Pay Recurring Expenses With a Credit Card: How to Earn Miles & Points Passively (2026)

Quick answer: Yes, you can earn miles and points on your monthly recurring expenses. Streaming services and insurers accept credit cards directly. And there’s a system that lets you earn points on all of your recurring expenses - including rent, electricity, the GEZ broadcasting fee, and every direct debit - via AMEX or M&M cards. With €2,000 in recurring expenses, up to 36,000 points/year are possible. You’ll find the complete guide in the Premium Handbook.

Every month, hundreds to thousands of euros go toward recurring expenses: rent, electricity, internet, insurance, streaming, your phone plan. Money you’re spending anyway. The question is: Are you earning points on it - or giving them away?

Most people pay their recurring expenses by direct debit or standing order - and leave thousands of miles on the table every year. In this guide I’ll show you 3 strategies for turning your ongoing costs into valuable miles and points.

Why recurring expenses are the smartest source of miles

Recurring expenses have one decisive advantage over one-time purchases: they’re predictable and recurring.

• No forced consumption: You don’t buy anything extra - the expenses happen anyway
• Automatic earning: Set it up once, and it runs every month
• High totals: Most households have €1,000-2,500 in monthly recurring expenses
• Bonus effect: Recurring expenses help you hit the minimum spend for welcome bonuses

What does that mean concretely?

Monthly recurring expenses	Points/year (1 MR/€)	Points/year (1.5 MR/€ with Turbo)
€1,000	12,000 MR	18,000 MR
€1,500	18,000 MR	27,000 MR
€2,000	24,000 MR	36,000 MR
€2,500	30,000 MR	45,000 MR

36,000 MR is enough for a business class flight within Europe or a long-haul economy flight. And you didn’t spend a single cent more than usual to get it.

Which recurring expenses accept credit cards?

Not every bill can be paid by credit card. Here’s the complete overview:

Possible directly by credit card

Category	Examples	AMEX?	M&M (Mastercard)?
Streaming	Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, YouTube Premium, DAZN, Apple TV+	Yes	Yes
Cloud & Software	iCloud, Google One, Microsoft 365, Dropbox, Adobe	Yes	Yes
Online subscriptions	Amazon Prime, Audible, Kindle Unlimited, ChatGPT Plus	Yes	Yes
Mobile (prepaid)	Telekom (via MultiGuthaben), congstar, fraenk	Yes	Yes
Mobile (contract)	Some providers when ordering online	Partially	Yes
Landline / DSL	Telekom (via MultiGuthaben, up to €60/month)	Yes	Yes
Insurance	HUK24, Allianz Direct, CosmosDirekt, Friday, Getsafe	Partially	Yes
Fitness	Urban Sports Club, Peloton, Freeletics	Yes	Yes
Delivery services	HelloFresh, Wolt, Lieferando (subscription)	Yes	Yes
Parking / Mobility	FREENOW, SIXT+, Share Now, ADAC	Yes	Yes

Not possible directly by credit card - but still solvable

Category	Why not directly?	Is there a solution?
Rent	Landlord only accepts SEPA	✅ Yes - see below
Electricity / Gas	Most providers only SEPA direct debit	✅ Yes - see below
Internet	Often SEPA only	✅ Yes - see below
GEZ / broadcasting fee	SEPA or bank transfer only	✅ Yes - see below
Insurance (SEPA)	Many only by direct debit	✅ Yes - see below

The good news: Yes, there’s a solution for all of these recurring expenses too. There’s a system that makes literally all of your recurring expenses earn points - whether direct debit, bank transfer, or standing order. And it works with AMEX and Miles & More cards - you decide for yourself which points you want to earn. You’ll find the complete step-by-step guide in the Premium Handbook. Further down, we’ll also show you a free workaround via Revolut - but that one is far more limited.

Strategy 1: Maximize direct card payments

The simplest strategy: switch every bill that accepts credit cards over to your points-earning card.

Step 1: Switch streaming and subscriptions

Go into the settings of your services and change the payment method:

• Netflix → Settings → Change payment method
• Spotify → Account → Payment details
• Amazon Prime → Account → Manage payment method
• Disney+, YouTube Premium, Apple TV+ → Payment settings

Earning potential:

Service	Cost/month	MR/year (1x)	MR/year (1.5x Turbo)
Netflix Premium (4K)	€17.99	216	324
Spotify Family	€17.99	216	324
Amazon Prime	€8.99	108	162
Disney+ Standard	€8.99	108	162
DAZN Standard	€14.99	180	270
ChatGPT Plus	€20.00	240	360
iCloud+ 200GB	€3.99	48	72
Total	€92.95	1,116	1,674

Nearly 1,700 MR from streaming and AI tools alone - and that’s just the start.

Step 2: Switch insurance policies

Many online insurers accept credit card payment. The next time you switch policies, look for a provider that takes cards:

• Personal liability (€5-10/month) → Getsafe, Friday, HUK24
• Home contents (€10-20/month) → Allianz Direct, CosmosDirekt
• Auto (€50-120/month) → Some direct insurers
• Supplemental dental (€15-35/month) → DentNet, Ottonova
• Disability insurance (€30-80/month) → Some providers online

Earning potential: At €150 in monthly insurance premiums = 1,800 MR/year (or 2,700 with Turbo).

Step 3: Optimize mobile and landline

The Telekom bill - mobile and landline - can be paid with AMEX via a clever workaround: the MultiGuthaben strategy. With it you can cover up to €50/month on mobile and up to €60/month on landline with your AMEX card. Other prepaid providers (congstar, fraenk) also accept credit cards directly.

Earning potential: At €60 mobile + €50 landline (€110 total) = 1,320 MR/year (or 1,980 with Turbo).

Strategy 1 summary

Category	Typical/month	MR/year	MR/year (Turbo)
Streaming & subscriptions	€95	1,140	1,710
Insurance	€150	1,800	2,700
Mobile & landline	€110	1,320	1,980
Software & Cloud	€30	360	540
Fitness & Mobility	€65	780	1,170
Total	€450	5,400	8,100

Realistically: With Strategy 1 alone, you earn 5,000-8,000 MR per year on recurring expenses. That’s a solid foundation - but the biggest items (rent, electricity) are still missing.

Strategy 2: The Revolut method for rent and bank transfers

This is where it gets really interesting. With Revolut you can also pay recurring expenses that normally only run by bank transfer or direct debit - and earn Miles & More miles in the process.

How it works

1. You top up your Revolut account with your Miles & More credit card (= card spend → miles)
2. You transfer the money from Revolut to your landlord, electricity provider, etc. (= normal SEPA bank transfer)

The result: Your rent and other SEPA bills earn you Miles & More miles - even though the landlord doesn’t accept credit cards at all.

By the way: In the US, “points on rent” has long been a product of its own - read how the US program Bilt Rewards works and what Germans can learn from it in the guide Bilt Rewards for Germans.

Limits and fees (As of 2026)

Since Deutsche Bank took over the Miles & More credit cards (October 2025), the Revolut method works again. But there are important differences between personal and business cards:

	M&M Personal Cards	M&M Business Cards
Top-up limit	€5,000/month	No limit
Revolut fee	None	1.33%
Earn rate	1 mile/€2	1 mile/€1
Max. miles/month	2,500	Unlimited
Card fee	from €5.50/month	from €5.50/month

Worked example: rent via Revolut

With M&M Blue Personal (€5.50/month):

Item	Amount	Miles
Rent	€1,400	700
Electricity/Gas	€200	100
Internet	€50	25
Month	€1,650	825
Year	€19,800	9,900

Cost: €66/year card fee. Gain: 9,900 miles (value: ~€149-297 with a business class redemption).

With M&M Blue Business (€5.50/month, self-employed):

Item	Amount	Miles	Revolut fee
Rent	€1,400	1,400	€18.62
Electricity/Gas	€200	200	€2.66
Internet	€50	50	€0.67
Month	€1,650	1,650	€21.95
Year	€19,800	19,800	€263.34

Cost: €66 card + €263 Revolut fee = €329/year. Gain: 19,800 miles (value: ~€297-594 with a business class redemption).

Is the Revolut fee worth it on business cards?

The 1.33% fee equals 1.33 cents per mile. That’s cheap if you redeem miles for high value:

Redemption type	Mile value	Worth the Revolut fee?
Economy award flight	~1 cent/mile	No (just below cost)
Business class award flight	~1.5-2.5 cents/mile	Yes
First class award flight	~2-4 cents/mile	Definitely

Rule of thumb: If you redeem miles for business or first class, the Revolut fee is worth it. For economy redemptions it’s marginal. More on mile value: What is a mile worth? The Mile Value Calculator

Important notes on the Revolut method

• Revolut account required: You need a free Revolut account (Standard is enough)
• Top-up counts as a card payment: Topping up via M&M credit card is treated as normal card spend → miles
• AMEX does NOT work: Revolut doesn’t accept American Express cards for top-ups
• M&M miles only: This method works exclusively with Miles & More credit cards (Mastercard)
• Check regularly: Limits and fees can change

Terms-of-service gray area: is the Revolut method allowed?

An important point that most blogs leave out: the Revolut terms of service (as of February 2026, §11) explicitly prohibit:

• “Looping” - i.e., repeatedly topping up and forwarding money
• The “mere transfer of money from or to a credit card account”

At the same time, §12 explicitly permits topping up by credit card. The Revolut method therefore sits in a gray area. As long as you also use Revolut as a normal account (not just as a pass-through station), the risk is low - but Revolut could in theory restrict or close your account if they spot the pattern.

What this means concretely: The Revolut method works - but you have no guarantee it stays that way permanently. Revolut can change the rules at any time or block your account.

What you can pay with the Revolut method

Anything that runs via SEPA bank transfer:

• Rent (the biggest item! Details in the special guide: Pay rent with a credit card)
• Electricity / Gas
• Internet / DSL
• GEZ / broadcasting fee
• Club membership dues
• Everything else (standing orders, one-time transfers)

The limits of the Revolut method

The Revolut method is a good start - but it has clear limitations:

1. Terms-of-service gray area: As described above - Revolut prohibits “looping” and the “mere transfer from/to a credit card account.” You’re operating in a gray area with no guarantee.

2. Miles & More miles only: Revolut doesn’t accept AMEX cards. You can only earn M&M miles - the more flexible AMEX MR system is left out.

3. Weak earn rate on personal cards: With the M&M personal card you only earn 1 mile per €2. With business cards (1 mile/€1) it’s better, but you pay the 1.33% Revolut fee.

4. Limits: Personal cards are capped at €5,000/month. Anyone with higher recurring expenses hits the ceiling quickly.

What if there were a method that let you run all of your recurring expenses - rent, electricity, gas, internet, insurance, GEZ - through your credit card? Yes, it exists. And it works with AMEX as well as Miles & More - significantly safer than Revolut, without the €5,000 limit and without the 1.33% fee.

[HIGHLIGHT] Want the complete recurring-expenses hack? In the Premium Bundle we show you step by step how to turn all of your recurring expenses - rent, electricity, gas, GEZ - into miles. With €2,000 in recurring expenses, up to 36,000 points/year are possible. Set it up once, and it runs automatically. To the Premium Bundle (€99) →

Strategy 3: The recurring-expenses hack (all recurring expenses, including direct debit & bank transfer)

This is where the free part of this guide ends - and where the decisive difference begins.

There’s a system that lets you run all of your recurring expenses - rent, electricity, gas, internet, insurance, GEZ, literally anything that runs by direct debit or bank transfer - through your credit card. It works with AMEX and Miles & More cards alike. And unlike the Revolut method: no “looping” violation, significantly lower risk. Important: regular card spend should predominate - the card issuer reserves the right to terminate in cases of pure abuse. In the handbook we show you how to maintain the right ratio.

Why AMEX with Turbo is the optimal choice:

The recurring-expenses hack works with any card - but the earn rate makes the difference:

Card	Earn rate	At €2,000/month	Value/year*
M&M Personal	1 mile/€2	12,000 miles/year	€180-360
M&M Business	1 mile/€1	24,000 miles/year	€360-720
AMEX (without Turbo)	1 MR/€	24,000 MR/year	€360-720
AMEX (with Turbo)	1.5 MR/€	36,000 MR/year	€540-1,080

*At 1.5-3 cents/point (business/first class redemption)

With AMEX and the Punkteturbo (€15/year) you earn 3x as many points on the same €2,000 in recurring expenses as with an M&M personal card - and AMEX MR are also more flexible on top (transferable to 10 airlines instead of just Lufthansa/Star Alliance).

What’s in the Premium Handbook:

• Step-by-step guide: Exactly which accounts, tools, and providers you need (setup in under 30 minutes)
• All recurring expenses covered - rent, electricity, gas, internet, insurance, GEZ - everything that normally only runs by direct debit or bank transfer now earns points
• Works with AMEX and M&M - you choose which points you want to earn
• Significantly safer than Revolut - no “looping” violation, regular payment channels. Important: regular card spend should predominate (in the handbook we explain the optimal ratio)
• Cost comparison: What the system costs (under €10/month) and from what amount of recurring expenses it pays off
• Concrete worked examples: €2,000 recurring expenses → up to 36,000 MR/year (with AMEX Turbo) = ~€540-1,080 value
• Minimum-spend trick: How to hit 80% of the AMEX Platinum Business minimum spend with recurring expenses alone
• The optimal combination of direct payment, Revolut, and the recurring-expenses hack

For comparison: With Revolut and an M&M personal card you earn about 12,000 miles/year on €2,000 in recurring expenses - in a terms-of-service gray area. With the recurring-expenses hack and AMEX Turbo, it’s up to 36,000 MR - three times as much, in the more flexible currency, and at significantly lower risk. Even with M&M cards you earn twice as much via the recurring-expenses hack as via Revolut - without the 1.33% fee. The complete recurring-expenses hack is part of the Premium Bundle (€99) - together with 12 more chapters, the 6-month master plan, and the AudioBook.

Total calculation: what’s realistic?

Here’s the comparison of what you can earn with the different strategies:

Example household: €2,000 in monthly recurring expenses

Strategy	Miles/year	Cost	Mile value*
Strategy 1 only (direct payment, ~€450)	5,400-8,100	€0	€81-243
Strategy 1+2 (+ Revolut Personal, ~€2,000)	14,700-17,400	€66	€221-522
Strategy 1+2 (+ Revolut Business, ~€2,000)	24,000-26,700	€330	€360-801
Strategy 1+2+3 (Premium Handbook)	up to 36,000+ MR	under €100	€540-1,080

*Mile value at 1.5-3 cents/mile (business/first class redemption)

The difference is enormous: With the free methods you earn 15,000-18,000 miles/year. With the recurring-expenses hack from the Premium Handbook it’s over 36,000 points - either AMEX MR or M&M miles, depending on the card. With AMEX and Turbo you reach the highest earn rate and the most flexible currency. That’s up to €1,080 in value per year, from money you’re spending anyway.

The right card for recurring expenses

Not every credit card is equally suited to recurring expenses. Here’s the recommendation depending on your situation:

For direct card payments (Strategy 1)

Here you want the highest earn rate on everyday card payments:

• AMEX Gold* (€240/year) - 1 MR per euro, 50,000 MR welcome bonus, and with the Punkteturbo (€15/year) even 1.5 MR per euro
• AMEX Platinum Business* (€850/year) - 1-1.5 MR per euro, 200,000 MR welcome bonus

For the Revolut method (Strategy 2)

Here you need a Miles & More credit card (Mastercard):

• M&M Blue Personal (€5.50/month) - Cheapest entry, €5,000 Revolut limit
• M&M Blue Business (€5.50/month) - Double earn rate (1 mile/€1), no Revolut limit

The optimal combination

With the recurring-expenses hack from the Premium Handbook you can run all of your recurring expenses through a single card - AMEX or M&M. No Revolut, no limits. That simplifies your setup enormously.

Beginner setup (with Premium Handbook):

1. AMEX Gold* + Punkteturbo → All recurring expenses via AMEX MR (1.5 MR/€)
2. PAYBACK AMEX* (free) → Earn PAYBACK and transfer to M&M

Maximizer setup (self-employed, with Premium Handbook):

1. AMEX Platinum Business* + Punkteturbo → All recurring expenses via AMEX MR (1.5 MR/€) + travel benefits
2. PAYBACK AMEX* (free) → PAYBACK to M&M transfer

Free setup (without Premium Handbook):

1. AMEX Gold* → Streaming, subscriptions, insurance (AMEX MR)
2. M&M Blue Personal → Revolut workaround for rent/electricity (limited, M&M only)

More on card combinations: The 5 best credit cards for earning miles | Which AMEX fits me?

Recurring expenses and welcome bonuses: double benefit

An often-overlooked advantage: recurring expenses help you meet the spend requirements for welcome bonuses - without spending extra money.

Card	Welcome bonus	Minimum spend	Period
AMEX Gold*	50,000 MR	€5,000	6 months
AMEX Platinum Personal*	85,000 MR	€10,000	6 months
AMEX Platinum Business*	200,000 MR	€15,000	6 months

With €450 in monthly recurring expenses on AMEX (streaming, insurance, mobile, landline) you’ve already covered €2,700 of the minimum spend in 6 months - automatically and without forced consumption.

More on this: Credit cards with a welcome bonus 2026 | AMEX Gold review

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can you pay rent with a credit card?

Not directly - in Germany, landlords accept almost exclusively SEPA direct debit or bank transfer. But there are systems with which rent and other direct debits earn credit card points - both with AMEX and with Miles & More cards. Revolut is a limited workaround (M&M only, capped). You’ll find the complete system for all recurring expenses in the Premium Handbook.

Which recurring expenses can you pay with AMEX?

Directly, many online services accept AMEX: Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Amazon Prime, YouTube Premium, iCloud, Google One, and more streaming and subscription services. Some insurers (HUK24, Allianz Direct) and prepaid mobile (Telekom via MultiGuthaben) also work. For rent, electricity, and gas, AMEX isn’t accepted directly - but there are advanced methods with which these recurring expenses also earn AMEX MR. The instructions are in the Premium Handbook.

Is Revolut worth it for earning miles?

Revolut is a free workaround with limitations. With personal cards (no fee, max. €5,000/month) you earn M&M miles on recurring expenses that otherwise earn zero points. With business cards (1.33% fee, no limit) it’s worth it for business/first-class redemptions. Important: The Revolut terms of service prohibit “looping” and the “mere transfer from/to a credit card account” - the method sits in a gray area. Anyone looking for a safer alternative will find a system with significantly lower risk in the Premium Handbook, one that also works with AMEX and M&M.

How many miles can you earn with recurring expenses?

That depends on your recurring expenses and the strategy you choose. A typical household with €2,000 in monthly recurring expenses can earn 14,000-27,000 miles per year with the free methods (direct payment + Revolut). With the recurring-expenses hack from the Premium Handbook, up to 36,000 points per year are possible - either AMEX MR or Miles & More miles, depending on the card. With AMEX and Turbo you reach the highest rate.

What is the recurring-expenses hack?

The recurring-expenses hack is a system that turns all of your monthly recurring expenses into credit card points - including rent, electricity, gas, internet, and all the other items that normally only run by direct debit or bank transfer. The system works with AMEX and Miles & More cards alike. The kicker: with AMEX and the Punkteturbo (€15/year) you reach 1.5 MR per euro - 3x more than with an M&M personal card via Revolut, and in the more flexible currency (10 airline partners). You’ll find the complete step-by-step guide in the Premium Handbook.

Which credit card is the best for recurring expenses?

For direct card payments (streaming, subscriptions, insurance): the AMEX Gold* with 1-1.5 MR per euro. For all recurring expenses (incl. rent, electricity, direct debits): the system from the Premium Handbook - works with AMEX and M&M cards. The optimum is a combination with AMEX (with Turbo) for maximum points.

Conclusion: recurring expenses are your mile machine

Your monthly recurring expenses are the most consistent source of miles and points. Unlike welcome bonuses (one-time) or shopping promotions (irregular), recurring expenses happen every month - automatically and with no extra effort.

The 3 levels:

1. Beginner: Switch streaming, subscriptions, and Telekom to AMEX → 3,000-5,000 MR/year (free, immediately doable)
2. Advanced: Revolut as a workaround for individual bank transfers → limited, Miles & More only
3. Pro: Recurring-expenses hack from the Premium Handbook → up to 36,000+ points/year (all recurring expenses incl. direct debit & bank transfer, works with AMEX and M&M)

Start with level 1 - it takes 10 minutes and costs nothing.

But the real game changer is level 3: The recurring-expenses hack from the Premium Handbook covers all of your recurring expenses - rent, electricity, gas, internet, insurance, GEZ - everything that normally only runs by direct debit or bank transfer. And it works with AMEX and Miles & More cards. With AMEX and the Punkteturbo you reach the maximum earn rate of 1.5 MR per euro - with €2,000 in recurring expenses that’s up to 36,000 MR/year. The difference vs. Revolut? Instead of 12,000 M&M miles, you earn up to 36,000 AMEX MR - 3x more, in the more flexible currency.

You’ll find the complete recurring-expenses hack with step-by-step instructions, all providers, and concrete worked examples in the Premium Bundle (€99) - together with 12 more strategies, the 6-month master plan, and the AudioBook to listen to.

Further reading:

• Earning miles: The 7 best methods 2026 - The complete overview of all earning strategies
• Activate the AMEX Punkteturbo - 1.5 MR per euro on all recurring expenses
• Bilt Rewards for Germans - Points on rent, the US model
• Reduce the Telekom bill with AMEX - The MultiGuthaben strategy