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

[Alexle2007]

A bit off topic but I know we have some folks who buy Rothy’s, I had 2 pair that I bought recently that I needed to return. The first one, I got QR code. Th second pair I got the QR code and then the following day Rothy’s processed my return before I had shipped. I went this evening to Staples to send them back and the QR code for the one that I had already received my refund said that my return was already completed. Does that mean I can keep that pair of shoes? Anyone have this experience.

 

[havaneselover]

So today I concluded my search for the perfect kitchen table to replace my honey pine Pottery Barn table circa 1999. The James & James table I found on Craigslist two hours away fit in my Odyssey. I was going to get a cargo van from Budget, but after reserving one I got a call saying Amazon is using all of the cargo vans. So I decided to take a chance and it fit. The table is beautiful. The couple was super nice (Craigslist scares me). I just ordered some chairs which I hope will work. They're Safavieh (nothing fancy) and Walmart happened to have them at the best price so I can return them in store if they don't work and I used my Chase Freedom to buy them.

Of course I need to take the legs off the PB table to store it for my daughter and I don't have the right size allen wrench so my little kitchen looks ridiculous with two kitchen tables

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

You are absolutely right. Everyone would like Italy or something Mediterranean, but I'm worried about doing that in the summer with the heat and tourists. I'm looking for pleasant weather in the summer in a country not overrun with tourists (I don't mind crowds, but I don't want Venice in July crowds. )

I agree to stay away from Italy/Mediterranean in the summer. If you could do shoulder months, that would be better, but that's so hard with school. Greece is a great trip as well, if you can do shoulder months.
Our fav family trip of all time is Iceland. Beautiful outdoors. I wouldn't say amazing food. You could find museums if you wanted to. But the gem is really the amazing landscape. It's the perfect trip for a family if you are cool with AirBNBs. Can't remember where you fly from, but a pretty easy flight from the midwest or east coast.

I'd say it's unlikely to post that fast. Typically points go pending 2-4 weeks after the approval. I also haven't heard anything different, so check after Tuesday nights ET. That's when they have been batch processing support points. Occasionally they're delayed and you'll see it go pending on Wed or Thurs, but in general that's when I check.

It'd be rare for points to go pending/post less than a week after approval so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll be included in your 2023 balance.

Another thank you to you; appreciate the details. I knew someone around here had all the deets on batch processing. I'm hoping if that's the case, my DD will get a SW personal card, which will get me to CP. Towards the end of January, I'd rather do an Ink then. It would be nice if the elevated bonus stayed around til then.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Topic: Costa Rica vaccination recommendations

For those who have been or are headed, doing any specifal vaccinations? I think these are all ones to consider: Diphtheria; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Rabies; Tetanus.
Pediatrician recommended we go to a travel clinic and take their recommendations, so we will probably do that, but I was just wondering what others are/have done.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Topic: Costa Rica vaccination recommendations

For those who have been or are headed, doing any specifal vaccinations? I think these are all ones to consider: Diphtheria; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Rabies; Tetanus.
Pediatrician recommended we go to a travel clinic and take their recommendations, so we will probably do that, but I was just wondering what others are/have done.

TBH I am usually super proactive on this and had stuff done for China when we went but have really done nothing for CR and we’ve been 3 times. Tetanus you should always be up to date on. Kids get Hep B usually as part of their vax series. Haven’t done any others.

 

[mmmears]

Is there a trick to using the Chase offers on Shop Disney so they track?

And do Kohl's stores sell gift cards?

 

[elgerber]

Is there a trick to using the Chase offers on Shop Disney so they track?

And do Kohl's stores sell gift cards?

They should just track. Mine do. And yes Kohl’s does. But not Disney cards.

 

[Haley R]

Is there a trick to using the Chase offers on Shop Disney so they track?

And do Kohl's stores sell gift cards?

We’ve been buying amazon gcs at kohls!

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Looking back at 2022, here were our adventures:
-Jan-:Cabo, adults only
-Feb: Cabo, with lils
- Mar: Paris, group of 6
- April: Grand Cayman, group of 14
- July: Grand Cayman with lils
- August-Tulum, Mexico with lils
- October- Disneyworld with the lils
- November- Venice and Rome, Italy, group of 7

These were our goals for 2022, and I feel like we achieved them all. It was really good to set a goal and keep that in mind. We did 12 flights per person utilizing companion passes (83% international), so that felt great.

Goal for 2022:
1. Have more trips where flights/accomodations are primarily paid for with points.
2. Earn more UR (maybe)
3. Filler trips that use companion pass

Here are the adventures on the books for 2023:
- January: Cabo 4 nts, just me and the hubs (points/CP only for flights, WA Los Cabos Pedregal FNCs and Rancho Pescadero, Hyatt pts)
- March: Costa Rica 7 nts with lils (points/CP only for flights, Tabacon, Andaz and ? on pts)
- April: Grand Cayman 4nts (points/CP only for flights and accomodations at Kimpton Seafire on purchased pts)
- August: Iceland 8 nts, 14 peeps (looks like mostly cash and discounted AirBNB gcs)
- November: Universal Studios, 3-4 nts (points/CP for flights, Amex FHR credits for hotel)

We have to set new goals. It's our 25th wedding anniversary, and we plan to take many more solo adult trips in 2023 and 2024. We have the Azores, Thailand and Amsterdam/London on our short list of potential destinations, so we'll see how that shakes out!

 

[wanderlust7]

I need some trip ideas for a family trip. I have a significant amount of amex points, so I want to take a family trip internationally. Unfortunately, one of my girls is tied to a school schedule, so probably have to be in the summer. There will be 6 adults (2 in our 50s, 2 in their 30s, 2 in their 20s) and 1 child (about 1 or 2 yo depending on when we take the trip). I'd love to go to Italy, but the summer sounds really horrible there. I'm thinking northern Europe, maybe Scandinavia. I'm not looking for luxury, so coach seats and middle of the road hotels are fine. I love museums, different cultures, good food, beautiful outdoors. I'm pretty open to suggestions. Any ideas?

Our fav family trip of all time is Iceland. Beautiful outdoors. I wouldn't say amazing food. You could find museums if you wanted to. But the gem is really the amazing landscape.

Will second the recommendation for Iceland, though it's not known for it's food. It's gorgeous there and one of our favorite trips.

We were there towards the end of July and weather was nice (a little cool and we usually needed a jacket). The famous sites usually had a lot of people, but it didn't bother us much, I think because it's wide open spaces. Then there were times when we were driving around and there's no one for miles.

We went to Scotland after Iceland and the weather there was pleasant too, except for the one day it rained all day. Edinburgh would have more museums. We also went to Oban and did the 3 isle tour (Mull, Iona, Staffa), which was beautiful. Would have loved to make it to Isle of Skye but couldn't fit it in.

 

[punkin]

I took 2 of my girls to Scotland and loved it. I don't think it's what we want to do that again on this trip. I'm trying to convince my youngest that she can take 5 or 6 days in October and we can go to Italy for 10 days if we time it right with the weekends.

 

[Judique]

So today I concluded my search for the perfect kitchen table to replace my honey pine Pottery Barn table circa 1999. The James & James table I found on Craigslist two hours away fit in my Odyssey. I was going to get a cargo van from Budget, but after reserving one I got a call saying Amazon is using all of the cargo vans. So I decided to take a chance and it fit. The table is beautiful. The couple was super nice (Craigslist scares me). I just ordered some chairs which I hope will work. They're Safavieh (nothing fancy) and Walmart happened to have them at the best price so I can return them in store if they don't work and I used my Chase Freedom to buy them.

Of course I need to take the legs off the PB table to store it for my daughter and I don't have the right size allen wrench so my little kitchen looks ridiculous with two kitchen tables

Congrats on your new table!

I've had great luck with Craigslist, mostly. The bad has been enhanced descriptions leading to believe items were better than they actually were.

But, helping get high quality starter stuff for my kids has been wonderful, and like @havaneselover I have a great table (for myself) I finally wrenched from an owner a few years back, prior to covid. They were lovely people just busy so difficult to coordinate with and they wanted to sell the table but keep it until last minute for holiday use. I was patient as the price was perfect plus I wanted it, not needed it, so waited 6 weeks.

I've seen people selling whole house contents, that were professionally decorated a couple of years prior or even as recent as a year, as this is the Washington, DC area and a lot of people come and go.

I will have to plug another bad: people who think their treasures are worth what they paid for them. Haha...savvy buyers will buy new rather than take what you have now used.

 

[Judique]

Amex offers: used my cell phone offer yesterday from my former Brilliant to pay down my DD's new phone. Got 2 Great News emails this morning. The 2nd email showed the payment also activated the cable and internet offer since it all goes through Comcast. $30 and $15. Nice!

 

[Judique]

Is there a trick to using the Chase offers on Shop Disney so they track?

And do Kohl's stores sell gift cards?

Echoing @Haley R - Amazon!
I also bought Lowes, Instacart, and since I was in the mall and hadn't been in forever - a $25 card that could be used at Cinnabon plus several other food spots. The Cinnabon was fresh and delicious and a once in a blue moon thing but now I have $18 left on the card so when I go to use my other 3 offers, I'll have to buy the pack to take home and use up the rest of this card. In other words I blew my eating plan and $25, but can't say I didn't enjoy all that sticky sugary mess!

Lowes and Home Depot were available, plus Amazon, Visa, MC, (might track?) and all the chain food spots. Don't buy the Hello Fresh gift card - it's like paying for what they offer for free. I read it thinking I could use it to pay my DD's bill. Doesn't work like a regular gift card.

You could also buy Kohl's gift cards. Ehhh. I'm not really a Kohl's shopper.

In my Kohl's there were gift cards at both entrances, some different at each.

 

[NewbieMom]

Is there a trick to using the Chase offers on Shop Disney so they track?

And do Kohl's stores sell gift cards?

No trick to shopDisney, just use the card. You may be able to stack with a cashback portal, but that's been YMMV for me.

There's plenty of gift cards at Kohl's, usually by the checkout. But also check the Amazon dropoff area, they sometimes have a little display there too. Others have mentioned they don't carry Disney. I have the offer on 5 cards so I got Home Depot, Amazon, Delta (to pay for baggage fees), and a Kohl's gc because I do buy some stuff there occasionally.

 

[hsmamato2]

Topcashback

So I'm more than a little disappointed... I set up topcahsback,went thru their link to buy on chewy and.....nothing. I sent a missing cb reply to them....nothing. It doesn't even show the click thru. I won't use them again

 

[chattadisser]

Fee free VGC's at Staples this week, which is good for me as I forgot to get any MCGC's that they had last week. I use these for my utility bills.

On a separate note, is the likelihood of approval on a CIU any better during the week vs the weekend? Anyone have any experience with this? I am going to have DH apply via my support but I didn't know if it would be better to apply tomorrow vs today. I don't see any reason for him not to get an automatic approval but I also don't want to make it harder than it has to be for them to give an automatic approval.

 

[Sheree]

A big thank you.
my goal for 2023 is to buy enough dgc to pay dues in 2024.
Thanks to this board I'm checking chase offers weekly and using shopdisney to buy gift cards. Shoprite has amex offer and gc sale so I'll effectively get $100 for $65!
wish there was an OD nearby, other than target for 5% any other ideas/
kohls will be amazon and restaurants.
this year I'll pay dvc dues in full to hit msr on new ihg card.
cvs had chase offer so I bought xbox for gift, next time disney!

on another note, trying to figure how to best use UR (300K) and Cap one (150k) points. I'm leery of booking air thru portals and typically use miles from airline and for hotel I use hilton points and will start IHG

when do they have transfer bonuses to jut send them to air o hotel?

we fly united, american and frontier.

thank you all so much

sheree

 

[Sheree]

Fee free VGC's at Staples this week, which is good for me as I forgot to get any MCGC's that they had last week. I use these for my utility bills.

On a separate note, is the likelihood of approval on a CIU any better during the week vs the weekend? Anyone have any experience with this? I am going to have DH apply via my support but I didn't know if it would be better to apply tomorrow vs today. I don't see any reason for him not to get an automatic approval but I also don't want to make it harder than it has to be for them to give an automatic approval.

what is advantage of using those vgc or mcgc vs just using your credit card for utility bills?

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

what is advantage of using those vgc or mcgc vs just using your credit card for utility bills?

CIC is 5% back at office supply. If you have that card, it makes sense to buy the VGC when they're fee free or any other GCs for places that you spend regularly. It allows you to capture the 5% in cases where direct spend on your card would have been a lower percentage.