Changes

=Notes before you begin=

*This list is only for cards that provide rewards that can be turned into cash (in the form of a check or statement credit). I prefer this system to rewards points that can only be used for, say, hotel stays or flights, because cash is king and more flexible. If you need to pull out your rewards to pay for an emergency you can. If you need to pull it out for Christmas presents or a down payment on a car or to fund the new TV you've been saving up for, you can.

*'''This list is intended for those who will pay off their balance EVERY MONTH.''' If you carry a balance and get hit with an interest payment you will negate a lot of cashback. If you do it repeatedly you will lose more than you gain.

*#Pay off your full statement balance every month. You can even setup AutoPay to ensure you never miss a payment.

*# (This is what I do.) You can set yourself a calendar reminder to pay off all of your credit cards every 1-2 weeks (or some other interval that is less than the typical monthly period). This ensures that you don't carry a balance. It also helps keep your checking account "accurate". When you're funneling charges through credit cards, but looking at your checking account to know how much "spending power" you have you can get tricked by the balance on the credit cards not being reflected in balance of your checking account. By paying them off more frequently you keep your checking account more up to date.

*There are two strategies on how to use your rewards/points/cashback

*#Let the points sit in their respective pots at each credit card's site until you're ready to use them. This has 2 advantages: