When making use of for a brand new bank card, you all the time need to discover the finest welcome provide — the one that gives probably the most bang on your buck, probably the most factors, probably the most money again.

However what if there is a welcome provide so probably profitable that it retains you from signing up for different playing cards for a whole yr?

After getting the Chase Freedom Limitless in September of final yr, that is the state of affairs I discover myself in. Let me clarify.

Within the fall of 2023, I took benefit of a unbelievable (now-expired) welcome provide on one in every of Chase’s hottest cash-back playing cards, the Chase Freedom Limitless. On the finish of my first yr, Chase will match all of the money again earned on the cardboard in my first 12 months of card possession.

This implies the cardboard’s earnings charges are basically doubled for the primary yr of the Freedom Limitless. As an alternative of incomes 5% again on journey bought by means of Chase Final Rewards, I am going to earn a complete of 10% again. As an alternative of three% again on eating and drugstores, I am going to earn 6%. And as an alternative of 1.5% again on all different purchases, I am going to earn a stable 3%.

These elevated earnings charges are a number of the finest you will discover on any cash-back card, maybe ever. And they’re (or have been) out there for a full yr of card possession.

Not a nasty return on simply my third-ever bank card. However why am I ready to tug the set off on one other?

It goes with out saying that the welcome provide I jumped on is fairly profitable. However is it so profitable that I’ve boxed myself out of getting different playing cards in the intervening time if my final aim is maximizing worth?

I believe the reply to that query is sure. Loads of different playing cards I might join provide lavish journey perks and the like, however it’s laborious to beat 10% money again on journey booked by means of Chase. And given my private spending habits (trace: I eat out lots), a complete of 6% again on eating can be a unbelievable return.

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Word that this spending class additionally consists of takeout and eligible supply companies, which is all of the encouragement I want to make use of DoorDash a number of extra occasions every week (my Freedom Limitless additionally got here with three months of complimentary DashPass).

Certain, I might go for a premium journey card within the meantime and reap the benefits of a welcome provide I like there. However when maximizing worth on day-to-day spending, the Freedom Limitless will virtually all the time be my finest guess, a minimum of till that lump sum of matched money again hits my account within the fall.

Fortunately, I already know what my subsequent transfer might be when these first 12 months are up — and it’ll assist me maximize the rewards on my Freedom Limitless even additional, in the event you can imagine it.

When my first 12 months on the Freedom Limitless are over, I plan to use for an additional common and beneficial providing from Chase: the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card.

That is for a number of causes. First, Chase’s 5/24 rule dictates that Chase will not approve any new card candidates who’ve opened 5 or extra private bank cards throughout all banks within the final 24 months. That signifies that, as a normal rule, if I am filling out my pockets, I am going to need to prioritize getting Chase playing cards first, as no different card issuers have a rule like this.

Extra importantly, although, the Sapphire Most well-liked is one of some playing cards — together with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ink Enterprise Most well-liked — that can enable me to transform my money again on the Freedom Limitless into totally transferable Chase Final Rewards factors.

That signifies that I unlock Chase’s full vary of 14 airline and lodge switch companions. And it means each cent earned with the Freedom Limitless might be 1 Final Reward level, value 2.05 cents per TPG valuations — successfully incomes me an over 20% return on all journey purchases and an over 12% return on eating and at drugstores.

To summarize: By making the most of the matched cash-back provide on the Freedom Limitless after which changing my money again into factors with one other Chase card, I’ll quadruple the usual return on the Freedom Limitless for my first 12 months of card possession.

The matched cash-back provide on the Freedom Limitless was a uncommon one. You positively do not see welcome affords with probably limitless returns on common cash-back playing cards each day.

However it’s a nice instance of the should be versatile within the bank card rewards recreation. I had initially deliberate on getting the Sapphire Most well-liked a lot earlier in my playing cards journey; now, I’ve kicked that down the street to maximize my return on spending within the meantime.

This provide additionally works for me, particularly, given my spending habits. I do not journey a ton, however I spend lots on consuming out, making the 6% again in that class a boon for my backside line.

So, in the event you take away something from this text, let it’s this: Bank card rewards are all about what’s beneficial to you. Discover the cardboard, perks and welcome provide that take advantage of sense on your life-style and spending habits. And when one thing actually profitable comes alongside, be able to take benefit. Then take into consideration which card to pair it with subsequent.

To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the Chase Freedom Limitless.

Apply right here: Chase Freedom Limitless