to look for another credit card that better meets my current needs.

Since I’ve applied for multiple cards with different rewards programs, I’ve made sure I’m always able to earn a minimum of 2% cash back on most purchases – and, in most cases, I can earn much more than than. The extra rewards I’ve earned over time are in the thousands because I’ve been smart about the cards I use.

Maximizing Your Credit Card Rewards Is Worth It

As long as you have a good credit rating and aren’t ridiculous about the number of credit cards you take out in a short period of time, there’s little to no downside to switching credit cards at the need to make sure you’re still using a card with a rewards program that’s a good fit.

Maximizing credit card rewards can be worth it because of how easy and simple it is to do, because there’s no reason to leave extra money on the table.