Bank card assertion credit: Ideas for holding observe

I am turning a brand new leaf.

As I’ve added extra premium playing cards to my award technique, my pockets has expanded. Prime-tier journey merchandise have been elevating annual charges and including extra assertion credit all year long, and I’ve reached the purpose the place it is time to get organized. I do not need to miss out on worth as a result of I let the months slip away.

I’ve perks to maintain observe of on my American Categorical Platinum Card®, Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card, Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card and Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and charges).

Relying on the profit, an announcement credit score could reset every calendar yr, on my account anniversary, biannually, quarterly or month-to-month. It is lots to maintain observe of — and that is why I leaned on my fellow TPGers to assist me out. A few of my colleagues efficiently handle greater than 20 rewards playing cards.

If you happen to’re balancing a number of playing cards with time-sensitive assertion credit, you are not alone. Listed here are 4 ideas that will help you — and me — get on observe with our card perks.

Log in to on-line account trackers

Whereas I have not but hopped on the spreadsheet prepare or arrange recurring app notifications, I do verify in on my card accounts weekly and keep watch over the profit trackers for every of my playing cards.

This technique is not good, as it could take wherever from just a few days to even weeks for sure assertion credit to be mirrored in my account.

Nevertheless, I do admire how issuers, resembling American Categorical, finally replicate the precise greenback quantity I’ve spent towards a profit, together with how a lot I’ve left to spend to maximise it.

This technique is working for now, however as my life turns into busier (and I add extra playing cards to my pockets), I can see the necessity for different choices for monitoring my credit.

Associated: How lengthy does it take to obtain assertion credit from Amex, Capital One, Chase and Citi?

Make a spreadsheet

Award journey lovers have been making spreadsheets to maintain up with assertion credit, advantages, bonus classes and balances for years. Admittedly, it is a simple route that I hope to benefit from extra in 2026.

Fortunately, many TPGers have perfected their course of. Director of factors, miles and bank card content material Carly Helfand’s technique is streamlined. She splits up assertion credit into sections primarily based on the cardboard they’re discovered on, itemizing the quantity she will obtain and the way typically it is earned.

For example, within the Amex Platinum part of her spreadsheet, Carly has 4 $100 Resy credit listed out with “Q1,” “Q2,” “Q3” and “This fall” — designating the 4 as much as $100 quarterly assertion credit the Amex Platinum Card gives for purchases made with any eligible U.S. Resy restaurant.*

*Cardholders obtain as much as $400 per calendar yr; enrollment is required; no reservation is required.

She marks an “X” in a corresponding cell after an announcement credit score is used and checks her spreadsheet quarterly.

A spreadsheet is versatile, customizable and private, however it’s important to take time to verify in with it often. My New 12 months’s decision will likely be to ascertain a spreadsheet routine that works for me since this technique will not be one-size-fits-all.

Associated: Amex Platinum Card members: Make the most of your credit earlier than the tip of the yr

Set e-mail and calendar reminders

Generally, you want a fast pop-up to get your thoughts on observe.

Lead factors and miles author Katie Genter mentioned she makes use of just a few spreadsheets, however she additionally makes use of AwardWallet to ship out e-mail reminders when an announcement credit score she hasn’t used but is about to run out.

Contributing editor Matt Moffitt units recurring reminders every quarter in his Google Calendar for month-to-month, quarterly and biannual credit. This contains the as much as $75 quarterly Lululemon credit score for purchases at U.S. shops (excluding shops) and on-line on the Amex Platinum.**

**Cardholders obtain as much as $300 in assertion credit per calendar yr; enrollment is required.

These are ideas I can even get behind since I often use Google Calendar to maintain up with journey plans and appointments. Including in my easy-to-forget assertion credit needs to be seamless.

Associated: Don’t let credit go to waste: Your 2025 end-of-year bank card guidelines

Use an app

Matt updates a “grasp listing” of biannual and annual credit within the Notes app on his iPhone each time he spends one.

For instance, he has a be aware to make use of his Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card‘s as much as $200 biannual Hilton resort assertion credit score (as much as $400 in assertion credit per calendar yr on eligible purchases at Hilton resorts; enrollment is required) within the first half of 2026 since he is already used it for the second half of 2025.

Carly units up notifications on a to-do listing app known as TickTick to remind herself to verify in on recurring credit, and Katie makes use of the app Todoist for reminders.

Katie mentioned she is going to “double (and, in some instances, triple) up on reminders” to make sure she is not lacking out on assertion credit. I believe that is a reasonably good thought.

Associated: Touring quickly? These 12 apps and web sites make award redemptions simpler to seek out

Backside line

In case you have a number of premium bank cards providing lengthy lists of assertion credit, you may need to make sure you’re utilizing them up and maximizing the return in your annual charges.

This could grow to be more difficult as you add extra playing cards to your technique, which is why now could possibly be the most effective time to get organized.

I am able to strive a few of these strategies out for myself to make it simpler to maintain up with all my perks.

Associated: Maximize your rewards: Your factors and miles guidelines