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

[StephPlum]

MSR Sunday
Working on P2 CIP - 3,900 to go but have until Dec 2.


MS Sunday
ODOM and Staples. Will try for as much as I can on P1 CIC and P2 CIC employee card. The closest ODOM started calling for pre-authorization before allowing $400 in gift card purchases. Hoping this works out ok or will have to only stick with Staples. My Staples experiences are varied. Some clerks do not enforce the limit of 1 and some do.
I'll stop at Walmart, across the street from Staples, to liquidate.

I am waffling between MSing for 5x URs and hitting MSR on CIP. I'll probably use GCM for a lot of the MSR since that is a very low fee using ebates and stick with CIC at the office stores.

Next plans
P1 - apply for CIP this week waiting the 3 months since last Chase app.
P2 - apply for IHG premier before the increased bonus offer ends. This will put P2 at 1/24. Still a lot of runway there.

 

[StephPlum]

ok thx. too late for the staples deal. They always check ID so I can't use his.

If you feel comfortable, you can SM to expedite employee cards. I did that with one since was leaving town on a trip and wanted to use at the hotel and didn't want to hand over a card not in my name.

 

[wendow]

I need to figure out a reliable good way to use the $10 monthly credit on the Amex Gold. The one for Cheesecake Factory, Grub Hub, Boxed etc. I cannot confirm or deny that I spent way too much time tonight contemplating what to order as dessert tonight. Sadly I talked myself out of it and ordered nothing. And now DH just got his Gold so I will have to do it twice. My problem is that Cheesecake Factory is a pain to get too, and the local places on Grub Hub are a little questionable for our picky family. I just hate to leave money on the table! Is everyone else using the credits consistently?

I’ve only had the Gold for this month and I used the credit for Grubhub. We have a local Chinese food place on there so that will work for us. If they were not on there, I don’t know. It’d be hard. I could do CCF in a pinch. We don’t have the other options, at least in any decent driving distance.

 

[Calfan]

Breakfasting at the Escape Lounge at OAK on the way to meet my Dad and sister on Maui. Love my Amex Plat!

 

[tink1970]

I need to figure out a reliable good way to use the $10 monthly credit on the Amex Gold. The one for Cheesecake Factory, Grub Hub, Boxed etc. I cannot confirm or deny that I spent way too much time tonight contemplating what to order as dessert tonight. Sadly I talked myself out of it and ordered nothing. And now DH just got his Gold so I will have to do it twice. My problem is that Cheesecake Factory is a pain to get too, and the local places on Grub Hub are a little questionable for our picky family. I just hate to leave money on the table! Is everyone else using the credits consistently?

I make sure I order from one of the restaurants on Grub Hub (okay there's just one consistently) the first Friday of the month. It only saves us $10 but considering we'd be eating out Friday night (DH gets home from the week away working and eating out on Fridays is our date night) anyway, $30 < $50. If we had a CCF I'm sure we'd get gc from them but the nearest one is in NoLA, next closest is ATL. Sigh...good for my weight, bad for celebration

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Breakfasting at the Escape Lounge at OAK on the way to meet my Dad and sister on Maui. Love my Amex Plat!
View attachment 439893

So fun! That's one of my favorite little lounges--it's small, but they have great food. Aloha!!!

 

[kmc8826]

I am glad I am not the only one struggling to use the credit on the Gold! There does not seem to be a pick up option for us on Grub Hub so by the time you order the food, with fee, and tip at minimum you seem to be about $20 so that is still $10 I would not normally spend. We really are trying to watch our budget.

@pinkxray I have used Boxed once last year with the promotions. I will start paying better attention to the promotions. Stocking up on stuff for lunches might be a good option.

 

[kmc8826]

MSR Sunday.

About halfway through CIP and P2’s Amex Gold. We have some expenses coming up so weighing out next options. Probably a business card as I want to stay 4/24 and keep P2 3/24 but I am not sure which one to do. I feel like kind of running out of options lately.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

You can review your own credit reports free and easily by signing up for Credit Karma. Credit Karma will show you (essentially) what is on your Equifax and TransUnion reports, and this should be roughly the same on your Experian report which Chase likes to pull for some folks. Review your accounts, regardless of whether still open or canceled, and count those that have an opening date in the last 24 months.

Experian also has an app you can use to check accounts

Exactly.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/office-depot-max-visa-gift-cards-save-15-when-you-buy-300-9-29-10-5/
Happy to see this this morning. I was wondering how I was going to get over to Staples this week to buy some fee free, but OM is much closer. Should hopefully be able to hit it every day.

Still need to hit Kroger more with my Surpass... I’m behind on the 15k for the free night. I didn’t want to buy a bunch of VGC and then just have them hanging out at home before we went to WDW, just in case something happened.

OM is pretty close to us, Staple not so much. I’ll be trekking to Staples today though since I have a couple 10% off on Chase cards. Then I’ll hit OM a couple times this week, probably finish up MSR on Citi card.

Let’s do MSR Sunday!! What’s everyone working on? Just a reminder to please not list what number card you’re working on if you’ve received a certain card more than once. Thanks!!

P1
~$500 left on Amex Hilton Biz

P2
$1K left on Amex Hilton Biz
$4.8K left on CIP
Just finished MSR on Citi AA Biz via Plastiq payments to our HELOC utilizing the recent Plastiq promo.

Future Plans
Citi AA Biz for P1
CIP for P1
Amex Gold Personal for P1 or P2


Signed up P2 for a Discover Savings account but it’s pending ID verification (had to send in pics of his drivers license). Hope to move the full $25K (in increments) to trigger the $200 bonus.

Let’s see what you’re working on!

P1
$1300 from finishing MSR on Citi Premier
Finished MSR on CIP, waiting for 80k UR
Signed up for $250 bank bonus at First Midwest Bank yesterday
P2
Finished SW Biz MSR with GSB funding. Waiting for miles to post and CP will be mine (his?)
Need new MSR soon.

My biggest struggle with not eating out is deciding what (and when) to cook. I’m terrible at meal planning.

I plan entrees for the week on Friday or Saturday and then do weekly shopping sometime over the weekend. I add veg sides based on what I see at the grocery store. I absolutely have to have a plan with DSs soccer practice 3x per week (at 630, 530 and 430 pm ) and he has to eat before 2 of those otherwise I have a hangry kid by end of practice. I pick super quick stuff those nights, slightly longer stuff other nights.

 

[Calfan]

So fun! That's one of my favorite little lounges--it's small, but they have great food. Aloha!!!

Super impressed with the breakfast spread this morning!

 

[brownhaired_girl]

Breakfasting at the Escape Lounge at OAK on the way to meet my Dad and sister on Maui. Love my Amex Plat!
View attachment 439893

This looks wonderful. We have a long layover on our way to HNL. I’m looking at purchasing through Groupon.

 

[Haley R]

it only works through UCT.




I probably wouldn’t have gone for the card except I am now down to 2/24 and will be back at 1/24 next month!



We haven’t, ive actually never been on any train other than metro/subway. We are definitely doing it as part of our tourist experience haha! Just curious as to whether there was some advantage to flying other than the ability to do it on miles.

I think it can be quicker than the train. We got snacks and stuff on the Shinkansen. They will come around with a cart and there is a menu if you want to eat anything. We got the JR pass anyway so it made sense for us to take the train

 

[platamama]

MSR Sunday

P1: Hilton Biz $4,400
Schwab Plat $2,637
CIP $1000

P2: Hilton Biz $1,928
Schwab Plat $5,000

Amex MSRs are so hard, but the offers were so good I couldn't pass them up. At least our home and auto insurance will come due in Dec and that will help with one of those MSRs.

Both of us are at 4/24 right now but will fall to 3/24 in Nov. One of us will get the SW CP for 21-22 but I haven't decided which of us yet, so I don't have big plans going forward except maybe P2 going for a Hyatt card.

 

[Haley R]

Experian also has an app you can use to check accounts

Exactly.

OM is pretty close to us, Staple not so much. I’ll be trekking to Staples today though since I have a couple 10% off on Chase cards. Then I’ll hit OM a couple times this week, probably finish up MSR on Citi card.

P1
$1300 from finishing MSR on Citi Premier
Finished MSR on CIP, waiting for 80k UR
Signed up for $250 bank bonus at First Midwest Bank yesterday
P2
Finished SW Biz MSR with GSB funding. Waiting for miles to post and CP will be mine (his?)
Need new MSR soon.

I plan entrees for the week on Friday or Saturday and then do weekly shopping sometime over the weekend. I add veg sides based on what I see at the grocery store. I absolutely have to have a plan with DSs soccer practice 3x per week (at 630, 530 and 430 pm ) and he has to eat before 2 of those otherwise I have a hangry kid by end of practice. I pick super quick stuff those nights, slightly longer stuff other nights.

We plan our meals on Sundays for the week. We plan through Friday but usually Friday is an afterthought because we’ll go out or do something easy

 

[Alice Sr.]

DP on getting approved for the Delta Biz Plat with the offer on the Delta website, after being in pop up jail forever and ever. DH was approved earlier this month, met MSR this morning, 75k miles in his Delta acct tonight!! Now, will this have any effect on future pop ups?

Hmm, I met the spend on my DBP Thursday AM and still do not have the miles.?

This may be the way to go in the future... we have had snafus on 3 of the 4 cards I have had him apply for.
The thing is, DH is a very successful and focused person at work! I "joke" that he uses up all his organization at work...

That's me, I always feel like a dope here. But I rock it at work, successful and focused, always draw the toughest projects. Borderline incompetent here but I am not giving up.

Southwest trick shared on r/dischurners worked like a charm this morning. Spring break flights secured!

Yes! Such a relief, big thank you to @SouthFayetteFan. I was able to book 4 SW MDW to MCO and 4 Delta Detroit to MCO for under $3,600 for over spring break.

DD20 borrowed my brand new motherlode jr for a frontier flight yesterday. About halfway home from dropping her at the airport I got a text asking what kind of bag is this? I told her and the next text was, I like the purple one...they are on sale.

I haven't even gotten to use it yet, but apparently I need to watch for a deal to get her one for Christmas.

I was skeptical but followed @speedyfishy and @calypso726 and bought eBags packing cubes and do love them. So happy with the purchase I am looking hard at the Motherload Jr also. Let me know if you find a deal.

Motion sickness and I are old adversaries. I have a patch on right now, for the plane ride, FoP and Smugglers Run. Star Tours doesn't even sit well with Meclizine anymore. Maybe with the patch I will try it, or I will just shop, as usual while they ride. The patch is a godsend to me, it got me through a cruise in a hurricane, I could not believe it worked that well! My OBGYN gives me a standing prescription for them at my annual visit LOL, she is the best.

They work great for me on cruises (the only time I use them) but hate the blurred vision for night time reading.

I am grateful that I do not have side effects from the patch, knock on wood. DD has eye issues when she wears it though.

Same here the only issue is with reading so the trade off is worth it for me.

I was trying to get caught up but will have to try to finish up later. It's been a crazy week, but I got a insanely cute 7lb 2oz DGS Wednesday 5:38 PM. 1st boy in 4 generations! Came equipped with the cutest little dimple that tugs at my heart whenever he flashes it.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

How many people have more than 4 Chase Biz cards?
DH has CIU, CIC, SW Performance Biz, and SW Premier Biz. Any chance he could get CIP?

 

[WVMomof3]

I was trying to get caught up but will have to try to finish up later. It's been a crazy week, but I got a insanely cute 7lb 2oz DGS Wednesday 5:38 PM. 1st boy in 4 generations! Came equipped with the cutest little dimple that tugs at my heart whenever he flashes it.

Congratulations!! So exciting! I was so worried I was only going to have boys. My DH and his dad both came from a family of boys. But DD came first so was happy with that and all his brothers ended up with girls first too.

 

[bernina]

Hmm, I met the spend on my DBP Thursday AM and still do not have the miles.?

That's me, I always feel like a dope here. But I rock it at work, successful and focused, always draw the toughest projects. Borderline incompetent here but I am not giving up.


Yes! Such a relief, big thank you to @SouthFayetteFan. I was able to book 4 SW MDW to MCO and 4 Delta Detroit to MCO for under $3,600 for over spring break.


I was skeptical but followed @speedyfishy and @calypso726 and bought eBags packing cubes and do love them. So happy with the purchase I am looking hard at the Motherload Jr also. Let me know if you find a deal.

They work great for me on cruises (the only time I use them) but hate the blurred vision for night time reading.

Same here the only issue is with reading so the trade off is worth it for me.

I was trying to get caught up but will have to try to finish up later. It's been a crazy week, but I got a insanely cute 7lb 2oz DGS Wednesday 5:38 PM. 1st boy in 4 generations! Came equipped with the cutest little dimple that tugs at my heart whenever he flashes it.

Congratulations!!!

 

[bernina]

Heads up for cruisers from my TA:

FYI, if you are sailing on a Southern Caribbean itinerary that includes a port stop at Martinique, you will now need a passport to disembark the ship.
While closed loop sailings beginning and ending in the same US city to the Caribbean does not currently require a passport to sail (for US citizens), this itinerary WILL require a passport.
As always, anytime you are leaving the country passports are HIGHLY recommended, but this is one more reason to go ahead and get started on applying for your passport if you have not yet already done so.

 

[1st*toright]

I make sure I order from one of the restaurants on Grub Hub (okay there's just one consistently) the first Friday of the month. It only saves us $10 but considering we'd be eating out Friday night (DH gets home from the week away working and eating out on Fridays is our date night) anyway, $30 < $50. If we had a CCF I'm sure we'd get gc from them but the nearest one is in NoLA, next closest is ATL. Sigh...good for my weight, bad for celebration

I am glad I am not the only one struggling to use the credit on the Gold! There does not seem to be a pick up option for us on Grub Hub so by the time you order the food, with fee, and tip at minimum you seem to be about $20 so that is still $10 I would not normally spend. We really are trying to watch our budget.

@pinkxray I have used Boxed once last year with the promotions. I will start paying better attention to the promotions. Stocking up on stuff for lunches might be a good option.

I got my gold a couple of weeks ago -thank you for the reminder. There is a Cheescake Factory near me (where we never go), and I need to stop in today to get a GC. We order from GrubHub sometimes when we are doing dinner at work, so maybe that will happen for the October credit...

Super impressed with the breakfast spread this morning!

Escape lounges tend to be good!