Have you ever wonder how credit card stacking to double or even triple your savings. It’s like having a supercharged savings strategy at your fingertips!
In this post, we’ll reveal three powerful tips to help you unlock these hidden benefits, focusing on credit card racking to make the most out of every dollar you spend.
Get ready to discover how these secret tips will take your shopping game to the next level, so you can save big while enjoying what you love!
Table of Contents
1. Cash Back Credit Cards + Rakuten: Maximize Your Online Shopping
If you love online shopping (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?), then this first tip is going to be a powerful move for you. One of my favorite combinations is using a credit card stacking strategy by pairing a cash back credit card with cash back platforms like Rakuten or Ibotta. But what does that mean exactly, and how can you make the most of it?
Step 1: Sign Up for a Cash Back Credit Card
If you don’t already have a cash back credit card, it might be worth considering one. Cash back credit cards are designed to give you a percentage of your spending back as rewards.
The exact percentage varies depending on the card and the category of your purchase, but it can range from 1% to 5% or more. Some cards even offer rotating categories where you can earn bonus cash back in specific areas like groceries, dining, or travel.
Some options to consider might include:
- Chase Freedom Flex: Offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
- Discover it Cash Back: Offers 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter (requires activation) and 1% on all other purchases.
The key to credit card stacking is choosing the right cash back card that align with your spending habits. If you find yourself frequently buying groceries, look for a card that offers bonus cash back in that category. If you’re always on the road, a card with travel rewards might be more beneficial.
Step 2: Sign Up for Cash Back Platforms
A cash back platform is a free website and app that offers cash back when you shop online at thousands of stores. Signing up is simple—just create an account, and you’re ready to start saving.
Once you’ve signed up, browse through the platform’s list of partner stores. You’ll find major retailers like Walmart, Macy’s, and Amazon, as well as specialty shops like Sephora and Etsy.
The cash back percentage varies by season and can be as low as 1% and as high as 20%, depending on the brand you’re ordering from.
Step 3: Combine for Maximum Savings
Here’s where the magic happens! Once you’re ready to shop, head to your favorite cash back platform and search for the store where you plan to make a purchase. Click on the store link, and the platform will automatically track your purchase. You’ll earn cash back on your platform account, and if you pay with a cash back credit card, you’ll double the rewards—cash back from the platform and additional rewards from your card issuer. It’s a win-win for savvy shoppers!
For example, let’s say the cash back platform is offering 5% cash back at Target. You click through the platform, spend $100, and the platform credits your account with $5. If you pay with a cash back credit card that also offers 5% on general purchases, you’ll score another $5 back from your card issuer. That’s a total of $10 saved on a $100 purchase—an effective 10% discount on everything you bought!
And here’s the best part: Cash back platforms often run double cash back promotions, where the cash back rate at select stores gets doubled. If you time your purchases right, you can maximize your savings and stretch your budget even further!
This credit card stacking strategy is my favorite. Since half of my spending, aside from rent, goes toward groceries and I love to save for travel, I’ve been using the Amex Cobalt. It allows me to earn 5X reward points on groceries, which I can convert into British Airways Avios for air tickets.
2. Store Loyalty Programs + Credit Card Points: Unlock Bigger Rewards with Credit Card Stacking
Store loyalty programs have been around for ages, but they’ve gotten smarter—and so should you! These programs reward you for shopping at a particular store regularly.
The more you shop, the more points or discounts you earn. When combined with the right credit card, these loyalty programs can lead to significant savings.
Step 1: Sign Up for Store Loyalty Programs
Many retailers offer loyalty programs that give you points or discounts for being a regular shopper. These programs are usually free to join, and they often come with perks like exclusive discounts, early access to sales, or even birthday bonuses.
Some of the most popular store loyalty programs include:
- Walgreens Balance Rewards: Earn points for every purchase, which can be redeemed for discounts on future purchases. You can also earn bonus points for healthy activities like walking or weighing yourself.
- Starbucks Rewards: Earn stars for every purchase, which can be redeemed for free drinks and food. The more you spend, the more stars you earn, and the higher your membership level, the faster you accumulate rewards.
- Kroger Plus Card: Earn fuel points on grocery purchases, which can be redeemed for discounts on gas at Kroger fuel centers or Kroger’s partner fuel stations.
- Sephora Beauty Insider: Earn points on every purchase, which can be redeemed for deluxe samples, exclusive products, and even discounts.
Step 2: Use the Right Credit Card to Stack Rewards
To maximize your savings, use a rewards credit card that offers bonus points or cash back in the same category as your loyalty program.
For example, if you’re a Starbucks regular, use a credit card that offers bonus points for dining or groceries. This way, every time you make a purchase, you’re earning rewards from both the loyalty program and your credit card.
Let’s say you spend $50 at Walgreens. If you’re enrolled in the Walgreens Balance Rewards program, you might earn 500 points for that purchase. If you pay with a credit card that offers 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, you’ll also earn $1.50 back from your credit card issuer. That’s double the rewards for a single purchase, and if Walgreens happens to be offering bonus points on certain items, you’ll save even more.
Step 3: Stack Promotions and Discounts
Many store loyalty programs offer special promotions or bonus points on certain items or during certain times of the year. Keep an eye out for these promotions, and plan your purchases accordingly.
When you combine these promotions with the rewards from your credit card, you’re effectively stacking savings on top of savings.
For example, Walgreens often offers bonus points on specific products, like vitamins or beauty items. If you time your purchases to coincide with these promotions and pay with a rewards credit card, you’ll maximize your savings. You might even get a coupon at checkout for additional savings on your next purchase, creating a continuous loop of savings.
3. Coupons + Rebate Apps: A Savvy Shopper’s Secret Weapon for Savings
Coupons have long been a staple of savvy shopping, but when you combine them with rebate apps, you’re taking your savings to the next level. This strategy requires a bit of planning, but the results can be worth the effort.
Step 1: Collect Coupons
Start by collecting coupons for the items you plan to buy. You can find coupons in a variety of places, from newspapers and magazines to digital platforms like Coupons.com and the apps for specific stores. Many retailers also offer digital coupons that you can clip directly to your loyalty card, making it easier to track and redeem them.
Step 2: Use Rebate Apps
Rebate apps like Ibotta, Checkout 51, and Rakuten (which offers in-store cash back as well) are a great way to earn money back on your purchases. These apps work by offering cash back on specific items, which you can claim after you’ve made your purchase.
The process is simple: just select the offers you’re interested in, make your purchase, and upload your receipt to the app. The app will then credit your account with the cash back amount.
Step 3: Combine Coupons, Rebate Apps, and Credit Card Stacking
Here’s how you can double-dip on savings. Let’s say you have a coupon for $1 off a box of cereal. You go to the store, buy the cereal, and use your coupon at checkout. You pay $1 less than the regular price, but the savings don’t stop there.
After your purchase, open your rebate app and find the same cereal listed for a $1 rebate. Submit your receipt, and the app will credit your account with $1.
So, in this scenario, you’ve saved $2 on a single box of cereal—$1 from the coupon and $1 from the rebate. If you paid with a cash back credit card, you’ve saved even more, effectively triple-stacking your savings. Over time, these small savings can add up to big bucks.
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Final Thoughts: Every Little Bit Counts
Double or triple saving benefits might sound like a small win, but when you combine these credit card stacking strategies and apply them consistently, they can make a significant impact on your finances.
Whether it’s using a cash back credit card with cash back platforms, stacking loyalty program points with credit card rewards, or combining coupons with rebate apps, there’s always a way to make your money work harder for you.
The key to maximizing your savings is to be mindful of your spending and to take advantage of every opportunity to earn rewards. Ready to supercharge your savings? Start using these strategies today and watch your savings grow!
