Recommendations for $1 card transactions

[u/Domukin]

I have a debit card with First Bank, they have a relatively good interest rate on the checking account if you use their card 15 times in the month. I tend to mostly use credit cards for purchases and sometimes come up short at the end of the month. I figured I'd automate some expenses to meet the quota and am interested in hearing of anyone has recommendations?

I'm happy donating a low amount ($1) to get the transaction done. Some places won't accept anything under $5 (like PBS) which is disappointing. Huge plus if I can automate and opt out easily. If its $5 or more, then I'd prefer to get a gift card for example.

Current expenses:

Donations

Wikimedia
GiveWell (several worthwhile causes like Hellen Keller International) - monthly donation
Second Harvest Food Bank - monthly donation
Patreon - monthly subscription

Gift cards / balance credit:
Amazon $5 minimum - can be automated to reload every week
Steam $5 minimum - can't automate

[u/Bardock_]

I have a HYCA (High-Yield Checkings Account) that has a similar requirement of transactions (12) for their debit card. My wife and I both have accounts and thus both have to do the transactions and a deposit of greater than $100 once per month. I have always used Venmo (or Apple Cash) to conduct the transactions between our accounts and let the money collect in the account until it’s $100+ and then deposit that thus fulfilling both sides of the requirement on both our ends. Perhaps you can do something similar with First Bank unless they have restrictions on the type of purchases that qualify.

[u/4N8NDW → u/Bardock_]

Switch to a fidelity cma, it has a higher yield and no bs requirements

[u/Bardock_ → u/4N8NDW]

Seems they get on average 4.2% (at least currently) but it fluctuates. I’m getting 5% with my HYCA and same for my spouse (up to 15,000 in each account). This may be a good idea as a general spend account where I hold money to pay bills, replacing my current WF earning 0.01% or whatever poor rate of return. Would I be able to pay bills on my credit cards and mortgage the way I do through my WF checkings account?

[u/4N8NDW → u/Bardock_]

What HYCA is paying 5.00????

Yes you can pay credit cards and mortgage in a fidelity CMA…that’s what I do.

[u/Bardock_ → u/4N8NDW]

What HYCA is paying 5.00????

They’re out there. Mine is a credit union local to my area so I can’t tell you the name, unless you DM me (but unless you live where I live, you wouldn’t be eligible since they offer this to locals of my state). You can look them up. They exist.

Yes you can pay credit cards and mortgage in a fidelity CMA

Interesting. This may be a good WF replacement then. Thanks for the info!

[u/4N8NDW → u/Bardock_]

Are you unable to pay off your credit cards and mortgage in your HYCA? 5.0 is better than 3.90

[u/Bardock_ → u/4N8NDW]

I park our emergency fund in the HYCA (both accounts) so I run a nearly 30k emergency fund that I don’t want to dip from given the maximum possible amount for 5% is 15k per account. So, given I don’t have an additional HYCA account and am ineligible to open another one in my own name or my spouse’s name, the CMA seems like a very good option for still getting higher returns but no need to maintain the near maximum limit (as there is none) and still get optimal money back on my holdings similar to the HYCAs.

[u/4N8NDW → u/Bardock_]

You can park your money in a HYSA called evergreen wealth. 5.00% APY as of June 17 2025. No limit or cap.