I love credit cards so much!

[pillow]

I went into a Courtyard today and they said they didn't sell gift cards. Also read another post on the same. Which brand did you buy from?

I bought mine from the Courtyard in Cocoa Beach. Probably just depends on the hotel.

 

[Judique]

@Judique Which Courtyard did you go to for that $300 Marriott Giftcard? The Courtyard by me, in addition to a SpringHill and Residence Inn, said they didn't sell giftcards at their locations

I was south of DC at the Courtyard in Waldorf, Md as I was meeting a friend there for lunch at Panera. I called the Residence Inn there as well and they said they sold them, but didn't have any stock right at that moment and they offered to transfer my call to the Courtyard there - it's right across from their Best Buy. I also called the TownPlace Suites in Clinton, Md (right next to Andrews) and they had them, but this was a slight detour from where I was going.

I didn't call any around Arundel Mills area but between there and the airport, a lot of options come up there when I just searched 'Columbia, Md', on the Marriott website (to get the phone numbers.)

Edit: I saw you found one! Which one did you find? Daughter will probably do this as well but in the north of DC area. There are 198 Marriotts and SPG's pop up for this area when you search the website!

 

[Lain]

I received the 5x UR (actually 6.5) for my CFU. In the spirit of @calypso726 , I headed to eBags on the United MilesPlus site where they are having a 5x MP (v usual 4x). The Chase Pay actually flashed and reminded me I'd earn an extra 5% (so that was nice) before I checked out. A much needed car charger and portable charger later and I earned 275 United Miles and 357 UR. I might just have to swing by BB today because, why not?

eBags was earning 20 UA miles/$ through MileagePlus Shopping earlier this week! I'm so frustrated with the timing of all this. I've been eyeing another Tumi Alpha 2 carry-on. I guess I don't need it right away, but I'm always looking for good deals to stack.

 

[tink1970]

eBags was earning 20 UA miles/$ through MileagePlus Shopping earlier this week! I'm so frustrated with the timing of all this. I've been eyeing another Tumi Alpha 2 carry-on. I guess I don't need it right away, but I'm always looking for good deals to stack.

LOL-20x UA miles would make me crazy...who knows what I'd buy! Speaking of...I bought DH a Tumi carryon during another eBags promotion and he has used it exactly...never. I might have to break it in, now that you've reminded me.

 

[trenty]

Unrelated WWYD question:

From Feb to Aug of this year, I focused my Swagbucks (and other free) earnings on earning Disney gift cards. Went to Disney in Aug and don't plan to return for a few years. Since the trip I have been focusing those free earnings on Paypal to save for whatever our next vacation is.

We own DVC and I have never used these earnings to pay our dues. But I am thinking I should cash out first for a Swagbucks reward that I can convert to Disney. In a few years I will have a nice stockpile when we go back. If we don't go back for a longer period, I could use the stockpile to pay my dues.

However, I rarely earn more than one $25 reward per month, so going the "save for Disney route" will slow down my cash earnings for any future vacation.

I guess I am asking WWYD - cash out for Paypal each month? Continue earning Disney cards and if I get there in any given month make the second redemption for Paypal?

(I know there are ways to get discounted Disney cards and earn travel points by buying Disney GC to use to pay my dues. Not looking for advice on this. Looking for advice on what I should do with my free earnings from Swagbucks and other sites/apps).

 

[MrPTato]

I bought mine from the Courtyard in Cocoa Beach. Probably just depends on the hotel.

I am going to have to call around then. Thank you and also a thank you to @Judique.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I'm sure this has been answered since I am about 10 pages behind, but wanted to share.
7/6 - account opened
7/19 push from Capital One posted
7/23 last of my $0.50 Amazon reloads posted (I ended up with 14 of them as the last few weren't showing up on the PNC side, it was weird. They all show now though)
8/24 Bonus finally posted!

I did my last 3 $1 Amazon reloads and $500 CapOne push to meet all requirements. Now just have to wait. Thanks

 

[kayteekt]

Can you break this down in simple terms for me? I might give it a go? All I know is no fee on the GC at Staples right? So buy one (with 10% back on Amex?) and then what?

Etah and stack RMN too! I’m seeing the bigger savings now!

Well he could buy 6k worth and only owe 5400 on his bill. Then take his GCs and get money orders to pay off his balance. Before any RMN savings or anything else. Not that it will work out bc he may get amex clawbacks if he didn't have 6 diff amex accts with staples offers...and i don't know exactly why he was buying that many. DH and i were just discussing, as he was trying to figure out why someone would do that. MS was my answer

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Hmmm, I’ve done all of mine through the normal browser. Same process, except the first time I linked my masterpass account to Plastiq, I used the “change wallet” link. From then onwards, never had to use incognito to get the regular MP option/logo to appear after signing into my MP account; I would always be prompted to choose either the Citipay or regular MP option. But at least it finally worked for you!! I will say I’ve been able to fly through the Amex MSRs by using this promo

I still cannot get it to work, even incognito. I gave up. Plastiq is not my friend.

 

[MrPTato]

I did my last 3 $1 Amazon reloads and $500 CapOne push to meet all requirements. Now just have to wait. Thanks

Did my debit card transactions...waiting on PayPal to get funds from my bank so I can push the deposit to PNC.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO ....... I guess it's my own fault...... I went back and found the link at DoC...when I clicked it this time it only offered 15k to upgrade.....so I guess I lost that first big offer I saw when I looked last week.... there is no way 15k points is worth a 5k spend to me.....

Check your Amex account and emails. I had the 100k points/$5k in my account but now it says 15k points (though spend is $1k I think, not $5k). I still have the email with link though.

 

[Alexle2007]

This is where I was looking but I couldn’t find it there. I’ll look again when I fly home.

I looked on my flight to WDW this morning. It looks like they have changed the in-flight offer to the high-end card. All of the materials in seatback pocket were for it and when you got on the wi-fi. It’s 50k for $2k spend with the $149 AF.

 

[chattadisser]

Some stores/cashiers are not enforcing the one per person limit. If they let you buy more than one, the activation fee will come off of as many cards as you can buy.

I didn't realize it was only one per person but the cashier let me get two. Score!

 

[Alexle2007]

Wow, you guys are close!! It’s one thing to see other MD’ers posting, but another to see you guys THAT close. I will say, I tried the Staples in Ellicott City by the Target on the first day, and the rack was cleaned out. All $200 GCs eres gone, others all there. However, I now wonder if they kept them behind the counter

I actually live near the MD/PA line but work at SSA so EC is where we usually head for lunch to get out of the building.

 

[Judique]

Check your Amex account and emails. I had the 100k points/$5k in my account but now it says 15k points (though spend is $1k I think, not $5k). I still have the email with link though.

Kind of weird! I guess they got so much response they pulled back the higher offers. I got the small offer to begin with but - I had already applied and gotten approved for the new card before I worried about even looking for an offer. Then the 15K offer was on my Amex offers and just disappeared this week. Kind of wish I'd done both to see whether I would have gotten the 15K and an extra 50K free night, lol. Probably better not to poke at Amex too much though since I give them such small business when I'm not doing spend.

 

[amalone1013]

Unrelated WWYD question:

From Feb to Aug of this year, I focused my Swagbucks (and other free) earnings on earning Disney gift cards. Went to Disney in Aug and don't plan to return for a few years. Since the trip I have been focusing those free earnings on Paypal to save for whatever our next vacation is.

We own DVC and I have never used these earnings to pay our dues. But I am thinking I should cash out first for a Swagbucks reward that I can convert to Disney. In a few years I will have a nice stockpile when we go back. If we don't go back for a longer period, I could use the stockpile to pay my dues.

However, I rarely earn more than one $25 reward per month, so going the "save for Disney route" will slow down my cash earnings for any future vacation.

I guess I am asking WWYD - cash out for Paypal each month? Continue earning Disney cards and if I get there in any given month make the second redemption for Paypal?

(I know there are ways to get discounted Disney cards and earn travel points by buying Disney GC to use to pay my dues. Not looking for advice on this. Looking for advice on what I should do with my free earnings from Swagbucks and other sites/apps).

I would cash out for a discounted gift card and then paypal if you have a second redemption. Right now I am doing Walmart for Disney cards at Sam's because of our travel plans. If I didn't have a Disney trip, I would still probably do walmart and use it for groceries there or at Sam's, and then take $25 cash from my grocery budget and add it to travel. You could even do something like that, cash out for something you'll spend anyways and add the cash to your travel budget. Then you'd have the best of both worlds really, because if you ever end up using some of that cash on Disney gift cards you could put it towards deals

 

[amalone1013]

How does the AF work with the SPG Lux upgrade? I paid mine at the beginning of August...

Annual Membership Fee: Approximately 45 days after your account is upgraded, you will be charged a prorated Annual Membership Fee for your new Card based on the time remaining until your next account anniversary date. You will also receive a prorated refund for any annual fee paid on your previous Card.

So I would pay 10-11 months of the $450? And a 10-11 month refund of my $95?

Access to $300 credit right away, could stack with Marriott $60 back on $300 offer...

15k points for $1k spend...

50k free night next year...

Am I forgetting anything? Since I'd be opening before 2019, would the 15 elite night credit hit my account right away?

 

[Alexle2007]

Ahh, thanks! I'm not likely to buy any more points. But I do think I will give them a call and maybe try to get the rest of this year put on the SPG. It's funny - I just want a spend over with when I get a new card. Can't deal with it hanging around. So, I'm busy coming up with 5K and want it done right this minute! I'm at over 3K as of this morning between my new appliances, a medicare part b premium bill for the rest of this year, and if I add some DVC dues it will help.(Also, whatever the plumber costs next week if they take Amex.)

I 'just' got approved for Medicare part b starting September 1 (and yesterday got the bill) and the gov will take a credit card no extra fees, just have to snail mail it with my signature and the card info. So, mid November to early Dec will be a good time for another card for me - DVC dues and next years Medicare bill, if I can pay it all at once. (They have some language about setting up an auto pay on the info.) Plus I'll have 2 insurance premiums due totaling about $1300. Great time for a 5K card!! I'm trying to think ahead here. Also need it to be a biz card to keep me on my x/24 tracking. (I still want some Chase cards.)

Did you get your fancy new Medicare card with your new Medicare number that replaces using your SSN? That’s been my big project at work for the last 2 years working with CMS.

 

[snugglebug]

Unrelated WWYD question:

From Feb to Aug of this year, I focused my Swagbucks (and other free) earnings on earning Disney gift cards. Went to Disney in Aug and don't plan to return for a few years. Since the trip I have been focusing those free earnings on Paypal to save for whatever our next vacation is.

We own DVC and I have never used these earnings to pay our dues. But I am thinking I should cash out first for a Swagbucks reward that I can convert to Disney. In a few years I will have a nice stockpile when we go back. If we don't go back for a longer period, I could use the stockpile to pay my dues.

However, I rarely earn more than one $25 reward per month, so going the "save for Disney route" will slow down my cash earnings for any future vacation.

I guess I am asking WWYD - cash out for Paypal each month? Continue earning Disney cards and if I get there in any given month make the second redemption for Paypal?

(I know there are ways to get discounted Disney cards and earn travel points by buying Disney GC to use to pay my dues. Not looking for advice on this. Looking for advice on what I should do with my free earnings from Swagbucks and other sites/apps).

I cash out for a discounted virtual Visa currently for my first $25. I then take that and use the Ibotta app to purchase a Disney GC from ShopDisney, I tested a few portals and that's the only one showing an earning so far. The virtual Visa was discounted more than the typical first $25 redemption of the month. The rest of my money for the month I cashout to Paypal.

 

[miztressuz]

So...If I am currently carrying a balance on my 0% Discover IT card I should pay that down before applying for a new card? My next card will probably be Chase's United Mileage Plus Card.

ETA: I just checked Credit Karma - down 4 points around 810.

Again depends on how much, I only took a 16 pt hit on FICO so I was still well within the Excellent credit band ( even though it was my lowest score in a few years). If it seems like it will pull you into a higher band then maybe. But probably won't make a difference; unless you're getting into higher territories like 20, 30, 40% ratios. As long as your score is above the threshold Chase wants for that card, that's all that should matter. If I were going for another card in my scenario it wouldn't have even crossed my mind to pay it down since I still looked like a low risk.

Unrelated WWYD question:

From Feb to Aug of this year, I focused my Swagbucks (and other free) earnings on earning Disney gift cards. Went to Disney in Aug and don't plan to return for a few years. Since the trip I have been focusing those free earnings on Paypal to save for whatever our next vacation is.

We own DVC and I have never used these earnings to pay our dues. But I am thinking I should cash out first for a Swagbucks reward that I can convert to Disney. In a few years I will have a nice stockpile when we go back. If we don't go back for a longer period, I could use the stockpile to pay my dues.

However, I rarely earn more than one $25 reward per month, so going the "save for Disney route" will slow down my cash earnings for any future vacation.

I guess I am asking WWYD - cash out for Paypal each month? Continue earning Disney cards and if I get there in any given month make the second redemption for Paypal?

(I know there are ways to get discounted Disney cards and earn travel points by buying Disney GC to use to pay my dues. Not looking for advice on this. Looking for advice on what I should do with my free earnings from Swagbucks and other sites/apps).

I've put Disney on hold since we don't have a definite return date, but I still pick up completely free cards when it's easy. Like I finally had enough Shopkick for a 25 card, had been planning to get BB and turn it into something else through the SB deal but then they stopped GC>GC. So I just got a Disney instead. But I'm definitely not focusing on it and, like you, torn on what to cash out on SB for now. It was so much easier when all decisions were towards how to get a Disney GC
I'm still a sucker for discounts, so I look for a discounted GC each month that I can use somewhere else. Then I can choose to move money from that budget into the vaca fund instead. Everything else I cash to PayPal and move it directly to the vaca fund.

Since you have the DVC dues, can still try for Disney GC's and then move cash from the dues fund into the other vacation fund if that makes it easier to decide.