I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 & 2024 (see first page for add'l details)

[MsOnceUponATime]

Start to keep track of these expenses and receipts. My plan has been to use cash and I’ll reimburse myself in retirement. I just started tracking a few years ago. Good news COBRA medical premiums and Medicare premiums (not Medigap or advantage) are also HSA reimbursable.

Once I retire, I’ll move my HSA to Fidelity. They have a great product with no admin fees and all the investment options.

I've been keeping receipts since 2016 when I opened my HSA (imagine what that looks like lol). Aside from my back surgery a few years ago I haven't touched those funds! I've got a high deductible family plan and my company places $5k in there each year and then I get to contribute to meet the max per year. Since I turned 50 this year I get to contribute even more than last year!

I'm pretty far off from retirement (unfortunatley), but moving to Fidelity is definitely an option. Thanks for your input!

 

[PrincessGidget]

Others will chime in with more thorough advice but just to say, your husband did pick a pretty decent card to start. Chase has numerous cards that earn URs. CSP is one, which means you can get quite a few other cards which can add to your pool of URs. Good call on not adding you as AU, he can refer you any time as long as you can meet the spending requirements. You can use household income (ie his income) for your application, but don't put 'unemployed'. I think 'other' employment is the correct choice but someone will chime in with the best choice here.
Your husband's business can also allow you/him to apply for biz cards and Chase has UR earning biz cards as well. Let him know he needs to slow down and research your next move. Playing this game smartly with 2 players will yield a lot more rewards.

Thanks. Telling him to slow down is not a problem. He is ultra conservative when it comes to all things money/credit.
Good advice on my “income”.

 

[AndreaDM]

Trying to decide if I should keep both of my IHG cards. I've had the Premier for a few years and got the Biz card last year, that AF ($99) is due this month. Yes, each card gives me a free night, but DH also has the Premier. The free night is only up to a 40K night so that's been challenging for us to use. Thinking I'll dump the Biz card and keep the other. Am I missing anything?

Quoting myself because I have another question, the $25 United bank credit that we get every 6 months for having an IHG card, does that double with 2 cards? If so, I've been missing out on the second credit.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

oops, double post

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

Quoting myself because I have another question, the $25 United bank credit that we get every 6 months for having an IHG card, does that double with 2 cards? If so, I've been missing out on the second credit.

Not sure about the United credit doubling, but there is a two week period in January and again in July where the credits overlap, so you can use $50 during both times. In case you didn't already know...

 

[LynnTH]

I have been following for awhile now but this is my first post in this thread. I have read the first few posts, especially the part about asking all of your advice BEFORE applying for a card. However, my husband and I discussed new card options and before I could tell him to hold on a moment he went ahead and applied (and was approved). I do have a few questions though so here it is:

We have a chase Disney visa that we have had forever. An exxon card and a citibank visa.
My husband also has a citizens business debit.
I have the target red card.
All of these are over 5 years old and we dont carry a balance.

We are loyal to no airline or hotel chain.

We have no big travel plans at the moment except I am toying with the idea of Japan in March of 2025 to see the Dodgers. However, I belong to their traveling fan club and they are putting a trip together so I might just go that way. Or I might not go at all as my Nephew gets married a few days after the baseball games.

My husband applied and was approved for the CSP. I told him not to put me on as an authorized user so he can refer me later. I feel like I read that here? Is that correct?
Question, when should he/can he refer me?

Also, if I apply and get denied (I do not get paid in a traditional manner) could he/should he add me as an AU? Or would there be another card he should apply for? He does own his own business.

I am sure I will have more questions at some point so I would like to thank you all now for your patience and expertise!

As @CyndiLouWho said - Chase is a great place to start. The reason we don't like to put AU's on the account is the Chase 5/24 rule. Meaning Chase will not approve you for any of their Credit Cards if you have opened 5 or more Credit Cards in the past 24 months. (this is from any credit card company - not just Chase). So, many of us will alternate cards between Player 1 and Player 2 plus getting referral points on referral cards. Good thing is that most (not all - looking at you Cap One) Biz Cards do not count in the 5/24 rule. So, as long as you are under 5/24 you can keep getting Biz cards all day long. Most of use use that to our advantage.

Chase has so many great cards as does AMEX and others. Once you start - you just keep going. I am always working on a SUB (sign up bonus) as that is how you accumulate the most points. I, like many others on here like to diversify and get points from all different cards, as you never know what you might need when planning upcoming travel.

For example: Currently - I have the following between DH and I.
Chase UR's - 856,000
AMEX MR's - 600,000
Delta - 28,000 (If needed, I transfer from AMEX)
Marriott - 190,000 Plus 3 Free Night Certificates a year.
SW - 160,000 with 50,000 more coming soon. Currently I have Companion Pass that expires end of Year. DH will have his soon that will expire end of 2025. Then I will get again.
IHG - 210,000 Plus 3 Free Night Certificates a Year
Cap One - 122,000 (just used 100,000 to offset some flights booked)
US Bank - Had $1300 in Rewards - used for Disney Tickets. Have about $850 more coming soon.

Some on here - do much more than this. And some much less. We each go at a pace that is good for us. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions - everyone is so helpful and better to ask in advance before opening any cards you are unsure of. Every card company has their own little rules that you will learn more about. But this is a fun hobby and have afforded my family so many trips we would have not otherwise been able to take.

 

[PrincessGidget]

As @CyndiLouWho said - Chase is a great place to start. The reason we don't like to put AU's on the account is the Chase 5/24 rule. Meaning Chase will not approve you for any of their Credit Cards if you have opened 5 or more Credit Cards in the past 24 months. (this is from any credit card company - not just Chase). So, many of us will alternate cards between Player 1 and Player 2 plus getting referral points on referral cards. Good thing is that most (not all - looking at you Cap One) Biz Cards do not count in the 5/24 rule. So, as long as you are under 5/24 you can keep getting Biz cards all day long. Most of use use that to our advantage.

Chase has so many great cards as does AMEX and others. Once you start - you just keep going. I am always working on a SUB (sign up bonus) as that is how you accumulate the most points. I, like many others on here like to diversify and get points from all different cards, as you never know what you might need when planning upcoming travel.

For example: Currently - I have the following between DH and I.
Chase UR's - 856,000
AMEX MR's - 600,000
Delta - 28,000 (If needed, I transfer from AMEX)
Marriott - 190,000 Plus 3 Free Night Certificates a year.
SW - 160,000 with 50,000 more coming soon. Currently I have Companion Pass that expires end of Year. DH will have his soon that will expire end of 2025. Then I will get again.
IHG - 210,000 Plus 3 Free Night Certificates a Year
Cap One - 122,000 (just used 100,000 to offset some flights booked)
US Bank - Had $1300 in Rewards - used for Disney Tickets. Have about $850 more coming soon.

Some on here - do much more than this. And some much less. We each go at a pace that is good for us. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions - everyone is so helpful and better to ask in advance before opening any cards you are unsure of. Every card company has their own little rules that you will learn more about. But this is a fun hobby and have afforded my family so many trips we would have not otherwise been able to take.

Thank you so much. I am a little overwhelmed but I will stick to baby steps and lean on everyone here for help.
(Also, I cant believe we didnt do this sooner!)

 

[afan]

Chase just upped one of my two ink cls from 6k to 11,200. I didn't ask for this. I was already at 50% so that I'd have to cancel before I apply foe another card.

Currently working on a spend but I wonder should I lower it to 5k and then app for a new ink? I'd lower it next month and app the end of the month or Oct.

Just odd they did it. It's the cip I just got in the spring.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I've been keeping receipts since 2016 when I opened my HSA (imagine what that looks like lol). Aside from my back surgery a few years ago I haven't touched those funds! I've got a high deductible family plan and my company places $5k in there each year and then I get to contribute to meet the max per year. Since I turned 50 this year I get to contribute even more than last year!

I'm pretty far off from retirement (unfortunatley), but moving to Fidelity is definitely an option. Thanks for your input!

Question about the $5k that your company contributes to your HSA - from everything I read, I don't think that there is any limits to how much an employer can contribute. So, theoretically, they can contribute up to the maximum allowed each year? And I assume deduct it as deductible expenses?

 

[StephPlum]

I've been keeping receipts since 2016 when I opened my HSA (imagine what that looks like lol). Aside from my back surgery a few years ago I haven't touched those funds! I've got a high deductible family plan and my company places $5k in there each year and then I get to contribute to meet the max per year. Since I turned 50 this year I get to contribute even more than last year!

I'm pretty far off from retirement (unfortunatley), but moving to Fidelity is definitely an option. Thanks for your input!

Double check your catchup ages. At 50 you get a catch-up in the 401k. For the HSA it is age 55. Good news that HSA catchup applies to both spouses. So you each get an additional 1000 catchup in your HSAs. Your spouse can open their own account and deposit the catchup.

 

[afan]

Question about the $5k that your company contributes to your HSA - from everything I read, I don't think that there is any limits to how much an employer can contribute. So, theoretically, they can contribute up to the maximum allowed each year? And I assume deduct it as deductible expenses?

The amount the company adds is part of the limit, it's not extra. My work does a yearly update on this stuff and they upped how much we get this year since the deductible went up and the allowed amount you can put into the hsa went up. I had to redo what gets pulled put of my check each week.

 

[barkley]

oh great credit card knowledge folks-some suggestions please.

upwards of a $12K'ish expense in the next month (hvac). i could pay in full but would also consider signing up for a new credit card that i could get a good cash back bonus on (the merchant does'nt give a cash discount so i'm fine with using a card, getting my bonus and paying in full before any interest accrues). excellent credit rating.

any suggestions?

p.s. i strictly want cash back, nothing for travel or gift cards.

 

[miztressuz]

Quoting myself because I have another question, the $25 United bank credit that we get every 6 months for having an IHG card, does that double with 2 cards? If so, I've been missing out on the second credit.

Not missing anything, unfortunately. No doubling, one per account no matter how many eligible cards you have. Best you can do is that small overlap between when they deposit the next one and they expire the previous one, like @Crazed4DisneyinSC mentioned.

 

[Princess Michele]

I tried searching for the answer but I was not able to find anything recent. I am way behind reading after returning from Hawaii. I want to support DD for a CIP but my link is only for 100,00 UR's not 120,000. Were there support links for 120,000 UR's or did everyone just contact Chase to request to be matched to the higher offer? Thanks.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I tried searching for the answer but I was not able to find anything recent. I am way behind reading after returning from Hawaii. I want to support DD for a CIP but my link is only for 100,00 UR's not 120,000. Were there support links for 120,000 UR's or did everyone just contact Chase to request to be matched to the higher offer? Thanks.

We requested match and got it. I *think* that's where everyone still is with this. Kept hoping it would hit the referral but not yet.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

I tried searching for the answer but I was not able to find anything recent. I am way behind reading after returning from Hawaii. I want to support DD for a CIP but my link is only for 100,00 UR's not 120,000. Were there support links for 120,000 UR's or did everyone just contact Chase to request to be matched to the higher offer? Thanks.

We requested match and got it. I *think* that's where everyone still is with this. Kept hoping it would hit the referral but not yet.

Yep, DH just supported me last week with 100K offer. Rec'd the card on Friday 8/9. SM'ed for a match on Tuesday 8/13 and got a reply back on Wednesday to confirm the match, and to message them back once I hit spend.

 

[Princess Michele]

We requested match and got it. I *think* that's where everyone still is with this. Kept hoping it would hit the referral but not yet.

Yep, DH just supported me last week with 100K offer. Rec'd the card on Friday 8/9. SM'ed for a match on Tuesday 8/13 and got a reply back on Wednesday to confirm the match, and to message them back once I hit spend.

Thanks for the quick replies. I will do the same and hopefully DD will get approved.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Chase just upped one of my two ink cls from 6k to 11,200. I didn't ask for this. I was already at 50% so that I'd have to cancel before I apply foe another card.

Currently working on a spend but I wonder should I lower it to 5k and then app for a new ink? I'd lower it next month and app the end of the month or Oct.

Just odd they did it. It's the cip I just got in the spring.

They did this to me a couple times recently. I canceled a biz card and lowered all my limits to 5k. I applied and was approved but when I was nearing my CL I wanted to transfer from another card thinking I'd move 1-2k. When I looked, my CIC had the CL increased to 9k. So odd when I had just decreased limits.

oh great credit card knowledge folks-some suggestions please.

upwards of a $12K'ish expense in the next month (hvac). i could pay in full but would also consider signing up for a new credit card that i could get a good cash back bonus on (the merchant does'nt give a cash discount so i'm fine with using a card, getting my bonus and paying in full before any interest accrues). excellent credit rating.

any suggestions?

p.s. i strictly want cash back, nothing for travel or gift cards.

Do you have anything you could call a business? The Chase Ink Preferred is 120,000 points ($1200) for $8k spending in 3 months with a $95 AF.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Just back from Lisbon and the Azores- will post a trip report when I have time.

I always, always recommend travel medical insurance when traveling internationally. In Lisbon, we stayed in a converted monastery from the 1200s. Amazingly beautiful. Our first day there, we were on our floor, 3rd floor, maybe and walking from the elevator to our room. I was digging in my bag for something as I rounded the hallway corner. Suddenly, I realized I was no longer on solid ground and falling down 4 random stairs. The wall across from me stopped my fall. Banged up my wrist badly and with some time, was feeling very uncomfortable using my shoulder and extending my elbow straight.

A week later, it's feeling much better. I'm glad I didn't need the medical insurance I purchased, but if I needed x-rays, imaging, casting or surgery in Lisbon, I'd hate to be on the hook for it. Bought several policies for our group from insure my trip. Here's the costs:

$165 for 2 adults, 2 children, comprehensive plan, for about $4k prepaid expenses plus 100k primary medical, 500k evac

Sometimes I buy a comprehensive plan, sometimes just a medical plan.

PS- Days later I would be rappeling down canyon waterfalls with this bad arm. At one section of rappeling, then being rappeled/ziplined down a cord, the guy tells me to do a pull up so he can disconnect me from the zipline. Um, I couldn't do a pull up on a good day. Ever. Not gonna happen. Much less with only one good arm. Canyoneering excursion with a healthy dose of humility. Oh how it brought back the Presidential Fitness testing from grade school. Was Pres. Reagan a sadist ? Was he really so hell bent on me climbing that rope and trying to vault like a gymnast? If only I'd have know that inability to do pullups in the 5th grade was gonna come back to haunt me as an adult, I woulda tried harder for Reagan.

 

[AndreaDM]

Not missing anything, unfortunately. No doubling, one per account no matter how many eligible cards you have. Best you can do is that small overlap between when they deposit the next one and they expire the previous one, like @Crazed4DisneyinSC mentioned.

Thank you, that makes my decision to dump one card easier.