💳I got my first card of 2025! Was it worth it?
Plus, Rakuten's Big Give Week, increased $40 sign-up bonus, Amex stacks & more.
💳 I got the new (and improved? and expensive?) United Explorer card
After getting rejected for two cards and saying that I’ll put a pause on new applications (watch this video to get the full story), I got a new card, lol! New credit card feeling is always fun and it works out because I did have some expenses coming up that I can use to meet the minimum spend requirement.
So here’s my take and strategy with the new United Explorer card. I know airline cards aren’t the *best* hack out there, but it just made sense for me.
🛍️Time to stack points (or cashback) with Rakuten
I talk about Rakuten a lot and I am not even sponsored to do that! It’s just that good. I have made almost 300,000 Amex points from it and that’s really something! This is what I do to maximize points -
I (almost exclusively) shop when they run high cashback
That’s where the Big Give Week (May 5-12) comes in. It’s an annual event that Rakuten runs where for one week straight, they offer 15% cashback on many stores. It can also go up to 20% if you are a regular Rakuten-er! So whenever I have to buy something that can wait, I usually time it with such high cashback days.
Stack existing offers on my credit cards
For example, this is usually when I also use my bi-annual $50 Saks Fifth Avenue credit from my Amex Platinum card (referral link). I also scan my other cards for shopping offers before I have to buy something and make sure that I use that card when I go through Rakuten.
If you are new to Rakuten, you can get limited-time sign-up bonus of $40 or 4,000 Amex points through my referral link here. $40 bonuses end 5/12 and public offer is only $20 right now, so it pays to use a referral link, whether it’s mine or a friend’s. Note that I will receive a bonus for referring you as well. And as always, thank you for considering my referral links! This helps support my small channel :)
If you’d like to learn more about how you can earn Amex points on Rakuten instead of regular cashback, here’s a video that you can watch. This hack nets me at least 40-50k points annually!
🚕 You can now link your Uber and Delta SkyMiles accounts
The Uber & Delta partnership benefits are live! You can now link the two accounts and earn Delta SkyMiles on every Uber purchase.
Uber Reserve: 3 miles per dollar
Uber XL, Comfort, Black, Black SUV: 2 miles per dollar
UberX: 1 mile per dollar
UberEats: 1 mile per dollar for orders over $40
↪️New transfer bonuses
Citi: 30% to Virgin Atlantic (ends 5/17)
My thoughts: I have used Virgin Atlantic points to fly Delta domestically and recently used it for a Premium Economy redemption from Delhi to New York (details coming to YT soon). The value is insane when you stack a transfer bonus! Honestly, I never even bother with a transfer to Virgin without a transfer bonus.
And that’s it for this week! I’ll see you next week with more updates. Until then, if you aren’t subscribed yet, feel free to do so. Dropping a button for you below!