Moving across the country is expensive, but with strategy it can become a major opportunity to earn points, miles and cash back. Between movers, travel, furniture, appliances and essentials, spending adds up fast — and the right cards can turn that spending into significant rewards. Pair your existing cards with one or two new ones offering generous welcome bonuses, and you can transform a costly transition into a points-earning event.
Maximizing current cards during your move
First, know which of your current cards earns the most in each category. Cards like the American Express® Gold Card reward dining and U.S. supermarket purchases, which is helpful for the takeout and grocery runs that spike during a move. Flat-rate cards such as the Citi Double Cash® Card (effectively 2% cash back) or the Capital One Venture X (2x miles per dollar on everyday purchases) are ideal for general moving expenses — supplies, furniture and appliances — that don’t fit into special bonus categories.
If your move includes hotels or flights, charge travel expenses to a travel-bonus card like Chase Sapphire Preferred® to earn elevated points and use any travel credits available. Redeeming points for a night’s stay along the route can save substantial cash out of pocket. Also check cards for purchase protection and extended warranties when buying big-ticket items.
Watch for rotating or limited-time bonus categories: some cards offer elevated earnings at home improvement stores or gas stations. Match each purchase to the card that earns the most.
Maximize rent or mortgage payments — Bilt
Housing is a major monthly expense. The Bilt Mastercard® (currently paused for new applications until February 2026) is notable for earning points on rent with no transaction fees under its current version. Bilt Rewards transfer to several airline and hotel partners. Starting February 2026, the refreshed Bilt Mastercard 2.0 will let cardholders earn points on eligible mortgage payments, meaning both renters and homeowners can earn on a major bill.
Using new cards to unlock big welcome bonuses
A cross-country move is one of the best times to chase lucrative welcome bonuses because large, unavoidable expenses can help you meet minimum spend thresholds quickly. Time applications strategically: if you’ll be buying furniture, appliances and booking travel in quick succession, stagger new-card openings so each set of purchases fulfills different welcome offers rather than overlapping.
Personal example: by aligning early moving expenses (hotels, gas, furniture) to hit a large United Quest℠ Card welcome bonus, then shifting spending to a Venture X welcome offer for furniture and appliances, it’s possible to earn well over 200,000 points and miles from a single move — rewards that can fund big trips later.
Use shopping portals and stackable offers to supercharge earnings
Don’t overlook airline shopping portals, cash-back portals and targeted card offers when buying moving-related items like furniture, decor and electronics. Examples include:
– Airline shopping portals (e.g., United MileagePlus Shopping, AAdvantage eShopping)
– Rakuten, which can pay in points for certain programs
– Card-linked merchant offers (Amex Offers, Chase Offers, Citi Merchant Offers) that often include discounts at home improvement stores, furniture retailers and big-box chains
Stack these portals and merchant offers with the right credit card to multiply the rewards. Retailers commonly appearing on portals — Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy, Target, Wayfair, Macy’s — are frequent moving-related purchases.
Tips for organizing your spending
– Track everything: use a spreadsheet to separate moving-related purchases so you can ensure they count toward welcome bonuses.
– Know your categories: monitor bonus categories like home improvement, general purchases and travel. Use the card that earns the most for each category.
– Keep receipts: save documentation for all expenses; you may need it to confirm eligibility for welcome offers or for reimbursements.
Bottom line
With planning and discipline, a cross-country move can net a sizable haul of rewards. Combine current cards with well-timed new-card welcome bonuses, use portals and targeted offers, and organize your spending to make every dollar work harder. Track your progress, plan ahead and take advantage of stacking opportunities — your next move could pay off in more ways than one.
