Our credit card strategy has changed from travel to earning more points while not traveling during this pandemic. One thing we did while quarantined and ordering online is we collected points and miles in order to save money in the future. Our strategy has changed wanting more benefits with travel and high cash back on Gas.
That space in your wallet or purse is valuable, and you should be the one to get that value. Selected banks are offering strong perks and $500+ value for a single card during the first year to encourage you to apply and try it out. These are the top 10 credit card offers that I would personally apply for right now, if I didn’t already have most of them. Notable changes:
IHG Hotels 140k/75k – 140k still highest ever, new 75k traveler offer.
Chase Freedom Unlimited raised to $200 Bonus plus extra cashback on groceries and gas stations
AmEx Blue Cash Preferred to Add Streaming, Transit Bonus Categories
If you pay off your balances every month, then you can join me and many others in funding a huge chunk of your annual travel budget with cash credits, points, and miles. You don’t need to be a “I only fly business class” world traveler. I mostly use my rewards points on domestic economy flights, mid-class hotels, and cheap car rentals. If you have credit card debt, you should focus on paying that off first as the interest charges could offset most of the perks.
This is a companion post to my Top 5 Best Business Card Offers. Small business bonuses are on average even higher than those on consumer cards.
$300 in statement credits every cardmember year for bookings made through Capital One Travel; this can be applied toward any type of travel booked through Capital One Travel, including flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. 10,000 bonus Venture miles on the account anniversary every year; there’s no spending requirement to unlock this, and it’s worth a minimum of $100 toward a travel purchase, or could get you up to 10,000 airline miles (which I value at $170)
$200 Bonus when you make a purchase for spending $500 in the first 3 months
5% cash back on Lyft rides
5% cash back on Amazon, Hotels, & Restaurants starting in April 2024! 5% back on GAS is coming back for another quarter but for now Discover offers 5% back.
1.5% cash back on all other purchases
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
No annual fee
No minimum to redeem for cash back
Standard offer on both has typically been $150/$500, so this is a small boost. There are occasionally targeted or branch offers of $300 for either of the cards.
Up to 50,000 Hyatt points. 25,000 Bonus Points after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Plus an additional 25,000 Bonus Points after a total of $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. See link for details and rough valuation of points.
$95 annual fee, free night award upon card anniversary.
INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There’s no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, select rideshares and online shopping, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Redeem cash back any amount, any time. Rewards never expire.
Use your rewards at Amazon.com checkout.
Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
Marriott credit cards from Chase and American Express now earn an elevated 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on eligible grocery purchases amid coronavirus.
60,000 American Airlines miles after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($60 value per roundtrip, per person).
$0 annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard
60,000 American Airlines miles after any purchase in the first 90 days and paying the $99 annual fee. See link for details.
$99 Companion certificate offer. Earn a certificate good for 1 guest at $99 (plus taxes and fees) after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in the first 90 days.
First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($60 value per roundtrip, per person).
$99 annual fee.
Citi Premier Card
60,000 points (worth $750 towards travel booked at ThankYou.com) after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
3X points for every $1 spent on travel including gas stations.
Must not have gotten bonus from or closed a Citi Rewards+, ThankYou Preferred, Premier, or Prestige card in the past 24 months.
$95 annual fee.
Bank of America Premium Rewards Card
50,000 points (worth $500 towards travel) after $3,000 in purchases within the first 90 days. See link for details.
2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
$100 annual Airline Incidental Statement Credit.
Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
$95 annual fee.
Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard
50,000 Hawaiian miles after $2,000 in purchases within 90 days. See link for details.
Free first checked bag for primary cardmember when using your card to purchase eligible tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines.
Receive a one-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and The Mainland on Hawaiian Airlines.
$99 annual fee.
During this Coronavirus pandemic your credit card rewards can help you pay for groceries, food delivery and essentials. This is by using points, gift cards, or statement credits from existing cards or new ones with bonuses.
Note: Certain Chase cards have a “5/24 rule” which is an unofficial rule that they will automatically deny approval on new credit cards if you have 5 or more new credit cards from any issuer on your credit report within the past 2 years. This rule applies on a per-person basis, so if you are new, you might want to start with those Chase cards.
Best credit card promotion of the summer goes to Discover IT credit cards. They are offering a deal you cannot refuse. Get ready to switch ALL of your bills and make ALL of your purchases on Discover card. The original credit card in the world known for cash back is doubling the the cash back bonus for Discover it card holders for their next 12 statement cycles.
What all is included in this huge offer from Discover? 10% cash back in rotating categories
2% cash back on all purchases (Double Cash Back)
Discover Deals should also be doubled according to a rep
Update 2023: Shockingly, This promotion is still running for Double Cash Back. You can sign-up here. This could not possibly last much longer!
Discover Card has made many positive changes in the past year and now we are starting to blog about them again. If you think that Discover is outdated or not competitive with other banks you better think again. One news anchor reporting on Discover was shocked people still use Discover. Oh yes, there are many of us out there and we are getting cash back and loving it. The credit card company recently rolled out a new Travel Card and offer some great bonus cards that you do not see on many blogs mainly because they do not get a referral. Let’s start with a $50 bonus promotion card because we love a good sign-up offer. If you are not already a cardmember then you can get a $50 Bonus by applying here.
You can sign up through this $100 Discover it® Link to get a $100 (formerly a $50 Cashback Bonus) after your first purchase within 3 months of approval. The $100 bonus will be credited to your Discover it card account within 2 billing cycles of your first purchase for any amount. This is made available through the Discover Refer-A-Friend Program, where both the referring member and new applicant receive the $50. Once you are a cardholder you can participate in the Discover referral program to earn a $50 bonus for each new member referred. So give share this and the link with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter.
Get 5% – 10% on Gas and More! You’ll earn 5% Cashback Bonus on Gas stations and Sam’s Club on up to $1,500 in purchases and more for 2023 Discover will match that for new cardmembers of 10x the cash back!
If you are a new cardmember and sign up for the Double Cash Back offer you can get ip to 12% Cash Back at Department Stores, Sam’s Club, and Amazon online. You can get 5% extra Cashback Bonus at Sam’s Club and SamsClub.com, 5% extra Cashback Bonus at Department Stores, and at Amazon.com right now. It will be doubled and added to your regular 1% back so that totals 12% if you were signed up for the Double Promotion on top of this. With the Sam’s and Discover promo you need to log-in and click on the links in “Discover Deals” then pay with your Discover card at checkout within three hours. There does not seem to be a maximum on this cashback but with Amazon just use your card and it is automatic up to $1,500 in spend.
Comparison Chart below that compares Blue Cash Everyday Card from AMEX, Chase Freedom, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards, Citi Double Cash Card, and Bank Americard Cash Rewards to the Discover IT Card. You will notice that Bank Americard is among the worst according to Discover. Also, the Chase Freedom is pretty competitive and it also offers a sign-up bonus. I have both cards myself. On a personal note the Capital One Quicksilver is one of my favorite cards in my wallet because it gives 1.5x rewards and it actually does let you redeem for any amount and works well with Apple Pay.
5%Cashback Bonus on Restaurant and Movie purchases between April 1 and June 30 is my favorite thing about the card this coming quarter. Mainly because this normally counts as bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and fast food which I spend a a lot of money on when traveling. The up to $1,500 I will max out in a month and that will be a free $75 towards my statement. Don’t forget to sign-up now before the promotion starts or before you use your card at one of those establishments.
The credit cards below offer up to 5% cash back on specific categories that rotate each quarter. It takes a little memory of which card to use, but it can add up to hundreds of dollars in additional rewards per year without changing your spending habits. New cardmembers may also get an upfront sign-up bonus in addition to the 5% cash back each quarter.
From January 1st through March 31st, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:
Gas Stations
Internet, Cable & Phone Services. Internet, cable, satellite television and radio, cellular, wireless data, and landline services will qualify.
Select Streaming Services. The full list is Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, YouTube TV, and ESPN+.
Enroll each quarter at ChaseBonus.com. As long as you activate by the end of the quarter the rewards are retroactive. All other purchases earn 1% back, with no tiers or expiration of rewards.
Chase Freedom card is offering$200 bonus cash back if you sign up and make $500 in purchases in your first three months. No annual fee.
From January 1st through March 31st, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:
Grocery Stores
Walgreens
CVS
Enroll after logging into your online account (look on the right-hand side). 5% rewards won’t apply until after you activate your rewards, so it is best to activate now before you forget. No annual fee.
New cardmember bonus details. If you are a new applicant and sign up via my Discover Card referral link, you will get a $50 Cashback Bonus after your first purchase within 3 months of being approved. You will also get Cashback Match for an entire year – a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically.
During those 12 months, your $50 Cashback Bonus becomes $100, your 5% cash back rewards becomes 10% cash back, and your 1% cash back rewards become 2% cash back. You can verify this on the application by clicking on “See rates, rewards and other info” and searching for “cashback match” and “statement credit offer”:
Cashback Match: No purchase minimums. After the first 12 consecutive billing periods that your new account is open, we will match all of the cash back rewards you’ve earned and apply them to your account in the following one or two billing periods. If your account is closed or no longer in the cash back reward program at the time we calculate your potential award, your cash back will not be matched. You’ve earned cash back rewards when they have posted to your account by the end of the 12th consecutive billing period. This promotional offer may not be offered in the future. This exclusive offer is available only to new cardmembers.
TERMS OF STATEMENT CREDIT OFFER: Get a $50 Statement Credit after you make your first purchase within 3 months of being approved. Promotional award will be applied within 8 weeks. The promotional award is in addition to the Cashback Bonus earned on all purchases.
If the idea of an unlimited 2% cash back card is on your mind, this is the comparison you’re likely here to see.
As mentioned previously, the Citi Double Cash is one of our favorite credit cards because it offers a straightforward 2% cash back. You earn 1% cash back as you purchase, followed by an additional 1% cash back earned when you pay your bill.
This PayPal Cashback Mastercard can match that 2% cash back, but does it stack up with the Double Cash in other areas? One card that is not mentioned is one that is better than both of these the Discover IT Match Card where you get double cashback with an additional 2% and 5% on quarterly bonuses.
Here’s a quick comparison of the cards to help you understand the main differences between the two:
Credit Card Perk
PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Citi Double Cash
Annual Fee
$0
$0
Intro Period for 0% APR on Balance Transfers
None
18 months
Cash Back Rewards
Unlimited 2%
Up to 2% unlimited (1% when you purchase, 1% when you pay your bill)
Cash Back Balance Redemption Minimum
No minimum
$25
Cash Back Redemption Method
Via linked PayPal account: Debit card or bank account credit
Check, statement credit, credit to linked bank account, or credit card points
Intro Period for 0% APR on New Purchases
None
None
Welcome Bonus Opportunity
None
None
Foreign Transaction Fees
None
3%
When trying to decide which is the better fit for your wallet, consider things like your preferred cash back redemption method and whether or not you’d have a use for the Double Cash’s introductory balance transfer offer.
Holiday season starts basically when the fourth quarter begins on October 1st. You can now start earning 5% cash back on shopping at various places such as Target, Walmart, Amazon, Department Stores, Sending money to relatives via Paypal or buying something online and more! The best categories seem to be Paypal which is almost anything and Amazon!
Chase Freedom: 5% Back on Paypal, Chase Pay, Dept. Stores
Earn 5% back on Paypal, Chase Pay, and department stores this quarter, up to $1,500 maximum.
Sign-up for a Chase Freedom Card and get a $200 Bonus you spend $500.
Paypal: Includes transactions made using your Chase Freedom card with PayPal for purchases or sending money. Just make your Freedom Card the default payment option in Paypal and you can maximize your rewards in no time. Keep an eye out for Paypal at checkout at retailers like walmart.com, target.com, and thousands of others. Many charities and insurances accept Paypal as well. You can even send money to friends, incurring the 2.9% fee, and it’ll be worthwhile for the 5x points earned.
Chase Pay (and Samsung): Includes purchases made using your Freedom card with your Chase Pay digital wallet during check out. This is really a terrific category given that it’s possible to use Chase Pay via Samsung Pay which can be used at almost any physical store who accepts credit cards. There are also, of course, various retailers who accept Chase Pay directly, like Starbucks, Best Buy, and Shell gas stations.
Department Stores: Includes retailers such as Macy’s, Kohl’s, Sears, Saks, Dillards, JCPenney, and dozens more. Exclusions mentioned: Walmart, Target, and Kmart (but you can get Walmart and Target with Discover below).
Discover IT Card: 5% Back at Amazon, Target, Walmart.com
Earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Target stores, Target.com, and Walmart.com this quarter, up to $1,500 maximum. Walmart store purchases are not included.
If you don’t have a Discover IT Card you can get one here with a $75 sign-up bonus.
Amazon.com purchases include those made through the Amazon.com checkout, including digital downloads, Amazon.com gift cards, Amazon Fresh orders, Amazon Local Deals and Amazon Prime subscriptions and items sold by third party merchants through Amazon.com’s marketplace. So yes you can get 5% on gift cards!
Target purchases include any purchase made online at Target.com, through the Target app, or in-store at Target. Individual merchants and stand-alone stores within physical Target locations or on Target.com may not be eligible in this category.
Walmart.com purchases include those made at Walmart.com and when shopping through the Walmart app (including Grocery Pick Up and Instore Pick Up). Purchases made in store at Walmart Stores, Walmart Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Walmart Pay are excluded from this promotion unfortunately.
Tip: Target gift cards at Target and Target.com does not earn rewards with the REDcard, but will earn 5% with this Discover promo. I expect Target to run their annual holiday 10% off Target gift cards sale, and the Discover card will be useful for me to bring the total savings up to 15%.
If you spend a lot: With Discover you can login, then click this link to see you how far along the $1,500 limit you are.
