
Making money with credit cards might sound like a myth, but it's a reality for many people.
You can earn a significant amount of money through credit card sign-up bonuses, which can range from $100 to $1,000 or more.
To maximize your earnings, it's essential to choose the right credit card for your spending habits.
The article section "Credit Card Sign-up Bonuses" explains how to select a card that aligns with your daily expenses.
What Is Stoozing?
Stoozing is a clever way to make money with credit cards. It involves treating 0% introductory rates on credit cards as interest-free loans.
You can then invest this 0% interest money into a high-interest savings account. The goal is to earn a profit from the difference between the two interest rates.
The key is to pay off the credit card loan before the 0% introductory period ends, when the regular interest rate kicks in. This way, you're left with the profit made from the investment.
Stoozing can be a profitable strategy, but it's essential to understand the terms and conditions of the credit card and savings account.
How to Make Money with Stoozing
To make money with stoozing, you'll need to find a credit card with an interest-free period for purchases. This is the foundation of stoozing.
You can use a credit card with an interest-free period to borrow money and earn interest on it. Stoozing is most commonly done with a credit card that allows you to transfer money directly into your bank account.
To do this, you'll need a money transfer credit card that allows you to transfer money from the card into a high-interest account or other investment. This can offer higher returns, but be aware that investments can be risky.
Here's a simple step-by-step guide to stoozing:
- Find a money transfer credit card and transfer money from the card into a high-interest account or other investment.
- Use a balance transfer card with no or low transfer fees to put cash into your account and transfer that card debt.
- After the 0% period on the money transfer card expires, pay off the debt with the money from the savings account, and there should be extra money left over as profit.
Low Fee Options
To make money with credit cards, you need to choose a card with low fees. Ideally, you want a no-annual-fee card, but be aware that you'll still be liable for other fees.
Look for a card with a low-interest rate, just in case your circumstances change and you're unable to pay the card off on time. This will help minimize the damage if you do end up carrying a balance.
Low Fee Options

When choosing a card with low fees, look for a no-fee card, which means you won't pay an annual fee, though other fees still apply.
A no-fee card is ideal, but it's essential to check other fees carefully, including fees levied on foreign transactions.
Ideally, you won't carry a balance on this card, using it only for purchases and paying it off in full before interest comes due.
Low-interest rates are also crucial, as they'll help you avoid interest charges if you're unable to pay the card off on time.
Fees on foreign transactions are another consideration, especially if you travel frequently, so look for low or no fees on these transactions.
Balance Transfer Fee
The balance transfer fee can be a sneaky cost. Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, will be charged.
This fee can add up quickly, so it's essential to factor it into your calculations. You can avoid it altogether by not transferring your balance.
Some balance transfer offers come with a promotional period where no balance transfer fee is charged. Be sure to check the fine print to see if this applies to you.
Sources of Income
Credit card companies make money in various ways, and understanding these sources of income is key to profiting from credit cards.
Interest is one of the main ways credit card companies earn money. If you have a balance on your credit card, issuers will charge interest on your account, with the interest rate established at the beginning of your agreement.
Credit card fees are another source of income for credit card companies. These fees can include annual fees, late fees, and more.
Transaction fees are also a significant source of income for credit card companies. Card issuers, networks, and processors all include transaction fees that get charged to the merchant.
Here are the three main sources of income for credit card companies:
Interchange income is another key way credit card companies earn money. Merchants pay interchange income to accept credit cards instead of cash or checks, typically around 1.75% to 2% of the transaction amount.
Earning Rewards
Earning rewards with credit cards can be a great way to get something back for your spending. Cash back cards offer a straightforward reward, but some cards offer points, travel miles, or other rewards.
Some credit cards offer better rewards for specific purchases, like an Amazon credit card, which gives more points on Amazon purchases.
To maximize your rewards, read the terms and conditions carefully and choose a card that aligns with your spending habits. This way, you can earn rewards on the purchases you already make.
An Amazon credit card, for example, offers more points on Amazon purchases, which can be converted to Amazon vouchers. This is a great perk if you're an Amazon shopper.
To earn a credit card welcome bonus, you need to meet the minimum spending requirements within the allotted time period. This can be challenging, but timing your sign up with upcoming expenses can help.
If you're struggling to meet the minimum spending requirements, consider making purchases you normally wouldn't make just to earn the bonus. This can be a waste of money and defeat the purpose of earning rewards.
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are a great way to quickly bolster your points, miles, or rewards balances. They're a perk offered by credit card companies to new cardholders, but be aware that nearly all welcome offers come with a prerequisite to spend a specific amount of money within a certain time frame.
To meet the spend threshold responsibly, it's essential to plan ahead. Select analyzes the different ways you can earn a valuable credit card bonus without overspending or stretching yourself too thin.
It's crucial not to make purchases you wouldn't normally make to simply meet the bonus offer, as this can be equivalent to spending a dollar to earn a few pennies. This means you should time your sign-up when you have a lot of upcoming expenses.
If you're still having difficulties meeting the minimum spending requirements, there are ways to earn that next bonus responsibly. You can earn a $50 Amazon Gift Card in less than 5 minutes by working with a financial advisor, for example.
Credit Card Options
If you're looking for a credit card to make money with, there are several options to consider. The Chase Freedom Unlimited card offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, with no annual fee.
To maximize your rewards, look for cards with low or no annual fees, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited. This card also earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases, with an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy in the first year.
Some credit cards offer sign-up bonuses that can be worth hundreds of dollars. For example, the Chase card mentioned in Example 5 offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Here are some key features to consider when choosing a credit card:
By choosing the right credit card and using it wisely, you can earn significant rewards and make money with your credit card.
Why People Use
People use credit cards to make money through a process called stoozing, which involves transferring cash into a bank account using a credit card with a 0% money transfer offer.
Stoozing reached its heyday before the 2008 crash when credit was more freely available and interest rates were higher, allowing some people to stooz balances into the tens of thousands.
Average interest rates on savings accounts now top 4.5%, which is still lower than the 5.5% best rates of 2008, making it less common to stooz despite the higher interest rates.
This process only really works when you can earn a lot of interest on a savings account, and even the best-paying rates now lag behind those of 2008.
Spend and Save
To make the most of credit cards, you need to find a savings account that pays you the most Annual Equivalent Rate (AER) and pair it with a 0% purchase card.
The simple way to earn money with credit cards is to spend and save, and it's all about matching your card spending with deposits in a high-interest account.
To do this, you need to find a savings account that pays a high AER, such as 3%, and deposit the cash you save into it.
The key is to match your card spending with your deposits, so if you borrow £1,200 on a 24-month 0% purchase card, you need to deposit £1,200 in a high-interest account.
By doing this, you can make a profit of about £72 by the time the 0% interest period expires, but the larger the sum of money you "stooze", the bigger the returns will be.
Here's a simple step-by-step guide to getting started:
- Find a savings account that pays you the most AER.
- Get the best 0% purchase card you can.
- Make as many of your day-to-day purchases as you can afford on your card.
- Deposit the cash you save into a high-interest account.
- Once the 0% interest period expires, use the saved cash to pay off the balance.
- Any money left over is your profit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you turn a credit card into money?
You can turn a credit card into money by taking out a cash advance at an ATM, but be aware that it's considered a short-term loan and can be expensive.
What are 3 ways credit cards make money?
Credit card companies make money from interest, fees charged to cardholders, and transaction fees paid by businesses. Understanding these revenue streams can help you use credit cards wisely and save money.
What is credit card flipping?
Credit card flipping is the practice of quickly applying for and closing credit cards to earn sign-up bonuses, which can potentially harm your credit score. However, many card issuers have implemented rules to prevent this tactic
Sources
- https://www.uswitch.com/credit-cards/guides/stoozing/
- https://wealthtender.com/insights/banking-credit/how-to-profit-from-your-credit-card/
- https://www.mcall.com/2016/11/07/7-inventive-ways-to-make-money-using-your-credit-card/
- https://www.moneygeek.com/credit-cards/advice/how-credit-card-companies-make-money/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-to-a-earn-credit-card-welcome-bonus-responsibly/
Featured Images: pexels.com