Admit it: Fall is your favorite time of year. And who could blame you? With the leaves creating beautiful scenery and a refreshing chill in the air, it’s easy to say goodbye to the sunburns and mosquito bites of summer.
To make the most of the season, keep your credit card within reach – it’ll likely come in handy more than once. In fact, here are 7 ways your plastic will be especially useful this fall:
1. You’ll earn double points with your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card with every pumpkin spice latte you buy.
If you like to mark the beginning of fall with a pumpkin spice latte (or two), be sure to use your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to buy it. With this card, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining out, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Because Starbucks counts as a restaurant, you’ll earn double points with every seasonal beverage you enjoy.
Nerd tip : If you’re not looking forward to the cold months ahead, save up all the bonus points you’re earning with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for a tropical winter getaway. Just be sure to book through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal – each of your points will be worth 25% more!
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | |||||||
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| Annual Fee | Signup Bonus | APR , Variable* | APR Promotions |
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| Introductory Annual Fee of $0 the first year, then $95. | Earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. | 15.99% (Variable) | Purchase: None Transfer: None |
2. The weather is getting chilly, so use your card to renew your Netflix subscription.
No one has time for a Netflix binge in the summer – there are pools to swim in, beaches to visit, suntans to work on. But as fall’s cold weather rolls in, cozying up in front of the TV for a House of Cards marathon starts to sound like fun. Use your card to renew your Netflix subscription, and you’ll rediscover a great way to while away the hours.
3. If your year-old leaf blower bites the dust, your credit card might be able to help.
Dealing with fall leaves in your yard can be quite a chore. If your year-old leaf blower quits halfway through the job, you might have a few choice words for it.
But if you purchased it with your credit card, you’re in luck. Since most cards offer extended warranty protection, there’s a chance you might not be out the any extra cash. Check with your issuer to see if your purchase is eligible – you’ll be back to leaf clearing in no time (hooray?).
4. If you’re taking a road trip to see the fall colors, your card has you covered.
If your family takes an annual road trip to see the fall colors, you can rest assured that if you rent a car, your credit card has you covered. All of the major networks (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover) offer some type of rental car insurance. No need to buy a supplemental policy from the rental agency – use what you’ve saved to pick up a few extra souvenirs along the way.
5. You’ll earn extra cash back with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express as you shop for your Thanksgiving feast.
When October rolls around, many people start stocking up for their Thanksgiving recipes. If this sounds familiar, be sure to use your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. With it, you’ll earn 6% cash back for every dollar spent at supermarkets, up to $6,000 spent per year. You’ll also earn 3% cash back at gas stations and select department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases, all at an annual fee of $75.
Scoring a serious return when you buy the ingredients for your famous cranberry sauce amounts to picking the right card, so be sure to go with Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express every time.
6. Just bought the perfect fall boots, only to find them cheaper elsewhere? Call in your card for help.
Fall fashion can be expensive, so it’s seriously annoying when you find an item you just bought at a lower price from a different retailer. But again, your credit card might be able to help.
Several issuers and networks offer price protection, which means you may be eligible for a refund of the difference between what you paid and the better price. Be sure to check your card’s terms and conditions for more details.
7. Getting an early jump on holiday shopping? The right card will earn you extra rewards.
When it comes to holiday shopping, you can never start too early. Fall is the perfect time to hit the mall and knock a few gifts off your to-buy list, and using the right card could mean earning serious rewards.
For instance, in the fourth quarter of 2014, you’ll earn 5% cash back with the Chase Freedom® at select department stores, up to $1,500 spent. Plus, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. That could really go far toward easing the budget burden of holiday shopping, so think about applying for the Chase Freedom® today.
| Chase Freedom® | |||||
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| Annual Fee | Signup Bonus | APR , Variable* | APR Promotions |
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| $0 | Get a $100 Bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. | 13.99% - 22.99% (Variable) | 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers |
Autumn leaves image via Shutterstock
The post 7 Ways Your Credit Card Will Come in Handy This Fall appeared first on NerdWallet Credit Card Blog.
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