I love credit cards so much!

[Mopedmom1]

it depends on how it codes out. Both @Lain and I who has coding of what would work with Amex. We are both unsure how it codes out for Mortgage. but Amex would have no idea that you are actually paying. or at least thats what we think.

i met 7.5k of my Amex SPG Biz with Plastiq, the remaining 2.5k were organic. (10k offer back in Nov 2017)

Tutorial please! I need a few k on my SPG Biz and not sure how to even start with Plastiq. I have no mortgage, rent, or car payment. Also, isn't AMEX cracking down on p2p payments?

I thought a thread on MS had been started in the dischurners Reddit but couldn't find it last night. ???

 

[wendow]

How are you doing this? Not worried about the rats team? Just going to trick plastiq like with CIP?

I've already gotten a test payment through on my mortgage using spg personal. I'm just gonna go for it and not worry about RATs.

 

[wendow]

So do you not select the mortgage/rent for category?

I did coding as utilities.

 

[SBWB48]

I don't know why I'm having such a hard time deciding what to do about the IHG card. I have a bunch of medical bills sitting here waiting for a new MSR. Before it looked like IHG was disappearing, I was planning to either dip my toes in Amex MR waters, or pick up the Alaska card. I think I'm hung up on the idea that we wouldn't be getting IHG for DH at the same time, so I'd be eating up a 5/24 slot for one annual night certificate and points that aren't worth all that much. And we don't know if we'd be grandfathered into the old terms or if we'll lose the ability to use the certificate at any level hotel. I'm really overthinking this.

Quoting myself to say I applied and was approved.

I see you already got it! Congrats I was just going to say that the things you are hung up on are the same things I am hung up on. And I don't know what to do! I just got the spg biz so if I go for the ihg, I have to use bank funding to meet spend.

This is also my dilemma since I would want two annual night certs over one, but I just got the SPG Biz for DH and working on the Spark Biz simultaneously for a combined 17K MSR between that and getting him approved for the IHG might be stretching it since I want to get him a CIP/CIC in the next few months...yet I reallllllly want the IHG before it goes away and before they stop the 80K match. UGH

On another note, did my first MS run today (used the Giant offer to get two $500 VGCs with the fee offset by the recent $15 off groceries offer; one on DH's account and one one mine) at the local WM and ironically, saw a random churner. Was slightly nervous at first if this WM would give me issues since others have reported that some are onto MS, but knew having someone ahead of me in line as the guinea pig would be perfect , and he was two ahead of me in line, so perfect time to bail if they gave him issues .

Wasn't sure if he was a churner at first, but saw him with a stack of 4 what appeared to be VGCs in hand, so when he asked for two 999.12 MOs, I knew I had a fellow churner . Then the cashier (her name tag even said "customer service mgr") didn't even bat an eye and just processed all 4 VGCs for him; she almost seem to be in the 'know'. Wonder if he was a regular Once it was my turn, the cashier that ran his MO left for a break, and I got someone else. I didn't want to try 999.12 since it was someone different, so I asked for $950; cashier must have not heard me say two swipes and just had me swiped, so my first card got declined which then made me like "why doesn't it work!?" Thinking I did something wrong. Tried the second card and the same decline. Told her I need to check my PIN and walked out of line (line was almost 10 deep behind me). Checked reddit to make sure my VGCs would work and sure enough, I decided to try again. Stood in another slow moving line and this time got another cashier who was a manager as well, so I was Decided to just give it a shot again and she clearly knew what she was doing as well and processed the first swipe and then told me to try the second card DONE and told me "Thanks, Love, have a wonderful day!" I almost wanted to turn around and say "Thank YOU, Love"

Looks like I've found my WM 'hub', especially knowing this guy in front of me appeared to be a regular and they have no issues with his 2K run, so I can throw in some MS if I need help getting through the 17K MSR without accumulating anymore third-party gas, restaurant, etc. GCs...and prepaid quite a bit recently as well, so this will be helpful, if needed, especially if I want to get the CIC before the 5/20 potential expiry that @Albort posted

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I did coding as utilities.

Hmmnnn wonder if $4k in utilities would look odd.

 

[wendow]

t

Hmmnnn wonder if $4k in utilities would look odd.

It might. For a 'small business' anyways .You could always break the payment up up or try different coding. Amex allows education and club dues. I'll probably be playing around with different coding too.

 

[jhoannam]

Quick reminder for those that did the Best Buy cash star, the code expires today.

 

[snugglebug]

And now I am on the fence again about the $49 IHG card What to do!?!?!?!

It was on my list for later in the year, I'm at 4/24 right now. I'm currently on pause with new cards until we figure out the husband's job status and potential home buying. Ugh.

 

[linzjane88]

This is also my dilemma since I would want two annual night certs over one, but I just got the SPG Biz for DH and working on the Spark Biz simultaneously for a combined 17K MSR between that and getting him approved for the IHG might be stretching it since I want to get him a CIP/CIC in the next few months...yet I reallllllly want the IHG before it goes away and before they stop the 80K match. UGH

On another note, did my first MS run today (used the Giant offer to get two $500 VGCs with the fee offset by the recent $15 off groceries offer; one on DH's account and one one mine) at the local WM and ironically, saw a random churner. Was slightly nervous at first if this WM would give me issues since others have reported that some are onto MS, but knew having someone ahead of me in line as the guinea pig would be perfect , and he was two ahead of me in line, so perfect time to bail if they gave him issues .

Wasn't sure if he was a churner at first, but saw him with a stack of 4 what appeared to be VGCs in hand, so when he asked for two 999.12 MOs, I knew I had a fellow churner . Then the cashier (her name tag even said "customer service mgr") didn't even bat an eye and just processed all 4 VGCs for him; she almost seem to be in the 'know'. Wonder if he was a regular Once it was my turn, the cashier that ran his MO left for a break, and I got someone else. I didn't want to try 999.12 since it was someone different, so I asked for $950; cashier must have not heard me say two swipes and just had me swiped, so my first card got declined which then made me like "why doesn't it work!?" Thinking I did something wrong. Tried the second card and the same decline. Told her I need to check my PIN and walked out of line (line was almost 10 deep behind me). Checked reddit to make sure my VGCs would work and sure enough, I decided to try again. Stood in another slow moving line and this time got another cashier who was a manager as well, so I was Decided to just give it a shot again and she clearly knew what she was doing as well and processed the first swipe and then told me to try the second card DONE and told me "Thanks, Love, have a wonderful day!" I almost wanted to turn around and say "Thank YOU, Love"

Looks like I've found my WM 'hub', especially knowing this guy in front of me appeared to be a regular and they have no issues with his 2K run, so I can throw in some MS if I need help getting through the 17K MSR without accumulating anymore third-party gas, restaurant, etc. GCs...and prepaid quite a bit recently as well, so this will be helpful, if needed, especially if I want to get the CIC before the 5/20 potential expiry that @Albort posted

I had a bit of an issue with my second MS run. I forgot to account for the fee so the second swipe was declined. We cancelled it out and went to start over but the first cards funds sort of went limbo for a few minutes while the charge was reversed this giving me a declined on the first one. I was covertly panicking. Did some walking around /frantic logging into the VGC site and then saw that it showed $500 as the current balance. Tried again and no issues!

 

[peel]

Secure message them. That way you have it in writing. They said they would give the 80k to me and I don’t even have the card yet.

I sent an SM and already heard back that they'll match the 80K. I just have to write them back when I reach $2K in spending. Thanks again!

 

[SBWB48]

I had a bit of an issue with my second MS run. I forgot to account for the fee so the second swipe was declined. We cancelled it out and went to start over but the first cards funds sort of went limbo for a few minutes while the charge was reversed this giving me a declined on the first one. I was covertly panicking. Did some walking around /frantic logging into the VGC site and then saw that it showed $500 as the current balance. Tried again and no issues!

Think I would have ran into this issue too if I kept trying...guess it wasn't a bad thing I walked back to the car, do some reddit/FT reading, and back in line

 

[Artygal90]

Mathing out my trip budget...I'm playing around with that dining plan calculator now, but please someone double check me (English was always my strongest subject!):

- The Disney dining plan, at $75/pp, is approx. $150/night for two adults. For five nights, that's a total cost of $750, or 75,000 points if redeeming at a 1:1 ratio through the UR Cruise & Tours department as part of a package.
- BUT, if I have the CSR, I can redeem points at a rate of 1.5 cents per point. So for five nights on the regular Disney Dining plan I would need 50,000 points. Yes?
- If my math is accurate, would that make the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan (right now at a cost of $116 pp/night) worth purchasing for two adults? I'd really like to try Tiffins, California Grill, and Le Cellier on our next trip, and we do each enjoy a drink or two with dinner

Normally I would NEVER consider purchasing a dining plan as I value flexibility and it really doesn't seem like a good value if you're paying cash, but if I have some extra points lying around I'd love to get our food at Disney paid for courtesy of Chase.

Thanks for helping me procrastinate on packing!

 

[amalone1013]

And now I am on the fence again about the $49 IHG card What to do!?!?!?!

I'm all caught up but had quoted this earlier... I'm torn the same way you are! And someone mentioned using it for normal stays even, which made me think of the IHG hotel in my hometown and that would be just as handy as the Quality Inn we've been staying at... and the Quality Inn has been $70 to $90 a night usually, though it was $55 over New Years. All these tempting cards...

 

[amalone1013]

I was thinking last night about my GC dilemma for our trip in a few days... and thought hey, we could save what we have right now to put towards our cruise next summer, and go to Sams club and buy Disney GCs for this trip - a slight savings still but can go on SPG biz towards the spend...

 

[jhoannam]

We

Mathing out my trip budget...I'm playing around with that dining plan calculator now, but please someone double check me (English was always my strongest subject!):

- The Disney dining plan, at $75/pp, is approx. $150/night for two adults. For five nights, that's a total cost of $750, or 75,000 points if redeeming at a 1:1 ratio through the UR Cruise & Tours department as part of a package.
- BUT, if I have the CSR, I can redeem points at a rate of 1.5 cents per point. So for five nights on the regular Disney Dining plan I would need 50,000 points. Yes?
- If my math is accurate, would that make the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan (right now at a cost of $116 pp/night) worth purchasing for two adults? I'd really like to try Tiffins, California Grill, and Le Cellier on our next trip, and we do each enjoy a drink or two with dinner

Normally I would NEVER consider purchasing a dining plan as I value flexibility and it really doesn't seem like a good value if you're paying cash, but if I have some extra points lying around I'd love to get our food at Disney paid for courtesy of Chase.

Thanks for helping me procrastinate on packing!

yup
$750/.015=50,000

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Mathing out my trip budget...I'm playing around with that dining plan calculator now, but please someone double check me (English was always my strongest subject!):

- The Disney dining plan, at $75/pp, is approx. $150/night for two adults. For five nights, that's a total cost of $750, or 75,000 points if redeeming at a 1:1 ratio through the UR Cruise & Tours department as part of a package.
- BUT, if I have the CSR, I can redeem points at a rate of 1.5 cents per point. So for five nights on the regular Disney Dining plan I would need 50,000 points. Yes?
- If my math is accurate, would that make the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan (right now at a cost of $116 pp/night) worth purchasing for two adults? I'd really like to try Tiffins, California Grill, and Le Cellier on our next trip, and we do each enjoy a drink or two with dinner

Normally I would NEVER consider purchasing a dining plan as I value flexibility and it really doesn't seem like a good value if you're paying cash, but if I have some extra points lying around I'd love to get our food at Disney paid for courtesy of Chase.

Thanks for helping me procrastinate on packing!

To me, URs are worth their redemption value so whether it’s “worth” it or not would be a decision made purely on the cost. If I wouldn’t pay cash for it...I’d probably not use URs either. Others may treat their points differently but that’s how I see it.

EDIT: this “theory” of mine works here because URs have a pretty specific and understood value (1.5cpp). To me, this is different than things like hotel and most airline points (excluding Southwest) where your cpp can vary widely based on what you redeem them for.

 

[kmc8826]

I sent an SM and already heard back that they'll match the 80K. I just have to write them back when I reach $2K in spending. Thanks again!

You are welcome! So glad they did for you like they did for me. I agree with the argument that having two free nights would be better than just one but at the same time you are getting a lot of points for a not much spend. I have been tempted but am not quite ready to take a 5/24 spot for DH. Although we will only have one night I figure one free night every year is better than no free night!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

To me, URs are worth their redemption value so whether it’s “worth” it or not would be a decision made purely on the cost. If I wouldn’t pay cash for it...I’d probably not use URs either. Others may treat their points differently but that’s how I see it.

I use points completely differently because I wouldn’t pay cash for any of the vacations that points have allowed me to take. Disney world 3 times, Disneyland once, Grand Canyon, Alaska cruise. I would have paid cash for none. For us a cash vacation would be driving distance. Points and miles allow us to have vacations we wouldn’t otherwise have at all.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I use points completely differently because I wouldn’t pay cash for any of the vacations points have allowed me to take. Disney world 3 times, Disneyland once, Grand Canyon, Alaska cruise. I would have paid cash for none. For us a cash vacation would be driving distance. Points and miles allow us to have vacations we wouldn’t otherwise have at all.

BUT if you could eat for $500 would you use $900 worth of points to have the dining plan. I’m just saying I treat points as cash meaning I won’t spend them on things that aren’t worth it to me (even though they are free)

EDIT: I also realize I’m probably not explaining how I look at things very well LOL. Basically I just over analyze everything, haha.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Mathing out my trip budget...I'm playing around with that dining plan calculator now, but please someone double check me (English was always my strongest subject!):

- The Disney dining plan, at $75/pp, is approx. $150/night for two adults. For five nights, that's a total cost of $750, or 75,000 points if redeeming at a 1:1 ratio through the UR Cruise & Tours department as part of a package.
- BUT, if I have the CSR, I can redeem points at a rate of 1.5 cents per point. So for five nights on the regular Disney Dining plan I would need 50,000 points. Yes?
- If my math is accurate, would that make the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan (right now at a cost of $116 pp/night) worth purchasing for two adults? I'd really like to try Tiffins, California Grill, and Le Cellier on our next trip, and we do each enjoy a drink or two with dinner

Normally I would NEVER consider purchasing a dining plan as I value flexibility and it really doesn't seem like a good value if you're paying cash, but if I have some extra points lying around I'd love to get our food at Disney paid for courtesy of Chase.

Thanks for helping me procrastinate on packing!

If your reservations are separated you can add dining to just part of your trip. We have done deluxe and it’s a lot of food even if only doing a breakfast and a signature dinner. If you can break your reservations into different days then it helps. I’ll add deluxe dining for a day then use the two days to eat the three meals. Then go a couple days then add dining again. Have also done deluxe then reg then deluxe to make it worth the savings. Have to decide what reservations you can get. Good luck