How to Earn 5x Points on Groceries, Gas, and More (Deal Ends August 8)
Staples is waiving the fee on $200 Visa gift cards through August 8. On its own that just saves you a few dollars, but paired with the right card it becomes one of the easiest ways to earn 5x points on spending you already do. Here is how it works.
How to Earn 5x Points on Groceries, Gas, and More (Deal Ends August 8)
by Julia Portela
August 1, 2026 Reading Time: 5 min read
Advertiser Disclosure: Journey on Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products and may receive a commission at no cost to you.
Right now, Staples is running a deal that looks small but can be surprisingly powerful. When you pair it with the right credit card, it turns into a simple way to earn 5 times the points on money you are already spending. Let me walk you through the deal first, then the strategy that makes it worth your time.
- 1.The Deal Happening Right Now
- 2.Why This Deal Is Actually a Points Strategy
- 3.How the 5x Strategy Works
- 4."But I Don't Own a Business"
- 5.The Hidden Trick: Combine Your Points for Travel
- 6.The Cards That Make This Work
- 7.Bottom Line
The Deal Happening Right Now
There are two versions of this deal, in-store and online.
In-store: Through Saturday, August 8, 2026, Staples will waive the $7.95 activation fee when you buy a fixed $200 Visa gift card in-store (the deal runs August 2 to 8). The limit is 9 cards per customer per day, so that is up to $1,800 in gift cards a day. Some stores allow more, and some managers only sell a few, so results can vary by store. A quick note: some Staples also sell variable-load cards, and whether the fee is waived on those depends on the store.
Online: Staples.com is also selling $200 digital (virtual) Visa gift cards with no purchase fee, through August 8 or while supplies last. The limit is 4 cards ($800). These online cards tend to sell out within a day or two, so buy early if you want them. Direct link to the online offer.
Why This Deal Is Actually a Points Strategy
On its own, a fee-free gift card just saves you $7.95. The real value is in which card you use to pay. Office supply stores like Staples are exactly where one specific card earns big, and that is what turns this into a smart points play.
How the 5x Strategy Works
One of the best benefits of the Chase Ink Business Cash is that it earns 5x points at office supply stores, like Staples and Office Depot.
"But Julia, I don't buy office supplies!"
Trust me, you will after learning this.
These stores also sell Visa and Mastercard gift cards that you can use almost anywhere. Normally those gift cards come with an activation fee. But almost every month, Staples or Office Depot runs a fee-free promotion (like the one happening right now), which waives that fee. That is when you buy them.
Here is the full move: you pay for the gift cards with your Chase Ink Business Cash, you earn 5x Ultimate Rewards points, and then you use those gift cards for your everyday spending, like groceries, gas, dining, Costco, and much more.
In other words, you are turning purchases that would normally earn 1x into purchases that earn 5x. You are not spending more money. You are simply changing how you pay, and earning a lot more points doing it.
"But I Don't Own a Business"
This is probably the question I get the most. The good news: you do not need a corporation or an LLC to apply for a Chase Ink card.
Many people qualify as a sole proprietor using nothing more than their Social Security Number. If you:
- Sell on eBay
- Walk dogs
- Drive for Uber
- Freelance
- Create content
- Tutor
- Have any side hustle where you intend to make a profit
then you may qualify. This is not just my opinion, it comes straight from Chase.
The Hidden Trick: Combine Your Points for Travel
The Chase Ink Business Cash is marketed as a cash back card. But here is the interesting part: if you also have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can combine all of those rewards into one account and unlock Chase's airline and hotel transfer partners.
So you can earn points using a $0 annual fee Ink card, then move everything into your Sapphire account whenever you are ready to book travel. That is how those "cash back" points become business class flights and hotel stays.
The Cards That Make This Work
Bottom Line
The Staples fee-free gift card deal runs through August 8. On its own, it saves you a few dollars. But paired with the Chase Ink Business Cash, it becomes an easy way to earn 5x points on spending you are already doing, then turn those points into real travel with a Sapphire card.
If you want in, grab the deal before August 8, and buy the online cards early since they sell out fast. Just remember to use the gift cards for spending you would do anyway, so you are earning more points without changing your budget.
Advertiser Disclosure: Journey on Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products and may receive a commission at no cost to you.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
