How I Got a Free iPhone
In today's world, technology comes at a premium, and the latest gadgets can often feel out of reach. However, through careful planning and strategic use of credit card rewards, I managed to acquire a brand-new iPhone without spending a dime out of pocket. Here’s how I did it.
The Plan
My journey began with a solid understanding of credit card rewards and how to maximize them. I started by researching credit cards that offered lucrative signup bonuses. After comparing various options, I settled on a couple of cards that provided substantial rewards in specific spending categories.
Signup Bonuses
I signed up for a cash back focused credit card that offered 20,000 points after spending $1,500 in the first three months. I also applied for a cash-back card that provided an additional 5% back on grocery purchases for the first year. With these cards in hand, I had a plan to hit the spending requirements without overspending.
Strategic Spending
To leverage the multipliers effectively, I began funneling all my necessary expenses through these cards. I made sure to only use them for categories with the highest rewards. For instance, I used the travel rewards card for all travel-related expenses and the cash-back card for groceries.
Citi and Capital One Offers
While making my purchases, I also took advantage of Citi Offers and Capital One Offers. These platforms allowed me to earn additional cash back on selected retailers. I frequently checked for promotions and strategically planned my purchases to maximize rewards. For example, when shopping online, I often found cash back offers that added an extra 10% or more to my earnings.
Online Shopping with Rakuten
I didn’t stop there. I signed up for Rakuten, a platform that offers cash back for online shopping. Before making any online purchase, I would check Rakuten for available cash back deals. By combining these offers with my credit card rewards, I was able to stack savings effectively. For instance, buying a new laptop through Rakuten while using my cash-back card allowed me to earn rewards from both the credit card and Rakuten.
Apple Card and Savings Account
With my strategy in play, I also decided to apply for the Apple Card, which offers 2% cash back on every purchase when using Apple Pay. I linked this card to a high-yield savings account, which offered an impressive 3.6% APY. This way, not only was I earning cash back on my purchases, but I was also allowing that cash back to accrue interest. The compounding effect of the interest helped me reach my goal faster.
Watching My Rewards Grow
As the months passed, I diligently tracked my spending and rewards accumulation. I reached the spending requirements for my signup bonuses more quickly than I anticipated. By using my credit cards wisely, I accrued enough points and cash back to cover the cost of the iPhone I wanted.
The Final Step
Once I had enough points and cash back, I visited the Apple Store. I was excited to see that I could redeem my accumulated rewards for a brand-new iPhone by purchasing Apple gift cards for a discounted rate, instead of the standard of 1 cent per point metric it was averaged to be 1.4 cent per point. When I checked out, I left the store with my new device, completely free!
Conclusion
By making informed and strategic financial decisions, I turned what could have been an expensive purchase into a rewarding experience. Leveraging credit card signup bonuses, maximizing multipliers, utilizing cash back offers from Citi, U.S Bank, Capital One, and shopping through Rakuten were all instrumental in achieving my goal. My financial savvy not only helped me get the latest iPhone but also taught me invaluable lessons about managing money and rewards.
Click on my links for credit cards I used to achieve this feat.
Use your due diligence and see what matches your spending habits, current lifestyle, and income.
APPLE CARD - https://apple.co/referdailycas
AMEX BLUE CASH EVERYDAY - https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/blue-cash-everyday-credit-card?ref=DAVIdCnukJ&XL=MIANS
CITI CUSTOM CASH - https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/citi-custom-cash-credit-card
CAPITAL ONE SAVOR ONE - https://i.capitalone.com/J0HWrtJG3
US BANK ALTITUDE GO - https://www.usbank.com/credit-cards/altitude-go-visa-signature-credit-card.html
