Families Miss This Dead-Simple Way to Get More Out of Their Credit Cards
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The easiest way for couples and families to get more value out of credit cards is not chasing new cards. It's simply having both partners carry the same one.
Same card. Same perks. Double the upside.
You're probably underusing your best card
What usually happens is one person opens a new, strong rewards card and either adds their partner as an authorized user or their partner keeps using a different older card.
Adding someone as an authorized user on your credit card can be a smart and responsible move, but if you're hitting any bonus caps each quarter or year, you're leaving money on the table.
If you want to see which cards make this strategy easiest, here are a few worth a closer look.
You double the perks without doubling the work
When both partners have the same card, you often get:
- Two sign-up bonuses instead of one
- Two sets of annual credits
- Two free night certificates or companion benefits
- Two sets of purchase protections and travel coverage
That can mean hundreds or even thousands of dollars in extra value over time, all from cards you were already using.
And because you're managing one card type instead of several, it's actually simpler to keep track of.
Sign-up bonuses are the quiet multiplier
If a card offers a $750 bonus after meeting a basic spending requirement, most households can earn that once without thinking. But earning it twice is where things add up fast.
One partner applies, earns the bonus, and keeps using the card. The other applies later and does the same. Same spending, same routines, double the rewards.
There's no loophole here. Just using the system as it's designed. To make it easy, you can see the cards currently offering the best sign-up bonuses here.
This works best for families with shared spending
Households with shared expenses get the most benefit from this approach.
Think about monthly bills, groceries, dining, travel, and kid-related spending. All of that adds up quickly. When every dollar earns at the same strong rate, you feel the difference.
It's also cleaner from a budgeting standpoint. Fewer cards. Fewer categories. Less friction.
When this strategy makes the most sense
This works especially well if:
- You and your partner already share finances
- Most spending flows through joint expenses
- You value simplicity over juggling lots of cards
It's not about gaming the system. It's about aligning your cards with how families actually spend money.
Our Research Expert
Jake FitzGerald is a full-time Editorial Strategist and Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, leading content production and distribution while also writing about credit cards, bank accounts, and other financial products. He has more than a decade of experience editing and shaping financial content to give readers clear, trustworthy money advice. His work focuses on delivering practical insights that empower people to make smarter financial decisions. Off the clock, he’s a fan of college football tailgates and still loyal to his favorite putter -- despite what his short game suggests.