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If you want to travel cheaper, better, and longer, one of the best tools in your arsenal is a solid rewards credit card. <\/p>\n
Still, despite how often I talk about the topic<\/a>, many travelers (or would-be travelers) are reluctant to get one. They think it\u2019s a scam<\/a>, don\u2019t want to pay an annual fee, or just are generally wary of the whole thing. <\/p>\n If you\u2019re in that camp, today I want to discuss a credit card that may be the perfect introduction to the world of points and miles: the Chase Freedom Unlimited<\/a>.<\/p>\n This card offers great value, with no annual fee and solid earning potential. It\u2019s excellent as a standalone card with tons of potential for leveling up your game if and when you\u2019re ready. It\u2019s a favorite for newbies and seasoned travelers alike. <\/p>\n So, in this post, I\u2019m going to break down why the Chase Freedom Unlimited deserves a spot in your wallet and how you can use it to turn everyday purchases into free travel. <\/p>\n\n The Chase Freedom Unlimited<\/a> (sometimes referred to as CFU) is a credit card issued by Chase. What I love about it is that it has a $0 annual fee and offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases. It\u2019s great for points and miles beginners<\/a> who don\u2019t want to worry about earning at different rates across various categories. <\/p>\n Plus, if you do want to level up your game, you can combine it with a Chase Sapphire card to supercharge your rewards earning capabilities (more on that below). <\/p>\n 1.5% Cash Back: You\u2019ll earn 1.5% Cash Back rewards for each $1 spent. 3% Cash Back rewards total for each $1 spent on purchases in the following rewards categories: drugstores and dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services (1.5% additional Cash Back rewards on top of the 1.5% Cash Back rewards earned on each purchase). <\/p>\n This card earns you the following: <\/p>\n You can redeem this cash back against your next statement or choose to get it directly deposited into your bank account. <\/p>\n But you can get even more out of this card when you combine it with one of Chase\u2019s Sapphire cards (more on this soon). <\/p>\n In addition to these excellent earning rates, you\u2019ll get access to a number of perks and benefits. Again, since it has a $0 annual fee, these are all just bonuses. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n While this card is a great cash-back card in its own right, it\u2019s best when paired with a more premium Chase card that earns transferable points. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card<\/a> (CSP) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve<\/a> are the two most popular, though you could also do this with my favorite business card, the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. (Note that these cards do have fees.) <\/p>\n That\u2019s because, when you also hold one of these cards, you can convert the cash back earned on the CFU to valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. (The Freedom Unlimited on its own only earns cash back.) That means you can pool points earned on either card together and have access to Chase\u2019s great airline and hotel transfer partners. <\/p>\n While getting cash back is easier (and certainly enticing), I consider points to be much more valuable. That\u2019s because you can typically get at least 2 cents per point when transferring to travel partners (sometimes much more). <\/p>\n So why not just have one of the Chase Sapphire Cards and no Freedom Unlimited? <\/p>\n While this is an excellent option (and what many people do), having two cards within the same \u201cfamily\u201d ensures that you maximize earning categories while earning the same type of points. (You don\u2019t want to spread yourself too thin across too many different cards earning different types of points that you can\u2019t combine.) <\/p>\n By holding both a Chase Sapphire card and<\/em> the Chase Freedom Unlimited, you can be sure that you\u2019re earning at least 1.5x points on all purchases, a rarity in a travel card (both Sapphires only earn 1x points on all purchases). <\/p>\n If you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Freedom Unlimited, for example, you\u2019d earn:<\/p>\n Lastly, since the CFU does have a foreign transaction fee, you won\u2019t want to use this card when traveling. Think of the CSP as your travel card and the CFU as your everyday card with a higher earning rate on all purchases. Using the two together is an excellent combination. <\/p>\n The Chase Freedom Unlimited is ideal for those who want an easy-to-use card that gets a better-than-average earning rate on all purchases. It also leaves room to grow into the points-and-miles world when combined with a higher-level card from Chase. And, if you already have a Sapphire card, adding the CFU to your wallet allows you to continue to level up your game, maximizing your rewards on all purchases. <\/p>\n As with any credit card, you should not get it if you\u2019re already carrying a balance or plan to carry one. Interest rates for travel credit cards are notoriously high, and this one is no different. The points just aren\u2019t worth it if you\u2019re paying interest each month.<\/p>\n This card is also not for anyone with poor credit, as you need good or excellent credit to qualify. (If that\u2019s you, check out the best credit cards for bad credit<\/a> so you can start improving your score today.)<\/p>\n Lastly, this card does count toward Chase\u2019s 5\/24 rule (you can\u2019t open more than five cards within 24 months). If you\u2019ve already opened five credit cards (any cards, not just Chase cards) within the past two years (or want to open more soon), you either won\u2019t be able to get this card or might want to skip it for now. <\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re just dipping your toes into the points-and-miles game or looking to complement your current lineup, the Chase Freedom Unlimited<\/a> is a fantastic card. With no annual fee and impressive earning rates, it\u2019s the perfect gateway to the world of points and miles if you\u2019re just starting out. <\/p>\n And, if and when you want to take things up a notch, you can pair it with a premium Chase card down the road to really maximize your points. It\u2019s a no-brainer choice that can kickstart your journey to mastering points and miles. Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:<\/p>\r\nWhat is the Chase Freedom Unlimited? <\/h3>\n
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Perks and Benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited <\/h3>\n
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Combining with a Chase Sapphire Card <\/h3>\n
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Pros of the CFU<\/h3>\n
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Cons of the CFU<\/h3>\n
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Who is this card for? <\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\n\r\nStop paying full price for travel!<\/h5>\r\n
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