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

[Lain]

Stupid AMEX. Just sitting here being bitter because for probably the only time ever, we could knock out the tiered Biz Plat $10k+$10k offer... but can't pay a car loan with Plastiq. How strange would it be if I spent $20k at grocery stores in 3 months? Maybe my business is a restaurant

I bought quite a few $500 VGC/MCGCs from grocery stores to help meet the Biz Plat $10k MSR. I was throwing a big corporate party for “business development” purposes.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

DH and I compromised that I could get 2 Dysons when we built our house almost 14 years ago since I wanted the whole house vacuum system that he didn't want to spend the $s on. They are both still going strong and I've never had any problems with them.

Funny you say that....our last house we custom built and had central vac and our current house was a spec home and didn't have central vac. I was so sad. So I did the same, bought the 2 dysons so there would be one on each level....one cordless and one not. Well, the regular Dyson is so heavy and annoying compared to the cordless so we rarely used it. So I then bought a 2nd cordless. I suppose I should sell the full size Dyson since it just sits in the closet. Prior to the central vac house we had a Dyson and it lasted many years til I sold it when we moved to the central vac house. I will say that Dyson (full size one from 2008) was better quality than the full size one I bought in 2017.

 

[bernina]

For those using BlueBird, safer to transfer funds to bank or do bill pay? I used to always just transfer but trying to avoid a shutdown.

I’ve also updated the MS thread on DISchurners with my latest data points on MS. I’ll continue to update as I get back into MS a bit more.

Thanks!

 

[Psychodisney]

DH and I compromised that I could get 2 Dysons when we built our house almost 14 years ago since I wanted the whole house vacuum system that he didn't want to spend the $s on. They are both still going strong and I've never had any problems with them.

I have Dysons and Sharks too. My Dyson Animal (purple one) has been awesome for close to 14 years. It's big and heavy but does a great job. I bought a cordless Dyson for the wood floors (dog hair) and feel that it's a waste of money. Does an ok job but the battery life is short and has a smell to it.
My Sharks are corded. They do fine but aren't as wide as the Dyson. Price is great for what they are.

 

[chattadisser]

Funny you say that....our last house we custom built and had central vac and our current house was a spec home and didn't have central vac. I was so sad. So I did the same, bought the 2 dysons so there would be one on each level....one cordless and one not. Well, the regular Dyson is so heavy and annoying compared to the cordless so we rarely used it. So I then bought a 2nd cordless. I suppose I should sell the full size Dyson since it just sits in the closet. Prior to the central vac house we had a Dyson and it lasted many years til I sold it when we moved to the central vac house. I will say that Dyson (full size one from 2008) was better quality than the full size one I bought in 2017.

I suspect the Dyson's quality has gone down over the years. I have a Dyson animal that I've had for about ten years and I love it. I got it after buying a bagless vacuum year after year. It's old and heavy but we have one level and I've often wondered if the new ones are as good. I suspect like a lot of things, the new version isn't made as well as the new ones. I would love one of the cordless ones though!

 

[Lain]

Stupid AMEX. Just sitting here being bitter because for probably the only time ever, we could knock out the tiered Biz Plat $10k+$10k offer... but can't pay a car loan with Plastiq. How strange would it be if I spent $20k at grocery stores in 3 months? Maybe my business is a restaurant

Not to be an enabler, but I should add that buying $500 MCGCs from a grocery store to pay on Plastiq could be cheaper than using an Amex on Plastiq directly, as long as the Metabank MCGCs continue to code as debit on Plastiq, because the activation fee is 1.19% and debits process at only 1% = ~2.2% vs Plastiq’s usual 2.5%.

The Plat/Biz Plat earns only 1x UR at most places, including grocery stores, but you can see how this can be lucrative beyond MSR with something like the Chase Freedom this quarter (5x UR), or the Amex Gold (4x MR) and BCP (6% CB).

 

[havaneselover]

Funny you say that....our last house we custom built and had central vac and our current house was a spec home and didn't have central vac. I was so sad. So I did the same, bought the 2 dysons so there would be one on each level....one cordless and one not. Well, the regular Dyson is so heavy and annoying compared to the cordless so we rarely used it. So I then bought a 2nd cordless. I suppose I should sell the full size Dyson since it just sits in the closet. Prior to the central vac house we had a Dyson and it lasted many years til I sold it when we moved to the central vac house. I will say that Dyson (full size one from 2008) was better quality than the full size one I bought in 2017.

My mom has always had a central vac and I hate it. It's such a pain to deal with the long hose.

And cordless dysons are fabulous! I cannot believe how much stuff mine picks up twice a week. It's kind of concerning.

 

[speedyfishy]

Not to be an enabler, but I should add that buying $500 MCGCs from a grocery store to pay on Plastiq could be cheaper than using an Amex on Plastiq directly, as long as the Metabank MCGCs continue to code as debit on Plastiq, because the activation fee is 1.19% and debits process at only 1% = ~2.2% vs Plastiq’s usual 2.5%.

The Plat/Biz Plat earns only 1x UR at most places, including grocery stores, but you can see how this can be lucrative beyond MSR with something like the Chase Freedom this quarter (5x UR), or the Amex Gold (4x MR) and BCP (6% CB).

And don’t forget about the grocery promos! Giant has 3x VGCs this week so I’ll be busy. Hopefully close to maxing my Gold.

 

[amalone1013]

Not to be an enabler

Suuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeee...

Though I have been debating if I want to finish off my Freedoms that way

 

[amalone1013]

And don’t forget about the grocery promos! Giant has 3x VGCs this week so I’ll be busy. Hopefully close to maxing my Gold.

For Kroger I have to stick to fixed value cards to earn fuel points

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I need some math/travel wizard help....

Here is my stash:
UR 221,953
MR 141,687 (open to doing the cancel/cash out trick)
Hilton 552,536 (plus 280,000 holding a tentative fall break beach resort)
Marriott 129,812 (plus old 7 night cat 1-4 cert and 1 free night cert with 2 more coming eventually)
AA miles 74,969
Barclay arrival+ 80k SUB coming

I'd like to cover most of my WDW resort next week with points. It is $2900 at Poly. (I can switch to CSR for a $1500 total instead since my parents are staying there anyways if it helps me work all this out, but I have to do it today.) I've been picking up discounted GC but was planning to reimburse myself for them with URs.

OK, so the part that gets confusing is booking the month of July (give or take a few days) in Charleston at the Homewood suites (or similar). The cost is only $159/night but 46k points. Of course, 5th night free on points.
I assume I will do some sort of combination of points and cash. But should I do more cash and less points, or book thru the UR portal for approx 10k/night but won't earn any status points in return.

Booking on cash should earn 10pt/$1 base, 10/$1 diamond bonus, extra 10/$ quarterly bonus promo, and 12/$ for using biz card...for 42/$ right??

So I just don't know how to best use my points/cash here. I don't necessarily want to wipe out my Hilton points b/c we want to do Hawaii fairly soon (assuming 2020) but DH can re-earn them fairly quickly. Help!

 

[schmass]

My AA CitiBiz was approved late yesterday afternoon! But only a $3000 CL... Weird that it's so low!!

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I have no idea what Hilto points go for, so I don’t know if this is of any value.
https://dailygetaways.ustravel.org/Home/Index/2019-06-04

Thank you! I set an alert. Does anyone know what time these become active? As bad luck would have it I'm going to be in Japan when this deal and the other 1 I want (Hyatt) become available

 

[miztressuz]

My AA CitiBiz was approved late yesterday afternoon! But only a $3000 CL... Weird that it's so low!!

Yay!

Don't worry too much if you planned to ride the train, your next one could be 20,000 Citi is weird. If it's a problem of meeting MSR as quickly as you like, I believe people have cycled their CL with Citi. (but with all things Citi, occasionally the available credit takes some time to reset after a payment)

 

[Judique]

Thank you! I set an alert. Does anyone know what time these become active? As bad luck would have it I'm going to be in Japan when this deal and the other 1 I want (Hyatt) become available

Not bad luck! You will be in Japan! Assuming you are talking vacation and not business trip.

They become active at 1pm eastern standard time.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Not bad luck! You will be in Japan! Assuming you are talking vacation and not business trip.

They become active at 1pm eastern standard time.

I appreciate your optimism. But that is 2:00am in Japan and I need my sleep. Not sure if I will set an alarm to get up and try to secure 100,000 points. Actually I probably will because I NEED that extra night

 

[Judique]

Yay!

Don't worry too much if you planned to ride the train, your next one could be 20,000 Citi is weird. If it's a problem of meeting MSR as quickly as you like, I believe people have cycled their CL with Citi. (but with all things Citi, occasionally the available credit takes some time to reset after a payment)

And once you get some kind of credit line you can always request more if needed.

I've had all kinds of different scenarios with credit lines. From 35k to $3600. I never know what they are going to offer me.

 

[bernina]

I have 2 Amex offers on the same card. Any experience if these would stack?

Hilton $50 off $250+
Waldorf & Conrad $100 off $500+ (Hilton brand)

Both require you to book direct on Hilton website (which is how you book Waldorf).

**Edited to add. Looks like the Hilton offer excludes Waldorf.

 

[Killer Fish]

Thank you! I set an alert. Does anyone know what time these become active? As bad luck would have it I'm going to be in Japan when this deal and the other 1 I want (Hyatt) become available

What Hyatt Redemption are you going for?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

What Hyatt Redemption are you going for?

I'm not certain. Likely 72,000 points as I can use those anytime. I may not though as I don't want to get up in the middle of the night 2 nights in a row. Hilton points I need for the Maldives, so definitely trying for 100,000, but would be open to 250,000 as well.