Don’t leave points on the table

Not all credit cards are created equal.

If you have multiple credit cards and want to maximize your earnings, you need to get in the habit of rotating the cards you use. I always say that using the right credit card for the right spend category is equally as important as finding good redemptions.

I recently had a friend pull a report of their spending and send it to me. They mostly use the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but have several other cards. I noticed they were using their Chase Sapphire card in categories that were not giving them more than 1x points back. However, they had other cards that would give them 2-3x points back in the same category. We realized if they shifted their spending to other cards, they could be earning 30K points more per year.

Here is an example of how I typically break down my spending:

Travel: Chase Sapphire cards (2-4x points, with included travel protections)

Dining: Chase Sapphire cards (3x points)

Gas Stations: Chase Sapphire Preferred or Marriott card (3x points)

Groceries: Amex Delta Gold or Marriott card (2x points)

Bills/Insurance/Subscriptions: Freedom Unlimited (1.5x points) or Venture X (2x points)

All other purchases: Freedom Unlimited (1.5x points) or Venture X (2x points)

Recently, I bought a house and am also planning a wedding. The Venture X card has been my go-to card for any large expenses since I get 2x points back on all purchases. I am saving these points for a honeymoon flight redemption eventually.

By shifting spending to the correct card, you can earn thousands of additional points a year.

I highly recommend doing some quick research to see which spend categories reward you the most for the cards in your wallet. Make a quick note in your Notes app on your phone so you remember which card you should use for each spend category. Once you have some practice, it becomes second nature!

By understanding how your cards earn rewards and pausing before a purchase, you can maximize your spending to ensure you never leave points behind.

Let’s wander wiser together.

To make it easier to digest, I created this breakdown of how I earn points with each of the cards in my wallet:

Are you looking to maximize your credit card points earnings? I will provide some advice for free if you fill out the form below!