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I Write About Credit Cards Every Day. Here’s Why I Love My Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

By U.S. News & World Report

I added the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to my wallet as my first travel rewards credit card almost five years ago. The card’s large welcome bonus lured me in, and I earn enough rewards each year to justify the card’s $95 annual fee.

Today, as a certified financial education instructor and regular contributor to U.S. News, I feel that its bevy of ongoing rewards has turned the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card into my favorite credit card.

Why I Love My Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

When I first got my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, I spent enough to earn a large welcome bonus, which I used to book a room at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa in Florida. This location is my favorite beach town because it gives me access to gorgeous, bright turquoise blue water and bike trails.

Since then, I have enjoyed ongoing rewards, such as five points per dollar spent on travel I’ve purchased through Chase Travel? and the annual $50 hotel credit. Plus, I love earning three points per dollar spent on dining out and buying groceries online.

My favorite way to maximize travel rewards is to transfer points I earn from my Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Freedom Flex® to the Sapphire Preferred Card. This strategy is known as the Chase Trifecta.

After that, I often transfer the points from the Sapphire card to the Hyatt loyalty program to unlock more value. I did this recently and was able to save almost $200 on an Atlanta hotel I booked for an investing conference.

[Read: Travel Credit Cards]

More Reasons to Love the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Right now, new cardholders can earn 75,000 Ultimate Rewards Points after spending $5,000 within three months. Beyond the travel rewards mentioned above, the card comes with other perks, such as:

— No foreign transaction fees

— Five points per dollar spent on Lyft through Sept. 30, 2027

— Three points per dollar spent on certain online streaming services

— Two points per dollar spent on non-Chase-portal travel purchases

— One point per dollar on all other purchases

— 10% anniversary boost, which is bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year

— Primary auto rental coverage and other travel protections

— Extended warranty and purchase protections

Why You Might Want to Pass

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a perfect fit for my wallet, but it’s not right for everyone. If you don’t travel much, dine out often or use online streaming platforms, you’re likely better off choosing a no-annual-fee credit card.

On the flip side, you may get more value from using a higher-tier card, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, if you’re an avid traveler who spends enough to justify the card’s $795 annual fee.

More from U.S. News

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I Write About Credit Cards Every Day. Here’s Why I Love My Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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