Black Friday weekend is basically a blur of “Add to Cart,” lightning deals, and checking out faster than you can say “shipping confirmation.” And that’s exactly how people accidentally leave easy points, miles, and cash back on the table.
Here’s the one thing you need to do before you buy anything online: start your purchase through a shopping portal (or cash back portal) first. It takes 10 seconds, and if you stack it with the right card offers, it can turn one purchase into multiple layers of rewards.
Do This First: The 60-Second Rewards Checklist
- Check portal rates for the store you’re using.
- Turn off ad blockers (just for checkout) and avoid clicking extra coupon popups mid-purchase.
- Click through the portal and shop immediately (don’t “save it for later”).
- Apply card offers (Amex / Chase / Citi / etc.) before you pay.
- Screenshot your order confirmation (just in case tracking doesn’t post correctly).
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 through them. Whether you use airline portals like Delta SkyMiles Shopping or cashback sites like Rakuten (which is a referral link—if you sign up through it, we may receive a bonus at no extra cost to you), they’re a great way to earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points.
What makes Rakuten stand out is its flexibility—while it’s known for cash back, you can also choose to earn Amex Membership Rewards points instead. And Rakuten now partners with Bilt Rewards as well, so you may have the option to earn Bilt Points rather than cash back (rates and promos can vary).
Note: If you’re trying to qualify for any Bilt-specific Rakuten signup bonus, you may need to sign up through Bilt instead of a referral link.
Many portals run boosted payouts this weekend, so it’s worth comparing rates before you click. Tools like Cashback Monitor make it easy to see which portal is paying the most for the store you’re using.
And don’t forget—you can often stack deals. Combine portal bonuses with store sales, coupon codes, and credit card rewards to get more back from the same purchase.
Credit Card Perks to Maximize Rewards
Your credit card can make a big difference during Black Friday weekend. Before you check out, take 2 minutes to look for these:
- Rotating 5% categories (Discover / Chase / etc.)
If you use a card with quarterly bonus categories, make sure the category is activated and that your purchase actually qualifies (some stores and payment methods code differently than you’d expect). - Online shopping bonuses
Some cards offer extra points for online retail purchases (especially during promos). If you’ve got a card that’s strong for online spend, this is when it shines. - Amex Offers
Amex cardholders can use Amex Offers for statement credits or bonus points. These can be the “hidden” discount that stacks on top of a sale price. - Chase and Citi Offers
Many Chase and Citi cards have similar targeted offers. Check them before you buy—sometimes the best deal isn’t the sale… It’s the offer you forgot you added.
How to Stack and Save Even More
If you want the simplest “stacking” strategy, here it is:
- Start at a shopping portal that’s paying well for your store.
- Use a card offer or bonus category (Amex/Chase/Citi offers, rotating categories, or a strong online-shopping card).
- Add store promos or coupon codes (Target Circle, store email codes, etc.).
Example: let’s say you’re shopping online at a big retailer. If you start through a portal, you’re already earning extra rewards. Then you layer a card offer (or bonus category) on top. Then you apply the store promo code. Same purchase — multiple ways to “get something back.”
A Quick Heads-Up: Why Portal Rewards Sometimes Don’t Track
This is the part nobody thinks about until the points don’t show up. Portal tracking can fail if:
- You have an ad blocker or strict privacy settings running during checkout
- You click around to other coupon sites mid-purchase
- You pay with gift cards (some portals exclude gift card payments)
- You complete checkout in an app instead of a browser
- You return/exchange items later (often reduces or removes rewards)
That’s why the “screenshot your confirmation” tip is in the checklist — it makes it much easier to file a missing rewards claim if needed.
Final Thought
Black Friday weekend makes it easy to rush. But if you slow down for a few seconds and stack the right way, you can earn a surprising amount of points, miles, or cash back without spending a penny more.
Happy shopping — and may your cart be full of deals and extra rewards. 🎁✨
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