Using This Credit Card Could Get You a Free Month of Groceries This Year

Can you imagine getting a free month of groceries?

That whole portion of your budget would just… disappear.

Woosh. Gone for a month. Then you’d have more financial wiggle room for other necessities — or to save for that vacation you’ve been dying to take.

It sounds too good to be true, but covering a full month of grocery expenses is actually quite easy.

Here’s What You’ll Need…

A cash-back credit card can be your best friend… as long as you’re smart with your spending.

We like the cash-back cards that have no annual fees (those can negate the actual benefits of the card) and that offer cash back without complicated spending categories.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card fits the bill. It has no annual fees, and you automatically get 3% cash back on all your purchases up to $20,000 for the first year. After that, you’ll get unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Our Strategy to Bagging a Free Month of Groceries This Year

How much do you spend on groceries each month?

It’ll vary, of course, but the average individual in the U.S. between ages 19 and 50 spends about $280 a month, according to February 2019 USDA data. We’ll use that as our baseline.

So here’s what you’ll charge to your Chase Freedom Unlimited card (only necessities!) to snag $280 in cash back within a year’s time:

• Charge your monthly $280 grocery bill to your card each month. That’s $100 in cash back throughout the year.
• Now, how much do you spend on gas each month? You’ll get cash back for that, too. The average American spends $164 filling up their vehicle each month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Charge that to your card each month, and that’s another $60 in cash back for the year. You’re up to $160 in cash back now.
• Charge all the bills you’re already paying each month to your card, as well: Car insurance (an average of $118.63 a month), cell phone (an average of $93.17 a month) — plus roughly $100 for internet, cable, subscription services and other bills you pay each month… That’s another $112 in cash back for the year.

And you’re already at $272 in cash back for the year without changing your spending habits. Throw in a meal or two out per month (we know you’re going to treat yourself!), and you’ll easily top $280 in cash back for the year.

Just use this card to buy the things you already need — and by the end of the year, you’ll have earned enough to get free groceries for a month.

It takes only a few minutes to sign up for a shiny new Chase Freedom Unlimited card.

The information for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card has been collected independently by The Penny Hoarder. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. The Penny Hoarder is a partner of Credible.

Carson Kohler ([email protected]) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.