I love credit cards so much! v5.0 - 2022 (see first page for add'l details)

[CyndiLouWho]

i keep a minimal amount in every account in case it goes back up. Maybe I'm crazy but I also move when its .5% or higher. wealth front is almost 3% what is discover?

Wealthfront lists 2.55%. Discover has 2.25% but a 2.3% thru aaii.com

 

[georgina]

Someone posted on another thread a link to an Ally bonus, sign up by 10/21, add money by 10/31 and keep it there until 1/15/23, get a 1% of the principal bonus on top of the 2.25% interest.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ally-bank-bonus-earn-up-to-500-1-of-deposit-new-existing-customers/

 

[elgerber]

Someone posted on another thread a link to an Ally bonus, sign up by 10/21, add money by 10/31 and keep it there until 1/15/23, get a 1% of the principal bonus on top of the 2.25% interest.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ally-bank-bonus-earn-up-to-500-1-of-deposit-new-existing-customers/

I saw that earlier, but I have all my money tied up in multiple bank bonuses and ibonds LOL. I just took a chunk out of Ally last week, so I don't dare put it back.

 

[platamama]

Someone posted on another thread a link to an Ally bonus, sign up by 10/21, add money by 10/31 and keep it there until 1/15/23, get a 1% of the principal bonus on top of the 2.25% interest.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ally-bank-bonus-earn-up-to-500-1-of-deposit-new-existing-customers/

Thanks for sharing over here. Guess I could've done that. haha

I saw that earlier, but I have all my money tied up in multiple bank bonuses and ibonds LOL. I just took a chunk out of Ally last week, so I don't dare put it back.

Ally is savvy. The terms of the bonus specifically state that your account balance at the end of 10/11/22 (note the promo was announced on 10/12/22) is what would be your "beginning balance" for the sake of the promotion. So if you drew down your Ally balance before 10/11/22, then you can re-shuffle your funds if it's feasible for you, and Ally would allow you to get the bonus. I'd hold onto the I bonds though!

This restriction makes me really have to think how best I can shuffle my funds around, because the bulk of my cash is in Ally. whomp whomp

 

[elgerber]

Thanks for sharing over here. Guess I could've done that. haha

Ally is savvy. The terms of the bonus specifically state that your account balance at the end of 10/11/22 (note the promo was announced on 10/12/22) is what would be your "beginning balance" for the sake of the promotion. So if you drew down your Ally balance before 10/11/22, then you can re-shuffle your funds if it's feasible for you, and Ally would allow you to get the bonus. I'd hold onto the I bonds though!

This restriction makes me really have to think how best I can shuffle my funds around, because the bulk of my cash is in Ally. whomp whomp

Yeah not touching the bonds. Can’t anyway. It’s too early. I have a fair amount in Discover too but not sure I feel like dealing with all of that for 1%. I will have to think about it. I had a fight with Ally recently so I have wanted to diversify some if my funds elsewhere.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Yeah not touching the bonds. Can’t anyway. It’s too early. I have a fair amount in Discover too but not sure I feel like dealing with all of that for 1%. I will have to think about it. I had a fight with Ally recently so I have wanted to diversify some if my funds elsewhere.

How was setting up the I-bonds? I just need to do it by the end of the month but I've been avoiding it for some reason.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

How was setting up the I-bonds? I just need to do it by the end of the month but I've been avoiding it for some reason.

Super easy. Treasurydirect.gov The only issue was the site was slow and crashed a couple times probably due to all the traffic. But I was easily able to set up my account and link a bank account. Then I added an minor account for DS and purchased bonds for both.

 

[platamama]

Super easy. Treasurydirect.com.

It's actually TreasuryDirect.gov

 

[elgerber]

How was setting up the I-bonds? I just need to do it by the end of the month but I've been avoiding it for some reason.

It was very easy. Got the max for me and P2 then bought the max gift amount also.

 

[reliev]

Super easy. Treasurydirect.com. The only issue was the site was slow and crashed a couple times probably due to all the traffic. But I was easily able to set up my account and link a bank account. Then I added an minor account for DS and purchased bonds for both.

I buy mine through yotta was easy and $50 increments.

 

[Communicore1991]

Y'all. This is so exciting. (Maybe it's old news, but it was new news to me!) For the CFF PayPal 5% this quarter . . .

In the PayPal app, go to Payments, then Bills. Search for all kinds of bills - my County property tax bill was available to be paid by PayPal! My County charges a 2% fee for credit cards, but they didn't charge the fee when I paid through PayPal. I did a small $20 test payment - sure enough, $20 was charged to my credit card, and a full $20 was taken off my remaining balance on my tax bill. This is extra exciting for the 5% on CFF this quarter, but beyond that, it means I can get credit card points even when PayPal isn't the quarterly category - I'll just pay through PayPal with my CFU to get 1.5x.

One thing I did notice, is that when paying through the "Bills" section, it says that it'll use my PayPal balance first, and then charge to my default credit card. I couldn't find a way to have it NOT use my PayPal balance, so I just transferred my entire PayPal balance to my bank account before I did my test payment. Kind of annoying, because I like having a little bit of a balance, but totally worth it!

There's also an option for credit cards here. Anyone know if you can buy off your credit card balance with another card through PayPal and avoid fees? That could really help with meeting minimum spend!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

It's actually TreasuryDirect.gov

Yikes, sorry.

 

[Psychodisney]

My memory on some recommendations is failing me. I'm considering getting the SW business card for 80k points. If I'm denied, do I need to wait a certain period before trying for a personal card. I remember there used to be a rule of applying for a business or personal card first...but I can't find anything supporting my failing memory. lol

 

[palhockeymomof2]

My memory on some recommendations is failing me. I'm considering getting the SW business card for 80k points. If I'm denied, do I need to wait a certain period before trying for a personal card. I remember there used to be a rule of applying for a business or personal card first...but I can't find anything supporting my failing memory. lol

If denied for the business card you can apply the next day for a personal one…Chase usually has a 1/30 day application rule on business cards and 2/30 applications for personal cards

 

[garada3]

Advice Please

I would like to start taking advantage of credit card rewards to help fund future travel.

Our details, as suggested in post 2:

1. No cards have been opened in the last 24 months.
2. Typical monthly spend on cc: $1,500
Pay in full each month
Flights out of IAD
No airline preference (see next item)
Southwest does service IAD, but we prefer not to fly them
No hotel preference
No air points
No hotel points
No desire to churn cards or pay annual fee ( but will if worth it)
Future retirement travel dreams include:
Band of Brothers tour, Viking River cruise, UK, Alaska,
National Parks, New Zealand
Travel group: just 2, already retired husband & I will retire in June

We currently use the no fee Chase Disney card as our primary card and have a card through BB&T (no reward program) as a back up card.

Thanks and I look forward to your suggestions.

 

[Psychodisney]

If denied for the business card you can apply the next day for a personal one…Chase usually has a 1/30 day application rule on business cards and 2/30 applications for personal cards

Exactly the info I was looking for! Thank you!

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Advice Please

I would like to start taking advantage of credit card rewards to help fund future travel.

Our details, as suggested in post 2:

1. No cards have been opened in the last 24 months.
2. Typical monthly spend on cc: $1,500
Pay in full each month
Flights out of IAD
No airline preference (see next item)
Southwest does service IAD, but we prefer not to fly them
No hotel preference
No air points
No hotel points
No desire to churn cards or pay annual fee ( but will if worth it)
Future retirement travel dreams include:
Band of Brothers tour, Viking River cruise, UK, Alaska,
National Parks, New Zealand
Travel group: just 2, already retired husband & I will retire in June

We currently use the no fee Chase Disney card as our primary card and have a card through BB&T (no reward program) as a back up card.

Thanks and I look forward to your suggestions.

I would recommend a Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) card, which has a special elevated offer of 70,000 Ultimate Rewards (UR) points if you log into your chase account and look for offers. The MSR is $4,000 in 3 months, so fits with your monthly organic cc spend. The value of those points is (70k +4k) is just over $900, so that will make the annual fee of $95 worth it. There are other benefits which will offset the $95 annual fee.

You can use URs to transfer to select airline and hotel programs, or use through their portal (sort of like expedia) to book travel. You'll get much more value transferring, typically.

I would also recommend that you get your partner (P2) to open the same card after you have. P2 will earn a similar bonus and if he uses a link you create, you'll earn extra points. You can then pool your UR together.

Congrats on your retirements and plans to travel. I would begin to plot out one or two of these trips and then see what airlines or hotels you might like to use and see if URs can help offset some of these trip costs for you. We are happy to help you understand more about transferring, etc once you have more specifics regarding travel.

Many of us open cards primarily for the SUB, but you may be looking for a new card that can be your new primary daily cc, if that's what you meant in "not interested in churning." If that's the case, others might chime in on better suggestions. But, know that you'll earn at least 74k points just for spending $4,000 on this card. Let's say, instead, you just want a card that give you 2x on everything and are willing to forgo a big sign up bonus. You'd have to spend $37,000 (25 months of organic spending) just to earn what you could earn in one high SUB over the course of 3 months.

 

[sinnika]

I mentioned earlier that I booked a DCL transpacific cruise for Feb 2024 and need 2 one way flights to Sydney from Houston. In looking at partner airlines, having an Alaska Airlines business credit card may be beneficial. And Alaska may be in my daughter’s future for her next duty station so frequent trips to Alaska could be in my future. I’m currently making frequent trips to Germany now using United points since she is stationed there. The Alaska biz card has 70,000 bonus miles for a $4,000 spend. This would be my first BOA card. Last card was a CIU in July. Would love any feedback or tips. Trying to get lie flat seats to Sydney without breaking the bank seems…challenging.

 

[afan]

I mentioned earlier that I booked a DCL transpacific cruise for Feb 2024 and need 2 one way flights to Sydney from Houston. In looking at partner airlines, having an Alaska Airlines business credit card may be beneficial. And Alaska may be in my daughter’s future for her next duty station so frequent trips to Alaska could be in my future. I’m currently making frequent trips to Germany now using United points. The Alaska biz card has 70,000 bonus miles for a $4,000 spend. This would be my first BOA card. Last card was a CIU in July. Would love any feedback or tips. Trying to get lie flat seats to Sydney without breaking the bank seems…challenging.

BofA can be hard to get a card with if you don't/have never had a relationship with them. Not sure how it would work with a biz card being first, if there's a way to recon a denial. With personal you can often work around it by making a deposit, forget what all that entails since I've never had to do it.

I will say the biz cards are still churnable much quicker than the personal. They are valuable miles but aside from flying, subs are the only way to get miles. Outside of tickets on Alaska everything is 1 mile/$ on both cards.

Also consider that you'll want a plan b or c both to get to Sydney and to use any miles you get and then end up not using.

 

[spacerangerqueen]

I want to PC DH's CSP to a CSR since we each now have a CSP and no CSR. However, I forgot that he needs 10k credit limit and he only has $6k. He doesn't have any other personal cards with Chase since I closed his SW in January. They said it's a hard pull to get his credit line increased. Should we do it? He's 2/24 so I'm not too concerned on that, but he did just get approved for the Citi Premier yesterday.