It’s the time of year for new beginnings and routines — if that means now is the time for you to get serious about making your money work for you and getting that first rewards credit card, we’re here to help.
I’ve been at the points and miles game for about 20 years, and most often, the card I recommend over and over again to those wanting to get started in a rewards-earning lifestyle is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. We understand that not everyone wants multiple credit cards, so if you only want one hard-working card in your wallet, this can be it.
It’s a slam-dunk place to start; it has a reasonable annual fee and earns rewards that are easy to use, too.
You can book travel via Chase’s travel site — or, even better, you can transfer the points to popular travel programs such as United Airlines MileagePlus, World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy and Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards. This gives you many options when the time comes to cash in your points and make your dream trip a reality.
Points add up quickly, with 60,000 bonus points awarded after you get the card and spend $4,000 in the first three months of card membership. You’ll also rack up points in some bonus categories, like 3 points per dollar on dining and 2 points per dollar on travel.
An underrated perk these days is that the Sapphire Preferred will even have your back covering some unexpected eligible expenses if you use it to pay for your trip. So if dreaded flight cancellations and long delays come to ruin your fun — even when it’s a “weather-related” cause — you’ll be covered.
If you get the card now and work on earning that sign-up bonus, then 2024 can become the year that you take that first big rewards trip.
If you’ve already mastered the world of Ultimate Rewards and have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, take a look at this card next. It’s another great card to layer into your wallet, as that will unlock a whole new family of rewards.
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What cobranded credit card should I sign up for in light of Chase and American Express offering valuable hotel and airline perks with some of their cards?
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Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
