This is something you could do in addition to applying for Freedom Unlimited, just to reduce costs.
You did not mention your 5/24 count. If you can apply for more than one card you could open Freedom Unlimited now, INK Cash later, and close INK Bold whenever it suits you.
I've only opened 1 CC in the last 24: Barclays Arrival+, on which I got the 70k points and then canceled ahead of the first annual renewal. I'm outside of 48 months since my last Sapphire bonus.