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

[Judique]

You guys would think I have a problem if I took a picture of my Walt Disney Resort pens! I know they aren't fancy, but those are my favorite pens. I pretty much take them from every hotel we stay in and have been know to inadvertently take one from a restaurant. My girls think I am crazy! It is just a nice daily reminder of all the fun and memories we have had over the years.

In the past I have confiscated every hotel pen available in my rooms. I took them to work and kept them on my desk. Yes, pens were supplied by my work, but they also disappeared as fast as we ordered them. I kept the pens I liked to write with in my desk drawer. I preferred Pentel with a fine point, and Papermate #2 sharpwriter mechanical pencils. If I left those on my desk they were the first ones gone. Whenever I saw the Papermates on sale, I would order a dozen boxes and pass them out to my employees that worked directly in my office with me. This sort of insured that I would have a pencil in my desk drawer when needed, lol.

Now, I still take them out of habit and distribute as needed.
The other item I like to take from my DVC rooms are the tiny bottles of dish soap from the kitchen. They can keep the paper towels, dishwasher packets, coffee and fake sugar packets, but in some I like the paper coffee cups as mentioned in a previous post.

Daughter gets the soap and shampoo. I bring the kind I like but she likes the Disney ones. There are a few hotels that have products I like such as Aveda, but they are few and far between.

 

[smmco]

For a new Sapphire card you need to wait 48 months from the time you received the bonus

Bummer. Maybe I'll just upgrade then. I have a lot of cards, but none of them give a great return on paying off a cruise. If I'm trying to make MSR, of course, I'll use that card to pay. Eventually, I'm going to run out of cards I want to get. I also expect CC companies to keep making it tougher to get SUB's. I'm hoping the CIP gravy train lasts until I'm 4/24.

 

[afan]

You guys would think I have a problem if I took a picture of my Walt Disney Resort pens! I know they aren't fancy, but those are my favorite pens. I pretty much take them from every hotel we stay in and have been know to inadvertently take one from a restaurant. My girls think I am crazy! It is just a nice daily reminder of all the fun and memories we have had over the years.

My past two stays at Pop haven't had the pens and it makes me sad. I want more for when the one I have dies.

 

[Judique]

I regret not getting the CSR. At least your getting something in return for the AF. I tend to make large travel purchases because we cruise two to three times per year. If we spend 10k-15k on cruises a year the extra point is pretty significant not to mention the travel protection that comes with the card. I'll decide in March if I want to cancel or upgrade. I'm not sure how long I have to wait to get the CSR if I cancel. A lot of cards offer 2 points per dollar, but right now I can't think of another card that would offer me 3 points on a cruise or WDW vacation package.

You may not have access to it but the Navy Federal Flagship Rewards card offers 3% cashback on travel (with a $49 annual fee). I mention it because almost anyone can get one if they have a relative that has served, and this may have been extended to friends but I haven't looked it up. The card also has a 50k bonus offer right now ($500) for $4000 spend in 3 months.

Of course UR's used through the travel portal at 1.5 are a better deal, but you have to be able to use the travel portal from what I understand. And UR's can be transferred to partners.

However, I'm happily watching my cash pot grow with my NFFV card. It doesn't get as much action as my Rose Gold which controls restaurants and grocery stores, but it gets some spend. I'm also catching a few UR's here and there but I'm over 5/24 so can't cash in on cippy cup.

If you have the CSP, reapplying for any sapphire product is a 4 year or 48 month wait from the initial time you got your sapphire product.

 

[MKTokyo]

We are having a great time in London!

To keep this on topic...

A Harry Potter character everyone on the thread can relate to. Our #1 man - a goblin bank teller. You just know this guy's a churner.

And, thanks to one of my birthday presents from DF, we know exactly what kind of cards he's churning!

DF said he got this on Etsy. Is there a more perfect gift for one of us? I think not

 

[snugglebug]

Aloha, neighbor We just arrived a couple days ago in Maui. Love the pic and so glad you are enjoying your trip. Hawaii is one of my favorite places in the world We're fortunate to live on the West Coast and come often. We did sunrise at Haleakala this morning, and we're zonked but it was totally worth the 1:40 am wake up.

This was a little before 6 am as the first glimpse of the sun appeared above the horizon:
View attachment 428353

Gorgeous! We will miss the sunrise unfortunately. My head is acting up again and early morning is the worst time for me. This is our last morning It's 5:29a local time and I'm on the balcony taking in the quiet morning before the chaos of packing up begins.

Wow ... that rainbow is like right there! Between you and that hill/island

Yes, the ocean was behind me. It was so vivid at first. I had turned to say something to the kids and saw it. It was probably the prettiest I've seen so far. This was on the hike to Makapu'u lighthouse. I'm loving all the rainbows here and will miss them.

 

[apollodi]

Argh. I supported DH this morning to the Amex Blue Business Cash. My thinking was: (1) he's in Hilton popup jail so let's try something else; (2) a 2% cash back card would be nice and easy for him (he has no MR cards so I don't want him to get a BBP yet); and (3) DD3 has therapy bills over $500 a month, and this will give us something to work on into next year, since you have 6-12 months to hit the 2 part MSR. Her therapist accepts Amex.

Then, I find out TODAY that DD3's therapy company has been sold, to a new provider that she also uses which DOESN'T TAKE AMEX. I need to borrow this, please: Maybe I can make partial payments using VGCs from Meijer... Grrr.

But, as a DP, DH got the popup for the Hilton card. I put about 2k on his Amex cards, tried again, still got the popup. Applied for the BBC shortly after and he got instantly approved, no popup.

 

[mamathompson]

Thanks for all the love! This truly is the best place on the internet.
We are at Homecomin' right now waiting for our chicken biscuits based on the recommendations here.

I regret not getting the CSR also. I'm planning on upgrading one of our CSP to one in a few months.

 

[gregorykicks]

Thanks for all the love! This truly is the best place on the internet.
We are at Homecomin' right now waiting for our chicken biscuits based on the recommendations here.

I regret not getting the CSR also. I'm planning on upgrading one of our CSP to one in a few months.

I went with the CSP because with the 60k UR plus 15K from referral from my wife's it just made more sense vs the 50K CSR. I plan to upgrade to CSR to hold on to after the first year. I didn't want to risk a MDD because I was AS on my wife's CSP. I would have had to drop that and then wait a month and call to make sure it fell off. Was probably a good idea since I didn't get instant approved for the CSP and I think it was due to being an AS on hers.

 

[StephPlum]

Trying to make it through the work day. It is much harder when you know there is a trip waiting on the weekend. So far I decided what CCs I need to take to Colorado and mapped out the Family Dollar stores along the way from work to home (5 that are not too far out of the way that I can hit in one shot!).

 

[Lain]

But, as a DP, DH got the popup for the Hilton card. I put about 2k on his Amex cards, tried again, still got the popup. Applied for the BBC shortly after and he got instantly approved, no popup.

I’m sorry the therapist doesn’t take Amex. I really hate that! It’s still great to have a solid 2% cash back card in the wallet for everything else.

But thank you for the DP. This is further support for @Albort’s theory.

 

[Lain]

Trying to make it through the work day. It is much harder when you know there is a trip waiting on the weekend. So far I decided what CCs I need to take to Colorado and mapped out the Family Dollar stores along the way from work to home (5 that are not too far out of the way that I can hit in one shot!).

Don’t forget to map out the Safeways and set up J4U accounts for your traveling party!

 

[1st*toright]

Thanks for all the love! This truly is the best place on the internet.
We are at Homecomin' right now waiting for our chicken biscuits based on the recommendations here.

Yum, Homecomin'!

 

[Lain]

Argh. I supported DH this morning to the Amex Blue Business Cash. My thinking was: (1) he's in Hilton popup jail so let's try something else; (2) a 2% cash back card would be nice and easy for him (he has no MR cards so I don't want him to get a BBP yet); and (3) DD3 has therapy bills over $500 a month, and this will give us something to work on into next year, since you have 6-12 months to hit the 2 part MSR. Her therapist accepts Amex.

Then, I find out TODAY that DD3's therapy company has been sold, to a new provider that she also uses which DOESN'T TAKE AMEX. I need to borrow this, please: Maybe I can make partial payments using VGCs from Meijer... Grrr.

Just wanted to add if you’re going the VGC route, a variable load $500 VGC usually carries only a $5.95 activation fee (1.19%), so you’re still coming out ahead on a 2% card+SUB. The grocery store deals tend to apply to smaller fixed denomination prepaid cards, but you’ll need to do the math on it and see if the therapist is ok running partial payments.

 

[apollodi]

I’m sorry the therapist doesn’t take Amex. I really hate that! It’s still great to have a solid 2% cash back card in the wallet for everything else.

But thank you for the DP. This is further support for @Albort’s theory.

Yep, I figured I might as well test out @Albort 's theory, and it worked for me at least. Sadly, I won't have any trouble meeting the 5K requirement even without the therapy bills. Not sure I'll got for the next 10k now, though, I'll have to see how much DH puts on the card. Mostly I just hope her therapists will all stay on after the change in ownership!

Although, when the receptionist told me, the first thing I did was blurt, "but they don't take Amex!" She gave me a very funny look, lol.

 

[apollodi]

Just wanted to add if you’re going the VGC route, a variable load $500 VGC usually carries only a $5.95 activation fee (1.19%), so you’re still coming out ahead on a 2% card+SUB. The grocery store deals tend to apply to smaller fixed denomination prepaid cards, but you’ll need to do the math on it and see if the therapist is ok running partial payments.

Thanks, Meijer does carry the $500 VGCs and MCs with a $5.95 activation. When they run promos, the variable load VGCs and MCs have not been excluded so far. I've used them for smaller medical bills before. My biggest problem is the therapy bills are higher than $500. I already get other bills from the new provider, so I'm going to log into their system when I get a chance to look at partial payment options. Or maybe I'll luck out, and the new provider's negotiated price will go down so I'm paying below $500 a month... lol. I can dream right?

 

[Lain]

Thanks, Meijer does carry the $500 VGCs and MCs with a $5.95 activation. When they run promos, the variable load VGCs and MCs have not been excluded so far. I've used them for smaller medical bills before. My biggest problem is the therapy bills are higher than $500. I already get other bills from the new provider, so I'm going to log into their system when I get a chance to look at partial payment options. Or maybe I'll luck out, and the new provider's negotiated price will go down so I'm paying below $500 a month... lol. I can dream right?

Can you just pay in the office and swipe multiple cards? Serves them right for not taking Amex. Lol

 

[Limes96]

Yep, I figured I might as well test out @Albort 's theory, and it worked for me at least. Sadly, I won't have any trouble meeting the 5K requirement even without the therapy bills. Not sure I'll got for the next 10k now, though, I'll have to see how much DH puts on the card. Mostly I just hope her therapists will all stay on after the change in ownership!

Although, when the receptionist told me, the first thing I did was blurt, "but they don't take Amex!" She gave me a very funny look, lol.

I can sympathize on that. Our dentist doesn’t take Amex and DH has some major dental work coming up this fall/winter $$$$. But I appreciate the DP on the pop up. I really want the Aspire, but don’t want to apply for any other Amex cards right now in case the pop up goes away after the current promo ends. If it doesn’t I will probably just Go for the Gold. Lol

Also,congrats @mamathompson and fam! I always love to hear about new humans coming!

 

[disneybirds]

In the past I have confiscated every hotel pen available in my rooms. I took them to work and kept them on my desk. Yes, pens were supplied by my work, but they also disappeared as fast as we ordered them. I kept the pens I liked to write with in my desk drawer. I preferred Pentel with a fine point, and Papermate #2 sharpwriter mechanical pencils. If I left those on my desk they were the first ones gone. Whenever I saw the Papermates on sale, I would order a dozen boxes and pass them out to my employees that worked directly in my office with me. This sort of insured that I would have a pencil in my desk drawer when needed, lol.

Now, I still take them out of habit and distribute as needed.
The other item I like to take from my DVC rooms are the tiny bottles of dish soap from the kitchen. They can keep the paper towels, dishwasher packets, coffee and fake sugar packets, but in some I like the paper coffee cups as mentioned in a previous post.

Daughter gets the soap and shampoo. I bring the kind I like but she likes the Disney ones. There are a few hotels that have products I like such as Aveda, but they are few and far between.

Okay, I have to admit that I also like the little bars of soap and may or may not have a stash in our bathroom. Just another daily reminder of fun times at Disney. I also love the little orange bottles with body wash that have a grapefruit scent and only have a couple of those left. I think that is enough confessions for today!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Okay, I have to admit that I also like the little bars of soap and may or may not have a stash in our bathroom. Just another daily reminder of fun times at Disney. I also love the little orange bottles with body wash that have a grapefruit scent and only have a couple of those left. I think that is enough confessions for today!

My goal is to have enough soap & body wash to last between trips. It’s going to be close this year...I think I’ll run out in November.