6 Ways to Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Chase Ultimate Rewards. All opinions are 100% mine.

We all love getting a little something extra for nothing. It’s like ordering a hot fudge sundae and getting a cherry on top without even asking or when the vending machine accidently gives you two candy bars. Yummy!

Credit card rewards are like that extra candy bar or the cherry on top of your hot fudge sundae, but you must use them wisely.

If you use a credit card responsibly, make sure you’re earning and maximizing your rewards.

6 Ways to Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards

Use One Credit Card – If you’re using a gas rewards credit card, an airline rewards credit card and a cash back credit card…chances are you’re not earning much of anything on any of those credit cards. Instead, consider using one credit card that offers a variety of rewards like Chase Ultimate Rewards. With Ultimate Rewards, you don’t have to choose between earning airline miles or eaning cash back becasue you can choose both! You’ll earn points on every purchase, and you can redeem those points for travel, merchandise, gifts cards, experiences and yes, cash back! This personalized rewards program is available to Chase Freedom, Chase Sapphire and Ink from Chase cardholders.

Use Your Rewards Credit Card for EVERYTHING – Yes, everything. $4.35 at the grocery, use your rewards card. $38.72 for gas…whip out your card. $9.73 at the dry cleaner…you guessed it, use your rewards card. How about your cable bill, cell phone bill? You might be surprised to find who takes credit cards these days. Many colleges even accept credit cards for tutition payments…WOW, watch those rewards points add up!

Don’t Spend More to Earn More – Now that I’ve told you to use your rewards card for everything, here’s a disclaimer: Use your rewards card for everything you would normally spend money on. Don’t go on wild spending sprees in an effort to earn more reward points. That’s counter-productive.

Track Your Expenses – The Budget Diet girl is a huge fan of the envelope system…you know, the system where you put cash in an envelope each week and when it’s gone, it’s gone. Let’s update the envelope system for 2014, so you can stick to your budget AND earn credit card rewards points. I personally use the “check register” method, and I simply subtract the money out of my checking account each time I swipe my credit card. For those of you that are more tech savvy, apps abound that will do the work for you. Don’t rely on good intentions or simply saving receipts…you must have a plan to track your expenes, so you can stick to your budget.

Stretch Your Budget – If money is tight this Christmas, use your rewards points to “buy” some of your gifts. “Take a walk” through the virtual Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall and purchase Cheesecake Factory gift cards, Macy’s gift cards – without the extra mark-ups, so you pay the same you’d pay in store. Or maybe it’s those Dr. Dre headphones that your teenage son is begging for. Merchandise redemptions are also available at the same price you’d pay in store without added costs. Chase also offers extra incentives to cardholders with Ultimate Rewards during the holidays, to help you stretch every dollar.

Pay It In Full Every Month – What’s the point of earning rewards if you end up paying interest every month? Enough said.