expenses in the coming months, if it fits in your budget. (If you spend $200/month at a grocery store, buy a $2000 gift card to that grocery store to get that spending done up front, and then use it for the rest of the year).

Also, there are some services you can use to pay bills like mortgage with a credit card for a fee. Obviously not desirable, but that fee is going to be less than the value of the bonus you are getting. You can also pay taxes to the federal government with a credit card for a fee.

Most of the other ways to manufacture credit card spending (like Amazon Payments, etc) have been closed, so it's gotta be real spending. Just make sure that any money you spend that can be on a card is put on a card (look at utility bills, cell phone, cable/internet, etc).

Just don't carry a balance on your card.