15 easy credit card hacks

With many credit card options on the market — from rewards points, to cash-back bonuses and more — the quest to save money and navigate credit card incentives has become a little more complicated.

As an avid user of credit card perks, you might be looking to gain deeper knowledge on how to strategically use your cards and save even more money. Here are 15 quick and easy hacks that you can use to get the most out of your credit cards.

1. Change your bill‘s due date.
Sometimes timing makes all the difference. If your credit card bill is due on an odd day of the month, making it difficult to stay ahead of payments, Time.com suggests calling your credit card issuer and asking to have the due date moved to one that‘s more convenient. According to Time, this request is almost always approved.

2. Pay mid-cycle.
Even if your due date falls on a convenient day, you don‘t have to wait until then to pay. In fact, if you‘re carrying over a balance, Time notes that making a credit card payment mid-cycle will reduce the balance that‘s reported to the credit bureaus — balances that appear on your credit reports tend to be based on the end of the billing cycle. Pay a portion of your balance a few days early if you‘re trying to boost your credit score.

3. Pay off purchases in full with rewards cards.
Getting a rewards credit card is tempting, but this type of card might carry a higher interest rate than a non-rewards cards. But "by paying attention to the interest rate as well as the rewards, consumers will get the best of both worlds — the best interest rate available as well as reward points," said Dan Blacharski, spokesperson at MoneyLend.net.

With that said, the best way to get those credit card goodies is to use your rewards card for purchases you plan to pay off completely at the end of the month.

4. Take advantage of 0% APRs.
When you open a new credit card, you might be eligible for a 0% APR introductory period. Use this period to pay down or pay off any consumer debt you have. Transfer debt from other cards to your zero interest cards, but first make sure there aren‘t any transfer fees. Once the balances are on your new credit card, work hard to pay it off before the introductory period ends.

5. Become a credit card affiliate.
Already have a blog or personal website? If not, now might be the time to set one up and make money online.

Some credit card companies, such as Discover, offer affiliate programs. If you advertise a card on your website via affiliate links or ads, and someone signs up for that credit card, you could get compensated in the form of money and other perks.

6. Create a credit card spreadsheet.
Start a spreadsheet where you list the cards you have open, their spending limits, APRs and the dates when annual fees kick in. You‘ll be one step ahead of the game and won‘t fall prey to forgetting when an intro offer period ends.

7. Ask for the better bonus.
Have you ever made a purchase, only to find out there was a better deal available a week later? Sometimes the same thing happens with credit card sign-up bonuses. According to personal finance blog Wisebread, however, there‘s no reason to miss out on a better deal: "To their customer service representative, it‘s as easy as changing the ‘promo code‘ field on their computer screen."

8. Close credit cards you don‘t use.
Are there cards you still have open that you haven‘t used in months? Make a calendar appointment with yourself, and go through your current stash of cards on an annual basis. Close credit cards you haven‘t used or don‘t plan on using again to avoid any unnecessary fees or charges.

9. Close credit cards before annual fees kick in.
Many cards offer no annual fees for a specific period of time as an introductory offer. Weigh the value of the card prior to that period ending. If you don‘t find enough value in the rewards the card offers, close the card before those pesky annual fees kick in. Save yourself anywhere from $15 to $300 per year.

10. Skip international fees.
Before your next international traveling adventure, consider opening a card with no foreign transaction fees. Foreign transaction fees add up quickly and can be as much as 1 to 3 percent of purchases.

11. Earn money where you already shop.
Save money at stores you already shop at with Amex Offers. Log into your account, find store offers that you like, and add it to your American Express credit card. Doing so will allow offers to be applied to your credit card statement when you shop.

"Last year they gave you $150 back for spending $150 at AT&T wireless," said Randall Reinwasser, CFP at Solitude Canyon Investment Advisors based in Fountain Hills, Ariz., and author of the book "Underground Savings." "While that is the best deal I‘ve ever seen, they have recently had compelling offers with Whole Foods, Sprouts, Staples and many more. This is free money for buying items and services you were going to purchase anyway."

12. Increase your credit limit to preserve credit scores.
If your credit score has improved, consider asking for an increased line of credit on your current cards. This will allow a larger gap between your spending and your credit limit, helping increase your credit utilization ratio and preserving your high credit score. Just don‘t overspend.

13. Get cash advances instead of loans.
Sparingly using low interest cards for cash advances can help you save money when compared to a payday loan. "By comparing the cash advance fee with the fees associated with traditional consumer lending, consumers will save money on fees and interest," said Blacharski.

But be careful if you are in need of quick cash, he warned. Credit card cash advance fees might be higher than you would expect. Going to your local bank for a consumer loan or line of credit could be a wiser decision.

14. Use reward cards to buy gift cards.
Most large grocery stores, department stores and electronics stores now carry gift card kiosks. If you are itching to spend a certain amount to reap the rewards on your credit card, see if you can buy gift cards with it. This way you earn points or mileage on your credit card without spending too much.

15. Opt for cash-back rewards cards.
Instead of using a store credit card that offers rewards for only shopping at a particular store, consider getting this: a cash rewards credit card that gives you cash back on all your purchases no matter where you shop.

From GoBankingRates.com: 15 easy credit card hacks