Credit card churning can be the ultimate money hack for scoring free rewards — think free flights, hotel stays, and cash bonuses. The idea is simple: sign up for a credit card to snag the juicy welcome bonus, meet the minimum spending requirement, and then cancel before the fees hit. Rinse and repeat, and you’re stacking perks like a pro. But, before becoming a certified churner (name pending), take note of the strings attached. First, always read the fine print on the credit card — banks have noticed the churning trend (thanks to the entire subreddits dedicated to it) and have tightened their rules. For example, the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard won’t reward you if you’ve had it before or cancel within 90 days. Next, consider how churning might impact your credit score — each application triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can ding your score five to 10 points. Lastly, more credit cards can put you at higher risk for debt. If that all sounds fine to you, you’re ready to churn. Our advice is to start by focusing on one rewards program (like Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy) and get cards that boost those rewards.