Credit Card Sign on Bonuses

[minnesotapaintlady]

Anyone got any leads on any good ones?

This is the time of the year when I usually get a new card or two (homeowners, car and umbrella insurance coming up and property taxes right after), but I'm not finding anything particularly attractive.   Several $200 cash back ones, but...meh...I'm rather particular and don't want to waste any of my 5/24 number with Chase on something that doesn't get me much.

I'm thinking Hyatt.  It gets me 6-12 hotel nights.  But it will cost me $95 and I do have quite a few hotel nights banked already.  Like probably 10 or so, some of which are going to expire if I don't use them soon.   I dunno.  Maybe I skip it this year, but I hate to waste an opportunity on the big spend months.

[resolution]

No sign on bonus, but I have been debating signing up for an Amazon credit card, and just plugging it into our Amazon account for the 5% cash back. We spent about $2k on Amazon last year, so it would be about $60 more cash back per year than our current rewards card, but then I would have one more bill to track and pay every month.

[andi9899]

I was looking for a good rewards card if anyone has a good one. I'd like it to have some interest free time as a bonus too. I'm open to suggestions.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

We just do Costco’s Citibank card.  Almost 100% of everything goes on it.  Travel is 3%.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Jan 6, 2024 15:07:33 GMT -5 resolution said:

No sign on bonus, but I have been debating signing up for an Amazon credit card, and just plugging it into our Amazon account for the 5% cash back. We spent about $2k on Amazon last year, so it would be about $60 more cash back per year than our current rewards card, but then I would have one more bill to track and pay every month.

I've had the Amazon one for a long time. It's managed by Synchrony bank (same as Sam's Club and JCPenny) so it's one login to see all the accounts at once and pay them individually.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Jan 6, 2024 15:25:26 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

I was looking for a good rewards card if anyone has a good one. I'd like it to have some interest free time as a bonus too. I'm open to suggestions.

For just an all around one with no sign on bonus, the Fidelity card is good.  2% on everything, no annual fee.  That's my go to for most things except Amazon (Amazon 5% card) and Sam's Club card for gas (5%) and Sam's purchases (3%)

If you want a big sign on bonus card Chase is the way to go.  The Sapphire Preferred is $600 sign on bonus for $4000 in purchases the first 3 months. The $600 is if you redeem the 60,000 points for cash, if you use it for travel with the travel partners it can be a lot more (like 5000 points can get you a hotel with Hyatt)  It comes with a $95 annual fee, but you get a lot of perks for that $95 (like $50 hotel statement credit).  My son is an authorized user and gets free instacart and doordash subscriptions with his card.  

Chase cards I tend to cancel to avoid the fee and then sign back up in a couple years to get the sign on bonus again.    I've gotten thousands out of Chase over the years.

[nidena]

Might be some good info here: www.reddit.com/r/CreditCards/

[TheOtherMe]

I have both an Amazon Chase credit card and Amazon's own credit card.  Both have the 5% bonus.  I only put stuff on their own card when I want to take advantage of one of their 0% promos.  Otherwise it sits with no balance.

[andi9899]

Jan 6, 2024 15:49:36 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Jan 6, 2024 15:25:26 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

I was looking for a good rewards card if anyone has a good one. I'd like it to have some . time as a bonus too. I'm open to suggestions.

For just an all around one with no sign on bonus, the Fidelity card is good.  2% on everything, no annual fee.  That's my go to for most things except Amazon (Amazon 5% card) and Sam's Club card for gas (5%) and Sam's purchases (3%)

If you want a big sign on bonus card Chase is the way to go.  The Sapphire Preferred is $600 sign on bonus for $4000 in purchases the first 3 months. The $600 is if you redeem the 60,000 points for cash, if you use it for travel with the travel partners it can be a lot more (like 5000 points can get you a hotel with Hyatt)  It comes with a $95 annual fee, but you get a lot of perks for that $95 (like $50 hotel statement credit).  My son is an authorized user and gets free instacart and doordash subscriptions with his card.  

Chase cards I tend to cancel to avoid the fee and then sign back up in a couple years to get the sign on bonus again.    I've gotten thousands out of Chase over the years.

I'll have to check them out. I was going to sign up for the American Airlines one, but I'm too cheap to pay the $95. I'll have to compare it to the perks. I just saw the annual fee and shut down. I fly a lot, and since TX is where I usually go and most flights in and out are on AA, I joined the points system but didn't get the CC.

[andi9899]

Jan 6, 2024 16:45:43 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I have both an Amazon Chase credit card and Amazon's own credit card.  Both have the 5% bonus.  I only put stuff on their own card when I want to take advantage of one of their 0% promos.  Otherwise it sits with no balance.

So you get 5% back on that card? Is there an annual fee? I order from Amazon a ton. 5% back would be nice.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Jan 6, 2024 18:39:42 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Jan 6, 2024 16:45:43 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I have both an Amazon Chase credit card and Amazon's own credit card.  Both have the 5% bonus.  I only put stuff on their own card when I want to take advantage of one of their 0% promos.  Otherwise it sits with no balance.

So you get 5% back on that card? Is there an annual fee? I order from Amazon a ton. 5% back would be nice.

No annual fee (at least not the Amazon Prime Store card doesn't).  I've had mine since 2013.  You can set it up that it automatically redeems as a statement credit once it reaches a certain point or have it apply during checkout.  I let mine build up because it feels more like a "reward" to me if I can actually just pay for a purchase with accumulated points.  When you're checking out it will show you how many points you have to redeem and you can use them or leave them be until later.

They don't charge your account until it ships, so I have gotten into the habit of just going in and paying off my Amazon account every time I get a shipment because by that time it's posted.  I don't let it build up. 

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 6, 2024 18:39:42 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Jan 6, 2024 16:45:43 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I have both an Amazon Chase credit card and Amazon's own credit card.  Both have the 5% bonus.  I only put stuff on their own card when I want to take advantage of one of their 0% promos.  Otherwise it sits with no balance.

So you get 5% back on that card? Is there an annual fee? I order from Amazon a ton. 5% back would be nice.

Amazon Chase Card has no annual fee.  Sometimes when I check out, it offers me 6% back if I forego Prime shipping.  I almost always take advantage of that.

The Synchrony Bank Amazon card is different.

I prefer the Chase Credit card, but I have had the other one since I opened my Amazon account in something like 2002.

[azucena]

I just earned $300 cash back from capital one. I think the spend was $600.

Never thought to check if homeowners and car insurance accept credit card. Mine are due in march.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Jan 6, 2024 20:58:32 GMT -5 azucena said:

I just earned $300 cash back from capital one. I think the spend was $600.

Never thought to check if homeowners and car insurance accept credit card. Mine are due in march.

I even put my property taxes on a credit card.  They charge 2.75% but if I use my 2% cash back card it only costs me about $20 to float it another month.  But, it works well for filling the spend limit for a sign on bonus card.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 6, 2024 15:25:26 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

I was looking for a good rewards card if anyone has a good one. I'd like it to have some interest free time as a bonus too. I'm open to suggestions.

I run a Chase Sapphire card and a Costco Visa for my cashback rewards. 
Neither have annual fees. 

[CCL]

Jan 6, 2024 21:51:27 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Jan 6, 2024 15:25:26 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

I was looking for a good rewards card if anyone has a good one. I'd like it to have some interest free time as a bonus too. I'm open to suggestions.

I run a Chase Sapphire card and a Costco Visa for my cashback rewards. 
Neither have annual fees. 

Wait a minute. My Chase Sapphire charges me $95 a year. How do you get it for free?

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Ah, because i was mistaken. The card itself is a lovely blue. However, it's a Chase Freedom, not sapphire.

Chase Freedom® with Ultimate Rewards® 

[minnesotapaintlady]

I have the Freedom Flex in addition to the Sapphire.  I can transfer the Freedom card ultimate rewards to the Sapphire where they're worth more, which is nice...but $95 fee on that card.

I have so many cards.  The only one I'm paying a fee on right now is the Sapphire though.

[finnime]

I opened a bank account a week ago that pays $400 after 3 months of maintaining it, with at least $5000 of direct deposits over those 3 months. Easy free $400 and we needed a brick and mortar regular bank. We'd been using a local credit union and not been very happy with them.

[jerseygirl]

I locked my credit about 3 years ago and just kept 3 CCs. An airline, hotel and general that gives back some cash (freedom). I used to travel a lot for business but now only pleasure and not much. But I got used to business class and hotels just using points.
Now running low on points so should see what bonuses are available and unlock.
Generally I only fly United as it monopolizes EWR and stay at Westin/marriott as I’m platinum and get good perks. But these are chase cards and think no bonuses until 5 years since I already have
Anyway, time to look and unlock

[andi9899]

Jan 6, 2024 20:58:32 GMT -5 azucena said:

I just earned $300 cash back from capital one. I think the spend was $600.

Never thought to check if homeowners and car insurance accept credit card. Mine are due in march.

They do usually. If you pay the whole term up front, there is usually a discount. I don't know why I never thought to doing this. Especially if I'm getting cash back. I'm going to have to look into the CCs y'all are mentioning and pick one.

[andi9899]

Jan 7, 2024 5:17:37 GMT -5 finnime said:

I opened a bank account a week ago that pays $400 after 3 months of maintaining it, with at least $5000 of direct deposits over those 3 months. Easy free $400 and we needed a brick and mortar regular bank. We'd been using a local credit union and not been very happy with them.

I don't know if they reach that far, but I have Community America and I love them.

[andi9899]

Does anyone have the capital one savor one cash back card? I have been looking at it. It has no annual fee, 0% for 15 months and a $200 cash bonus. I feel like it would be a good one to travel with.

[azucena]

I think that's the one I just got. Looked at it and then started getting emails about 200. In a few weeks, the emails increased to $300 that I took.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Jan 7, 2024 5:17:37 GMT -5 finnime said:

I opened a bank account a week ago that pays $400 after 3 months of maintaining it, with at least $5000 of direct deposits over those 3 months. Easy free $400 and we needed a brick and mortar regular bank. We'd been using a local credit union and not been very happy with them.

I don't usually bother with bank sign on bonuses because I really like my credit union and already have two other cash management accounts with Fidelity...plus I don't want to hassle HR to keep changing my direct deposit, but I think I'm going to suck it up this year and do the Chase $900 one as penance for screwing up my health insurance credit.  You get $300 for opening a checking account and having one direct deposit the first 3 months (my tax refund would count), $200 for opening a savings account and keeping 15K in it for 90 days (can get that down to more like 62 days if I time the deposit right) and an additional $400 bonus for doing both.  Of course, their savings account pays nothing, so I'd be giving up about $62/month the money would have been making in a 5% money market account and the bonus is paid out as interest income unlike credit card bonuses which are tax-free money. 

[minnesotapaintlady]

Jan 7, 2024 9:58:51 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Jan 6, 2024 20:58:32 GMT -5 azucena said:

I just earned $300 cash back from capital one. I think the spend was $600.

Never thought to check if homeowners and car insurance accept credit card. Mine are due in march.

They do usually. If you pay the whole term up front, there is usually a discount. I don't know why I never thought to doing this. Especially if I'm getting cash back. I'm going to have to look into the CCs y'all are mentioning and pick one.

I'd get the Chase Sapphire Preferred.  Yes, it will cost you $95, but you get a $50 credit on a hotel booked through them, so really only $45. Pay some big bills to meet the minimum spend for the bonus, then once you get your 60,000 points you can just cash in for $600 if you want and be done with them.  Close the card before the year is up and not pay the next $95 fee.  I've opened the Sapphire and the Reserve (before it went to $450 annual fee) like 3 times each now!  They make you wait two years before you can do it again.

I've had the current one going on 3 years now though because my kid is currently using a few of the perks.

[finnime]

You're amazing, MPL!

[TheOtherMe]

I will not pay an annual fee for a credit card.  To me, it's throwing money away.  

I don't utilize the perks enough from those cards for it to matter.

I also love my credit union.  I do have some CDs with Capital One because they are paying higher interest.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Jan 7, 2024 12:17:55 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I will not pay an annual fee for a credit card.  To me, it's throwing money away.  

I don't utilize the perks enough from those cards for it to matter.

I also love my credit union.  I do have some CDs with Capital One because they are paying higher interest.

But paying $95 to get $600 seems like a no-brainer to me. You can close the card as soon as the bonus posts if you want.

[minnesotapaintlady]

I signed up for the Chase checking and savings today for the $900 bonus. I panic enrolled after I got an email offering me $600 for the same thing because I was afraid they were going to pull the other offer.  Originally the $900 one said 1/24/24 expiration and I was going to push it up to just a few days before.  Well, turns out they changed the expiration on that one to April!  Now I'm kind of kicking myself for jumping so soon, but whatever.  The only reason I was holding off is because I was going to use my tax refund as both the qualifying direct deposit and to fill some of the savings requirement.  The direct deposit only has to be within 90 days, so fine there still, but the 15K has to be in the savings within 30 days so I'll need to cash in bonds to get it.

Here's that offer if anyone wants it.

account.chase.com/consumer/banking/checkingandsavingsoffer