How I Committed to Maxing Out Savings and Investing in 2025 by Leveraging Credit Cards

I’ll be the first to admit it — I haven’t always been the best at prioritizing saving and investing. In the past, other things, like renovating my 1970s home (yes, shag carpet and all), took precedence.

But as I entered 2025, I decided it was time to stop letting those distractions get in the way of my financial security. This year, I’m fully committed to maxing out my savings and investments, and I’m doing it by leveraging one of the most underrated tools in the personal finance toolkit: credit cards.

Learn about four ways credit cards are helping me reach my goals.

1. Using card rewards to boost my savings

One of the easiest ways I’ve found to supercharge my savings is through my cards’ rewards programs. Many cards offer cash back or points for everyday spending — money I would be spending regardless. By choosing the right cards, I can turn routine purchases into a tool for building my savings.

For example, I’ve shifted all my grocery and gas purchases to the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. This card gives me 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), all of which are regular expenses for me (terms apply). This means I’m earning significant rewards on things I’m already buying.

The huge rewards rate on gas and groceries was the main reason I opened the Amex Blue Cash Preferred, but there are a few additional perks I’ve come to love. I earn 1% cash back on other purchases — including household bills (terms apply). At around $500 per month, that adds up to $60 per year just by paying with a card. I also earn 6% cash back on some streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ (terms apply). Since I spend an embarrassing amount on streaming, this reward helps offset the costs and makes me feel a little better about my subscriptions.

2. Maximizing investment potential with credit card rewards

Credit cards also play a role in my investment strategy. While most of my cards don’t offer direct deposit of rewards into my brokerage account, I’m supplementing my regular deposits with rewards dollars earned from credit cards.

Each time I redeem rewards for a statement credit, I simply deposit that amount into my brokerage account. It’s an extra step, but a simple way to turn my credit card rewards into something that grows over time. Since I treat credit card rewards as bonus money, it feels easier than dipping into my checking account to stay on track with my long-term financial goals.

3. Managing debt wisely to keep funds available for investing

I regularly use balance transfer offers to minimize interest payments when necessary. For example, at the start of the year, I transferred some existing credit card debt to a card with an intro 0% APR for 18 months. This move allows me to free up more funds for saving and investing, without worrying about interest piling up.

If you’re considering using a balance transfer card to manage debt and maximize your savings potential, check out our list of the best balance transfer cards here.

4. Using credit cards for special purchases and financial planning

Beyond daily spending, I use credit cards strategically for larger financial purchases. For example, when I renovated my home and needed to buy a new appliance or flooring, I put the purchase on a credit card with a 0% introductory APR. This gave me flexibility to pay off the purchase over time while preserving my available funds for investments or savings.

Final thoughts

By leveraging credit cards for rewards and smart debt management, I’m not just saving money — I’m actively growing my wealth. Whether it’s through cash back bonuses or strategic investing, credit cards have become a powerful tool in my financial toolkit for 2025. By being mindful of my spending and staying disciplined with my repayments, I’m turning credit cards into an asset, rather than a liability.

If you’re looking to optimize your own finances this year, consider how you can strategically use credit cards to boost both your savings and investments. The key is to choose the right cards, use them responsibly, and consistently funnel the rewards into your long-term financial goals.