For the first quarter of 2025, the Freedom Flex Card is offering 5x points on the first $1,500 spent with grocery stores (excluding Walmart), Target, and fitness clubs and gym memberships. As far as key dates go:
If you do not yet have this high paying cash back credit card then follow the link to collect $250 here and see about the current offers
Chase 5% bonus categories on TOP of 3% back on restaurants and drugstores!
Why we recommend the Chase Freedom Flex
Not only are you beating the high prices of inflation of groceries with this 5% cash back category you are saving money on things such as eggs.
The Chase Freedom Flex Card is easily one of the best no annual fee cards out there, as it offers 5x points in rotating quarterly categories, for up to $1,500 of spending per quarter. Most people use this as a cashback card, meaning the 5x points really translates into 5% cashback in these categories.
The card has other bonus categories as well, as it offers 3x points (or 3% cash back) at drugstores and on dining.
The Chase Freedom Flex is an incredible no annual fee card belonging to Chase’s Freedom portfolio, which can help you maximize your points thanks to its quarterly bonus categories.
With it now being a new quarter Chase has just launched its Q1 2025 bonus categories, allowing you to earn 5x points on the first $1,500 spent in new categories. Note that these same bonus categories are also valid for the Chase Freedom Card, which is no longer open to new applicants.
What’s included with Chase Freedom Flex Q1 2026 bonus categories?
There’s often some confusion about what purchases qualify with the bonus categories, so let me recap Chase’s definitions.
Here’s whats included with the grocery store bonus category:
Merchants in the Grocery Stores category include supermarkets, merchants that offer a full service grocery line of merchandise including a deli and bakery as well as smaller grocery stores. Some merchants that sell grocery items are not included in this category; for example, larger stores that sell a wide variety of goods, such as Target, Walmart, discount stores, warehouse clubs, and some smaller merchants such as drugstores and merchants that specialize in only a few grocery items. Purchases made at gas stations from merchants who also operate grocery stores are not included in this category. Delivery service merchants will not be included in this category unless the merchant has set up such purchases to be classified in the grocery stores category.
Here’s what’s included with the Target bonus category:
Purchases in the ‘Target’ category include purchases at Target stores, Target.com, Target branded gas stations operated by Target, and any other Target branded retail stores operated by Target. Please note, merchants operating within or on Target premises such as merchants that sell fast food, beauty services, and gas stations that are not Target branded are not included in this category. Target affiliate businesses and local delivery merchants are also not included in this category. Purchases in the Target category, including grocery purchases, will earn a total of 5% cash back.
Here’s what’s included with the fitness clubs and gym memberships category:
Merchants in the Fitness Clubs and Gym Memberships category include health clubs, exercise, or athletic facilities requiring membership and offering access to services related to physical fitness, such as fitness clubs, fitness centers, fitness studios, gyms, aerobics, cardio fitness and other services such as yoga and cross fit training. Merchants that specialize in offering personalized or therapeutic services such as massage therapy, dietary and weight management counseling and personal training are not included in this category. In addition, some merchants that sell a wide variety of general goods, which may include fitness or athletic apparel, sporting goods, dietary food, health food or similar supplements are not included in this category.
Also, certain lodging, hotel, motel, resort and central reservation services offering access to third party facilities that include fitness clubs or gyms are not included in this category unless the merchant has set up such purchases to be classified in this category.
If you have not seen every blog on the net by now posting about the Chase Sapphire Reserve 100k Bonus you have most likely been enjoying an amazing Holiday on an island with no wifi and away from hype. You have probably been away from the daily political news that swallows up our time. This new credit card from Chase is the most overhyped card of the year mostly from blogs that are paid by Chase in affiliate income to promote the card as they were told first by the bank to tease the card and then acted like it was a leak.
Chase most-likely hoped the card would be leaked out to newbies who are not churning credit cards on a quarterly basis but judging from Reddit and other blogs the people who want this card most likely will not get approved due to this rule called 5/24 that we are sick of hearing about. If Chase considers you to have too many credit cards with them or other banks you will not get approved.
When the link for the Chase Sapphire 100k Bonus on their official landing page went live I applied for that card along with a few other cards that day for my quarterly application day. I called into Chase’s reconsideration line as it said that I would be notified within 30 days of a response. The rep told me that I had too many cards within the last 24 months and could not be approved. I’ve only been denied a Chase card once and that was for the Chase Freedom Business Card which was replaced by the Ink line of cards. It was heartbreaking I would not get in on the hype and claim my 100k points and the benefits of the card but there are a few other cards from other issuers that do the same. Citi ThankYou points are worth more to me than Ultimate Rewards points anyway so I would much rather have a Thank You bonus! Then again I am not like most other bloggers who are paid by Chase to promote their product.
What do you get with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card?
100,000 Ultimate Rewards Bonus Points after $4,000 spending in 3 months with an Annual Fee of $450.
You get $300 in annual travel credit which pay for the cards annual fee because you can redeem this twice before the next annual fee hits giving you $600 in travel credit. If you apply a few months out before the end of the year you could easily make $150 and get 100,000 points off of this card. The card is overhyped because most of us will not be able to get it if we have other credit cards.
Some people are reporting that if you have applied for less than 5 cards in 24 months you can easily get the card but if you are over 5 cards in 24 months you can apply through a banker at a Chase branch and possibly get the card. The best thing is to wait and try doing it in a branch after checking if you are pre-approved instead of using some blogs affiliate links to apply.
Bottom line is to get the Sapphire Preferred card with only $95 annual fee and not the Sapphire Reserve card with a high annual fee and not really that much of a lounge game anymore with no Priority Pass restaurants.
These Disney credit cards offer up to a $200 statement credit bonus with qualifying purchases in addition to special Disney rewards and perks. If you are planning summer travel to one of the Disney parks or buying retail store purchases then make sure you get one of these cards first. We are huge fans of Disney World Resorts and have written several posts on saving money in their parks.
Disney’s Premier Visa Card $200 Bonus The Disney’s Premier Visa Card offers a $200 statement credit after you spend $500 within the first 3 months from account opening. You’ll also earn 2% in reward dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and most Disney locations as well as 1% on all your other card purchases. Save 10% on merchandise purchases of $50 or more at the Disney Online or in-store.
Ebates and other online cash back portals are my secret weapon during the holidays. I cannot understand for any reason people do not use them to earn cash back when buying gifts or buying anything such as travel. Using coupons online is a must for saving money, but why not earn cash back on top of coupons, and promo codes? Programs such as Ebates actually pay you for cash back and they are giving you an extra $10 incentive now for signing up and clicking through their links which only takes a few extra minutes.
Everyone spends money around the holidays so you want to maximize all of the means of cash back and rewards possible using certain credit cards but first doing this with an online shopping mall such as Ebates to stack up the cash back. One truly great thing is that Cash back for purchases is unlimited with these programs. You can get paid for clothing, shoes, airline tickets, hotels, furniture, food, flowers and gifts, and anything you find that you can click on in their portal!
Here is how you sign up for Ebates to get the $10 Gift Card and Start Earning Cash Back-
Steps to get the Ebates Bonus:
1. Join Ebates Here (It’s Free and never any fees)
2. Pick a FREE $10 Gift Card ($10 Walmart, $10 Macy’s, $10 Lowe’s)
3. We recommend downloading their browser button to tell you the shopping sites that have cash back or just going to Ebates before buying on any site and clicking on that sites link even if already in the shopping cart.
4. You should get a check soon from Ebates. Read more about the program here. (more…)
Sometimes nothing really makes sense. We have have our entire lives tried to throw out heavy change when we have it in our pockets being one of the main reasons we have switched to credit cards. Now there is a battle brewing over who has the heaviest credit card. Pretty soon if they get any heavier you will need a trainer to carry around the weights. These cards are definitely cool to look at but I am not so sure I want to carry too many of these around in my wallet just to show off. I would much rather use Apple Pay and get the transaction over with. Heavy seems to be the new Black with some card owners who love to show off their credit card fashion before it all goes digital.
Plastic credit cards normally weigh around 5g while the heaviest of luxury cards starts out at 28g. Some of these are made with plastic and some of metal.
#1: Chase Ritz Carlton weighs 28g with a heavy annual fee of $450. You at least get some elite benefits and possible free hotel nights to keep your heavy card inside.
Calling all cookie lovers! This National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day (Sunday, August 4), DoubleTree by Hilton is giving away free cookies to everyone – guests and non-guests alike. Just stop by any of their U.S. hotels to grab your complimentary cookie, either the original or the allergy-friendly version. Normally only Hilton Honors guests get this treat when they check-in for a stay.
DoubleTree’s chocolate chip cookie is a symbol of their warm hospitality, and they’ve been delighting guests with it since 1986. Over 20 million of these delicious cookies are enjoyed worldwide every year, and now you have a chance to try one for free. If you like freebie cookies you will also love these other treats this week from local restaurants.
And if you can’t make it to a DoubleTree hotel, don’t worry. You can still enjoy their famous cookies at home by using their official recipe.
So mark your calendars for National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day and get ready to experience DoubleTree’s signature warm welcome!
If you dine or pick up food at McAlister’s, Cinnabon, or Schlotzsky’s you can get an easy 10% off instantly in the app or when you check out at the counter. These fast-food restaurant chains are offering this as part of many AARP discount s. There are several other restaurants that offer AARP discounts but these stick out because they are ones you may pick up food from more often or are most likely to use. We also found it was really easy to link the accounts to the AARP number and you just press the discount button to apply it each time instead of having to print out a coupon or beg the person at the counter to get the ten percent savings.
You can get this offer by signing up for AARP membership which you can get at any age. I actually made money from signing up for my membership because I paid with a Chase Credit card that had it with $6 back with Chase Offers plus I clicked a link with TopCashBack (you can also use Swagbucks or Rakuten network) for an additional $12 back. The membership link for AARP I clicked on said it was only $12 to sign up the first year so I basically made $6 back from signing up even though I paid $12 on the credit card.
McAlister’s Deli Rewards member will receive 10% off future orders just for linking your AARP membership to your McAlister’s Rewards account. This also applies to Cinnamon rolls or anything you order at Cinnabon locations.
As a Schlotzsky’s Rewards member you can also easily link your AARP membership you get 10% off your future Schlotzsky’s orders!
At Schlotzsky’s you also get a birthday bonus and free chips and a drink along with the 10% off each day! Plus the BOGO Pizza!
To use this offer online, you must be logged into Schlotzsky’s Rewards.
Click “Log In”, then search for locations in your area.
At your chosen location, select “Offers”
Then select “Apply” on the chosen offer.
It’s as simple as that to save on the foods and sweets you crave the most. If you haven’t read about the BOGO pizza day make sure to get this promo that will stack with this 10% off at Schlotzsky’s. They have really tasty pizza better than Domino’s or many other pizza chains if you ask us. We make it a date night each week for the buy one, get one free pizza.
Amazon announced their 10th Prime Day coming on July 16th and 17th. Deals will begin at 12:01 am PDT on the 16th and continue throughout the 16th and 17th.
. Not only should you be able to snag a ton of deals during this 48 hour event, typically, there are many ways to stack your savings. In past years, this included using your Amazon credit card, earning Amazon credits and applying just a single credit card point — I am sure we will see these opportunities start to pop up over the next few weeks.
Additionally, Amazon has already announced some pre-saving Prime Deals which you can jump on now and not have to wait until July.
What is Amazon Prime Day Amazon Prime Day is a yearly two-day event where you’ll see different daily or flash discounts on many popular items. Many offers continuously pop up and while some deals will last all day, many will quickly sell out.
To take advantage of many of the discounts you’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member. If you don’t have a Prime Membership, you can sign up for a free trial which will give you 30 days of free prime access. After the free trial expires, you’ll be charged $139 for the year or $14.99 per month — you’re choice (or you can cancel before the free trial expires).
Early access Amazon Prime Day Amazon is starting Prime Day early with early access to many of their own Amazon devices. This is similar to what we’ve seen in the past and typically the pricing stays the same. However, if pricing by chance drops, you can always re-purchase at the lower price and return your previous purchase within the return window (typically 30 days).
You can shop all of the Amazon device deals here, but some of the better ones include:
If you’re looking to signup for Prime to get in on Prime Day, here are some options (let us know if anything is missing):
Get free Amazon Prime trial for 30 days. Interestingly, readers let us know that Amazon will sometimes let you get the free trial even if you previously had a trial at one point on the same account. You can also try adding a large item to cart and going to checkout, see if they pop up with another free Prime trial offer for you.
A yearly subscription costs $139. Instead of using our links (found in this post), we recommend going through a shopping portal to get a bonus when you signup. Swagbucks is offering a $15 Amazon gift card. Topcashback is offering the same.
Amazon Shop With Points & Card Link Deals
(Direct Amazon link) Amazon: Get 40%/$60 Discount When Using 1 American Express Membership Rewards Point
(Direct Amazon link) Amazon: Use 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards Point & Get 50% Off (Max $60 Discount)
(Direct Amazon link) Amazon: Get 30% off Amazon when Using 1 Discover Point
(Direct Amazon link) Amazon: Add Discover Card And Get $20 with promo code 23DISCOVERPD
(Direct Amazon Link) Amazon: Add Citi Card & Get $15 Off (Promo Code CITICARD15)
(Direct Amazon Link) Amazon: Get 40% Off Amazon when Using 1 U.S. Bank Point (Max $15 Savings)
Amazon has 24-Count 8.4-Oz Red Bull Energy Drink (Sugar Free or Original) on sale when you follow the instructions below. Shipping is free.
Step Two of Redbull Amazon Deal
Note: Be sure to follow the deal instructions below. You must clip 3 coupons (15% general coupon, one-time purchase, and Subscribe & Save) to get the deal prices. 15% coupon is one-time use so you will only be able to purchase one of the below items at the deal price.
The price should be as listed above + free shipping
Note: You must be logged into your account. Coupons are typically one use per account. You have the flexibility to manage your Subscribe & Save subscription at any time after your order ships. View Subscribe & Save filler items and our current Subscribe & Save deals to unlock up to extra 15% savings when you have 5 or more items in your current monthly subscription.
Editor’s Notes & Red Bull Price Research
These prices are 17.5% (original) to 24.6% (sugar free) less
4.7 (original) to 4.8 (sugar free) out of 5 stars rating at Amazon
Don’t have Amazon Prime? Students can get a free 6-Month Amazon Prime trial with free 2-day shipping, unlimited video streaming & more.
If you’re not a student, there’s also a free 1-Month Amazon Prime trial available.
Can RedBull Replace Panera Bread’s Sip Club Charged Lemonade?
Panera’s caffeinated Charged Lemonades contain significantly more caffeine than standard energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster.
A large (30 oz) Panera Charged Lemonade contains approximately 300 milligrams of caffeine.
A can of Red Bull (8.4 oz) contains 80 milligrams of caffeine.
A can of Monster (16 oz) contains 160 milligrams of caffeine.
Important Considerations:
Caffeine Sensitivity: Panera’s Charged Lemonades contain a large amount of caffeine, which may not be suitable for everyone. Consider your caffeine tolerance before consuming these beverages.
Health Concerns: High caffeine intake has been associated with various health issues, including increased heart rate, anxiety, and insomnia. Consume caffeinated beverages in moderation.
Labeling: Panera faced criticism for not clearly labeling the caffeine content in their Charged Lemonades. Always read labels carefully to be aware of the caffeine content in any drink.
Where to Buy Energy Drinks for the Lowest Price:
Warehouse Clubs: Stores like Costco and Sam’s Club often sell energy drinks in bulk at lower prices per can.
Grocery Stores: Look for sales and coupons on energy drinks at your local grocery store.
Gas Stations: While convenient, gas stations tend to have higher prices on energy drinks.
Online Retailers: Websites like Amazon may offer competitive prices on energy drinks, especially when purchased in bulk.
Remember to always compare prices and consider the caffeine content and your personal preferences when choosing energy drinks and use the best credit card to maximize your cash back!
Flights.Google.Com Search with Southwest Airlines showing
Exciting news for travelers! Southwest Airlines flights are now available on Google Flights, eliminating the need for tedious manual searches on the airline’s website. This integration is a major win for consumers, as it not only simplifies the flight search process but also opens up opportunities for significant savings.
Here’s how you can take advantage of this update and potentially score lower fares:
Utilize Google Flights’ Price Tracking: Easily monitor fare fluctuations by toggling the “Track prices” feature on Google Flights. You’ll receive email notifications whenever the price of your desired Southwest flight changes, empowering you to rebook at a lower rate if available.
Set Price Alerts: Customize your alerts to receive notifications only when the price drops below a specific threshold, ensuring you stay informed about the deals that matter most to you.
Explore Different Dates and Destinations: Google Flights’ flexible search options allow you to compare fares across various dates and airports, helping you pinpoint the most budget-friendly travel arrangements.
While Southwest flights remain absent from other third-party platforms like Expedia or Priceline, their presence on Google Flights marks a significant step towards greater convenience and cost-effectiveness for travelers.
Ebates and other online 
