This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Chase Ultimate Rewards. All opinions are 100% mine.
I would love to say we never have to use a credit card, but the reality is we do, just like many other families in situations similar to ours. In fact like others, we’ve had to use our cards or we wouldn’t be able to afford everything that we need. There are times when we have more money going out then we do coming in, and during those times, we turn to our credit card to get us through. We’ve had to put groceries and gas on our cards more than once. It gives us peace of mind to know that we have something to fall back on during the slow times.
How to make the most of your credit cards:
If you use credit cards, are you familiar with rewards programs? One great program is Chase Ultimate Rewards, available to Chase Freedom, Chase Sapphire and Ink from Chase cardholders.
During the holiday season, cardholders with Ultimate Rewards get some VERY cool perks that will surely benefit you.
About Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Available to Chase Freedom, Chase Sapphire and Ink from Chase cardholders
- Earn points on every purchase you make when using one of the above cards.
- Points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards: travel, experiences, merchandise, gift cards and cash back.
- The cash back option starts at $20 for 2,000 points.
- Gift cards can be redeemed for the same price you would pay in store. ($50 gift card for 5,000 points.)
- With your rewards, you can also gain VIP access to concerts, sporting events, movie premieres and more.
- Travel rewards can be used on any flights without worrying about blackout dates or restrictions.
About the Chase Ultimate Rewards website:
UltimateRewards.com provides a personalized dashboard that displays your recent activity, as well as points earned on purchases. You can also “like” rewards that interest you which will in turn tailor the reward offerings and experiences that show up on your dashboard in the future, so you’ll see things that are most relevant to you.
The travel section of the dashboard also features guides on various destinations throughout the world, including hotels, restaurants and activities – making it easy to not only redeem points for a fun trip, but plan it as well, so you save more time.
So how do I make the most of the funds (credit cards) we have:
This holiday season, I’ve tried to save us money in a couple different ways.
To start, I’ve been doing more shopping from home. It saves us money on gas and wear and tear on our vehicles. (I also don’t have to deal with crowds of people, which is nice.)
Just because we have had to use a credit card to purchase gifts doesn’t mean I don’t think before “swiping” the card. In fact I’m a very conscientious shopper who does her research before buying most items. I shop around to make sure I get the best deal. With a family of six I have to be smart about what I spend. Because I’ve been frugal and smart, I’ve saved us a lot this Christmas while still having the ability to get our kids and my husband things they’ll love.
But what about mom?
I don’t usually have too many things on my wishlist that are specifically for me. I usually pick gifts that will benefit our entire family in some way. I’m a practical woman, what can I say?
This year has been no different than any other year.
The main item on my list this year is a bread machine. Since we have to keep gluten-free bread in the house at all times, it gets expensive. If I had the ability to make homemade gluten-free bread, we would save a ton of money.
The second item on my list is a pressure cooker / slow cooker combo. Our schedules are so hectic because of sports that I need to find ways to still make nutritious and tasty gluten-free food at a fraction of the price.
I would also love my own KitchenAid with all the nifty attachments that go with it.
As for a present specifically for me, I would love some new dress boots since mine are falling apart.
Will I get any of the items on my wishlist this year? Ask me after the holiday and I will let you know.
Is there anything on your wishlist this year that you really REALLY want?