This Week’s Money Map:

• 💳 Hot deal alert: Chase's eye-popping 100K points offer & $900 banking bonus!

• 🤑 Life insurance for procrastinators: Get covered in 10 minutes or less

• 🚗 5 ways to save BIG on car insurance

• 😎 MoneyGeek Book Club week 5: Save while you sleep!

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💳 Hot deal alert: Chase's eye-popping 100K points offer & $900 banking bonus!

Chase just dropped two of the most lucrative financial offers we've seen all year — a massive 100,000 point bonus on the Sapphire Preferred card and a jaw-dropping $900 checking/savings combo bonus. Here's how to maximize these limited-time opportunities before they vanish.

Chase Sapphire Preferred: 100,000-point bonus
This is one of the biggest welcome bonuses we’ve seen on one of the most loved travel cards. With this offer, you can earn 100,000 points, worth up to $1,250 when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. To qualify, you'll need to spend $5,000 in the first three months, making it an accessible bonus for many travelers.

The annual fee is $95, which isn't waived in the first year. However, when compared to the value of the bonus — 100,000 points worth $1,250+ for travel through Chase’s portal or $1,000 as cash back — the benefits easily outweigh this fee.

If you're someone who enjoys stacking rewards or simply wants to turn everyday spending into free flights, do not sleep on this offer.

Chase bank accounts: $900 bonus
Chase is offering a banking bonus of up to $900 when you open both a checking and savings account. This offer consists of $300 for opening a Chase Total Checking® account, $200 for a Chase Savings℠ account, and an additional $400 bonus if you open both and meet the necessary balance and deposit requirements.

For the checking account bonus, you must set up qualifying direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days. For the savings account bonus, you'll need to maintain a $15,000 balance for 90 days. Sound like a lot? To compare, that $15,000 would earn 5% APY in a high-yield savings account, netting $187 in 90 days. The $900 bonus blows that away, but you’re locking up cash in a low-interest Chase account (0.01% APY).

If you're worried about fees, note that account fees can be waived with a $1,500 daily balance or $500 in monthly direct deposits.

The offer ends July 16, 2025. Open accounts online or in-branch.

🤑 Life insurance for procrastinators: Get covered in 10 minutes or less

Let's face it, life insurance probably ranks somewhere between dental appointments and tax filing on your to-do list. But protecting your family's future doesn't need to be an ordeal. Online term life policies make it stupid-easy to get covered fast. Here’s how to lock in peace of mind for your family before your coffee gets cold.

Step 1: Pick your coverage
 Figure out how much you need. A quick rule: aim for 10x your annual income. Earn $50,000? Go for $500,000 in coverage. Better yet, use MoneyGeek’s life insurance calculator for more personalized and accurate results fast.

Step 2: Shop smart
 Look for providers offering no-exam, instant-issue policies. These use data (like your age, lifestyle, and prescription history) to approve you instantly. Compare quotes and focus on term life for affordability. Learn more about no-exam life insurance, how it works, and where to get it.

Step 3: Apply like a pro
 Fill out the online form. Expect questions about your health, job, and lifestyle (yes, they’ll ask if you skydive). Be honest — fibbing can mess up claims later. Most no-exam policies don’t require blood tests, just your candor. Choose your coverage and term length and get a quote. Most online applications take just 5–7 minutes to complete.

Step 4: Seal the deal
 Review your quote, sign digitally, and submit. If approved, you can pay and activate the policy immediately. Digital policies can be issued instantly or within hours. Download your policy documents immediately.

Boom — done. Now go enjoy that coffee.

🚗 5 ways to save BIG on car insurance

Car insurance premiums creeping up again? You’re probably overpaying. Here are five smart ways to slash your premiums, including one game-changer most drivers miss

1. Fix your mileage estimate
 Most folks overestimate how much they drive, and it’s costing them. Insurers use your annual mileage to price your policy. Driving under 7,500 miles a year? Track your odometer for a month to confirm. Then tell your insurer. Lowering your estimate can cut premiums by an average of $86 per year.

2. Bundle like a boss
 Combine your auto and home (or renters) insurance with the same provider. Bundling saves 10–25%, on average. For a $900 annual auto policy, that’s up to $225 back in your pocket.

3. Hunt for discounts
 Safe driver? Good student? Member of a professional organization? You might qualify for hidden discounts, but you have to ask. Ask about deals for safe driving, good credit, or even paying upfront. These discounts stack! Learn more about car insurance discounts.

4. Raise your deductible
 If you rarely file claims, consider increasing your deductible. A higher deductible means lower monthly premium. Just make sure you can cover it in a pinch. Stash the difference in savings for emergencies.

5. Shop around annually
 Loyalty doesn’t always pay. Rates change, and the best deal might be with a competitor. Compare quotes from at least three insurers each year. Use MoneyGeek’s comparison tools to check.

Don’t let high premiums drive you broke. A few tweaks — especially with your mileage — can save you A LOT. Check out MoneyGeek’s picks for the best cheap low-mileage car insurance companies.

😎 MG Book Club week 5: Save while you sleep

Welcome to Week 5 of our book club series, reading Ramit Sethi’s I Will Teach You to Be Rich! Now that you’ve opened your savings and investment accounts, and you’ve started spending your money with purpose, it’s time to do the thing that ties it all together: automation.

This week is all about building your Automatic Money Flow — a system that quietly handles your bills, savings, investments, and guilt-free spending every month without you having to think about it.

Why automate?
Most people stress over their bills, forget due dates, and move money manually from checking to savings — which usually ends in frustration or overdraft fees. But when your income is directed automatically to the right accounts (in the right order), your financial life gets a whole lot easier.

As Sethi puts it, automation is like putting your money on rails. No more juggling — just peace of mind and progress.

Here’s how it works
Let’s say you’re paid twice a month. The moment your paycheck hits your checking account, your system goes to work:

1. Your 401(k) contributions come out before your paycheck hits your bank account. Use this handy 401k calculator to see how much it can grow over time.

2. Once the money lands in checking, automatic transfers send a portion to:

   • Your high-yield savings account for goals/emergencies

   • Your Roth IRA or brokerage account for investing

   • Your credit card (used for recurring bills like utilities, subscriptions, phone, etc.)

3. What’s left in checking is your guilt-free spending money — no budget spreadsheets required.

Action steps (you can do in a weekend)

Step 1: List your accounts
Gather logins for every financial account you use: checking, savings, credit cards, 401(k), Roth IRA, investment apps, etc. Save them in a secure, easy-to-access place (password managers work great here).

Step 2: Link them together
Most banks and fintech tools allow you to link accounts for free. This might take a few days to verify — be patient, this step matters.

Step 3: Set up your automatic money flow
Schedule your automatic transfers to align with your paydays and due dates. Don’t forget to reset bill cycles (utilities, subscriptions) so everything syncs up neatly.

You’ll know your savings and investments are taken care of before you even see the money. Your bills are covered. And the money left over? Yours to spend — 100% guilt-free.

Next week, we’ll tackle crushing debt the smart way. Until then, go set it and forget it. 

Smart Cents gives you actionable tips and mindset shifts to help you reach your financial happy place. Thanks for being a part of our community.

The MoneyGeek Team

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