6 Credit Strategies to Help You Financially Prepare for the Holidays (2026)

Although we just welcomed fall, it’s time to start planning for the winter holidays. But, if thoughts of holiday shopping make you sweat and feel anxious, you’re not alone.

According to a survey from the investment firm Principal Financial Group, 52% of people feel financially stressed from holiday spending. The holiday season is an expensive time of year thanks to everything from buying gifts for family, friends, and co-workers to spending on decorations, travel, and playing host to holiday guests. But you don’t have to let money worries ruin your upcoming holiday this joyful season.

With a little extra planning, you can manage your spending and stretch your budget further. Here’s a look at six ways you can start using your credit card to prep for the holidays and alleviate the financial burden this season brings.

Credit card churning — the practice of opening new credit cards to take advantage of sign-up rewards and bonus offers — is an easy way to earn free money and rewards that can be used to offset the cost of holiday purchases.

For instance, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ Card offers new cardholders an easily attainable signup bonus, though slightly smaller in total, and there’s no annual fee.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

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Chase Freedom Flex℠

4.8/5.0

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★★★★★ 4.8/5.0

• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.24% - 27.99%.
• No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
• Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.

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Intro (Purchases) 0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months

Intro (Transfers) 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months

Regular APR 19.24% - 27.99% Variable

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Good/Excellent

Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Freedom Flex℠ was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.

Aside from the sizable signup bonus, new cardholders will enjoy competitive cash back rewards as well as a promotional APR.

However, this strategy only works when you use the cards wisely and only charge what you can afford to pay off in full so you don’t incur interest fees or get stuck in debt.

A 2017 Bankrate survey found that 31% of cardholders have never redeemed their rewards. If you fall into this statistic, it’s time to figure out your redemption plan and how it can help you save over the holidays.

First, look at the terms of your credit card’s redemption policy to see if you qualify for bonus points, miles, or cash back when you redeem for statement credit or a deposit into an affiliated bank account.

Alternatively, look at gift card redemption options with retailers you plan to shop at. Some credit cards like Chase offer discounts on retail cards when redeeming points.

For instance, Chase Ultimate Rewards offers 10% to 20% off select retailer gift cards. Depending on how long it will take to receive your gift card in the mail, you may want to redeem ahead of the shopping season so you get it by Black Friday to take full advantage of retailers’ holiday discounts.

Select credit cards offer rotating bonus reward categories in which you can earn extra points or cash back at specific retailers, restaurants, or in general categories such as gas and groceries. What many people don’t realize is that you must opt-in to get these extra rewards.

The Discover it® Cash Back card is one such option with quarterly rotating bonus reward categories.

Discover it® Cash Back

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Discover it® Cash Back

4.9/5.0

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Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

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★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

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• INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Redeem cash back for any amount. No annual fee.
• Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
• Terms and conditions apply.

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Intro (Purchases) 0% Intro APR for 15 months

Intro (Transfers) 0% Intro APR for 15 months

Regular APR 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Excellent/Good

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Sign in to your credit card’s app for easy access to learn about what’s being offered and sign up to take advantage of those bonuses. Now is a great time to earn extra rewards and save them for the winter holidays to offset gift and travel costs!

You can earn exclusive cardmember discounts and savings of around 20% through your credit card company’s online shopping portals. Frequently referred to as a credit card bonus mall, this is basically a website that offers affiliate links to several online retailers and may offer additional rewards — potentially more than you typically earn — for every dollar spent at a particular retailer.

You can view participating merchants and see the available discounts or bonus rewards once you log in to the credit card’s online shopping portal. If you have multiple credit cards, review discount and rewards options across each platform to figure out where you can get the biggest discount.

Keep in mind that some retailers may not accept additional coupons or discount codes, and you will not earn bonus rewards on shipping charges or taxes, only the cost of the merchandise.

You run the risk of going into debt and carrying a revolving balance that racks up interest fees if you wait to buy all your holiday gifts just before Christmas and don’t have enough money saved to pay off the full balance. Avoid this financially devastating scenario by spreading out purchases over several weeks.

Retailers will begin rolling out pre-Black Friday deals in early November. This is a good time to begin buying presents for various loved ones on your shopping list. This will help alleviate the financial pressure you may feel come December and help you better manage your cash flow.

If you have no choice but to use credit for purchases that you’ll need several months to pay off, see if you qualify for a card with a promotional 0% APR period. These cards allow you to make purchases and incur no interest fees for up to 15 months.

BankAmericard® credit card

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BankAmericard® credit card

4.6/5.0

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Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

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★★★★★ 4.6/5.0

at Bank Of America'ssecure website

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• New! 0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 14.99% - 25.99% will apply. A 5% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
• No annual fee.
• No penalty APR. Paying late won't automatically raise your interest rate (APR). Other account pricing and terms apply.
• This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

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Intro (Purchases) 0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for purchases

Intro (Transfers) 0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 5% of the amount of each transaction)

Regular APR 14.99% - 25.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Excellent/Good

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

4.9/5.0

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Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

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★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

at Bank Of America'ssecure website

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• $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice. You’ll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. After the first year from account opening, you’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
• Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.
• No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Select your card design option when you apply – the Customized Cash Rewards design, or the limited-time FIFA World Cup 2026™ design.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.49% - 27.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
• This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

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Intro (Purchases) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Intro (Transfers) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 5%)

Regular APR 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Excellent/Good

Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.

Citi Strata℠ Card

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Citi Strata℠ Card

4.8/5.0

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Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

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★★★★★ 4.8/5.0

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• Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
• Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
• Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
• Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
• No Annual Fee

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Intro (Purchases) 0% 15 months on Purchases

Intro (Transfers) 0% 15 months on Balance Transfers

Regular APR 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Good/Excellent

See Rates & Fees »

Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.

Just be sure to pay the total balance off before the promotional period ends.

Whether you’re going out to lunch with a couple of co-workers or meeting up with a group of friends for dinner, you can rack up rewards on your credit card faster by offering to cover the bill for various expenses on group outings.

Offer to pay for things like shared rides to restaurant meals and group activities with your credit card and ask everyone to quickly pay you back through a digital transfer app like Zelle or Venmo. This gives you the opportunity to rack up cash back or travel points faster without spending extra money out of your own pocket. You can then redeem those rewards for holiday gifts or flights home to visit family!

Employing one or more of the above credit strategies can help maximize the value of your credit card, and, hopefully, reduce some of the financial strain so you can relax this holiday season.