Credit Card Rewards Growth of Your Average Spender

Credit cards that reward users for their usual spends are awesome! Using credit cards is a great way to optimize spend and earn rewards while doing so. However, keep in mind that this strategy is only for those who can pay off the total balance of your bill in full each month. If you carry revolving debt, this is not for you.

So, my fellow readers know by now how my typical expenses look like. I’m not an extravagant spender but more of the frugal type. So, how does one of average person who tries to optimize spending using credit cards do realistically?

First off, let’s look at the new cards I added in the 6-month period as well as the third quarter rewards category schedule for all cards.

 

New Cards Added

American Express Blue Cash Everyday

Wells Fargo Propel American Express

 

Cashback Schedule for 3rd Quarter 

July 1,2019 through September 30, 2019

I love when credit cards offer the 5% cashback on Paypal transactions. You can often stack coupons, promo codes, on top of that deal and save big.

One of the great things about the US Bank Cash+ Visa cards is that you have a wide variety of options in category to choose from for the 5%. Usually I would choose utilities or cellphone bills for the 5% but due to some current churning, I left this open for the moment.

Chase freedom is offering 5% on Gas! This one is for you commuters! Too bad I don’t drive as much anymore.

Looks like restaurant spends will be going on Discover Card for many of you this quarter.

 

Credit Card Earnings

Here is the complete breakdown of how much rewards have accumulated since January of 2019.

American Express Blue Cash. This card was successfully churned for $275.

Citi Costco Business Visa. My rebate check came out to $95.29.

Fidelity Rewards Visa. Currently churning for surprise promo offer of 2000 points ($20) for $1,350 in spend by July 31, 2019. One of the reasons why I love this card is they have these random offers for additional cashback bonuses on top of your 2% cashback. They email you the offer and you simply opt in by clicking on the link to participate.

Orbitz Rewards Visa. Using Orbitz in combination with their credit card provides some decent cashback. Not for all hotel deals but quite a few. I used the rewards in the amount of $95.35 during the road trip to Yellowstone.

Wells Fargo Propel American Express. Currently in the process of churning this card for $300. Spend target is $3,000 in a 3 month period.

 

Conclusion

The last time I checked back in January of 2019, total credit card rewards were $1,247.89.

Total as of end of June 2019, comes to $1,394.14. That’s a gain of 11.7%!

If I total all gains including the $467.64 in rewards I used, that comes to 49.2% increase!

How can you not love credit cards! They won’t make you rich but overtime they sure add up. Thanks for reading.