Overview:
It is wise to use credit card when purchasing big ticket spendings as it offers rewards and a flexible payment options like installments making it easier to manage our finances. Whether you’re going to travel, buy new appliances for your house, reward yourself with luxury items or be up on trend with latest gadgets, utilizing your credit card to earn cashback or miles would be very much rewarding! However, it is wise to choose an option that would fit best your big-ticket spending and consider the reward that you need. General exclusions like insurance, income tax, government services will apply – those payments are not eligible for any cashback or miles.
Also, it is wise to use a credit card with no earning cap or at least a high spending cap! Here’s the list of the best credit card for big purchase:
Best Cashback Cards for Big Purchases
You can get 8% cashback with strategic planning on your big purchases with the HSBC Live+ card at specific merchants like Amazon.sg, Courts, Best Denki via vouchers. Therefore, it sits at the top of the list in terms of cashback. 8% cashback is better than 4 miles per dollar. If you don’t want to think too much and plan your voucher buying strategy, then go with Citi SMRT card.
HSBC Live+ Card
Earn up to 5% cashback on dining, entertainment and shopping
Citi SMRT Card
Earn 5% cashback on supermarkets, online shopping, taxi rides, and SimplyGo
AMEX True Cashback Card
Earn 1.5% unlimited cashback on almost everything
DCS Ultimate Platinum Card
Earn 2% cashback on almost everything
CIMB World Mastercard
Earn unlimited 2% cashback on dining, movies and entertainment, taxi and automobile, and luxury goods
Citi Cashback+ Card
Earn 1.6% cashback on general spend
Standard Chartered Simply Cash Card
Earn 1.5% cashback with no minimum spend and no cap
Maybank XL Rewards/Cashback Card
Earn 4 miles per dollar (Rewards Card) or 5% cashback (Cashback Card) on bonus categories
Best Miles and Rewards Cards for Big Purchases
You can choose any of these entry level cards below and pay at one go for the big purchase to earn unlimited miles. However, some conditions apply.
UOB Krisflyer Card
Earn uncapped 3 miles per dollar on SIA group spend and 2.4 miles per dollar on dining, online shopping, transport & select travel with min. S$1,000 SIA spend/year.
DBS Altitude Card
Earn 1.3 miles per dollar on local spend and 2.2 miles per dollar on foreign currency spend
2 Priority Pass visits per membership year (Visa version only)
OCBC 90N Card
Earn 1.3 miles per dollar on local spend and 2.1 miles per dollar on foreign currency spend
Citi PremierMiles Card
Earn 1.2 miles per dollar on local spend and 2.2 miles per dollar on foreign currency spend
2 Priority Pass visits per calendar year
Maybank XL Rewards/Cashback Card
Earn 4 miles per dollar (Rewards Card) or 5% cashback (Cashback Card) on bonus categories
Alternative Strategy — Split Your Big Purchases through BNPL
BNPL platforms like Atome work especially well for big purchases because they help smooth out your spending without adding interest costs. Instead of paying a large lump sum upfront, you can break it into three smaller payments, making it easier to manage your cash flow while still getting what you want immediately. This can be especially useful for high-value items like gadgets, home appliances, or travel bookings — where paying in full might otherwise strain your monthly budget.
It’s a flexible, short-term financing option that gives you breathing room, letting you plan your payments around paydays or other expenses. As long as you can commit to the repayment schedule and avoid overspending, BNPL can be a smart way to handle big-ticket buys responsibly — all without paying a cent in interest.
Check the Best Cards for Buy Now Pay Later Platforms for more info:
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Card for Your Big Purchase
In conclusion, using the right credit card for your large purchases isn’t just convenient — it’s a smart financial move. When used strategically, your big spends can earn you meaningful cashback, miles, or reward points, effectively turning what could’ve been a painful expense into real savings or free flights.
If you’re after cashback, my top pick remains the Citi SMRT Card. It gives a solid 5% cashback on online purchases, whether that’s electronics, furniture, or other household must-haves — and best of all, it has no monthly cap. That’s a huge advantage when you’re making big-ticket purchases. Just make sure you hit the minimum spend of S$500 in the same month to qualify for cashback. For example, you could spend S$5,000 on a washing machine in January, skip February, and then spend S$1,000 in March on an oven — still earning cashback in the months you hit the minimum spend. However, in my review of Citi SMRT card, I also mentioned that many users reported that they did not get their cashback via Courts online as the transaction was likely processed as an offline transaction by Courts. For these, or for merchants like Amazon or Heymax vouchers, consider the HSBC Live+ card instead, which can earn up to 8% cashback on select categories.
If you’re planning to buy luxury goods like a Rolex, the CIMB World Mastercard is a great option — it offers lifestyle rewards with no spending cap. For spending below S$10,000 monthly, the DCS Ultimate Platinum Card is also a solid choice, giving you 2% cashback with minimal fuss.
Prefer earning miles instead? The UOB KrisFlyer Card offers 2.4 miles per dollar, uncapped, for eligible categories — as long as you spend at least S$1,000 yearly on Singapore Airlines, Scoot, or KrisShop. This is perfect for frequent travelers who want rewards that go the extra mile.
Now here’s where things get fun — a bonus hack for big-ticket purchases that helps you earn even more while paying less upfront: BNPL like Atome. This strategy stretches both your payments and rewards, making it ideal for expensive electronics, wedding banquets, or travel bookings.
💳 Credit cards change their T&Cs every so often and it is difficult to stay updated. That’s why I created a Telegram Broadcast where you can receive timely bite-sized updates to get the most out of your spending.
💡 We believe in always paying our credit card bills on time and in full. It is only by doing that, can we fully maximise our credit card benefits.
One Response
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