To hit your credit card’s sign-up bonus minimum spend, just buy, buy, buy till you get there. You must charge the required amount on purchases during the bonus period. You don’t have to pay for the purchases during the period, but you do have to make at least the minimum payments. Only purchases count toward the spending requirement, which means the following are excluded: Any checks that access your account Balance transfers Cash advances Casino gaming chips Fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable Foreign currency Interest Lottery tickets Money orders Other betting transactions Other cash-like transactions Racetrack wagers Refunds and returns Traveler’s checks Unauthorized or fraudulent charges Wire transfers Typically, sign-up bonuses appeal to consumers who are contemplating big-ticket purchases. The purchase price of these items can bring you close to the minimum spend amount or even put you over the top. It’s like getting an extra discount on stuff you needed anyway. Sign-up bonus rewards take the form of cash back, points, or miles, the same as the card’s regular rewards. There’s no difference in the redemption procedures for the sign-up bonus versus regular rewards.