Christine
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to make a purchase, this is it.
Rakuten Big Give Week (May 4–11) is one of the best opportunities all year to rack up serious rewards on everyday spending. We’re seeing 15x–20x points per dollar at popular retailers—levels that can rival welcome bonuses when used strategically.
And the best part? These are purchases you were probably already planning to make.
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Why This Week Matters
Most of the year, Rakuten typically offers modest returns—think 1x–5x. These occasionally go higher, but you have to catch these and they change without warning. During Big Give Week, those numbers jump dramatically and you know you have the week to plan your shopping.
That means:
A $200 purchase could earn 3,000–4,000+ points
Stack multiple purchases, and you’re suddenly looking at a free flight faster than expected.
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Where to Focus Your Spending
Some deals might rotate daily, but several retailers consistently show elevated rates during this event. Keep a close eye on:
Ulta Beauty
Adidas
Bombas
Bluemercury
Office Depot
PetSmart
Viator
Saks Fifth Avenue
These categories cover just about everything—beauty, clothing, pets, travel, and home—making it easy to find something useful.
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Don’t Forget This Easy $50 Win
If you hold American Express Platinum Card, you get up to $50 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits (biannually).
Big Give Week is the perfect time to:
Use your Saks credit
Earn elevated Rakuten points
Stack rewards for a triple dip
Just make sure you use your credit before the end of June.
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How to Maximize Your Earnings (Simple Strategy)
You don’t need anything complicated—just follow this stack:
1. Click through Rakuten
Always start your shopping trip here to activate the elevated earnings.
2. Pay with the right credit card
Use a card that earns strong points on everyday purchases or online spend.
3. Set Rakuten to earn points (not cash back)
This is where the real magic happens for travel.
4. Avoid portal stacking conflicts
You cannot double-dip with another shopping portal like Capital One Shopping—pick the best offer and stick with it.
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New to Rakuten?
If you haven’t set it up yet—or you’re still earning cash back instead of points—you’re leaving serious value on the table.
Kristen walks through exactly how to switch your account to earn travel rewards form AMEX here and for Bilt here
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Final Thoughts
Big Give Week is one of those rare moments where everyday spending turns into outsized travel rewards. Let us know in the comments how many points you earn this week!
