Table of Contents
- Intro: Tips & Strategies for Maximizing Rewards and Saving Money This Holiday Season
- 1. Use Shopping Portals – Your Gateway to Extra Rewards
- 2. Maximize Your Quarterly Cashback Bonus Categories
- 3. Shop at Retailers That Earn You the Most Rewards per $1
- 4. Support Your Local Merchants – But Use the Right Card
- 5. Amex Cardholders: Maximize Your Benefits with Offers and Statement Credits
- 6. Gift the Gift of Free Travel – Plan Ahead for Future Adventures
- Conclusion: Make Your Holiday Shopping a Rewards-Rich Experience
Intro: Tips & Strategies for Maximizing Rewards and Saving Money This Holiday Season
The holiday season is here, and along with the excitement of gift-giving, it’s also the perfect time to maximize your credit card rewards and find ways to save. As you gear up for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and all the shopping in between and thereafter, here are some expert tips to help you make the most of your purchases. Whether you’re looking to score bonus points, cashback, or maximize value on your favorite items, these strategies will ensure your credit cards work harder for you this holiday season.
1. Use Shopping Portals – Your Gateway to Extra Rewards
Shopping portals from loyalty programs (airlines, hotels, cashback sites, or flexible rewards, my favorite) allow you to earn extra points or miles on your purchases. Here’s why they’re a must:
- Rates Above 1:1: Many portals offer bonus points/miles per dollar spent, varying rates per store.
- Convenience: Shop from home and earn rewards without any extra effort.
- Stay Informed: Sign up for loyalty program emails or follow brands on social media to catch limited-time offers.
To use shopping portals:
- Log in to your loyalty program account.
- Click through to your desired retailer via the portal.
- Make your purchase and earn rewards on top of your credit card points.
Points Mom Tip: I try to do better than cashback and airline/hotel rewards when I shop through the portals. That’s why I avoid those shopping portals and instead focus on earning flexible rewards that I can transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs to get the most value:
- -I often go through Shop through Chase® to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
- -For American Express Membership Rewards®, I use Rakuten, where you can choose to earn cashback OR convert those earnings into Membership Rewards® points.
- -Recently, I’ve started using the Capital One Shopping portal more often because payouts from Capital One Offers can now be issued as valuable, transferable Miles.
Pro Tip: Use tools like Cashback Monitor or SimplyMiles to compare rates across portals and find the best deals before you shop.
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2. Maximize Your Quarterly Cashback Bonus Categories
Take advantage of credit cards that offer bonus cashback categories every quarter. For example, Discover and Chase Freedom Flex® Card often have rotating categories that can earn you more than the standard 1% back. Here’s how to maximize this benefit:
- –Discover it® Cash Back: This quarter’s popular categories are Amazon and Target. Make sure you activate the offer to get 5% cashback on up to $1,500 in purchases at these stores.
- –Chase Freedom Flex® Card: If you have this card, make sure you’re shopping through PayPal. PayPal is one of the 5% quarterly categories, so you can earn 5% back on eligible purchases when using it at checkout.
Points Mom Tip: Keep track of rotating categories and be strategic about your purchases. If you know you’ll be shopping at Amazon or Target, prioritize using the appropriate card to earn 5% back.
Pro Tip: Set a reminder to activate your quarterly categories, and make sure to use your cards before the end of the quarter to hit the maximum cashback limit.
3. Shop at Retailers That Earn You the Most Rewards per $1
Maximize your rewards by using credit cards that align with the spending categories of your holiday shopping. Strategic category-based spending can help you rack up more points and cashback:
- –Dining & Restaurant Gift Cards: Many cards, like the American Express® Gold Card (4x points on dining), offer big multipliers for restaurant purchases. Consider buying restaurant gift cards for family and friends to take advantage of these dining bonuses.
- –Supermarkets: Cards like the American Express® Gold Card (4x at supermarkets, up to $25,000 annually) or Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (3x on groceries) can make grocery store gift card purchases a smart way to boost rewards.
- –Online Shopping: The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers 3% back on online shopping if you set it as your chosen category. Buy that Bloomingdale’s gift card or holiday gift online for maximum rewards.
- –Home Improvement Stores: If you’re gifting tools or home improvement items, use the Citi Custom Cash® Card, which earns 5% back on up to $500 per billing cycle in its top spending category, including home improvement stores.
- –Travel Gift Cards: Gifting an airline or hotel gift card? Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (2x or 3x on travel) and The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on flights) treat these purchases as travel, letting you earn extra points.
- –Starbucks Gift Cards: These often code as dining, making them a perfect purchase with high-dining-multiplier cards. Plus, link them to your Delta SkyMiles account to earn miles as you spend.
Points Mom Tip: Match your purchase to the card with the best bonus category! For example, use a card with a substantial dining bonus for restaurant gift cards, or tap into your home improvement bonus for a gift card to Lowe’s or Home Depot for Dad.
Pro Tip: Check how gift cards are coded with your credit card issuer, as this can vary by retailer. A little planning ensures you’re getting the most rewards for every dollar spent.
4. Support Your Local Merchants – But Use the Right Card
Want to shop locally? I get it—there’s something special about supporting small businesses and shopping in brick-and-mortar stores. However, don’t miss out on rewards by using a card that earns only 1x per $1. Here’s how to shop locally but still maximize rewards:
- –Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 2x per $1 on all purchases, which is great for in-person shopping.
- -The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Great for business gift shopping, this card earns 2x per $1 on all purchases.
- –Citi Double Cash® Card: 2% per $1 on all purchases, ideal for local stores and smaller retailers.
Points Mom Tip: Don’t forget to follow your local merchants on social media to be informed about all holiday shopping deals and sales.
Pro Tip: Carry cards with higher earning rates for in-person purchases to avoid missing out on rewards. Look for 2x or higher cards when shopping locally.
5. Amex Cardholders: Maximize Your Benefits with Offers and Statement Credits
If you’re an Amex cardholder, take advantage of Amex Offers before starting your holiday shopping. These targeted promotions can save you money or earn you bonus Membership Rewards points when you shop at specific retailers. Here’s how you can triple-dip with Amex:
- Enroll in Amex Offers for eligible deals, such as statement credits or extra Membership Rewards® points at certain stores.
- Shop through a shopping portal to earn additional rewards for your purchase.
- Use your Amex card at checkout to earn Membership Rewards® points (or cashback, depending on your card).
Example: If you have an Amex Offer for $20 off a $100 purchase at Saks, you can triple dip:
- Activate the offer.
- Shop through Rakuten to earn portal rewards, which you can convert to Membership Rewards® points.
- Pay with your Amex card to earn points on the purchase itself.
Additionally, you can use your Amex Statement Credit Benefits for gifts:
- Saks Fifth Avenue (The Platinum Card® from American Express): Use your $50 biannual Saks Fifth Avenue statement credit to buy gifts like luxury accessories or skincare items. (Enrollment is required for select benefits)
- Dell (The Business Platinum Card® from American Express): With a $200 semi-annual Dell statement credit, you can buy a high-tech gift for someone special—whether it’s a new laptop, speaker, headphones, or other gadgets. (Enrollment is required for select benefits)
- Resy Restaurants (American Express® Gold Card): The $50 annual Resy dining credit can be used to buy restaurant gift cards from participating Resy-network restaurants. (Enrollment is required for select benefits)
- CLEAR Membership (Certain Amex cards): Use your card’s CLEAR credit to gift someone a year of expedited airport security. This is an ideal present for frequent travelers in your life.
Points Mom Tip: Make it a habit to check and activate Amex Offers regularly, especially during the holidays, as new offers pop up frequently. Combining them with portals and your card’s earning potential is one of the best ways to stack rewards.
Pro Tip: Focus on stacking offers at high-value retailers like Best Buy, Saks, or Amazon, where holiday shopping is common, and Amex Offers often align with portal deals.
6. Gift the Gift of Free Travel – Plan Ahead for Future Adventures
Want to give someone the gift of travel? Instead of traditional gifts, consider gifting something that can help them save on future trips. This could be a consultation with me, the Points Mom, to help them maximize their rewards, use card benefits, and redeem points for the most value.
My consultation rate of $295 has been the same since 2018, but it will be going up to $349 in 2025. Buy the gift card now to lock in the 2024 rate! A consultation can be a great way to ensure your loved ones are using their credit cards to their full potential, earning maximum rewards, and planning for future travel in the most efficient way.
Points Mom Tip: If your loved one is new to rewards, this consultation is the perfect way to set them on the right path for maximizing points. It’s a gift that keeps on giving, especially as they plan their future adventures!
Pro Tip: You can also gift Points Mom Consult Gift Cards to allow your recipient to schedule their consultation when it’s most convenient for them.
Conclusion: Make Your Holiday Shopping a Rewards-Rich Experience
By planning ahead and using the right credit cards, you can earn big rewards and save money during your holiday shopping. Whether you’re taking advantage of portals, maximizing category bonuses, or using your Amex offers, these strategies will ensure your spending works for you. Make this season the most rewarding one yet!
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