Until recently, I didn't understand the meaning of credit card rewards. It seemed like too much trouble for such a low value. But I was wrong! The truth is, I love points credit cards and have missed out on great deals and fun hobbies over the years. Well, it's not too late to start getting better deals from the banking system.
I recently decided to get my first travel points card. I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card. This card is widely recommended by The Ascent experts as a great “starter” rewards card. If you want to take a dip or aren't sure how much time and attention you can devote to a points credit card, this is a good one to have in your wallet.
Here are some of the big reasons I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and why it's already helping me enrich my life.
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This travel rewards credit card is all about travel
Traveling is the best money I've ever spent. The psychological benefits of traveling are enormous: the joyful anticipation of the next trip, the enjoyment and learning experience on the road, and the simple pleasure of returning home and returning to daily life. Masu. And you will have many years of happy memories. Why wouldn't you want to use whatever it takes to experience more of these feelings in your life?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is so powerful because it provides additional travel value in a variety of ways (terms apply).
- 5x points If you book your trip through Chase Travel. Earn 2,500 points when you purchase a $500 ticket.
- 5x points On a Lyft ride
- 2x points About other travel purchases
These are just a few travel-focused examples of how you can earn points when you spend with this card. You'll also earn 3x points on select streaming services, restaurants (including takeout and food delivery), and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and Warehouse Club).
But perhaps the most important travel benefits are: Earn 25% more points when you redeem points on this card for travel. For example, let's say you have accumulated 50,000 points. When you redeem those points for cash back, you'll get about $500 back in statement credits. not bad! But if you use a 25% multiplier and redeem those points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, that turns into 62,500 points, or about $625 worth of travel purchasing power.
Personally, I would rather receive $625 in travel funds than $500 in cash back. Even if I didn't get the 25% multiplier, I would still only use the reward points on this card to book travel. But getting extra “bonus” value on your trip feels fun and fulfilling, like turning your spending on everyday mundane things into something more exciting and memorable.
Unlock hotel loyalty and frequent flyer programs
Before I decided to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, my original purpose for a rewards credit card was to get cheap flights. So I decided to apply for an airline credit card. However, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can transfer Chase points to multiple airline frequent flyer programs and hotel loyalty programs (conditions apply).
For example, Chase airline and hotel transportation partners include:
- United MileagePlus®
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
- World of Hyatt®
- IHG® Rewards Club
- Marriott BonvoyTM
I'm still open to getting an airline credit card when the time is right. Lots of Mileage He likes the idea of getting a welcome offer with bonus miles. But the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is extremely versatile. It's like having a VIP pass that gives you access to various frequent flyer programs and hotel loyalty programs all at once. There's no need to have separate cards for each airline or hotel. If you find a great deal on flights or hotels, you can pay for it using Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
low annual fee
Before I started learning about points credit cards, I hated the idea of paying an annual fee. Why pay just to have a bank card in your wallet? But with an annual fee of just $95 (see rates and fees) for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you'll quickly pay for it. You can get it.
Here's how: Earn $50 in hotel credits each year. The first time you book a hotel with your card, you'll receive a $50 statement credit. free! You only need to find $45 more value from the card and it's worth the annual fee. You can get that value back by simply paying a monthly streaming subscription fee.
Remember above when I said this card gives you 3x points on streaming? I spend about $140 a month between Hulu, Netflix, and Spotify subscriptions. With my Chase Sapphire Preferred® card, I earn 3x points on these purchases, or 420 points per month. After 12 months you will have 5,040 points. If you redeem this for travel, you'll get about 6,300 points, or the equivalent of $63. Even if you don't get any other perks from this card, this alone is worth the annual fee (and there are a lot of them).
conclusion
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has introduced me to a new world of travel. I feel like I have a trusted companion in my wallet who can make every vacation a little more affordable and adventurous. And everyday tasks like paying bills, ordering takeout, and arranging for grocery deliveries feel more meaningful and enjoyable.
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