This Week’s Money Map:

• 💳 Best travel credit cards for August 2025

• 🚗 EV insurance is shockingly expensive — here’s how to keep it under control

• 🧐 How to get business insurance in 5 easy steps (even if you're just starting out)

•  💪 The $100,000 health investment hidden in your grocery cart

💳 Best travel credit cards for August 2025 (and which ones deliver value)

Some of the biggest travel card bonuses in years are available right now, but the real question isn't how big the bonus is — it's whether you can use it profitably. Here's the breakdown on what's worth your time.

Why are these bonuses bigger than usual?
Credit card companies compete harder for customers, which means genuinely good offers if you know how to spot them. The key is understanding what you're getting versus what you'll use.

Most current offers require spending $4,000 to $5,000 in three to five months to earn the bonus. That's roughly $1,000 to $1,700 monthly, which works if that matches your natural spending on groceries, gas and bills.

The 4 cards worth your attention right now

Southwest's 100,000-point bonuses
Southwest is offering 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first five months across its Plus ($99 fee), Premier ($149 fee) and Priority ($229 fee) cards. This is double its usual 50,000-point offer.

The real value comes from the checked bag benefit for you, plus up to eight other passengers on the same reservation. Two round-trip flights with a family of four saves you $280 in bag fees annually — more than the annual fee on any of these cards.

United Quest Card's 100,000 miles plus status boost
New cardholders can earn 100,000 United MileagePlus bonus miles and 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points after spending $4,000 in three months. The card includes $200 in United TravelBank cash and up to $100 in ride-booking credits annually.

The 3,000 status points get you 60% of the way to Premier Silver status, which includes free checked bags and upgrade priority. This makes sense if United serves your home airport well and you fly with it two to three times yearly.

Chase Sapphire Reserve's premium bonus
The relaunched Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 100,000 points and a $500 Chase Travel credit after spending $5,000 in the first three months. The annual fee is $795, but you get $300 in annual travel credits. The card includes airport lounge access, travel insurance and enhanced point-earning rates.

The math works if you travel frequently and can use the lounge access. If you fly internationally twice yearly and value the travel protections, the effective annual fee of $495 (after credits) becomes reasonable.

Capital One Venture's straightforward approach
The Venture Rewards typically offers 75,000 miles after meeting spending requirements, with a $95 annual fee. This card works best for people who want flexibility without complexity. The earning structure is simple: 2 miles per dollar on everything, and you can book travel however you want.

Your decision framework
If you live in a Southwest hub city and take two or more family trips per year, the Southwest cards deliver clear value through bag fee savings alone. The 100,000-point bonus is essentially free money on top. For frequent business travelers who value lounge access and premium travel benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve's hefty annual fee makes sense when you use those perks.

The key is matching the travel credit card's strengths to your actual travel patterns, not aspirational ones. These bonuses are genuine opportunities if they align with how you already spend and travel.

🚗 EV insurance is shockingly expensive — here’s how to keep it under control

Driving electric? Great for the planet, but your wallet? Not always so great. Insurance premiums for EVs can reach $1,400 to $3,400 per year, often 3–12% higher than comparable gas cars. Teslas, in particular, are among the most expensive. Their insurance ranks in the top five of all EVs, according to our study.

What makes EV insurance so pricey?

• Repair bills hurt more: When your EV battery or sensors break, you're not dealing with a $50 oil change. These parts cost thousands to replace.

• Finding the right mechanic is tough: Most shops can't work on EVs, so you're stuck with specialized techs who charge premium rates.

• Everything's computerized: Your EV is basically a computer on wheels. All that fancy tech is great until it breaks — then you'll feel it in your wallet.

Ways to bring down those premiums:

• Pick your EV wisely: Not all electric cars are insurance nightmares. Some cost less to insure than gas cars, while others (looking at you, Tesla) can sting your budget.

• Don't settle for the first quote: EV insurance rates are all over the map depending on who you ask and where you live. Get quotes from multiple companies. The savings might surprise you. For example, State Farm offers the cheapest premium for Teslas.

• Stack discounts: Bundling policies, safe driving and good student discounts can lower your premium. Don't forget to ask!

• Add safety features: Lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection and collision avoidance tech may unlock even deeper premium cuts.

• Maintain a clean driving record: Safe driving habits help keep premiums down.

EVs have long-term financial benefits: lower fuel costs, tax incentives and reduced maintenance. But their insurance cost can be a shock. The good news? With smart shopping, EV-friendly choices and bundling discounts, you can reduce that shock and drive green without breaking the bank. Check out MoneyGeek’s tools to compare the best car insurance for EVs.

🧐 How to get business insurance in 5 easy steps (even if you're just starting out)

Side hustle? Freelance gig? Small business? Starting or running a business comes with risks, from accidents on your premises to lawsuits over your services. Business insurance can save you thousands if a client sues, a customer slips or your laptop fries. If you’re making money outside a W-2 job, it’s time to protect yourself like a pro.

Here’s a simple guide to help you understand who needs it, the three primary types of coverage and how to get insured.

Step 1: Determine who needs business insurance
If you own a business, even a small one, you likely need some form of insurance. Insurance protects you from expensive claims and lawsuits. It's essential if you have employees, customers or offer professional services. Some types of insurance, like workers' compensation, are legally required if you have employees.

Step 2: Understand the 3 primary types of business insurance

• General liability (GL) – Covers bodily injury, property damage and legal costs. This is your “don’t get sued over a spilled coffee” policy.

• Professional liability (PL) – Also called Errors & Omissions. Covers mistakes or bad advice (think: missed deadlines, client disputes).

• Workers’ comp (WC) – Required if you have employees. Covers injuries on the job, even if it's a home office.

Step 3: Assess your business risks
What's most likely to go sideways in your specific business? A coffee shop owner worries about customers slipping on wet floors. A freelance graphic designer loses sleep over missing a client's big deadline.

Think about your biggest "oh no" moments — that's where you need coverage. Some businesses need extras like cyber protection (if you handle customer data) or property insurance (if you have expensive equipment).

Step 4: Don't take the first deal you see
Call different insurance companies or find a broker who specializes in your industry. You're not just comparing prices. You're comparing how much they'll cover, what you'll pay out of pocket and whether the policy makes sense for your business. Make sure whatever you pick meets your state's requirements, too.

Step 5: Buy it and don't forget about it
Once you've picked a policy, your job isn't done. Your business will change — maybe you hire your first employee, start working with bigger clients or move to a new location. When that happens, your insurance needs to keep up. Review your coverage every year. You want enough financial protection without overpaying.

Business insurance might feel like another expense, but it's really buying yourself peace of mind. One lawsuit or accident shouldn't wipe out everything you've built. Check MoneyGeek’s guide to the best small business insurance to get started.

💪 The $100,000 health investment hidden in your grocery cart

Your local supermarket contains the most overlooked investment opportunity. While everyone's hunting for credit card bonuses and stock picks, the real money is sitting in the produce section — and the math will surprise you.

The brutal cost of being unhealthy
Heart disease and stroke kill more than 944,800 Americans yearly, costing our health care system $254 billion per year and causing $168 billion in lost productivity.

The average American family now spends over $4,000 annually on health care, and that's with health insurance. Without it, a single emergency room visit can cost $3,000 to $10,000. A heart attack? You're looking at $50,000 to $100,000 in bills.

The grocery store investment strategy
Here's where the math gets interesting. The "expensive" organic vegetables everyone complains about cost roughly $200 to $300 more per month than the cheapest processed alternatives. But compare that to the real costs of poor health.

• Monthly prevention cost: $250 extra for quality groceries

• Monthly sickness cost: $400+ in health care premiums, copays and medications

• Lost productivity cost: Two to five sick days monthly at $200+ per day

The premium you pay for healthy food is actually a discount compared to medical bills. A prescription for healthy food can save you thousands in health care costs, but you don't need a prescription — just a different shopping strategy.

The productivity multiplier effect
Better nutrition doesn't just make you feel good — it makes you more money. Here's what that looks like in your paycheck:

Energy levels: Proper nutrition eliminates the 2 p.m. crash, giving you two to three extra productive hours daily. At $25 per hour, that's $50 or more in extra daily earning potential.

Sick days: The average American takes five to seven sick days annually. Healthy eaters typically take one to three. That's four extra working days worth $800 to $1,600 in avoided lost income.

Mental clarity: Ever notice how much sharper you feel when you eat well? That brain fog from junk food isn't just annoying — it's costing you money. When you can think clearly and make better decisions at work, you're more likely to get noticed for raises and promotions.

The compound interest of health
Think of healthy eating like a 401(k) contribution. The money you spend today on quality food compounds into massive savings later. Heart disease alone costs $200 billion in medical bills and another $125 billion in lost work time every year. And here's the kicker: most of it could be prevented just by eating better.

A 40-year-old spending an extra $3,000 yearly on healthy food could easily avoid $50,000 or more in medical costs over their lifetime. That's a 1,667% return on investment — better than any stock market return.

Smart health spending strategies
Buy the dirty dozen organic: Focus your organic budget on the fruits and vegetables with highest pesticide residues. This gives you maximum health benefit for your extra spending.

Batch cook on Sundays: Prep healthy meals in bulk. This costs less than eating out and prevents the "convenience food" trap that destroys both health and budgets.

Invest in basic supplements: Spending $30 a month on a decent multivitamin, vitamin D and omega-3s might seem like another expense, but it's cheaper than dealing with deficiency-related health problems down the road.

Join a gym or fitness program: The $50 to $100 monthly gym cost is cheaper than future physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation or diabetes management programs.

Healthy eating isn't a splurge — it's the best investment you'll never see advertised. While everyone's chasing the next hot stock, the real money-maker sits in your kitchen. Your body is your most important asset. Time to treat it like one.

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

Got this newsletter from a friend? Subscribe to Smart Cents to get street-smart about money matters!