This Credit Card Lifehack Saves Me Cash Every Single Day
This simple lifehack helps me maximize credit cards rewards programs for every purchase I make.
It’s official: cash is dead. Long live credit cards! Seriously, though, with credit and debit cards making up 75% of all spending, the competition between banks is fierce. Marketing tactics include everything from price drop refunds and airline miles to cash-back rewards. And with all things, when competition is fierce, we, the consumers, win!
Like many of you, having multiple cards in my pocket means I often forget which card has the best rewards program. Fed up with me leaving cash on the table day after day, my wife came up with this ingenious lifehack to ensure I always use the right card to maximize savings on each purchase.
What about you? What’s your favorite lifehack? Drop a comment below and share it here with our community.
We will be selecting the very best and writing up a new series on lifehacks shortly! I would love to get some inspiration from our readers!
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CAnative
November 27, 2016 at 5:33 am
Been there, done that. Works well except must stay on top of changing rewards programs. This month, Starbucks 5% on BofA Visa; next month no more Starbucks on BofA Visa but yes more on Citi Visa. Etc.
Steve Krause
December 4, 2016 at 1:53 pm
At least for the cards I have, it’s pretty static overall, almost a reminder – “Getting Fuel! Use the Citi Card!”.
Thnx for the comment @Canative
-S
Nan D
November 27, 2016 at 3:54 pm
I believe my method’s pretty easy to maintain and use. I use a simple Memo app on my Android phone. I created a category SHOPPING DISCOUNTS and in the text, list all my credit cards (no numbers of course) and stores I frequent. For example:
MyCard1 – 3% gas, 2% grocery, 1% all other
MyCard2 – Oct-Dec -5% Home Improvement, Restaurants
MyCard3 -3% Department, 2% Home Improvement, 1% Drug Stores
LUNCH X -10% on Tuesdays
SEW-STORE -5% 1st Monday ea month
I’m not the kind of person to go to a store or buy an item only because it’s a deal. But if I’m on my way to the register in any store, I check this list on my phone and know which card to present.
Steve Krause
December 4, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Nice hack! Thnx for the tip. Nice thing about keeping the list on your phone is that makes it easy to edit.
Thnx for the comment @Nan.
-Steve
Nan D
December 5, 2016 at 10:39 am
Thanks. works for me!
N Shah
December 1, 2016 at 2:08 pm
I do not like multiple cards with different pay by dates and revolving cash back offers. I prefer to use only one card with fixed 2% cash back on all purchases (and NO annual fee).
Richard
December 2, 2022 at 8:41 am
I use the smallest yellow post-it pad and write the cashback amount and description and stick it to each card. I can see at a glance what each card does. I did not come up with this idea but another Groovy Post reader did.
I also love the Memo App idea too!!!
Steve Krause
August 24, 2023 at 8:14 am
Thanks for the tips Richard. How do you keep the Yello Post-it from coming off the card?
Frank D
October 2, 2023 at 11:07 am
My system is pretty simple:
Use 5% Gas CC for fuel.
Use the 2% CB card at all times and 1.5% as backup (sometimes due to travel or new stores, there is a (delayed) security block )
Use store cards at their location, which cards we only have if there is a cash back or other benefit that we want.
I stopped with the special rotating promos of temporary 5% somewhere on a car, because either we have that store card that gives 5% – or we may not shop there or maybe every so minimally and infrequently.