This Pune-based Data Analyst Saved ₹2 Lakh in HDFC Credit Card Rewards – Here’s How He Did It

Synopsis- In one year, Suraj Talreja, a data analyst, saved ₹2 lakh in credit card rewards through a disciplined, strategic two-card strategy, and planned statutory and lifestyle spends by maximising multipliers and redeeming effectively without exceeding the normal budget.

Introduction

Credit cards have transitioned from being merely a spending tool to a strategic financial tool. Suraj Talreja, a data analyst in Pune, earned ₹2 lakh in reward points in just one year’s time, without going out of his budget for daily spending. His viral story illustrates that with some disciplined planning and smart usage, day-to-day expenses can ring in exciting financial rewards.

Meet the Man Behind the Strategy

Suraj Talreja is a data analyst from Pune with a strong understanding of financial instruments and a Structured approach to money management. His viral post describing how he earned ₹2 lakh in credit card rewards which received widespread media coverage. What makes it interesting is that it’s practicality and provides practical ideas for salaried individuals and freelancers.

A ₹2 Lakh Milestone Through Strategic Credit Card Use

Suraj Talreja was able to earn an impressive ₹2 lakh in credit card reward points in a single year, and he achieved those points without spending anything extra. Rather, he was able to maximized the value of his routine spending with a two-card strategy – the HDFC BizBlack and HDFC Infinia – that was leveraging the distinct reward structures.

Strategy in Action: The Two-Card Power Combo

1. BizBlack for Statutory Payments

Suraj Talreja strategically used statutory services, income tax, GST, and utility bills using the HDFC BizBlack card—usually overlooked for rewards. HDFC offers a 5X reward multiplier on various payment categories.

For example, if your monthly tax outflow was approximately ₹1.5 lakh, you would earn 7,500 points. For a year, this could translate into rewards worth ₹90,000 annually. This part of the plan is intended to show how statutory expenses can be a source of rewards if routed through the correct product.

2. Infinia for Lifestyle Spending

For personal expenditure and lifestyle spending, Talreja used the HDFC Infinia card. Talreja maximised returns by purchasing vouchers using the SmartBuy and GYFTR platforms.

Some key examples include Myntra (5x points), Pharmeasy (10x points), Swiggy (5x points). By targeting categories with higher end multipliers, he regularly reached the 15,000-point monthly cap, worth ₹1,00,000 annually. This demonstrates the power of routing daily spends through reward-optimised platforms.

Smart Redemption Strategy

1. Extracting Full Value per Point: Suraj Talreja strategically redeem them at ₹1 per point from the HDFC SmartBuy portal. It is an efficient way of redeeming than taking cashback or gift cards, which typically offer reduced value. 

2. Travel Redemptions: He prioritised redeeming points for flight tickets or hotel bookings, using everyday expenses for better travel deals without spending cash.

3. Avoiding Mistakes: He avoided the mistake of a typical user avoiding redeeming or converting to a lower value before the expiry. The strategy ensured the full value of the rewards earned.

4. Redeeming with the future in mind: With Infinia and BizBlack points valid for three years, Talreja knew how to plan his redemptions based on any big travel plans, maximising the value of his accumulated rewards. 

5. Maximising Accumulation & Timing: Instead of converting consistently on time, Talreja chose to accumulate points over time, allowing him the flexibility to redeem them at optimal times.

Also read: Best 5 UPI-Linked RuPay Credit Cards in India 2025 – Which One Should You Choose?

Key Lessons for Users

A. Spend Intelligently, Not More

The number one insight Talreja provided was maintaining spending discipline. He did not increase his spending but used available funds optimally.

B. Know Reward Limits

Knowing limits like Infinia’s 15,000-point monthly bonus is important as well. Knowing limits prevents a person from going overboard when it comes to spending, thus incurring expenses that exceed reward-generating thresholds.

C. Vouchers and Multipliers

Even when we use vouchers routinely, especially if they are redeemable at portals that offer an equally high dollar multiplier for points, they carry substantial value. 

D. Track Everything.

Tracking your spending by categories and portals, and time guarantees smarter redemption.

E. Own the Rewards.

Try to own the points as they represent money – plan to use the points – plan their usage as you would any other financial asset. 

Conclusion

Suraj Talreja’s disciplined credit card approach demonstrates that mindful use of rewards and material can turn regular expenses into real opportunities for creating wealth. His example encourages users to analyze their own cards and spending behaviors to maximize their upside financially.

Written by N G Sai Rohith