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

[SouthFayetteFan]

I needed a new MSR and thought I would get the IHG card. I tried an incognito browser at the top of the hour and got the 100000 platinum offer instead with 10X points on groceries and gas for 6 months. I was approved! This will be my first experience with MR points. What do I need to know?

DH did the IHG offer so we did get that bonus too, I guess this is the best of both worlds!

How do you plan to use your MR points? That's probably what you would want to research at this point.

 

[jenmsmith]

Totally ..but my daughter had her baby girl today..Madison Hope...... our first grandchild

Congratulations!!

 

[Jaydee51]

Good morning All, need advice on which cards to use for large purchase I have to make in the next week.

I will be spending approximately $3,500


These are my top card options:
1. Chase Freedom Unlimited
2. Marriot Bonvoy Visa
3. Citibank Thank You Preferred Mastercard
4. American Airlines Citi Advantage Mastercard
5. American Airlines Advantage Aviator Mastercard


What is my best option? (goal is either miles or cashback)

Thanks in advance all!

 

[Albort]

Good morning All, need advice on which cards to use for large purchase I have to make in the next week.

I will be spending approximately $3,500


These are my top card options:
1. Chase Freedom Unlimited
2. Marriot Bonvoy Visa
3. Citibank Thank You Preferred Mastercard
4. American Airlines Citi Advantage Mastercard
5. American Airlines Advantage Aviator Mastercard


What is my best option? (goal is either miles or cashback)

Thanks in advance all!

would you be willing to app for a new card or does it have to be one of the top 5. CFU is probably your best card but you will need a CSR/CSP/CIP in the future to transfer into a program.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Since Whitmer has said schools need to have a plan by 3/1, my district took that to mean, we are going back F2F on 1/25. UGH!

So I'm spending my Saturday looking for a last minute get away before I go back, a place to go for my Feb break, and what to do for Spring Break......I'm gonna need the mental aspects of vacation to deal with the sh*tshow we're about to walk into.....

Not to mention today is the first time I remember sun in Michigan in like 2 months!

 

[castormom4]

Anyone know when they’ll release the next set of flights for Frontier?

Long story short our flight home was cancelled March 2020. We had to rent a suburban for $1200 to get home from FL. The flight became a $1,000 credit to use in 60 days I believe. So I booked us a flight for March 2021. I’m literally due with baby #5 the day it leaves. We have no other travel planned except for an RV trip the entire month of July.

so my only thoughts are to:
1) just let the money go....ugh
2) Book a flight for Nov (DH does have vacation scheduled) but I couldn’t even say all the kids could come with sports?
3) Pray I can somehow move it to Mar 2022...even though I don’t even know where we’re going or what requirements will be to fly or leave the country (vaccine? Which we personally will not be getting...)

 

[Limes96]

I have a question for the Sams Club shoppers. What’s the best deal on visa gc’s at Sam’s? And are there ever problems with these not working/being properly activated? The best deal I see online is a $200 vgc with a $6.48 fee. Do they have better deals in store? Like a $500 card or something?

 

[Jaydee51]

would you be willing to app for a new card or does it have to be one of the top 5. CFU is probably your best card but you will need a CSR/CSP/CIP in the future to transfer into a program.

Yes, I would be willing. Will also have more expenses in a couple of weeks so i'm open to best strategy.

 

[Brandilla]

Does capitalone PC like Chase does? Many years ago (like 13) I opened a GM earnings card because it had a balance transfer offer that I wanted to utilize. I haven't used it in several years and truly forgot about it until 2 days ago. It got dropped to a $500 limit, so I think the next step is probably to close due to non use. But that will definitely hurt my average age of credit.

I would like to PC it to something I might actually use sometime, but don't want a hard pull on my credit. Does capitalone do that? I looked online and nowhere to message them, only call, which I haven't had a chance to do.

 

[Minnie368]

@Brandilla- I PCd a Venture to a Quicksilver earlier this year, so I know they do it. Not sure what the options are for that card though.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

WOOOOO!

Saw that AA was having web deals right now. Just booked a quickie trip to Charleston the weekend before I go back to school! My really good friend lives there. Costing me only 14k miles and $11.

Now time to find some other great deals, LOL

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Good morning All, need advice on which cards to use for large purchase I have to make in the next week.

I will be spending approximately $3,500


These are my top card options:
1. Chase Freedom Unlimited
2. Marriot Bonvoy Visa
3. Citibank Thank You Preferred Mastercard
4. American Airlines Citi Advantage Mastercard
5. American Airlines Advantage Aviator Mastercard


What is my best option? (goal is either miles or cashback)

Thanks in advance all!

Out of those 5...I’d use the CFU.....but if you can I’d look into a new card for the sign up bonus...

 

[afan]

As a former rental owner, I feel your pain. I sold my rentals a few years back and have absolutely no regrets, well, other than not doing it sooner!

I wish I could have sold it long ago, but I had to wait for the market where my house is to get better. And I'm trying to embrace the short term stress because I'll lose the long term, back of my mind, not conscious of it, stress once it sells. It'll also allow me to fully fund my emergency account, once I figure out what amount I want that to be, and invest the rest somehow as when it became a rental it became part of my retirement. Though I also want some growing in something that's slightly more easily accessible should I want a down payment, which is also what it's for. But my financial guy will figure that all out for me.

 

[KPK02090]

I'm getting ready to apply for a CIC, but am stumped on the categories for business. In the past I used real estate as we had a summer rental property that I used as my business. We sold the house this fall and I've read the real estate category has been if-y lately on approvals anyway. So I have two other options - I do some work as an independent contractor doing, I guess you would say, consulting? - the projects vary from admin support, project management, data analysis. But I can't figure out what category and sub-categories this falls under.
Or my other option is the old stand-by of selling on ebay. I don't mind which I go with, really just want to go with the one that has a higher chance of approval. I'm thinking "Retail, Books, Hobbies, Music, Sports, General, Nonstore retail then sub cateogory- Direct Selling Establishments for ebay sales??
Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

 

[sinnika]

I am looking for my next cards to apply for the reward points. My goal is to accumulate as much travel points for overseas travel. I’ve never used points to travel overseas. DH and I will be traveling from Houston to Germany as often as possible over next 3 years. DD is stationed at Ramstein AF base. My current recent cards are the following:
04/2018 Chase SW business
07/2019 CSP
10/2019 CF
01/2020 Cap One Spark Business.
I plan to cancel the Chase SW biz card in May when the annual fee is due. I am thinking to cancel the capital one spark business and move the reward points to another capital one personal card. I currently have a SW CP which expires in June 2021 I plan to apply for another SW business card(s) at the end of 2021 to renew the CP. My biz spend is over $5000 per month. I have almost 160,000 UR points and 365,000 miles with Cap One. I’m considering the following cards: chase business ink preferred and United Airlines credit card. Looking for who has the best bonuses going on right now so I’m open to other recommendations. Thanks.

 

[Jaydee51]

Out of those 5...I’d use the CFU.....but if you can I’d look into a new card for the sign up bonus...

thanks! which has best sign up option now?

 

[djmeredith]

I'm getting ready to apply for a CIC, but am stumped on the categories for business. In the past I used real estate as we had a summer rental property that I used as my business. We sold the house this fall and I've read the real estate category has been if-y lately on approvals anyway. So I have two other options - I do some work as an independent contractor doing, I guess you would say, consulting? - the projects vary from admin support, project management, data analysis. But I can't figure out what category and sub-categories this falls under.
Or my other option is the old stand-by of selling on ebay. I don't mind which I go with, really just want to go with the one that has a higher chance of approval. I'm thinking "Retail, Books, Hobbies, Music, Sports, General, Nonstore retail then sub cateogory- Direct Selling Establishments for ebay sales??
Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

I was in a similar position last week when I applied for the SW Performance. Your consulting business may fall under "professional services" or whatever that category name is. I am by no means an expert but I got approved last week for the SW Performance using my professional services. I ended up using professional services because it has the highest revenue.

 

[wanderlust7]

thanks! which has best sign up option now?

I'd be concerned with getting the card in time for your purchase next week. The premium cards will ship the fastest, if you're okay with high annual fee, but benefits to offset it.

The Amex Plat, you can find 100k MRs ($5000 spend) with 10x grocery. Or if you're new to Amex, you might be able to pull up the 125k one. $550 annual fee, but you get $200/year airline incidental credit, $200/year Uber (split out monthly), $50/6 months Saks, and $30/month Paypal until June. Plus lounge access and TSA/Global Entry credit.

The Amex Hilton Aspire you'll also get quickly. 150k Hilton points, $4000 spend. $450 annual fee, free standard night soon after you get the card and again each anniversary. $250 airline incidentals credit, $250 resort credit (has to be on the list).

There's also the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant, but I think you're locked out with your Chase Bonvoy. The Amex Plat Biz, I think is currently 95k MR but spend is high at $15,000.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve should also ship quickly, but if you're not instantly approved, you'll have to call to hopefully push it through. Amex cards are instantly approved more often. Does your purchase take Amex? The CSR would pair nicely with your CFU, since you can move points to the CSR and get 1.5 cent per point redemption through the travel portal or Pay Yourself Back for restaurants/grocery/home improvement. Annual fee is $550, with a $300 credit for travel or currently also grocery/gas, and $60 Grubhub. 50k URs for $4000 spend.

 

[KPK02090]

I was in a similar position last week when I applied for the SW Performance. Your consulting business may fall under "professional services" or whatever that category name is. I am by no means an expert but I got approved last week for the SW Performance using my professional services. I ended up using professional services because it has the highest revenue.

Thanks for the info. So is it the one that says: "Professional, Scientific, Tech Services" then there's a sub category, "Business Services" but after that there are science-y R&D sub categories. Do you have to select a third level category? Because none of those apply.

 

[wanderlust7]

I am looking for my next cards to apply for the reward points. My goal is to accumulate as much travel points for overseas travel. I’ve never used points to travel overseas. DH and I will be traveling from Houston to Germany as often as possible over next 3 years. DD is stationed at Ramstein AF base. My current recent cards are the following:
04/2018 Chase SW business
07/2019 CSP
10/2019 CF
01/2020 Cap One Spark Business.
I plan to cancel the Chase SW biz card in May when the annual fee is due. I am thinking to cancel the capital one spark business and move the reward points to another capital one personal card. I currently have a SW CP which expires in June 2021 I plan to apply for another SW business card(s) at the end of 2021 to renew the CP. My biz spend is over $5000 per month. I have almost 160,000 UR points and 365,000 miles with Cap One. I’m considering the following cards: chase business ink preferred and United Airlines credit card. Looking for who has the best bonuses going on right now so I’m open to other recommendations. Thanks.

The CIP is a good choice since you can meet the spend. You get 100k URs for $15k spend, $95 annual fee. The Chase Ink Unlimited or Cash are good too at 75k for $7500 spend, no annual fees. Take a look at the spend categories and see if any fits your business. CIU is 1.5x everything. After you get any of these cards, you can then support your DH to get one for another 20k. T