Black Friday Boot Camp: Maximize Your Savings & Points!
Hey friends, what's up? Phillip here with Points of Phillip!
Today, we're diving deep into making sure you're fully equipped to save the most money and earn the most points this Black Friday. We're talking boot camp – getting set up, figuring out which cards to use, and activating everything you need.
Black Friday is just around the corner, and it's not just about finding great deals; it's about making those deals even better by maximizing your points and cash back. Here's your essential guide to getting ready:
1. The Must-Have Credit Cards for Black Friday
Having the right card in your wallet can make a huge difference. Here are a few to consider:
Rakuten Credit Card (by Imprint): This card, on the American Express network, just got a huge upgrade! Not only can you earn cash back, but you can also choose to earn American Express Membership Rewards points (if you have an Amex MR-earning card) or Bilt Points. It has a $0 annual fee, and its superpower for Black Friday is earning 4x back on all purchases made through the Rakuten portal.
How it Stacks: If a store on Rakuten offers, say, 10x back, and you use your Rakuten credit card, you'd effectively get 14x back on that purchase! While there's an annual cap, it's high enough that most Black Friday spending won't hit it. I tried to apply for this, but my "velocity" was too high – but many are having great success!
Store-Specific Powerhouses (5% Back!):
Walmart OnePay Card: If Walmart is your Black Friday target (think deals like the AirPods Pro 2!), this card gives you 5% cash back when you have Walmart+ (either as a statement credit or to a OnePay checking account). No annual fee makes it a solid choice.
Target RedCard (Credit or Debit): For all your Target Black Friday hauls, both the credit and debit versions of the RedCard offer 5% cash back on Target purchases when used through their wallet system.
Amazon Prime Visa: Got Prime? Then this card is a no-brainer for your Amazon purchases, offering 5% cash back with no annual fee (beyond your Prime membership). It's an unlimited cash back Visa Signature card with no foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent all-around card.
2. Supercharge Your Savings with Shopping Portals
Shopping portals are your secret weapon for stacking rewards.
Rakuten - Your Go-To Portal:
What it is: Rakuten is a shopping portal that gives you cash back (or points!) for purchases you make through its links.
Get Started: If you don't have an account, sign up using a referral code (check descriptions below!) – often you'll get $50 back after your first $50 spend, and I get a bonus too!
How to Use: Click through the Rakuten website, app, or simply activate the browser extension (Chrome) which pops up automatically on partner sites.
Stacking: Combine Rakuten offers (e.g., 5-15x for Macy's) with Amex offers (like an extra 5x on your Platinum card for Macy's) for massive points hauls.
Payouts: Choose cash back, American Express Membership Rewards points, or Bilt Points, paid quarterly.
Airline Shopping Portals: Don't forget about airline-specific portals from Alaska Airlines (Mileage Plan), Southwest, United, and American Airlines. If you're loyal to a particular airline and want to boost your miles with them, these can be more targeted alternatives to Rakuten.
3. Unlock Hidden Value with Credit Card Offers
Most major credit card issuers provide special offers that can save you money or earn extra points.
Who Has Them: Bank of America, US Bank, Citi, Wells Fargo, American Express, Chase, and Capital One all have various offers.
American Express Offers: These are particularly powerful.
Higher Multipliers: Like the Macy's example – an Amex offer could give you an additional 5x points on a purchase, turning a 1x base earn into 6x on your Amex Platinum.
Spend & Get Offers: "Spend $10 at Dunkin' three times, get 300 points back" or "Spend $300 at Brooks Brothers, get $50 off."
How They Work: Add the offer to your card, make the purchase on that card, and receive a statement credit or points.
Easy Activation: Tools like MaxRewards can automatically activate all your eligible offers across various bank accounts, ensuring you never miss out.
4. Plan for Your General Spending
Even if there aren't specific portal or card offers, have a strategy for your general Black Friday spend.
Catch-All Cards:
Capital One Venture / Venture X: Earns a solid 2x back on every purchase.
Cash Back Cards: The Fidelity Rewards Visa or the Robinhood Gold Card offer 3% cash back on everything (the "gold standard," as I like to say!).
Communicate Your Plan: Make sure your significant other or other family members know which card to use for specific purchases to keep your strategy consistent.
5. Leverage Black Friday for a Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus
Black Friday is an excellent time to meet the minimum spending requirements for a new credit card sign-up bonus, especially if you have significant planned purchases.
Rich Offers: Many cards, like the Venture X, various Chase cards, and the American Express Business Platinum Card (with offers up to 300,000 points for $20,000 spend in 3 months), currently have lucrative sign-up bonuses.
Big Purchases: If you're planning to buy a new dishwasher, refrigerator, or other expensive items, that Black Friday deal could perfectly fulfill your minimum spend, offsetting the cost of the purchase significantly with points or cash.
Act Fast: To ensure you have the card in hand (or at least access to the card number) for Black Friday, apply as soon as possible.
6. Don't Overlook Travel Deals!
Black Friday isn't just for retail; it's also a prime time for travel deals.
Hotel & Airline Sales: Look for sales on point redemptions and cash prices from various hotel chains and airlines. You could find properties, even in places like the Caribbean, at up to 50% off for select dates!
Excursions & Parks: My wife and I once scored 50% off Discovery Cove (a SeaWorld resort park where you can swim with dolphins) during a Black Friday sale. If you have any travel planned, check for deals on hotels, flights, and even attractions for your target dates.
Alright, that's your Black Friday boot camp rundown! I hope these tips help you save a ton of money and rack up those points.