Pet parenthood is certainly one of life’s most fulfilling experiences, however as many pet mother and father will let you know, it can be one of the vital costly. Whereas I might do something on this planet to make sure my canine’s well being and security with out hesitation, it usually takes a reasonably penny — even with a pet insurance coverage coverage in place.
That is the scenario I discovered myself on this previous December when my pup wanted emergency care whereas touring. Here is how utilizing the correct bank card in an unlucky scenario helped me earn hundreds of further factors and ease a little bit of the monetary sting.
The emergency
The day earlier than I deliberate to depart on a pet-friendly highway journey, my canine, Stevie, developed a serious-looking limp. I introduced her to my native emergency vet, who instantly seen certainly one of her toes was swollen. Pondering the problem was orthopedic, the vet ordered X-rays, and almost $700 later, I had a prescription for a ache reliever, affirmation that there was no fracture and the all-clear to go out on the journey.
Sadly, two days after leaving residence, Stevie’s complete leg had swelled up, and a second emergency vet journey — this time to an animal hospital alongside our highway journey route — confirmed that it was critically contaminated. After prescribing a number of extra drugs and a cone of disgrace, the vet scheduled an emergency drainage process for the next day, and prices rapidly escalated.
Sadly, the emergency vet visits did not finish there. After the process, we needed to deliver Stevie in three extra occasions for dressing adjustments and wound care. The truth that we have been on the transfer as a part of our highway journey, coupled with the problem of securing a vet appointment, meant that these visits occurred at three totally different clinics, and establishing care as a brand new affected person every time wound up pushing prices greater than they might have been if we had been returning to the identical clinic for follow-up appointments.
Fortunately, the an infection totally cleared after about 4 weeks of antibiotics — however not earlier than racking up payments properly into the four-figure vary.
Associated: The perfect bank cards for pet bills
Utilizing the correct playing cards
I’ve had the Chase Freedom (not out there to new candidates) in my pockets for years, and extra lately, I added the Chase Freedom Flex® by downgrading a distinct Chase card. Each the Freedom and Freedom Flex provide the chance to earn 5% money again (or 5 factors per greenback) on as much as $1,500 of spending in rotating quarterly bonus classes (after activation). And since my husband additionally has a Freedom Flex, we will collectively earn bonus factors on as much as $4,500 in spending every quarter.
As luck would have it, final quarter’s bonus classes included pet retailers and veterinary companies for the primary time since TPG started monitoring them again in 2012. Between the vet visits on the highway and a few follow-up appointments at residence — plus a number of rounds of antibiotics and a slew of different drugs for ache, irritation and nervousness — I used to be in a position to max out the bonus on all three playing cards, incomes 5 factors per greenback on $4,500 of spending for a grand complete of twenty-two,500 factors.
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The knowledge for the Chase Freedom has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: Chase Freedom Flex card overview: Unbelievable incomes with no annual payment
That is a sum far greater than I might have earned had I not used the Freedom and Freedom Flex playing cards. When not working towards a sign-up bonus, I usually use my Chase Freedom Limitless® on the vet to earn 1.5% money again (or 1.5 factors per greenback). On this case, doing so would have resulted in simply 6,750 factors — a distinction of 15,750 factors.
Redeeming the factors
The Freedom and Freedom Flex are marketed as cash-back playing cards, which means they do not provide the power to switch factors to Chase’s airline and lodge companions. Fortunately, there is a workaround. In case you have one other Chase card that earns totally transferable Final Rewards factors — such because the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card or the Ink Enterprise Most popular® Credit score Card — you may mix the rewards out of your Freedom playing cards with these in your different accounts, immediately unlocking the potential to switch them and considerably rising their worth.
As a self-professed lodge fanatic, I wind up transferring an excellent portion of my Chase factors to World of Hyatt at no cost lodge stays, which is the place my latest Chase Freedom haul finally went. Not lengthy after the ill-fated highway journey, I started planning my subsequent getaway: an extended weekend in London this April. For this journey, I selected the Nice Scotland Yard Resort, a part of Hyatt’s Unbound Assortment, based mostly on its walkability to main websites and procuring.
The 22,500 Chase factors from the vet payments put me simply shy of the 25,000 factors wanted to cowl the primary evening of my keep, which might have in any other case value 384 kilos — or about $484 based mostly on present conversion charges — for World of Hyatt members. The redemption charge got here out to 1.94 cents per level, which is barely beneath the two.05 cents per level that Chase Final Rewards are price, in response to TPG’s February 2025 valuations. However on this case, I used to be more than pleased to sacrifice a bit potential worth for the prospect to chop down my journey spending after an costly couple of months.
Associated: Methods to redeem Chase Final Rewards factors for max worth
Backside line
Shock bills are by no means enjoyable, particularly when it comes within the type of a medical emergency. However a easy bank card swap can enormously amplify your rewards-earning potential, serving to you flip sudden payments into your subsequent trip. Even a no-annual-fee card such because the Chase Freedom Flex can rack up substantial rewards when used to its full potential, making it all of the extra vital to have the correct instruments in your pockets — and the data to deploy them successfully.
