Depends on the quantity credit you have, your list of benefits and perks to use each month can be quite overwhelming. Remember to use each to maximize your credit card value? Maybe no.
Instead of trying to track them all alone, we’ve compiled a monthly checklist of the credit card perks and benefits you might be eligible for. This will help you guess what benefits you have, when they expire, and the maximum value of a particular benefit.
Here are some important reminders for October.
Sign up for our daily newsletter
American Express
There are plenty of monthly credit card perks that you should take advantage of as Amex offers many of its statement credits as a monthly amount rather than as a once per year benefit. It’s important to note that these values are “maximum” amounts, which means this is the maximum you’ll receive in statement credits. If you spend less than this amount, you will only be reimbursed for that lower amount.
In addition, Uber credits will disappear from your account if not used at the end of the month.
All that said, these are not benefits that you can roll around or put in your pocket for later use. They are “use it or lose it”.
Platinum Card® from American Express
- $12.95 Walmart + monthly membership: Pay with your card then get a refund in statement credits. Here’s how to sign up. Plus Ups are excluded. Note that some readers have reported their credits in the past few months have not posted. You should check your statement and ask for any missing credits to be applied. The easiest way to do this is through Amex chat.
- $15 in Uber credits: This can be used for Uber rides or ordering Uber Eats in the US. Simply add your card to your Uber account as a payment method to get this benefit.
- Up to $20 Digital Entertainment Credit: This can be used for Disney Bundle, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, The New York Times, Audible and SiriusXM. Pre-registration required. Here’s how to use this benefit. (Note that Disney Bundle, Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ prices all increased between August and December 2022.)
- $25 Equinox credits: Applies to monthly plans that include Equinox All Access, Destination, E by Equinox, and the Equinox+ app. Pre-registration required. Here’s how to use this benefit.
While not a monthly benefit, cardholders also receive two spending credits with 5th Avenue Credit Savings on Amex Platinum every year. From July 1 to December 31 of each year, you will receive up to $50 in statement credits (the ability to use your separate $50 credit between January 1 and March 30). 6 has ended and will be available again in 2023). Between now and the end of the year, you can use the second part of this credit. Pre-registration required. Using these benefits and statement credits can help offset the card’s $695 annual fee (see rates and fees)
Related: 10 Things To Do When You Get Amex Platinum
Official app link: Platinum card from American Express
American Express Business Platinum® Card
- Wireless credits up to $10: Pay for an eligible mobile service and get a statement credit of up to $10. Pre-registration required.
The Business Platinum card does not award credits at Saks or with Uber, but cardholders will receive statement credits of up to $400 per year on Dell purchases. This is split into $200 in credits January through June, and another $200 in July through December. If you don’t mind using the credit in the first half of the year, be sure to use the credit. Monday. You have until the end of this year. Pre-registration required.
Related: 9 things to do when you get your Amex Business Platinum card
Official app link: Platinum merchant card from American Express
American Express® Gold Card
- Uber credits up to $10: Like the Platinum Card privilege, this applies to Uber rides and Uber Eats ordering in the US Add your card to your Uber account as a payment method to get this benefit – and note that the card can add up to a monthly credit on Amex Platinum if you have both cards. Here’s how to use this benefit.
- Up to $10 Dining Credit: Use your card to pay at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, join Shake Shack, Wine.com, Goldbelly and Milk Bar locations for up to $10 monthly statement credit. Pre-registration required. Here’s how to use this benefit.
Related: Amex Gold Checklist: 4 things to do when you get your card for the first time
Official app link: American Express Gold Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
- Up to $25 Monthly Meal Credit: This card now offers meal credits every month at restaurants worldwide, instead of Marriott spending credits each year. For existing cardholders, if you used your $300 Marriott credit this year, you can now use the dining credit.
Official app link: Marriott Bonvoy’s American Express Brilliant Card
Chase
The Select Chase credit card offers month-to-month perks, and many of them have now reset.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- DoorDash $5 Credits: When you add the Sapphire Reserve card as a payment method in your DoorDash account, Chase adds $5 in credit at the beginning of each month (this begins in April 2022 and runs through December 2024). You can rollback up to three months of credit, so if you didn’t use last month’s credit (or August credit), you can now have up to $15 to use. Note that these credits are in addition to free DashPass membership supply card.
Official app link: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- $50 annual hotel credit: Cardholders can avail of a $50 hotel credit when booking through the Chase travel portal. This benefit is based on your five cards. You can read more about how to use this benefit in our guide to how to get $50 Sapphire Preferred hotel credit.
Official app link: Chase Sapphire is preferred
Chase Freedom (not open to new subscribers) and Chase Freedom Flex
- 5% cashback: Every quarter, you can earn 5% cash back up to $1,500 in combined spending on rotating categories. Current directory including PayPal and Walmart. You have to activate your catalog to enjoy higher rate of income. The current quarter ends December 31, so you have until the end of the year to maximize these earnings.
Remember, even though the Freedom cards are technically product refundyou can turn these earnings into Final bonus points are fully transferable if you also have a premium Chase card like Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve.
Information about the Chase Freedom card has been independently obtained by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Official app link: Chase Freedom Flex
Multiple Chase Cards
Related: Get $10 off every eligible Chase card in monthly food and alcohol delivery credits
* Information about these cards has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Citi
Citi® Dividend Card (not open to new registrants)
- 5% cashback: Every quarter, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined spend on rotating categories, followed by an unlimited 1% cashback. Remember activate your catalog, including restaurants and travel, including airline, hotel, yacht and travel agency purchases. This catalog is active until December 31, 2022.
Information on Citi Dividends has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Detect
Discover it® Cashback
- 5% cashback: Every quarter, you can earn 5% cash back on aggregate spends of up to $1,500 on rotating categories, followed by an unlimited 1% cashback. Remember activate your catalogincluding Amazon.com and digital wallets through December 31, 2022.
Information for Discover it has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bank of America
US Bank Cash + ® Visa Signature® Card
- 5% cashback: Every quarter, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in combined spending on rotating categories, then unlimited 1% cash back on other purchases. You have to choose your category from the options available each quarter and you need activate them to apply the bonus. The current quarter ends December 31, and categories include:
- Mobile phone providers.
- Convenient store.
- Electronic shop.
- Fast food.
- Furniture stores.
- Trucking.
- Gym/fitness center.
- Family utility.
- Cinema.
- Choose a clothing store.
- Sports goods store.
- TV, internet and streaming services.
Official app link: US Bank Cash + Visa Signature
World Elite Mastercards
World Elite Mastercards
Many issuing banks World Elite Mastercards. Popular products under this umbrella include Citi Premier® Card, IHG Rewards premium credit card and Chase Freedom Flex. Here’s what cardholders can use every month on these cards:
- $5 monthly Lyft credits after three rides: Use your card as payment method in your account and get $5 Lyft credit after making three trips in a calendar month. This benefit lasts until March 31, 2024.
Related: The 8 Most Valuable World Elite Mastercard Card Benefits
Key point
Using the perks and benefits on your credit card is key to maximizing their value and justifies the annual fee you pay to keep the card open. Some credit cards make this easy, offering your benefits as a one-time perk to use throughout the year. Other benefits need to be used in monthly increments, and some of these can be easily forgotten.
Hopefully this checklist of credit card perks will help you remember to use them now that a new month has arrived.
Additional reporting by Benji Stawski.
For Amex Platinum card rates and fees, click here.
