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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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The best ways to earn a 50% point bonus on the Amex EveryDay Preferred card
Chris was a reporter at The Points Guy, where he covered the intersection of credit card rewards and travel. At TPG, he wrote a broad array of stories ranging from in-depth features and reports to trending travel news as it related to loyalty, card benefits and consumer behavior.
When Ryan worked as a TPG credit cards writer, he oversaw refreshes of card reviews and card offer stories. He enjoyed racking up cash back and helping readers maximize their points and miles for their next big trip.
also contributed to this story
November 11, 2024 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
A specific rewards card previously offered a 50% points bonus each month if at least 30 transactions were made per billing period.
The card is no longer available to new applicants as of September 2024, but existing cardholders can still benefit from the bonus.
Maximizing the bonus involves spreading out purchases or making small, frequent transactions without increasing overall spending.
Using third-party bill payment services can help reach the transaction threshold, though fees may apply.
What to consider
Some merchants may combine multiple purchases into a single transaction, which could impact your transaction count.
Paying bills with a credit card through certain services incurs a fee, which may outweigh the rewards unless it helps trigger the bonus.
Membership Rewards points are valued at 2 cents each as of November 2024 per TPG's valuations.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed strategies for reliably reaching the 30-transaction minimum and examples illustrating when paying fees can be worthwhile.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
The standout feature of The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express* is the ability to earn a 50% Membership Rewards point bonus each month. There’s a caveat, though — you have to make at least 30 transactions per billing period to trigger the bonus.
That can be a tough slog for some people — so tough that it may have caused you to shy away from applying for the card. However, there are ways to meet this minimum transaction threshold that don’t involve spending more money than you normally would.
As of September 2024, the Amex Everyday Preferred is no longer available to new applicants. But if you already have the card in your wallet, here are some ways to ensure you get your 50% bonus every month.
*The information for the Amex EveryDay Preferred Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
How the 50% Membership Rewards bonus works
With the Amex EveryDay Preferred, you’ll earn:
3 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1 point per dollar)
2 points per dollar spent at U.S. gas stations
1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
A 50% bonus on all purchases (excluding returns and credits) after you make 30 or more purchases with your card in a billing period
JLCO-JULIA AMARAL/GETTY IMAGES
The final point is where things get interesting. If you use the Amex EveryDay Preferred to make 30 or more purchases in a billing period, you’ll get 50% extra points on all of those purchases. Who wouldn’t want to increase their earning rates for Membership Rewards?
With the bonus, you’ll essentially jump to 4.5 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, 3 points per dollar spent at U.S. gas stations and 1.5 points per dollar spent on everything else, taking these earning rates from decent to great.
Ways to maximize the Amex EveryDay Preferred bonus
For some of us, hitting 30 transactions on the Amex EveryDay Preferred is a walk in the park. For others, it’s more difficult. If you fall into the latter camp, we’re here to help you maximize the 50% bonus on this card.
OLGA ROLENKO/GETTY IMAGES
There are two directions you can take to ensure you hit the 30-transaction minimum. The first strategy is an easy behavioral change, slightly shifting how you make purchases throughout your day-to-day. The second strategy is a great way to “top off” your transactions at the end of the month should you fall slightly short of 30.
Change your purchase behavior
Altering how you buy things may sound like a complex goal, but in practice, it’s simple. It shouldn’t involve spending more money — rather, it’s about breaking up or switching your purchasing habits.
Remember, making more transactions does not have to mean spending more. Here are a few examples:
Reload your Amazon gift card balance in small increments
Add a few dollars worth of gas to your tank. Hit another gas station later and do the same
Pay for subscription services with the Amex EveryDay instead of a nonbonus card
Use your credit card instead of using cash (i.e., at a vending machine)
You could also consider making small donations to organizations that need support. It’s an easy way to hit your transaction minimum while helping others.
Here’s one thing to keep in mind, though: Amex says some merchants may “combine separate charges into a single transaction before submitting it to us.” This might occur even if you complete multiple transactions over “one or more days.” In that case, Amex will treat the combined transactions as one purchase toward your required 30.
A fee is involved when paying bills with a credit card, but if you’re approaching the deadline for hitting your transaction requirement and falling short, using Plastiq works in a pinch.
WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES
Plastiq enables you to use credit cards to pay bills you normally wouldn’t be able to put on a card — such as rent, taxes or utility bills.
If paying these bills with your Amex EveryDay Preferred puts you over the top for the monthly bonus, you’ll get an effective return of 1.5 points per dollar spent on Plastiq transactions. Those Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents apiece, according to TPG's November 2024 valuations.
But what about the fees? Because Plastiq charges a 2.9% fee per transaction when you use a credit card, you’d typically spend more in fees than you would get in rewards with most credit cards, including the Amex EveryDay Preferred.
But if you earn that monthly bonus across all your transactions due to paying a few bills with Plastiq, you may actually earn much more in total rewards than you spend on the fee.
For instance, let’s say you spend $1,000 a month on the Amex EveryDay Preferred* — $100 on groceries (3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent, then 1 point per dollar at U.S. supermarkets), $100 on filling up your car (2 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations), and $800 on nonbonus spend for a total of 1,300 Membership Rewards points.
But you only have 28 monthly transactions, so you won’t get the 50% bonus points. So you use Plastiq to pay your electric bill for $75 and your gas bill for another $25 to make it to the full 30 transactions. Plastiq transactions themselves only earn 1 point per dollar, so that extra $100 only gets you another 100 base points.
But now that you’re at 30 transactions, you get an additional 50% bonus on the entire 1,400 base Membership Rewards points, meaning an extra 700 points. Those 700 points are worth $14, based on our November 2024 valuations, while the 2.5% fee you paid Plastiq for the extra $100 in transactions is only $2.50.
That’s how the EveryDay Preferred can make paying expenses with Plastiq a more attractive option than it normally would be.
Bottom line
Sticking to a strategy of spreading out your purchases is your best option for hitting the 30-transaction minimum on the Amex EveryDay Preferred. You’ll want to have those extra transactions to earn lucrative Membership Rewards bonuses. Just a little extra effort can get you a 50% bump in points — and closer to your dream redemption goals.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
