The holiday season can often leave your wallet feeling much lighter, with gifts, festivities, and the general spirit of giving. But what if there was a way to ease that financial sting and save money both during the holidays and all year round?

Here’s a simple credit card hack that has been a game-changer for me: leveraging cashback rewards programs. Many credit cards offer cashback rewards for different categories of spending throughout the year. During the holidays, look for cards that offer higher percentages back on typical holiday purchases like toys, electronics, or even increased rewards at specific retailers.

But how does this translate into year-round savings? Here’s the strategy:

1. Choose the Right Card – Research credit cards that offer high cashback rates in categories you frequently spend in. Some cards may offer rotating categories with higher rates or partner with specific stores where you’ll likely shop during the holidays.

2. Understand the Rewards Program – Make sure you know how to activate these rewards and when they apply. Sometimes you need to opt-in quarterly or use specific links when shopping online to get that extra cashback

3. Plan Your Purchases – Planning is crucial to maximizing your savings. If you know a category is going to have extra rewards next quarter, consider waiting to make significant purchases until then.

4. Pay Off Balances Monthly – This hack only works if you don’t accrue interest on your purchases. Pay off your balance every month to reap the benefits without negative consequences.

5. Utilize Sign-Up Offers – Many credit cards provide sign-up bonuses that can be highly lucrative. Some might offer a lump-sum cash-back bonus or an increased cashback percentage in the first few months.

6. Stack Your Savings – Combine this credit card strategy with other savings approaches, such as shopping through cash-back portals or using coupons/discount codes.

7. Keep an Eye on Annual Fees – While some cards with high rewards have annual fees, the key is ensuring the benefits outweigh those costs.

Through this approach, I’ve noticed I’m not as stressed about holiday expenses because I know I’m getting money back on what I spend—and often at a higher rate than other times of the year. Plus, by utilizing this hack consistently throughout all seasons, I’m accumulating savings that take some of the pressure off when it’s time for holiday shopping again.

Remember, it’s crucial to always use credit responsibly and avoid spending beyond your means just for extra cashback—no amount of savings is worth getting into debt over. With wise use and a bit of planning, however, this simple hack can be an incredibly effective tool for financial management and can lead to significant savings over time—even outside the festive season!