Credit card credits are supposed to feel like a discount. But if you’ve ever hit the end of the month and realized you forgot to use one, you already know how this usually goes: you pay the fee, and the credit quietly expires.
The problem isn’t the math — it’s the calendar. Credits reset monthly, quarterly, twice a year, and annually, and every card seems to do it differently. So the only real solution is a simple system that runs on autopilot.
The simple system that works
- Use one “dashboard” app to see what credits and perks you actually have.
- Put every credit on a repeating reminder (so you don’t rely on memory).
- Add one quick “did it post?” check so you’re not guessing on statement credits.
10 tools that help you track credits (and actually use them)
You don’t need all ten. Most people pick one dashboard app, one reminder app, and one place to track notes. The list below gives you the best options in each lane.
- CardPointers — A strong all-in-one wallet helper. Useful because it tracks category bonuses and recurring credits across thousands of cards, so you can quickly see what you should be using.
- MaxRewards — Good if you want one place to manage your cards and perks. It’s built around helping you use the right card and keep up with offers and benefits.
- WalletFlo — Made for people with premium cards. It focuses on tracking perks and credits and nudging you with reminders so you don’t forget the stuff you’re paying for.
- AwardWallet — Great if points are part of your life too. It’s a clean way to keep credit card rewards and loyalty balances together, and watch for expirations.
- Notion — This is where you keep the “rules.” Write down what counts for each credit, save screenshots of the terms, and keep a checklist for each card.
- Google Calendar — The easiest way to handle monthly/quarterly/annual repeats. Create a calendar called “Card Credits” and drop recurring events in once.
- Todoist — A task manager that’s perfect for recurring credits because tasks stick around until you mark them done. That’s exactly what you want for “use credit” + “confirm it posted.”
- Apple Reminders — Simple, fast, and always on your phone. Great for a short list like “use rideshare credit” or “check that the credit posted.”
- Google Sheets — Your master tracker when you have a lot of credits. A basic sheet becomes your ledger: credit name, frequency, amount, last used, and posted date.
- Zapier / Make — Optional, but powerful. Use automation to turn emails into tasks, send yourself a weekly ‘credits to use’ digest, or sync your tracker to your reminders. (Make)
Reminder cadence you can copy
- Monthly: Day 1: use it • Day 20: last call • Day 5 next month: confirm it posted
- Quarterly: Day 1 of the quarter: use it • 10 days before quarter end: sweep what’s left
- Biannual: Pick two anchor months (Jan/Jul is easiest) • Add a 30-day warning before each half ends
- Annual: Set it on your card anniversary month • Add a 60-day reminder before renewal to evaluate the card
A simple tracker template (Sheets or Notion)
If you want one place that answers “did I use this yet?”, these fields cover basically everything:
| Field | What to put |
| Card | Name of the card |
| Credit | What it’s called (ex: “rideshare credit”) |
| Frequency | Monthly / Quarterly / Biannual / Annual |
| Reset window | When it refreshes (ex: “1st of month” or “Q1–Q4”) |
| Amount | $10 / $50 / etc. |
| How to trigger | Merchant / purchase type / enrollment notes |
| Last used | Date you used it |
| Posted | Date it reimbursed (or “pending”) |
| Notes | Receipt screenshot link, terms, or anything quirky |
If you only do one thing, make it this: build the “confirm it posted” step into your reminders. That one habit is what stops credits from slipping through the cracks.
Fast setup that works for most people: pick CardPointers or WalletFlo as your dashboard, put the cadence into Google Calendar, and track the ‘posted?’ check in Todoist or Reminders.
