I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[iujen94]

Hi there! Credit card newbie here. If you're up for it, I'd love a recommendation on a broad, likely hard-to-answer question . . . what do you think is the best all-around credit card?

Here's some info on me:

We've currently got a Capital One Venture One Rewards card (the lame one that gives 1.25 points per dollar). I generally love it because it's super easy to redeem my points for any travel-related expense right on the app. We do a lot of vacation travel (Disney and other), so I've always got *something* I can redeem my points for.

The only other credit cards we have are handful of store cards that I've had forever - Belk, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor. I rarely use those unless I get an extra percentage off for using the store card.

I got the Chase Southwest Plus, Premier and Business Cards this past year for the Southwest companion pass. I got the Plus in December 2017, the Premier in January 2018 and the Business in February 2018. I've since cancelled all 3 of those and am planning to re-apply to try to get another companion pass in the Spring of 2020. I understand that, as of now, I can't get two personal cards at one time, and I'll need to do a personal plus a business (I didn't mean to wind up with all 3 of those cards - I messed up the timing and got the Plus card too early.) I qualified for the Southwest Business card based on selling stuff on eBay, at consignment sales, etc. My "revenue" from that (while legitimately calculated) was really small - maybe $500-1000. Chase approved me right away and didn't ask for any follow-up information.

We put EVERYTHING on our credit card, and we pay them off every month. It's not uncommon for us to have ~$10k/month on our credit card. Our credit score is very good.

I don't mind a card that requires a bit of effort to get the value out of it, but I do like how easy the Capital One card is to redeem my points.

DH is generally anti-a bunch of credit cards, but I think I could convince him to get one (or maybe 2, if the perks make sense) to supplement or replace our Capital One card, along with the Southwest cards next year.

I know this is a complicated question disguised as a simple one, but I'd love the opinions of you experts!

 

[LynnTH]

Just finished spend on CIP#2. (I always think I will never be able to meet the spend and then end up doing it in half the time..). The 80,000 points are already pending. Yeah!!

I had received an email from AMEX for the Delta Card. 70,000 Miles + $50 Statement credit upon $2,000 spend. I was able to open up the offer and change it to a Business Card for the same offer. I don't have any Delta points so these will be nice to have. We have a Delta Hub here in MSP so will be able to use them for something.

Looking to get another AA Citi Business Card but will need a mailer. Is there any way to set up a For Sale/Looking For Board under the Disney Reddit? (less scarier than buying them off Reddit). I like these because they are MC and I can just pay mortgage and they don't interfere with other MSR's.

 

[wendow]

Hi there! Credit card newbie here. If you're up for it, I'd love a recommendation on a broad, likely hard-to-answer question . . . what do you think is the best all-around credit card?

Here's some info on me:

We've currently got a Capital One Venture One Rewards card (the lame one that gives 1.25 points per dollar). I generally love it because it's super easy to redeem my points for any travel-related expense right on the app. We do a lot of vacation travel (Disney and other), so I've always got *something* I can redeem my points for.

The only other credit cards we have are handful of store cards that I've had forever - Belk, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor. I rarely use those unless I get an extra percentage off for using the store card.

I got the Chase Southwest Plus, Premier and Business Cards this past year for the Southwest companion pass. I got the Plus in December 2017, the Premier in January 2018 and the Business in February 2018. I've since cancelled all 3 of those and am planning to re-apply to try to get another companion pass in the Spring of 2020. I understand that, as of now, I can't get two personal cards at one time, and I'll need to do a personal plus a business (I didn't mean to wind up with all 3 of those cards - I messed up the timing and got the Plus card too early.) I qualified for the Southwest Business card based on selling stuff on eBay, at consignment sales, etc. My "revenue" from that (while legitimately calculated) was really small - maybe $500-1000. Chase approved me right away and didn't ask for any follow-up information.

We put EVERYTHING on our credit card, and we pay them off every month. It's not uncommon for us to have ~$10k/month on our credit card. Our credit score is very good.

I don't mind a card that requires a bit of effort to get the value out of it, but I do like how easy the Capital One card is to redeem my points.

DH is generally anti-a bunch of credit cards, but I think I could convince him to get one (or maybe 2, if the perks make sense) to supplement or replace our Capital One card, along with the Southwest cards next year.

I know this is a complicated question disguised as a simple one, but I'd love the opinions of you experts!

Do you only have those three SW in the last 24 months? If so, the SW biz would not count against you so you would be 2/24. My rec would be the Chase Ink preferred. It has a 80k UR bonus after 5k spend (sounds very doable for you). You would use your same ebay sales unless you have another business. Apply with your name as the name of your company and use your SSN in place of the EIN. After you get yours, refer your dh and get him his own CIP That would give you a combined 190k UR's.

ETA: If you have another point system you prefer, then Chase may not be best. UR's are my fav point (along with SW) to earn and spend!

 

[wed100105]

Based on your last sentence I’d just leave this open a year so you don’t make Chase angry. Have you considered looking at some of the other great offers that are out there. The Disney visa offer is decent but some of us in the thread (many of us really) are earning thousands each year in signup bonuses.

Teach me your ways, master.

I felt comfortable with the Disney Visa because I already have the card, and was familiar with the "fine print" on it.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Hi there! Credit card newbie here. If you're up for it, I'd love a recommendation on a broad, likely hard-to-answer question . . . what do you think is the best all-around credit card?

Here's some info on me:

We've currently got a Capital One Venture One Rewards card (the lame one that gives 1.25 points per dollar). I generally love it because it's super easy to redeem my points for any travel-related expense right on the app. We do a lot of vacation travel (Disney and other), so I've always got *something* I can redeem my points for.

The only other credit cards we have are handful of store cards that I've had forever - Belk, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor. I rarely use those unless I get an extra percentage off for using the store card.

I got the Chase Southwest Plus, Premier and Business Cards this past year for the Southwest companion pass. I got the Plus in December 2017, the Premier in January 2018 and the Business in February 2018. I've since cancelled all 3 of those and am planning to re-apply to try to get another companion pass in the Spring of 2020. I understand that, as of now, I can't get two personal cards at one time, and I'll need to do a personal plus a business (I didn't mean to wind up with all 3 of those cards - I messed up the timing and got the Plus card too early.) I qualified for the Southwest Business card based on selling stuff on eBay, at consignment sales, etc. My "revenue" from that (while legitimately calculated) was really small - maybe $500-1000. Chase approved me right away and didn't ask for any follow-up information.

We put EVERYTHING on our credit card, and we pay them off every month. It's not uncommon for us to have ~$10k/month on our credit card. Our credit score is very good.

I don't mind a card that requires a bit of effort to get the value out of it, but I do like how easy the Capital One card is to redeem my points.

DH is generally anti-a bunch of credit cards, but I think I could convince him to get one (or maybe 2, if the perks make sense) to supplement or replace our Capital One card, along with the Southwest cards next year.

I know this is a complicated question disguised as a simple one, but I'd love the opinions of you experts!

Hi and Welcome Since your under 5/24 and have a business...I’d concentrate on Chase business cards to accumulate a lot of UR points...the Chase Ink Preferred ...CIPhas a 80k sign up bonus after a 5 k spend...you could then refer your DH for a CIP....20k referral points plus another 80k URs....you’d have 190URs
Then space out other Chase business cards CIC and CIU every 2-3 months....

 

[Haley R]

Members who do not have eligible activity as defined in a. - d. below in any 12 consecutive month period may be removed from the Program and are subject to forfeiture of all accumulated Points. At the discretion of Hilton Honors, such Members may be permitted to remain in the Program and removed after five years of inactivity. To keep accumulated Hilton Honors Points, the Member must take one of the following actions within a 12 consecutive month period:

I guess I didn’t know this. We only got the cards for our Japan trip so I don’t think we will gather too many Hilton points then

 

[platamama]

Does anyone know how to tell the expiration date of your Hilton Points? I like the sites that make the date painfully obvious, this isn't that type of site LOL.

When I log into DH's account, I look at recent activity and just figure 12 months forward from that date. If you have one of the Hilton cards and put a charge on it, that should reset your 12 mo. clock. We don't have a Hilton card, but I transferred over 1000 Amex MRs to keep his points alive, it took 24 hours for them to post. Of course afterwards Amex offered a 20% transfer bonus to Hilton. D'oh.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Hi there! Credit card newbie here. If you're up for it, I'd love a recommendation on a broad, likely hard-to-answer question . . . what do you think is the best all-around credit card?

Here's some info on me:

We've currently got a Capital One Venture One Rewards card (the lame one that gives 1.25 points per dollar). I generally love it because it's super easy to redeem my points for any travel-related expense right on the app. We do a lot of vacation travel (Disney and other), so I've always got *something* I can redeem my points for.

The only other credit cards we have are handful of store cards that I've had forever - Belk, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor. I rarely use those unless I get an extra percentage off for using the store card.

I got the Chase Southwest Plus, Premier and Business Cards this past year for the Southwest companion pass. I got the Plus in December 2017, the Premier in January 2018 and the Business in February 2018. I've since cancelled all 3 of those and am planning to re-apply to try to get another companion pass in the Spring of 2020. I understand that, as of now, I can't get two personal cards at one time, and I'll need to do a personal plus a business (I didn't mean to wind up with all 3 of those cards - I messed up the timing and got the Plus card too early.) I qualified for the Southwest Business card based on selling stuff on eBay, at consignment sales, etc. My "revenue" from that (while legitimately calculated) was really small - maybe $500-1000. Chase approved me right away and didn't ask for any follow-up information.

We put EVERYTHING on our credit card, and we pay them off every month. It's not uncommon for us to have ~$10k/month on our credit card. Our credit score is very good.

I don't mind a card that requires a bit of effort to get the value out of it, but I do like how easy the Capital One card is to redeem my points.

DH is generally anti-a bunch of credit cards, but I think I could convince him to get one (or maybe 2, if the perks make sense) to supplement or replace our Capital One card, along with the Southwest cards next year.

I know this is a complicated question disguised as a simple one, but I'd love the opinions of you experts!

Hey there friend, Welcome!!
Your question is kind of in opposition to what we do. The easy answer to your question is a Citi Double Cash or any other card earning 2% cash back.

However, nobody here is looking for that one “optimal” card. Most of us are getting a new card every 3-4 months (or more frequently) and earning 10-40% back on our purchases via the sign up bonuses. Are you potentially interested in pursuing that game? If so the recommendations of CIP are potentially a good move.

 

[elgerber]

When I log into DH's account, I look at recent activity and just figure 12 months forward from that date. If you have one of the Hilton cards and put a charge on it, that should reset your 12 mo. clock. We don't have a Hilton card, but I transferred over 1000 Amex MRs to keep his points alive, it took 24 hours for them to post. Of course afterwards Amex offered a 20% transfer bonus to Hilton. D'oh.

MR has a crazy Hilton bonus right now, but I don't need any right now.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Teach me your ways, master.

I felt comfortable with the Disney Visa because I already have the card, and was familiar with the "fine print" on it.

A lot of us here start with Chase cards and accumulate UR points since they can be used to book hotels, airfare DTC on the Chase travel site or transferred to partner airlines and hotels if you have a Chase CSP, CSR or CIP.
The spending requirements vary by card...but usually range from $3,000 to $5,000 in the first 3 months to get the bonus
If you’ve opened less than 5 credit cards in the past 24 months you can apply....would you consider opening a business card the CIP has the highest bonus 80k URs after a 5k spend

 

[iujen94]

Thanks for all the suggestions!! Question - those of you who mentioned URs - I used the awesome glossary at the beginning of this thread to figure out those are Ultimate Rewards. How do I use URs and what can I use them for? Are they super flexible like the Capital One rewards that I’m used to?

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Thanks for all the suggestions!! Question - those of you who mentioned URs - I used the awesome glossary at the beginning of this thread to figure out those are Ultimate Rewards. How do I use URs and what can I use them for? Are they super flexible like the Capital One rewards that I’m used to?

I’m not familiar with Capital One...sorry...but URs can be used to book hotels, airfare etc through the Chase travel portal...they can also be transferred to airline and hotel partners, or cashed out

 

[wendow]

Thanks for all the suggestions!! Question - those of you who mentioned URs - I used the awesome glossary at the beginning of this thread to figure out those are Ultimate Rewards. How do I use URs and what can I use them for? Are they super flexible like the Capital One rewards that I’m used to?

I also have never used Cap one rewards. UR's can be redeemed for hotels (not disney currently), cruises, rental cars, airfare, etc OR taken as cash back. I use mine to redeem directly for travel if I can, however, sometimes I want to redeem for a Disney stay and since I can't do that through the portal, I just pay myself back in cashback. The Chase Ink preferred redeems points at 1.25% through the chase UR portal. If you end up liking UR's, you may want to eventually pick up the CSR card which redeems at 1.5% through the portal.

 

[elgerber]

I have never used UR's, but I know Cap One works very differently. Cap One works just like the Arrival +, where you pick your charge and use your points as a statement credit to cover it.

 

[Alexle2007]

AmEx sent me an offer on my Platinum to earn 5k MR to add add'l members to my card (up to 20k) after they spend $500 on their card but adding 3 members costs $175. That seems like a horrible offer, right?

 

[1GoldenSun]

I have summer camp expenses coming up and am looking to use them to meet minimum expense on a new card. What is the best deal out there right now?

I currently have:
AmEx Blue Cash Preferred-- have had this for years
Chase Sapphire Preferred--also had for years
AmEx Gold Business--got this and the next two over a year ago but less than two years
AmEx SPG Business
Chase Ink Business
Also an Express and a J Jill, over two years old

I don't want another business card. Any ideas?

 

[wendow]

AmEx sent me an offer on my Platinum to earn 5k MR to add add'l members to my card (up to 20k) after they spend $500 on their card but adding 3 members costs $175. That seems like a horrible offer, right?

Can you add free gold AUers for the offer?

 

[wendow]

I have summer camp expenses coming up and am looking to use them to meet minimum expense on a new card. What is the best deal out there right now?

I currently have:
AmEx Blue Cash Preferred-- have had this for years
Chase Sapphire Preferred--also had for years
AmEx Gold Business--got this and the next two over a year ago but less than two years
AmEx SPG Business
Chase Ink Business
Also an Express and a J Jill, over two years old

I don't want another business card. Any ideas?

Do you have any certain type of points you are trying to earn? I like the Barclay arrival+ Offer of 70k points after 5k spend. After the msr is met, you’d have $800 towards travel expenses. It’s a personal card so it would count against your 5/24.

 

[Alexle2007]

Can you add free gold AUers for the offer?

Maybe?

The annual fee for up to 3 Additional Platinum Cards is $175. Each Additional Platinum Card after the first 3 Cards is $175. You also have the option to add Additional Gold Cards to your account for no annual fee. Note: Additional Gold Card benefits vary from above. For more information, click here.

That might make it worth it but I am not sure I could get to 4 there’s only DH, DS and me since DS is only 11 and you need to be 13.

 

[Calfan]

Did $100 AA GC on 2/7, posted on 2/9 on Rose Gold. Then did $200 AA on 2/10 on personal Plat, still pending. Hope it credits! IIRC, the pending description "AA ARC" is the same as when I did the Rose Gold.

I do worry that it'll eventually change, which is why I did it sooner rather than later.

ETA: forgot to quote, so tagging @striker1064

From the chatter, it looks like AA changed their coding for gift cards sometime after 2/4, and now list their purchase as “gift certificate” in the details.

Tagging @calypso726 (who I know buys AA GCs).

Any DPs for SW or Delta?

Definitely hoping SW continues to work because I have also been holding off with 3 of my cards on buying SW gift cards until I get a little more clarity into whether another airline might be useful for the credit this year. @wanderlust7 I don't know for sure, but my sense is that you are going to be ok with your "AA ARC" description. I purchased actual American airline tickets yesterday using my Plat, and the description in the pending charge is also "AA ARC."

AmEx sent me an offer on my Platinum to earn 5k MR to add add'l members to my card (up to 20k) after they spend $500 on their card but adding 3 members costs $175. That seems like a horrible offer, right?

That depends on how you want to use those AU cards. I did take that offer to add both of my kids as AU's on my Plat last year. That way, all 4 of us can get access to the Centurion lounges, and we have used that benefit multiple times already. Without the AUs, I would only be able to bring 2 of my remaining 3 family members into the lounge with me. You would also get separate offers on the AUs cards. I more than made up for the $175 AF on those cards through Amex statement credit offers on the two AU cards. I usually end up with the same offers on my Plat and each AU card and can use all 3 since they are all under different SSNs.