I love credit cards so much!

[trenty]

I’m seriously considering it. Visions of just how many URs this could add up to danced through my head all night. But I’m still working through two Amex msr’s. 5k to go.

I am too. But I won't be under 5/24 until July. I wasn't planning a new card until Jan, 2019 because I am getting cash back match from Discover until then. But 3% is more than 2% (for the non 5x Discover Categories) and even though I like cash back, I really love my URs. I don't really care that I won't get the sign on bonus because I know I can easily put more than 10,000 on this card just by paying college tuition alone.

I fall under 5/24 July 17, 2018. How long should I wait after that before applying for a Chase card?

 

[wendow]

Would you realistically put more than $10k on it in a year? That is the break even (which I'm sure you're well aware of)

Standard offer: 15,000 URs for spending $500 = spend $10,000 get 30,000 URs
New Offer: 3x URs per $1 = spend $10,000 get 30,000 URs
- Assuming you value URs at $0.015 each at $10k both of these get you $450

If you spend $20,000 in that year this NEW offer ONLY wins by $225...I'm not necessarily saying you shouldn't do it, but in this (IMO) extreme example you still only win by $225.

On the other hand - If you spent just $5,000 as an example the STANDARD offer wins by $112.50. Unless you think you're going to run out of new cards soon I'd probably pass here. You could compare this to the Schwab Plat idea where you could potentially earn roughly 25% back on your next $18,000 in purchases (vs. 4.5% shown above)...Just presenting different ideas

So here is my thinking...and you have the math brain to help me think through this and whether it's totally dumb or incorrect thinking...I am thinking if we got the CFU under this offer, we'd put every single expense on it (apply under dh, get replacement card for me add both teens as AU'ers). I'd move all my plastiq spending to this card (that alone is $2800 month). If we put everything on this card, I could legitimately put $4500-5000/mo on it. Then we have things like college tuition in the fall and spring, which would be additional big chunks plus any other unexpected expenses. I'm estimating 60k in a year pretty easily.

I'm not sure about what other cards I want. The CIC was the main one I was after next. Then maybe a spg biz for me. I was going to go for SW CP late this year but I think our Hawaii plans have changed and since we really only fly 1-2 times a year, and we have a lot of points right now, I'm not sure I *need* to do that. I think, other than the CIC bonus decreasing, every other card could probably wait a year.

What do you think? Pick my scenario apart cause it makes sense in my mind but you are much better at all this than I am. I do know UR are my main point love. I'd rather earn UR's than any other points.

ETA: Could even do some bank account funding with this. I've been stuck in Amex land for so long, I forget all you can do when you are paying with a visa

 

[wendow]

I am too. But I won't be under 5/24 until July. I wasn't planning a new card until Jan, 2019 because I am getting cash back match from Discover until then. But 3% is more than 2% (for the non 5x Discover Categories) and even though I like cash back, I really love my URs. I don't really care that I won't get the sign on bonus because I know I can easily put more than 10,000 on this card just by paying college tuition alone.

I fall under 5/24 July 17, 2018. How long should I wait after that before applying for a Chase card?

To be safe, I'd wait until August to apply. If I do go for it, I'll probably be ready to apply mid-June or July. Just wondering if this offer will hang around that long.

 

[trenty]

To be safe, I'd wait until August to apply. If I do go for it, I'll probably be ready to apply mid-June or July. Just wondering if this offer will hang around that long.

Yes. I was thinking August. I do hope it sticks around until then.

You mention in another post you will have tuition to put on the card. Many colleges charge a fee. I am lucky that one of mine does not.

 

[wendow]

Yes. I was thinking August. I do hope it sticks around until then.

You mention in another post you will have tuition to put on the card. Many colleges charge a fee. I am lucky that one of mine does not.

Ours doesn't either. Appears we are very lucky in that regard! And they actually take Amex!

 

[trenty]

Ours doesn't either. Appears we are very lucky in that regard! And they actually take Amex!

Mine does too - and Discover. I have gotten lots of points and cash back because of this major expense. Wish my other son's college didn't charge a fee.

 

[trenty]

I am too. But I won't be under 5/24 until July. I wasn't planning a new card until Jan, 2019 because I am getting cash back match from Discover until then. But 3% is more than 2% (for the non 5x Discover Categories) and even though I like cash back, I really love my URs. I don't really care that I won't get the sign on bonus because I know I can easily put more than 10,000 on this card just by paying college tuition alone.

I fall under 5/24 July 17, 2018. How long should I wait after that before applying for a Chase card?

I also want the IHG card and was toying with getting it before the CFU. But if this CFU offer sticks around IHG will have to wait a few months until I go back under 5/24.

 

[Calfan]

So here is my thinking...and you have the math brain to help me think through this and whether it's totally dumb or incorrect thinking...I am thinking if we got the CFU under this offer, we'd put every single expense on it (apply under dh, get replacement card for me add both teens as AU'ers). I'd move all my plastiq spending to this card (that alone is $2800 month). If we put everything on this card, I could legitimately put $4500-5000/mo on it. Then we have things like college tuition in the fall and spring, which would be additional big chunks plus any other unexpected expenses. I'm estimating 60k in a year pretty easily.

I'm not sure about what other cards I want. The CIC was the main one I was after next. Then maybe a spg biz for me. I was going to go for SW CP late this year but I think our Hawaii plans have changed and since we really only fly 1-2 times a year, and we have a lot of points right now, I'm not sure I *need* to do that. I think, other than the CIC bonus decreasing, every other card could probably wait a year.

What do you think? Pick my scenario apart cause it makes sense in my mind but you are much better at all this than I am. I do know UR are my main point love. I'd rather earn UR's than any other points.

ETA: Could even do some bank account funding with this. I've been stuck in Amex land for so long, I forget all you can do when you are paying with a visa

I'm getting distracted by this offer too and hope it hangs around awhile. We would easily put a lot on this card in a year. Similar to the levels you are talking about. Heck, we put $10k on it last month alone (although that was "helped" out by an unexpected tax payment). BUT, I'm still over 5/24 until October, and my highest priority right now is getting the CIC for DH while the 50k sign-up offer is still around. Ideally I'd wait until late June/early July before applying for the CIC for DH since he got his CIP toward the end of March. But if all signs continue to point to the 50k offer on the CIC disappearing after May 20, I'll take my chances and have DH apply right before then. I'd hate to have him get shut down with Chase, but it wouldn't be the disaster scenario that my getting shut down would be, since he is a recent entrant into this churning game. So I'm hoping the CFU 3x offer lasts long enough to get DH the CIC and then have enough of a cooling off period between that and getting the CFU for him with this offer. I'm not terribly optimistic it will be around long enough, but I"m going to force myself to stick to the CIC plan. For me, I'm all about the CIP as soon as I fall back under 5/24.

 

[miztressuz]

So here is my thinking...and you have the math brain to help me think through this and whether it's totally dumb or incorrect thinking...I am thinking if we got the CFU under this offer, we'd put every single expense on it (apply under dh, get replacement card for me add both teens as AU'ers). I'd move all my plastiq spending to this card (that alone is $2800 month). If we put everything on this card, I could legitimately put $4500-5000/mo on it. Then we have things like college tuition in the fall and spring, which would be additional big chunks plus any other unexpected expenses. I'm estimating 60k in a year pretty easily.

I'm not sure about what other cards I want. The CIC was the main one I was after next. Then maybe a spg biz for me. I was going to go for SW CP late this year but I think our Hawaii plans have changed and since we really only fly 1-2 times a year, and we have a lot of points right now, I'm not sure I *need* to do that. I think, other than the CIC bonus decreasing, every other card could probably wait a year.

What do you think? Pick my scenario apart cause it makes sense in my mind but you are much better at all this than I am. I do know UR are my main point love. I'd rather earn UR's than any other points.

ETA: Could even do some bank account funding with this. I've been stuck in Amex land for so long, I forget all you can do when you are paying with a visa

A quick thought is to consider is what you could get on some of that with the bonus categories. Like the CF 5% or the 6% on BCP (factoring in the AF).

I never ran the numbers at 3%, but when folks would tell me their 1.5% on everything card was better than the 5% on only some categories cards (that I have to activate each quarter, the horrors!), I pulled my YES's and ran my actual annual spend assuming I put it all on a 1.5 or even a 2% card and I ALWAYS came out ahead even though I hardly ever came close to maxing out a 5% category.

So if it were me I'd factor in leaving some of that spend on another card, if you've not already. If it's a CF that makes it easy choice, 5 UR vs 3 UR, so pull out 6k on the assumption you could max those categories, and then have to take a look at the others for what you would value more. Taking the BCP as an example, are 3 UR better than ~6% cash (minus AF). If there aren't many other cards that could top it, with your annual spend it probably still makes sense.

 

[pillow]

I'm trying to figure this out, too. I don't travel enough to ever earn status beyond whatever comes with a co-branded CC, but with the combining of these programs and the CCs I've signed up for this year, I'm wondering if I can get Starriott Platinum for 2019. We'll definitely be staying with them for our 2019 trips if at all possible (since I will have all these points & free nights) so free breakfast & suite upgrades would be really nice.

As of right now, when my points/nights combine on 8/1, I will have 26 nights (15 + 1 from $3K spend on Marriott Biz, 5 from SPG Biz, and 5 from SPG Personal). It's my understanding that the current Marriott personal card is still crediting 15 nights at sign up. (At least that is still listed on the website as part of the benefits of the card.) IF I sign up for that card prior to 8/1, I'll get another 15 nights + 1 from the $3K spend that will combine with my existing 26 nights, for a total of 42 nights. Then I have a 3-night trip planned for Sept, for which I'll be booking 2 rooms. SPG is still giving credit for multiple rooms through the end of 2018, so that will be another 6 nights bringing my total to 48 nights. I could then spend another $6K on either of the Marriott cards (or make my Sept trip 4 nights instead of 3) to get to 50 nights in 2018.

Is this crazy??? My main hesitation is that I *think* I read on one of the blogs that there will be a one Marriott Personal card rule (similar to the one Sapphire and one SW rules) when the new Premier Plus card launches, so if I get the current card I'd be shut out of the new one with the 100,000 point sign up bonus. I'd also have to sign up for the current Marriott card before May 3rd, since it's supposed to go away when the new one launches. That gives me about 12 days to decide if this is NUTS or a good plan.

Sounds like a great plan!! Will the new Starriott cards offer elite nights at sign-up? I need to go back and review . . . everything is swirling together in my head. I'm surprised I'm not having dreams about Marriott and SPG at night . . .

 

[wendow]

I'm getting distracted by this offer too and hope it hangs around awhile. We would easily put a lot on this card in a year. Similar to the levels you are talking about. Heck, we put $10k on it last month alone (although that was "helped" out by an unexpected tax payment). BUT, I'm still over 5/24 until October, and my highest priority right now is getting the CIC for DH while the 50k sign-up offer is still around. Ideally I'd wait until late June/early July before applying for the CIC for DH since he got his CIP toward the end of March. But if all signs continue to point to the 50k offer on the CIC disappearing after May 20, I'll take my chances and have DH apply right before then. I'd hate to have him get shut down with Chase, but it wouldn't be the disaster scenario that my getting shut down would be, since he is a recent entrant into this churning game. So I'm hoping the CFU 3x offer lasts long enough to get DH the CIC and then have enough of a cooling off period between that and getting the CFU for him with this offer. I'm not terribly optimistic it will be around long enough, but I"m going to force myself to stick to the CIC plan. For me, I'm all about the CIP as soon as I fall back under 5/24.

I'm glad I'm not the only one!! It makes me feel I'm not so crazy. CIP would come before the CFU offer for me also but the CIC is only $200 difference between old offer and current so I'm not sure on that one.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

He is 9. Same cruise, by then he’ll be 10 & just finished 4th grade (kills me a bit to say that, lol)

oh yay! My boys are 8 & 10. I will have to tell them to look for the other Blackhawks kid on board.

 

[wendow]

A quick thought is to consider is what you could get on some of that with the bonus categories. Like the CF 5% or the 6% on BCP (factoring in the AF).

I never ran the numbers at 3%, but when folks would tell me their 1.5% on everything card was better than the 5% on only some categories cards (that I have to activate each quarter, the horrors!), I pulled my YES's and ran my actual annual spend assuming I put it all on a 1.5 or even a 2% card and I ALWAYS came out ahead even though I hardly ever came close to maxing out a 5% category.

So if it were me I'd factor in leaving some of that spend on another card, if you've not already. If it's a CF that makes it easy choice, 5 UR vs 3 UR, so pull out 6k on the assumption you could max those categories, and then have to take a look at the others for what you would value more. Taking the BCP as an example, are 3 UR better than ~6% cash (minus AF). If there aren't many other cards that could top it, with your annual spend it probably still makes sense.

Since I've been stuck in Amex MSR land since Dec, I've not used my BCP for more than about $100'ish I was already planning to drop down to the no fee card in June when my AF hits. I do think sticking with the CF categories makes all the sense in the world. I typically don't max them out either but I did last Q with the Apple pay and I will again this Q with paypal. Beyond those, Idk. We don't eat out much so the restaurant category in the summer is kind of lost on me. Gas is useful. Last Q, unless they put Amazon on there, I usually don't benefit much. Thanks for bringing that up. It gives me something to chew on

 

[miztressuz]

Since I've been stuck in Amex MSR land since Dec, I've not used my BCP for more than about $100'ish I was already planning to drop down to the no fee card in June when my AF hits. I do think sticking with the CF categories makes all the sense in the world. I typically don't max them out either but I did last Q with the Apple pay and I will again this Q with paypal. Beyond those, Idk. We don't eat out much so the restaurant category in the summer is kind of lost on me. Gas is useful. Last Q, unless they put Amazon on there, I usually don't benefit much. Thanks for bringing that up. It gives me something to chew on

Yeah, the year they did Amazon at 10% in the last quarter was the first time we ever got close to maxing out a category We were a little at how much we found to spend there... it was basically the Amazon Christmas. (and we found out there were people in the world who had never used Amazon when we gave out GC's as presents... we thought they were joking at first when they asked "what can I buy with this?" )
Otherwise last quarter is usually a dud for us too except for the Amazon and Warehouse clubs. We're not really WalMart shoppers so even last year I hardly put anything on my CF in last quarter. I think it was just the $200 in WM gift cards I bought as gifts on my Dec statement

 

[Calfan]

I'm glad I'm not the only one!! It makes me feel I'm not so crazy. CIP would come before the CFU offer for me also but the CIC is only $200 difference between old offer and current so I'm not sure on that one.

Fair point. I'd love those extra 20k UR, but I also really want the CIC for the 5x categories. We'll get there eventually by product changing DH's CIP, but I don't want to do that until he can refer me for my own CIP in October. So the delta for us is the 20k difference in the sign-up offer but also a fair amount of 5x versus 3x (or 1.5x) earning that we could get out of having the CIC sooner.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I am too. But I won't be under 5/24 until July. I wasn't planning a new card until Jan, 2019 because I am getting cash back match from Discover until then. But 3% is more than 2% (for the non 5x Discover Categories) and even though I like cash back, I really love my URs. I don't really care that I won't get the sign on bonus because I know I can easily put more than 10,000 on this card just by paying college tuition alone.

I fall under 5/24 July 17, 2018. How long should I wait after that before applying for a Chase card?

You probably can apply on July 1 based on how the credit agencies report, haha. I'd stick with Aug 1 to be safe (or more likely Aug 2) .

 

[amalone1013]

I'm trying to decide, do I poke the AMEX bear and ask why my tax payment didn't earn starpoints? It was in the missing points period (4/1), and the statement had closed already. It still doesn't show points in the beta version.

Next weekend is Vegas... found out the friend we were going to support in his race there isn't going now, because he's $500 short... not sure if that's for trip expenses, car expenses, or what, but what I do know is we're now just doing our own thing all weekend. So we could move our flight time up. Prices have gone up since we booked, so I figured if we were going to spend more we might as well use the GCs I had and earn double points from the promo. Now I just need to call and see if I can get my name changed on the return ticket... My original is in my maiden name, then I rebooked with my married name but the price had doubled. Fingers crossed I can change it, but at the end of the day it's still points so no OOP cost.

People have had luck getting the CIP expedited, right? Even though our car plans have changed a bit, I might get DH to apply this weekend, as long as Ford will take Plastiq payments. And maybe then we could have it before we leave Friday afternoon. I'm hoping he won't have trouble with it since he's 3/24 (2 in Aug 2016, 1 in Aug 2017, plus SPG biz).

 

[Hatwriter456]

DoC renews my shutdown fears

I'm being very careful with Chase and I think I hit my max with them when I had to move around credit when I got the Marriott card in January. But, what I found different this time around with Chase and a new cc is that they gave me what my internal Chase 'risk' score was and they've never done that before, so I think they are evaluating things differently now. We started 2 player now and I will only be applying for a new card every 6 months.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Before I was a churner, this would have been a great offer for me also. I always stuck to one card (usually SW, earning my measly 1% on everything).

me too! Southwest cc for flights. DH's hilton and hertz points for hotel. Boy, I thought I was smart. lol

I'm soooooo tempted by the SPG points sale, esp. since I'm working on SPG Biz spend still (although I just looked, and I will have no trouble meeting the spend organically, so no need to spend more money). But I don't have a specific airline transfer trip planned, and it seems expensive if you're just going to use them for hotel nights. But it seems like lots of people are investing in them, so I've got a little FOMO going on...

I keep debating on this too. If I use it for hotel it isn't a great deal. I may use it for Hawaii flights though. I need to sit down and figure that trip out. I tried yesterday and I was going crazy.

SPG is still giving credit for multiple rooms through the end of 2018, so that will be another 6 nights bringing my total to 48 nights. I could then spend another $6K on either of the Marriott cards (or make my Sept trip 4 nights instead of 3) to get to 50 nights in 2018.

Wait, what?! So if we do Hawaii at a SPG property, 2 rooms x 10 nights, that counts for 20 nights? Awesome!

I get tempted every time they offer this sale and others here start buying them up...definitely suffering from FOMO...So, I'm right there with you!

However, I think unless you are transferring to airlines, or have a planned use at a hotel that is high $$, it may not make sense. I know in our case, it doesn't.

I have come to the same conclusion. Other good thing is it is sorta like money laundering....I buy points and then I tell DH I booked a mom/daughter trip to WDW on points. None of that is a lie and he is none the wiser.

DoC has an update for the SPG Biz folks not seeing points post couple weeks ago: Check for Missing Points on your SPG Business Card for Purchases from 3/30-4/6

I have 2 charges in the affected range but in the Beta version view they are showing starpoints. But my purchase from Monday doesn't show anything yet. My statement just closed yesterday so my starpoints aren't updated either. Was it normal to have a 4-5 day delay on the Beta version? Of course that's the several hundred dollar charge and the ones from couple weeks ago are $20's

Where are you finding how many points you got per purchase. I don't see anything like that. They could short me and I'd never know.

I need to go back and review . . . everything is swirling together in my head. I'm surprised I'm not having dreams about Marriott and SPG at night . . .

Me too. All I can focus on is my MSRs at the moment. What comes next is way too confusing at this point. I need some sort of comparison chart.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So here is my thinking...and you have the math brain to help me think through this and whether it's totally dumb or incorrect thinking...I am thinking if we got the CFU under this offer, we'd put every single expense on it (apply under dh, get replacement card for me add both teens as AU'ers). I'd move all my plastiq spending to this card (that alone is $2800 month). If we put everything on this card, I could legitimately put $4500-5000/mo on it. Then we have things like college tuition in the fall and spring, which would be additional big chunks plus any other unexpected expenses. I'm estimating 60k in a year pretty easily.

I'm not sure about what other cards I want. The CIC was the main one I was after next. Then maybe a spg biz for me. I was going to go for SW CP late this year but I think our Hawaii plans have changed and since we really only fly 1-2 times a year, and we have a lot of points right now, I'm not sure I *need* to do that. I think, other than the CIC bonus decreasing, every other card could probably wait a year.

What do you think? Pick my scenario apart cause it makes sense in my mind but you are much better at all this than I am. I do know UR are my main point love. I'd rather earn UR's than any other points.

ETA: Could even do some bank account funding with this. I've been stuck in Amex land for so long, I forget all you can do when you are paying with a visa

Ours doesn't either. Appears we are very lucky in that regard! And they actually take Amex!

It's a tough one to analyze - it's always hard for me to put myself in someone else's shoes because I know our spending, our patterns, and the cards we want.

My easy answer is that if I was paying large college bills and they accepted AMEX and didn't charge fees I'd be hitting MRs hard and then cash them out via Schwab. A lot of those cards will generate over a 25% return. I also like the comment of maxing out on a BCP 6% category. On Southwest cards you could forego the airline points and cash them out via gift cards and you're still getting more than 20% return.

I don't think your logic is bad - and the plan you put out there sounds good. If it were me I'd continue to find MSRs to hit until there were no more in sight. IF your spend is so large that you outpace the number of cards you could possibly sign up for then the pendulum swings in favor of this CFU offer for sure. Partnered with a CSR it's 4.5% on everything.

All that said - I find it hard to give a recommendation (going back to my initial statement)