The Thanksgiving weekend sales have already begun, and we haven’t even made it to Black Friday—let alone Cyber Monday! With all the shopping happening over the next few days, it’s the perfect time to maximize your rewards on every purchase. Here’s how you can earn the most points, miles, or cash back while snagging those amazing deals.
Make Shopping Portals Your Best Friend
If you’re not using shopping portals, you’re leaving easy rewards on the table. These portals give you bonus points, miles, or cash back just for starting your shopping journey through them. Whether you use airline portals like Delta SkyMiles Shopping or cashback sites like Rakuten, they’re a great way to earn extra rewards on top of credit card points.
What makes Rakuten stand out is its flexibility—while it’s known for offering cash back, you can also choose to convert your earnings into Amex Membership Rewards points (often at a 1:1 ratio). This makes Rakuten an excellent choice for anyone looking to rack up travel rewards instead of cash back.
Many portals are offering boosted payouts this weekend, so it’s worth comparing rates to find the best deal for your purchases. Tools like Cashback Monitor can help you find the portal with the highest rewards for your chosen store.
And don’t forget—you can often stack deals. Combine portal bonuses with store sales, coupon codes, and credit card rewards to maximize your savings.
Credit Card Perks to Maximize Rewards
Your credit card can also play a huge role in boosting your earnings:
- Discover’s 5% Bonus Categories:
If you have the Discover it® Cash Back card, you can earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Target this quarter (up to $1,500 in combined purchases). If you haven’t activated the offer yet, do it now! This is a great way to earn extra rewards while shopping for gifts, essentials, or even stocking up on gift cards for later use. - Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card:
This card offers a bonus for online shopping, making it a great choice for holiday purchases. In addition to earning Hilton Honors points, you’ll rack up extra rewards on every online order. Perfect for booking future travel while tackling your holiday list. - American Express Offers:
Amex cardholders can use exclusive Amex Offers for additional statement credits or bonus Membership Rewards points. For example, you might see offers like spend $100 at Macy’s, get $25 back or earn 10x points at Best Buy. - Chase and Citi Offers:
Many Chase and Citi cards feature similar targeted offers for holiday shopping. Be sure to check your account for deals before you shop.
How to Stack and Save Even More
Here’s how you can make the most of your holiday spending:
- Start at a shopping portal offering extra rewards for your store (e.g., 10x miles at Macy’s).
- Use a credit card with an applicable bonus category or targeted offer. For instance, pay with Discover to get 5% at Amazon or Target, or use the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card to boost online shopping rewards.
- Add store promotions or coupon codes to your purchase.
For example, if you’re shopping at Target, you could stack Discover’s 5% cash back with Target Circle offers and the 5% RedCard discount. Or, at Amazon, take advantage of promotions like “Buy $50 in Gift Cards, Get $10” while earning 5% back from Discover.
So whether you’re buying socks, a toaster, or that big-screen TV, take a few extra steps to make every dollar go further. With the right combination of shopping portals, credit card offers, and store promotions, you can rack up rewards and save big on holiday deals.
Happy shopping, and may your cart be full of savings and rewards! 🎁✨
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