Don’t be fooled, you don’t need to be a BIG spender to earn BIG rewards. By understanding how to maximize your points, you’ll be pulling in enough points to save thousands of dollars in travel each and every year. Check out some of the best strategies for earning points with each and every dollar you spend.
3. Pick the Right Cards for Low Spenders
Not all rewards cards are created equal, and some are better suited for budget-conscious travelers. Focus on cards with low (or no) annual fees and excellent earning potential on everyday categories like groceries, dining, or gas.
A Few Great Options:
- “Blue Bank” Flex: No annual fee, 5x points on rotating categories.
- This card: Low annual fee, 2x points on every dollar spent.
- This card: Must have card for renters. Earn points on rent payments with no transaction fee.
Our life: Contrary to the advice aboe, we also hold this “higher end” travel card for perks like free lounge access. We’re comfy with the high annual feel because we utilize the annual $300 travel credit (which brings the annual fee down to $95). These cards help you rack up extra points without pressure to spend more than you’re comfortable with.
*Sorry I can’t use actual card names, bank rules, it’s annoying for me too.
4. Stack Deals for Maximum Rewards
Ready to level up? Stacking is how you’ll squeeze the most value out of every dollar you spend. Here’s how it works:
- Online Shopping Portals: Before buying anything online, check a portal like Rakuten or “Blue Bank” shopping portal. You’ll earn extra points just for clicking through their site.
- Special Promotions: Keep an eye out for limited-time offers like extra points on specific spending categories. You’ll find these within your bank app for each particular card.
When you stack these bonuses on top of your credit card rewards, the points really start piling up.
Our life: One my favorite ways to stack “hidden” points is booking our air bnbs here– this way, we’re earning points on our rewards card as well as Avios points at the same time.
5. Focus on Redemptions That Stretch Your Points
My favorite part of all of this! Once you’ve built up a stash of points, the next step is using them wisely. Not all redemptions are created equal, and if you’re not careful, you might burn through your hard-earned points too quickly.
Best Redemptions for Low Spenders:
- Transfer to Airlines and Hotels: Points often go further when transferred out to loyalty programs like Hyatt or airline alliances.
- Sweet Spot Awards: Look for routes or hotel stays that offer high value for fewer points (e.g., domestic flights under 10,000 points or Hyatt stays for 5,000 points per night).
- Off-Peak Travel: Book during off-peak times for lower point redemptions. Flexibility pays off big here!
6. Consistency Wins Over Time
Travel hacking is a marathon, not a sprint. We’re several years into consistently booking travel on points + miles. Even if you’re earning fewer points than someone with a massive budget, small, consistent wins will still get you where you want to go. Remember, every free flight or hotel night is something you wouldn’t have had otherwise.
So, don’t compare your journey to someone else’s. Celebrate each milestone, whether it’s your first free weekend getaway or your dream family vacation.
Our life: While travel will look different this year for us, we’re still in the game. We may or may not accumulate more points than normal, but regardless, I’ll always be prioritizing how I’m spending and applying for cards to maximize.
There are travel rewards for every budget in the points + miles game so don’t be alarmed if you have a low budget. Spending less can still yield high savings in travel when it comes to earning points!
