One of my methods for saving money, as well as making the most out of the money I do spend, is by using credit cards and bank accounts wisely. A way to get a huge return on spending is to take advantage of sign-up bonuses for different cards and bank accounts. Another way is to refer people for those same sign-up bonuses. So here’s a list of sign-up bonuses you can get this month, so long as you qualify for each card/ account!
BECU Member Advantage Checking
BECU is my credit union of choice and offers some great perks to its members, including killer interest rates on checking and savings accounts, as well as access to the credit union co-op network. Now through the end of the year, they’re offering a killer $100 sign-up bonus to new members AND a $100 referral bonus to anyone who refers someone! Oftentimes these bonuses are hard to get, but this one is a synch.
To qualify for the bonus, you just have to make 5+ qualifying transactions (listed below) in a rolling month:
- Buy something with your debit card or withdraw cash from an ATM
- Write a check or electronic check
- Make a payment using bill pay OR deposit $500 or more in a rolling month
How do you get it? Go to BECU.com and sign up using promo code 100REF17 and unique referral code 228360. After that, meet the requirements, and we both get our bonus!
Hilton Honors American Express
The Hilton Honors card is one of my favorite travel rewards cards for two reasons: it’s great for point accrual and it has no annual fee. To top it off, their sign-up bonus is awesome: 75,000 Hilton Honors point after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months. That many points can get you over 10 free nights at low-tier Hilton affiliated hotels! I used all of mine during my two months in China, where there are plenty of Tier 1 and Tier 2 options.
What do I get out of this? I get a sweet 15,000 point bonus if you sign up at this link and are approved for a card.
Discover It Card
Discover cards often get overlooked, but they offer great rewards options and have a pretty awesome customer service department. Not to mention, their sign-up bonuses are particularly easy to qualify for. This one, for example, merely requires you to make ONE purchase within the first three months of being a cardmember. What do you get for that? A $50 cashback credit. You could literally buy a candy bar and get $50. I get a $50 bonus as well, just in time for Christmas!
How do you get this bonus? Click this link to sign up and, if you’re approved, you’ll be one purchase away from your $50 reward.
Marriot Rewards Premier Credit Card
This is my favorite travel card. Here’s why: members get a free night at a Category 5 or lower hotel every card anniversary, the sign-up bonus is huge, and there are no foreign transaction fees! This sign-up bonus is harder to get than the others I’ve mentioned, but the point infusion gets you tons of free nights. If you’re approved, you have to spend $3,000 within the first three months of opening the account. If you manage it, you get 80,000 bonus points you can redeem for free nights at Marriott properties around the world! What do I get out of it? I get 20,000 bonus points, which gets me a few free nights as well.
Here’s how to score your bonus. Sign up at this link for a new account and, if you’re approved, you can get spending to hit that $3,000 threshold!
Bonus Round:
I know, I said this was going to be about credit cards and bank accounts, but these are two more ways to make a quick buck that tie in directly to travel. I’m talking about Booking.com and AirBnB — two services I use on every single trip I take.
Booking.com
Booking.com is a great resource for booking traditional hotels and guesthouses and usually offers you plenty of Free Cancellation options — something I take advantage of on a regular basis. They also have a cool referral program, giving new sign-ups a $20 credit after their first stay.
I get the same, so click this link to sign up and pick your next vacation destination!
AirBnB
AirBnB has quickly become my favorite accommodation site, simply because I much prefer staying in local-style apartments than boring old hotels. I’ve had some of my best travel experiences at AirBnBs, especially in New Zealand and Thailand, and can’t wait to check out the apartment I’ve booked for my first month in Georgia. Their sign-up bonus? You get $40 in travel credit when you sign up, and I get $20 once you take your first trip of $75 or more.
Just sign up at this link to get started!
Did you go through one of these links for some sign-up bonuses? Shoot me an email, and I’ll send a cool postcard your way as a thank you. Have a great holiday season and thanks for the support!
- Hiking to Refugio Frey and Beyond - January 20, 2020
- Christmas Letter 2019 - December 18, 2019
- My Walk Out of the Woods - June 30, 2019
Hiking Sinbulsan in the Yeongnam Alps
What do you think? Tell me!