I love credit cards so much! v4.0 - 2021 (see first page for add'l details)

[mom2febgirls]

I have a Southwest card that is 15+ years old. Now that we don't fly with kids anymore we are moving away from flying SW. I don't want to lose the credit history but I don't want to pay the annual fee anymore. I was reading about calling and asking to downgrade it to the Freedom but some websites are saying you can't switch from a branded card to a Chase card. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[afan]

I have a Southwest card that is 15+ years old. Now that we don't fly with kids anymore we are moving away from flying SW. I don't want to lose the credit history but I don't want to pay the annual fee anymore. I was reading about calling and asking to downgrade it to the Freedom but some websites are saying you can't switch from a branded card to a Chase card. Does anyone have any experience with this?

You can't switch from a branded card to a non branded card.

The history stays on your account after it's closed.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Back from my week at the beach in NC. Normally I end my summer there solo....this year the trip w/ the kids fell then. So not as "relaxing" as normal, but I think we all enjoyed it. I had read online that jellyfish were stinging like crazy. Within 2 mins in ankle deep water I got stung. This was after spending almost an hour on the phone w/ Avis. Our rental car (which only had 7k miles on it) had the A/C cut out as well as all the safety features and the driver side window also wouldn't go down. There were no rentals to swap into. It did that for about 4 times (kept turning off the car, etc), finally said screw this and went to the beach. Afterwards it seemed to work, and didn't do it to us again. When I turned it in, I let them know and they gave me $25.
My 16yo is obsessed w/ the Outer Banks (on Netflix) so I decided to book us a trip on the carry ferry from Cedar Island to Ocracoke. In all my trips to NC and the beach, I've never ventured to the OBX. I can say I did it, and stick to my beaches, LOL. Ocracoke was interesting....and the water/beach was nice and jellyfish free, LOL.

Henri hit the coast Friday night, the waves were INSANE! And when we flew out on Saturday they flat our were telling people to stay out of the water. So I think we timed the vacation perfectly, LOL. My 16yo suffered sun poisoning again. This happened in FL on Spring Break. Her eye get swollen shut, so she was kind of miserable. I came back with some random knee injury. And I'm NOT ready to go back to school Monday My own kids still have 2 weeks of summer...GRRR.

I forgot to bring all of my VGCs to NC for easy FD loading. Once again when I stopped at FD the cashier was working who LOVED my $500 transactions! I'm bummed I forgot to grab the entire stash before the trip.

Oh and I STILL don't have my new IHG card. I guess maybe I need to call tomorrow to ask about it. I ended up buying $600 in Buffett tickets while in NC plus all the expenses there....now I need to buy a ticket for my sister bday, and back to school expenses. So I'd love to have that card to put the spends on!!!

I am thinking of getting DD16 a credit card as an authorized user in my account. It’s really just for emergencies and maybe buying clothes or something when I’m not with her.

I got an offer from Amex that seemed pretty good to get her an Amex gold, but not sure a 16year old needs an Amex. Other thought is Chase Disney Visa based purely on cute design.

My DD is on almost every card she can be. I just got her a Discover for the $50 offer they gave me. She uses her card for gas, expenses here and there, etc. She doesn't abuse it. She's had one since she was 12, and it's been nice to give to her (like her 8th grade DC trip). I'm going to start getting chase cards for my 12yo, but I will hide those. Afterall, this is the kid who stole my VGC for online gaming. GRRR!

Again I hate Barclay's. I can't log in. Did they change their website? Keeps saying can't find my account. I guess I will have to call in.

Yes, they moved both to the "easier" site!

Oh and @Arcades you're gonna throw me for a loop w/ your Block M, LOL

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Okay I know nothing about mortgages. I'm looking at the Better/Amex offer. Right now my interest rate is 2.99%. I just had Better run my options. Knowing I don't see myself in this house in 6 years, I don't think it makes sense to pay any points. So I have 2 no point options I'm looking at. Assuming my son graduates in 5 years, I can retire in 3 years, at that point I might want to move in w/ someone (hopefully still the BF) or downsize. There is also the fact that my mom is leaving her house to me (1 mile from where I live now) and she has stage 4 breast cancer...though I'm hoping for 19 more years (took 19 years for her breast cancer to come back).....and she's been doing AWESOME! Her tumor is shrinking. But nonetheless at some point her house will be mine.

Currently - 2.99% payment $1208
Option 1 - 3% payment $1191 (need $432 to close) - get $2k Amex offer make $1568
Option 2 - 2.875% payment $1172 (need $1770 to close) - get $2k Amex offer make $230

Looking at what I get right now, I'd roughly get $1300 more by choosing the higher interest rate. If i'm doing the math right, my monthly savings different between 1 and 2 is $19. To make up that $1300 difference (thanks to the amex offer) I'm looking at needing 6.5 years to recoop, right?

Am I reading all this correctly? Are there added costs I'm missing in running the numbers? Because to me it seems that bumping up to 3% makes more sense....I save $17/mo but I get $1568 back from the Amex offer.

 

[BGparadise]

What is not in the numbers provided is the amount of payments. The change in monthly amount is partially due to this. It is difficult to say if any is good without knowing this information.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

What is not in the numbers provided is the amount of payments. The change in monthly amount is partially due to this. It is difficult to say if any is good without knowing this information.

Was this in regards to my post?

I refi'd for 30 years in Oct 2020. So about a year paid on the 30.....both scenarios are 30 year. Again, I don't see myself staying here much longer than 6 years.

 

[Hoosier John]

... Oh and @Arcades you're gonna throw me for a loop w/ your Block M, LOL

Funny, I was wondering if you got a new username, or now there are two Michigan fans here

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Funny, I was wondering if you got a new username, or now there are two Michigan fans here

I was confused at first myself! I was like I don't remember posting this, LOL.

 

[hayesdvc]

I have about 70,000 points on my Chase Sapphire Preferred card i want to convert.

Looking for advise on what is best currently in play to get the biggest bang for these points.

TIA

 

[wanderlust7]

I have about 70,000 points on my Chase Sapphire Preferred card i want to convert.

Looking for advise on what is best currently in play to get the biggest bang for these points.

TIA

Biggest bang - transfer to Hyatt or airline partners for business or first class redemptions. But Hyatt, will depend on if there are any locations that interest you and what the cash to points comparison is like. Airline redemptions are a whole other study in itself.

Easiest - Pay Yourself Back for dining, grocery, or home improvement charges at 1.25 cent per point. 70k points would be $875. Those categories are through Sept 30, we don't know what they'll be after that yet.

 

[Arcades]

Oh and @Arcades you're gonna throw me for a loop w/ your Block M, LOL

Finally had enough posts to update my icon . Go Blue!

 

[Judique]

@palhockeymomof2

Did you make it through the storm? Hope you still have power and are doing okay.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Ugh....I think I read somewhere (either on here or FB) that someone had luck cancelling the Marriott FNC and getting a new expiration date. I just tried with something I booked 2 weeks ago. No such luck. So now I have to figure out where to use 4 FNC w/ Marriott before 1/16.

This wouldn't be as hard, if the BF knew his schedule earlier than he does and could get time off.

 

[trippedup]

Okay I know nothing about mortgages. I'm looking at the Better/Amex offer. Right now my interest rate is 2.99%. I just had Better run my options. Knowing I don't see myself in this house in 6 years, I don't think it makes sense to pay any points. So I have 2 no point options I'm looking at. Assuming my son graduates in 5 years, I can retire in 3 years, at that point I might want to move in w/ someone (hopefully still the BF) or downsize. There is also the fact that my mom is leaving her house to me (1 mile from where I live now) and she has stage 4 breast cancer...though I'm hoping for 19 more years (took 19 years for her breast cancer to come back).....and she's been doing AWESOME! Her tumor is shrinking. But nonetheless at some point her house will be mine.

Currently - 2.99% payment $1208
Option 1 - 3% payment $1191 (need $432 to close) - get $2k Amex offer make $1568
Option 2 - 2.875% payment $1172 (need $1770 to close) - get $2k Amex offer make $230

Looking at what I get right now, I'd roughly get $1300 more by choosing the higher interest rate. If i'm doing the math right, my monthly savings different between 1 and 2 is $19. To make up that $1300 difference (thanks to the amex offer) I'm looking at needing 6.5 years to recoop, right?

Am I reading all this correctly? Are there added costs I'm missing in running the numbers? Because to me it seems that bumping up to 3% makes more sense....I save $17/mo but I get $1568 back from the Amex offer.

For the record, Remember that Better will match all other offers, given that you have a dated loan estimate from them less than 24 hours old when sent. I think you could do better than those numbers with loan cabin, match it, and make even more back.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

@palhockeymomof2

Did you make it through the storm? Hope you still have power and are doing okay.

We are fine thanks for asking..thankfully it went out to sea and all we got was some rain and light wind

 

[becauseimnew]

You guys, I’m obsessed with reading Japan trip reports, I wish there were more.

 

[Haley R]

You guys, I’m obsessed with reading Japan trip reports, I wish there were more.

Have you looked at Tom bricker’s blog called travel caffeine? I also like tdr explorer

 

[djmeredith]

Biggest bang - transfer to Hyatt or airline partners for business or first class redemptions. But Hyatt, will depend on if there are any locations that interest you and what the cash to points comparison is like. Airline redemptions are a whole other study in itself.

Easiest - Pay Yourself Back for dining, grocery, or home improvement charges at 1.25 cent per point. 70k points would be $875. Those categories are through Sept 30, we don't know what they'll be after that yet.

Sort of a follow up question about using points for business/first class. I have been looking for 2 tix next summer to either Europe or Africa and I cannot find any of the good seats for less than around 150k pts. I have no idea if that is a good deal or not, but thinking no. Where can I find good "tips" for getting good mileage deals?

 

[lsutigers03]

Has anyone seen or done the SoFi loan and received the bonus mentioned by Frequent Miler?

https://frequentmiler.com/sofi-take...m=email&utm_campaign=Frequent Miler (Instant)

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

For the record, Remember that Better will match all other offers, given that you have a dated loan estimate from them less than 24 hours old when sent. I think you could do better than those numbers with loan cabin, match it, and make even more back.

Is loan cabin I'm assuming another lender? I think it did say other offers don't apply, so not sure if it's matching and/or the Amex offer.