I have collected points and miles for several years now. What I failed to recognize early on was how to maximize spend with credit cards. Another item I failed to realize is how important it is to put your spending on credit cards. This will help you earn the most for each transaction.
How to Maximize Spend
In this article, I’ll walk you through the cards I use for each bonus category. I’ll also share cards that I’d like to add to my wallet in the near future.
Maximize Spend: Non-Bonus Business Spend
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express earns 2X points on every transaction. For your non-bonus category spend, this is one of the best credit cards out there. In addition to a high-earn rate on non-bonus category spend, this card does not have an annual fee.
Maximize Spend: Non-Bonus Personal Spend
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a solid $0 annual fee personal credit card to use for your non-bonus category spend. This card earns 1.5% cash back on every transaction. You can convert the cashback into Chase points if you also hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business PreferredSM.
Another $0 annual fee personal card with an even higher earn rate on the non-bonus category spend is the Citi® Double Cash. Cardmembers earn 2X points on every transaction with this card.
Maximize Spend: Grocery/Supermarket
The Chase Freedom® earns 5% cashback on categories that rotate every quarter. In previous quarters, groceries have been a 5% bonus category. You can convert the cashback into Chase points if you also hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business PreferredSM.
Another card that’s great to use on groceries is the American Express® Gold. Cardmembers earn 4X points on US grocery as well as 4X points on dining. This is an ideal card when the Chase Freedom® doesn’t include groceries as a 5% bonus category.
Maximize Spend: Memberships
The 2 recurring memberships that I have are for Netflix and Spotify. The Ink Business CashSM is the card I use for the expenses because it earns 5% cashback. You can convert the cashback into Chase points by also holding the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business PreferredSM.
Maximize Spend: Dining/Restaurants
I earn 3X points on dining every month with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. This card does have a high annual fee, however, I spend enough on dining and travel every year to offset the annual fee.
One of the best cards for dining/restaurants is the Citi Prestige®. Cardmembers earn 5X points on dining and airfare with this card. Another card to check out is the American Express® Gold. You’ll earn 4X points on dining and US grocery stores as a cardmember.
Maximize Spend: Transit/Travel
Lyft and Uber are part of my regular monthly costs so the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the card I use. Chase expanded its partnership with Lyft making it a no-brainer to use Lyft if you have the card.
Other cards to consider using for transit are the Citi Premier and Chase Sapphire Preferred®. Premier cardmembers earn 3X points on transit while Preferred cardmembers earn 2X points on transit.
Maximize Spend: Airfare
Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardmembers earn 3X points on airfare. In addition, travel protections are solid when you use this card to pay for your flights.
The Platinum Card® and the Citi Prestige® are 2 additional cards to use for airfare. Platinum and Prestige cardmembers earn 5X on airfare. American Express expanded its travel protections while Citi decreased its travel protections. As a result, The Platinum Card® is the card to use for airfare.
Maximize Spend: Hotels
My hotel spend goes on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Cardmembers earn 3X points for their hotel spend. Other cards to consider using are the Citi Premier and Chase Sapphire Preferred®. Premier cardmembers earn 3X at hotels and the Preferred earns 2X at hotels.
Maximize Spend: Cable/Internet
Ink Business CashSM cardmembers earn 5% cashback cell phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services. You can convert the cashback into Chase points by also holding the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business PreferredSM.
The Ink Business PreferredSM is another card to check out. This card earns 3X points on Internet, cable and phone services. The beauty with the Ink Business PreferredSM is that it earns Chase points directly with your spending.
Conclusion on How to Maximize Spend
I have tried to focus on earning more than 1x transferable points per transaction on every transaction this year. With the addition of the Amex Blue Business Plus, I’m now confident most of my spend will earn at least 2x points per $1 spent.
What cards do you use for bonus categories? Do you have any that you recommend? Please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email pointswithq@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: If you click and/or sign up for a credit card through certain links on this site or any of my related social media platforms, I may make a commission from that click-through. The editorial content on this page and the user comments are not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are mine alone.
