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

[havaneselover]

I'm probably just tired and grumpy from getting home at 1:30 AM, but I'm super annoyed that Virgin Atlantic changed my nonstop from IAD to LHR for our Norway cruise from 10 PM to 6 PM. Was hoping to go to IAD after work and get into London late morning. Now we'd have to take an extra half day off work (this is dd's first job so she's not drowning in vacation time) and will arrive in London way too early. And I don't want to add an extra night onto my reserrvation at JW Marriott Grosvenor Square because I depleted all my Bonvoy points and it's almost $1,000/night (which is insane). I could book a room at LHR, but if the plane's late then that's useless. And I'd obviously like to get on British time ASAP. Vent/whine over. Really don't have many options but to deal with this.

 

[georgina]

Just 2 - CIP from 8/23/24 and a CIU from 4/20/24. He had just closed a CIU from 10/20/23 on 12/18/24.

He had basically been on track with getting 3 each year starting in 2022 (just one a year prior to that).

That's encouraging news for the rest of us. I've been holding off for a while, maybe in 2025 will try again.

 

[havaneselover]

Sorry if this has been asked, but is it too late to use the Platinum airline credit for SW? I guess worst case I end up using my 2025 credit.

 

[wanderlust7]

I waited too long to purchase $50 Hilton Gift Card x2, any recent DPs on card shipping? Should I still order and hope the charge post?

I see 1 DP on FM comments that the pending charge posted. I'd probably do it unless I had some other easy way to use up the credit. If it doesn't post in time, it would just use up next quarter's credit.

 

[wanderlust7]

so over on Reddit I got a clue (?) to my dilemma... I went back to original open date on this cc (CSP) and statement date then ended 4/21.... I then pc'd 12/23 to CSR, but didn't pay AF till 5/1/24. So it *seems* this all coordinates with my og open date on cc? And *maybe* (?) won't see new TC till next spring on new AF date?

You can see when it resets, but only under Ultimate Rewards (can get there by clicking Redeem next to your points balance). It's near the bottom. You can't see it under Card Benefits.

Since you PC'd 12/23, then it should reset after this current statement.

After it resets and you've used up the travel credit, you can downgrade and get a prorated AF refund.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

How long do US Bank cards typically take to arrive? DH was approved on 12/14. Just today (12/23) we got a letter in the mail from US Bank, stating he was approved (which we also got in email form back on 12/14). The letter is dated 12/14 as well, but took a whole 9 days to arrive! We still haven't received the card, and I was hoping to have it for a payment due on the 25th! Now I'm wondering if it'll even come in time.

 

[wanderlust7]

Sorry if this has been asked, but is it too late to use the Platinum airline credit for SW? I guess worst case I end up using my 2025 credit.

You're fine. Flights get charged immediately.

How long do US Bank cards typically take to arrive? DH was approved on 12/14. Just today (12/23) we got a letter in the mail from US Bank, stating he was approved (which we also got in email form back on 12/14). The letter is dated 12/14 as well, but took a whole 9 days to arrive! We still haven't received the card, and I was hoping to have it for a payment due on the 25th! Now I'm wondering if it'll even come in time.

I think it arrives pretty soon after the letter. A day or two maybe?

 

[hsmamato2]

You can see when it resets, but only under Ultimate Rewards (can get there by clicking Redeem next to your points balance). It's near the bottom. You can't see it under Card Benefits.

Since you PC'd 12/23, then it should reset after this current statement.

After it resets and you've used up the travel credit, you can downgrade and get a prorated AF refund.

YESSSS! Thank you I can see it now! I was looking all over the site for that info! So it will reset after 12/24 statement closes.... thank you for the clarity here- so I guess as soon as it resets I can proceed......

 

[IFlossU]

I waited too long to purchase $50 Hilton Gift Card x2, any recent DPs on card shipping? Should I still order and hope the charge post?

I didnt order because I seen so many posts in groups saying they were sold out.

My orders on the 12th went through, and credited quickly. However, I have yet to receive any shipping confirmation from Hilton since then.

Update to this! My gift cards arrived today. So 11 days after purchase.

Sorry if this has been asked, but is it too late to use the Platinum airline credit for SW? I guess worst case I end up using my 2025 credit.

Definitely do it. Will count towards 2024.

How long do US Bank cards typically take to arrive? DH was approved on 12/14. Just today (12/23) we got a letter in the mail from US Bank, stating he was approved (which we also got in email form back on 12/14). The letter is dated 12/14 as well, but took a whole 9 days to arrive! We still haven't received the card, and I was hoping to have it for a payment due on the 25th! Now I'm wondering if it'll even come in time.

Mine usually arrive in 7-10 days. Card should arrive soon.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

Did anyone have any Hyatt GOH left that they had offered to gift? I'm probably late to the party... but my sister and I just booked a 4day/3night Disney trip for February GOH would save us parking fees, right?! I'd love one if anyone has any left!

 

[mmmears]

Question for the hive mind: large co-pay coming up for a CT scan and other medical tests, will be about $1K. Use HSA or put toward current MSR?

The advice from our financial planner was to pay for it all without touching the HSA so that it could grow. We use MSRs for these bills as well as VGCs from Staples (CIC).

Did anyone have any Hyatt GOH left that they had offered to gift? I'm probably late to the party... but my sister and I just booked a 4day/3night Disney trip for February GOH would save us parking fees, right?! I'd love one if anyone has any left!

Me! I have already replied to your DM.

 

[mmmears]

Has anyone seen any DPs, anywhere, that someone found a link to the CSPlat that avoided the family rule? We need a new MSR anyway, and DH really, really wants that CS Plat card, but he got the popup (has held the vanilla since 2011).

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

I think it arrives pretty soon after the letter. A day or two maybe?

Mine usually arrive in 7-10 days. Card should arrive soon.

Thank you, and you guys weren't kidding! The card arrived today, very next day after the letter. Woohoo! Now off to meet MSR.

Me! I have already replied to your DM.

Thanks so much for your kindness! I replied with my info. We really appreciate it!

 

[wanderlust7]

Just 2 - CIP from 8/23/24 and a CIU from 4/20/24. He had just closed a CIU from 10/20/23 on 12/18/24.

He had basically been on track with getting 3 each year starting in 2022 (just one a year prior to that).

Thanks for the DP!

Just approved with 2 open and 1 closed about 2 weeks ago.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

The advice from our financial planner was to pay for it all without touching the HSA so that it could grow.

This really depends on your other tax preferred investment options.

HSA funds can be spent tax free on medical expenses, but, when they are distributions for someone over 65 for non medical reasons, they are taxable as income like a traditional IRA distribution would be. So, it does cost you more to use it as a retirement account than it does to use it as a medical spending account.

Lots of people aren't maxing out their 401k or IRA amounts as it is, so they could just contribute more to one of those accounts if they wanted more tax deferred savings opportunities.

 

[afan]

This really depends on your other tax preferred investment options.

HSA funds can be spent tax free on medical expenses, but, when they are distributions for someone over 65 for non medical reasons, they are taxable as income like a traditional IRA distribution would be. So, it does cost you more to use it as a retirement account than it does to use it as a medical spending account.

Lots of people aren't maxing out their 401k or IRA amounts as it is, so they could just contribute more to one of those accounts if they wanted more tax deferred savings opportunities.

I come close to maxing out my hsa each year between employer funds and payroll deductions and have some of it invested in a fund. I know it'll be there for medical expenses and ins premiums when I retire but I would also rather use that money now for some medical expense vs going into my savings. It's what it's for and given a high deductible, high copay plan, to me it's there to use now not just to save for later.

I also have at least 20 years until I can retire, while the rules for what you can do with the hsa money may very likely stay the same, maybe it won't. I also don't want to be so organized that I don't lose receipts during that time.

 

[StephPlum]

Not to hijack this entire thread into HSAs…. I still think it is a great strategy to let it grow tax free and use later in life. But you do need to know what you can use the money on. You can use to reimburse COBRA medical ins premiums and Medicare premiums along with other qualified medical bills. But you can’t use it to reimburse all ins premiums. ACA or Medi-gap ins premiums are not eligible for reimbursement. And it is not ideal to leave it to a non spouse beneficiary.

I Retired this year and dug into the rules and how we want to use this as part of our retirement income streams. Just like CC churning, no only one way to do this. Just need to understand the rules and what works best for your situation.

 

[eticketplease]

This really depends on your other tax preferred investment options.

HSA funds can be spent tax free on medical expenses, but, when they are distributions for someone over 65 for non medical reasons, they are taxable as income like a traditional IRA distribution would be. So, it does cost you more to use it as a retirement account than it does to use it as a medical spending account.

Lots of people aren't maxing out their 401k or IRA amounts as it is, so they could just contribute more to one of those accounts if they wanted more tax deferred savings opportunities.

They could let the money grow in HSA investments and then later withdraw it for this particular expense in 5-10 years tax free provided they still have the receipts.

 

[Sheree]

Thank you to everyone in this thread for all the helpful advice this year.

Hope everyone enjoys time with family and friends no matter what holiday you celebrate

Sheree

 

[AmyAnne]

Merry Christmas Eve!

Does anyone happen to know if the AmEx Gold Dunkin Donut $7 monthly credit works for sending gift cards? The giftcard website seems to be managed by DD so I'm thinking it might.