Anyone who uses travel rewards knows they can be a game-changer when it comes to saving on airfare, hotel stays and other components of travel.
But that doesn't mean everyone sees their value or understands how these programs work.
Many people falsely assume you need to fly in airplanes to earn airline miles, for example. Others don't think rewards are lucrative enough to pursue, or that they don't spend enough money to make earning rewards worth the hassle.
The truth is, nearly anyone can earn enough miles or points to save on any trip they can dream up. The key is finding the best travel credit card for your needs, then making use of the many point-earning opportunities you confront every day.
Auto-Pay Linkage
If you have utility bills, insurance payments or specific monthly payments set up for automatic payment from a debit card or your checking account, you're missing out on rewards. Make sure to link all your ongoing payments to your favorite rewards credit card instead.
From there, you can log in to your online credit card account management page and pay them off at least once per month.
Groceries, Gas and Daily Bills.
Many rewards cards dole out huge sums of points for everyday spending, either on a regular basis or during their quarterly bonuses. The Chase Freedom card, for example, is offering 5x points on grocery stores and drug stores through the end of June in 2017.
Make sure to use your travel credit card any time you buy groceries, fill up with gas or shop online. While a few $20 purchases may not seem like a lot, the points you'll earn can add up quickly.
[READMORE] READ MORE: Earn 5x Points with Chase Freedom This Quarter [/READMORE]
Utilities and Insurance
While you may be unaware, it's sometimes possible to pay larger, ongoing bills with credit cards. Some health insurance companies let consumers pay their premiums with credit, for example. Further, it's usually possible to pay your car insurance and homeowner's insurance with a credit card.
Since you're going to pay these bills anyway, you might as well get something in return. Keep in mind, however, that some merchants will charge an added fee for using credit. Even if you earn more points this way, paying a fee for the privilege is rarely worth it.
Shopping Portals
Shopping portals make it easy to earn more points over time. If you buy stuff online frequently, you can rack up points much faster by clicking through a portal any time you make a purchase.
With the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, for example, you can frequently earn 4-10 additional points for each dollar you spend at stores like Macys.com, Kohls.com, and BestBuy.com.
[READMORE]READ MORE: How to Get the Most of Your Travel Rewards[/READMORE]
Maximize Signup Bonuses
While earning points on your everyday spending is a smart idea, you can ramp up your efforts by pursuing signup bonuses. Many of the top travel and rewards cards offer an upfront bonus worth hundreds of dollars if you spend a certain amount within a few months (e.g. spend $3,000 within three months of account opening).
By signing up for new cards and using your regular spending to meet these minimum spending requirements, you can earn a lot more rewards over time.
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