Want to transform your credit card from just a payment method to a powerful savings tool? Imagine earning cashback on daily purchases, capitalising on exclusive discounts, leveraging unique offers, and even timing your big-ticket buys to get the most rewards. All this is possible when you know how to use your credit card smartly.

Ready to make your credit card deliver more value? Let’s explore some of the best credit card hacks to help you get started.

Choose a lifetime free credit card

Credit card fees can reduce your savings significantly. Annual fees, in particular, can add up over time, which makes your credit card less cost-effective. To avoid these charges, it’s wise to choose a lifetime free credit card that has no joining fees or annual fees. One such card is the IndusInd Bank Platinum RuPay Credit Card.

The IndusInd Bank Platinum RuPay Credit Card offers other benefits, including:

• Reward points: Get 2 reward points for every ₹100 you spend via UPI transactions and 1 reward point for every ₹100 spent on non-UPI purchases.
• Fuel savings: Benefit from a 1% waiver on fuel surcharges at petrol stations across India and cut down on your travel costs.
• Comprehensive insurance: Enjoy travel insurance that covers lost baggage, passport loss, and missed flights.
• Top-notch security: ‘Total Protect’ safeguards you from unauthorised transactions and counterfeit fraud up to your card’s credit limit.

Apply for this RuPay credit card online and enjoy the world of savings and convenience!

Use dedicated payment portals

Dedicated payment portals, often linked with specific credit cards, are platforms where you can make transactions and earn extra rewards or cashback. These portals have partnerships with various merchants and offer additional perks over what you would receive if you paid directly through the merchant’s website.

By regularly using these portals for your online shopping, you can collect rewards faster and also get access to exclusive deals and promotions.

Utilise cashback offers

With cashback offers, a fraction of what you spend is directly refunded to your account. To leverage these offers effectively, you should first identify your key spending categories, like groceries, dining, fuel, travel, or online shopping.

This will help you choose the best credit card for saving money and turn daily purchases into opportunities to earn extra cash.

Capitalise on specific discounts and deals

Many banks offer special discounts and deals for their cardholders during festive seasons or end-of-year sales. These offers can lead to significant savings, but they often expire quickly, so it’s important to act fast. Hence, check your credit card’s offers page from time to time and sign up for notifications. By timing your big-ticket purchases to align with these discounts, you can save even more on transactions you were already planning to make.

Capitalise on refer and earn programs

Refer and earn programs benefit both the referrer and the newly referred customers. These programs usually reward you with bonus points, cashback, or even fee waivers once your referred person is approved and starts using their card. These programs can be a wise way to earn extra rewards without any additional spending.

Pay in full and on time

One of the most important credit card tips is to pay off your balance in full and on time every month. This practice can help you avoid interest charges and late fees, which can offset any rewards/discounts/offers earned through your spending. Timely payments also help maintain a healthy credit score, which is non-negotiable for securing better financial deals in the future.

Key takeaways

As you can see, with some smart credit card hacks, you can save more money. These include choosing a lifetime free credit card, using dedicated payment portals for transactions, capitalising on cashback offers, taking advantage of specific discounts, and using refer and earn programs. Just make sure to pay your balance in full and on time so that unnecessary interest charges and fees do not compromise your money-saving efforts.