The no annual fee Chase Freedom Unlimited, which is one of the all around best cards for everyday spending, has an improved welcome bonus. This reflects the way that consumer spending is evolving, as Americans are shifting a lot of spending from restaurants to grocery stores.
Earn 20K points plus 5x points on groceries and groceries
20,000 points after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months
5x points on groceries for the first 12 months, on up to $12,000 of spending (Target and Walmart are not excluded)
5x points on GAS for the Summer of 2022
hilThe offer for 20,000 points is the same as before, while the 5x points on groceries is the new addition here. This makes the Freedom Unlimited one of the all around best credit cards for grocery store spending.
Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited is worth having
Beyond the current bonus, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is the best Chase personal credit card for everyday, non-bonused spending. The card offers 1.5x points per dollar spent with no caps:
Those points can be redeemed for one cent each, essentially making this a 1.5% cash back card
Those points can also be converted into Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio, assuming you have this card in conjunction with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is offering the following, based on my valuation of Ultimate Rewards points:
Up to 8.5% back on groceries for the first year
Up to 2.55% back on all other purchases
Bottom line
If you don’t yet have the Chase Freedom Unlimited, this is a fantastic time to pick it up. In addition to a bonus of 20K points with a reasonable spending requirement, the card is also offering 5x points on groceries for the first year, for up to $12,000 of spending. That’s a huge points earning opportunity, especially for a no annual fee card.
TRAVEL ALERT!! ✈️ Flying this summer is ROUGH!!! A Flight Attendant has shared some tips to get you through airline travel for the foreseeable future. ✈️✈️
Things are not good….. if its less than 7 hours – DRIVE! I’m not kidding. There is nothing enjoyable about flying right now. On any airline. If you must fly, keep reading. 🚗
Download and use the app of the airline you are flying. You can do everything on it – get your boarding pass, track your bags, see your incoming plane, and change a flight. It sure beats waiting in the long line to talk to an agent! Trust me – Usually these apps will tell you a flight is cancelled before the crew even knows! 📲
Fly MUCH earlier than you need to – a whole day early if its important!! This week I saw many people miss important things like weddings, funerals, cruises, international connections, and graduations. The tears were very real, for very real reasons, and there was nothing I could do! If you have to be somewhere, spend the extra money, go a day early. Have a glass of wine and stay in a hotel, enjoy your night not being stressed while everyone else misses their events. 🍷
ALWAYS fly the first flight in the morning so you have all day to be rebooked if the 💩 hits the fan. Yes, that means it might be a 3:00AM alarm, but morning flights don’t cancel nearly as often.⏰
This is not unique to this year, but keep in mind summer is thunderstorm season. A single storm can shut down an entire airport operation. We can’t fly through them. Storms usually build as the day gets later; therefore, it would behoove you to book early flights! ⛈
Schedule long layovers – Your 1 hour layover is NOT enough anymore. 30 minutes, not a chance. 3 hours minimum. 🏃♀️🏃🏃♂️
What you see on the news is an understatement. We are short staffed and overworked. Not just pilots and flight attendants, but also ground crews. Without ground crews there is no one to park the planes, drive jetways, get your bags on/off planes, or scan boarding passes. This causes many delays that snowball throughout the day. Sometimes HOURS.(Another reason morning flights are best!) 👀
When flight crews get delayed we time out. We can NOT fly longer than 16 hours. Its illegal. So it doesn’t matter if you have a wedding to get to, when we are done we are done. The way things are now, there are no back up crews, so when this happens your flight cancels. (Now you are starting to see why those morning flights are best!) 😴
Avoid connecting in Newark (Or any New York airport for that matter). It is literal hell. You have a 50/50 chance your flight will cancel or missing your connection. They have been cancelling flights at their starting points just to keep the planes out, because there just aren’t enough people to manage the planes, so the gates stay full. Also the restaurants are expensive, it is not a great place to be stuck. 💩
Be nice. As stated above, we are overworked and tired. We will not help you if you are mean. No one cares that you are going to miss your cruise if you are an asshole. So even if we can help, we will save our help for someone nice. Tensions are high. Our patience is gone. If you make us mad – you will not be flying on our planes. We will leave you behind without a second thought, and laugh about you later. 🥰
Being drunk on an airplane is a federal offense, so don’t overdo it. If you drink too much at the bar waiting for your delayed flight you risk not being allowed to fly at all. We are too tired to deal with your drunk ass when we have legitimate issues to deal with. 🍻
Get trip insurance if you have a lot of money invested. I hate the whole idea of this, but I also hate the idea of losing money. Example: I was working a flight yesterday that waited over an hour for a gate. A family of 8 missed their flight to Rome. The only flight of the day. They were going to a cruise which they would now miss. They were all crying, there was nothing I could do. (Also a reason to fly a day early!) 🛳
Flights are FULL. If you buy the cheap seats you will not be able to sit with your family. It says so when you purchase your ticket!! Flight Attendants aren’t there to rearrange the whole plane just so you can sit with your family because you tried to save $100 on a third party website. 💸
Speaking of third party websites and saving money….. Like I said flights are FULL. If a flight is oversold, and no one volunteers to give up their seats, who do you think is the first to be bumped? You guessed it, the family that saved a few $$ by using sites like Expedia, Kayak, Hotwire etc. 🤷♀️
Pack smart. Don’t be “That guy” Don’t hold up boarding because you have your extenders open till they are busting and you can’t figure out how to make it fit in the overhead. (Passengers are stressed too, they can be aggressive when boarding a delayed flight) 🛍
Take showers, brush your teeth, leave the perfume off, don’t eat stinky food (caesar salad and tuna fish I’m talking to you!), and bring snacks and headphones. Trust me. These things sound basic, but add to stress on crowded planes. If you are stuck on the tarmac for 3 hours after a 4 hour flight, you will thank me for this. 💜
Bring a sweater if you tend to be cold. So tired of half naked girls asking me to turn the heat up. NO. Wear clothes!! Side note: If you dress like this and ask for heat, there’s a chance I will turn the AC up. 🥶
Thats not water on the bathroom floor. For the love of God wear shoes to the bathroom!!! 🤮
Don’t tell a Flight Attendant they look tired. We are and we know. You may cause us to ugly cry right there in galley. 😭
Happy Travels! We will quiz you before your flight ha!
Popeyes is throwing it back to 1972, the year of an infamous break-in now known as the Watergate scandal, Elton John released his hit song “Rocket Man,” and when the famous fried chicken chain first opened its doors.
Popeyes was founded on June 12, 1972, in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Al Copeland. Originally called “Chicken on the Run,” it was later reopened as Popeyes — selling spicy, New Orleans-style chicken. Its first franchise restaurant opened in 1976 and today, there are over 2,800 locations across the U.S., alone.
As the chain prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary this month, Popeyes is selling two pieces of its famous bone-in-chicken for only 59 cents. The discounted price is the same amount customers originally paid in 1972, the company said.
Between June 12 and June 19, customers who use the Popeyes app or order on Popeyes.com and spend a minimum of $5 can cash in on the anniversary deal. The special offer is not valid for delivery and purchases in Los Angeles must be a minimum of $10, the company said.
Last month, fellow chicken chain KFC sold Mother’s Day bouquets full of fried chicken, and Taco Bell made a whole TikTok musical with Dolly Parton about its beloved Mexican Pizza that recently returned to menus nationwide.
Taco Bell Rewards Members who received a mystery reward back during the Big Game will score a free Mexican Pizza when it’s back on May 19, while loyalty members will get first dibs with early access to the menu item for most it was sold out.
For fans wishing to snag the fan-favorite item without leaving their home, Mexican Pizza will be available exclusively through DoorDash for the first week the menu item is back from May 19 – to May 26, before being made available on other delivery platforms on May 27, 2022. Additionally, DashPass members can enjoy $2 off one Mexican Pizza with a minimum subtotal of $12 using promo code “MEXPIZZA” at checkout.
The Mexican Pizza features two crispy flour shells, layered with beans, pizza sauce, seasoned beef, tomatoes and a melted three cheese blend all for a suggested price of $4.49. It’s alo available vegetarian without the seasoned beef. Fans can make it a combo with a Mexican Pizza, 2 Crunchy Tacos and a Large Fountain Drink for a suggested price of $8.99.
As a MyPanera coffee club subscriber for the past two years, I’ve generally been pleased with the program. So when Panera recently introduced its new Unlimited Sip Club for just a buck more a month (allowing me to drink unlimited cups of iced tea) I didn’t think twice about subscribing. What works for me however, may not be a good fit for you.
If you love unlimited coffee, tea, or lemonade this is pretty much a no-brainer especially for the free six months or 3 month offers they are giving out to customers right now across the U.S. If you live by a Panera restaurant then the deal is better than making it yourself.
The unlimited drink club or Sip Club just got upgraded across the U.S. from just hot coffee to now covering most of the drinks you can self-serve which is an amazing thing for drink lovers!
If you haven’t yet heard of Unlimited Sip Club, it’s because the program was currently available in select test areas. It has finally rolled out nationwide. If you’re curious about this new subscription model or are on the fence about becoming a member, I hope this guide helps you decide.
What is the Panera Beverage Club (AKA Unlimited Sip Club)? The Panera Unlimited Sip Club replaces the MyPanera coffee club subscription. For $8.99 a month (plus tax), the original program included an unlimited cup of brewed or iced coffee, per visit. Panera introduced its extended version last year, originally calling it Panera Beverage Club (technically MyPanera+ Beverage Club). It was originally $14.99 a month and was changed to its current price of $9.99 a month.
The program is still being tested in certain areas so it may not be available in your location just yet. Or if it is available, the terms might differ by location.
How to purchase a Panera Unlimited Sip Club membership To purchase a Sip Club subscription, you need to be a MyPanera rewards card member. If you don’t have a MyPanera card, signing up for one is free and effortless.
Once you’re a rewards member, you can sign up for the Sip Club, provided it’s offered in your area. Your credit card is automatically charged each month, though you can cancel at any time.
Benefits of a MyPanera rewards card Even if you decide not to purchase an Unlimited Sip or coffee subscription, consider signing up for a free MyPanera Rewards membership. Aside from special member perks, you get closer to receiving a free reward with every purchase (Sip Club orders don’t apply to purchases for rewards). The system is completely random, and can take anywhere from three, four, or seven visits to qualify for a freebie.
Some rewards are along the lines of $2 off a sandwich or $1 off a pastry, while others have included free Pick Twos or flatbread pizzas. This week, I redeemed two rewards: a free café latte, free muffin, and an iced tea that was pre-paid through my Unlimited Sip Club membership.
How to redeem a Panera Unlimited Sip Club membership One you’ve subscribed to the Panera Unlimited Sip Club (AKA Panera Beverage Club), your membership status will appear in your rewards area on the My Cart page when you’re ready to check out. Whether you order via the kiosk or your Panera phone app, simply click Redeem. Or if you like to place your orders with live staff, they should ask if you’d like to redeem your reward.
If you ever forget your MyPanera card, the system can find you by the phone number you used during registration.
How often can you use your Panera Unlimited Sip Club Membership? You can get an unlimited amount of one type of qualifying beverage per visit, every two hours. So for example, you can’t get an unlimited amount of both iced tea and coffee during the same visit (unless you pay for the second drink, of course). You can, however, get an unlimited amount of coffee (or whatever qualifying beverage you choose) in one visit, then two hours later during a separate visit, get an unlimited amount of iced tea or whichever qualifying beverage you choose.
What’s Included With a Panera Unlimited Sip Club Membership Availability can vary by store, but this is what I’m currently eligible to receive in my area.
Brewed coffee. Flavors include dark roast, light roast, hazelnut, and decaffeinated Iced coffee Iced tea Hot tea Pepsi drinks, including Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper Lemonade and lemonade chargers What’s not included Cold brew coffee Espresso type drinks, like lattes and cappuccinos Smoothies and frozen drinks Bottled or container drinks
Panera-Coffee-Flavors
Is a Panera Unlimited Sip Club Membership Worth the Price? It depends on what you like to drink, how often you visit Panera, and whether you like the taste of their beverages. I’m a regular at Panera and drink a lot of their brewed coffee and plain iced tea – so for me, membership is definitely worth the price.
Here are some numbers to help guide your decision.
What it would take to break even It depends on the beverage, but say you like to order plain iced tea. At $3.19 for a large cup, you’d need to visit Panera about three visits per month to make membership worth your while. At $2.59 for a regular-sized of brewed hot coffee, you’d need to make about four visits per month.
Your savings could be more substantial, though Using the coffee example above, if you normally visit Panera 12 separate times in a month, you’d save about $21 dollars (per month). Visiting 16 separate times per month would yield a savings of $31 per month. And 30 separate visits per month would save you about $67.
This number can go higher if you visit more often than this. If, for example, you drink coffee for breakfast, lunch, and dinner 30 times per month, that would be a savings of about $223.00 each month.
This is money you can use to buy something else, pay bills, or invest into a 401(k).
Additional Thoughts on Panera Beverage Club Though I think Panera Unlimited Sip Club (Beverage Club) is an amazing value, if there’s one thing I could change, it would be the two-hour rule. While I understand that some people might abuse the program (like getting free drinks for everyone in their party), it’s just not practical to stop what you’re doing and return every two hours.
I’d also like to see Panera bring back their sugar-free flavored iced teas. Managers have offered to make them upon request, but it’s not the same as having them readily-available.
Panera is usually, in my experience, responsive to customer needs, so this may very well change at some point. It’s also a relatively new program, so I’m sure they’re still tweaking the details.
If you’re already spending money on drinks and visit Panera frequently enough, their beverage club is a decent investment.
What is the Panera Unlimited Sip Club Subscription? For $10.99/month plus tax, you can enjoy any size drip hot coffee, charged lemonades, hot tea, iced coffee, lemonades, and fountain beverages every two (2) hours during regular bakery-café hours, including free refills of the same beverage at any participating U.S. Panera Bread bakery-cafes. You can choose any size drip hot coffee, charged lemonades, hot tea, iced coffee, lemonades, and fountain beverages when redeeming your subscription benefits. Cold Brew, espresso drinks, and other beverages are not included in your subscription.
How do I sign up for an Unlimited Sip Club Subscription? You can subscribe online through the link you received in your email, on the web at PaneraBread.com/UnlimitedSipClub, in the Subscriptions section of the Panera Bread app, or at a kiosk where available in participating U.S. Panera Bread bakery-cafes.
What kinds of coffee can I get with my Unlimited Sip Club subscription? Your subscription includes one (1) cup of drip hot coffee, charged lemonades, hot tea, iced coffee, lemonades, and fountain beverages every two (2) hours during regular bakery-cafe hours, including free refills of the same beverage at any participating U.S. Panera Bread bakery-cafes. Cold Brew, espresso drinks, Iced Tea, and other beverages are not included in your subscription.
How do I redeem my subscription? It’s easy! Your Unlimited Sip Club Subscription benefits work just like MyPanera rewards. When placing an order, you can either swipe your MyPanera Card, enter your phone number, or log in to your MyPanera account to access your rewards. Look for a reward with the name “Daily Unlimited Sip Club” and redeem it as you normally would.
