π€ My Top Finds, Latest Deals, and Best Recommendations (5/3/25)

This week, we'll cover an easy $450 U.S. Bank bonus, up to 30% off IHG stays (+ 5k new member offer), how to optimize your oral health for a longer life, big changes coming to Southwest seating, current transfer bonuses, Flying Blue Promo Rewards for May 2025, $500+ in card-linked offers, free movie ticket from Fandango, lessons to become an amazing parent, and more!
πͺ₯ Optimizing Your Oral Health for a Longer Life
Did you know that improving your oral health can also help improve your overall health? Learn how to optimize your oral health with the ideal routine, how to choose the right dentist, and so much more.
And if you want to check out Dr. Mark Burhenne's βFygg Toothpasteβ, he's offering β15% off with code ALLTHEHACKSβ.
π€ Latest Deals
π΅ Easy $450 U.S. Bank Bonus
U.S. Bank is offering up to a β$450 bonusβ when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account and complete qualifying activities before 6/26. To get the full bonus, you need to have a combined total of $8,000 of direct deposits over 90 days. Even if you assume you need to maintain an $8k balance (you don't), it'd be an effective 22.8% return.
π³ Discover Promos: $50 + 4% Cash Back
If you have a Discover card, check your email or account for 2 new targeted promos that expire on 6/30.
- βEarn $50 when you add an authorized userβ and make a purchase (no required minimum).
- βEarn 4% extra cash backβ on up to $2,000 in spend. This offer also stacks with grocery and wholesale purchases that already earn 5% as a quarterly category.
π Latest Gift Card Deals
Want to learn how to save and profit from gift cards? Give a listen to βEp #212β, but for now, here are some gift card deals I found this week.
- βGiftcards.com: βSave 10%β on brands like Instacart, DoorDash, Ulta, Groupon, Gap and so much more with promo code MOMGIFT. Offer valid until 5/11.
- Amazon: βDiscounted gift cardββsβ for brands like Instacart, Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Google Play, Ulta and more.
- Meijer: Get β5k pointsβ when you spend $50+ on gift cards. Plus, get β$10 off $150β worth of Mastercard gift cards.
- Kroger: Earn β4x fuel pointsβ when you purchase 3rd party gift cards. Offer valid until 5/13.
π Card-Linked Offers: $500+ in Savings
Here are a few card-linked offers that you might want to add to your card. Or check out one of my favorite apps, βCardPointers Proβ (get β30% off hereβ), which will add them automatically.
- Travel Portal: β$100 off $600+β (7/29).
- Away Luggage: β$200 off $500+ or $100 off $200+β (5/21).
- JetBlue: β$50 off $200β (7/28).
- Walmart+ Annual Membership: β$49 off $98β (5/5).
- Amazon: βUp to 3,600 Membership Rewards pointsβ (6/25).
- Viator: β$25 off $250β (7/18).
- Grubhub: β10% back - up to $20β (6/18).
- ExxonMobil: β10% back - up to $20β (6/18).
π₯ Free Movie Ticket for Fight or Flight
βFandangoβ is offering a free ticket (or $15 off) to see Fight or Flight with promo code CHAINSAW. I haven't seen it, but who doesn't like something for free. Available while supplies last!
π§ Headphones on Sale (Up to 40% Off)
If you've been wanting to buy the latest headphones, now might be a good time to use these deals.
- Apple AirPods 4 & AirPods Pro 2: βUp to 32% offβ on Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Target.
- Google Pixel Buds A-Series: βFor $59β on Amazon (normally priced at $99).
P.S. I use Apple AirPods β2nd Genβ most day (and βSHOKZ OpenRun Proβ when running) and here's list of most of the stuff I use for life, work, health, home and beyond:
π« Travel, Points & Miles
ποΈ Up to 30% Off IHG Stays + 5k New Member Offer
As part of IHG’s last-minute deals, IHG One Rewards members can get up to β30% off bookingsβ made before tomorrow, 5/4 for stays through 6/30. This is a great opportunity if you’ve got summer travel coming up. It’s free to join IHG One Rewards PLUS there’s a βnew member offer for 5k bonus pointsβ.
π Current Transfer Bonuses (Up to 30% Off)
I don’t recommend speculative transfers, but if you’re planning a trip, you might be able to score a great deal using one (or more!) of these bonuses.
- Qatar Airways: β30% bonus until 5/31β
- Air France-KLM: β25% bonus until 5/31β
- Qantas: β20% bonus until 5/31β
- Virgin Atlantic: β25% bonus until 6/15β
- Accor Hotels: β50% bonus until 5/20β
As always, I wouldn't recommend taking advantage of these if you don't have a trip in mind. Here’s βa list of historical transfer bonusesβ, so you can get a good sense of what to expect in the future.
π€ Strange Changes to Emirates
There's been strange things happening with transfers to Emirates and unfortunately it doesn't look like it's heading in a positive direction.
- βTemporary Loss of 2 Transfer Partnersβ: From 5/29 to 6/30, two popular banks* will temporarily lose the ability to transfer points to Emirates. If you need to transfer points, do it before 5/29.
- βCapital One Transfer Bonus Confusionβ: There was an unadvertised 25% bonus that was removed a day later.
- βCiti Devaluationβ: Citi ThankYou points now transfer at a 1.25:1 ratio (1,000 Citi = 800 Skywards miles).
*For compliance reasons, we can’t include names of all cards/banks.
βοΈ Flying Blue Promo Rewards: May 2025
Air France-KLM's Flying Blue program βMay 2025 Promo Rewardsβ are offering a 25% discount on economy award flights between Europe and Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Washington, Boston, Salt Lake City and San Francisco. There are also business-class options to Montreal starting at 45k miles and to Sint Maarten for 63,750 miles. Book before 5/31 for travel until 10/31.
πΊ Big Changes Coming to Southwest Seating + Bags
Starting in a few weeks (5/28), bags no longer fly free on Southwest. And next year, they'll have βassigned seatingβ and extra legroom seats. The new fare classes (Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra) will determine what seats you can pick and when.
That said, βelite flyers and cardholders will still get perksβ like free checked bags and early seat selection. Even better, these perks will extend to up to eight companions on the same reservation, which is a pretty decent offer.
βοΈ Up to 75k AAdvantage Loyalty Points Bonus Offer
Some AAdvantage members are being targeted for a bonus of up to 75k loyalty points. Log into your AAdvantage account on βaa.comβ or the app, then check the "Promotions" tab to see if you're eligible. Sadly, neither of us were targeted, but hopefully you were!
πͺͺ Reminder: Real ID Deadline (5/7)
Starting next week (5/7), you’ll need a Real ID to fly domestically in the U.S. without additional screenings. If you don't have one, there are other accepted alternatives βlisted hereβ, so makes sure to be prepared!
π΅οΈ Great Finds
π€ The Economics Behind Hotel Loyalty Programs
Here’s a really βinteresting breakdownβ of how hotels get compensated when you book with points. Bottom line: if you use award stays, you should still get the same perks and treatment as cash-paying guests—because you've earned it.
πͺ Some Great Parenting Lessons
I came across βthis postβ and really enjoyed it. It’s a collection of lessons from 100 parents on what it really takes to be a GOAT parent. It might not be a weekly tradition or even remotely healthy but I just did "Donuts with Dad" yesterday :)
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