9 weird ways to use a credit card and max out your rewards

Core Insights - The article discusses unconventional ways to maximize credit card rewards, suggesting that creative spending can lead to significant benefits. Group 1: Creative Credit Card Usage - Purchasing gift cards at grocery stores can yield bonus rewards if the card offers high rewards for grocery purchases [2] - Large purchases can be optimized by using cards with welcome bonuses and 0% APR promotions, enhancing overall value [3][4] - Using credit cards for charitable donations can also earn rewards, provided the organization accepts card payments [10][11] Group 2: Financial Strategies - Retention offers from credit card issuers can incentivize customers to keep their accounts open, often involving waived fees or bonus offers [13][14] - Paying rent with a credit card can generate rewards, especially if no convenience fee is charged [16][17] - Using credit cards for tax payments can be beneficial if the rewards rate exceeds the processing fee [18][19] Group 3: Investment Opportunities - Credit cards can be used to purchase gift cards for stocks through services like Stockpile, allowing for investment in individual stocks or ETFs [21][22] - The article emphasizes the importance of managing credit card debt and suggests using 0% APR cards for larger purchases to avoid interest [24]