Earlier this month, I applied for and received the Bilt Mastercard. This card finally made sense to get since we will be paying rent for my son’s college apartment later this year. Plus, I love that transfer partners include American Airlines and Hyatt.
Even though I’ve only had this card a few weeks, it’s already changing my family’s spending habits.
Rent Day
Tomorrow will be our first “Rent Day” as a Bilt cardholder. Bilt offers special promotions on Rent Day (like a transfer bonus or other promos). But in addition, every Rent Day offers double points earning for just that day:
- 6X points on dining
- 4X points on travel
- 2X points on all other spending (except rent)
So, I’m holding off on some charges until March 1 to put them on the Bilt card for these increased payouts.
My biggest category is travel. I need to book some excursions for my upcoming cruises and a short flight within Europe. While my husband’s Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 3X on travel, I’d rather get 4X on Bilt.
Then, we have some other expenses coming up that I’m saving to pay on Rent Day. We need to pay our dog sitter for our upcoming trip. And, my son asked for a few new shirts. Wait until Rent Day! Sure, these charges will only earn 2X points, and I could get that by charging them on my Capital One Venture X or Capital One Venture Rewards card. But, those cards don’t have American Airlines or Hyatt as transfer partners. So, I’ll go with Bilt.
One category I do not care to maximize is dining. While 6X points is a great payout, eating out still costs a bundle. My family has been trying to cut back on our dining expenses to make room in the budget for more important things. So, we won’t be going crazy at restaurants on Rent Day.
Now I’m not planning to save all of our spending for the first of each month. But, if we have expenses in the last week of the month or the first week of the next month, it makes sense to pay them on Rent Day and earn more points.
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
Aren’t you concerned about the travel benefits you could get by booking with the Chase Sapphire Reserved, like trip insurance? Or do you just pay a tiny portion of each trip with that card to make sure you’re covered?
@The Miles Mom Good question–my family buys an annual multi-trip insurance policy to supplement.
As someone who has been using the Bilt credit card for a while now, I can attest to the transformative impact it has had on my spending habits. The unique features and rewards structure of the Bilt card have incentivized me to rethink and optimize my spending patterns, ultimately leading to more responsible financial behavior.
One of the most significant ways the Bilt credit card has changed my spending habits is through its rewards program tailored specifically for renters. By earning points on rent payments, a significant monthly expense for many individuals, I have been able to maximize rewards on essential purchases while simultaneously building credit history.
Additionally, the Bilt card’s integration with the Bilt Rewards platform has introduced me to a plethora of opportunities to earn bonus points on everyday expenses such as dining, groceries, and travel. This has encouraged me to leverage the card for a wider range of transactions, effectively turning routine spending into valuable rewards.
Furthermore, the financial insights provided by the Bilt app have been instrumental in helping me track and manage my expenses more effectively. The ability to visualize spending trends, set budgets, and receive personalized recommendations has empowered me to make more informed financial decisions and stay on top of my financial goals.
Overall, the Bilt credit card has not only simplified the way I manage my finances but has also incentivized me to adopt healthier spending habits. By aligning rewards with everyday expenses and providing valuable insights into my financial behavior, the Bilt card has become an indispensable tool for optimizing my financial well-being. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to take control of their spending and maximize their rewards potential.
That extra point truly is so valuable, welcome to the Bild club!
I tend to book award travel with my CSP because the flight interruption/delayed baggage protections are so great on award tickets. Any idea if Bilt offers good protections on award tickets? The taxes and charges for multiple people can really add up.
The Bilt travel category is more limited than Chase and is only valid when Merchant Code for Mastercard is classified as airlines, hotels, motels, resorts, cruise lines, and car rental agencies Travel Agencies do not code as travel, so no bonus on OTA’s like Expedia, etc.
@HD Thanks for the info!