So if you’ve tried using the $10 DoorDash credit from a Chase Sapphire card lately, you’ve probably noticed a change: a lot of the pickup spots now have a $20 minimum. That basically killed the old moves that I loved of grabbing free snacks and calling it a day. I was used to getting a whopping $70 worth of free treats for the grandkids and their grandmother 🙋🏻‍♀️, so this hits hard. I’m still not sure how I’ll be doing a workaround, and hope some of you will share your ideas.

 

 

Here are my thoughts, so far:

Treat it Like a $10 Off $20 Coupon

This is the biggest mindset shift. You’re not getting something free anymore. You’re getting ~50% off stuff you already buy. Think paper towels, drinks, toothpaste, and snacks. If you were going to spend money anyway, it’s still solid.

Stack with promos if you can

This is where it gets interesting. If you catch a “$5 off $20” or store discount and stack it with the Chase credit, you can get your total way down. I’ve had orders come out to like $4–$7 after everything.

Convenience Stores are Your Best Friend

Big grocery stores are hit-or-miss, but places like 7-Eleven, CVS, Walgreens, and random local marts are way easier to work with. Cheaper items, easier to hit $20 without buying nonsense.

Don’t Force It Every Month

The first week of the month was my treats run, and it was quick and fun. This will be harder to manage, and I may not be using it as often. TBD. If you don’t need anything, don’t burn it on junk. Just wait until you actually need $20 worth of basics and use it then. It’s better than ending up with $20 of stuff you didn’t want.

Realistically, the “freebie deal” is gone, but if you use it right, it’s still an easy $10/month savings on things you’d buy anyway.

 

Bottom Line

While not really the BEST perk of a credit card, it felt fun for this sweet tooth grandma to come back with “free” treats each month. Well, not really free, but they did lower that annual fee. It will be interesting to see how this all rolls out and if people find workarounds.

Curious how everyone else is using theirs now—anyone still finding good sub-$20 pickup spots?