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

[Lain]

My CIP card just arrived! First Biz card (maybe only Biz for me), and it came just in time since I finished off the 2nd part of the Hyatt MSR yesterday.

Sure.

 

[EACarlson]

I'm happy...I guess, lol! The earlier the better, that means my January trip will be further removed from the grand opening, LOL!

Exactly the thoughts of me and a co-worker today as we were talking about it. Gives them three months to calm down a little bit before we get there. My trip starts Nov. 30 and his starts Dec. 1. Maybe we'll meet up and geek out together.

 

[Andysol]

Hey @*WDW*Groupie* -

What dates are you in Japan for your ABD in June? Funny enough, I am going to be there and copied their itinerary and will be one day ahead of the June 2nd tour Also copied their Peru itinerary for October.

From your 4 non-cruise that you've been on, what was your favorite?

 

[CaT_DisLife]

I stupidly did not check this calendar last year and ended up making a trip to Disneyland over Gay Days in October. The sea of red would put a Bama game to shame, and crowds were on the level of Christmas week. Never again!



As you know, we’re going in August when the hype will still be fresh and the lines super long. MaxPass is a given. If Disney wants to upcharge even more for Star Wars land priority access, I’m prepared to hand over the imperial credits.

Going in August also. Have to save up those imperial credits.

 

[smallsy]

What’s the happy news in here?! Been in a sour mood all day after finding out our quiet Labor Day week trip with the kiddos will now be the busiest week in September in Disney history. I’m at about half my MSR on my CIP already sooo I guess that’s good

 

[liloca]

@mmmears
That what we all say when we start this game!

 

[afan]

Fed clearance is different. My former college roomie applied to NSA and they interviewed all her previous roommates. Asked if I thought she’d try to over throw the government, which I thought was a hilarious question. But these days random companies with no need for high level security clearances, do credit checks. Apparently you are too high risk to hire if you can’t manage your credit.

I agree on both accounts. I don't totally understand why a credit check is part of a background check for most jobs. My friend has low level security clearance for her job and it took over 2 years to get. I got interviewed by a nice guy who met me at a starbucks after work. But one thing I realized last week, since she has to let her "guy" know when she leaves the country that before we start planning our next trip she should double check just in case. We had thought we'd do Japan next year but when I realized how close it was to China we're going in 2022 and add in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing (really only for the great wall) and while I'm sure it'll be fine with where and why we are going I still want to make sure. Just in case anything weird happens it'd be good to know if there's any reason or traveler alert that could come up that would preclude her from going.

 

[EACarlson]

Someone about 20 pages back asked about their score going down since they paid off their car. If you have no other installment loans (car, mortgage, student loans,) than you will lose quite a few points when that loan reports closed. I paid off my minivan in Dec. and in Jan. I lost 40 points. I recently started a share secure loan from Navy Federal to recoup at least some of those points. I'll post back when that starts reporting with results.

 

[platamama]

Good week for churning here - got my SW CP for 2019-2020 (my streak continues from 2014), and "DH" churned the Arrival+ card. We're heading to Maui for spring break soon, and that will be a good time for working on MSR on the new card.

Used URs for the Maui flights on United. Travel package 7 nts at Wailea Beach Resort. Platinum status - got an email that we get coffee and a pastry for 2 (that's not very exciting ). Car rental will probably go on the fresh Arrival+. I've seen some fun activities available on the CSR UR portal so I might be doing some UR redemptions there. I loaded up on Marriott gift cards back when there were all those Courtyard/Fairfield/Marriott Amex offers, so that will help with the resort and parking fees. My SPG Lux renews during our stay, so I hope I can use some of that $300 hotel credit. I'm most looking forward to poke and snorkeling (huh, that's weird, I can use the same emoji for both ) and being somewhere warm.

 

[MarBee]

Hey all! Was it this thread that I was lurking on and read about people getting a great deal on an under the seat suitcase at Costco?
I know I saw it somewhere but can’t find it for the life of me.
I have a few frontier flights coming up so I’m looking for the best bag that will fit under the seat but maximize my packing ability.
Any recommendations?
Thank you!

 

[Oscar Madison]

I'm behind by a few hours and someone probably responded. The Amex Gold card gives 4xMR's at Grocery stores and restaurants. It's annual fee is $250, but offset by a $100 airline credit - I bought a $100 SW gift card on the Southwest website. It also has a $10 a month credit for Cheesecake (Factory) or Shake Shack or Ruth Chris. I'm close to a CF so have no problem using this. I think you can also use the $10 credit on Grubhub. So that's $220 of the $250 back to you in another form. Then there is rental cars, premium roadside assistance 4 times a year, and many other benefits. I've definitely sold me on this card.

There are a couple of other amex that are also good for groceries. I'm pretty sure you would get the 4% on the Disney gift cards at Kroger.

Do you know if the AMEX Gold gives 4X for Walmart Grocery?

 

[castoral]

Fed clearance is different. My former college roomie applied to NSA and they interviewed all her previous roommates. Asked if I thought she’d try to over throw the government, which I thought was a hilarious question. But these days random companies with no need for high level security clearances, do credit checks. Apparently you are too high risk to hire if you can’t manage your credit.

Right, the federal interviews for Top secret clearence are kinda funny. One, you give the name of the people they interview so of course a true criminal has people who *think* they know them but don’t really. Then they ask really personal questions that really a neighbor, coworker, even sometimes friend really may not know in detail. Like the credit for instance. The training for it all makes me giggle every year. You have to pick out “threats” with each person. One guys name is Todd, with 4 kids, who visits Disney World every year. That’s my husband and we have 4 kids so always make me chuckle.

 

[Judique]

I currently have 5 nights booked to take advantage of the free night. I just used Google Maps to compare the two and I didn’t realize the Sheraton was completely outside of Clearwater across what looks like a very long bridge.

But then I don’t like that the Hyatt is across the beach and not directly on it. I guess that explains why the pool is on the 8th floor.

We really, really liked the SandPearl Resort when we stayed there so I am trying to justify the cost when I have options I could do for free.

But I am also not sure we need 5 nights in Clearwater. We have 9 nights I am playing with- currently 5 in Clearwater, 1 at the Renaissance SeaWorld and 3 at Universal. Currently, all are free with Marriott cert, Marriott points and URs.

Two to three nights in Clearwater are enough for me.

 

[Judique]

Do you know if the AMEX Gold gives 4X for Walmart Grocery?

No, I'm afraid I don't shop at Walmart very much and never for groceries. I've got a lot of grocery options very close to me.

 

[elgerber]

Ok!

Me too

 

[Judique]

I am not sure it was a future employer but I know my employer (ok, federal agency) did a credit check due the sensitive of my position with them. I think it’s pretty common for certain clearances to make sure you aren’t as open to bribery or other reasons. Also, I was on detail to another federal agency and had to complete paperwork like I was a new employee (who didn’t have 20 years of federal service) and they came and talked to my neighbor. Just craziness.

I've had many occasions where someone has come and interviewed me about neighbors with federal jobs looking for clearances.

The strangest thing was when my neighbor was interviewed regarding my ex-husband when ex was getting a security clearance and we had been divorced quite some time, plus he had never lived in this house let alone this neighborhood.

 

[Haley R]

Me too

I sent you a pm

 

[Judique]

I have one, too, from a long time ago. I think it's Zojirushi but I'm probably getting that wrong, too. I still use it when I make rice.

That spelling looks much more correct than my guess. I was too lazy to even google it, let alone get up and go to the kitchen to check it out. Tonight's rice came ready to heat in a little plastic bag along with the orange chicken, part of what I brought home from Sam's earlier this week.

 

[WVMomof3]

I remember when I was doing a rotation in Jax April of 1994 with friends. Over Easter weekend we thought we'd drive down "since it won't be busy during Easter." Needless to say, it was so crowded and I learned that logic doesn't apply.

In our defense, that was basically pre internet! So who knew crowd calendars back then. I got married on December 30th, 1994 took 2 days to drive to WDW so first day was Jan 2,1995 and I was shocked it was so crowded. lol I was like Christmas is over, why are all these people still here??

 

[mmmears]

In our defense, that was basically pre internet! So who knew crowd calendars back then. I got married on December 30th, 1994 took 2 days to drive to WDW so first day was Jan 2,1995 and I was shocked it was so crowded. lol I was like Christmas is over, why are all these people still here??

Hey, I was there late Dec. through Jan 1st, 1995! We were almost there at the same time. First trip for DH and me, crazy crowded, but we were young and didn't have much vacation and we both had the week off. We were practically newlyweds, too, but had already gone on our honeymoon at that point. Yeah, almost no internet, but I used the Unofficial Guide a ton planning that trip. Still I couldn't do anything about the crowds, even though I knew it would be packed.