I love credit cards so much!

[linzjane88]

@linzjane88 love your "2011-2013: a moneyless, Disney-less dark time (Nursing School)" trip note

I figured any fellow nurses around would totally get that sentiment. LOL!

 

[linzjane88]

Yes please. I'm out of ideas since the Walmarts in my area won't process money orders with a Visa gc any more.

Will do! I am putting off cleaning, the gym, and weeding my flower bed anyhow.

 

[wendow]

Oh no - so sorry . . . I didn't realize that the Costco offer was Visa specific. BUT, you should be able to add the Amex to Visa Checkout in general (I have my Delta Amex on there).

I couldn't add my Delta or BCP. I gave up. Not sure what the problem is

 

[speedyfishy]

Sooo....Since there are a handful of us here that do MS'ing...would anyone be interested in the MS thread on the Dischurners? It seems like a nice hiding place to throw out some data points away from the watchful eye off the RATS

Yes!!

 

[elgerber]

Sooo....Since there are a handful of us here that do MS'ing...would anyone be interested in the MS thread on the Dischurners? It seems like a nice hiding place to throw out some data points away from the watchful eye off the RATS

Yes.

 

[calypso726]

Thanks! I have actually had Credit Karma for a couple years--it was free and didn't ask for a credit card number so I figured what's the harm--but I wasn't sure how reliable it really was. I've heard conflicting things about the accuracy of their report of your credit scores, but I thought that at least I could monitor if it went up or down. I was also using this as my source of what cards I have, but it doesn't seem to list my three new cards. Does it take a while for them to appear (I got them in Jan, Feb, and March) or do business cards not show up?

Is there a better way to figure out exactly what cards you supposedly have and when you got them? I'm mostly concerned with determining what cards DH may have made me an AU on so I can get myself removed.

Thanks for the info about the lounges, @calypso726; I certainly wouldn't get a card just for lounge access, but they sure are nice!



I think I'm going to give the CSR a year after I get it and track how well it works for me. Sometimes I end up surprised by how much (or how little) I spend on certain things.

I honestly don’t know about when the cards show up on Credit Karma or if the business cards do. Since I know I will never be under 5/24 I don’t pay much attention beyond the dates of opening that show up. I would suggest your credit report from all 3 bureaus.

My mom, who is retired and on fixed income had the CSP and initially applied for and got the CSR back when it was at 100k just for the bonus. We all thought she’d be cancelling it after a year and keeping her CSP. She doesn’t dine out or travel anywhere near as much as we do. Much to our surprise she found more value in the CSR and PCd her CSP to a CFU and kept her CSR. I’d suggest keeping track of it and looking at the higher earning and value of points compared to the CSP. There are things that code as travel that might be unexpected. In my case it’s tolls. I drive for work to different locations everyday and tend to incur about $100 to $120 or more in tolls every month just in the work vehicle. Then add another $20 or so a month in the personal vehicle. At a conservative $1560 a year in tolls that are happening no matter what card I have or don’t have, I am glad I can pay them with the CSR. I earn 4,680 in UR (worth $70) with the CSR vs 3,120 (worth only $39) with CSP. $300 would be reimbursed via statement credit with CSR vs $0 with CSP. The difference in AF is an effective $55. Having the CSR is a better value, covers the effective AF difference just in tolls. This is without adding dining or real travel, parking etc.

 

[vanjust14]

Just received an email from GYFT with an offer for $10 off a $100 Whole Foods Gift Card with promo code EASTER18. Using my CIP to grab one! It is going to be so hard to pass stuff like this up while I'm meeting MSR on the AMEX SPG biz! I have to get into @SouthFayetteFan 's way of thinking!

 

[kmc8826]

@calypso726 I absolutely agree with you on the love of the Reserve. I know it was not the popular plan for people on here but it has a ton of value for us. Both DH and I have kept the Reserve past year one.

I know the advantage of the IHG is the free night but what about the points? It seems that whenever I have looked for rooms on their site that point nights are not available. Is that typical or has my limited experience been abnormal?

 

[pillow]

@calypso726 I know the advantage of the IHG is the free night but what about the points? It seems that whenever I have looked for rooms on their site that point nights are not available. Is that typical or has my limited experience been abnormal?

I've never had that problem. The only issues I've had is when trying to book one of the Points Breaks 5K specials. Those go super fast and if you don't jump on them, they disappear!

 

[linzjane88]

I made one. So far it's got only what I have tried over the last 2 weeks, LOL. It's called "disMS's: The place to put those sweet sweet DP's"
@speedyfishy @elgerber and @ whoever the other person that said yes was

 

[Lain]

At this point, I was just trying to add an amex to Visa checkout! I haven't even gotten to the costco page yet to see if I'd be able to use the Amex. Someone mentioned on the GC thread that you could use Discover so I was just going to try it. But I cannot even get the Amex added to my visa checkout.

I was also thinking that Visa Checkout could be a way to use an Amex card on which you’re working towards MSR at Costco by: (1) adding the Amex to Visa Checkout, (2) buying a Costco Cash card using the Amex through Visa Checkout, and (3) using the Costco Cash card in-store. That’s several hundred dollars a month for me right there.

Better than buying a VGC because there’s no fee. But I don’t know how closely the RATs would scrutinize round number transactions like this. (This is really Amex’s fault for losing Costco in the first place.)

ETA: of course, this won’t work for this current deal. I’m speaking generally.

 

[speedyfishy]

I made one. So far it's got only what I have tried over the last 2 weeks, LOL. It's called "disMS's: The place to put those sweet sweet DP's"
@speedyfishy @elgerber and @ whoever the other person that said yes was

Yayy! Thanks! I’ll share the few things I had done later in the week when I have time to write something up.

 

[Judique]

@calypso726 I absolutely agree with you on the love of the Reserve. I know it was not the popular plan for people on here but it has a ton of value for us. Both DH and I have kept the Reserve past year one.

I know the advantage of the IHG is the free night but what about the points? It seems that whenever I have looked for rooms on their site that point nights are not available. Is that typical or has my limited experience been abnormal?

In my experience that's abnormal unless you are looking very close to the travel date. The site itself is a little off (in my opinion) right now. Just be sure you check 'reward nights' on the drop down in your search line and sometimes you have to 'open' a room offer to find the points offer - which is not how the website used to be.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Finished the spend on the Wells Fargo Plat Biz card I got when I went in for the checking bonus! Time to settle in though since I won't see that $500 until after the June statement closes. C'est la vie- I can get excited all over again when the cash back finally posts!

 

[AndPeggy]

You have it easy - my DS graduates hs next year - he wants to go to India for his post graduation trip.

I can’t imagine trying to plan a trip to India. Sounds like fun though. Good luck.

 

[miztressuz]

@calypso726 I absolutely agree with you on the love of the Reserve. I know it was not the popular plan for people on here but it has a ton of value for us. Both DH and I have kept the Reserve past year one.

I know the advantage of the IHG is the free night but what about the points? It seems that whenever I have looked for rooms on their site that point nights are not available. Is that typical or has my limited experience been abnormal?

Guess it depends on where you are going and how far in advance you're looking. I've not had much trouble finding somewhere on points, it might not have been my first choice but I've found a comparable location in the area. Could be where we're going. The majority of our travel in a year is visiting family or other smaller outings like that so even booking a couple weeks out we've found somewhere we're willing to stay, and it's usually only a couple nights in a row. It gets tougher when there's only a few IHG properties in the area since they can put a limit on award nights those seem to fill up faster.

 

[pillow]

I was also thinking that Visa Checkout could be a way to use an Amex card on which you’re working towards MSR at Costco by: (1) adding the Amex to Visa Checkout, (2) buying a Costco Cash card using the Amex through Visa Checkout, and (3) using the Costco Cash card in-store. That’s several hundred dollars a month for me right there.

It won't work. When you get to Visa checkout, there is no way to select the Amex card. There is a message that says "This merchant does not accept Amex." Bummer.

 

[Albort]

Are you trying to meet MSR on the Amex? If so, avoid buying VGCs from Staples, Office Max, Office Depot because theyre known to send Level 3 data to Amex that will detail what you bought. So far these purchases are still earning points, but I wouldn’t risk the RATs looking at your purchases and deciding to exclude a few hundred in spend because you bought VGCs.

Your local grocery store should be fine. Mix in some regular shopping so your purchase amount isn’t an obvious $xx5.95. Do you have a Stop&Shop, Giant, or Martin’s in your neighborhood? They’re running a deal on VGCs for the next two weeks: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/gian...a-giftcards-get-15-off-next-grocery-purchase/

@WVMomof3 also, to add to this list, CVS and Simons Mall. If you do make a purchase, u can always see if Amex is receive Level2 or Level3 data on the actual transaction. If you see something, then id readd the amount back to the MSR amount.

While I’m waiting for my SPG card to arrive, I’m concentrating on the fun part and figuring out my vacation goal. My oldest daughter graduates hs in 2011, so that seems like a good time to take a trip. Since I’ll be worrying about college tuition, saving money on airfare and hotel with points may be the only way to take a trip.

DD says she’d like to go to Hawaii (possibly with a stop at DLR on the way). Aside from listening to the DU podcasts about Aulani, I don’t know much about Hawaii. I’m not even sure which island we’d like to visit.

Does anyone have a suggestion on a good website to start my research? Favorite island? Favorite resort?

not sure where to start, the only things i can help u out with is points! awardmapper will show all the locations of the big hotels and how many points required per night. awardhackers will show u what kind of flights are available at what points... in general, Korean Airline is probably the cheapest, a UR partner too @ 25k RT. You may need to call in for it.

 

[linzjane88]

I was a little disappointed to find out that the Amex started counting from the day I was approved. I mean I assumed it did but after hearing talk of people getting a bit longer through Chase cards I was doing a little wishful thinking. Oh well. I've got $4426 down in the first 3 weeks (organic+ MS). Time for DH's app. I put it off as long as I can.

 

[SBWB48]

I don't understand. How does this work?

The q1 category for the chase freedom includes Apple Pay. You can send your spouse money through Apple Pay and while you pay a 3% fee, it codes 5x. If you have a CSR and move those UR to that card, it’s now worth 7.5x UR.

Ooooh, ok; that makes sense! Do people ever do this to meet minimum spends?

Edited because I forgot to include the quote. This is in regard to Apple pay.

Also, q2 includes PayPal so you can repeat this then

You could but you’d pay a 3% fee. Paying bills through plastiq is 2.5% so that would be a better way to go. And I would not use Apple Pay person 2 person to meet an Amex spend!

Chase Freedom Q1 5x bonus categories includes Apple Pay.

Apple Pay has a feature called "Apple Pay Cash" that allows you to send payments from person to person through Messages or Siri. Payments funded by a credit card incur a 3% fee. For more information: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207886

CF's bonus category earns 5x UR on payments up to $1,500.

If you use Apple Pay Cash to send $1,500 to your spouse (or other trusted person), you'd incur a $45 fee, but you'd earn 7,500 UR, which is worth $75 if you cash out at 1 cpp, or could be worth 50% more or $112.50 worth in travel if the points are transferred to CSR and redeemed through the Chase UR portal.

Assuming you want to earn 5x on the 3% fee too, you'd make an Apple Pay Cash payment of $1,456.31 + 3% ($43.69) = $1,500. And there, you've maxed out the entire $1,500 sitting on a couch, earning at least $75 in UR points for only $43.69 in fees.

Spouse transfers the payment to your bank account, or trusted recipient gets the money back to you.

Freedom's Q2 5x bonus categories include PayPal transactions.

Similarly, PayPal has a feature that lets you transfer money to friends and family for a 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee. To max out the PayPal category on one card, you'd just send your spouse (or a trusted person) a payment of $1,457.43 + PayPal fees ($42.27+0.30) = $1,500. Spouse deposits the money back into your account, or friend gets the money back to you. BOOM. You've maxed out the bonus in one transaction, earned 7,500 UR, and it cost you only $42.57 in fees.

This assumes you don't have other ways of maxing out the Q1 and Q2 categories, organically and without incurring fees.

Looks like @wendow and @Lain covered all the bases nicely

Essentially, that is what I did from my couch. Did a test payment first to make sure the Apple Pay Cash coded properly, which it did. Then proceeded to finish out the remaining spend on each of my FOUR CFs Didn't have a ton left on two, but didn't want to leave any free URs on the table on the other two. Organic spend is obviously the preferred route, but with 4 CFs and a new SPG biz for DH and new Spark Biz Visa also for DH (got the targeted 1K for 10K), phew