I love credit cards so much!

[Ngwira]

Thanks @wendow! Yesterday I used my Hyatt CC to book an additional cash and points night at the beach in July to try it out. 7500 points and $125 in cash and it is a qualifying stay as well. 2 queens and a sofa sleeper oceanfront in Ocean City, Maryland! I already had the Holiday Inn and Suites (17th Street) booked for the weekend using my free night and 40K points (booked before they went to 50K). So, my daughter and myself and the babies will check in Thursday night of last week in July, enjoy the new Hyatt hotel and breakfast for one night. Free breakfast in the morning after I watch the sunrise during my early morning beach walk. I will drop into HI and see if my room is ready before checking out - I may ask for the 2pm late check out that you get with the CC status.

I had 43K Hyatt points from the bonus and I want to ration them so I can do a 3 night stay next year. It's 15K for a free night, but $439 for the standard rate, $397 for the member rate. Without points, in July that is what most will pay. So the 125$ cash and points deal was good value for this room. I expect to see it bounce way up next summer (2019).

Editing to add that I'll have my free Hyatt night next summer and my free IHG night will count as well, so will rinse and repeat.

Were also at the Hyatt in OC Maryland end of July. I’m looking forward to our stay.

 

[speedyfishy]

It didn’t help that as I was planning to slow down (having prepaid a ton of stuff and amassing gift cards), the offers I wanted kept trickling in lol. Got targeted for the Spark Biz, then the rumors of the SPG Biz, the no fee Marriott Biz, and now the CIC. Only one I missed was the MB Plat since I needed to preserve my 5/24 status for SW CP possibly later this year. Then when I did my first MS, and found the tricks with Venmo, I knew it COULD be done while still maxing out the quarterly categories. My dad’s medical bills are helpful too since they don’t like dealing with bills and cancer is stressful enough as is while I can use some of the cashback from my Spark to help out without them knowing they wouldn’t allow me to help out with bills because they feel they are more than capable, so this way I can at least make it a “help me help you”.

I’m sorry about your dad, but that is so awesome you helped with some of the bills with your churning skills.

 

[Alexle2007]

Were also at the Hyatt in OC Maryland end of July. I’m looking forward to our stay.

Now to go look this Hyatt up in OC. We always stay at Comfort Inn on 1st St when we go. Although I am trying to talk DH into the Portofino at Universal for July since I can get that for a $100 a night for the week.

 

[Albort]

We need a cheat list of links to these sites.

I know I’ve seen a bunch of helpful sites that I can never find when looking for them.

One with hotels available by awards. Awardhacker
One on who the different airline partners are .??
One one moving points between systems
Spreadsheet links
.??

if your on our reddit page, theres a wiki link on the top bar that shows a lot of this info. Although i think i did omit cashbackmonitor on there.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Just saw an interesting offer on DOC regarding a Visa gift card promotion at Office Max/Depot. "Buy $300 in select Visa gift cards and get $15 off." Says Metabank . I generally don't do MS(because I spend too much organically! lol) but this might be interesting to a lot of people.

Careful with those. They are Everywhere Visas so only valid for certain things (lol), like “groceries” or “fuel”.

 

[GlamMistress]

Some might remember I was planning on going to New Orleans this weekend to see Aerosmith and then ultimately changed my mind to be more fiscally responsible (damn adulting!) Anyway, I'd had a reservation at the Hilton French Quarter that I canceled weeks ago. This morning I noticed that there was a pending charge on my Hilton Amex. I haven't used that card in probably 3 months.... it was $115 for a no show fee! [I'd booked using all points, too].

I called Hilton Honors who could not help at all and told me to call the hotel. I did and explained my situation. There were no notes in the computer about my calling to cancel, etc but I did say "Honors records all calls correct? Because I called and I want that file pulled." That did it and my charge was reversed by a very nice woman. Always remember to check for weird charges like that after (or even planned) hotel stays!

 

[disneedee]

if your on our reddit page, theres a wiki link on the top bar that shows a lot of this info. Although i think i did omit cashbackmonitor on there.

I’m blind. That is exactly what I was looking for over there and I can not see it. The first thing I see is a memberlist? I’m so used to disboards I can’t find my way around reddit.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I’m blind. That is exactly what I was looking for over there and I can not see it. The first thing I see is a memberlist? I’m so used to disboards I can’t find my way around reddit.

It may appear different on mobile. On a desktop site it's right at the top. Here's a link: https://www.reddit.com/r/DISchurners/wiki/index

 

[SBWB48]

I’m sorry about your dad, but that is so awesome you helped with some of the bills with your churning skills.

It’s been a tough few weeks, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. It was partially what motivated me to get the Spark. In a way, it almost became a calling since it came literally around the same time he was diagnosed ha. With MS being a huge chunk of the MSR, I was able to “earn” and apply the 1K bonus to some of their deductible payments and the 2% back on the MSR is for perhaps a meal in CA one or two nights for me

 

[eeyoreland]

Are you paying your cards off each month? If you are, your utilization is just a simple point in time. If they are Chase cards then pay them off a little early before you apply and your utilization will be at 0.

No red flags lowering credit limits. I am advocate for proactively reducing limits to encourage auto-approval on new cards.

How many points you have in your Southwest acct has no bearing on earning CP. To earn CP you have to earn 110,000 SW RR points in one calendar year (Jan1-Dec31). How many points are you earning from your Premier offer? Signing up for the Biz card might get you there.

Thanks. Yes, we pay them off every month. I know DH's score will go up once that big payment goes through. Let's just say I'm a little obsessed LOL. Thanks also for the clarification on the CP. Was just confused as to earning them or needing them to all be in the account. I'm torn with applying for the new SW card if/when it comes out OR the business card at this point. I'm kind of thinking about holding off and having DH double dip early next year so we have the benefit for most of 2019 and all of 2020. If he applies in November/December, we would just have to make sure we don't meet the MS until after the 1st of the year correct?

For the CP, it doesn't have to be my spouse, correct? It can be any companion of my choosing, i.e. our grown daughter???

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks. Yes, we pay them off every month. I know DH's score will go up once that big payment goes through. Let's just say I'm a little obsessed LOL. Thanks also for the clarification on the CP. Was just confused as to earning them or needing them to all be in the account. I'm torn with applying for the new SW card if/when it comes out OR the business card at this point. I'm kind of thinking about holding off and having DH double dip early next year so we have the benefit for most of 2019 and all of 2020. If he applies in November/December, we would just have to make sure we don't meet the MS until after the 1st of the year correct?

For the CP, it doesn't have to be my spouse, correct? It can be any companion of my choosing, i.e. our grown daughter???

You probably already realize this but just to be clear, since you opened the Premier card already this year you won't be eligible for the new card most likely. However your husband would be (which it sounds like that is your plan). And yes - meet the MSR (Min. Spend Requirement) after the 1st of the year. (Technically you can meet it anytime after your Dec. statement closes). Also, it's best to not even get close to the MSR until after that Dec. statement so that nothing weird happens (i.e. a mis-charge, a fraudulent charge, etc.) that inadvertently pushes you over the amount. People have unfortunately missed out on CPs due to strange things like fraud charges posting and Chase can't help you since they know nothing about CP. They gave you your 50k points...why would you want to give them back and earn them next year?? LOL.

Side note: use MSR not MS (MS means something different in this lingo)

 

[eeyoreland]

What is the conventional wisdom when it comes to annual fees? Pay them or cancel the card before it hits?

 

[eeyoreland]

You probably already realize this but just to be clear, since you opened the Premier card already this year you won't be eligible for the new card most likely. However your husband would be (which it sounds like that is your plan). And yes - meet the MSR (Min. Spend Requirement) after the 1st of the year. (Technically you can meet it anytime after your Dec. statement closes). Also, it's best to not even get close to the MSR until after that Dec. statement so that nothing weird happens (i.e. a mis-charge, a fraudulent charge, etc.) that inadvertently pushes you over the amount. People have unfortunately missed out on CPs due to strange things like fraud charges posting and Chase can't help you since they know nothing about CP. They gave you your 50k points...why would you want to give them back and earn them next year?? LOL.

Side note: use MSR not MS (MS means something different in this lingo)

Thanks for the clarification on the new card, and the advice related to the MSR. Also, duly noted on the appropriate acronym .

 

[GZanta77]

Now to go look this Hyatt up in OC. We always stay at Comfort Inn on 1st St when we go. Although I am trying to talk DH into the Portofino at Universal for July since I can get that for a $100 a night for the week.

$100/night for Portofino? Am I missing something?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

What is the conventional wisdom when it comes to annual fees? Pay them or cancel the card before it hits?

I think it depends on the card benefits, your spending habits and your rewards goals. I keep my IHG for the free night. I also keep the CSR for the higher redemption rate and 3x earnings on travel/dining because I use it to charge my work expenses.

 

[calypso726]

What is the conventional wisdom when it comes to annual fees? Pay them or cancel the card before it hits?

That depends. There are some cards I only get for the bonus and cancel once the AF hits. There are other cards that provide value that outweighs the AF so I pay it and keep the card. For example, last year I picked up the Schwab Amex platinum card. I will cancel it when the AF hits. This year I picked up the Hilton Aspire card and I will be paying the AF and keeping it.

 

[Lain]

I thought things are usually slow around here on weekends. 9 pages since this morning?!

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I thought things are usually slow around here on weekends. 9 pages since this morning?!

It rained today?

 

[Alexle2007]

$100/night for Portofino? Am I missing something?

No, my nephew works at Universal and they have employee room rates available at times.

 

[Albort]

What is the conventional wisdom when it comes to annual fees? Pay them or cancel the card before it hits?

when AF hits, call for retention offer. If they offer something, keep it, it not, consider cancelling it.