Ways to Maximize Your Money Each Month

Money doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. I do my best to be a responsible steward of my finances, time, and other resources, especially since my household primarily relies on a single income. I make a conscious effort to stick to a budget, track expenses and build passive income, while also maximizing what I earn each month through strategic use of bank accounts, rewards programs, and credit cards. You can make your money go further by combining the strategies below to maximize your monthly income.

High Yield Saving Accounts

Money used to earn significantly more interest in savings accounts than it does today. The average U.S. savings account currently pays about 0.06% annual percentage yield (APY). That means for every $1,000 saved, you would earn only about 60 cents in interest per year, which is hardly meaningful. Instead of settling for earning almost nothing, consider using a high-yield savings account that offers interest rates well above the national average. Websites like Bankrate and NerdWallet make it easy to compare accounts and find one that fits your needs.

Storing your savings in an account with a higher yield is a simple way to get more out of your money. Since most high-yield accounts pay interest monthly, this can also help boost your monthly income. Below is a breakdown of how much you could earn by keeping your money in a high-yield savings account with a balance of 5,000 dollars each year.
– At .06% APY = $3
– At 1% APY = $50
– At 2% APY = $100
– At 3% APY = $150
– At 3.5% APY = $175

Credit Card Rewards

I have used my fair share of credit cards and I have opened up way too many accounts over the years. Credit cards can be great tools. But, could leave you in a very bad financial situation if not handled properly. Please be careful! The credit card rule I follow is, if I don’t have the money at the moment I don’t make the purchase.

If you are using a debit card or a lower cashback card, you could be missing out on extra money each month. In the scenario below, let’s assume someone spends $15,000 per year. Here’s how that spending would break down depending on the payment method used.
– Cash or debit card (typically 0% cashback) = $0 back.
– 1% card = $150 back.
– 1.5% card = $225 back.
– 2% card = $300 back.
– 3% card = $450 back!

Robinhood

I’ve been using Robinhood since 2016 for one of my personal brokerage accounts but in 2025 I was moved off the waitlist for their 3% cashback Gold credit card. Since receiving the card Abby and I have moved all of our monthly purchases over to this card. I take the cashback and I deposit it directly into my Robinhood brokerage account.

The only slight downside with this card is you have to pay for a Gold membership which costs $50 dollars a year at the moment. I find the benefits of the membership significantly outweigh the annual fee.

Fidelity

Before Robinhood, we exclusively used the Fidelity rewards credit card that allows you to earn an unlimited 2% cashback on all your purchases. The awesome thing about Fidelity is they offer a lot of different financial accounts. I would take the cashback that I had received and deposit it directly into a Fidelity stock brokerage account. It is amazing how fast 2% cashback accumulated. Every month I able to invest ~50 dollars in the stock market strictly from the cashback earned from this card.

Store Specific Cards

Stores like Amazon, Target, TJ Maxx/Marshalls and many others, offer a 5% cashback cards. It is worth having these types of cards, to make your money go further.

Reward Programs

• Use receipt reward apps like Fetch Rewards or Receipt Hog.
• Use shopping cashback apps like Rakuten.
• Buy discounted gift cards through Raise.
• Save on gas by using GetUpside.
• Earn money by using Bing as your search engine.

Fetch Rewards

With Fetch Rewards, you can earn points from almost anywhere, including gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and more, simply by taking a photo of your shopping receipt. Earning points is quick, easy, and they add up fast. There are many receipt rewards apps available, so I recommend trying a few to see which ones best fit your habits and needs. You may even find that using more than one app works best for you. Consider checking out apps like Bumped, Fetch Rewards, Ibotta, Receipt Hog, Shopkick, and Swagbucks to name a few. The points you earn can then be redeemed for gift cards.

Ratuken

Rakuten, formulary know as EBates, is an online cashback shopping app, like honey. Simply, shop at your favorite online stores and you’ll earn cashback. The cashback is anywhere between 1–5% of your total order. But, I have seen some promotions where certain stores offer 15+% cashback. My wife, Abby and I have been using Rakuten since 2016 and we have saved over $500 dollars.

Raise

Raise is an online site that can allows you to buy discounted gift cards. Gift cards can be purchased any where from 3 to 30 percent below face value. You can use Raise in-conjunction with Rakuten for an even greater savings. I use Raise a lot to buy gift cards to stores that my family and I use often.

GetUpside

GetUpside is a rewards program that I started using recently and I love it. GetUpside is an app that allows you to see all the gas stations in your area that give you a cheaper rate on your gas. You can save anywhere from 7 to 15 cents per gallon at participating gas stations. Drive to a participating gas station and “check in” through the app. Once done pumping, take a picture of your receipt through the app. You will then receive cashback after a few days. This savings is awesome especially as the gas prices are rising.

Bing

Bing is a search engine like Google. However, Bing, rewards you for using their search engine. There is also daily actives that allow you to earn bonus points. Reward points can be exchanged for gift cards and raffle prizes. You could also donate reward points to a bunch of different charities. I make roughly $60 dollars a year utilizing Bing as my search engine.

Slickdeals and DealNews

Sometimes we can get into a habit of shopping through just one merchant like Amazon or Target. I have been guilty of this tendency before. You can save money by looking around for the best deals before making a purchase. If I am on the hunt for a particular item, I will do a quick search on Slickdeals or DealNews to see if there is any discounts going on at the particular moment.

Shop Second-hand

Buy used or lightly-used clothes, resources, and supplies to help stretch your money a little further. Consult what is available on Facebook Marketplace before buying something brand new. You would be amazed the great deals that you can find. Abby has made a lot of great transactions, whether buying or selling on Marketplace.