Happy New Year! I am new here and hoping I am following the rules, doing this right. I have read the first six sticky notes and tried to follow along with the latest strings. I am hoping to some input and feeback on what cards should I be considering. Please jump in and let me know if I missed anything critical-sorry this is so long.
Monthly Spend-We average about 9k monthly on our Chase Disney account. Gas and groceries account for around 16% of our spending. Travel in 2019 was around 27%. We also have membership to both Sam’s and Costco and do much of our shopping there much thinking this only earning us 1% versus 2% in points. This account was established in 02/17. We use this account as our main spending. I will say as much as I have used it for daily spending, I didn’t do a great job of transferring our reoccurring payments to this account until recently. Now I have everything that I can possibly have being paid out of this account. Currently, we have around $2700.00 in Disney redemption points. I also have a Capital One account that was established in July of 2015 that is my oldest account. We never use this and it has a small limit but I have kept it open to for credit reporting. Lastly, I have a Ulta card established in early 2018 I believe that I only use at Ulta and pay off immediately. The limit is $4500.00. I haven’t figured out how to earn cash back or points for mortgage or utilities yet so that is something I would love advice on. Each month, I make sure to pay the interest saving balance in full so we aren’t paying any interest ever, Typically, I try to ensure we are only report a small balance each month, no more the 30% of the available credit.
Flights and Travel: We prefer to book flights out of our closest airport in Sioux Falls, SD but I check flights out of Minneapolis and Omaha as well. Direct out of SF is difficult and can get expensive. I don’t have a preference of frequent flyer and unfortunately, I haven’t done a good job taking advantage of these programs. As a family of six, we fly together once or twice a year. I tend to fly for work another one or two times a year. Generally, we are flying on low budget airlines such as Allegiant, Spirit, Sun County, etc. Sioux Falls airport does not have SW Airline service. I travel for work once in a while and stay at Hiltons so I am a HH member at the Gold level staying 14 nights this year. I also have a handful of Hyatt points, Marriott and some for IHG.
Goals: I am hoping to learn how to maximize our cash backs and points so we can travel more often as a family with less spend. Thinking it is time to start applying to some cards and possibly close old accounts but don’t want to make a mistake that will cost me in the future? Also, we should be in a position to pay off two auto loans in the next 30 days that equal 12k. I am wondering do I wait to apply for cards until after that is reflected or do I get a card now and use Plastiq to try and maximize some cash back and points?
Trips planned: We just completed our 3rd
Disney cruise the end of November 2019 and have a placeholder for 2 rooms. There are six of us. We are looking to do Alaska in May of 2021 which will be expensive but plan to book on opening day for silver in late Feb of 2020. We generally use a placeholder and book opening day to get the best deal we can but this limits how often we go. When we have planned trips to WDW, we have stayed in a suite at Art of Animation due to the suites. We have stayed off property once as well. In 2019, we traveled to California twice(one trip included four days at
Disneyland), spent a week in both Wisconsin Dells and Branson, MO. Traveled to sporting events, etc.
April 2020-Trying to get to Yuma, AZ over Easter break to see the in-laws. Looking at flights to Phoenix or San Diego but haven’t booked yet. Willing to fly out of somewhere other the Sioux Falls if needed. Thinking AirBNB or VRBO for the six of us but open.
June 2020-likely will plan to be in Florida in the Orlando area as DD will be playing National VB there. Would love to plan some time at either the parks or head over to the Siesta Keys. Other travel-both our DD’s play club sports so several weekend trip to Kansas City, Omaha, Wisconsin Dells, Denver, Louisville and Black Hills, SD. We are family of six with four kids ranging ages 18,16,13 and 11. For some of the sporting activities, only a few of us travel for the weekend. For hotel stays, we generally end up to two rooms or a two-bedroom suite.
Oh and some candy... kisses are mils favorite and they were $1 a bag at target so grabbed a few.
I have no problem saying no repeatedly during the presentation.
