Month: January 2023

Simplest Cash-Back Credit card can earn you $500-$800 in cash back just on groceries in 1 year.

workingmomcourtneyLeave a comment

Updated 1/8/23

Sounds too good to be true, right? It truly can be this simple if you follow the easy steps listed below.

Why should you listen to me?

I have 7+ years of experience in “credit card hacking” which simply means I take advantage of bonus sign-ups and maximize my rewards by using the “right” card for the “right” purchase at the “right” time. I’ve earned thousands of dollars of rewards in that time, but I realize most people don’t want to put in the time and energy to track everything I do to make my system work. I often have people ask how they can get started with earning credit card rewards, so instead of making it super-complicated, I’m going to lay out the most SIMPLE one available right now that has no fees.

If you are not taking advantage of credit card rewards at all or don’t like the limitations on redeeming on your current card, this is an EASY way to start.

If you spend $500/month on groceries, you can earn $500 in the next 12 months.

Steps to Follow

  • First, apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card which is offering a $200 bonus when you spend $500 (on anything) in the first 3 months and 5% cash back on groceries for the first 12 months. There is NO annual fee!
  • Once you get your card (mine took less than a week to arrive), use that card for ALL purchases at your grocery store (Target and Walmart don’t count…Fareway, Hy-Vee, H-Vee Dollar Fresh, Aldi, Kroger, etc. do). You can use it for other purchases too to earn even more cash.
  • PAY OFF YOUR CARD in full every month before the due date. Don’t charge anything you don’t have money for IN YOUR ACCOUNT. If you have had trouble in the past, try paying your card online every time you make a purchase to make sure you stay on track. I use auto-pay so I never miss a deadline.
  • Rewards are posted to your account. Redeem for CASH either as a deposit in your checking account or as a statement credit. They don’t expire! You can get better bang for your buck using them for travel, but I think that’s where people get confused, so for my purposes here, I’m just assuming you straight-up cash out.

That’s all!

The link shows you 2 different cards with very similar benefit- the Chase Freedom Unlimited card and the new Chase Freedom Flex card. Either one will get you that $500+, but see below for my recommendation.

Apply Now

Here’s the math:

When you spend $500 in the first 3 months, you get a $200 cash-back bonus.

When you spend $500/month for 12 months at grocery stores, get 5% back ($25/month) or $300 in a year.

That’s $500 in 1 year just for buying your usual groceries!

How to earn even more cash:

The 5% back on groceries works on up to $12,000 in grocery purchases in the first year, so if you buy $1000 of groceries/month instead of $500, you could earn $600 instead of $300

Get 3% cash back on dining purchases and 2% on drugstores

The Freedom Flex (Mastercard) gives you 1% on all other purchase, Freedom Unlimited (Visa) gives you 1.5% on all other purchases, so start with Freedom Unlimited if you don’t have that card.

What could prevent you from getting this deal?

You are not guaranteed to be approved for the credit card if your credit score is too low, your credit report shows you delinquent on payments, or you’ve opened too many cards lately (Chase unofficially has a rule that you can’t open more than 5 cards in 24 months). You also can’t currently have the SAME exact card already open (unless you put it in your spouse’s name)

Applying for a card WILL trigger a hard pull on your credit which is only a big deal if you have mediocre credit and need to apply for a major loan (mortgage, car, etc.) in the near future.

You SHOULD NOT do this deal if you can’t trust yourself to pay your card on time or feel you will overspend if using a credit card vs. cash, etc. I ONLY recommend this deal to people planning on simply converting their REGULAR spending to this card to take advantage of the better rewards.

Apply Now

Disclaimer

Using my link and getting approved for the card may result in me receiving a referral bonus. You are free to search for the deal on your own, but if you found this information helpful, I appreciate you using my link. I am also willing to help with any questions you have along the way! You can find me on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WorkingMomHacks/

Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus: worth $545+ cash

workingmomcourtneyLeave a comment

Updated 1/8/23

If you have $4000 in expenses in the next 3 months, here’s a way to earn $545 minimum in cash.

Why should you listen to me?

I have 7+ years of experience in “credit card hacking” which simply means I take advantage of bonus sign-ups and maximize my rewards by using the “right” card for the “right” purchase at the “right” time. I’ve earned thousands of dollars of rewards in that time ($2500+ in 6 months), but I realize most people don’t want to put in the time and energy to track everything I do to make my system work. I often have people ask how they can get started with earning credit card rewards, so here is THE ONE to do. It’s the best sign-up bonus currently available and I will make it as SIMPLE as possible for you.

If you are not taking advantage of credit card rewards at all or don’t like the limitations on redeeming on your current card, this gets you the most bang for your buck without being overly complicated.

Steps to Follow

  • First, apply for a Chase Sapphire Preferred card using this link or the APPLY NOW buttons on this page.
  • Once you get your card (mine took less than a week to arrive), use that card to pay for your everyday purchases to reach $4000 in total spend in 3 months from your approval date. Here are some ideas for spend:
    • Groceries, Gas, Clothes, Household expenses, Car Repairs (we bought appliances)
    • Streaming services, subscriptions for the next 3 months
    • Auto Insurance (6 month premium knocks out some good spend)
    • Property Taxes if you’re not under escrow (2.25% fee in my county, but you’ll get 1% of that back, so it’s a small fee to knock out a big chunk of your spending)
    • NOTE: The $95 annual fee IS charged right away and does NOT count as part of the $4000 spend. You can cancel the card after you get the bonus and before your annual fee posts next year if you want.
  • PAY OFF YOUR CARD in full every month before the due date. Don’t charge anything you don’t have money for IN YOUR ACCOUNT. If you have had trouble in the past, try paying your card online every time you make a purchase to make sure you stay on track. I use auto-pay so I never miss a deadline.
  • Your 60,000 bonus points will post to your account on the statement after you reach $4000 in spend. Redeem for CASH either as a deposit in your checking account or as a statement credit. You can get better bang for your buck using them for travel or one of the temporary “Pay Yourself Back” categories, but I think that’s where people get confused, so for my purposes here, I’m just assuming you straight-up cash out.

That’s all!

Apply Now

Here’s the math:

When you spend $4000 in the first 3 months, you get 64,000 points (60,000 sign up + 1 per $ spent minimum)

If you redeem this for cash, it’s worth $640!!

Subtract the $95 fee and you’ll net $545 minimum. That’s 13.6% of your spend back in cash.

If you redeem for travel instead of cash, the 64,000 points would be worth $800, so after the $95 fee it’s a $705 net + $50 hotel credit = $755 in value.

How to earn even more cash:

Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Earn 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.

  • I have done this and the hotel credit works. Besides this credit I don’t actually recommend booking through the portal–booking through a 3rd party is always a risk that something won’t go right on your reservation and you’ll get the run around.

Earn 2x on other travel purchases. (Although I don’t use the portal, I DO recommend putting direct travel purchases on this credit card because it has excellent travel/delay/luggage/rental car coverage.

Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out

Earn 3x points on ONLINE grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).

Earn 3x points on select streaming services.

Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

What could prevent you from getting this deal?

You are not guaranteed to be approved for the credit card if your credit score is too low, your credit report shows you delinquent on payments, or you’ve opened too many cards lately (Chase will deny you if you’ve opened 5 credit cards in the past 24 months). You also can’t have received a bonus for a Sapphire card in the past 48 months and can’t currently have an open Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserved Card.

Applying for a card WILL trigger a hard pull on your credit which is only a big deal if you have mediocre credit and need to apply for a major loan (mortgage, car, etc.) in the near future.

You SHOULD NOT do this deal if you can’t trust yourself to pay your card on time or feel you will overspend if using a credit card vs. cash, etc. I ONLY recommend this deal to people planning on simply converting their REGULAR spending to this card to take advantage of the better rewards.

Apply Now

Disclaimer

Using my link and getting approved for the card may result in me receiving a referral bonus. You are free to search for the deal on your own, but if you found this information helpful, I appreciate you using my link. I am also willing to help with any questions you have along the way! You can find me on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WorkingMomHacks/

You can CANCEL this card before the next annual fee hits so you don’t pay the $95 each year but I have held onto this card for the travel protections and the increase in Chase Ultimate Rewards values it provides.