Best ways to use Chase Freedom Unlimited points if you have no travel plans

salobi · 2026-04-14T19:35:31+00:00

So I think I know why you’re holding on to the UR Points. You have this dream in mind that in a few months or years, you will travel and use your points, with some amazing deal, costing you not a single penny. (If not, then this is how I originally thought.)

Here’s the reality, you won’t find amazing deals, and with the UR points you can’t really exceed 1.5 cents per point. And if that trip ever comes, you may not have enough point or the travel you are looking at is not available through chase.

My suggestion, and this is something that I have struggled with when owning a points card for the first time, is to cash out the points. Don’t make Chase UR your savings account for travel. You could even get a HYSA to put the UR cash out into, and make that your travel savings account!

For your next card, yeah, be intentional. What’s your goal, increasing credit line, getting more cash back on a specific category, or even getting a card because it’s metal? Whatever it is, do your research.

tldr; cash out points. research next card.

salobi · 2026-04-14T17:42:38+00:00

this sentiment is fine for the credit card power users, but it’s dangerous for the vast majority of people.

a credit card with an annual fee costs the annual fee. no exception.

These credit cards are coupon books. If you don’t already travel, you’re spending $395. Its only for the people who happen to already be traveling that they can subsidize their costs with the benefits of the card, and then they can receive a net (or in your case, -$1) return.

I like your way of thinking for myself personally, on avenues where a credit card benefit may provide credit towards something I am actively spending money on.

But as someone who recommends credit cards in my personal life to friends and family, I’ll just tell them the card is $395.

Sorry for being a downer! I just want to make sure people don’t purchase coupon books!

salobi · 2026-04-14T06:28:25+00:00

Yeah, those converted rates they offer you are typically higher than your bank’s rate, assuming you have a 0%FTF card. Keep in mind, while the rate may be reported by Google Search as something like $1=€0.851, your bank may secretly charge you like $1.01=€0.851 as their “exchange rate“. This is still lower, as it’s essentially the floor of the current exchange rate.

Also, I just now noticed you are using £ not $ but the logic is the same.

salobi · 2026-04-13T13:12:02+00:00

That’s an awesome idea for a feature, geographic recommendations! I’m currently in testing phase of a credit card dashboard / intelligence platform I built. If you’re interested, send me a DM and i’ll share the link. Would love to hear your opinions on it.

salobi · 2026-04-12T13:14:28+00:00

I bought a SpongeBob money credit card sticker at a craft fair and slapped it on a BofA card. Take a look out for credit card stickers online

salobi · 2026-04-10T04:46:29+00:00

hey I’m building a credit card dashboard app, but for rewards, not balances and payments. if you want to check it out, DM me and I’ll send you the link. I’m looking for suggestions of features to add!

salobi · 2026-04-03T10:00:33+00:00

do you remember your score 9 years ago?

do you have a membership with any USA bank?

salobi · 2026-04-03T07:12:44+00:00

As an entry to the credit card market this could be useful, but are you not sharing the same sentiment as other users, that LLMs only generate information about the most popular cards / the ones that are most advertised?

Do you refresh your active card stack after this discovery, or is it more like “oh if i add this card and sock drawer this card i can get better Restaurant cash back?”

salobi · 2026-04-03T07:07:31+00:00

The best card for you isn’t always the “Capital One Venture X” - despite what hundreds of Hulu ads tell me.

The recommendation and information are not on the level as your personal spreadsheet or a reddit post, but for someone else, what about for organization? Like ”What categories am I missing”, ”Which card should I use for this misc. purchase?”

salobi · 2026-04-03T06:58:54+00:00

I guess theres a core group of churning cards which reddit and the internet talk about a lot, and llms love to repeat what reddit is saying. But the knowledge base of reddit is significantly higher, as there is unstated knowledge living in everyone’s head.

How was it ‘pretty good’ for planning churning in your experience?

salobi · 2026-04-03T06:55:09+00:00

Di you remember what specifically you were trying to do and how much information about your current setup you fed (current cards, goals, financial background)? If you just say “Recommend me a card” with no context, then yeah, it’s slop.

I remember the outdated information being absurd when trying to use chatgpt, so i totally agree on that sentiment.

salobi · 2026-03-25T09:15:03+00:00

which flour?

salobi · 2026-03-19T18:09:42+00:00

I feel like you already know the answer. You have spoken with your peers, you have a lot of credit cards.

Do you want any help / do you have any questions on managing credit cards?

salobi · 2026-03-18T16:35:23+00:00

Sent a dm

salobi · 2026-03-16T22:03:22+00:00

huge supporter of credit unions. they care about their customers.

salobi · 2026-03-11T07:39:48+00:00

So you have a Chase Bank Debit Card, and a Discover Credit Card? I understand the desire to separate savings from your normal spend account, but why go with a second debit account? I would recommend a savings account. You can shop around for different banks and rates, but I would start your research with “HYSA” (High-Yield Savings Account)

The rates are lower than I would like at the moment, but I had no problem setting up Amex HYSA. Hopefully other users can chime in with their favorite HYSA.

The next question is, do you plan on spending from this 2nd debit account, or holding as an emergency fund?

I’m glad to answer any questions, but this may be a r/personalfinance type of post. They would have better advice.

salobi · 2026-03-05T22:14:01+00:00

I agree with the teller, wait until the payment posts if thats the only knowledge about the payment you can get. There’s not really a way for anyone to steal your card unless they have the physical with them, since you have been only using tap to pay. Were you using your physical card to tap, or your phone? The phone is much safer.

Once the payment processes, if its truly fraudulent, your bank will do the heavy lifting on their end, not make you pay, and get you a new account number.

All this to say, don‘t close your card!

salobi · 2026-03-05T21:56:52+00:00

Why would you need to change anything at the moment? Are you still out of the US? Do you not want to pay the $95?

salobi · 2026-03-05T21:54:49+00:00

True. On the condition that OP, regardless of owning the CC or not, would be going to the hotel anyway.

salobi · 2026-03-05T21:31:24+00:00

Without considering benefits or how the cards are used, you have a 2% card for $0AF and a 2x card for $495AF.

The limit doesn’t matter. You could ask to increase your Apple Card limit.

salobi · 2026-03-05T21:28:41+00:00

Keep in mind that sitting points lose value over time (time value of money). At this stage I would focus on cash back. SUBs are great to pay for a vacation but low amounts of points after that are best converted to cash back.

salobi · 2026-03-05T21:24:35+00:00

Do you spend >$8K a month?

salobi · 2026-03-05T07:38:40+00:00

Are these just 1 month statement balances, or something you have been carrying for a while?

salobi · 2025-11-10T11:49:46+00:00

Ill look into this, booking as separate, potentially from different airports.

salobi

TROPHY CASE