One of the best ways to justify high annual fees on premium credit cards is by effectively using their built-in statement credits. While these perks often feel like “prepaying” for experiences, strategic planning can make a luxury day out feel virtually free.
Recently, my brother, a friend, and I spent a day in Minnesota enjoying a Vikings game and drinks—all while keeping our out-of-pocket costs near zero by leveraging a few key benefits.
1. Free Football Tickets via Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has evolved to offer a $300 annual StubHub credit (divided into two $150 installments every six months).
- The Strategy: Use the $150 credit for the January–June period and the second $150 for July–December.
- The Result: I used my credit for a Commanders vs. Vikings game. Because the credit covered $150, we secured 12th-row seats for just $7 out of pocket.
2. Free Drinks at the Bar with American Express Hilton Credits
The Amex Business Platinum offers a $50 quarterly Hilton statement credit ($200 annually). While typically seen as a hotel benefit, it works exceptionally well for dining and drinks.
- The Strategy: Visit bars or restaurants located within Hilton properties. Many of these locations code as “Hilton” on your statement, triggering the credit even if you aren’t staying overnight.
- Pro Tip: Use community-maintained spreadsheets (like those in the churning community) to find specific bars that trigger the credit. We used ours at a Hilton bar near US Bank Stadium for pre-game and post-game drinks.
3. Stacking Secret Shopping for Free Meals
To cap off the day, I layered in a secret shop assignment through Customer Optix.
- How it Works: You are reimbursed for a meal in exchange for a detailed feedback report.
- The Result: I found a shop at a bar just blocks from the stadium that offered a $73 reimbursement. This covered our post-game food and final round of drinks entirely.
Final Math: The “Free” Day Breakdown
| Activity | Total Cost | Credit/Source | Your Cost |
| Football Tickets | $157 | $150 StubHub Credit | $7 |
| Hilton Bar Drinks | $50 | $50 Amex Hilton Credit | $0 |
| Post-Game Meal | $73 | Secret Shop Reimbursement | $0 |
Total Out of Pocket: $7
By treating these statement credits as a “use-it-or-lose-it” budget, you can unlock experiences that wouldn’t normally fit into a standard monthly spend.
Chase Sapphire Reserve $300 StubHub credit guide
This video provides additional context on playing the “long game” with personal finances and side hustles, similar to the strategies used by Financial Panther to maximize credit card rewards.
