CHASE SAPPHIRE* CREDIT CARD

The Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) has long been one of our top travel rewards credit cards to keep and use long-term. While our enthusiasm for it has dipped a bit over the years, it still offers multiple sweet spots that make it well worth holding—despite the $95 annual fee.

LIMITED TIME BONUS: 75,000 POINTS

If you’ve been on the fence about getting the CSP, now’s the time:

You can earn a 75,000-point sign-up bonus(normally 60k) after spending $5,000 in 3 months.

Thinking of going bigger? The Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) currently offers a 100,000-point bonus, but beware: it comes with a massive $795 annual fee.

We appreciate your support if you decide to apply through our referral link. 🙏

Apply for the Sapphire

What Makes CSP Valuable?

1:1 Point Transfers

One of the most powerful perks of CSP is point transferability.

Chase partners with over a dozen airline and hotel loyalty programs, letting you transfer points 1:1—including Hyatt, possibly the sweetest spot to transfer your points.

For Example:

You’re 10,000 points short to book a flight in your United account? Just transfer from CSP.

The $95 Annual Fee? Actually, Just $45

The CSP comes with a $50 annual hotel credit (booked through Chase), effectively dropping your out-of-pocket fee to $45.

Here’s what else you get for that:

• Excellent travel insurance
• Chase shopping cashback offers
• Lucrative referral bonuses
• Access to transfer bonuses
• Increased point multipliers:
  • 3x on dining
  • 2x on travel
  • 5x when booking travel through Chase

How We’ve Used Our CSP:

$50 Hotel Credit (x2)

• Tokyo in February
• Singapore in June (pre-booked)
  

  And kept our hotel spend under $25/night

30% Bonus Transfer to Virgin Red

• Used for a Seattle-to-Tokyo flight
• Paid just $11.20 in fees for TWO tickets

• Virgin also partners with Delta, by the way

45,000 Points → United Miles

• Combined with an unused United balance
• Booked two tickets from New Zealand to the US
• Scored lowest redemption rate—zero miles left unused

Paris to Montreal for 2, Using Points

• Only 20,500 points total, no fees

Rental Car Bookings

• CSP provides primary rental car insurance (huge perk)

Yes, You Can Get Another Sign-up Bonus

You are eligible to earn the sign-up bonus again if:

One, it’s been at least 48 months since your last CSP bonus and two, you no longer hold the card.

CSP vs. Airline Cards: Superior Transfer Flexibility

Chase Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to:

• Airlines: United, Southwest, JetBlue, Virgin, British Airways, etc.

• Hotels: Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, etc.

Want to Avoid the Annual Fee Later?

Downgrade your Sapphire… keep your Ultimate Rewards alive by switching to the Chase Freedom Flex:

• No annual fee
• 5x points on rotating categories like groceries or gas stations… which, incidentally also sell gift cards should you feel the need to max out your 5x spending opportunity for whatever reason.
• $200 sign-up bonus after spending just $500 in 3 months
• Apply through our referral link for the Chase Freedom Flex here.

Note: not ideal for international travel due to foreign transaction fees and the $1,500 cap on the 5x bonus category spend.

In Summary

This isn’t our absolute favorite travel card—but it continues to be one of the most valuable for:

• Its transfer perks
• Its ease of use
• Its ongoing offers and bonuses

• Its broad point utility

*Note: Card only available for those with a U.S. address.

Got questions? Ask us in the comments—we’re happy to help you get the most out of your points.

TRUSTED HOUSE SITTERS

This Behind the Budget luckily applies to anyone worldwide and is our favorite way to save money on accommodation while also staying in incredible locations, meeting and making new friends, and gaining a uniquely intimate experience into a life in some tiny corner of our world… ah yes, no surprise, this is house sitting. Quite literally a game changer for making our nomadic lifestyle sustainable.

We’ve officially been housesitting for seven years on the Trusted Housesitters platform. It’s taken us across the globe from the Americas to Europe to Asia, and provided us with so much more than free accommodation.

It is travel on a whole other level. It fills our hearts with a feeling of home and love, provides us with opportunities to make local friends, can give us a sense of stability and all the creature comforts (literally) of a home, and of course, the chance for cuddles with new companions is a major perk.

The best part? It’s a win-win-win for all sides:

• The pet owner gets (free) pet sitting by someone they’ve vetted.

• Their pet stays safely at home with their routine intact, avoiding the stress of boarding.

• Their home is cared for while they’re away, giving them peace-of-mind to truly enjoy their vacation.

If you’re thinking about joining Trusted House Sitters as a sitter… here’s the things we recommend considering:

💲 Membership Cost & Value

• Two annual plans: $169 (standard) and $259 (premium)
• We’ve only ever used the standard plan — and it’s been more than enough
• Don’t be put off by the fee… it pays for itself fast
• Example: One night in a windowless hotel room in Singapore cost us $75. But we scored a one-week housesit in a beautiful 2-bedroom flat — just two nights of that sit paid for the entire year’s fee.
• P.S. our code below saves you 25% off your first year too!

📝 Applications & References

• Your application will either be accepted or rejected — first impressions count
• Be professional, stand out with a thoughtful profile
• Start with 3–5 personal or professional references to increase your credibility
• You are likely competing with other (possibly more experienced) sitters

🌍 Getting Started Locally

• Apply for sits near your current home and offer to meet in person
• This helps you get your foot in the door and build reviews
• We did this with 6 local sits around Portland before going international
• If local options are scarce, take a long weekend trip to a more active market
• The US, UK, France, and Australia are great for starting out

🚗 Location & Transport

• Pay attention to location and nearby services
• Make sure you know how you’ll get around before you arrive
• Sometimes a car is included with the sit — or can be arranged if you ask
• Sits with a car or good public transport usually rise to the top of our list

🐕 Pet Care Expectations

• Know the pet and the level of responsibility required
• Daily dog walks? That’s a bigger commitment than feeding a cat once a day
• Your schedule will depend on the pets’ needs — plan accordingly
• Example: In Bangkok, we chose to explore only our local neighborhood between pet care instead of running across the city — and it was so much more intimate and rewarding

🎥 Do a Video Interview

• Request a video call before confirming a sit
• It’s a chance for both sides to ask questions, clarify expectations, and build trust
• Remember: you’re interviewing them too!
• Everyone wants a great experience — clear communication sets the tone

If you have additional questions about the process or anything related to housesitting, please let us know!

And if you decide to join, we greatly appreciate you using our link. We’ll get two free months, and you’ll get 25% off your annual subscription.

Again, win-win!! 😻