The Perfect Swipe

Making your wallet work for you, one swipe at a time.

Is this in your wallet? If not, it needs to be…

by · July 12, 2015

You’ve probably seen or heard about the Chase Sapphire Preferred – it’s the thick metal one your friends love to show off. If you’re looking for the best everyday card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card will fit perfectly in your wallet and will quickly become your new go-to card.

Chase has put forth a card that is by far the best for most. The signup bonus, day to day benefits and earning structure makes it TPS’s most recommended card.

ChaseSapphirePreferredTable

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Signup Bonus: 40,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. What does that mean for you? $500 in free miles for your next flight, car rental or hotel purchase!

Annual Fee: No annual fee for the first year and then $95 if you renew the card. I know an annual fee card may not seem worth it, but the card pays for itself for your second year after you swipe around $4,000 on travel and dining – which many can easily do in a few months.

Point Accrual: 2x points per dollar on Travel & Dining and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Want more points? Use your card on the first Friday of each month for dining or book your travel through the Chase portal for 3x points per dollar!

Benefits:

  • 20% off air travel when booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Points. For example, your 40,000 points from signing up are worth $500!
  • Travel internationally often? No foreign transaction fees
  • Chip enabled so you’re good to go for that upcoming transition!
  • 1:1 points transfer to many travel programs
  • Direct access customer service – easily one of my favorite perks. This means you’ll dial and immediately speak to someone who can help – and they are outstanding
  • Primary car rental insurance – one of the best in the industry

If you have trouble getting approved, always call in to discuss why the card was not immediately approved and see if there is anything you can provide to get the application approved.

Also, if  you have another Chase card like the Chase Freedom that earns Ultimate Rewards points, then will can easily transfer points between cards which means the points you have immediately become 20% more valuable.

TPS Pro Tip: Chase currently offers a 5,000 points bonus if you add an authorized user in the first 3 months of account opening.  Add your Mom, Brother, neighbor or roommate…the extra 5,000 points for 1 swipe makes it well worth it (as long as you steal the card back after they use it).

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