I love credit cards so much!

[CyndiLouWho]

Finished MSR on Hilton Amex and CitiBiz AA cards. Made purchase on Aviator Biz. Looking at CIC for DH and upgrading to SPG Lux on my personal. I’m going to upgrade SPG today since I need the card to pay homeowners insurance. BTW for anyone thinking of removing insurance from escrow, found out there’s a 5% discount on insurance paid by mortgage company for MetLife. So I may get charged 5% more, but I’m going to try to pay ASAP before they notice

DH got CIP 5/18 and Aviator Biz 8/18. Last personal card was BOA 1/18. Safe for CIC?
.

ETA: Upgraded to SPG Lux. Even though wording in my online account no longer offered 100k, I used link in email and seems to have worked. No welcome email or anything different on website yet.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

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.

Well thats not so bad. Could still double dip. Do the 50k in flight and when you get off the plane do the premier or plus for 40k. Then you're only 20k from CP. Attainable, just not as easy as it once was.

 

[Lain]

Carry on you beautiful people. I sure do enjoy reading you all. And hey.. is @Lain in Hawaii right now??? Awfully nice to live vicariously... while I wait for the spirit to move this wild child somewhere new on some other day.

No... we were in Hawaii last weekend.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I'm wondering too, they looks amazing! Haven't done a veggie sandwich with sweet rolls but we have made ham and cheese sliders and hamburger sliders with sweet rolls and it is delicious

I buy the huge packs at sams and my kids eat them plain or for all their sandwiches. We also buy the hamburger and hot dog ones.

 

[afan]

@WVMomof3 It's only for 2 nights but this might be a way for you all to do your trip - https://www.packupgo.com You put how many people, the budget per person and dates and they plan the whole trip for you. They'll let you know what to pack but you aren't supposed to open your envelope until you get to the airport/train station etc. I follow them on facebook and people seem to have good times.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Can anyone poke a hole in my tentative plan here?

Book Frontier flights using CSR (maybe points, maybe just buy them 4200 points x6) for 4:35 Thurs pm before our Saturday cruise in Dec. I read on flyer talk that you can save the $19 per ticket fee if you buy at the airport. What!? So They'd be $40 each. Add some fees and they are still significantly cheaper than SW.

As backup, book SW flights at 6:30pm for the same night on points (17,500 each ouch!).

If the frontier flies as scheduled, I cancel my SW flights and get my points back. If it doesn't, we still have a way to Florida.

Am I missing anything here?

 

[Alexle2007]

So worth the 90 minutes we spent at the DVC tour, especially since it was raining! $150 gift card and 9 Fast passes (3 each). DH isn’t going to the parks since he hurt his foot so they let me transfer them to my SIL who is joining us at the parks tomorrow with my brother. And now DH is seriously considering purchasing 120 points. I told him if we do that than I am opening up new CCs to get those points also! And he was actually ok with that. Might need to see if I can get AmEx Plat for 100k MRs or maybe those Hilton cards since we would have $22k of spend.

 

[amalone1013]

My Staples had lots of $200s... poor DH

And RMN tracked for it.

 

[GlamMistress]

So worth the 90 minutes we spent at the DVC tour, especially since it was raining! $150 gift card and 9 Fast passes (3 each). DH isn’t going to the parks since he hurt his foot so they let me transfer them to my SIL who is joining us at the parks tomorrow with my brother. And now DH is seriously considering purchasing 120 points. I told him if we do that than I am opening up new CCs to get those points also! And he was actually ok with that. Might need to see if I can get AmEx Plat for 100k MRs or maybe those Hilton cards since we would have $22k of spend.

Buying Cooper Creek?

 

[Lain]

@Lain - I finally got a mailer for the United Card. 50,000 sign up bonus points. Expires 10/31.

Would it be better to have DH refer me? I think it is a wash. Want to apply soon after 10/1 when I know I will be under 5/24 and we meet (or come close to meeting) the MSR on his United card.

It’s kind of a wash, but whatever you decide depends on where you want or need the United miles.

If DH refers you for the Explorer card, he’ll get a 10k UA miles referral bonus into his MileagePlus account and you’d be referred to the standard 40k UA miles offer that’ll go into your MileagePlus account. If you apply for the Explorer card through the targeted offer, all the 50k miles go into your MileagePlus account. AFAIK, there’s no easy or inexpensive way to move miles between accounts to pool your miles for a bigger single redemption.

 

[trenty]

It’s kind of a wash, but whatever you decide depends on where you want or need the United miles.

If DH refers you for the Explorer card, he’ll get a 10k UA miles referral bonus into his MileagePlus account and you’d be referred to the standard 40k UA miles offer that’ll go into your MileagePlus account. If you apply for the Explorer card through the targeted offer, all the 50k miles go into your MileagePlus account. AFAIK, there’s no easy or inexpensive way to move miles between accounts to pool your miles for a bigger single redemption.

Thanks. This makes total sense. I think I want all the bonus points from in my applicatoon in my account.

 

[Alexle2007]

Go figure! I think it was meant to be. I checked CardMatch and I have the pre-qualified offer for AmEx Plat for 100k MR with $5k spend. I guess I need to apply before I lose the offer?

 

[1st*toright]

I’ve been thinking along the lines of @1st*toright that these delays in Chase bonuses may be due to a policy decision by Chase to defer posting the bonuses until 6-8 weeks after qualifying as they are required under the offer terms, rather than some kind of technical glitch. Chase has been on record at its Q2 earnings report about how they're seeing greater than expected rewards liability and faster than anticipated rewards redemption, which are affecting their bottom line. This might be an effort to delay the reporting of liabilities.

This theory is gaining traction in my mind as well - and is somewhat frustrating that Chase would potentially play with people’s vacation funds and plans over their quarter end results.

Ha- many CFOs would sell their grandmother to improve their quarterly results.

I may be wrong but I'm fairly sure they would have to report the liabilities anyway if the bonus has been earned. The fact they are delaying the posting of the points doesn't alter their obligation to report the liability.

However, what they might be doing is delaying the points posting to prevent redemption. Why? Well a point redeemed is a 'realized' expense, especially if redeemed via CSR @ 1.5x, whereas points outstanding is a potential liability which may or may not become realized. Now lets say Chase has some historical data that says only 82% of outstanding points get redeemed at an average cost to chase of 0.7cpp. They could reasonably report that liability on their financials which would be significantly different to reporting a liability of 100% of outstanding points at the maximum theoretical redemption value of 1.5cpp.

Make sense?

ETA: @Lain - On reflection, this post may be nit-picking, and is really just reflecting what you posted anyway.

You may be nitpicking, but you're speaking my language . My thought is that ordinary points would have to be accrued along with purchases (which we are seeing) but sign up bonuses may be a different bucket that for administrative reasons they only post periodically, and their recording it on the balance sheet is tied to this administrative process. Its likely too small for their auditors to get their knickers in a twist over (f the matching of the expense is a few weeks later than it has historically been), so may be an opportunity to do some smoothing. I'm sure they do have a valuation on the points that is based on the historical redemption rate, which would go up or down based on recent activity (they'd have to recalculate that periodically) so you could well be correct that the delay is hooked to not wanting to see that revaluation sooner rather than later, if lots of these outstanding sign up bonuses are likely to be fully used at costly redemption rates. If we don't see bonuses post until October, I'm totally going to call it as financial statement related. Until then, I'm just entertaining myself by speculating.

 

[Alexle2007]

Buying Cooper Creek?

Yes! Looks like we have to do it now since I was instantly approved for AmEx Platinum. Pretty sure DH will not be too happy with the AF though. Now to figure out how to use MRs

 

[Artygal90]

Short question for today:

Has anyone ever gotten a refund through Plastiq if your payment isn't marked "complete" yet? My check to my landlord got lost in the mail or misplaced in the office...I'd really like that $900 back.

 

[Lain]

First this is a sort of anniversary! Today my CSR and Freedom fell off my report. I know I started actively posting and not quietly lurking about the time I got the CSR. 2 years of pretty much checking in on this thread every day or two. Thank you everyone for all the help, entertainment, and friendship.

And now for some more help. Bear with me please.

I just barely had gotten into Plastiq when the CIP 3 times died. So I now have between 2 accounts $2k in fee free dollars.

i am working on the MSR for the BGR (10k) and the Lux upgrade (5k). So that is enough. I don’t want to use Plastiq with Amex and get eyes on my account. Main expenses I can’t use Amex right now are my mortgage and Costco.

My thought I am obsessing about today. Tagging @striker1064 since I know you have gotten it. Should I get (or have DH get) the Barclaycard Arrival Plus? I am 3/24 right now (since CSR and Freedom just dropped off). My thought is I get the Mastercard now. Use it to pay our mortgage within the 90 days and that would use the fee free dollars, use the masterpass promo on Plastiq, and also give me the $600 in travel money. Since 2% back on the Arrival Plus only effectively paying .5% right? If I wanted not to do 3 months of mortgage I could also get gift cards to Costco since it is a Mastercard and not Amex. Right?

I have also been researching but not found out anything definite...I had the Arrival Plus until 2015 when they changed the percent back on redemptions. I was just a baby starting churned and fumbling through but cancelled it basically because of that (I don’t even think I tried to retain it). Would I be okay to get it now? Have bonus post? There is some odd language in the disclosures about getting bonus which made me worry...but it is not a clear one lifetime rule. No other Barclaycard right now. I am 3/24.

OR I could just use my Chase IHG for the fee free dollars and then go back to paying mortgage old fashioned (no points) way. Thoughts?

I’ve been chipping away at my Biz Plat and SPG Lux spend, but took advantage of the MCGC deal at Safeway/Albertsons stores (ends today): https://www.doctorofcredit.com/safe...ndalls-albertsons-tom-thumb-acme-jewel-shaws/

I also bought a $500 MCGC from Safeway with a $5.95 (1.19%) activation fee, and will probably buy a few more before the Masterpass promo ends this month. @pillow bought some at Sam’s. Drug stores should keep you under the radar too. (Variable load VGCs up to $500 also carry a $5.95 fee, which you can use at Costco).

I’ve been liquidating the MCGCs through the Plastiq Masterpass promo for bills in categories that don’t take Amex. But keep in mind the Masterpass promo is only fee free up to $250, then 2.5% for amounts over $250. I don’t know how your mortgage company would apply piecemeal $250 payments between monthly payment/principal/interest.

Getting a MasterCard to pay those types of bills isn’t a bad idea. You can add the MC to Masterpass to get the first $250 fee free until the end of this month, but if you need to make a full payment (and not $250 increments) then you’d be using your FFDs above $250. As you noted, you could use your MasterCard to buy Costco Cash cards online to use in warehouse, which would save you the fee on VGCs.

 

[WVMomof3]

@WVMomof3 It's only for 2 nights but this might be a way for you all to do your trip - https://www.packupgo.com You put how many people, the budget per person and dates and they plan the whole trip for you. They'll let you know what to pack but you aren't supposed to open your envelope until you get to the airport/train station etc. I follow them on facebook and people seem to have good times.

Wow, that sounds fun. For a brave person! Lol. I don’t know that I could give up control like that. Though probably what we need since we can’t come to a consensus. I will have to look more into it. Problem for this trip is I agreed to use my companion pass for my friend who doesn’t have as much money and we are leaving from 3 different airports.

 

[WVMomof3]

Did anyone else get the new Hyatt card? I thought I had hit my first $3000 in spend, but forgot about the annual fee, doh, so I was $10 short. Just my first billing cycle so I’m good, but I did receive 10,000 bonus points so wondering what that could be from? Anyone know? I believe the offer was 40,000 points for first $3000 and 20,000 more for a second $3000 spend in first 6 months.

 

[chattadisser]

I buy the huge packs at sams and my kids eat them plain or for all their sandwiches. We also buy the hamburger and hot dog ones.

Mine too!! The Kings Hawaiian rolls rarely make it to the stage of a sandwich, there are times that I won't buy them because they just want bread all day.

 

[striker1064]

First this is a sort of anniversary! Today my CSR and Freedom fell off my report. I know I started actively posting and not quietly lurking about the time I got the CSR. 2 years of pretty much checking in on this thread every day or two. Thank you everyone for all the help, entertainment, and friendship.

And now for some more help. Bear with me please.

I just barely had gotten into Plastiq when the CIP 3 times died. So I now have between 2 accounts $2k in fee free dollars.

i am working on the MSR for the BGR (10k) and the Lux upgrade (5k). So that is enough. I don’t want to use Plastiq with Amex and get eyes on my account. Main expenses I can’t use Amex right now are my mortgage and Costco.

My thought I am obsessing about today. Tagging @striker1064 since I know you have gotten it. Should I get (or have DH get) the Barclaycard Arrival Plus? I am 3/24 right now (since CSR and Freedom just dropped off). My thought is I get the Mastercard now. Use it to pay our mortgage within the 90 days and that would use the fee free dollars, use the masterpass promo on Plastiq, and also give me the $600 in travel money. Since 2% back on the Arrival Plus only effectively paying .5% right? If I wanted not to do 3 months of mortgage I could also get gift cards to Costco since it is a Mastercard and not Amex. Right?

I have also been researching but not found out anything definite...I had the Arrival Plus until 2015 when they changed the percent back on redemptions. I was just a baby starting churned and fumbling through but cancelled it basically because of that (I don’t even think I tried to retain it). Would I be okay to get it now? Have bonus post? There is some odd language in the disclosures about getting bonus which made me worry...but it is not a clear one lifetime rule. No other Barclaycard right now. I am 3/24.

OR I could just use my Chase IHG for the fee free dollars and then go back to paying mortgage old fashioned (no points) way. Thoughts?

I really like the Arrival+, but I'm not sure I'd recommend getting it at 5/24. There aren't any other 5/24 restricted cards you want first?

Yes! Looks like we have to do it now since I was instantly approved for AmEx Platinum. Pretty sure DH will not be too happy with the AF though. Now to figure out how to use MRs

I recommend Schwab! They even have a $100 checking account bonus.