I love credit cards so much!

[jhoannam]

I'm looking at a Chase Ink Unlimited and layering that signup on my Grocery Store Fuel Perks Program.

CIU = 54,500 URs for $3,000 MSR = $545 cash = 18% Return. Our Fuel Perks program is worth 12% off Gift Cards at the right times. Combine the 2 and I can earn 30% off Disney Gift Cards.

We don't spend enough on fuel to maximize that kind of return.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Got it...sorry...thought it was in in flight match question

Yeah but you just uncovered that our friend IS taking a flight soon...which changes it all LOL!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

ahh, 100k it is!
ive read of a way around it though... lol

Of course you have.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

We don't spend enough on fuel to maximize that kind of return.

Yeah - for us it's going to be about 5-6 30gallon fill-ups. I'm hoping to spread that over the next 6 months as we can usually do 30 gallons a month. (If I can't use it fast enough I'll just have to schedule some extra far-away client appointments LOL!!!)

 

[amalone1013]

Wait...you're going to be on a flight on 12/23?? That changes everything.

My reaction too!


@DrFacilier I'd follow SouthFayetteFan's advice! In flight seems to always be higher. I might even follow this plan for my DH because I want him to earn the SW CP for 2019-2020.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Yeah but you just uncovered that our friend IS taking a flight soon...which changes it all LOL!

Yep...super easy way to get CP...as you pointed out they just have to make sure not to hit the MSR prior to 12/31

 

[mmmears]

If the last applications your credit report shows is a double dip in July, you're probably good to apply now. If you wanted to be ultra-safe you'd wait until November BUT your problem is if those AMEX cards report then it sounds like you're in bad shape...so probably not worth waiting.

Thanks. That's why we are "rushing" a bit for this one. The AMEX card just arrived last night, so I'm hoping we have a bit of time.

Any advice on how to fill out the "business" application. Really no real business here at the moment.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks. That's why we are "rushing" a bit for this one. The AMEX card just arrived last night, so I'm hoping we have a bit of time.

Any advice on how to fill out the "business" application. Really no real business here at the moment.

Maybe @Lain or somebody else can give you a sense of how much time you have before that AMEX card will report... I honestly have never tracked that stuff.

 

[amalone1013]

I definitely was not thinking about the fact that we'll be on a SW flight the first weekend of December. I want to get DH the SW Biz and a Personal. Need to analyze our expenses and MSRs... I guess I could always pay extra on my car easily with the SW Biz.

 

[wendow]

Ok. Good to know. We will be flying SW on 12/23. Seems like that would be an ok time to apply for the plus. Is that an ongoing offer?

I’ll be on a sw flight nov 15 and hoping for the 50k plus offer. It was not there early sept and then posters reported it in late sept.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

(although Chicago sounds cold to me right now!)

Actually it’s 70+ here today. But raining. Like it has been for the past week. The temps are supposed to drop next week, or tomorrow, it is Chicago. So I wouldn’t recommend Chicago right now since it’s soo rainy.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I’ll be on a sw flight nov 15 and hoping for the 50k plus offer. It was not there early sept and then posters reported it in late sept.

So I’ve never actually used WiFi on a plane. To get the offer, do you actually have to be on the plane or does in the terminal work?

 

[Happy814]

I cannot come up with a good reason to apply for the personal card first.

So my plan was to apply for the personal card first. Is this a terrible idea?

• CIP 8/2018
• Planning to do SW pers on an in flight offer on Nov 23
• SW Biz in late January

I'm doing it this way to space out my Chase apps. If I do the Biz first I will wind up with 3 Chase cards in 3 months. If I do the personal first like I planned I will have 3 Chase cards within 5 months.

 

[Happy814]

• Kroger 4x Fuel Points = $300 in Disney GC + $1.20 off per gallon of gas, up to 35 gallons... for us we can use ~27 gallons so $32.40 savings in gas (16.4%)

I have taken to utilizing the @SouthFayetteFan approach and taking a gas can to the pump. It's handy to have that gas on hand anyways for the lawnmower and/or when I forget to fill up in town (closest gas station is 15 miles away). It may be worth investing in a 5 gallon can to maximize your fuel point savings.

 

[SBWB48]

I've been wanting to get DH going with Amex, but have been trying to get the 100k personal plat offer (because I understand you're less likely to get that once you're a customer). No luck with cardmatch. So now I'm trying to figure out our next move. I could do the personal for the public offer (60K), but I can't refer him, and a $550 AF isn't that appealing. I'm thinking about the gold card (probably not in rose gold ), because the grocery store points sound good. Or I could get him a Biz Platinum (public offer is 75k, so no point in referring him). Not scared of a 10k MSR at this point in the year (have a business expense that I can pay/submit for reimbursement that will take a big chunk out of that). I'm reluctant to get him started with Amex with anything other than the unicorn 100k personal plat because FOMO.

I think I'm struggling because what I really want is URs, not MRs, because I'm trying to aggregate URs to get us to Europe in business class. I'd love to get him a CIC, but he already has 2 business cards with Chase - a SW Biz and a CIP (CIP was obtained in mid august). Our business is for real, but its small (renting out one apartment). He is 3/24. Think I can get him a CIC in November, or will that make the Chase gods angry?

If I should hold off on Chase business cards for him, then do I just let go of the FOMO and get him the Biz Plat?

At least you guys get why I'm obsessing over this decision... most people would just think I'm a weirdo for the amount of mental space this question has been occupying.

There are people on Reddit bragging about doing crazy stuff like getting 6 Chase Biz card in a year. I don't think you have much risk to try for a CIC once 3 months have passed since your CIP.

I have 3 Chase biz cards now and will be going for my fourth (CIU) this evening to round out the trifecta of Ink cards (I also have a Marriott Biz). Will be the DP here for those who also had a 4th in mind. Had planned to do it last week, but got busy, fell 15 pages behind, and wanted to catch up before I pulled the trigger in case I came across anything new in terms of changes or DPs.

Here's how I had them spaced out (there were personal cards in between):

7/17 - CIP
2/18 - Marriott Biz
5/18 - CIC

 

[disneybirds]

I still haven't used all of my 10% credit at lowes and staples, but I don't know how to maximize that. Any tips?

I used our 10% credit at Staples when they offered Visa or Mastercard gift cards on one of the weekly deals. I used the GCs for our everyday spend, buying Disney GCs at Sams, applying the Mastercard GCs for car payments through Plastiq (the promo ended 9/30). Towards the end, I was pairing the purchase with the RMN deals.

I am still thinking on the 10% at Lowes and they have more GCs than Staples like Kroger. They also offer Visa GCs, but you have to factor the fee into your savings. Our Lowes has Disney GCs and we could always use more funds in our Amazon account!

 

[elgerber]

Question on the SW Biz. I have an email offer for the 60k, expiring 10/27. Can I apply on 10/27 and still get the bonus if I don't get the instant approval, and it takes a few days? Hoping it's instant with my "business" but since I have never tried Chase, I am nervous. I don't want to miss the 60k, but I want to apply as late as possible so that my MSR won't get met until January.

 

[Albort]

Maybe @Lain or somebody else can give you a sense of how much time you have before that AMEX card will report... I honestly have never tracked that stuff.

usually 2 months, they report after the 2nd statement...

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So my plan was to apply for the personal card first. Is this a terrible idea?

• CIP 8/2018
• Planning to do SW pers on an in flight offer on Nov 23
• SW Biz in late January

I'm doing it this way to space out my Chase apps. If I do the Biz first I will wind up with 3 Chase cards in 3 months. If I do the personal first like I planned I will have 3 Chase cards within 5 months.

THAT is a good reason to apply for the personal first. obviously every situation is different LOL!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Thanks. That's why we are "rushing" a bit for this one. The AMEX card just arrived last night, so I'm hoping we have a bit of time.

Any advice on how to fill out the "business" application. Really no real business here at the moment.

Use your DH name as the business name...his SS number as the EIN....I sell on eBay so I’ve filled out,the business part something like this
retail...books, hobbies,music,sports
Nonstore retail other miscellaneous store retailers
All other retailers exc Tobacco