Last Call for 5X on Groceries with the Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited

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Note: Some of the offers mentioned below may have changed or are no longer be available. You can view current offers here.

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Are you thinking of signing up for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or Chase Freedom Unlimited® card? If so, you’ll want to do it today – because the current offers will be gone. You’ll have to apply soon, as these offers are going away as of 6PM EST on January 12, 2022.

Both cards come with some great benefits, so don’t miss your chance to take advantage of them. Learn more about what each card has to offer and see if either is right for you.

Details About the Current Offers

The current Chase Freedom Flex® offer is worth up to 80,000 bonus points – which can be redeemed for travel when paired with an Ultimate Rewards earning card that does have access to transfer partners, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It’s good for both new cardholders and existing customers alike.

The current bonus on the Chase Freedom Flex card is $200 after you spend $500 in the first three months. Plus, you’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $12,000 spent on grocery store purchases in your first year, excluding Target and Walmart.

Doing the math, you’ll see that the grocery portion of the bonus is worth up to 60,000 additional points in your first 12 months. That means each card is worth up to a total of 80,000 points.

Chase Freedom Flex®

Outside of the bonus, the Chase Freedom Flex® is a card that many people keep in their wallets everyday. It is a great little powerhouse of a card for earning some additional Ultimate Rewards points.

You’ll earn rewards in the following ways:

• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating bonus categories
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Portal
• 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and drugstore purchases
• 1% back on all other purchases

Remember, even though it earns cash back, the cash back is issued in the form of Ultimate Rewards points. That means you can use them for travel, gift cards, statement credits and more.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is a great option if you’re looking for a straightforward way to earn rewards. You’ll earn an unlimited flat rate of rewards on all purchases – making it a perfect fit for everyday spenders.

You’ll earn rewards with the Freedom Unlimited as follows:

• 5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Portal
• 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and drugstore purchases
• 1.5% back on all other purchases

With the Freedom Unlimited your trading the 5% rotating categories of the Flex for the flat rate of cash back on all purchases.

What You Should Consider Before Opening One Of These Cards

The biggest question when I recommend one of the Freedom cards to people is whether or not its worth it. Right now, there’s only one card offering a bigger total bonus of Ultimate Rewards, and that’s the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. 

But to get the full bonus, you’d need to spend $12,000 at grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart) in the first 12 months. Is that reasonable? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average U.S. household spends $412 per month at grocery stores. 

Of course, your family’s needs will vary, but that’s roughly half the spend needed to meet the bonus. By getting creative with your shopping, the average family could probably add a bit more spend to that number. 

Even outside of Target and Walmart, some local grocery stores may carry other items that your family routinely purchases. Consider things you may order regularly on Amazon that you could pick up at the grocery store instead. I could list other ideas, but it kind of starts to sound like a “you won’t be able to retire because you drink Starbucks” list. Get creative and think through it, and I’m sure you’ll find it pretty easy to meet the bonus.

Why the Freedoms are our Favorite Grocery Cards Right Now

There’s a lot of great cards for grocery stores, but right now the Freedoms are our absolute favorite. Why? Because the ability to earn points at grocery stores on other cards isn’t tied to the bonus.

This is a question of opportunity cost – right now the freedoms are the best because of the limited opportunity to earn more Ultimate Rewards at grocery stores. With other cards, that opportunity still exists once this bonus is gone. The limited opportunity to earn with the Freedom cards means they get a lot more weight, since that opportunity won’t be around for long.

Final Thoughts

The grocery store bonus on the Chase Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited won’t be around forever. The offer ends January 12th at 6PM EST, so if you were looking to pick up one of these cards, now is the time.