by Holly Johnson
Last updated: 10:00 AM ET, Fri February 24, 2017
Most rewards credit cards offer lucrative signup bonuses in the form of cash back or travel rewards. However, each offer comes with one small catch. To earn the sign-up bonus, you need to spend a certain amount of money on your card within a short amount of time.
With the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard, for example, you earn 50,000 points worth $500 in travel after spending $3,000 on your card within 90 days. That signup bonus can be a game-changer in terms of boosting your travel budget, but that spending requirement is steep.
How is the average person supposed to spend $3,000 in 90 days?
Also consider that, beyond just meeting the minimum spending requirement, you must ensure you avoid carrying a credit card balance, too. Obviously, paying interest on your purchases will negate the value of any rewards you earn.
To earn a sign-up bonus the right away, you need to charge only items you can afford to pay off, and in full, right away. Here are five easy ways to meet a spending requirement without neglecting your finances:
#1: Charge your Groceries and Gas
You're going to buy gas and groceries anyway, right? Why not charge them to your rewards-earning credit card all along? By doing so, you'll meet your card's minimum spending requirement faster and earn points for regular purchases. Make sure you pay your bill off frequently and you're good to go.
#2: Pay the Kid's Extracurricular Activities with Credit
If your kids participate in sports or even daycare, you could meet your card's minimum spending requirement rather quickly. Charge daycare bills and all their sports and academic programs to your card-provided they don't charge an additional fee for using credit.
[READMORE] READ MORE Which Travel Credit Card is Best for Beginners? [/READMORE]
#3: Charge Utility bills to Credit
Most utility companies let you pay your utility bills with credit online. Some may charge a nominal fee for doing so, but it could be worth it if you're earning a huge credit card sign-up bonus in return.
#4: Pay Insurance Bills in Bulk
If you pay your auto insurance monthly, try paying your full six-month bill in full and ahead of time. Many insurance companies don't add on a fee for using credit, and you can use these extra bills to meet your card's spending requirement faster.
Believe it or not, you may also be able to pay your health insurance premiums with a credit card too. Make sure to check with all your insurance providers to see who lets you pay with credit and if any fees are involved.
#5: Prepay Big Expenses
To meet your card's minimum spending requirement that much faster, think ahead to any big expenses you have coming up. Do you plan to cover your kid's college tuition? Are you gearing up to replace your kitchen flooring? Do you expect a large medical bill soon, and have the cash on-hand to pay it? A few large bills could take care of your minimum spending requirement altogether, but only if you remember to pay them with credit.
Make Meeting a Minimum Spending Requirement Easy
Don't let a reward card's big minimum spending requirement prevent you from taking advantage. Chances are, you have enough "regular bills" to cover the requirement and then some. You just need to think outside the box and make sure you're maximizing each payment you make.
But when you finally cash in that huge sign-up bonus, all your efforts will be worth it.
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