Valentine’s Day is a time for celebration, but costs quickly add up – from gifts and flowers to dinners and transportation. Fortunately, strategic use of shopping portals and credit card perks can significantly offset those expenses without compromising your plans. This guide outlines simple strategies to earn rewards and save money while enjoying the holiday.
Leverage Shopping Portals for Bonus Rewards
Shopping portals offer a straightforward way to earn extra points or miles on purchases you would make anyway. These third-party sites partner with retailers, rewarding you with bonus rewards when you click through their links before shopping. You earn these bonuses in addition to your credit card rewards, effectively doubling your gains.
How they work: Register your loyalty account (airline, hotel, or credit card program) with the portal and shop as usual. For example, a $100 flower purchase through the AAdvantage eShopping portal at FTD could earn 3,000 bonus miles. Portal rates fluctuate, so compare offers using sites like EVReward before buying.
Best practices:
- Use only portal-listed coupon codes.
- Clear cookies or use incognito mode for tracking.
- Save confirmation emails in case rewards don’t post.
Popular Valentine’s Day portal partners include flower delivery services (FTD, ProFlowers), chocolate brands (Shari’s Berries), and department stores (Nordstrom, Saks).
Utilize Credit Card Statement Credits for Dining and Transportation
Many premium credit cards offer recurring statement credits for dining, delivery, and ride-hailing services – ideal for Valentine’s Day expenses.
Dining and Restaurant Reservations:
Cards like the American Express Platinum Card® provide up to $400 annually in Resy credits, usable at eligible restaurants. The American Express Gold Card offers up to $120 in dining credits at partners like Five Guys and Grubhub. Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers up to $300 per year via OpenTable. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card gives up to $300 in annual restaurant credits.
Food Delivery for At-Home Dates:
The American Express Gold Card offers up to $120 annually in Uber Cash, usable for Uber Eats and rides. The American Express Platinum Card provides up to $200 in Uber Cash per year.
Transportation to and From Your Date:
The American Express Platinum Card offers up to $120 in Uber One credits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve gives $120 per year with Lyft.
Entertainment and Digital Credits for At-Home Dates
For low-key celebrations, some cards offer credits for streaming services. The American Express Platinum Card provides up to $300 annually in digital entertainment credits, applicable to Disney+ and Hulu, among others.
Important Reminders
- Enroll in card benefits before using credits.
- Credits reset monthly, annually, or semi-annually.
- Credits typically don’t stack with other promotions.
- Set calendar reminders to avoid unused credits.
Ultimately, Valentine’s Day spending doesn’t have to break the bank. By combining shopping portal bonuses with strategic credit card usage, you can maximize rewards and minimize out-of-pocket costs while still enjoying a memorable celebration. A little planning can make all the difference.
