Whole Foods has a new app where you can now order your groceries directly inside (instead of having to go through the Amazon app, which still works too). To get you to try it, they have a $10 off $50 offer with promo code APP10. Works on both pick-up and delivery.
Audible has a new promo for $0.99/mo for 4 Months + $20 Audible Credit. This offer is targeted but should be widely available for past customers as long as you haven’t done a trial very recently (it worked for me and I’ve done 5+ free trials in the past). Offer ends October 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT. Cancel anytime.
With Audible Standard, you get 1 audiobook credit each month, so that’s 4 credits over 4 months. With the newer and cheaper Audible Standard plan, you only get to listen during that month and then you lose it. (Audible Premium lets you keep the audiobooks forever.) The $20 credit should cover at least 1 additional audiobook at full price and then offset some of a second one, which you get to keep forever. Audible Standard renews at $8.99/per month, so be sure to set a reminder after your four months is up (cancel 3 months from now and it won’t renew).
(Note that I am an Amazon affiliate and Amazon doesn’t let me put links in e-mails, so you may have to visit the original post to see all the links. Thank you.)
With Audible Premium trials and book credits, once you buy an audiobook, it is yours “forever”. (With Audible Standard, the monthly free book only lasts during the month you pick it.) You can go back and listen whenever you want, even if your membership is not active. Through these promos I have the entire Harry Potter collection read by Jim Dale (though now they have the new full cast edition) and currently finishing up the Percy Jackson series for the kids to listen to during roadtrips. More recently, Project Hail Mary was also good as an audiobook.
Activation reminder for 2026 4th Quarter. The credit cards below offer 5% cash back and up on specific categories, some fixed and some that rotate each quarter. It takes a little extra attention to which card you’re using, but it can add up to hundreds of dollars in additional rewards per year without changing your spending habits. I just load them into my Google/Apple Wallet and swipe through them. You can also buy gift cards for other retailers at places like Grocery Stores and Home Improvement stores with 5% back now but spend the gift cards later. New cardmembers may also get an upfront sign-up bonus.
Discover Card (by Capital One)
From October 1st through December 31st, 2026, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:
Enroll after logging into your online account. 5% rewards won’t apply until after you activate your rewards, so it is best to activate now before you forget. No annual fee.
Discover it $100 bonus + Double Cashback Match details. If you are a new applicant and sign up via Discover Card referral link, you will get a $100 Cashback Bonus after your first purchase of any amount within 3 months of being account opening. On top of that, you will also get Cashback Match for an entire year – a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. During those 12 months, your 5% cash back rewards becomes 10% cash back, and your 1% cash back rewards become 2% cash back. You can verify this on the bottom of the page:
We’ll match all the rewards you’ve earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 365 days and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You earn rewards only when transactions are processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover or Capital One checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This promotional offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardmembers. No purchase minimums.
From October 1st through December 31st, 2026, you can earn 5% cash back (or 5X Ultimate Rewards points) on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:
(The categories are also the same for the old Chase Freedom card, which is no longer available to new applicants.)
Enroll each quarter online in your Chase account or at ChaseBonus.com. As long as you activate by the 14th of the last month in each quarter, the rewards are retroactive. Technically, you earn Ultimate Rewards points which may be worth even more when converted to airline miles or hotel points instead of cash if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve card. You could also use the Pay Yourself Back tool to additional value. Currently, the Chase Freedom Flex card is offering new applicants a $250 bonus if you sign up and make $500 in purchases in your first three months. No annual fee.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
This keeper card got even better for me with the new $10 a month Disney+ credit that is valid on any plan. I use this card all year long for 6% cash back on groceries up to the limit, get my $120 in Disney+ credit to more than offset the $95 annual fee, and then in December use up the $6k annual limit on gift cards bought in the supermarket aisle. New cardholders are also eligible for a up to $300 welcome offer after $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. See details in link.
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card
You must choose the two 5% cash back categories every quarter, out of a preset selection of specific categories:
Unfortunately, you can’t pick a broad category like gas stations, restaurants, or grocery stores. Make sure to choose your categories each and every quarter, even if you want them to stay the same. If you do not choose your categories, all purchases revert to only earning 1% cash back for that quarter. That’s the “catch”. No annual fee. Currently, new applicants are offered a $200 bonus after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods all year long. Up to 10% cash back on select items during special promos. Prime membership required. New cardholder bonus of $150 instant Amazon gift card (no spending requirement). No annual fee. Just link this card in your Amazon account as the default payment method and you’ll know how much you spend at Amazon each month when the bill comes…
(Removed section on the Citi Custom Cash. As of May 28, 2026, Citi is no longer accepting applications for this card, which used to automatically offer 5% cash back on your single top eligible spending category up to $500 each month.)
(The Citi Dividend card has also not been available to new applicants for years now, but somehow they keep updating the categories each quarter. If you still have the grandfathered card you can view and activate your quarterly 5% category here. Limit of $300 cash back for the calendar year.
Updated with new promo details. US Mobile is an MVNO offering service from all three major networks, Verizon (Warp), AT&T (Dark Star), and T-Mobile (Light Speed). I wrote previously about balancing saving money on MVNOs with high data speed priority, and their “Unlimited Premium” plan on Warp (Verizon) was my personal choice. Since then, US Mobile has been recognized as #1 rated by both Wirecutter (NYT) and Consumer Reports. I’ve also expanded to three different phone lines and two Apple Watch standalone plans (for the kids).
Here are some links to help you find the best current promo.
Reasons why I chose their Annual Unlimited Premium plan on Warp (Verizon), switching from Mint Mobile:
$30 referral credit details. You can stack the current promo with my referral link to get an $30 referral credit. Click on my referral link first, which should auto-fill the promo code 0360B9DC before checking out. You will get sent a $30 virtual prepaid card after porting-in at least 1 line on an Unlimited or By the Gig Plan. You no longer have to wait 6 months.
Apple has agreed to a $250 million settlement to address allegations that they promised certain Siri AI features and did not deliver. If you purchased an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model (iPhone 16, 16e, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max) between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025, you can now file a claim at the official settlement website. This Verge article has more details.
Expected payout out is a minimum of $25, up to $95. My standard advice is that if you are affected, submit a claim immediately and then forget about it. Choose a payment method that you are confident will still work years from now, as sometimes these things take a while to sort out.
Amazon Prime membership includes Grubhub+, and there’s a new $20 off a $30 purchase deal with promo code DEALS20. The code works on both delivery and pickup. I tried out Taco Bell pickup and added 16 cheesy bean and rice burritos at $2 each for $12 + tax at checkout. (Judge if you want, I’m also gonna add 16 packets of hot sauce!) Promo ends 10/5.
I have a hard time understanding how food prices can be so high, yet these food delivery companies are still in business. They mark up menu prices significantly, then add a delivery fee plus a 15%+ tip. I am honestly curious about the income profile of the folks who regularly use these services.
Here’s my monthly survey of the best interest rates on cash as of September 2026, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. Banks and brokerages love taking advantage of idle cash, and you can often earn more interest while keeping the same level of safety by moving to another FDIC-insured bank or NCUA-insured credit union. Check out my Ultimate Rate-Chaser Calculator to see how much extra interest you could earn from switching. Rates listed are available to everyone nationwide. Rates checked as of 9/14/26.
TL;DR: Savings account interest rates are mostly stable, while rates on some longer-term CDs have risen significantly. You can get 4.34% APY on savings if you accept certain hoops/restrictions, but most are under 4% now. Short-term T-Bill rates ~3.8%. Top 5-year CD rates are now ~4.8% APY (brokered), while the 5-year Treasury rate is also ~4.8%.
High-yield savings accounts*
Since the huge megabanks still pay essentially zero interest, everyone should at least have a separate, no-fee online savings account to piggy-back onto your existing checking account. The interest rates on savings accounts can drop at any time, so I list the top rates as well as competitive rates from banks with a history of competitive rates and solid user experience. Some banks will bait you with a temporary top rate and then lower the rates in the hopes that you are too lazy to leave.
Short-term guaranteed rates (1 year and under)
A common question is what to do with a big pile of cash that you’re waiting to deploy shortly (plan to buy a house soon, just sold your house, just sold your business, legal settlement, inheritance). My usual advice is to keep things simple and take your time. If not a savings account, then put it in a flexible short-term CD under the FDIC limits until you have a plan.
Money market mutual funds
Many brokerage firms that pay out very little interest on their default cash sweep funds (and keep the difference for themselves). Note: Money market mutual funds are highly-regulated, but ultimately not FDIC-insured, so I would still stick with highly reputable firms.
Treasury Bills and Ultra-short Treasury ETFs
Another option is to buy individual Treasury bills which come in a variety of maturities from 4-weeks to 52-weeks and are fully backed by the US government. You can also invest in ETFs that hold a rotating basket of short-term Treasury Bills for you, while charging a small management fee for doing so. T-bill interest is exempt from state and local income taxes, which can make a significant difference in your effective yield.
US Savings Bonds
Series I Savings Bonds offer rates that are linked to inflation and backed by the US government. You must hold them for at least a year. If you redeem them within 5 years there is a penalty of the last 3 months of interest. The annual purchase limit for electronic I bonds is $10,000 per Social Security Number, available online at TreasuryDirect.gov.
Rewards checking accounts
These unique checking accounts pay above-average interest rates, but with unique risks. You have to jump through certain hoops which usually involve 10+ debit card purchases each cycle, a certain number of ACH/direct deposits, and/or a certain number of logins per month. If you make a mistake (or they judge that you did) you risk earning zero interest for that month. Some folks don’t mind the extra work and attention required, while others would rather not bother. Rates can also drop suddenly, leaving a “bait-and-switch” feeling.
Certificates of deposit (greater than 1 year)
CDs offer higher rates, but come with an early withdrawal penalty. By finding a bank CD with a reasonable early withdrawal penalty, you can enjoy higher rates but maintain access in a true emergency. Alternatively, consider building a CD ladder of different maturity lengths (ex. 1/2/3/4/5-years) such that you have access to part of the ladder each year, but your blended interest rate is higher than a savings account. When one CD matures, use that money to buy another 5-year CD to keep the ladder going. Some CDs also offer “add-ons” where you can deposit more funds if rates drop.
Longer-term Instruments
I’d use these with caution due to increased interest rate risk (tbh, I don’t use them at all), but I still track them to see the rest of the current yield curve.
All rates were checked as of 9/14/26.
* I no longer recommend fintech companies for cash savings due to the possibility of significant loss due to poor record-keeping and the lack of government protection in such scenarios. The point of cash is absolute safety of principal.
Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash
The Capital One Venture Rewards Card is a premium travel rewards card with a minimum of a flat 2 “miles” per dollar on all purchases. These “miles” are very flexible, and can be redeemed directly against any travel purchase made with the card within the past 90 days (any direct airline website, any direct hotel website, portals like Expedia/Booking.com, AirBNB stays, Uber rides, etc). This makes it effectively a flat 2% cash back card when redeemed towards travel. Capital One miles can also be transferred 1:1 to various airline partners, making it earn more miles for many purchases than the Chase Sapphire Preferred, for example. More details below.
Right now, there is a limited-time offer with a value of $1,000+.
Note the following about existing or previous cardholders:
Existing or previous cardmembers are not eligible for this product if they have received a new cardmember bonus for this product in the past 48 months.
Redemption details. Capital One “miles” can be redeemed directly for a cash statement credit on a 1 mile = $0.01 basis when offsetting any travel purchase made on the card within the past 90 days. In other words, 50,000 miles = $500 toward travel. That means you can fly on any airline or stay at any hotel, pay with this card, and then “erase” that purchase using your miles balance later. This even includes AirBnB vacation rentals, car rentals, cruises, and Uber rides.
This means that earning 2 miles on every $1 in purchases essentially makes this a 2% back card when applied towards travel. You also have the option of booking travel through their travel portal, similar to Chase Ultimate Rewards, but you are not required to do so. You have the flexibility of booking through them or making the purchase directly through the airline, hotel, car rental counter, etc. This makes it easy to combine and spend all your Capital One miles.
Miles transfer options. Capital One now allows you to transfer your “miles” into select airline miles programs as well. To transfer Capital One rewards to a travel partner, you must have at least 1,000 Capital One rewards miles. Here are the airline transfer partners:
Hotel partners
If you know how to leverage one of these international airline miles programs (my favorites are Aeroplan and Avios since you can combine family points), this can be a very valuable option. Otherwise, it’s nice to know you can always get a certain level of value by redeeming against any travel purchase.
Bottom line. The Capital One Venture Rewards Card (my referral link) is a solid all-around travel card that earns 2x miles on every purchase, which you can either redeem against any travel purchase (can purchase directly first and erase within 90 days) or transfer to one of their airline/hotel partners.
Like most people, I don’t prefer using a travel portal, but even if you value the $300 credit at Capital One Travel at $250, once you add the 75,000 bonus miles that’s still a $900+ net first-year value after the $95 annual fee. Capital One’s portal a least offers a price-match guarantee.
Above is my referral link, where you can first see if you’ll be approved without an upfront credit check (soft inquiry only). If you then accept the offer, then there will be a normal hard inquiry.
(Update: Offer is back, this time for $300 for $20k with a 90 day hold. Again available to both new and existing customers depositing new funds. For existing customers, the deposits must be in addition to your balance as of September 7th, 2026. To be clear, you need to open up a *new* personal savings account through the specific link below. You can have more than one savings account. You can’t just transfer in more money as an existing customer to your existing account and expect the bonus. Thanks to reader Andrea for the tip.)
Live Oak Bank is an FDIC-insured internet bank that is focused on lending to small businesses. Their personal savings account has a limited-time offer of a $300 bonus if you deposit $20,000+ in new funds into a new online savings account by 5:00 p.m. ET on October 16th, 2026 per this special offer page and keep it there for 90 days. The current interest rate is 4.00% APY. Direct deposit is not required. Valid for both new and existing customers, as long as you are adding new money (lookback date is 9/7/26).
To be clear, you need to open up a *new* personal savings account through the specific link above. You can have more than one savings account. You can’t just transfer in more money as an existing customer to your existing account and expect the bonus.
Unlike some other deposit bonuses, the 90-day window starts when the new money hits:
Beginning on the date in September or October 2026 when the new account attains a balance of at least $20,000, if the balance remains equal to or exceeding $20,000 for 90 consecutive days, then the account will be eligible for the bonus if all other conditions are met. If all eligibility criteria are met, the $300 cash bonus will be deposited to your open, eligible account within 45 days following the expiration of the 90-day period.
Bonus math. This is a 1.5% bonus on $20,000 if you keep it there for 90 days, which makes it the equivalent of 6% APY annualized. Bonus will be paid around Day 135 (45 days afterward) and the account must be open at that time, but you only need to maintain full balance through Day 90. The bonus is on top of the standard interest rate, currently a competitive 4.00% APY as of 9/8/26.
This equivalent of roughly 10% total APY over 90 days makes it a solid offer for those with compatible balances looking for short-term place to hold their cash for a few months. Live Oak Bank seems to come and go with the competitiveness of their rates, but they’ve been strong recently and it’s nice that this is available to existing customers.
CIT Bank has a limited-time Platinum Savings APY Boost Promotion, offering a boosted interest rate of 4.25% APY for 6 months on their Platinum Saving account that is 0.50% APY above the standard APY (currently 3.75% APY) for balances of $5,000 and above. Thankfully, this offer is available to both new and selected existing customers that activate the promotion.
New customers will need to sign up for a new CIT Bank Platinum Savings account using the promo code BOOST50 to qualify. There is a $100 minimum balance required to open, and you will need a $5,000 minimum balance to get the higher interest rate on this tiered account. There are no monthly service fees.
Existing customers with a Platinum Savings account opened prior to the promotion must enroll via the enrollment web page using promo code CITBoost. You will not get the 6-month boost automatically. From the fine print:
CIT Bank Customers with an account prior to the promotion: This Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion is valid for a Primary account owner with an existing account with a CIT Bank User ID before the start of the promotion, provided that the following requirements are met:
– Customers without a Platinum Savings account open prior to the Promotion must open a new Platinum Savings account via the enrollment web page using Promo Code BOOST50.
– Customers with a Platinum Savings account opened prior to the promotion may enroll their current Platinum Savings account into the Platinum Savings Boost promotion via the enrollment web page using Promo Code BOOST50.
– Customers who are not the Primary account owner on a Platinum Savings account may open a new Platinum Savings account as the primary account owner via the enrollment web page using Promo Code BOOST50.
– Accounts opened or enrolled during the program period without the Promo Code are ineligible to receive the APY boost.
Note that the terms also add the following:
Customers are ineligible to participate in the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion if:
They are earning an APY over the standard rate.
They participated in a previous APY Boost promotion.
They participated in a cash bonus promotion in the past 6 months.
Still, I am appreciative that some existing customers are again eligible for this promotion, as most other banks will only allow new customers to participate.
Note that if the base rate on the Platinum Savings account changes, during the promo you will maintain a 0.50% APY interest rate boost above the standard interest rate.
1APY disclosure for Platinum Savings:
Platinum Savings is a tiered interest rate account. Interest is paid on the entire account balance based on the interest rate and APY in effect that day for the balance tier associated with the end-of-day account balance. APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of July 1, 2026: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000.00 or more. Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100.
2 Discloser on multipliers:
Based on comparison to the national average Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on savings accounts as published in the FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps, accurate as of September 21, 2026.
* Platinum Savings APY Boost Promotion Terms and Conditions
This is a limited time offer available to New and Existing customers who meet the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion criteria.
Accounts enrolled in the Platinum Savings Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Boost promotion will receive a 0.50% APY boost on the Platinum Savings current standard APY tiers for 6 months following the opening of a new account or when an existing Platinum Savings account is enrolled in the promotion. The Platinum Savings APY boost will be applied on account balances up to $9,999,999.00. Account balances above $9,999,999.00 will earn the standard APY. If the standard-published APY should change during the promotion period, the APY boost will move with it, offering an account APY above the standard rate.
The Promotion begins on September 29, 2026, and ends December 15, 2026. Customers enrolled in the promotion prior to the end date will receive the APY boost for the 6-month period outlined in the terms and conditions.
The promotion can end at any time without notice.
For complete list of account details and fees, see the CIT Bank Personal Account disclosures.
GalaxyOne is a fintech super-app that combines a checking account, stock trading, and crypto. Checking account is through Cross River Bank, FDIC. Brokerage is through FIN2, a FINRA/SIPC member firm. Digital assets are held in custodial wallets with Paxos Trust Company, a New York State-chartered trust company. Previously known as Fierce App.
Right now they are offering a $1,000 new customer bonus. Hat tip to DoC. You must open a new account using promo code AUGUST1000 and deposit $10,000 or more in cash or crypto within 30 days, and hold it for 120 days to earn the $1,000 sign-up bonus. Must open by August 31, 2026, and then you have 30 days to make the deposit. You get the bonus 30 days after meeting these terms.
The fact that this is a fintech makes it a little concerning, and I don’t keep my money long-term in fintechs, but might be okay with the short-term since the bonus is effectively 30% annualized. You can hold your deposit at Cross River Bank and earn an additional 3.50% APY (would be my choice), or go nuts and hold it in crypto earning 8% yield (backed by Galaxy Digital).
Groupon has brought back their limited-time deal on new Costco Gold Star or Executive Memberships. There are two options.
$65 for Gold Star Membership Package
$130 for Executive Membership Package
They’ve made it a bit more restrictive in that both the Primary and Household/Affiliate member must not have had a membership in the last 18 months. I know that some people like to alternate between a Costco and Sam’s Club membership.
Valid only for new members and those whose previous memberships (Primary and Affiliate) have been expired for at least 18 months or more. Not valid for renewal or upgrade of an existing membership.
Save even more on your Groupon with a cashback shopping portal. The Rakuten $50 bonus now excludes the Costco offer, but others are actually paying an increased bonus. For example, BeFrugal has a $10 bonus when you join as a new member and earn $10 in rewards, plus 8% cash back on this Costco Groupon offer. If you buy the $130 offer, 8% of $130 is $10.40, enough to trigger the bonus.
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