Summary
Your comprehensive guide to navigating the holidays – from earning more rewards, to saving on holiday travel and staying in your budget.
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Holiday shopping season is now in full swing – with all the stress that comes with it. Lucky for you, we’ve assembled a comprehensive list of everything you need to know to navigate holiday shopping deals, earning rewards and getting the most out of your budget.
From the latest limited-time deals and promotions that can save you on holiday gifts to credit card tips for navigating holiday travel, check out our advice for making the most of your money.
How to save money during the holiday season
Best holiday shopping credit cards and tips
Needless to say, you are likely going to spend a lot more than usual during the holiday shopping season. With all those extra dollars going out, you can end up with a few more coming in by leveraging credit card rewards.
Whether you prefer to rack up cash back or points, be sure you are choosing a card that offers plenty of earning potential. Depending on where you prefer to do your shopping, we recommend a card that rewards department store, superstore or online purchases.
Check out our favorite credit cards for the holiday season at a glance and click on the links below for further advice on how to save this holiday shopping season.
Best credit cards for holiday shopping
- Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card – Best for online shopping
- Discover it® Cash Back – Best for Amazon
- Chase Freedom – Best for department stores
- Citi® Double Cash Card – Best for shopping around
- Citi Rewards+SM Card – Best for small purchases
- Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card – Best for flexible travel rewards
How to save on holiday travel using points
The holidays are a busy time for traveling, with hundreds making the trek to see their friends or family. It can also be one of the most expensive times of year to purchase a ticket – making it an ideal time to turn to credit card rewards instead. Check out our guide to holiday travel using points or miles.
Holiday budgeting tips
Are you worried about spending more than your budget this holiday season? You are not alone. A recent Splitit survey found that 42 percent of U.S. consumers were worried about meeting their holiday budget. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with the latest tips for avoiding overspending.
Limited-time holiday offers, credit card deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Holiday shopping can be expensive, to say the least. Luckily, there are plenty of great promotions designed to help stretch your money a bit further – or rack up a few extra rewards along the way. Read more for our ongoing list of the best limited-time offers and promotions via shopping portals, hotel or airline rewards programs and more.
Giving this holiday season
The holidays put many of us in a giving mood, sharing our blessings with those less fortunate. Luckily, many credit cards allow you to donate your points, miles or cash back – or fund a donation on your credit card. Check out our guide to donating with your credit card at the link above.
Beating holiday shopping debt
It’s an unfortunate reality: holiday shopping can lead to significant debt in the new year. And more people than you might expect are willing to take on more debt to get through the holidays.
Sixty-one percent of those who carry a card balance are willing to add to their deficit this holiday season, compared to 30 percent of cardholders who do not currently have credit card debt, according to a new CreditCards.com poll.
To avoid getting bogged down with charges you can’t pay off, make a holiday spending plan early and take steps to avoid debt.
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The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.
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