15 Ways to Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards

Credit card rewards can be very valuable, and earning them can actually help you save money if you redeem them for cash back to reduce your bills or for travel or merchandise you'd otherwise have to pay for out of pocket.

If you want to make the most of them, however, there are a few techniques you'll definitely want to employ. Here are 15 of them to try out that could help you take your efforts to maximize your credit card rewards to the next level.

Our credit card expert uses this card, and it could earn you $1,148 (seriously)
As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.

But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases until late 2021, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.

That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our expert’s top pick.

Rewards credit cards come in all different forms, but there are three really common ones:

• Cash back cards, which provide you with a rebate on your statement or money deposited into an account
• Travel rewards cards, which offer rewards that are best redeemed for flights, hotels, or other travel expenditures
• Other rewards cards, which may provide points you can trade in for a wide variety of merchandise

It helps to understand which of these types of rewards cards you'll make the most use of, as there's little use in getting travel points if you don't ever go anywhere or in earning points for merchandise you won't buy.

Within each category of rewards cards, there are numerous different card offerings. To make sure that you're getting the best one, research each card carefully.

Some of the things to focus on include the bonus categories where you can earn more than the standard rewards amount; the standard rewards rate; the annual fee; and other cardholder perks such as airline lounge access.

Don't discount cards with annual fees, as there may be circumstances where a card is worth paying for if it enables you to earn many more rewards or get valuable benefits.

ALSO READ: How to Choose a Credit Card in 9 Easy Steps

If you want to earn the maximum possible rewards, look for a card that gives you bonus points or cash back for the things you tend to spend your money on.

If you're a foodie with a big grocery bill, this would mean opting for a card that provides bonus cash back at grocery stores. But if you tend to do most of your spending on restaurants and gas, you may want an entirely different card entirely.

Obviously, the more that you use your card, the more points or cash back you can earn. So make a point of charging everything you can rather than paying cash.

Of course, you'll still want to stay within budget and keep careful track of your spending, so you don't end up with a balance that's too big to pay off at the end of the month.

If you're going out with a group of friends or planning an event with multiple people, offer to be the coordinator who puts the bill or tickets on your card. You can get all the points and your friends can just send you the money via Zelle or Venmo.

Of course, you should do this only with friends you can count on to pay you back right away. And make a payment on your card as soon as the cash hits your bank account so you don't end up spending the money and getting stuck with a bill you can't pay.

Our credit card expert uses this card, and it could earn you $1,148 (seriously)
As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.

But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases until late 2021, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.

That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our expert’s top pick.

Most people spend money on all different kinds of things. If that's the case, there may not be a credit card that gives you bonuses for all the different spending you do.

The good news is, you don't have to limit yourself to just one card. In fact, there's no rule that says you can't have several different rewards cards and be strategic about which you use for each purchase.

You don't want to apply for too many at one time and potentially damage your credit, and you'll need to make sure your spending doesn't get out of control or that you have so many cards they become hard to manage.

But if you can do that, keep several different cards in your wallet so you can pick the one that will reward you the most for every purchase.

ALSO READ: How Many Credit Cards Should I Have?

Many cards offer special introductory bonuses for new card members. The rewards you can earn with these bonuses can be substantial.

If you're considering signing up for a new credit card, it pays to shop around to find one that will offer you a generous amount of points or rewards for signing up. Just be aware that you'll need to meet certain spending requirements to earn the bonus, so make sure you'll charge enough on your card to get it.

It's common for rewards cards to offer special bonuses that boost the amount of rewards you can earn even further. You might get extra cash back for shopping with a particular merchant, for example, or on a specific type of purchase during a limited period of time.

Sign up for promotional emails from your card company so you're notified when these promotions are offered. And sign into your online account regularly to check your card's current offers.

Some credit card issuers run online shopping portals. If you visit the portal first and then click through to other websites you want to make purchases at, you can earn bonus cash back.

While it'll take you a few extra clicks, just bookmark your card's shopping portal and start there every time you want to make a purchase. Once you get in the habit, it'll become second nature -- and you'll see the rewards stack up quickly.

Sometimes, you'll have a choice about where to make a purchase. For example, you might be able to buy gift cards at a grocery store or gas station instead of the store itself. If that's the case, and you get bonus rewards at gas stations or grocery stores, you can boost your rewards by buying them there.

Likewise, if you get rewarded for shopping at big-box stores, you may prefer to do your holiday shopping or buy your groceries there rather than from a store that doesn't offer bonus rewards.

Our credit card expert uses this card, and it could earn you $1,148 (seriously)
As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.

But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases until late 2021, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.

That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our expert’s top pick.

You can optimize the spending you do to earn the most rewards, but you also want to maximize the value of each reward you earn. To do that, pay attention to how the value of your points changes depending how you redeem them.

In some cases, for example, you'll get a bonus if you redeem your points for travel booked through your card issuer or if you redeem for hotel stays. If that's the case, aim to cash in your points in a way that makes the most of them.

In some cases, you can redeem credit cards points or miles through a company that's partnered with your card issuer. You might be able to transfer your membership points, for example, or redeem your miles for free flights with a partner airline.

Surprisingly, transferring your points could sometimes boost their value. This can be a little complicated to figure out, but you can find a list of partner rewards programs from your card issuer and compare the purchasing power of your miles or points with each one to see which gives you the best deal.

ALSO READ: Maximizing Chase Ultimate Rewards Value With Marriott Rewards

Several great credit cards offer bonus rewards on rotating spending categories. For example, you might get 5% back on groceries in one quarter and then 5% back on gas in another.

If you opt for one of these cards, you'll usually have to sign in and activate your bonus category each quarter. If you don't do that, you'll miss out on the added rewards that makes these cards so great -- so put it on your calendar so you don't forget.

While credit card rewards can be valuable, the amount you earn from rewards is never going to be enough to make up for any interest you'd have to pay if you carry a balance.

That means you need to pay off your card in full each month if you want to get the best value from your rewards. If you plan to carry a balance, you should instead prioritize a card offering a 0% promotional APR rather than looking for the one offering the best rewards.

Different credit card rewards programs have their own unique rules. For example, there may be restrictions on getting bonus points if you buy gift cards with your credit card, or your points or miles may expire.

It's important you read the fine print on the rules before signing up for a card. And if any terms or conditions change, your card issuer must notify you -- but it's up to you to read and understand the new terms.

Our credit card expert uses this card, and it could earn you $1,148 (seriously)
As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.

But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases until late 2021, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.

That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our expert’s top pick.

There's no reason to leave credit card rewards on the table when you could earn cash, points, or miles for spending you have to do anyway.

Just follow some or all of these 15 tips and you'll be well on your way to earning more credit card rewards than you may have imagined possible.