Still on the fence about taking advantage of some of the highest ever welcome bonuses (OFFER EXPIRED — SEE CURRENT OFFER) we’ve seen for Delta American Express cards? Can’t think of how you’ll meet the minimum spend in just three months?
Don’t worry. We’re here to brainstorm! There are plenty of ways to meet your minimum spend requirements in the next three months.
Remember this very important rule: never buy something you wouldn’t normally purchase or go over your budget. Interest fees could easily negate the points you earn.
Also, keep in mind that your minimum spend period begins the day your card application is approved, not the day you receive or activate your card.
If your card application is instantly approved, Amex generally provides you a card number, expiration date, and CVV you can use to start shopping online right away. Make sure to take advantage of that!
All that said, here are ways you can meet your minimum spend within the next three months:
The Usual Suspects
Remember to use your new credit to pay everyday bills, such as:
- Utilities (especially with high air conditioning bills!)
- Gas
- Restaurants (don’t forget to stack with Dosh and SkyMiles dining!)
- Food delivery (GrubHub, UberEats, Postmates, etc)
- Cell Phone
- Ride-Share Services (Uber, Lyft, etc.). Remember, you can earn up to two SkyMiles per dollar spent on Lyft!
- Cable-Internet-TV
- Insurance (car, health, travel, etc.)
Pay Quarterly Taxes
Paying taxes is a great way to knock out chunks of minimum spend requirements. (Keep in mind we at Rene’s Points are not tax advisors, nor are we giving any tax advice in this post.)
Unless you were approved and received your card a few weeks ago, you missed the boat on paying Q2’s estimated quarterly taxes. But September 15 (Q3’s estimated quarterly tax due date) is less than 90 days away.
School Expenses
Are you going to school or paying for someone’s education? I know we just started summer but the school year is only a few weeks away. Consider using your brand new credit card for:
- Books
- School supplies
- Tuition (if applicable)
- Room and board (if applicable)
- Parking permits (if applicable)
Travel
Delta American Express cards are rarely worth using for travel (or much else), simply because their standard bonuses are limited to a whopping two points per dollar on Delta purchases. Everything else earns one point.
Except when it comes to earning welcome bonuses. That’s a lot different.
Consider the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express (<–LINK). The 75,000 bonus miles essentially make each dollar up to the $3000 minimum worth 26 SkyMiles each.
So use your Delta SkyMiles Amex card to purchase flights, hotel rooms, AirBNB, whatever.
Remember to use your Delta Amex onboard Delta flights: you receive a 20% statement credit when purchasing alcohol, premium snacks, and headphones. And it’s a great way to earn the Delta purchase statement credit!
Event Tickets
Summer concert tours are underway! Many fall concert tours are already on sale.
Major League Baseball season is about half over. NFL and college football are two months away. Those are a couple of great opportunities for sports lovers to meet their minimum spend requirements.
Remember you can earn bonus SkyMiles for each Ticketmaster purchase — but using a cashback portal like TopCashBack or Rakuten (formerly Ebates) may be smarter.
Wedding Gifts
It’s wedding season. Pay for the happy couple’s gift with your new card!
For what it’s worth, my wife and I usually buy couples customized Visa gift cards from GiftCards.com. (Remember to start your shopping session through TopCashBack!) Many couples have their own wedding website; download a picture from the site, upload to GiftCards.com and create a gift card they will love.
Word to the wise: don’t go crazy buying gift cards to meet the minimum spend. Credit card companies are getting hip to certain, creative practices.
Fourth of July and Labor Day
Going to a Fourth of July BBQ this week or weekend? Hosting people for America’s big day? Going to or throwing a shindig on Labor Day?
Break out that card for food, beverages, snacks, party favors, sunscreen, water, and aloe vera (for when you forget to buy sunscreen!).
Medical Expenses
I sincerely hope you (and/or your insurance company) don’t spend a cent this way. But summer months are the busiest for emergency rooms and urgent cares.
I got a jump start (or, rather, a trip start) in May.
Just last week, my wife plunked down her new Delta Reserve Credit Card from American Express (learn more) at the ER. The MQM bonus took a little sting out of our visit.
Remember to purchase travel insurance (and pay for it with your new card).
Kiva
Kiva is a microlending organization — and they accept credit cards through PayPal! This is a great year-round option but always worth a special mention. Check out Rene’s Kiva quick tips!
Anything Else?
Any ideas I may have missed? How will you knock out minimum spend on your new Delta Amex cards? Tell us in the Comment section below!
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
13 Comments
Charitable donations. It is not always about us. Think of others.
Does Venno/Paypal not count? I know you have to pay 3% but i might do that since i have to buy a new roof
@John Douglas Paa: In my experience, they do. (Sorry to hear you have to buy a new roof!)
I am confused about when to use my Delta Reserve Amex versus my Business Platinum Amex. Is there a simple rule?
@Lee Morgan: If you have minimum spend to knock out on the Reserve I’d use that. If that doesn’t clear up your question, let me know and we’ll figure it out. 🙂
@Mark: I appreciate your continued visits and input!
Great suggestions for meeting minimum spend, thanks to renee blog ive learned to max my spend thru my cards and have earned untold mqm thru the amx bonus program. Since they are not offering the bonus for $90k spend on the delta amx reserve this year i got a delta amx platinum business and will at least earn some bonus mqm thru my rest of the year spending i would do anyway!! Thanks chris and renee for helping me stay diamond now three years…and juicy miles really rocks finding me trips that max my spending. It takes a village!!! Thanks all!
@Steve: Our pleasure, thanks!
This seems as good a place as any to ask. Any word on whether Amex will repeat last years $90,000 spend MQM bonus this year?
I know it’s late but I haven’t heard anything lately.
@HungtingtonGuy: I haven’t heard anything. Fellow readers: have you been targeted or know of anyone who has?
Thanks for the info Chris!!
I read that on the of the changes to the spend bonus for 2020 is that payments to individuals using a skymiles card no long count toward the total. TRUE?
@Nat: I don’t quite follow your question. Can you give me an example?