How do I maximize household expenses through credit cards?

After 10 years of homeownership, I’ve had my fair share of expensive expenses.

Is the washing machine not completing a wash cycle? It will be $330 for labor and parts exchange. Does the fireplace not stay lit? Goodbye $460 for cleaning and inspection, plus another $900 for a new pilot light.

Then there are the endless water heater problems that seem to cost me over $1,000 every two years.

Unexpected financial blows are common when it comes to homeownership. But with the right strategy, they can also create opportunities.

In fact, a major home renovation is the exact reason I recently added so much of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) and the United Club Card℠ (see rates and fees) to my wallet.

With thousands of dollars in spending on the horizon, I realized I could use those unavoidable expenses to earn enough points and miles for a business class trip on my bucket list.

Here’s how I’ve handled housing expenses so far and why this important project led to a change in my strategy.

My original strategy with cards for household expenses

because I prefer travel rewards cards who earn points and miles over those who earn cash backI added the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to my wallet shortly after becoming a homeowner.

The card offered benefits I knew I would use, including a $300 Capital One Annual Travel Credit applies to bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal and lounge access at both of my home airports, plus a simple earning structure that works well for daily expense.

You will win:

• 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases

The latter earning rate for all other purchases is what especially caught my attention, as this general everyday spending category offers more miles per dollar than you’ll earn with many other general travel cards.

Although I knew that I would take advantage of it to pet related purchases and other items that are rarely included as a high-earning rate category, I also liked having a reliable card for big home-related expenses, from annual maintenance to unexpected repairs.

Related: 9 things you didn’t know you could pay with a credit card

Why I have recently reevaluated my approach

trusting me Company X for home related purchases over the past few years it has served me well so far.

In fact, I’ve earned enough miles to cover several nights of a week-long stay at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion in Barbados and partially cover an upcoming five-night stay at Amansara in Cambodia, both through Fixed-value redemption option to “cover travel purchases” from Capital One.

Knowing that I was about to begin a major home renovation project in the form of a complete renovation of my kitchen, from the ground up, along with major updates to my living room, it seemed like the perfect time to add another card to my wallet. After all, I knew that a few appliance purchases could easily satisfy the spending requirement for a new premium credit cardWelcome bonus.

Naturally, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® became a leader, thanks to your best current welcome offer 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Although I already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) – and the Sapphire Reserve’s high $795 annual fee requires careful planning with expenses to justify, due to Chase update Sapphire Bonus RulesI was eligible for the Reserve welcome offer, which made the decision much easier.

2 bonuses are better than 1

Since I had owned most of my furniture for a decade, replacing it along with renovating suddenly made sense. I wanted my home decor to match the new cabinets, stone, paint and appliances I selected.

That’s when I realized I could potentially earn a second welcome bonus for a limited timealso.

After considering a few cards, I finally decided on the United Club Card℠.

At the time I applied, the card offered the opportunity to earn 100,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening (no longer available).

Because United Airlines has a significant presence at Dulles International Airport (IAD), a hub I use frequently due to its proximity to Washington, DC, and which has become one of my favorite airlines, the card immediately caught my attention despite its high annual fee of $695.

That’s when things really clicked.

If you successfully earned both bonuses, you would earn at least 100,000 miles with the United Club Card and 150,000 points with the Sapphire Reserve, the latter of which you could transfer to United Mileage Plusto Chase Transfer Partnerfor a total of 250,000 miles.

Don’t say more. Within a few days of finding out, I applied for both cards.

Related: Can you pay your rent or mortgage with a credit card? Everything you need to know

How I plan to spend most of my points and miles

It didn’t take me long to meet the spending requirements for my United Club CardWelcome offer. Just 24 hours after receiving the card in the mail, I purchased five new appliances. Within days, the 3,000 PQP offer appeared in my MileagePlus account, and after my first billing cycle, the 100,000 miles were deposited.

Once I earn 150,000 points with my Chase Sapphire Reserve and transfer them to my MileagePlus account, I have big plans for how I’ll use most of the miles.

After visiting Asia for the first time this year, I already have my sights set on another new-to-me continent for 2027: South America.

As an architecture aficionado and lover of remote destinations that have not been ruined by overtourism, I have long wanted to visit Easter Island.

Rapa Nui, as it is known locally, is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world and can only be reached by air from Santiago, Chile, or via select world cruise itineraries.

A world cruise is out of reach, so I’ll fly from DC to Easter Island, with connections in Houston and Santiago, to finally see the island’s iconic moai in person.

United miles will not cover the Santiago to Easter Island segment on LATAM, but may cover the rest of the itinerary, including a nine-plus hour business class flight from Houston to Santiago. Since the trip is priced at nearly $11,500 cash, it’s exactly the kind of trade-in that makes my home renovation expense worth it.

Related: Turn Miles into Adventure: How to Travel to South America with Alaska Airlines Miles

In a nutshell

Owning a home comes with a lot to celebrate and a lot of expenses.

While there is no way to avoid the cost of maintaining and improving a home, there are ways to get more value from that expense.

In my case, a major renovation project is helping turn thousands of dollars in living expenses into a dream trip to Easter Island that would have otherwise been out of reach.

Related: How my travel credit cards allow me to travel on a modest budget