Holiday shopping season is freaking nuts. And maybe it’s just me? But no matter how much I try to “get ahead,” I always feel like I’m scrambling at the last minute. Not this year, friends. Not this year.
If you’re planning to spend a decent chunk on gifts, travel, or even just decking out your home for the holidays, using a low-interest credit card can actually save you money and even help you earn rewards in the process.
Here’s how to make it work for you (without waking up in January in panic mode).
Use a Low-Interest Rewards Card for Shopping
Cards with little to no interest let you make purchases without paying interest for a set period (usually 12 to 21 months). That means you can spread out your holiday spending without adding finance charges, as long as you pay everything off before the intro period ends.
In other words, it gives you some room to breathe during an expensive season.
And, lots of these cards earn flexible points or bonus cash back on categories you’ll likely hit hard — online shopping, travel, and dining.
That means your holiday spending isn’t just… spending. You’ll also be earning your hotel nights, upgrades, and flights to somewhere much sunnier down the line.
I mean…. yeah, sign me up! 🙋♀️
Cards That Reward You For Shopping
During this time of year, there are a few cards that stand out for both their points potential and limited-time offers that could help cover some 2026 travel.
Card | Current Offer | Earning Highlights | Best For |
3x $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), and 2x on travel purchases | Generous welcome offer and flexible travel redemptions, especially with partner airlines and hotels | ||
3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases | Everyday shopping and online purchases | ||
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. | 5x on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2x on all other purchases | Simple earning on everyday purchases and strong travel perks | |
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. | 3x on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, hotels, and EV charging stations | Great for groceries and travel flexibility year-round | |
This card offers a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | Low introductory rate on new purchases and transfers, and unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases | Straightforward cash back with low interest | |
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. | 5% cash-back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to $500), then 1% back after that | Automatic bonus on your biggest spending category |
Don’t Skip the Shopping Portals
Before you click “checkout,” take one extra step and go through your card’s shopping portal.
It’s one of the easiest ways to earn extra points for things you were already buying, but it’s also an easy thing to forget about (guilty!).
Capital One Shopping: Works with thousands of brands (Target, Macy’s, Sephora, etc.) and lets you earn extra miles or cash back automatically.
Chase Shopping Portal: Great for stacking with Freedom or Sapphire cards (sometimes up to 10x points per dollar on big brands).
Rakuten: Even if your card doesn’t have a portal, you can link American Express Membership Rewards and earn points instead of cash back.
The bonuses might not sound huge (think 2 to 4x), but during the holidays, those little multipliers add up fast. And if you’re stacking them with your card’s existing earning rates? You’re essentially getting paid to shop. And that’s on girl math!
🧠 Pro Tip: Bookmark your favorite portal and check it before any online purchase, especially for those high-ticket items like tech or travel.
Tips For Turning Shopping Into Free Travel
Use the right shopping portal. Before you check out online, click through your card’s shopping portal (like Chase, Rakuten, or Capital One Shopping). You can often earn extra points per dollar on top of your usual rewards.
Stack offers. If your card comes with Amex Offers, Chase Offers, or Capital One Offers, you can activate brand-specific discounts (like 10% back at Sephora or 5x points at Apple).
Set up automatic payments. Low interest does not equal free money. Setting up automatic payments helps you pay down balances before interest ever becomes an issue.
❤️ Reality Check: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you have a bad credit score and/or cannot control your spending. If you’re in a good place with your credit and can throw all of your holiday spending onto a new card responsibly, then go for it. Just remember — no amount of miles and points is worth credit card debt.
Let’s Talk About the Payoff
Let’s say you spend $2,000 on gifts and travel this season. With a card like the Sapphire Preferred, you’d earn at least 6,000 points, and if you meet a minimum spend, that total could easily climb to over 100,000 points.
That’s enough for a round-trip to Europe or multiple free hotel nights — just from spending you were going to do anyway.
Bottom Line
Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be painful. The right low-interest, high-reward card lets you shop smarter, earn faster, and pay at your own pace (without losing too much to high-interest debt).
So book the flights, buy the gifts, and rack up those points. Come spring, you’ll be packing for a free vacation and thanking your past self for thinking ahead.
