5 Holiday Shopping Hacks to Save Money with Points, Rewards, and Gift Cards
The holiday season is here, and while gift-giving is a beautiful way to spread joy, it can quickly strain your wallet. The good news is, you don’t have to overspend to check off your gift list. This year, I’ve challenged myself to see how many gifts I can buy using what I already have before spending any money. If you want to do more with less like me, here are 5 holiday shopping hacks to help you save money using points, rewards, and gift cards.
5 Holiday Shopping Hacks to Save Money with Points, Rewards, and Gift Cards
1. Redeem Credit Card Points or Miles
If you’ve been collecting credit card points or airline miles, now is the perfect time to cash them in. Many credit cards offer options to redeem points for gift cards, merchandise, or even statement credits.
- Gift Cards: Redeem points for gift cards from popular retailers and use them to buy gifts—or gift the cards themselves!
- Shop with Points: Some credit cards allow you to shop directly with points at major online retailers like Amazon.
- Travel Rewards: Planning to gift an experience like a trip or a staycation? Use travel points or airline miles to offset the cost.
2. Use App Rewards
Your everyday apps may be hiding rewards that can help you save during the holidays.
- Retail Apps – Apps like Starbucks, Target, and grocery store apps often let you redeem rewards for holiday items like stocking stuffers or groceries for festive meals.
- Cashback Apps – Apps like Rakuten, Ibotta, or Fetch Rewards can turn your regular spending into holiday savings. For instance, I recently realized I had 82,000 Fetch Rewards points worth several hundred dollars in gift cards!
- Loyalty Programs – Stores like Sephora, Ulta, and Kohl’s offer loyalty programs with points or store credit that can be used toward holiday shopping.
3. Put Unused Gift Cards to Work
Are those gift cards in your drawer collecting dust? They’re your secret weapon for holiday shopping!
- Shop with Them – Use unused gift cards to purchase gifts directly.
- Combine Balances – If you have multiple cards with small balances, combine them to make a larger purchase.
- Regift Thoughtfully – A gift card to a store your recipient loves can be just as meaningful as a handpicked item—just make sure it’s something they’ll truly appreciate!
4. Use Apps to Earn Rebates
Rebate apps and browser extensions can help you get money back on holiday purchases.
- Rakuten – Earn cashback when shopping online at participating retailers. Look out for holiday bonus cashback offers!
- Honey – This browser extension automatically applies discount codes at checkout.
- Ibotta – Upload receipts or shop through the app to earn rebates on groceries, gifts, and more.
- RetailMeNot – Find cashback offers and coupons for your favorite stores.
- CapitalOne Shopping – Automatically applies coupons and compares prices while you shop online.
For even bigger discounts, combine rebate savings with gift cards or credit card points!
5. Stack Your Savings
To maximize your holiday budget, combine multiple strategies:
- Use a gift card redeemed with credit card points to shop through a cashback app like Rakuten.
- Pay with a rewards credit card to earn more points on your purchases.
- Apply store loyalty coupons for additional discounts.
The holidays don’t have to drain your wallet. By using these 5 holiday shopping hacks to help you save money using points, rewards, and gift cards, you can give meaningful gifts without overspending. With a little creativity and planning, you’ll be amazed at how much you can save. Happy shopping—and happy saving!
Be inspired,
