Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Sapphire spending example
To understand what that means, take a look at the following example: You want to use your Chase Credit Card for all your regular spending, from groceries to other purchases, and want to get the best possible rewards in a given quarter. Your quarterly spending may look something like this:
- I spent $1,500 on groceries
- $800 spent on the Chase Travel
- I spent $400 at a restaurant
- $250 spent on other purchases
With Chase Freedom Flex, you can earn $69.50 in this quarter reward. This will bring back $15 cashback from grocery spending, $40 from Chae Travel, $12 from meals and $2.50 for all other spending.
In this example, none of these categories fall under the current spin bonus category. If you happen to spend $1,500 in the bonus category, you could potentially win an additional $75, with a total revenue of $144.50. But that also means there may be a much lower quarter.
Instead, if you use Chase Sapphire Preferred, you will earn 9,950 points in cashback or statement credits of $99.50. This will bring back $45 cashback from online grocery expenditures, $40 from Chaystravel, $12 from meals and $2.50 for all other expenditures. After accounting for the annual fee, the net income is $4.50.
However, please note that in this example, we do not consider redemption options or welcome bonuses for each card. More specifically, if you choose to redeem the 9,950 points you earn in sapphires that are preferred over travel via the Chase portal, you’ll be worth around $124 thanks to a 25% point boost.
Furthermore, according to Bankrate ratings, when you transfer to a suitable high value chase hotel or airline partner, your points are worth around 2.0 cents each. This will result in a potential value of $199. After accounting for the annual fee, the net income is $104.
If travel isn’t the name of the game (or a top priority in terms of redemption), Chase Freedom Flex can earn more rewards when used strategically.
