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

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Almost feel like this is a silly question but if you are just working on MSRs back to back there is not really a reason to do the Chase 5X offers on those targeted cards right?

I feel the MSR bonus is always going to be more valuable but want to make sure I am not missing something staring me in the face.

If I know I'm going to hit my MSR, I will try to maximize my other bonus offers. More often than not, I just focus on gas, food, grocery offers. I know I have the 5x everything on my IHG card right now. I do try to do the math and thing what it would be earning me. I can get a room in NC for about 10-15k/night. So I need to think, what does that spending do for me vs a different card (since I have no MSR going on right now). I tend to be defaulting to my CSR for some reason right now

 

[wanderlust7]

Anyone know where to find historical/past SUB offers on various cards? I'm at 3/24, with no Chase cards calling my name (unless the drop the damn spend on the inks). So I'm thinking of adding to my AA miles, but I have no clue if the offers out there are great or not. Or maybe I'll see if Amex still hates me, LOL. I'm sure they do.

Also is AA still allowing mileage award cancels w/ no fees? I am debating when I hit NC solo. I have the first week of my summer break on hold, and I have a week in July. But my IHG FNC could be used in Vegas in June, so I'm trying to talk the BF into that. Have a mentioned how much it SUCKS that I can't plan anything w/ him, LOL. Sure HE can hop on any flight for free last minute, but I can't!

My trips to NC this year, I'm using my IHG points since it's stay 3 get 4th free. Part of me is like, I don't need to say 4 nights. But I wanna stay at least 3, and when the 4th is free, why not, LOL. But these 2 trips will drain a lot of my points. What's Chase's policy on churning that card? I got it 10/2018. I don't want to necessarily be without it, as I use it for the free cell phone coverage. So if I cancelled, I'd want to reapply right away. I have the free one now (just got it 1/21), so I could always try to churn that down the road. As long as I'm under 5/24 does Chase normally play nice?



You've spoken my love language....Zaxbys


Well I wish I was the 50% you got right, LOL.


San Fran to Yosemite, took WAYYYYYYYYY longer than we were expecting. I think the day we went it turned into a 27 hour day. UGH. I missed the Ansel Adams tour/walk. And the only wildlife we saw were chipmunks by the dumpsters.

This site has historical charts:

https://www.uscreditcardguide.com/

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Almost feel like this is a silly question but if you are just working on MSRs back to back there is not really a reason to do the Chase 5X offers on those targeted cards right?

I feel the MSR bonus is always going to be more valuable but want to make sure I am not missing something staring me in the face.

A SUB is the way to go.

I think these offers are just fillers if you are between MSRs, or if you are trying to put a little spend on a variety of cards to keep the MAN happy. For example, the 5% Disney offer, up to $1500= $75. 5x points up to $1500= $112 if you get 1.5cents per point.

 

[Killer Fish]

If I know I'm going to hit my MSR, I will try to maximize my other bonus offers. More often than not, I just focus on gas, food, grocery offers. I know I have the 5x everything on my IHG card right now. I do try to do the math and thing what it would be earning me. I can get a room in NC for about 10-15k/night. So I need to think, what does that spending do for me vs a different card (since I have no MSR going on right now). I tend to be defaulting to my CSR for some reason right now

I guess since I am in 2 player mode I am always going from one MSR to the next (usually try to have new card delivered right as MSR ending) and I have a year long Jetblue Biz card 2nd part MSR that I am slowly working on. If I ever have a great cash back offer on Amex or Chase offers I will do that.

 

[WVMomof3]

4 sets of tax returns done. Finally! YAYYYYYY I can't wait till kids do their own. I would have had them help but all their info is mailed here and they are not here so lucky me got to do all of them.

 

[WVMomof3]

My suggestion is to fly into Denver and then head to the mountains. So many outdoor options. My DH and I went there for our joint 40th birthdays and it was one of our best trips ever (no kids might have had something to do with it to). We went over Labor Day weekend and the weather was perfect. We've been back several times since, mostly in the summer, and have been in early October. I wouldn't go too far past that time as in the high elevations they can get snow and it will close roads.

2 years ago DH and I flew into San Francisco, rented a car and drove up the coast to see the Redwood trees. It was an amazing trip (once we got out of SF). Only regret, we didn’t stay longer.

I would second San Francisco- October is perfect weather. Lots to do in and around San Francisco.

Also, I know you said no beach, but Hawaii or Riviera Maya. Lots pf non-beach activities there.

Another vote for CO. Don't wait until October though. Take a look at Summit County. Great hiking and paved bike trails. Beautiful lake in Dillon, CO. You could do some time in Denver and some time up in Summit county. Not sure about Hyatt properties...maybe in Breckenridge or Vail?

Happy to see the Northern California recommendations, my neck of the woods. There are some great, high-value Hyatt redemptions here. Top would be Ventana Inn in Big Sur. 30k for a standard room (might be hard to find though) and all inclusive. Great hiking and you can go kayaking down around Monterey. We've gone before in Elkhorn Slough, the sea otters are really cute. We also enjoyed our stay at Carmel Valley Ranch (25k points). The resort has several guided hikes and it's next to a regional park.

If you go to Napa, there's a new Alila there (30k points). We have plans to go next year. The reviews I've seen have been really great. Or you can stay in town at the Andaz (25k points, but sometimes cash is a better deal on weekdays). We have plans to go there next month.

Thanks for the recommendations. We talked about San Francisco area. I guess we need to decide if we are doing 2 short trips or one longer trip because that is too far for a shorter trip. We were supposed to spend a few days in SF last year on the way to Hawaii and that obviously didn't happen. For some reason I don't really have the desire to replan Hawaii. The Alaska talk actually had me looking there also. Ughh I am horrible at making decisions.

 

[StephPlum]

Almost feel like this is a silly question but if you are just working on MSRs back to back there is not really a reason to do the Chase 5X offers on those targeted cards right?

I feel the MSR bonus is always going to be more valuable but want to make sure I am not missing something staring me in the face.

A SUB is the way to go.

I think these offers are just fillers if you are between MSRs, or if you are trying to put a little spend on a variety of cards to keep the MAN happy. For example, the 5% Disney offer, up to $1500= $75. 5x points up to $1500= $112 if you get 1.5cents per point.

This is how I am. I just don't have enough spend to hit MSRs and these other offers. I know a bad problem to have

Latest dilemma. Everytime I log into DH's Amex account he has the sign up for a Biz Plat card offer. Today the offer is 150K MRs which sounds amazing except I have no idea how we would spend 15K in 3 months on AMEX and 2. I don't know what I would do with those MRs except cash out which I would need to research how tough that is.

 

[lsutigers03]

Have a CIU and a CSP heading my way next week. Gonna be raining UR's up in here.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Have a CIU and a CSP heading my way next week. Gonna be raining UR's up in here.

Congrats

 

[DisneyMomJen]

Any ideas on where to go for a 50th birthday? It will be last week in August. I was thinking Aruba but DH says please no more beach. We have been to Miami Beach and Hilton head this year and we both actually hate the beach. Lol. Best if we can fly SW to use that companion pass that’s been hardly used. And also prefer Hyatt just because we are globalist. We like outdoor hiking/biking/kayaking and such. I was actually thinking we would go somewhere in October because DH is 50 in August and I’m in November so thought we could just do one trip to celebrate both of us but I’m just itching to plan a trip. Hoping to pick something while change window is open.

We went to Yellowstone for my husband's 50th and it was an awesome trip!

 

[wanderlust7]

This is how I am. I just don't have enough spend to hit MSRs and these other offers. I know a bad problem to have

Latest dilemma. Everytime I log into DH's Amex account he has the sign up for a Biz Plat card offer. Today the offer is 150K MRs which sounds amazing except I have no idea how we would spend 15K in 3 months on AMEX and 2. I don't know what I would do with those MRs except cash out which I would need to research how tough that is.

Cash out is easy if you're willing to get a Schwab platinum card. Comes with all the same benefits as the personal plat, AF $550, SUB 50k. You also need a Schwab brokerage account. Then you can cash out at 1.25 cent per point, or $1875 with that 150k SUB.

 

[georgina]

4 sets of tax returns done. Finally! YAYYYYYY I can't wait till kids do their own. I would have had them help but all their info is mailed here and they are not here so lucky me got to do all of them.

I have 3 kids. Oldest is fully independent. Yay. Youngest I transitioned to Turbo Tax last year but she still called me with lots of questions. This year she had a lot of things I was not familiar with (her software company gives her options and she exercised some and sold some). She was trying to work with a CPA but she wore him out with questions and he told her on May 10 he was not the person to do her taxes! So I have been talking her through turbo tax again. OMG! My middle DS is somewhere on the Aspberger's spectrum, I have been helping him for years, especially as he has to pay NY non-resident taxes. This year his company abandoned their NY offices so I am hoping he can now just do federal on his own in the future (he lives in Washington which has no state income tax). FUN!

 

[tink1970]

Hi everyone! I haven't been around for a while but I have a question for the airline redemption experts... I'm thinking of going to Italy at the end of October.
1) Do you guys think it'll be safe to fly by then.
2) I'm flying into Rome. Any advice on what airline I should use? I usually fly Delta. I found a Delta one redemption for 210K round trip. Is that good? I could also use UR for 230K
3) Any good hotels in Rome? I have Hyatt Globalist and Hilton Diamond status. I have Marriott points too.
Thanks in advance.

1) that's up to you and your risk aversion/tolerance level

2) Delta One for 210K RT is a STEAL and I would book now, ask questions later (often Delta One, one way, runs up to 360K skymiles) if you're feeling confident about travel this fall.

3) I've only stayed at a Westin in Rome-it was nice but I'm sure others will have suggestions for Hilton/Hyatt.

 

[smallsy]

Need destination recs for a couples vacation in July! (Anything but SC beaches)

The kids are staying with the grandparents the 3rd week of July and we'd love to go somewhere. The problem is, we have NO idea where. We've burned through a lot of our URs with PYB but do have some to spare. We also have some Marriott points + FNC. Would prefer to fly SW since we have DH's CP. We went to Sedona the year we got married and have thought about that. We'd love to see a national park like Yellowstone, but I know those typically need more than a couple months planning to do them well. We're pretty open to whatever but we're not big eaters and DH doesn't drink so all-inclusive isn't really that appealing. TIA

 

[becauseimnew]

Cash out is easy if you're willing to get a Schwab platinum card. Comes with all the same benefits as the personal plat, AF $550, SUB 50k. You also need a Schwab brokerage account. Then you can cash out at 1.25 cent per point, or $1875 with that 150k SUB.

Except for you’ll pay $595 for the Biz plat & $550 for the Schwab. Which is why I still haven’t gotten the Schwab. I’ve found other ways to spend my MRS, mostly transferring to airlines and hotels during their bonus transfers. and the bigger one is that it would take a 5/24 slot.

 

[becauseimnew]

Need destination recs for a couples vacation in July! (Anything but SC beaches)

The kids are staying with the grandparents the 3rd week of July and we'd love to go somewhere. The problem is, we have NO idea where. We've burned through a lot of our URs with PYB but do have some to spare. We also have some Marriott points + FNC. Would prefer to fly SW since we have DH's CP. We went to Sedona the year we got married and have thought about that. We'd love to see a national park like Yellowstone, but I know those typically need more than a couple months planning to do them well. We're pretty open to whatever but we're not big eaters and DH doesn't drink so all-inclusive isn't really that appealing. TIA

What about San Diego? We love SD.

 

[WVMomof3]

We went to Yellowstone for my husband's 50th and it was an awesome trip!

We did Yellowstone 2 years ago. We really enjoyed it. DH would like to go back but I think I’ve been there done that.

 

[becauseimnew]

Who here has a Peloton? If we use their Financing, will it count towards 5/24? We have the cash, but if it's 0% interest why not? unless it counts as a credit card.

 

[chattadisser]

Who here has a Peloton? If we use their Financing, will it count towards 5/24? We have the cash, but if it's 0% interest why not? unless it counts as a credit card.

We just ordered ours and it comes on Friday. We used the CSR and got 10X points for the purchase. I think they still have that going on. I don't think using their finance option counts as a credit card slot.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I made a cash reservation at the DoubleTree in Disney Springs to use the $250 resort credit on my aspire. When I made the reservation, it said the reservation required a credit card deposit equal to the total amount of the room + fees. When do they actually charge the deposit? I don't see a pending charge for any amount, will I need to call to have them charge the card in advance? The night I booked is after my Aspire anniversary, but I'm hoping to use my $250 resort credit from this year for the stay.

I think most of the time, they don't charge right away. Maybe if you call? But make sure you didn't use the credit already, because if it's a card you have had a while, last year they automatically used your resort credit for restaurant charges. My Aspire resort credit resets in June, so last July it was used for restaurants.