10 Cash-Back Tips To Maximize Your Summer Activities and Entertainment
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Written by
Angela Mae
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Edited by
Levi Leidy
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
Summer’s here, which means it’s time to start planning your favorite seasonal activities. Whether you’re thinking about road tripping across the country, weekending at the beach, visiting a theme park or taking a fusion cooking class, you’ll want to find ways to keep costs reasonable.
Using cash-back credit cards is a great way to enjoy your summer activities and entertainment without straining your budget. Here are 10 tips for maximizing your cash back this summer season.
Read More: The Best Credit Card Summer Travel Perks You Probably Don’t Know About
Discover: Ways To Elevate Your Summer Travel Adventures
Choose a No-Fee Card
You can get the most out of your cash back by choosing a card with minimal fees. This means no annual fee and, ideally, no foreign transaction fees.
The latter is important if you’re planning a summer trip abroad. Some foreign transaction fees are 3% of the purchase amount in U.S. dollars. This means you could be paying $3 per $100 spent, which adds up over time.
Pay Off Your Full Balance
Cash-back cards often come with high annual percentage rates (APRs). According to the Federal Reserve, the average credit card APR was 21.91% as of February 2025, but rates can be even higher (or lower).
If you pay off your balance in full each month, you can avoid interest charges, which can wipe out the value of any cash-back rewards you’ve earned.
Look For Flat-Rate Cash Back
Flat-rate cards let you earn the same amount of cash back on all eligible purchases. Typically, these cards earn between 1.5% and 2% cash back, regardless of category.
If you use your credit card for everyday purchases, a flat-rate card makes it easy to accumulate rewards. The more you spend, the more you earn. And that money? It can go straight toward your next trip to the theme park, concert or another summer activity.
Maximize Tiered Categories
Certain credit cards offer cash back using a tiered structure. Essentially, you might earn more cash with certain types of purchases than others.
For example, you could earn unlimited 3% cash back on grocery stores and dining out, 3% on entertainment, 5% on hotels and car rentals and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Use Rotating Bonus Rewards Categories
Some cards offer higher cash-back rewards on specific categories — like dining out, travel or entertainment. Rotating categories change from time to time, often quarterly, and may be capped at a certain amount of spending. Depending on the card, you might need to manually activate your preferred category to take advantage of these higher rewards.
Say you want to travel somewhere during summer. Choose a cash-back card that earns bonus cash back on expenses like hotel bookings, gas and car rentals. If you’d rather spend your leisure time shopping or checking out new restaurants, pick a card with higher rewards for entertainment and dining out.
Shop around for the best credit cards for each bonus category. You’re bound to find one that works with your summer plans.
Rack Up Rewards With No Limit
Some credit cards come with unlimited cash back. With these types of cards, you won’t have to worry about tracking spending caps in bonus categories. Simply charge the card and earn.
For example, you could earn unlimited 2% cash back on everyday purchases. Spend $100, get $2 back. Spend $1,000, get $20 back — and maybe use it for the parking fee or snacks at a theme park.
Watch Out for Spending Limits
With the right card, you’ll earn more as you enjoy your summer activities. But always read the fine print. Some cash-back cards, especially those with higher rewards rates, come with a spending limit.
For instance, you could earn 5% cash back in a bonus category up to a certain amount (like $500 per month). You’ll generally earn a lower rate — say, 1% cash back — on eligible purchases after that.
Leverage Travel Rewards
Are you planning to travel this summer? Book your trip using a cash-back rewards credit card geared toward travelers. You could earn cash back on hotel bookings, car rentals, theme park attractions and more.
According to Squaremouth, a leading travel insurance provider, the average summer trip last year cost nearly $10,000. That’s a lot of potential cash back with the right card.
Check with your card issuer to see if it has a travel portal, which works like an online travel agency. If they do, you may be able to maximize these credit card rewards by making purchases through their portal.
Take Advantage of Special Offers
Many rewards credit cards come with a welcome bonus or other special introductory offer. Depending on the card, you could receive hundreds of dollars in value when you’re approved and meet a minimum spending requirement.
Some cards will give you a flat amount of cash when you spend a certain amount within the first few months. Your standard card’s welcome bonus might be small — say, $200. A few high-tier cards offer larger rewards worth thousands of dollars when you meet the conditions.
Another popular credit card perk is a 0% introductory APR offer. This means no interest on purchases made within a set period — say, the first 15 months — as long as you make your minimum payment each month. It’s a great way to spread out payments for larger purchases without paying interest, while still earning cash back on your summer spending.
Check the Expiration Date
Using your card for fun summer activities like dining out, shopping or buying event tickets can be a great way to rack up rewards. But read the card issuer’s terms and conditions carefully. Sometimes, those rewards come with an expiration date.
