My Favorite Financial Hack: Getting Paid for My Everyday Spending

What if you could make money from your regular, everyday expenses—like groceries, gas, and utility bills? It sounds a bit like a gimmick, but I’ve been using a simple, disciplined strategy that does just that, earning me hundreds of dollars for spending I was going to do anyway.

It’s one of my favorite financial hacks, and it all boils down to one big idea.

The Big Idea: The 0% APR Float

Here’s how it works in a nutshell:

1. Find the Right Tool: I got a credit card that offered a long 0% introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR). This means I can carry a balance for many months without paying a single cent in interest.

2. Shift My Spending: I started charging all of my normal, budgeted monthly expenses to this card instead of paying for them with my debit card or cash.

3. Create the "Float": Here’s the key step. I take the cash that I would have used to pay those bills and transfer it directly into a high-yield savings account (HYSA). This is an online savings account that pays a great interest rate—in my case, over 4%.

Essentially, the credit card company is giving me an interest-free loan. I’m letting their money cover my bills while my money sits safely in a savings account, working for me and earning interest month after month.

The Superpower: Double-Dipping with Cash Back

To make this strategy even more powerful, the card I chose also offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Now I’m double-dipping. On the exact same dollar, I’m earning:

• Interest from my cash sitting in the savings account.

• Cash Back from the credit card company.

By combining these two, I’m on track to make nearly $500 over the promotional period—all without changing my spending habits one bit.

The Rules of the Game (This is Crucial!)

This strategy is powerful, but it requires discipline. It can backfire badly if you don't follow four non-negotiable rules:

1. BUDGETING IS EVERYTHING. This only works for expenses you already have the cash for. This is NOT a way to go into debt. It’s a cash-flow strategy, not a spending strategy.

2. PAY IT ALL OFF BEFORE THE DEADLINE. You must pay the entire credit card balance in full before the 0% APR period ends. If you don’t, you’ll be hit with all the back-interest, which would wipe out your earnings instantly. I set multiple calendar alerts a month before my deadline.

3. NEVER MISS A MINIMUM PAYMENT. You still have to make the small minimum payment each month. Missing one could cancel your 0% deal. I treat this like any other bill and have it on auto-pay.

4. WATCH YOUR CREDIT. Using a large portion of a card's credit limit can temporarily lower your credit score. It bounces back once you pay it off, but it’s something to be aware of.

It might sound complicated, but it’s actually become a fun and automatic part of my financial routine. It’s a great feeling knowing that even my boring old electric bill is now helping me build my savings.