Get Chase Freedom Exclusives Bonuses While You Can

Apply: Chase Freedom Visa

Apply: Chase Freedom MasterCard

There's a reason I write about the Chase Freedom so much and why I consider it the best travel card for everyday spend, especially small purchases–the Chase Exclusives bonuses. It's pretty incredible that a no fee card can be such a workhorse when it comes to points earning. Not in the signup bonus, which is only 10,000 points, but in the three types of spend bonuses:

• 5X bonus on changing category spend (comes with the card)
• 10% bonus (Chase Exclusives bonus, if you also have a Chase checking account)
• 10 points per transaction bonus (Chase Exclusives bonus, if you also have a Chase checking account)

If you don't yet earn Chase Exclusives bonuses with the Freedom, you may not have much time left to lock in your eligibility. There is a rumor per Dans Deals that sometime in November the Chase Exclusives program will be downgraded for new customers, but that existing Chase Exclusives members will be grandfathered. Obviously I don't know for sure whether this will occur or not, but it wouldn't surprise me: remember that Chase already eliminated the Business Exclusives program for the Ink Bold last November, which used to offer 20% bonus points and threshold bonuses for everyday spend. Only people with the old Ink Bold were grandfathered into that program.

In any case, my husband and I are not taking chances: my husband applied for the Freedom today. I'd been planning to try to apply later, to see if there was an improved sign-up bonus, but I'd rather that he be able to lock in Chase Exclusives by getting the card now. He already has a Chase checking account, but if you don't, you can often find $150-$200 cash incentives for opening a Chase account, though be sure to be aware of any monthly minimum you need to keep in it to avoid fees, which usually kick in starting the third month unless you keep the required minimum balance.

But back to Chase Exclusives–why is this important? If you don't currently have the Chase Freedom and Chase Exclusives, you're missing out on the best points earning opportunity for small transactions. Yes, even better than using an AMEX Prepaid or a Visa gift card reloaded with Vanilla gift cards using your Ink Bold or Ink Plus, when we're talking about small purchases, especially ones that offer a 5X quarterly bonus.

Let's take, for example, a $5 drink purchase from a hotel, which is currently a Freedom 5X category.

Sapphire Preferred: 2.14 X (taking into account the 7% annual dividend), so 10.7 points

Gift Card or AMEX Prepaid, refills bought with Ink Bold or Ink Plus: ~4.6 X (taking into account cost of purchasing the refills), so 23 points

Freedom: 5X (25 points) + 10% bonus (0.5 point) + 10 point transaction bonus = 35.5 points

Chase Freedom Details:

• No annual fee
• 5X bonus changes quarterly and is limited to the first $1500 in spend on the bonus categories; see bonus calendar in Chase Exclusives Bonuses: Maximize Chase Freedom Ultimate Rewards Points
• Ultimate Rewards points are a better redemption value than cash back, especially if you transfer to United or Hyatt
• To transfer points out to Ultimate Rewards partners such as United MileagePlus, you must have the Sapphire Preferred, Ink Bold or Ink Plus

Here are some other examples of why the Chase Freedom is the go-to card for some common purchases; I've put the best points earning opportunity in bold font. 

So is there any reason I wouldn't advise getting the Freedom?

• You need to stay away from credit cards in general, either because you still have credit card debt you're paying down, or you'll be getting a major loan (mortgage, refinancing, student loan, etc.) soon
• You know you'll always forget to activate the 5X bonuses (although you can easily set alerts)
• You hardly have any small purchases 

Otherwise, I highly recommend using the Freedom and Chase Exclusives in tandem with the Sapphire Preferred and Ink Bold or Ink Plus to maximize your Ultimate Rewards points earning. And I definitely recommending getting the Chase Freedom and Chase Exclusives via a Chase checking account if you don't already have them, so you can be grandfathered in before the Chase Exclusives Program is eliminated, if this indeed happens in November.

Apply: Chase Freedom Visa

Apply: Chase Freedom MasterCard

Related Links:

Chase Exclusives Bonuses: Maximize Chase Freedom Ultimate Rewards

Chase Freedom: Activate 5X Points for Airlines and Hotels

Chase Freedom Review

What's In My Wallet

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