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Sep 15, 2026
Travel Smarter
Chase Sapphire Preferred: 5 Smart Ways to Get More From It
The Chase Sapphire Preferred can be a strong starter travel card, especially if you know how to use its points and built-in benefits.
1. Use the welcome bonus
New cardholders can currently earn 75,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. That can provide a substantial head start toward flights or hotel stays.
2. Earn points on everyday spending
Use the card for categories where it earns bonus points, including dining, gas and EV charging, travel, online groceries and eligible vacation rentals. You don't need a complicated strategy—consistent everyday spending can add up quickly.
3. Take advantage of travel protections
Benefits such as primary rental-car coverage, trip-delay reimbursement and baggage-delay insurance can save you significant money when travel doesn't go according to plan.
4. Learn to transfer points
Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners at eligible ratios, including programs such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways and United. Transfers can unlock more value than simply using points as cash.
5. Use the card's credits and perks
The card offers an up to $100 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel, Points Boost on select bookings, DoorDash DashPass, and up to $120 every four years toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS.
The smarter take: You don't need to become a points expert overnight. Start by earning points on spending you already do, use the card's travel protections and credits, then learn point transfers when you're ready to maximize your rewards.
It's Here: Pique's New Caffeine-Free Afternoon Energy
I quit my afternoon coffee. Not because I wanted to — because I found something better.
You know that wall you hit every day around 2–3 PM? I used to just accept it as the cost of doing anything. Another coffee, a quick spike, then the crash — and somehow I'd still feel dehydrated by dinner.
Then I tried X·E Fountain, Pique's brand-new electrolyte energy drink, and I genuinely wasn't ready for how good "no crash" could feel.
No caffeine jitters. No 4 PM slump. Just clean, steady energy that actually hydrates me instead of draining me. It's built with a premium Vitamin B Complex for natural cellular energy, Magnesium Malate + Taurate for real focus, and a full electrolyte blend that makes it feel like a treat, not a chore.
The cucumber-celery-lime flavor is so crisp and refreshing — it's basically stolen my afternoon coffee slot completely.
Today’s Deal
Southwest Is Offering Up to 40% Off Flights
Looking for your next getaway? Southwest is running a limited-time sale with up to 40% off select fares.
The deal applies to flights booked Sept. 14–17, 2026, for travel Oct. 5, 2026 through March 3, 2027.
There are some restrictions: seats and routes are limited, and blackout dates apply around major holidays. The discount is automatically applied to eligible base fares when you book.
A few things worth knowing:
Book by: Sept. 17
Travel: Oct. 5–March 3
Savings: Up to 40% off qualifying fares
New bookings only
Some holiday dates are excluded
Discount applies to the base fare, before taxes and fees
The smart move? Don't assume the advertised 40% applies to your route. Search your dates and compare the final price before booking.
Life
Your Shoes May Be Bringing More Than Dirt Inside
Taking your shoes off at the door isn't just about clean floors. Your shoes can bring bacteria and other contaminants into your home.
Research cited by TIME found shoe soles can carry E. coli and other fecal bacteria picked up from sidewalks, public restrooms and parks.
One study found up to 8 million bacterial colony-forming units on shoes, with about 80% carrying fecal bacteria.
Shoes can also track in lead dust, pesticides and PFAS.
Much of it ends up near the front door, where researchers found some of the highest levels of contamination. That matters especially if young children crawl and play on the floor.
The simple fix? Keep shoes by the door and switch to clean indoor footwear—or go barefoot.
The smarter take: Your shoes don't just bring you home. They can bring the outside world with them.
Fresh-Roasted Coffee, Without Leaving the House
A third-generation LA roaster ships 50+ coffees — single origins, flavored favorites, decafs, even teas — days after roasting. Mix and match Keurig®-compatible boxes for tiered savings up to 34% off. First order? Take an extra 15% off, automatically.
| Until next Time..
Travel smarter, Explore more. ✈️
Written by the ONE 55 Editorial Team
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Editorial & Affiliate Disclosure
Some links in this newsletter may be affiliate links, which means TheOne55 may earn a commission if you apply for or purchase a product through those links—at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products, services, and travel tools we believe provide value to our readers.
Our content is researched using a combination of official sources, reputable publications, and AI-assisted tools to help gather and summarize information. While we strive for accuracy, details such as prices, promotions, benefits, and policies can change without notice. Always verify important information directly with the official airline, hotel, credit card issuer, government agency, or other relevant provider before making travel or financial decisions.
