Capital One Spark Cash Plus Review: $2,000+ Cash Bonus + 2% Cash Back

Posted on August 14, 2024 // 7 Comments

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Updated with new big bonus for big spenders. The card_name is a rewards business charge card offering a big early spend bonus offer in addition to ongoing unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases (or better). Instead of a standard credit card where you can carry a balance and pay interest, this is a charge card where the balance is due in full every month. Here are the highlights:

  • One-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. You’ll also earn 2% cash back, which means you’ll earn a total of $600 + $2,000 = $2,600 in cash rewards on that $30,000 of spending. That’s a total of 8.6%!
  • Additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1.
  • Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere with no limits or category restrictions.
  • 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s travel booking site.
  • Comes with no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history and credit profile.
  • Add employee cards for free, and earn unlimited 2% cash back from their purchases
  • Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month.
  • $150 annual fee; Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year.

Consider that if you exactly meet both of the spending requirements above ($30,000 within first 3 months), you will end up with the $2,000 cash bonus plus $600 from 2% cash back = $2,600 cash total. That’s effectively 8.66% back on $30,000 of card spending!

This card does have a $150 annual fee, which makes it best suited for businesses with significant spending needs. NEW: Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year.

That may all seem like a lot, but many businesses make a lot of purchases for raw materials and/or inventory. If you pay estimated taxes each quarter, you can also pay the IRS via credit card with a 1.82% fee and still come out ahead.

This card does not have all of the bells and whistles like top-level rewards, transferrable airline miles, or airport lounge access. For that, look into the Capital One Venture X Business Card and its higher annual fee.

If you also hold the Spark Miles, Capital One Venture, or the Capital One Venture X rewards cards, you can convert your cash back rewards into their “miles”, which are then transferrable to various airline miles programs including British Airways Avios. With the right companion card, $2,000 in cash rewards could be converted to 200,000 miles.

Many people aren’t aware of the fact that they can apply for business credit cards, even if they are not a corporation or LLC. The business type is called a sole proprietorship, and these days many people are full-time or part-time consultants, freelancers, eBay/Amazon/Etsy sellers, Uber/Lyft drivers, or other one-person business owners. This is the simplest business entity, but it is fully legit and recognized by the IRS. On a business credit card application, you should use your own legal name as the business name, and your Social Security Number as the Tax ID.

Bottom line. The card_name is a rewards business card where you pay in full each month. If you put a lot of purchases on a card, this card is offering a big early spend bonus offer in addition to ongoing 2% cash back on all purchases (or better).

Due to the high first-year value, I will be adding this to my Top 10 Best Small Business Card Bonus Offers.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, General //

Discover It Card Review: Double Cashback Match + $100 Bonus (Apple GC Rewards 15% Bonus)

Posted on August 5, 2024 // 55 Comments

Update: Existing Discover cardholders should note that right now you can get 5% to 20% of extra value to gift card redemptions at various retailers. Apple is at a 15% bonus, so $85 in cash back = $100 in Apple gift cards. Smaller increments are also available, such that I was able to redeem my $34 balance for a $40 Apple GC, which I instantly added to my Apple account. Nike has 20% bonus, Gap/Athleta has 15% bonus, and so on. Offer ends 8/31/24. Discover It is a long-time “keeper” card of mine due its 5% cash back categories, plus you can double that to 10% with their new cardholder bonus.

Full card review:

The Discover it® card is a rewards credit card that offers 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter and no annual fee. Right now, new cardholders get double their cash back during the entire first year (“Cashback Match”). This means that their 5% cash back on specific categories each quarterly will effectively get doubled to 10% cash back. Here are the highlights:

  • We’ll double all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. So if you earned $101 cash back, we’ll double it to $202—Automatically. Only for new cardmembers.
  • 5% cash back in categories that change each quarter like gas, restaurants, home improvement stores and more—up to the quarterly maximum when you sign up. 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Freeze It on/off switch lets you prevent new purchases, cash advances & balance transfers on misplaced cards in seconds by mobile app & online.
  • 100% U.S.-based customer service.
  • Free FICO credit scores updates on your monthly statement.
  • No overlimit fee. No foreign transaction fee. No late fee on first late payment & paying late won’t raise your APR.
  • No annual fee.

From July 1st through September 30th, 2024, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:

  • Walmart (both in-store and online)
  • Grocery Stores (excludes Target and wholesale clubs)

Enroll after logging into your online account (look on the right-hand side). 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 details. If you are a new applicant and sign up via my Discover Card referral link, you will get a $50 improved $100 Cashback Bonus after your first purchase within 3 months of being account opening. 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 application by looking under “Terms and Conditions” or searching for “cashback match” and “statement credit offer”:

Refer a Friend: You will receive a $100 statement credit after making a purchase within three months of account opening. You must apply online through your friend’s digital referral link and be approved by 11:59pm ET, December 31, 2024 in order to be eligible for the $100 statement credit offer.

Cashback Match: We’ll match all the cash back rewards you’ve earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers //

Best Interest Rates on Cash Roundup – August 2024

Posted on August 4, 2024 // 2 Comments

Here’s my monthly roundup of the best interest rates on cash as of August 2024, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. There are lesser-known opportunities available to individual investors, often earning more money 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 8/4/2024.

TL;DR: Rates are dropping at all longer maturities, from 1-year out. Still 5%+ savings accounts and short-term CDs. Compare against Treasury bills and bonds at every maturity, taking into account state tax exemption. I no longer recommend fintech companies due to the possibility of loss due to poor recordkeeping and/or fraud.

High-yield savings accounts
Since the huge megabanks STILL pay essentially no interest, everyone should 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.

  • The top rate at the moment is at Poppy at 5.50% APY (3-month rate guarantee). I have no personal experience with them, but they are the top rates at the moment. CIT Platinum Savings at 5.00% APY with $5,000+ balance.
  • SoFi Bank is at 4.60% APY + up to $325 new account bonus with direct deposit. You must maintain a direct deposit of any amount each month for the higher APY. SoFi has historically competitive rates and full banking features. See details at $25 + $300 SoFi Money new account and deposit bonus.
  • Here is a limited survey of high-yield savings accounts. They aren’t the top rates, but a group that have historically kept it relatively competitive such that I like to track their history. Sad to see Ally Bank falling even further behind.

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.

  • No Penalty CDs offer a fixed interest rate that can never go down, but you can still take out your money (once) without any fees if you want to use it elsewhere. Marcus has a 7, 11, and 13-month No Penalty CD at 4.70% APY with a $500 minimum deposit. Consider opening multiple CDs in smaller increments for more flexibility.
  • EagleBank has a 1-year certificate at 5.40% APY ($1,000 min). I could not locate their early withdrawal penalty.
  • NexBank has a 1-year certificate at 5.35% APY ($10,000 min). There is a 180-day interest penalty if you withdraw your CD funds before maturity.

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.

  • Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund is the default sweep option for Vanguard brokerage accounts, which has an SEC yield of 5.28% (changes daily, but also works out to a compound yield of 5.41%, which is better for comparing against APY). Odds are this is much higher than your own broker’s default cash sweep interest rate.

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.

  • You can build your own T-Bill ladder at TreasuryDirect.gov or via a brokerage account with a bond desk like Vanguard and Fidelity. Here are the current Treasury Bill rates. As of 8/4/24, a new 4-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 5.37% annualized interest and a 52-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 4.37% annualized interest.
  • The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) has a 5.24% SEC yield and effective duration of 0.10 years. SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) has a 5.20% SEC yield and effective duration of 0.08 years.

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. You can also buy an additional $5,000 in paper I bonds using your tax refund with IRS Form 8888.

  • “I Bonds” bought between May 2024 and October 2024 will earn a 4.28% rate for the first six months. The rate of the subsequent 6-month period will be based on inflation again. More on Savings Bonds here.
  • In mid-October 2024, the CPI will be announced and you will have a short period where you will have a very close estimate of the rate for the next 12 months. I will have another post up at that time.

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.

  • OnPath Federal Credit Union pays 7.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and login to online or mobile banking once per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization. You can also get a $100 Visa Reward card when you open a new account and make qualifying transactions.
  • Genisys Credit Union pays 6.75% APY on up to $7,500 if you make 10 debit card purchases of $5+ each per statement cycle, and opt into online statements. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • Credit Union of New Jersey pays 6.00% APY on up to $25,000 if you make 12 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit, online bill payment, or automatic payment (ACH) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • Andrews Federal Credit Union pays 6.00% APY on up to $25,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit or ACH transaction per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization.
  • Pelican State Credit Union pays 6.05% APY on up to $20,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, log into your account at least once, and make at least 1 direct deposit, online bill payment, or automatic payment (ACH) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization membership.
  • Orion Federal Credit Union pays 6.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make electronic deposits of $500+ each month (ACH transfers count) and spend $500+ on your Orion debit or credit card each month. Anyone can join this credit union via $10 membership fee to partner organization membership.
  • All America/Redneck Bank pays 5.00% APY on up to $15,000 if you make 10 debit card purchases each monthly cycle with online statements.
  • Find a locally-restricted rewards checking account at DepositAccounts.

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.

  • Grow Financial FCU has a 5-year CD at 4.75% APY. 4-year at 4.02% APY. 3-year at 4.02% APY. 2-year at 4.33% APY. 1-year at 4.75% APY. $500 minimum. The early withdrawal penalty (EWP) for CD maturities of 12 months or more is 180 days of interest. Membership to this credit union is open nationwide to members of Friends of U.S. Military Families ($5).
  • Credit Human has a 59-month CD at 4.60% APY. 48-month at 4.60% APY. 35-month at 4.70% APY. 23-month at 5.00% APY. 1-year at 4.90% APY. $500 minimum. The early withdrawal penalty (EWP) for CD maturities of 36 months or more is 365 days of interest. For CD maturity of 1 year, the EWP is 270 days of interest. This is actually a credit union, but is open nationwide with a American Consumer Council (ACC) membership. Try promo code “consumer” when signing up at ACC for a free membership.
  • First Internet Bank has a 5-year CD at 4.50% APY. 4-year at 4.45% APY. 3-year at 4.61% APY. 2-year at 4.76% APY. 1-year at 5.26% APY. $1,000 minimum. The early withdrawal penalty (EWP) for CD maturities of 2 years or more is 360 days of interest. For CD maturity of 1 year, the EWP is 180 days of interest.
  • You can buy certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. You may need an account to see the rates. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance and easy laddering, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. Right now, I see a 5-year non-callable CD at 3.95% APY (callable: no, call protection: yes). Be warned that now both Vanguard and Fidelity will list higher rates from callable CDs, which importantly means they can call back your CD if rates drop later.

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.

  • Willing to lock up your money for 10 years? You can buy long-term certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. You might find something that pays more than your other brokerage cash and Treasury options. Right now, I see a 10-year CDs at 4.05% (non-callable) vs. 3.80% for a 10-year Treasury. Watch out for higher rates from callable CDs where they can call your CD back if interest rates drop.

All rates were checked as of 8/4/2024.

Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers, Investing // Tagged:

Free Instacart+ & Credits with Select Credit Cards (Expired)

Posted on July 30, 2024 // 4 Comments

Update: This offer is expired. The last day to activate this benefit was July 31st, 2024. You can add multiple eligible Chase Sapphire/Slate/Freedom flavors and they will stack to extend your free membership further and further. Just keep going back to Instacart.com/chase to activate all your cards before the deadline. For example, I added both a Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited.

Original post:

Chase has partnered with Instacart to offer a free memberships and credits to Instacart+. Instacart+ usually costs $9.99 a month (or $99 a year) and includes free delivery on $35+ orders and reduced service fees. They claim the average savings is $7 per order. Here are the eligible cards and perks:

Get free delivery with Instacart+:

– 12 free months with Sapphire Reserve® and J.P. Morgan Reserve®
– 6 free months with Sapphire® and Sapphire Preferred®
– 3 free months with Freedom®, Freedom Flex?, Freedom Unlimited®, Freedom Rise?, Freedom® Student, Slate® and Slate Edge?

Earn statement credits*

– $15/month for Sapphire Reserve® and J.P. Morgan Reserve®
– $15/quarter for Sapphire® and Sapphire Preferred®
– $10/quarter for Freedom®, Freedom Flex?, Freedom Unlimited®, Freedom Rise? and Freedom® Student

Tip #1: Turn off auto-renewal immediately after activation. When you activate this offer, it will be set to auto-renew after the end of the free membership. However, you can cancel this auto-renew now and it will still keep your free membership until the end of the gift period.

Tip #2: Keep the Instacart app installed on your phone with notifications on. Instacart reliably sends me new coupons via app notifications. (I don’t get the same coupons via e-mail.) Stacked with other benefits, it can make it worthwhile to use Instacart even with their inflated prices, especially if you value the time saved. I actually prefer shopping via an app nowadays for meal planning purposes, but usually directly with a grocery store for lower prices.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers //

Charles Schwab Brokerage: Up to $6,000 New Deposit / Transfer Bonus (New & Existing Customers)

Posted on July 26, 2024 // 15 Comments

Update: Schwab has suspended/ended this “Up to $6,000” transfer promotion as of October 2024. The referral offer appears to still be available, which is up to $1,000.

Brokerage firms constantly compete for “assets under management”, and many are willing to give you cash to move over your existing portfolio from your existing broker over to them. Unfortunately, many of these offers are for new app startups with questionable customer service. How about a traditional firm with telephones connected to knowledgable humans working inside physical branches in major metro areas?

Charles Schwab is currently offering up to a $6,000 cash bonus depending the value of assets that you move over (qualifying net deposit of cash or securities) within 45 days of enrollment. The minimum hold period is one year for taxable brokerage accounts. The percentages aren’t the best, and the tiers are relatively high, but this is actually a brokerage I wouldn’t mind leaving my assets at for the long run. It’s also available to existing Schwab customers.

  • $200 with $50,000–$99,999 in new assets
  • $300 with $100,000–$249,999 in new assets
  • $600 with $250,000–$499,999 in new assets
  • $1,200 with $500,000–$999,999 in new assets
  • $2,500 with $1,000,000-$4,999,999 in new assets
  • $6,000 with $5,000,000+ in new assets

Note: New-to-Schwab clients should compare this with the Schwab Referral Offer, which may offer a slightly higher bonus at specific asset levels (ex. $100 bonus on $25k in new assets, $300 bonus on $50k in new assets, $500 bonus on $100k in new assets). At the higher tiers, the offer above is better. That’s my referral link, thanks if you use it (although please let me know if you have issues with it; I’ve never actually gotten a bonus from Schwab so I’m not sure if it really works).

The easiest option is often to perform an in-kind ACAT transfer of existing securities, which takes less than a week and all of your tax basis information should also move over after another few days. Your old broker may charge you an outgoing ACAT fee about about $75, although you should ask Schwab if they will reimburse you for
this fee.

Both taxable and IRA accounts are eligible. From the fine print and FAQ:

Accounts that are eligible for the Schwab Investor Reward include: Schwab retail brokerage accounts and individual retirement accounts (IRAs), including accounts enrolled in Schwab-sponsored investment advisory programs such as Schwab Intelligent Portfolios®, Schwab Managed Portfolios™, Schwab Managed Account Select®, Schwab Managed Account Connection®, and Schwab Wealth Advisory™.

Schwab Bank Investor Checking™ accounts do not qualify for this promotion whether they are linked to a brokerage or are stand-alone. If you make a deposit in a Schwab Bank Investor Checking™ account, you will not receive the award. The offer also does not apply to the Schwab Global Account™, ERISA-covered retirement plans, certain tax-qualified retirement plans and accounts, education savings accounts, Schwab Bank accounts, or accounts managed by independent investment advisors.

Can two clients in the same home get the award?

Yes. As long as both clients have individual accounts and separately qualify for the Reward, provided that each makes a qualifying net deposit.

Schwab appears to still be offering their $101 Starter Kit promo. But the FAQ says “Can this offer be combined with other offers? No. This offer can’t be combined with other offers.” I’m not sure if it counts as combining if you first open the new account for the Starter Kit bonus, wait, and then participate in this transfer offer.

One major drawback with Schwab is that the default cash sweep is not good. Still just 0.48% APY as of 7/16/24! Boo. You need to take proactive steps to avoid lost interest if you plan to keep significant amounts of cash in their default sweep account. Consider buying Treasury bills, brokered CDs, or Treasury Bill ETFs like GBIL (still possible to lose value). See my separate post on the best alternative Schwab cash sweep options.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers, Investing //

American Express® Business Gold Card Review: 100,000 Bonus Points, 4X and 3X Rewards, $240 Flexible Business Credit, $155 Walmart+ Credit Annually

Posted on July 25, 2024 // Leave a Comment

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Updated with increased 100k offer. The card_name is a premium card for small businesses with excellent features like purchase price protection, travel accident insurance, car rental coverage, and the famous AMEX extended warranty that actually pays out. The card features have been changed as of October 2023 to include new rewards categories and perks. Here are the highlights:

  • Welcome Offer: 100,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months.
  • 4X Membership Rewards(R) points on the top 2 eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. Your top 2 categories are allowed to change each billing cycle, and you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
  • 3X Membership Rewards(R) points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
  • $240 Flexible Business Credit. Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment is required.
  • Up to $155 Walmart+ Credit annually. Get up to $12.95 back in statement credits each month when you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee. Enrollment is required.
  • The Business Gold Card now comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and Limited Edition White Gold. The new White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
  • Annual fee is $375.
  • See Rates and Fees

The six eligible categories for the 4X Membership Rewards(R) points are:

  • Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
  • Purchases at US media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
  • U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
  • U.S. purchases at gas stations
  • U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
  • Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.

Membership Rewards points can be converted to the following airline and hotel programs (there are more, this is just a selection):

  • Delta SkyMiles
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • JetBlue
  • ANA Mileage Club (partner of United Airlines)
  • Air Canada (partner of United Airlines)
  • British Airways (partner of American Airlines)
  • FlyingBlue (Air France/KLM)
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • Choice Privileges
  • Hilton Honors
  • Marriott Bonvoy

Business card eligibility. Many people aren’t aware that they can apply for business cards, even if they are not a corporation or LLC. Sole proprietors are a small business. If you received a 1099-MISC tax form and filled out a Schedule C, that means you have business income, you pay self-employment taxes, and you’re a sole proprietorship. This is the simplest business entity, but it is fully legit and recognized by the IRS. On a business card application, you should use your own legal name as the business name, and your Social Security Number as the Tax ID.

This card will require you to personally guarantee that you’ll pay them back what you purchase with the card, which means they’ll check your personal credit score like any other consumer card. However, as the card is a business card, American Express won’t have it show up on your personal credit report, so it won’t change things like your credit limits, average account age, or credit utilization ratio.

Bottom line. The card_name is a premium business card that includes the classic American Express features like excellent customer service and customer-friendly protections. The card now offers the ability to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spent the most each month, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year. There is also a welcome offer for new applicants.

I will add this card to my list of Top 10 Best Business Card Offers.

(See Rates and Fees)

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, General //

Visible Wireless Discount: $20/Month for 2 Years, Visible+ $35/Month for 2 Years ($240 Savings)

Posted on July 23, 2024 // 4 Comments

Visible Wireless is one of multiple discount MVNOs that use the Verizon network, but they are the only one directly owned by Verizon. Right now, they have a new offer with promo code CHAMP that discounts their standard plan by $5 a month ($20/mo instead of $25/mo) and their premium Visible+ plan by $10 a month ($25/month instead of $35/month) for two years. That’s a total savings of $120 or $240, and also makes it cheaper than their annual pay-upfront plans. In addition, the Visible+ plan includes a free connected Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, which costs $10 a month on many other plans. Here is a quick comparison of their two plan tiers.

Visible Plan (standard version)

  • $25/month ($20/month for 2 years with promo code CHAMP). Government taxes and fees included in price.
  • Unlimited data, talk & text on Verizon’s 5G & 4G LTE networks. Data speeds may be throttled during high traffic times. Typical 5G & 4G LTE download speeds are 9-149 Mbps. Video streams in SD.
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot (5 Mbps max).
  • Automatically blocks high-risk spam and robocalls.
  • No contract.
  • Unlimited talk & text to Mexico & Canada.

Visible+ Plan Details (standard version)

  • $45/month ($35/month for 2 years with promo code CHAMP). Government taxes and fees included in price.
  • 5G Ultra Wideband Access + 50 GB/mo of premium (un-throttled) data on Verizon’s 5G & 4G LTE networks. Unlimited talk and text. Data speeds may be throttled after the 50 GB/mo.
  • Connected Smartwatch (Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch) included (up to $10/mo value).
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot (10 Mbps max).
  • Automatically blocks high-risk spam and robocalls.
  • No contract.
  • Unlimited talk & text to Mexico & Canada.
  • Save $10/mo on Verizon Home Internet.
Filed Under: Deals & Offers //

$7,000 IRA Contribution Bonus Challenge: $4,673 in Bonuses (2024 YTD Edition)

Posted on July 18, 2024 // 12 Comments

Each year, I challenge myself to earn the equivalent of the maximum annual IRA contribution limit ($7,000 for 2024 if under 50) using the profits from various finance promotions alone. I earned $5,592 in 2021, $6,259 in 2022, and $5,444 in 2023 (plus another $2,500 in stock special situations). Here’s a progress update after the end of the first quarter of 2024.

If you combined these hobby profits and steady investing, this CAN create enough for a house downpayment (unlike perhaps spare change roundups). If you had put $6,000 into your IRA every year for the recent 10 year period (2014-2023) and invested in a simple Target Date retirement fund, you would have turned small, weekly deals into a $95,000+ nest egg.

That’s worth repeating: An extra 100 grand has been the real-world result of playing this game and investing $500 a month in proceeds for the last 10 years! I have the brokerage statements to prove it. Not to mention, a couple could double these numbers. Focus + Long attention span = Surprising results.

Ground rules: Real-world results for one person only. Following with Better Finance Info tradition, this will track my personal, real-world results. It would be quite easy to list a bunch of promotions that add up to $6,000, but these will be promotions that I personally sign up for and complete the requirements (even though I’ve already opened 100+ bank accounts, credit cards, and brokerage accounts over the years). I will track my individual results only, although my partner does also participate on a more selective basis. Nearly all of them have been documented in real-time in the Deals and Offers category, Top 10 credit cards list, and brokerage bonus list.

2024 bonuses and promotions list. The 💵 symbol means I have received and/or cashed out the bonus successfully. The ⌛ symbol means that the promo is still in progress. “Still live” means the offer is still available but the values may have gone up or down.

I chose the Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines cards because I already had planned trips within the next 12 months and knew I could take advantage of the free checked bags, companion fare savings, and redeem the miles. I valued the miles at a simple and conservative $0.01/mile. The Alaska Companion fare on its own saved us nearly $700. The LFCU credit card was something out of the ordinary since I have gotten most of the mainstream cards already, and I was already an LFCU member from their checking account bonus and sometimes-competitive CD rates. They did give me a very low credit line ($2,000).

Total for 2024 YTD: If I assume that all bonuses for which I have completed the required activity will eventually post, the total tally so far is $4,673, which is 67% of the $7,000 annual IRA contribution limit for 2024.

Honorable mention #1: Cummins / Atmus Odd Lot Tender Offer. I did make a $4,819 profit over only 23 calendar days from the expired Cummins / Atmus Filtration odd lot tender offer. This did require a $26,000 commitment to buy 99 shares (the max allowed as an individual small investor) before the odd lot tender, but the lockup time was short with an annualized rate of return of 1,528%.

Honorable mention #2: Robinhood 3% IRA Transfer / 401k Rollover Bonus. After some hesitation, I went for this expired 3% of assets transfer offer using my largest Roth IRA account from Vanguard. The size of this bonus will depend on the size of your assets, and there is a 5-year hold period, so I won’t include this bonus in my annual sums. My bonus was roughly $8,000.

Honorable mention #3: Webull 2% Taxable ACAT Transfer Bonus. I am in the middle of this 2% of assets transfer offer with a portion of my buy-and-hold stocks. Again, the size of this bonus will depend on the size of your assets, so I won’t include this bonus in my annual sums. My expected bonus value is $4,000 on $200,000 of assets transferred.

This is a personal challenge/game that I like to play (and have played for a long time now). It’s not for everyone. I happen to enjoy trying out new apps and services. I also like my hobbies to be profitable – not gonna lie – but I don’t like to waste my time either. I look for a solid return based on the time commitment required. I try to avoid speculative bets, bonuses that are hard to convert to real cash-equivalent value, and anything that requires driving to stores where things may or may not be in stock. The deals that I post often last only a few days, but it’s a bit like value investing where you have to be ready to get off your butt and take decisive action when an opportunity shows up, because they won’t last forever.

Many things I have to skip simply because I’ve already done them. For those new to this hobby, I would first grab the best overall cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve and build up a nice stash of flexible Ultimate Rewards points. After that, I would recommend looking at the Citi Premier (ThankYou points), Capital Venture X (Capital One Miles), and American Express Gold (AmEx Membership Rewards points) to jumpstart your points stashes.

This list also ignores the additional interest earned from otherwise optimizing my existing cash balances, as well as everyday credit card rewards like 2% to 2.6% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on specific categories or 1% or better cash back on rent.

Finally, I am also excluding small-business deals like huge $1,000+ value business card bonuses, big business checking bonuses, and so on. Even you can apply as a sole proprietorship using your name and Social Security number, without having to file for any special ID numbers or licenses…

Photo was generated by Adobe’s Firefly tool (AI).

Filed Under: Banking, Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, Goals //

Amazon Prime Day 2024: 20% Off Gift Cards, Amazon/Apple/Samsung/YETI Deals, Music/Audible/Kindle Free Trials, Link Credit Cards for Discounts

Posted on July 16, 2024 // 3 Comments

Amazon Prime Days are here: July 16th and 17th, 2024. I’m the boring one trying to score a deal on toilet paper and kid snacks. I like to check this “Buy Again” tab where you can see if there is a discount on the stuff that you already bought and liked. Just scroll down and look for the red “Prime Day Deal” box.

(Note: If you are reading this in an email/RSS reader, unfortunately I am not allowed to include any Amazon affiliate links in e-mails, so they have been removed. Please click here to view the links.)

As the name suggests, most deals require a Prime membership. New members can sign up for a 30-day free trial. Amazon Prime Student (age 18-24) has a 6-month free trial or 50% off the paid membership. If you’ve already done the trial, you can simply buy a month of Prime for $14.99 ($6.99 with SNAP, EBT or Medicaid card).

Deals and Offers

Link Credit Card to Amazon Wallet

Amazon-related Services

Stuff I Own

  • Amazon Eero mesh WiFi router system (3-pack). I bought this from a previous Prime Day and I would definitely buy it again. Just makes WiFi something you don’t worry about anymore. No more dead spots around the house.
  • Bose QC 45 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones. I’m not an audiophile, but these feel great, work well on planes, and are built solid and reliable. Still own the QC 25 wired headphones as well which are now several years old.
  • Beco Gemini Baby Carrier. Used this for all three kids. Solidly built and comfortable.
  • COSORI Air Fryer 5 Qt. Love this air fryer. We use it just like a microwave, except it keeps things crispy instead of soggy. Easy to clean.
  • Vitamix 5200 blender. Had it for many years. Kitchen staple, sometimes we use it a lot, sometimes rarely, but it’s always there ready and powerful.
  • OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker. I love my smooth cold brew coffee. Simple, easy to clean, works well as long as you have course ground coffee. Fine grind will clog up the filter. I use the Vitamix for a coarse grind from whole beans.
  • Infrared Forehead Thermometer. Bought a lot of thermometers the past few years. This model is the best. No contact. Consistent readings. Must have pulled that trigger a million times now.

“Shop with Points” Promos (Check again if targeted)

Filed Under: Deals & Offers //

Laurel Road Loyalty Checking: $20/Month Perks

Posted on July 14, 2024 // 18 Comments

Update January 2025: The offer below has expired. Laurel Road has discontinued the upfront bonus for their Loyalty Checking account at this time.

EXPIRED and outdated post:

Laurel Road is a digital brand of KeyBank (not a fintech) that reminds me of SoFi in that they are building a relationship that starts with student loan refinances when you are young, and then expands as you grow older and need new services. They have special products targeted at doctors and nurses including student loan refinances, personal loans, mortgages, bank accounts, and other products like a credit card that earns 2% cashback towards student loans.

The Laurel Road Loyalty Checking Account is available to the general public and has a few interesting features:

  • $300 welcome bonus when you open a Laurel Road Loyalty Checking account and make one or more qualifying direct deposits via an Automated Clearing House (ACH) transaction into the Laurel Road Loyalty Checking account totaling at least $2,500 within the first 60 days after account opening.
  • $20 cash reward for every month you make qualifying ACH direct deposits of $2,500+ each statement period during the first 12 months ($240 total), and $10 for every month after that – for as long as your account is open.
  • No minimum to open. No minimum balance. No monthly fees.

Here is the fine print on the $20 monthly bonus:

Primary account holder is eligible to earn monthly rewards of $20/month from the second through thirteenth statement periods, which is considered your “first year.” From the fourteenth statement period onward, the eligible reward will be $10/month for as long as the Laurel Road Loyalty Checking account (“Account”) is open. To earn monthly rewards, you must make qualifying Automated Clearing House (ACH) direct deposits into the Account totaling at least $2,500 during the statement period. Qualifying ACH direct deposit transactions include most payroll, Social Security, pension and government benefits deposits. Rewards will be deposited into your Account in the statement period after they are earned. Only one Loyalty Checking account per primary account holder. Cannot be combined with other checking bonus, reward, or rate discount offers, excluding any promotional offer for opening the Account. The value of the monthly rewards will be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-INT. Accounts closed within first 180 days will be charged a $25 early closure fee. Accounts closed at the time of monthly rewards payment are not eligible. Offer is subject to change without notice.

I appreciate the simple bonus structure, and it works great if you can easily adjust your work direct deposit through your payroll provider. “Alternative” methods have also worked in the past, but they might be more picky as to what counts as direct deposit than in the past. Note that this checking account pays essentially zero interest, but you don’t have to keep your $2,500+ direct deposit there after it arrives in your checking account.

Qualifying Direct Deposits – A pre-arranged electronic direct deposit through the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network from most employer payrolls, payroll provider (excluding third-party advance payroll service providers), benefits payer such as Social Security or Military Pay, or pension. Non-Qualifying Deposits – Including but not limited to: Point-of-sale (POS) and internet-initiated mobile entry (WEB) ACH transactions; incoming Person-to-Person (P2P) payments made via the ACH Network such as Zelle, PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo (including payroll-related transactions made via P2P providers); mobile check deposits; wire transfers; cash deposits; one-time direct deposits such as tax refunds and corporate reimbursements; internal transfers between Laurel Road or KeyBank accounts; external transfers from another financial institution; and insurance payments and other similar transactions.

In fact, you should actually first consider the Laurel Road High Yield Savings Account $200 Bonus first, as that offer says that the “Referred cannot be an existing or prior Laurel Road member in the last twelve (12) months.”. Therefore, I would do the High Yield Savings bonus first, and then this checking bonus offer second, as it does not includes such language (it only excludes prior *checking* account holders).

You are not eligible for the bonus if you were the primary owner on any Laurel Road checking account within the prior 24 months before opening the new checking account.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers //

Best Interest Rates on Cash Roundup – July 2024

Posted on July 10, 2024 // 2 Comments

Here’s my monthly roundup of the best interest rates on cash as of July 2024, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. There are lesser-known opportunities available to individual investors, often earning more money 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 7/9/2024.

TL;DR: Very minor changes since last month. Still 5%+ savings accounts and short-term CDs, with long-term CD rates holding roughly steady since last month. Compare against Treasury bills and bonds at every maturity, taking into account state tax exemption. I no longer recommend fintech companies due to the possibility of loss of permanent capital loss, or at the minimum access to cash for months in the event of a company or middleman failure.

High-yield savings accounts
Since the huge megabanks STILL pay essentially no interest, everyone should 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.

  • The top rate at the moment is at My Banking Direct at 5.55% APY . Poppy at 5.50% APY (3-month rate guarantee). I have no personal experience with them, but they are the top rates at the moment. CIT Platinum Savings at 5.00% APY with $5,000+ balance.
  • SoFi Bank is at 4.60% APY + up to $325 new account bonus with direct deposit. You must maintain a direct deposit of any amount each month for the higher APY. SoFi has historically competitive rates and full banking features. See details at $25 + $300 SoFi Money new account and deposit bonus.
  • Here is a limited survey of high-yield savings accounts. They aren’t the top rates, but a group that have historically kept it relatively competitive such that I like to track their history. Sad to see Ally Bank falling even further behind.

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.

  • No Penalty CDs offer a fixed interest rate that can never go down, but you can still take out your money (once) without any fees if you want to use it elsewhere. Marcus has a 13-month No Penalty CD at 4.70% APY with a $500 minimum deposit. Also available at 7- and 11-months. Consider opening multiple CDs in smaller increments for more flexibility.
  • NexBank has a 1-year certificate at 5.40% APY ($25,000 min). There is a 180-day interest penalty if you withdraw your CD funds before maturity.
  • CFG Bank has a 12-month CD at 5.36% APY ($500 min). 90-day interest penalty if you withdraw your CD funds before maturity.

Money market mutual funds + Ultra-short bond ETFs
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. I am including a few ultra-short bond ETFs as they may be your best cash alternative in a brokerage account, but they may experience losses.

  • Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund is the default sweep option for Vanguard brokerage accounts, which has an SEC yield of 5.27% (changes daily, but also works out to a compound yield of 5.40%, which is better for comparing against APY). Odds are this is much higher than your own broker’s default cash sweep interest rate.
  • The PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active Bond ETF (MINT) has a 5.33% SEC yield and the iShares Short Maturity Bond ETF (NEAR) has a 5.09% SEC yield while holding a portfolio of investment-grade bonds with an average duration of ~6 months.

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.

  • You can build your own T-Bill ladder at TreasuryDirect.gov or via a brokerage account with a bond desk like Vanguard and Fidelity. Here are the current Treasury Bill rates. As of 7/9/24, a new 4-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 5.37% annualized interest and a 52-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 5.02% annualized interest.
  • The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) has a 5.27% SEC yield and effective duration of 0.10 years. SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) has a 5.22% SEC yield and effective duration of 0.08 years.

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. You can also buy an additional $5,000 in paper I bonds using your tax refund with IRS Form 8888.

  • “I Bonds” bought between May 2024 and October 2024 will earn a 4.28% rate for the first six months. The rate of the subsequent 6-month period will be based on inflation again. More on Savings Bonds here.
  • In mid-October 2024, the CPI will be announced and you will have a short period where you will have a very close estimate of the rate for the next 12 months. I will have another post up at that time.

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.

  • OnPath Federal Credit Union pays 7.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and login to online or mobile banking once per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization. You can also get a $100 Visa Reward card when you open a new account and make qualifying transactions.
  • Genisys Credit Union pays 6.75% APY on up to $7,500 if you make 10 debit card purchases of $5+ each per statement cycle, and opt into online statements. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • Credit Union of New Jersey pays 6.00% APY on up to $25,000 if you make 12 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit, online bill payment, or automatic payment (ACH) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • Andrews Federal Credit Union pays 6.00% APY on up to $25,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit or ACH transaction per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization.
  • Pelican State Credit Union pays 6.05% APY on up to $20,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, log into your account at least once, and make at least 1 direct deposit, online bill payment, or automatic payment (ACH) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization membership.
  • Orion Federal Credit Union pays 6.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make electronic deposits of $500+ each month (ACH transfers count) and spend $500+ on your Orion debit or credit card each month. Anyone can join this credit union via $10 membership fee to partner organization membership.
  • All America/Redneck Bank pays 5.00% APY on up to $15,000 if you make 10 debit card purchases each monthly cycle with online statements.
  • Find a locally-restricted rewards checking account at DepositAccounts.

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.

  • Grow Financial FCU has a 5-year CD at 4.75% APY. 4-year at 4.02% APY. 3-year at 4.02% APY. 2-year at 4.33% APY. 1-year at 4.75% APY. $500 minimum. The early withdrawal penalty (EWP) for CD maturities of 12 months or more is 180 days of interest. Membership to this credit union is open to members of Friends of U.S. Military Families ($5).
  • Credit Human has a 59-month CD at 4.65% APY. 48-month at 4.65% APY. 35-month at 4.75% APY. 23-month at 5.10% APY. 1-year at 4.95% APY. $500 minimum. The early withdrawal penalty (EWP) for CD maturities of 36 months or more is 365 days of interest. For CD maturity of 1 year, the EWP is 270 days of interest. This is actually a credit union, but is open nationwide with a American Consumer Council (ACC) membership. Try promo code “consumer” when signing up at ACC for a free membership.
  • First Internet Bank has a 5-year CD at 4.50% APY. 4-year at 4.45% APY. 3-year at 4.61% APY. 2-year at 4.76% APY. 1-year at 5.26% APY. $1,000 minimum. The early withdrawal penalty (EWP) for CD maturities of 2 years or more is 360 days of interest. For CD maturity of 1 year, the EWP is 180 days of interest.
  • BMO Alto has a 5-year CD at 4.80% APY. 4-year at 4.70% APY. 3-year at 4.60% APY. 2-year at 4.65% APY. 1-year at 5.05% APY. No minimum. The early withdrawal penalty (EWP) for CD maturities of 1 year or more is 180 days of interest. For CD maturities of 11 months or less, the EWP is 90 days of interest. Note that they reserve the right to prohibit early withdrawals entirely (!). Online-only subsidiary of BMO Bank.
  • You can buy certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. You may need an account to see the rates. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance and easy laddering, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. Right now, I see a 5-year non-callable CD at 4.45% APY (callable: no, call protection: yes). Be warned that now both Vanguard and Fidelity will list higher rates from callable CDs, which importantly means they can call back your CD if rates drop later.

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.

  • Willing to lock up your money for 10 years? You can buy long-term certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. You might find something that pays more than your other brokerage cash and Treasury options. Right now, I see a 10-year CDs at [n/a] (callable: no, call protection: yes) vs. 4.30% for a 10-year Treasury. Watch out for higher rates from callable CDs where they can call your CD back if interest rates drop.

All rates were checked as of 7/9/2024.

Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers, Investing // Tagged:

Walmart+ Annual Membership 50% Off ($49 Savings)

Posted on July 8, 2024 // 6 Comments

Walmart is offering 50% off an annual Walmart+ membership (a $49 savings). Look for various Walmart+ Deals to compete with the Amazon Prime and Target Circle bonanzas.

*Pay $49 for one year of annual membership. Exclusions apply. Promotion ends 7/18/2024. Other restrictions apply.

Walmart+ membership gets you the following perks:

  • Free Paramount+ Essential streaming subscription. Regular price is $5.99 per month.
  • Free same-day delivery of cold Groceries & more from your local Walmart ($35 minimum purchase). No markup from in-store prices. Where available.
  • Free next-day and 2-day shipping from Walmart.com (no minimum purchase). Excludes most Marketplace items, location & freight surcharges.
  • Scan & Go in-store. Use the Walmart app to scan barcodes as you shop in-store and skip the cashier line.
  • Save 10 cents per gallon on fuel at 14,000+ locations nationwide including Exxon, Mobil, Walmart & Murphy stations. You also get access to member prices at Sam’s Club fuel centers (even without a Sam’s Club membership).

I have since tried the same-day grocery delivery, but I don’t think they are fully up to speed on my area and they have cancelled my orders without much warning, which is inconvenient if you are depending on the delivery to make dinner. My guess is staffing issues. Their parking lot pickup system works more reliably, although things tend to be out-of-stock much more often than Target or Whole Foods. Overall, I find that the Walmart prices are good but the service is also a notch lower.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers //
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