Your summer credit card reward guide

Our inside scoop on getting the best rewards [  Advertiser disclosure]( [View in browser  ]( [Bankrate®]( Are you making the most out of your credit card? With a plethora of perks, rewards, bonuses and more, knowing your card rewards program inside and out – and how to use it – can help you save money, from paying your grocery bills to funding your next vacation. We have a newsletter full of tips, hacks and more to help you maximize your card rewards. All the best credit card rewards, decoded How to max out your rewards (and not your balance) [alt goes here]( Credit card bonuses are a given if you use plastic (or metal, if you're fancy.) However, not all rewards are created equally. Some cards have out-of-the-park perks for cash back and store bonuses – which, while sweet, might not make sense if you travel a lot and want to get extra mileage for airline points. What card is right for you depends on your lifestyle, spending habits and the rewards you want. However, Bankrate is here to [help you with your search](. What kind of card is best for me? With hundreds of options out there, it's hard to narrow it down. When choosing a rewards card, you should consider: • The rewards for your needs. Will frequent flier miles fund your next holiday, or will they collect dust in your account? Will you use cash back to save on your bills, or will points get you more [bang for your buck]( • Your spending. Look at your budget (spending apps are helpful here!) and see which categories you drop the most cash on. If you're a foodie, for example, a restaurant and food delivery card might be [best for you](. • The card requirements. It's a good idea to check if you prequalify for the card – and if there are any fees, sign-on bonus minimums and fine print [to consider](. Where can I find the best reward cards? Once you've narrowed down the kind of card you want, it's time to card shop! Bankrate offers breakdowns for the [best card rewards]( for travel, cash back, low credit and more categories. What next? You may already be planning how you'll use your new card, but before you do, check out the rest of the Bankrate Brief for exclusive tips and the best ways to make the most out of your rewards. Ted’s take “Your lifestyle changes and the market does too, so it’s important to compare cards from time to time. If you’re using the same card year after year, you’re probably missing out on valuable benefits.” [Ted Rossman, Credit Card Senior Industry Analyst]( When to redeem your points for maximum value The key is in the timing [alt goes here]( Are you sitting on a pile of card rewards? There is a right and a wrong time to use them – and it might not be when you think. Using your points or miles might cover your hotel, for example, but it might affect your path to elite status. Read more to learn when and when not to [spend your card rewards](. [Read article]( How to get the most out of a sign-on bonus Gotta work for those bonus points [alt goes here]( Sign-on bonuses can be a sweet way to snag a bunch of rewards off the bat. However, that doesn't mean you can just sign up for a card and forget about it. Many card providers require you to hit a certain spending minimum to qualify for your sign-on offer. Here's how you can hit your minimums – and [make the most]( out of your bonuses. [Read article]( Bankrate’s top credit card tips Shh! Some cards have secret bonuses that you might not know about. See if your card has a [hidden perk](. Want an easy way to earn rewards? You can still cash in. Here are 5 credit cards for people who don’t want to deal with [category bonuses](. We found a unique hack to maximize your cash back rewards. [Read it here](. Did you know? Not only can a credit card reward you for spending, it can reward you for spending responsibly. [Check out our picks]( for cards that reward credit building, timely balance payments and more. I charged a cruise on my credit card, and I’m still reaping rewards How one writer made a cash back bonus work for her [alt goes here]( Nicole Dieker was hankering for a vacation but didn't quite have the cash flow to make it happen. So, she got herself a new credit card with a 0 percent intro APR, booked her ticket, and raked in the sweet cash back rewards. By the time the intro period ended, she could pay off the cost in full – and got to keep the bonuses. [Read her story here](. [Read article]( Getty Image illustrations are used for editorial purposes in this newsletter. Below is credit to contributors: • Prostock-Studio/Getty Images • d3sign/Getty Images • fizkes/Getty Images • valentinrussanov/Getty Images [fb]( [insta]( [in]( [tw]( [yt]( [tiktok]( © 2023 Bankrate, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Bankrate, LLC • 16 45 Palm Beach Lakes Boul evard • Su ite 12 00 • West Palm Beach, FL 33401 You received this update at {EMAIL} because you have a Bankrate account. You may unsubscribe from this email [here](. View our [privacy policy](.