There are rewards cards out there for practically every type of purchase. But not every rewards card is worth using—and you can get more out of your cards if you use them wisely.  Here are a few tips for getting the most from your rewards cards.

Pay careful attention to the fine print. Some credit cards only give you rewards if you buy certain things at certain stores. Others will not give you rewards if you carry a balance.  Still others use tricky phrasing to make your rewards look a lot bigger than they are; for example, some cards state you can earn “up to” a certain percentage of your balance back, which actually means you earn much less than that percentage unless you spend a huge amount on the card.  In addition, some rewards expire if you don’t use them by a certain time.

Check out the annual fee. Sometimes the credit card isn’t worth the money when you figure in the annual fee. Look for a credit card that offers double points or rewards and a low annual fee for the best returns.

Choose cards that give you rewards on things you need. Plenty of cards offer flashy rewards like big screen televisions and helicopter rides. But you won’t get as big a return on these as you will from a card that gives you returns on groceries and gas. Choose a card that rewards you for spending money on things you’d buy anyway, and you’ll get more bang for your buck in the long run.

Don’t be late on payments. It’s usually not a good idea to carry a balance on your rewards card-the interest rates on these cards tend to be relatively high. In addition, you could lose your earned points if you’re late on a payment. If you do miss a payment and forfeit your cards, you may be able to get them back by calling and negotiating with the credit card company.

Use different cards for different things. If you really want to maximize your rewards, you’ll need different cards for different things. There are a few cards that reward you for a range of purchases, but most have a single theme. To really get the most from them, use different rewards cards for different purchases and don’t carry a balance on any of them.

Make sure you know how to redeem your points. Sometimes this is easier said than done.  Some cards have very simple redemption processes, while others go out of their way to make it difficult.  Be sure you know how to redeem your rewards before you sign up for the card-you don’t want to find out later that it’s a hassle.

Not every rewards card will give you a good return.  Make sure you read the fine print and know the rules-and that you know exactly how you’ll be rewarded.  A card that’s hassle free and has a low annual fee is more likely to be one that’s worth using.