Tip: Don't be enticed by bonuses for balance transfers unless the rate, fee and introductory period for the balance transfer prove to be the best deal you can find. Otherwise, the costs from the balance transfer could more than offset the initial rebate.

Avoid taking cash advances -- introductory bonus or not -- unless you're facing an emergency. "Definitely you don't want to think of a cash advance as a way that you can rack up extra reward points because they're going to ding you with an astronomical fee, typically a minimum of 3 percent out of the gate, typically with no cap," says Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com and author of "How You Can Profit from Credit Cards." "You're going to forfeit your grace period so they're going to start hitting you with interest charges from day one, typically, when you do that advance."

These categories can have exceptions, though, so make sure you understand which purchases will earn a higher payout before using the card. For instance, purchases made at warehouse clubs, discount stores and department stores with the Citi Dividend Platinum Select MasterCard won't earn the cash-back rebate of 2 percent. See our survey results for merchant exclusions on the most popular cash-back cards.

Tip: Use our work sheet "What's the best cash-back card for you?" to determine your monthly spending in enhanced rebate categories. Look for the card that offers the highest payout for the categories your most common purchases fall under.

A few cards in our survey have 1.25 percent or 1.5 percent cash back. The TrueEarnings card from Costco and American Express delivers the highest return at 2 percent back on travel, but just 1 percent back on everything else that isn't travel or an everyday purchase. Everyday purchases earn 3 percent with this card.

With the exception of the HSBC American Express with Plus Rewards card, which has a straightforward 1.25 percent back on every purchase, the other cards that have 1.25 percent or 1.5 percent cash back have reward tiers. With a tiered cash-back card, you won't start earning the higher payout until you spend a certain amount on the card. For instance, to get the higher rate of 1.5 percent cash back on all other purchases using Blue Cash from American Express, you have to spend more than $6,500. Before that, you'll earn a mere 0.5 percent.

Tip: Consider your spending habits to see whether a tiered card would benefit you. "Big spenders can potentially see their rewards increase exponentially by picking a tiered card that is consistent with their spending habits," says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com.

To find out when you would hit the higher tier for other purchases, use our work sheet, "What's the best cash-back card for you?"

For instance, Capital One's No Hassle Cash Rewards MasterCard for those with average credit has a 25 percent annual bonus on cash earned during the year.

Cash-back Discover cardholders using the company's exclusive shopping Web site can earn 5 percent to 20 percent back on their online purchases.

Tip: Unless the terms of the balance transfer prove better than other cards, don't make a balance transfer to earn cash back. The costs will eat up any reward you earn.

Cards offering rebates for revolving balances and cash advances shouldn't entice you either, because the interest charges will swallow your savings. "What sense does it make to revolve a balance at 12 percent interest for the sake of a 1 percent rebate?" asks Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com. "Even if you revolve the balance for only one month, the interest charges negate your rebate. Consumers that carry credit card balances, even occasionally, should focus on getting the lowest possible interest rate and accelerating debt repayment."

For instance, Blue Cash from American Express has 1 percent cash back on everyday purchases until you spend $6,500. After that, your rebate jumps to 5 percent cash back. On other purchases, .5 percent cash back goes up to 1.5 percent cash back.

According to Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com and author of "How You Can Profit from Credit Cards," these cards make the most sense for people who spend more than $1,000 a month on a card. Aggressive chargers will hit the highest tier sooner and won't waste as much time earning a standard, or sometimes substandard, cash-back rate. Those who don't charge $1,000 a month might do better with a card offering a flat cash-back percentage.

Tip: Stay within your means and don't overcharge to hit the next tier. Running up high balances can lower your credit score, even if you pay off the balance.

For example, those with an HSBC American Express with Plus Rewards are required to have 5,000 points to get $25. To get $50, you need 5,000 points, followed by $100 for 10,000 points.

As another example of tiered increments, those with a Chase Flexible Rewards Visa card are required to have 3,500 points for $25, but 10,000 for $100.

Tip: If a card has a redemption requirement, calculate how much you must spend to see a rebate. Then consider how long it will take you to get that rebate, judging by your spending habits. Use this work sheet to keep track of spending requirements.

For instance, you can only redeem rewards from Bank of America's Money Return Platinum Plus Visa credit card annually in January. Rewards earned using a Citi Cash Returns MasterCard, on the other hand, can be redeemed every time the cardholder accrues $50 in rewards.

Tip: This one comes down to personal preference, really. Perhaps you'd like getting some money back each month, or maybe you favor the annual lump sum.

Keep in mind that "issuers always have the ability to change the rate at which points or cash back accrues," says Ken Paterson, director of the credit advisory service at Mercator Advisory Group. "That's always disappointing to the consumer if the payback rate changes at midstream, and that can be a limitation of some of the annual programs."

The Citi Cash Returns MasterCard pays out automatically with a check in the mail. HSBC's cash-back cards require you to request the rebate.

Tip: "The thing about it is you want to put this thing on auto-pilot," says Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com and author of "How You Can Profit from Credit Cards." Many cards still aren't on autopilot, he says, but automatic redemption is a nice thing to have if you can help it.

If the payouts suit your spending habits, it's even better if the rebates are disbursed automatically.

Obviously, make sure the cap won't hamper the rebates you can earn. Crunch the numbers to see how much you would have to spend before hitting the cap. The cap may not impact you at all unless you're a big spender.

Tip: "All other things being equal, go with one that has no caps," says Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com and author of "How You Can Profit from Credit Cards." Beyond that, go for one with a high cap -- at least $500 annually.

Arnold suggests that one way to deal with a lower cap is for you and your spouse to each get the same rebate card. Having two cards doubles your cap.

Discover's Open Road and More cards specify that if the account is closed for any reason or goes inactive for 18 consecutive months, or if you don't make the minimum payment on time for two consecutive periods, you lose your cash-back bonus.

Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com and author of "How You Can Profit from Credit Cards" says it's a good idea to find out what could trigger the forfeiture of earned rewards. Usually becoming delinquent on your account results in rewards loss.

Tip: Arnold says many rebate cards don't have expiration dates, but it can be an issue with points-based cards. For the ones that do impose a shelf life on earned rewards, make sure you would have enough time to earn and redeem cash back.

For instance, purchases made at Wal-Mart using one of the Chase Freedom cards won't be eligible for the 2 percent cash-back rebate. Purchases made with a Citi Dividend card at a department store, such as Macy's, won't earn the 2 percent rebate. Department store purchases don't count toward that enhanced cash-back rate.

Tip: Always hunt for the terms and conditions of the rewards program and scour it for merchant restrictions. You might be surprised to learn what doesn't count toward rebates. Find as much information as you can on the card issuer's Web site and sites such as Bankrate.com. If you still can't find the information, Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com and author of "How You Can Profit from Credit Cards," suggests calling customer service. Ask for a manager if the representative can't answer your questions or tells you the information will be disclosed in the agreement when you receive the card. "I hate that answer," he says. "That's not an acceptable answer, but you'll hear that a lot."

If you still can't get the answers you want, consider taking your business elsewhere.