How I Earned 25,000 Membership Rewards from Rakuten’s Chime Offer
How a tiny $200 blog payout turned into a massive points win
If you’ve ever wondered whether the Rakuten Chime bonus is worth doing, here’s your proof: I turned a tiny $200 blog payout into 25,000 Membership Rewards points with one simple stack. I don’t run ads anymore (they annoyed me as much as they annoyed you), so most of my income comes from personal referral links and the tools I actually use. But this little leftover payout lined up perfectly with a Rakuten + Chime direct deposit offer — and it became one of the easiest points wins I’ve had all year.
If you’re new to points and miles, my Beginner’s Guide to Points & Miles explains exactly how little wins like this add up.
If you’re brand‑new to earning Membership Rewards, I put together a simple, beginner‑friendly guide that walks you through how Amex points work, how to earn them, and how to turn them into real travel. It’s the perfect place to start before you dive into stacking deals like this one. 👉 Beginner’s Guide to Amex Membership Rewards
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains personal referral links and affiliate links for tools I use and love, including Rakuten and TrackRak. If you choose to sign up through my links, I may earn points or a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The Accidental $200 That Started It All
Back when I still had ads on the site, I earned a whopping $200 over two months. Not life‑changing, but hey — money is money.
The catch? The first month’s payout was too small actually, to pay out. So everything rolled into the next month, and suddenly I had a single $200 deposit coming my way.
At the time, I didn’t think much of it.
But then the Chime + Rakuten deal popped up.
This is the kind of stacking I talk about in my Lazy Girl Travel Hacking Series — simple, low‑effort wins that turn everyday money into travel.
The Chime Deal That Made It All Worth It
Rakuten was offering a 25,000 Membership Rewards bonus for setting up direct deposit with Chime. And the requirement? A direct deposit of $200.
I literally laughed when I realized it — my little blog payout was exactly what I needed.
So I added my Chime card as the direct deposit destination, sent my $200 over, and boom:
25,000 Membership Rewards points landed in my account.
💸 How I Actually Caught This Deal (TrackRak + Rakuten)
I track all my cashback and points offers using TrackRak, and I’m actually an affiliate because I love the tool and the founder, Carrie, who runs it. TrackRak sends me alerts when Rakuten bonuses pop up — including the Chime deal that earned me 25,000 Membership Rewards.
If you want to try it, here’s my affiliate link: Try TrackRak
If you’re not using Rakuten yet, you’re leaving free points on the table. I earn Membership Rewards on almost everything I buy online — including this Chime deal.
You can join Rakuten using my personal referral link here: Join Rakuten
It’s free, and you’ll earn a bonus on your first purchase.
What 25,000 Membership Rewards Can Actually Do
If you want to see how I use Membership Rewards for cruises and flights, check out:
Retiree Travel Hub — where I show how my parents travel affordably
Cruise Strategy — because 25,000 MR can go a long way toward cruise flights or hotel nights
Credit Cards & Points Hub — for more stacking strategies
Why I Share This Stuff
I’m not a credit card affiliate. I don’t get paid by banks. I don’t earn commissions from the cards I talk about.
If you ever choose to use my personal referral links, thank you — but my advice is always free, and always based on what I actually do in my own life.
This little Chime win is the perfect example of how ordinary money — even small amounts — can turn into extraordinary travel when you know how to stack the right offers.
Want to Start Earning Membership Rewards?
If you’re looking for the most affordable way to start earning Membership Rewards, the card I recommend to almost everyone — including beginners — is the American Express Blue Business® Card. It has no annual fee, earns flexible Amex points on everyday purchases, and pairs perfectly with Rakuten for stacking deals like the Rakuten Chime bonus I used in this post. I wrote a full review breaking down why it’s such a smart starter card for Membership Rewards.
👉Read my Amex Blue Business® Card Review
I also carry the Amex Platinum, but with its high annual fee, it’s not the best starting point for most people. That’s why I recommend beginning with something simple and affordable like the Blue Business® Card if you’re just getting into Membership Rewards.
The Takeaway
You don’t need a huge income. You don’t need a fancy job. You don’t need to spend thousands.
Sometimes all it takes is:
a small payout
a smart offer
and a little bit of timing
…to turn $200 into a whole lot of travel.
About the Author
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind, where she teaches families and retirees how to turn ordinary money into extraordinary travel using simple, low‑effort points strategies. She’s helped her parents travel the world on points for nearly 20 years and has personally paid cash for only one plane ticket since 2019. Julie shares real‑life wins — like stacking the Rakuten Chime bonus into 25,000 Membership Rewards — to show that anyone can travel smarter without spending more. Explore her Credit Cards & Points Hub or her Retiree Travel Hub to start your own journey.
