I love credit cards so much!

[Albort]

Free food...

Chase Pay App $15 off food order - Tailgate like a champion today
Open Chase Pay app --> go to "Find" --> Click "Order" --> select any restaurant showing up in the list. $15 offer was applied automatically.

https://www.chase.com/digital/digit...bec4ff11e8bf6e46e4c7109be00INT&id=lw9MynSeamY

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Free food...

Chase Pay App $15 off food order - Tailgate like a champion today
Open Chase Pay app --> go to "Find" --> Click "Order" --> select any restaurant showing up in the list. $15 offer was applied automatically.

https://www.chase.com/digital/digit...bec4ff11e8bf6e46e4c7109be00INT&id=lw9MynSeamY

Only places near us are Potbelly’s and a meh pizza place.

 

[have2getaway]

I went to Chrome Incognito and found the offer for 50k after 2k spend in 3 months for Amex. Is that the good one? I thought I heard people talk about one that is 100k rewards?

 

[GlamMistress]

I made a charge on the Discover the same day that I did the add-on. That charge went through, but not the DVC charge. The difference is 70 points. I don't know much about credit scores, so I won't be surprised if I'm making a big deal out of nothing lol. The factors they listed were too many inquiries, number of accounts with delinquency, too many accounts recently opened, and too many accounts with balances. I usually just check my score through the credit cards that offer it, but I did request that credit report and the only "potentially negative" comments were two cards that had one late payment each from 5 and 6 years ago. I did open 4 cards and 2 DVC contracts, so I guess I'll give them that for inquiries and accounts recently opened. The delinquency and balances are what's throwing me because I pay every bill in full every month. I haven't held balances until I decided to open the cards for the DVC contract to take advantage of the 0% rate, so now I'm nervous what that will do!

It's just really strange because the charge on my Disney Visa has been there for awhile. I don't understand why the Discover charge didn't go through. If I don't get anything in the mail tomorrow I'll call the guide. I only just started getting concerned because it's been a week now and only one card has a charge on it, which doesn't make sense.

If you've never missed a payment, call the credit bureaus and dispute that information.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I went to Chrome Incognito and found the offer for 50k after 2k spend in 3 months for Amex. Is that the good one? I thought I heard people talk about one that is 100k rewards?

Amex has so many cards. You’ll want to be specific about which ones you are looking at/interested in.

You’re probably seeing the Premier Rewards Gold Card - 50k for $2k. The 100k offer is on the Amex Plat and that is an extremely rare offer. Do you have a plan on what to do with AMEX MR (membership rewards) points? If your primary goal is cash then you should note that these are only worth 0.6 cents each for cash (unless you get an AMEX Schwab platinum card and then they can be worth 1.25 cents each). They can be used for gift cards at 1 cent each for some cards but the most “cash-like” cards (target/Walmart) aren’t 1 cent each.

In my opinion, AMEX MRs are more complicated that Chase URs if cash is your focus. Amex does have the Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cashback Preferred Cards which are much simpler cash back cards.

 

[have2getaway]

Amex has so many cards. You’ll want to be specific about which ones you are looking at/interested in.

You’re probably seeing the Premier Rewards Gold Card - 50k for $2k. The 100k offer is on the Amex Plat and that is an extremely rare offer. Do you have a plan on what to do with AMEX MR (membership rewards) points? If your primary goal is cash then you should note that these are only worth 0.6 cents each for cash (unless you get an AMEX Schwab platinum card and then they can be worth 1.25 cents each). They can be used for gift cards at 1 cent each for some cards but the most “cash-like” cards (target/Walmart) aren’t 1 cent each.

In my opinion, AMEX MRs are more complicated that Chase URs if cash is your focus. Amex does have the Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cashback Preferred Cards which are much simpler cash back cards.

Thank you for clarifying! Ummm, so yeah, I’m not even a novice at this. I guess that must be evident. I’m completely green and clueless. Lol I guess I thought AMEX was similar to Chase in terms of rewards. I definitely am more interested in a cash back bonus than travel points. I have no familiarity with AMEX, so will probably stick with Chase.

And, yes! It was the basic Amex PRG with 50k, $2k spend in 3 months.

 

[marsh0013]

Free food...

Chase Pay App $15 off food order - Tailgate like a champion today
Open Chase Pay app --> go to "Find" --> Click "Order" --> select any restaurant showing up in the list. $15 offer was applied automatically.

https://www.chase.com/digital/digit...bec4ff11e8bf6e46e4c7109be00INT&id=lw9MynSeamY

I was able to place an order using my husband's chase pay now I'm getting a messsge that this part of the app isn't working and to try back later on mine.

 

[Livelovedance]

If you've never missed a payment, call the credit bureaus and dispute that information.

I can't say with certainty that I've never missed a payment. It's possible that I made a late payment on one card 5 years ago and another 6 years ago. I honestly can't remember that long ago lol. It's just strange to me that "number of accounts with delinquencies" came up, when those are the only two "potentially negative" items that showed up on my report.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Oh boy... where to begin?

On 8/16, Chase killed Plastiq coding 3x UR on CIP.

On 8/23, the SPG Lux card was released. But effective 8/26, the new restrictions on Chase’s Marriott cards and Amex’s SPG cards make it very difficult to qualify for a card from one brand if you have or have gotten a card or bonus from the other brand.

On 8/28, Chase changed the bonus terms on the Sapphires to only one bonus on a Sapphire product every 48 months.

Starting in mid-August, Chase signup bonus were seeing significant delays in even going pending (they’ve since started posting again).

In early September, Chase began manually reviewing double dips and canceling cards going back who knows how long.

Effective 9/14, Chase killed UR redemptions for anything Disney through the Cruise and Tour Department. About a week later, Chase removed all Disney hotels from the Freedom UR portal.

It also looks like there’s no more 5k UR AU bonus on the CSP.

And it seems you can’t generate a CSR referral link from the Chase refer-a-friend site or app anymore.

More and more people seem to be getting Amex’s welcome bonus denial pop up warning based on their history when applying for new cards. This would deny them the bonus on a new card even if approved. Seems primarily related to spend on existing Amex cards.

On happier news, on 10/4, Amex is expected to revamp the Premier Rewards Gold; rebranding it as just the Gold Card, on a redesigned Gold or Rose Gold metal card; upping the supermarket and restaurant category bonuses to 4x MR, dropping the 2x MR gas category; adding $120 worth of $10 monthly credits usable at The Cheesecake Factory, Shake Shake, Ruth’s Chris, Grubhub and Seamless; while keeping its $100 airline fee credit and likely its $0 AF first year and $195 AF subsequent years. Lots of people are applying for the 50k MR targeted or incognito offer now.

Lots of folks doing the RMN deals at Staples, Walgreens, CVS, and Home Depot for effectively 40% off gift cards. Limit 3x per offer, per month. Expires today 9/30/18.

Swagbucks did nerf the 500 + 100 SBs for $50 spend at Best Buy sometime in August. The new sweet spot is 750 + 200 SBs for $100 spend at Best Buy, once per day.

Chase is running a public promo for an extra 5x UR when paying with Chase Pay using CSR, CSP, and CFU at Best Buy and Ebags (so CSR and CSP earn 6x UR, and CFU would earn 6.5x UR). Stack with Swagbucks. Expires today, 9/30/18.

I’m sure I’m missing a few things. It’s been a crazy, bloody past month.

Thanks. Well that puts a change in plans. I had planned on dd the sapphires for dh this month.

Maybe ur will add disney back. At least Im hoping.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thank you for clarifying! Ummm, so yeah, I’m not even a novice at this. I guess that must be evident. I’m completely green and clueless. Lol I guess I thought AMEX was similar to Chase in terms of rewards. I definitely am more interested in a cash back bonus than travel points. I have no familiarity with AMEX, so will probably stick with Chase.

I wouldn't say "stay away" from AMEX. They just add a layer of complexity to cash out.

• You would first need to open a Charles Schwab Brokerage account
• Then apply for a Charles Schwab Platinum Card.
• Once you hold that card, THEN you could cash out your AMEX Membership Rewards (MR) points at 1.25 cents each.
• Without that card, they are unfortunately only worth 0.6 cents as cash.

So for example that 50k point offer you see is only worth $300 without a Schwab Platinum card. Now you could also cash out via gift cards - you could get $500 in Home Depot cards for that 50k point offer. Target & Walmart are the most "cash-like" gift cards they have (I say that since you can buy practically anything there) - and you would only get $350 worth of them for your 50k offer.

Essentially...if Cash Back is your focus - you could embrace Chase for now with all of these offers:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP)
• Chase Ink Preferred (CIP)
• Chase Ink Cash (CIC)
• Chase Ink Unlimited (CIU)
• Chase Freedom (CF)
• Chase Freedom Unlimited (CFU)

You have 2 players so you can refer back and forth to cards. If you just work through Chase you will generate an ENORMOUS amount of cash back with the offers above. If each of you hit all of these cards referring back and forth with a strictly cash focus you would earn approx. $6,000 in cash on $32,000 in purchases @ a 19% return!

(I'm not suggesting you hit all those cards in 3 months either lol...probably over the course of 18 months+)

 

[Calfan]

Well ... I may be guilty, but it does help build those miles, LOL.

Guilty here too, lol!

 

[Calfan]

I'm actually planning just to pick up a gift card for now and maybe combine with some other offers closer to the holidays. Are the cosmetic counters' prices set by the company or the store? I've used Clinique occasionally but have always purchased at Macy's -- would the prices be the same at any department store?

Yes, the prices for brand cosmetics will be the same at any department store (but promotions may vary among retailers in terms of gift with purchase, beauty gifts, etc., but Neiman runs these too. Neiman also offers free shipping.

 

[Albort]

Thank you for clarifying! Ummm, so yeah, I’m not even a novice at this. I guess that must be evident. I’m completely green and clueless. Lol I guess I thought AMEX was similar to Chase in terms of rewards. I definitely am more interested in a cash back bonus than travel points. I have no familiarity with AMEX, so will probably stick with Chase.

And, yes! It was the basic Amex PRG with 50k, $2k spend in 3 months.

if ur looking for high end cash back cards, BOA cards are the way to go. If you have the combine investment, going into BOA will earn u a lot of bonus there.
Other cards, i think Alliant bank has a nice cash back card...
one of the hidden ones i know is the paypal mastercard which is also u can look at as well.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

if ur looking for high end cash back cards, BOA cards are the way to go. If you have the combine investment, going into BOA will earn u a lot of bonus there.
Other cards, i think Alliant bank has a nice cash back card...
one of the hidden ones i know is the paypal mastercard which is also u can look at as well.

@Albort - for those of us considering cash back cards (I'm actually in that camp myself a bit right now) do you have some easy info on the signup bonuses on these cards??

Are they just good "everyday cash back cards" or do they also have some sort of lucrative signup bonus that might get me 15%+ back there too??

 

[GlamMistress]

@Albort - for those of us considering cash back cards (I'm actually in that camp myself a bit right now) do you have some easy info on the signup bonuses on these cards??

Are they just good "everyday cash back cards" or do they also have some sort of lucrative signup bonus that might get me 15%+ back there too??

No @Albort obviously, but I think this is the info you want - https://www.doctorofcredit.com/bofa-business-advantage-cash-rewards-mastercard-350-offer/

The CapOne Savor has a better bonus at $500 but BoA is good for the relationship bonus. Personally all my money is with Fidelity so I have no interest in this flight of cards.

Edit to add I posted the link to the BoA biz because I assumed you didn't want to count against 5/24.

 

[have2getaway]

I wouldn't say "stay away" from AMEX. They just add a layer of complexity to cash out.

• You would first need to open a Charles Schwab Brokerage account
• Then apply for a Charles Schwab Platinum Card.
• Once you hold that card, THEN you could cash out your AMEX Membership Rewards (MR) points at 1.25 cents each.
• Without that card, they are unfortunately only worth 0.6 cents as cash.

So for example that 50k point offer you see is only worth $300 without a Schwab Platinum card. Now you could also cash out via gift cards - you could get $500 in Home Depot cards for that 50k point offer. Target & Walmart are the most "cash-like" gift cards they have (I say that since you can buy practically anything there) - and you would only get $350 worth of them for your 50k offer.

Essentially...if Cash Back is your focus - you could embrace Chase for now with all of these offers:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP)
• Chase Ink Preferred (CIP)
• Chase Ink Cash (CIC)
• Chase Ink Unlimited (CIU)
• Chase Freedom (CF)
• Chase Freedom Unlimited (CFU)

You have 2 players so you can refer back and forth to cards. If you just work through Chase you will generate an ENORMOUS amount of cash back with the offers above. If each of you hit all of these cards referring back and forth with a strictly cash focus you would earn approx. $6,000 in cash on $32,000 in purchases @ a 19% return!

(I'm not suggesting you hit all those cards in 3 months either lol...probably over the course of 18 months+)

AMEX is too much work for me at this point lol. That’s a fair amount of cash from Chase cards. We would definitely spread it out! Ty

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

No @Albort obviously, but I think this is the info you want - https://www.doctorofcredit.com/bofa-business-advantage-cash-rewards-mastercard-350-offer/

The CapOne Savor has a better bonus at $500 but BoA is good for the relationship bonus. Personally all my money is with Fidelity so I have no interest in this flight of cards.

Edit to add I posted the link to the BoA biz because I assumed you didn't want to count against 5/24.

Oh Boooo lol. BofA Biz cards don't like me. The couple times I've tried they've asked for all kinds of info and I'm not comfortable taking my "business" that far. Thanks for sharing though!

 

[GlamMistress]

Oh Boooo lol. BofA Biz cards don't like me. The couple times I've tried they've asked for all kinds of info and I'm not comfortable taking my "business" that far. Thanks for sharing though!

I had a BoA card - it was my longest open account actually, from back during college. I hadn't used it in years. They were always hard to deal with on the phone. I eventually just relented and canceled the account. AAoA be damned! #Rebel

 

[miztressuz]

So, looking for suggestions. I am playing to have DH apply for a card. I’m hoping for a solid cash back/points offer upfront as well as steady returns on the card throughout the year. Just not sure which one to get? He does most of our grocery shopping (which is typically at Walmart and one other grocer), and we get 2% back towards Disney Rewards for most of his use. I’d want something that at least matches these earnings. He also picks up take out, which we do if we aren’t traveling. Which card is the way to go? I just got the CIC, and don’t want a duplicate of that. I have looked at CIP, CIC unlimited (I have the CIC 5%), CSR, CSP, Hilton Honors, SPG, citi double cash, Savor??? One question, if we downgrade our no annual fee Disney Visa card, what should we downgrade it to? Is the CSR too much for us? We go to Canada regularly, but I honestly didn’t know what Global entry even was? Lol TIA

@Lain spelled out the grocery dilemma well. I'll just add the oddity I found was Target on Discover. My in store Target purchases code as supermarket. This is only really helpful when they have a 5% category, but occasionally you'll find an exception to the rule if you research enough. The question becomes how much is it worth to find that obscurity? Probably easier to figure out the best way to put that towards a sign up bonus rather than try to maximize a % back at Walmart. Having Disney code Walmart as 2% must be that exception Do you get that on everything from Walmart or do they have a different section for grocery checkout that codes different? (Or did I read that totally wrong?)

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

CSR vs. CSP

I know a few people have mentioned this recently - now that you can ONLY get one of these cards is our consensus that if you don't immediately need to use your URs (and the 3x dining isn't a game changer for you) that CSP is the better card to get?

I believe the advice I've read (and somewhat agree with) is...

• Apply for CSP 50,000 point offer
• Probably still add your dog or kid or middle name as an AU and hope to get the 5,000 bonus (if it doesn't post, who cares - worth a shot)
• Meet the $4,000 spend
• Earn 54,000+ URs
• During the next 12 months earn a bunch of other URs too
• After a year (and I think you have to wait this long due to the laws) upgrade to CSR
• Pay the $450 and double dip the Travel Credit - a $150 gain over the next 12 months
• Use all your URs in all their CSR Glory while you hold a CSR.
• Downgrade to CSP or CF...wait awhile and then repeat the CSR TC Double Dip in the future

I know this sounds somewhat complex for a newbie (who are typically the people we'd be advising to do this). I'm thinking about it for myself actually when I get eligible for a Sapphire card in March 2020 (yes that is CRAZY far away, haha!). Any thoughts on this? Good Plan...Bad Plan...Do you have a better plan or reason why you'd just get the CSR?