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

[MKTokyo]

More bad news this morning.

I got an email from Amex that a new replacement card is coming for my SPG Lux. The metal Bonbon Brilliant. The worst part:

Your existing Card will be deactivated
You will receive your new Card within the next several days. You may continue to use your existing Card until your new Card arrives, however as a security measure, your current Card will be deactivated soon afterward.

I'm going to chat with Amex to see if I can keep my purple card.

Tagging @tink1970, @MKTokyo, @DisneyMandC, @GZanta77, @kmc8826, @Judique and everyone else partial to purple.

BLAH I had planned to ignore the new one whenever it showed up. Leave my purple card alone! #Bonboned

My sister moved from a cosmopolitan area to the middle of nowhere (kind of a FIRE scenario - they could live anywhere, they chose the middle of nowhere because it is pretty and inexpensive). She has taught herself to make a crazy range of Asian food, because she couldn't buy it anywhere (and she has time for things like making amazing broth for Pho.) My parents will bring her groceries from our local Asian market sometimes when they visit.

I think it may be time for you to teach yourself how to make pizza! As long as you can find mozzarella, you can probably get yourself pretty close to the real thing. As much as I like pizza in NYC, my homemade pizza also rocks.

I've actually been thinking about it. Thankfully mozzarella is pretty easy to find. Our new house has a regular oven but our old apartment only had a fish grill so I never tried.

 

[miztressuz]

Blue Biz the 2x MR is worth 2.5% cash back if you have the schwab plat, but you also have the potential to redeem them for a higher value.

Assuming it's a for a category allowed on Plastiq. They got stricter with AmEx cards and seem to verify more payments using them because it's so limited.

 

[chattadisser]

My kids love CFA and I like it but try not to eat fast food (I have other vices like sweets and diet soda). But our Chick Fil A is the worst. The people aren't very friendly, it's always packed, and they seem to be incredibly slow. It's the only CFA I've ever been in like this.

That is odd, that's so not like a CFA. We actually know a couple of the local CFA owners and although they are crazy busy, its not the money making opportunity that you would think it is for being as busy as they are. I was actually eating with my daughter one day and in the next booth they were doing interviews. I texted the owner and told him that if he didn't hire the guy they were interviewing then I was going to break in and tell him to come to my company for a job. He was a good young man and I also liked that they were asking him real scenario questions not the BS "Tell me a situation in which you had to influence others" that our HR asks. They seemed more like they wanted to get to know the person because, after all, if you're not a nice person, you're not going to fit in with the team, no matter how well you can answer HR questions.

I can't eat it all the time either as my stomach does not like it as much as my tastebuds so I'm glad that they are branching out into salads and such. I'm with you on the sweets, thats my vice!

 

[nickle831]

Does home depot do the reporting like the office supply stores do for Amex? I need to buy a gift card and want to use Bonvoy towards MSR but don't want it to not count either.

 

[Mopedmom1]

I don't even want to guess but I will say that cleaning up after animals, birds and whatever can be a challenge. I am getting another birdbath as soon as I find one I like so hopefully it will only be the cute little birds that it attracts. And, now I must find a humming bird feeder as we had one right by the window yesterday evening. For me this is my entertainment out my big windows when I am enjoying breakfast, coffee or computer time, so well worth the extra few chores and very relaxing.

I have a hummingbird feeder on our back deck right by our outdoor table, where I enjoy morning tea, meals and computer time. There is one little guy who is very social. One day last week when the feeder was empty he hovered in front of my face for several seconds, making sure I was aware of the situation. He was so close I was really glad I had my glasses on!

Funny. I can use Excel but don't have it on my laptop because I don't need it (in my own opinion).(It's available to me on daughter's computer if necessary.) I had to use it at work and remember going to the local community college 25+ years ago to take a basic class, when work started to upgrade from us using code to create documents.

At one point 'I' was the expert for a short while until I imparted my new found skills to others and after some followed suit. I remember crawling under the desks to set up the new computers when they arrived at our offices with a 'sign here' and 'someone will be along to get you going' (which may have taken months).My boss at that time retired without even learning how to operate windows. Now a 5 year old knows more about it probably. And who motivated me at that time? My 11 year old who was given a desktop by his Grandpa in the early 90ties. I know it is inconceivable to young adults now that we didn't always come out of the womb understanding computers and their assorted programs. Lol...I'm being 'old' again.

I vaguely remember taking a computer programming class in high school during the late 70's early 80's, BASIC I believe. If only it had interested me and I had stuck with it!

I used computers when I worked in banking but stepped off the corporate ladder very early in my career to work in less mainstream jobs and didn't get a home computer until sometime in the mid 90's. Everything I learned then was self taught and as a SAHM at the time EXCEL just wasn't even on the radar. I have never returned to a "traditional" job, working from home for the same mom and pop business since 1997 and they eschew computers so I never had the need to learn it.

Six years or so ago I had a string of bad luck with laptops and just didn't replace the last one that fried, using only tablets since. I recently purchased a new laptop and can't believe how much I have forgotten. We'll just chalk it up to new technology and not old brain. Lol

 

[amalone1013]

Getting a good laugh out of all the pizza talk.

Lol! I am not that married to Papa John's that I cannot find better. Just the best I have right now. And that isn't saying much. Occasionally I pop a frozen pizza in the oven and I am as pleased with that as PJ's. Pretty sad, right!?!

I would agree with you, though we usually hit pizza hut becuause it is <3 mins from the house. I don't even know where the closest PJs/PMs/Blackjack/any other chain is. Lately if we think enough about it we stop at Sam's on the way home for their pizzas instead.

CO isn't a hot bed of unique, cultural cuisine.

Ugh I feel like all we have around us is chains. I hate it for the most part. Lincoln had a lot of local places growing up, though there are more chains now. Up here it's like 90% big chains that have been around a long time, ie Old Chicago, Famous Dave's, Chilis, TX Roadhouse, Olive Garden... And not to say that I don't like some of those okay, but it's like nothing unique. Current favorites are 'novel' chains (to us at least) like Rusty Bucket, Lazy Dog... but they are still chains, just new to the area.

I have never had Papa Johns or Little Caesar’s in my life. I’ve had Domino’s maybe once?

Me either! Domino's is ONLY if it is ordered by work. I think once I looked at a Little Caesar's pizza that DH picked up in college and was like, no way. We always went to the local pizza place in NE - Valentino's. A Lincoln original! I even had a lot of family work there back in the day. That's also the pizza that they always served at sporting events, like Husker games and stuff. Sometimes we get it when we go back to visit.

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

It seems foolish for me not to take advantage of the disney visa premiere offer. Please tell me what i have to keep track of and do to downgrade back later without causing a problem for myself.

 

[amalone1013]

Ok guys...fess up...which one of you here bought a Tesla and killed this????

Me. That's what DHs car loan is really for.





Jk, really. It's a Ford.

 

[alryan]

It seems foolish for me not to take advantage of the disney visa premiere offer. Please tell me what i have to keep track of and do to downgrade back later without causing a problem for myself.

You will just have to call next year when or slightly before the annual fee posts and go back to the No AF version. I think you could do it sooner, but I'm going to wait a year, just to hopefully keep Chase happy. Which reminds me..I need to get mine out of the sock drawer to make that one purchase.

 

[disneybirds]

So my frugal comes out on pizza. Our go to is thin crust Papa Murphys.

We always try to get Papa Murphys and Burgerville when in Portland!

 

[disneybirds]

Big fan of Sara Bareilles! Would’ve loved to catch her in the role of Jenna.

My daughter would have loved to have seen Sara Bareilles in that role, but we missed it by a few weeks! We saw Jessie Mueller and she was great.

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

You will just have to call next year when or slightly before the annual fee posts and go back to the No AF version. I think you could do it sooner, but I'm going to wait a year, just to hopefully keep Chase happy. Which reminds me..I need to get mine out of the sock drawer to make that one purchase.

Thank you. That is easy enough!

 

[Mopedmom1]

We always try to get Papa Murphys and Burgerville when in Portland!

Burgerville is quite the gem here. Everybodies jaw drops when I tell them I don't like their burgers. Icky sauce. But I love their sweet potato fries!

 

[amalone1013]

Ok, caught back up. I've had less 3am mornings than I used to have so I don't get to chat with @Lain and @wendow crazy early

Upon hearing of the loss of CIP 3x again, I have a feeling that @amalone1013 is gonna tear through this thread with a series of like we've never seen before today...

EDIT: At least I think she got all her payments in under the 3x while it was alive!

I did luckily get all mine in on the 6th and 7th and only the 7th is still pending at 3xURs. But I feel a bit bad since I was one of the guinea pigs for this! This really really really stinks (for Dis-appropriate language)



My only saving grace is that my CIPs are done now completely now.

 

[punkin]

As long as you can find mozzarella, you can probably get yourself pretty close to the real thing. As much as I like pizza in NYC, my homemade pizza also rocks.

Not unless you have a commercial pizza oven.

 

[WVMomof3]

I actually rather enjoy chain restaurants BUT most of the chain restaurants I frequent are owned by local franchisees. I have lent money to a lot of startup franchisees (typically a husband and wife or small ownership group) and have come to realize that many chains are also local businesses (just with a larger supporting organization behind them to help bolster their chances of success).

I'm also a strange bird...I'd rather eat some peanut jelly (that's our term in my household for PB&J lol) than spend $14 on a lunch...pretty much ever! haha! Basically everywhere in Pittsburgh is $10-$20 lunches. Luckily I eat in my basement most days...haha!

Omg I tell my DH this all the time when he wants to go out to eat because we have “nothing” at home. I really hate going out to eat. He knows better than to suggest going out as a treat for my birthday or Mother’s Day. I’m always telling him I’d rather eat peanut butter and jelly than go out. But that said, when we travel you can’t avoid it and Pittsburgh is one of those places we go fairly often and always struggling where to eat. So what’s the name of the place, maybe I will like it. Lol. We usually end up at Church Brew Works or Penn Brewery (hmm, I guess you can tell what’s we really after, and I know you are no help there) but im getting tired of those two. And we don’t like Primanti’s.

ETA just saw more of your comments, so maybe just tell me the places you don’t like. Lol. I think maybe those are the places I would like. Only on travel.

 

[StephPlum]

I had a bunch of quotes and the internet cut out so I lost it all. Oh well trying to catch up.

Pizza - top pizza is my homemade pizza. Can't beat that. But if bought I like Pizza Hut, Donatos (haven't seen anyone bring up. It definitely is in Ohio, not sure how many other mid-west states) and Jet's (again I think chain but local to Ohio). Can.not.eat. Dominos, papa johns or little ceasers. Sorry just nope.

CIP & plastiq I plans for this. I only got two transactions in.

Travel related. Just checked in for my flight for tomorrow to Denver!! Got A50 &52. Very excited about this trip. So far I've only spent $61.20 oop for hotel, car and flights worth ~2k. Weather is looking good next week though I saw it snowed in Colorado Springs this week.

 

[wanderlust7]

Question -

If you had non category business spend (in this case it is on Plastiq, so paying a 2.5% fee but it is legit business spend so fees are business expense) which card would you use:

Chase Ink that earns 1.5 UR (but I have CSR so really that is 2.25 UR)

Cap One Spark that earns 2% back that can only be redeemed against travel charges

Something else I’m not thinking of (we have Amex BB and BGR, all Ink cards including old version-so 4 different Ink products, SPG biz, SW biz, Citi AA biz, Marriott biz)

Or, don’t use Plastiq at all and just write a check.

Extra info:

The spend is about 15K a month to businesses that do not take CC.

No immediate need for any point currencies as I am not sure what our next plan will be. Probably flights to Hawaii and cruise/trip around Alaska next year. We have a decent stash of UR and some MR. Pretty good stash of Cap One “points”.

I don’t want to open a card right now. With our spend we could easily meet MSR on multiple new cards a month, but I need to keep this “hobby” manageable and it gets time consuming to keep track of too many cards on top of farming and being mom/teacher to homeschooled kids.

Is Chase Ink 1.5 the “right” answer?

Thanks for any input!!!

Have much would the tax deduction be? If we use 33% - the fee for using Plastiq would be $251 ($15,000 * 2.5% * 67%). Would you pay $251 for 22,500 UR or 30,000 Cap One points?

There is no "right" answer. Only what's right for you.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I was playing around on the UR portal, but I was hesitant to buy tickets there since you can't choose seats. I didn't want to end up stuck behind a pole or way way over to the side. What were your seats like? I'm chicken to do it.

Did Lion King last month. Paid 10600 UR per ticket for orchestra or premier mezzanine . We got back orchestra about 8 more rows behind us. Put us in the center about 4 seats in from the aisle. Great seats great price. No complaints.

 

[vanjust14]

I'm getting a 2nd DP of this from r/churning. Did that charge actually post or are you seeing it in the pending calculation? This could already be dead guys...

Bolding just so those skimming don't miss this:
3x ON CIP WITH PLASTIQ IS DEAD! Multiple DPs coming in of 5/8 charges posting at 1x...

Ughhhhhhh, just got CIP #2 in the mail yesterday