Isn't That Rich Podcast

If you're ready to stop leaving points on the table and start turning your everyday expenses into free vacations, this post is for you. In our second episode of the Isn’t That Rich credit card series, we dove into how to truly maximize your rewards—strategically and without going into debt. From signup bonuses to referral perks to shopping portals, we covered the best ways to turn your normal spending into serious rewards.

Start with the Signup Bonus

Let’s begin with the easiest and most exciting way to earn a big pile of points fast: the signup bonus. Most credit cards offer a generous bonus when you open a new card and spend a certain amount—often within the first three months. For example, one of us recently opened the Chase Sapphire Preferred and is working toward a 100,000-point bonus for spending $5,000 in that initial window.

Just remember: your clock starts the day you're approved, not when the card arrives in the mail. And to be safe, spend at least 10% over the required amount. Returns and pending transactions might disqualify you from the bonus if you land just shy of the spend. Don’t let $4,999 be the number that haunts you.

How to Find the Best Credit Card Offers

Not all signup bonuses are created equal—and not all are visible to the public. Many of the biggest bonuses are sent through targeted email promotions, so it pays to opt in to promotional emails from card issuers, airlines, and hotel loyalty programs. We recommend creating a separate email just for these offers so they don’t clutter your personal or work inbox. These emails are often where the best deals live, not on the public-facing websites.

Be Strategic About Your Spending

Once you have your card, you’ll need to spend strategically to hit that bonus. Think of large, necessary expenses: property taxes, insurance premiums, home or car maintenance, medical bills, or daycare tuition. You can also prepay utility or internet bills, or even buy holiday gifts early.

If you’re $500 short of the spend requirement, buy a Visa gift card or a few retailer gift cards you know you’ll use later. You’re not creating new expenses—just shifting when and how you pay for them.

Adding an authorized user is another way to reach your spend goal faster. Their purchases will count toward your bonus threshold, but be sure to pay it off in full to avoid interest charges.

Don’t Overlook Referral Bonuses

After you’ve claimed your signup bonus, keep the momentum going by referring others. Many cards offer referral bonuses, allowing you and your friend to earn extra points when they sign up using your link. But be sure to check the terms—some issuers cap the number of referral points you can earn in a year, and some might even send a 1099 tax form if the rewards are high enough.

Choose the Right Card for Your Lifestyle

Before applying for a new card, evaluate your own spending habits. Track three to six months of expenses and identify where your money goes. If you’re constantly buying groceries or dining out, a card that rewards those categories will serve you better than a travel-heavy card.

Labeling your cards with reminders like “groceries only” or “restaurants only” can help keep things straight. And if you’re just getting started, applying for one or two cards a year is a solid, conservative approach. For the more adventurous, three to four new cards annually can be manageable if you're highly organized.

Understand the Impact on Your Credit Score

Each time you open a new card, it triggers a hard credit inquiry, which can slightly drop your score—usually only by a few points. But in many cases, your score will recover quickly, especially if you pay off your balance and lower your credit utilization.

If you're planning to apply for a mortgage or other big loan soon, it’s probably best to hold off on any new credit cards until after that process is complete.

Bonus Categories: Where the Real Magic Happens

To really rack up points, take advantage of cards that offer higher multipliers in certain spending categories. Flights and hotels often earn 3x to 5x points. Rideshares, cruises, parking, and other travel-related costs may qualify too. Dining and groceries are popular categories with strong rewards, and some cards even offer points for streaming services, gas stations, pharmacies, and online shopping.

If you’re a business owner, look for business credit cards that offer bonuses for spending on ads, software, or shipping.

Use Gift Cards to Multiply Your Points

Here’s a genius tip: If a card gives bonus points at grocery stores but you need to make a Home Depot run, buy a Home Depot gift card at the grocery store. You’ll earn bonus points on the grocery category while still getting what you need from the hardware store. This works with any retailer—Target, Starbucks, Southwest Airlines, Amazon—you name it.

Make Sure Transactions Are Categorized Correctly

Sometimes, merchants are miscategorized, which means you may only earn base-level points when you should be earning a bonus. Review your statements regularly and call the credit card company if you see an error. Many times, they’ll recategorize the transaction and award you the points you deserve.

Shop Through Portals to Stack Your Points

Most credit cards offer shopping portals that multiply your earnings when you shop with specific retailers. These portals are one of the best-kept secrets in the points game. Some offer up to 9x points for brands like Lululemon or 7x for Alo Yoga. You can still use discount codes, and it’s usually just a couple of extra clicks.

Want to take it further? Use a browser extension like Rakuten. It notifies you when a retailer offers bonus points and helps you activate them instantly. You can stack the credit card portal bonus with your card’s regular bonus category—sometimes doubling or tripling the points you’d earn otherwise.

Stack Points Like a Pro (and Book a Free Trip)

Let’s say you’re booking a $10,000 group trip for friends. Use your travel card through a portal offering 5x points, and you’re looking at 50,000 points. If your card also gives 5x for travel, that’s another 50,000 points. You just earned 100,000 points from one purchase—and your friends are paying you back.

Just make sure they actually do.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?

Absolutely—if you’re strategic. Credit card rewards aren’t free money, but they are powerful tools when you know how to use them. From the signup bonus to category spending, portals, and referrals, you can earn serious rewards without spending a dime more than you already planned to.

Pay your balances in full. Track your categories. Plan your spending ahead. And most importantly, pick the card that works for your lifestyle, not someone else’s.

In the next episode, we’ll show you how to turn those points into real-world travel—booking flights, hotels, and making the most of what you’ve earned.