Most of us shell out around £650 every month on groceries and petrol. What if I told you that same spend could book your next European escape? By strategically using a rewards credit card and shopping portals, you’ll convert everyday bills into flight‑earning power, all without changing your lifestyle.
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1. Choose the right rewards card
What to look for:
- Choose the airline or hotel programme that is going to work best for your travel plans
- Flexible transfer partners. Most airlines are part of a larger programme so you can transfer, hello Star Alliance, One World and Sky Team
- No or low annual fee (or waived for the first year). This isn’t always possible, so if there is a fee make sure the fee isn’t going to write off any benefits you get!
- If you can’t be disciplined with a credit card I also have a Hilton debit card that links directly to your current account where I get Hilton Gold privileges (hello room upgrades!), points and extras!
For me my main airline programme is BA, but BA is not for everyone, so do your research and work out what is best for you. I combine my AMEX and BarclayCard spending with using the Avios shopping portal to double dip on all of my spending!
2. Enrol in a cash back and shopping portal programme
Many credit cards only reward on direct payments. A portal adds an extra layer of points on top!
- Sign up to the Avios portal if you’ve picked BA
- When shopping portals aren’t available, use a cash back portal. I use Quidco and TopCashback
- Check all portals before you even shop. You can register your cards online to even get some cashback (usually less) in store for when you really need to buy in store!
Shop as usual and enjoy earning something back for your regular spending!
3. Monthly Spend Breakdown
| Category | Monthly Spend | Points Rate | Monthly Points |
| Groceries | £400 | 2 points/ £1 | 800 |
| Travel | £250 | 2 points/ £1 | 500 |
| Total | £650 | 1,300 points |
Over a year that’s 15,600 points, which you can transfer into 12,000 Avios, enough for a one‑way flight to Paris, Barcelona, or Berlin. If you double dip on all your spending you could be earning up to 10 times this!
4. Sweeten the deal with sign up bonuses
Many cards offer a 10,000–30,000 mile bonus when you spend £2,000–£3,000 in three months. Combined with our monthly strategy, you could unlock one free return to Europe within your first year. Or even one way further afield!
5. Booking your flight
- Transfer points from your credit/debit card to the airline loyalty programme
- Search for reward seats – off peak dates often have better availability
- Cover the small taxes/fees with your card and get some extra points!
Conclusion
Your grocery list and petrol pump aren’t enemies of travel, they’re secret ticket vending machines when used wisely. With minimal fuss, you’re well on your way to sipping rosé in Provence or tapas in Madrid, all thanks to your everyday spend!
Kelly's Affordable Luxe 
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