Rewards Like Cash Back, Bonus Miles, and More Could Be Yours Soon With These Cards

Travelers, both avid and occasional, are sure to get great value from travel cards that pay in points or miles which translate into free flights and hotel stays. But moms and dads might get more use out of a cash-back card like the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which earns high cash-back* rewards at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. If you buy the bulk of your household supplies and groceries at Amazon, then the Prime Visa could earn you the highest return.

You can maximize rewards by charging all your purchases to your credit card – no matter how small. Even those $10 convenience store charges can add up. Rewards cards offer either a set number of points/miles or a percentage of cash back on every dollar spent. So the more you charge, the greater your rewards. This doesn't mean spending more money than you have; it means sticking to your budget and using a rewards credit card for spending that you're already doing anyway.

Paying off your purchases immediately allows you to avoid interest charges. If you don't pay off the balance every month, the interest you pay will eat up any rewards you earned.

Juggling multiple cards can add a level of complication, but it also makes it easier to maximize rewards.

For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a good stand-alone card, but it's even better as a sidekick — especially if it's a sidekick to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Chase lets you transfer points among Ultimate Rewards® accounts, effectively allowing you to take advantage of the Sapphire cards' potentially superior redemption options, even if you made your original purchases on the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

There's no need to change your spending simply to match your credit card rewards categories. Still, it doesn't hurt to keep the categories in mind, especially if you use multiple credit cards. If one of your cards earns 5% at department stores and the others earn only 1%, reaching for the right card will give you a big boost of easy rewards..

Some cards with rotating rewards categories require you to opt in every quarter if you want to be eligible for accelerated rates, so you might want to set a reminder.

Credit cards can do a whole lot more than pay your tab. Many cards come with valuable extras that often fly under-the radar. For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders can get an annual $50 hotel credit and free food delivery membership. . Cardholders of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card benefit from access to Visa Concierge, a service that helps you with travel or dining arrangements, event tickets and more. You also have access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, where you can book a stay at a selection of hotels and receive benefits like room upgrades, free breakfast and more. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers $10 per month in Disney streaming credits each year.