You are either taking money from credit card companies or you are letting them take all your money. If you are using their reward program to full advantage, chances are good that you are the former group.

The most direct way to get credit card rewards is to spend. The more you use your card, the better. However, some cards have a limit where the reward percentage drops after a certain dollar amount.

Some cards give out good rewards for gas, while others for restaurants. Take a look and lay out a game plan, so you know which card to use every time you go out.

Don’t want to sort out multiple cards and still want a good overall reward card? Check out the ones that give out a respectable 2% cash back on every purchase.

Most people shy away from miles reward cards because of the annual fee. But for those that travel frequently, these cards are great because it gives you so many points for flying.

If the store where you have your credit card closes its doors, you can bet that your credit card will also be terminated and you will be forced to pay your balance. Not a great situation I’d say.

Redeeming for merchandise usually means that you are losing out. It may seem cool to get a free TV from your rewards, but you will actually get more money back if you just took the cash.

Reward points tend to expire due to inactivity, so redeem them whenever you get a chance and don’t get into a habit of accumulating a boatload of points.

Think carefully before you apply for a card for its rewards. It’s generally not good to have too many debt accounts opened and you probably can’t keep track of all the payments anyway.

Don’t be tempted to spend even if there’s a 5% cash back reward. Remember that you are still paying 95% and if you don’t need it, don’t get it.

Small change add up so even 1% can be a huge difference through time. Don’t ignore the rewards and be on your way to financial prosperity.