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How I’m Using My Chase Instacart Credits for Holiday Groceries and Gifts

Keri Stooksbury's image
Keri Stooksbury
Edited by: Michael Y. Park
& Ben Neighbors-Giles
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With endless holiday lists upon us, ranging from kids’ wishlists to missing recipe ingredients, chances are you’re making several trips to the grocery store over the next few weeks. One of my favorite credit card benefits, available on cards you likely already have in your wallet, has proven to be extra valuable at supermarkets this holiday season.

I’ll share a few ideas for maximizing Instacart credits with Chase credit cards and let you know how I’ve been saving up to 80% on my grocery purchases this month.

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Which Chase Cards Receive Instacart+ Benefits?

Most co-branded Chase cards, including those from Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and Southwest, are eligible for a complimentary 3-month Instacart+ membership and $10 monthly Instacart credit, up to $120 total each calendar year. Purchases must be made directly through Instacart with your eligible Chase card, and you must sign up by December 31, 2027, to receive the benefits.

My husband and I collectively have 7 Chase cards that are eligible for Instacart+ membership and up to $80 in monthly Instacart credits. By enrolling all of those cards as payment methods under 1 Instacart+ account, the membership periods have stacked through June 2027 (nearly 2 years from when I joined). This allows me to derive tremendous value from our monthly credits.

Here are the cards we have and the Instacart credits they receive each month:

The Ink Business Unlimited card and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card are the top cards for maximizing this credit. These no-annual-fee cards each receive up to $240 in Instacart credit annually.

LIMITED TIME OFFER
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
Earn $750 $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
$750 $1,000
$1,000
$0
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Good to Excellent
Why We Like This Card

As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.

If so, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.

Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 1.5% cash-back on all purchases
  • No annual fee
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.
Cons
    • 3% foreign transaction fee
Card Highlights
  • Earn $750 $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
  • Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 16.74% - 24.74% thereafter.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Rewards Center
LIMITED TIME OFFER
Ink Business Cash® Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)
This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.
Earn $750 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening.
$750 $1,000
$1,000
$0
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 16.74% - 24.74% variable thereafter.
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Good to Excellent
Why We Like This Card

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a lot going for it that makes it a compelling choice for small business owners. The card features a very lucrative 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year.

When you factor in that the card has no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 16.74% - 24.74% variable thereafter. , you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Earn 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
  • Earn 2% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases on dining and gas, and 1% back on all other purchases
  • Travel insurance and purchase protection
Cons
  • Spending caps in bonus categories
  • Low points earning outside of bonus categories
Card Highlights
  • Earn $750 $1,000 when you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening
  • Earn 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 in combined spend
  • Earn 2% cash back on dining and gas each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 spent in combined spend.
  • Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
  • Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
  • As a Chase cardmember, you’ll be automatically checked for a credit line increase at least every 6 months.
  • Complimentary three-month lnstacart+ membership.
  • No Annual Fee
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 16.74% - 24.74% variable thereafter.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

How To Maximize Your Instacart Credits for the Holidays

With just a few days left to use your December credit, there are tons of easy ways to use your Instacart credits to ease your holiday budget:

  • Toys: The Instacart credit is perfect for small toys for stocking stuffers. Think card games, die-cast cars, Lego, blind bags, and stuffed animals.
  • Christmas-themed items: Ornaments, decor, gift wrap, and themed treats are available in abundance right now.
  • Meal planning: If you’re a guest or a host, chances are you’ll find whatever you need to complete a holiday dinner or party at an Instacart grocer.
  • Snacks: Whether you’re planning for a road trip or extra grandkids or cousins in the house, having snacks on hand is a must.
  • Flowers: A bouquet or small arrangement brings a festive touch to a holiday table.
  • Household items: If you have extra houseguests or simply don’t want to do the dishes, consider picking up disposable goods like plates, cutlery, toilet paper, or paper towels.
  • Beauty items: Cosmetics, fragrances, and bath items can make great gifts.
  • Nonperishable goods: Canned items are ideal for donating to food pantries.
  • Health care: From heartburn medicine to pain relievers, many grocery stores stock over-the-counter medicines.

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How I’ve Used My Instacart Credits This Holiday Season

I only use my Instacart credits for pickup orders, which limits me to a handful of grocery stores in my area (such as Kroger, Aldi, and Sprouts). I try to get my order total as close to the credit amount as possible, and I’m charged a service fee of around $4 for each order. I strive to purchase items I would normally buy, thereby saving up to 60% on those items by using my $10 credit.

With my most recent order (below), I’m attempting to keep a minivan full of kids occupied with snacks for several days of driving. When I asked my husband what he wanted to order, his reply was, “Anything that keeps the kids happy.” I plan to make portioned bags of snacks that everyone can manage independently. Because I used the $20 Instacart credit from my Ink Business Unlimited card for this order, I saved nearly 80%. Sure, it’s not free, but it’s hard to argue with those savings.

Instacart DoorDash snacks
Image Credit: Instacart
Instacart DoorDash snacks checkout
Image Credit: Instacart

Instacart doesn’t allow monthly credits to be stacked, so I have to place several orders for pickup around the same time. I find the process pretty simple, and it’s easy to reorder my favorites from month to month.

Final Thoughts

I’m excited to maximize up to $80 in Instacart credits every month across my family’s 7 eligible Chase credit cards. I would have made these grocery purchases with or without the Instacart credits. With Instacart offering in-store prices at select stores, it’s a no-brainer for me to utilize these credits to save up to 80% on my orders.

If you have a few of these credits hanging around, don’t leave money on the table! Sign up for Instacart today, enroll your cards, and start shopping!

Keri Stooksbury's image

About Keri Stooksbury

Editing with Upgraded Points for over 6 years, as editor-in-chief, Keri manages the editorial calendar and oversees the efforts of the editing team and over 15 content contributors, reviewing thousands of articles in the process.

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