This Little-Known Strategy Can Double Any of Your Credit Card Rewards
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Groceries. Streaming. Gas. Travel. No matter where your money goes, you're probably leaving rewards on the table.
But there's a surprisingly simple way to double nearly all of your rewards without spending a penny more.
It's not a new app or some complicated points hack. Simply, you and your partner both get the same card.
How this works
Most credit cards limit how much you can earn in bonus categories each year. For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express gives you 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases) and select U.S. streaming subscriptions, then 1% after that. Terms apply.
If you're feeding a family, you'll easily hit that $6,000 cap and max out your cash back $360 before earning just 1%. But if your spouse or partner gets the same card, you'll have another $6,000 added to your spending cap and earn up to $720 before being lowered to 1% back.
And don't forget about the welcome bonuses. The best credit cards come with some sort of bonus after hitting a spending threshold. Earn twice the miles or points, just time up your spending properly.
And that's true for just about any card with bonus caps. Two accounts mean two separate earning pools, two welcome bonuses, and twice the long-term value.
Why this isn't "gaming the system"
Banks actually expect this. Credit card rewards are calculated per account, not per household. So when both partners qualify for the same product, they're each entitled to their own earning caps and bonuses.
The key is to open two individual accounts, not just add your partner as an authorized user; that wouldn't increase your rewards limit.
Just remember: You'll each have to manage your own statements and payments, so communication is key.
Cards where this strategy shines
This trick works best with cards that have cash back caps or rotating categories:
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Apply Now for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
$250 Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | 1%-6% Cash Back Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout. |
Intro: Purchases: 0% on purchases, 12 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months APR: 19.74%-28.74% Variable |
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Chase Freedom Flex®
|
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
$200 bonus Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening! | 5% cash back offer 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 18.74% - 28.24% Variable |
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Apply Now for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
$200 Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | 1%-3% cash back Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout. |
Intro: Purchases: 0% on purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months APR: 19.74%-28.74% Variable |
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
You don't even need to split every purchase. Just coordinate where each card gets used to make sure you're maximizing each account's highest-earning categories.
Can it be this simple?
If you share expenses, there's no reason one person should do all the earning. If you're hitting cash back caps, applying for the same rewards card is one of the easiest ways to double your household's points, miles, or cash back, without spending a dollar more.
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.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express.
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here