Get Bonus Rewards Points for Buying Gift Cards

If you have a rewards card, the points you earn often depend on where you use it. For example, my card earns double points at restaurants and gas stations. Some double up at grocery stores. If you want double points at other retailers, however, you can make that happen by buying gift cards. US News explains:

There are credit cards that offer varying amounts of rewards and cash back depending on where you choose to shop, rather than on what you actually buy. And since some retailers sell branded gift cards to other stores, you can be earning rewards on purchases that you won't get if you used a credit card at those stores directly.

If you get double points at gas stations or grocery stores, you'll have no trouble finding gift cards to use elsewhere. So long as you're planning on making a purchase at those stores, there's really no downside to buying the cards because you'll probably find yourself at the grocery store or gas station from time to time anyway. If you have a credit card for a store that sells gift cards, like Amazon.com, you're definitely in luck because you might be able to earn even more for outside purchases. It's probably not worth the hassle if you're making a special trip, but definitely a trick to remember when convenient.