I love credit cards so much!

[alryan]

Share your churning history...fun little exercise to pass the time this week...
Another group I'm in has been doing this recently as we approach the end of the year - people sharing a little bit about how long they've been at this game and how many cards they've gotten during that time. This could help @Lain update his spreadsheet too At any rate, if you want to share I think we'd all be curious. I'll start!

Here's some facts on me (which many of you are probably familiar with):

• I've been at this hardcore for 4 years (played the game for 5 years in total)
• Always been in 2 player mode since the start, my wife and I got 2 cards in 2011...then started actually playing in late 2013.
• At my high point I was 29/24 (34/24 with biz cards) in Oct of 2017
• At her high point my wife was 16/24 (no biz cards at that time) in June of 2016
• My wife is now down to 2/24...and those 2 are one of the last successful CSR/CSP double dips in August before that got killed (or at least drastically limited with this new modified method)
• I've made it back to 6/24 (yes down from 29...) and will be under 5/24 in just 92 days

We have fairly simple and consistent travel preferences and and an abundance of points in URs, SW RRs, and Marriott so I'm moving to slow churner mode.

We got 5 cards total this year (would be 6 if AMEX would lift the popup on the Schwab Plat). That's after getting 13 cards in 2017, 29 cards in 2016, and 14 cards in 2015. Next year I'd say we're gonna get another 5-6 cards. I'm really enjoying being a slow-churner - I find it less stressful and we're still able to support all the travel we want.

I enjoy reading other's stories, so hear's mine.

Came across this thread in June and got my first UR earning card. Prior to that my DH, reluctant P2, and I had both done the SW cards three times. Since June I've got the CSP, SW Biz, and SW Plus. So I think that puts me at 1/24. My DH got the SW Plus, SW Biz, and CIP, so 1/24 for him as well. So slow churner, but I've already done things I never would have thought. Never would had opened business accounts and now we have two CP for next year. I've made $575 in bank bonuses, helping meet MSRs. We vacation to Disney about once per year and then usually one other vacation, usually National Parks. I can already tell what kind of churner I will be, definitely earn and burn! As soon as those points hit, I'm thinking what can I do with these?

 

[DisneyMandC]

Awesome! Did you get rockettes tix? I bit the bullet and used Today’s tix. Paid a little more than I wanted but we are going 12/27 and crowds will be super high

I didn't I kept looking and looking for a Groupon or a special rate, but couldn't find any. The best I could find were Chase preferred seating discounts. They were good seats, but the best price I could find was going to be $280 for two tickets for the 9 AM Sunday morning show! My mom agreed that was absurd, so we decided we'd either see if we could find some cheap tickets when we get there, or just not worry about it. She's never been to NYC before, so we'll have plenty to do even if we don't see a show. I just checked Today's Tix and they're definitely better prices, but it's way up in third mezzanine.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

So I have officially entered 2 player mode with DH applying for the SW business card (going for CP since ours ends in December). He got an email that says "We'll let you know our decision as soon as possible".

Any idea what this one means? I have never seen that one and google is not helping. Thanks

It seems this message now replaces the one which said they will let you know within 30 days.....so Chase has not processed the application yet

 

[elgerber]

I am not really sure when I started credit card rewards. Probably over 20 years ago, with a Ford credit card that got us $$ for cars. Then I moved on to the Disney Visa and have churned numerous cards since then, mostly airline cards and a few hotel cards. Now of course I have more than ever LOL, but Chase is really putting the brakes on my SW stuff, with these two week message. I am frozen until they get in gear! Not sure where the next step is after that is in place.

 

[FloridaNative8]

Share your churning history...fun little exercise to pass the time this week...
Another group I'm in has been doing this recently as we approach the end of the year - people sharing a little bit about how long they've been at this game and how many cards they've gotten during that time. This could help @Lain update his spreadsheet too At any rate, if you want to share I think we'd all be curious. I'll start!

Here's some facts on me (which many of you are probably familiar with):

• I've been at this hardcore for 4 years (played the game for 5 years in total)
• Always been in 2 player mode since the start, my wife and I got 2 cards in 2011...then started actually playing in late 2013.
• At my high point I was 29/24 (34/24 with biz cards) in Oct of 2017
• At her high point my wife was 16/24 (no biz cards at that time) in June of 2016
• My wife is now down to 2/24...and those 2 are one of the last successful CSR/CSP double dips in August before that got killed (or at least drastically limited with this new modified method)
• I've made it back to 6/24 (yes down from 29...) and will be under 5/24 in just 92 days

We have fairly simple and consistent travel preferences and and an abundance of points in URs, SW RRs, and Marriott so I'm moving to slow churner mode.

We got 5 cards total this year (would be 6 if AMEX would lift the popup on the Schwab Plat). That's after getting 13 cards in 2017, 29 cards in 2016, and 14 cards in 2015. Next year I'd say we're gonna get another 5-6 cards. I'm really enjoying being a slow-churner - I find it less stressful and we're still able to support all the travel we want.

I'm a baby churner!! I started in August of this year, after curiously clicking on this thread because of the sheer amount of activity! I got my first biz card (CIP), was too late for the Sapphire DD, but got the CSP last month.

I got an AMEX (legacy Gold Card) in 2012 because we knew we wanted to go to Hawaii for our 10th anniversary, and I figured over 3 years we could bank enough points (man, if I knew then what I knew now!). We SLOWLY earned enough MRs to pay for our flights (which we booked through AMEX Travel - I know, I know!). Today, with totally organic spending and no bonuses, we're at about 280K MRs.

I'm currently at 1/24. Husband is a willing P2 (and is at 0/24), and is anxiously waiting for January when he can finally have a card in his name

Our goals are to take our kids to DL (we live about an hour away from WDW, so visit frequently, and have never been to DL), and to see snow. We also got invited to Scotland next June to see our pastor graduate from St. Andrews, so we are hoping to use points for that also.

I wouldn't mind churning faster, as long as we can keep up with the MSR without MS.

I have learned SO much from this thread, and really appreciate the helpfulness and kindness of everyone here!!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Duh, that makes sense. LOL.

I called. He's approved!!!!

Congrats

 

[miztressuz]

I started this adventure about one year ago, specifically for WDW redemption. I was basically in it by myself as DH was a very RELUCTANT P2. I was never able to get any Disney love from this hobby, other than minimal discounted GC. I have come to terms with this and moved on.

When I showed hubby that I paid for our upcoming cruise 100% with UR's other than the deposit he became a WILLING P2! Lol

Monday we are flying to Vegas to do our GE interviews. Pdx, our closest airport, was scheduled out until mid April; Sea/Tac had no availability until just before Christmas. I figured flying to Vegas beat an 8+ hour r/t drive hassling with both Seattle and Portland pre-holiday traffic. Our airfare is paid for using RR points; the hotel is covered by a UR redemption on my CSR; I bought a couple Groupons on Black Friday going through Ibotta to get 6% cash back, while using dh's CIU to get closer to meeting MSR. No rental car, I will be using discounted LYFT rides. I have ~$160 in resort fees and a couple lunches and dinners that will be out of pocket (booked a room with free breakfasts) and will use the CSR to get 3x UR's. A mini getaway, Monday pm to Friday am, for under $100 a day cash outlay. I have close to $1000 in cash back on various cards but I am saving that for our big trip next spring. (We don't drink much, and gamble even less so I should be able to come in on budget.) A year ago I never would have dreamed I would spontaneously fly to Vegas to get something called Global Entry and be able to do it for practically what I would have spent on groceries and dining out at home for the week!

I was going to apply for the SW card on the flight Monday but I was a casualty of the DD debacle in August so I am taking a little break. The CP will have to wait a few months.

I am currently 3/24 with five new cards and DH is 2/24 with 4 new cards. My next project is trying to scrape up the 75k to open up a targeted Sapphire bank account. Anybody want to give me a loan?

First of all, LOVE that you are hitting up Vegas just for GE We've done Vegas twice purely because it was cheap! It still boggles the mind that somehow flying most of the way across the country was cheaper than short drive/staycation options. The last trip we did 9 days in Vegas for less than $1500 and I think 80% of that was show tickets, we splurged for good seats since that was our only real expense otherwise we could have been even cheaper! (I think it was around 1200 at the end but I don't know for sure as hubby had a bad habit of not tracking spend while on vacation... his philosophy was as long as there was money in the bank account after it was ok We've fixed that since...) Have fun and happy travels!

Aside from that I think the biggest takeaway is

is probably the best way to work on reluctant P2's

It was a night and day transformation once $$ values were discussed in our house. I think until then it didn't really sink in because of how we usually used points and rewards. That was always the ancillary stuff, we picked an option to pay for (Disney package, cruise, something like that) looked for discounts on it of course, but points and rewards were usually small in comparison. We'd use free nights for travel days or cashback for food and then the SW points were almost a given - like they didn't count anymore So there was one day this summer when I was asking about something related to a CC bonus, and pretty much all this year has been mostly CC talk as we're strategizing, something just snapped in him and with total disgust and frustration showing on his face he asked me "How much is all this stuff really saving us?!?" cuz he was just done. Like take away my cards and ban ever mentioning the word "credit" again, done.

I just replied "Thousands of dollars. I have 2,000 dollars sitting in my Chase account right now for the cruise."

That was enough, the look and demeaner just changed where something really clicked and he understood all my nebulous talk of paying for this awesome vacation we wanted all on points and rewards was actually going to work. I continued on with what we had in other cards and bank bonuses and we then had a short conversation on what we were expecting it all to cost and where the points and cash are going. I walked him through where we already were on actual numbers and then what the projections were. I think until then he wasn't really hearing me and the cash value of the points flipped that switch. I know it'll be different for different people, but if you can equate these fake little points into something more tangible - in hubby's case it's straight $$s it looks like - I think that's what makes it click. My original grand plan was to pay for the cruise out of our vaca budget and then everything else had to come from cards, rewards, or somewhere else - all the excursions, hotels, flights, food, etc. We're on track for that but occasionally I fantasize that we can actually do it for half that even. If I applied myself more we probably could but I also don't want to turn it into an obsession

 

[elgerber]

Oh, remember the Apple Watch conversation a couple of weeks ago, when I said I am on my second watch, had one since day of the first release, and I have never scratched the glass?? Yeah, well guess what? Yep, scratched it two days ago!! That'll teach me! That day started with news that I am probably losing my job, and had all sorts of crap happen all day, culminating with the scratch on the watch. Guess I should have used a screen protector LOL.

 

[havaneselover]

Oh, remember the Apple Watch conversation a couple of weeks ago, when I said I am on my second watch, had one since day of the first release, and I have never scratched the glass?? Yeah, well guess what? Yep, scratched it two days ago!! That'll teach me! That day started with news that I am probably losing my job, and had all sorts of crap happen all day, culminating with the scratch on the watch. Guess I should have used a screen protector LOL.

Oh, I'm sorry

I hope the job situation works out.

I've lived with a scratch for a year. But when I get a new one, I'm getting a screen protector.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Ok, here's my churning story!!

I honestly can't even remember how I heard about churning or how I ended up perusing this board. What I did do before I even started reading here was sign up for a CSP! I'd somehow heard about the card and thought $500 cash back sounded like a pretty good deal. Then a friend of mine from high school posted on FB that she had a referral link to it (she's actually not a churner) and I messaged her and got her link to apply. That was 9/17. I met the MSR on it very quickly because we had a really big horse show right after I got the card. In 10/17, I had a big vet bill for my horse and thought "well, may as well get some cash back for this too" and decided to apply for the CF. Looking back now it's like "yikes!" but I was approved quickly for both and no one asked me any questions. It was only after that that I got involved here and started paying attention to how this worked. So my first real "churning" card was the Marriott Biz in January of this year. I've since gotten two more Chase business cards, Citi AA biz, Hilton Biz, Barclays AA biz, and SPG Biz, and PCed my CSP to a CFU. DH has also gotten 2 Chase biz cards and a Barclays AA biz. We actually are both still under 5/24! DH will get a CSP or CSR (most likely CSP unless Chase brings back Disney resorts). I probably won't pick up anymore Chase cards as I now have 5 cards with them in 13 months.

We currently have 200,000 Marriott points, 40,000 Hilton points, 170,000 AA miles, just used up the last of our Delta and United miles that DH had accrued from actual traveling, and will have 435,000 URs once I meet the MSR on my CIU.

Future plans: As you all know, I have a 2019 Disney trip scheduled for 6 adults. I'll use every UR I have to pay that off! We're accruing AA miles to fly JAL to Tokyo in 2020 for the Olympics. I would love to fly ANA, but I don't think I'd be able to accrue enough United miles in time to book the flights, and I'd rather save Marriott points to use for hotels when we're there. I'm also going to pick up another Hilton card so that we can stay at the Hilton Tokyo Bay while we're there. I'll likely get whatever the high-end card is (Aspire?) for the Diamond status. I'd love to go to the UAE in 2021 as well!

 

[miztressuz]

I found a very nice Holiday Inn Express in Pembroke, NC on our recent trip on our way down. For 10K points! Its about 10 miles off I-95 near Lumberton, NC. Great room, best breakfast, excellent staff. Considering most of the IHG's I look at are closer to a minimum of 20K, this was worth the extra 10 minutes of travel.

I should casually mention that this hotel blew the Fairfield away that we stayed at on our return trip. The Fairfield was 'just okay'.

Is that still only 10k?! We stayed there 2012 on our drive down to FLL. It was a nice little place and a quick detour off the highway, it was a perfect stop point. Now in reality it would have been great if everything went according to plan, but we got a late start from home and didn't get in until close to 3am. So to this day this was our shortest stay in a hotel room ever, about 6 hours. But it was comfy, good breakfast, and friendly people.

 

[Judique]

I didn't I kept looking and looking for a Groupon or a special rate, but couldn't find any. The best I could find were Chase preferred seating discounts. They were good seats, but the best price I could find was going to be $280 for two tickets for the 9 AM Sunday morning show! My mom agreed that was absurd, so we decided we'd either see if we could find some cheap tickets when we get there, or just not worry about it. She's never been to NYC before, so we'll have plenty to do even if we don't see a show. I just checked Today's Tix and they're definitely better prices, but it's way up in third mezzanine.

Do Rockettes tickets ever show up at the TKTS booths?

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Do Rockettes tickets ever show up at the TKTS booths?

Yep! Have them listed up to 50% off for shows today. The app lists where you can get them (which booths) and percent off!

 

[shairpdrh]

Share your churning history...fun little exercise to pass the time this week...
Another group I'm in has been doing this recently as we approach the end of the year - people sharing a little bit about how long they've been at this game and how many cards they've gotten during that time. This could help @Lain update his spreadsheet too At any rate, if you want to share I think we'd all be curious. I'll start!

I am trying to participate more so I will jump in on this one!

• I started churning in early 2017 with the 100,000 UR CSR offer that seems to have started this hobby for many people. We used that bonus to cover our flights for a year or so.
• I started reading here in late 2017 (I think) after opening a Delta Gold personal card for my second bonus and have been much smarter about maximizing bonuses since then.
• I am now at 5/24 after trying to wait out the CSR/CSP double dip for early 2019 with three business cards from the same time period. Now that the DD option is gone, so I am probably going to squeeze in one more Chase business card before my Amex Gold posts in January and then move on to living the >5/24 life.
• As a Delta hostage I really appreciate the various perspectives here since the SW CP is so popular overall but not a great deal for us.

 

[castoral]

While I posted about our big Disney trip yesterday....I'll join!

Truly started "churning" in April 2016. We were doing a flip on a condo and I thought, what the heck, we should get some money back for it. We got a Chase Freedom and honestly I want to say the bonus was maybe $200 and 1.5% cash back. I used as statement credits because I didn't know any better. After the flip sold though we just kinda sat on the card and went back to using our credit unions debit card and cash.

Then in Jan 2018, I was listening to a ChooseFi podcast about travel hacking and realized it wasn't just for people with husbands who travel all the time. That podcast really opened the flood gates and I remembered seeing this board in the past and seeing how many post it had. That's when I really started learning the ins and outs. DH will tell people I stole his identity, but he was really on board from the start too, he just refused to make any calls. We both agreed that we'd do this as long as our credit scores stayed over 800 and we never were charged interest for missing a payment.

Me - CSP, SPG AMEX, COV, and business card: CIBP, CIBU.....so I guess only 3/24?
Hubby - IHG AMEX, SPG AMEX, CSP, COV, Barclay Arrival Plus, so 5/24

We also did two bank bonuses.....Chase $500 bonus for savings/checking in my name only and Huntington $750 bonus (which should hit tomorrow! yeah!)

I'm struggling with which card to get next. We're doing a whole house remodel, plus we're a family of 6, so MSR sadly are not an issue for us. :/ But our travel plans so far are both AirBNB and driving to the location (taking our boat). Thinking maybe an anniversary trip in Oct but nothing outside of the country. All our balances are pretty much at zero....

 

[hsmamato2]

I started this hobby in 2010 -when our lives had changed quite a bit and I had decided I wanted to travel with my family before they all grew up and I lost the chance... We had gone on a yearly WDW vacation for about 20 years,scrambling to get there and save money doing so. Then in 2010 I decided I needed to visit California etc. but HOW? I'm a SAHM (and homeschooling!) how to afford what I wanted..... I stumbled across Million miles secrets (great back then for beginners) and learned about SWA cards,points,and CP(!) that changed our lives. I slowly learned more (Very slow churner,minimal some might say)
So started with a combo of SWA and disney card apps for a couple of years Took that first 2 week trip That spanned flying into PHX/Grand Canyon-> Yosemite->death Valley->Disneyland!!! and I was hooked.
Started planning trips at cheap/steep discounts that I never dreamed of before like Yellowstone, multiple Florida visits, back to DL,Puerto Rico, Alaska,cruising etc. Never looked back. Next month is the 'end' of my original trips wish list! Hawaii (1st timer)
Now I get to make another list to start! I like to travel about 2-3 times per year right now. Any more than that is a bit much for me(homebody still)
Didn't really compute the P2 game until about a year ago (see above:slow)
SPG and all it's goodness provided us with SO many cheap/free trips to enjoy (RIP) once I figured out the P1/P2 game....
Still going strong,adjusting as needed-(that ebay/target gc game was the highlight-SO many disney gc in that time period)
Got in on those awesome CSR offers and various other Ur earning goodies.
Focused still on UR's and hotel or airline specific programs,as that seems to net the best overall discounts for our style of travel. (hello Hilton)
Now DH is at 4/24 as P2,and I'm at around 10/24 (lost cause)
DH wasn't too keen until I wrote it all down a year or so back,how much $$$ we've spent/saved on trips in the past 6-7 years. I can't remember the exact number now but it was somewhere north of 10-15k value that was FREE. Now he doesn't fuss much about calling in etc.
I do enjoy trying to help friends and family learn how to save also now - and totally appreciate this thread here on the Dis!

 

[mamathompson]

Share your churning history...fun little exercise to pass the time this week...
Another group I'm in has been doing this recently as we approach the end of the year - people sharing a little bit about how long they've been at this game and how many cards they've gotten during that time. This could help @Lain update his spreadsheet too At any rate, if you want to share I think we'd all be curious. I'll start!

Here's some facts on me (which many of you are probably familiar with):

• I've been at this hardcore for 4 years (played the game for 5 years in total)
• Always been in 2 player mode since the start, my wife and I got 2 cards in 2011...then started actually playing in late 2013.
• At my high point I was 29/24 (34/24 with biz cards) in Oct of 2017
• At her high point my wife was 16/24 (no biz cards at that time) in June of 2016
• My wife is now down to 2/24...and those 2 are one of the last successful CSR/CSP double dips in August before that got killed (or at least drastically limited with this new modified method)
• I've made it back to 6/24 (yes down from 29...) and will be under 5/24 in just 92 days

We have fairly simple and consistent travel preferences and and an abundance of points in URs, SW RRs, and Marriott so I'm moving to slow churner mode.

We got 5 cards total this year (would be 6 if AMEX would lift the popup on the Schwab Plat). That's after getting 13 cards in 2017, 29 cards in 2016, and 14 cards in 2015. Next year I'd say we're gonna get another 5-6 cards. I'm really enjoying being a slow-churner - I find it less stressful and we're still able to support all the travel we want.

We are brand new to this. Some friends opened cards for airfare on a recent trip. I was intrigued and started looking into things. We have been very anti credit card in general after finding ourselves in debt as college students years ago.The last few years we had a Quicksilver card that was used for most purchases and the cashback was just applied to the bill each month. I started with a goal of free airfare for our family of 7 for our upcoming trip. Opened CSP for both me and DH and a Venture for him as well, end of September. Booked our free airfare in October and immediately looked for our next cards. At first I was too nervous to post and after realizing the mistakes I was making trying to figure it out on my own I went for it. I have found this group to be so welcoming and helpful. I am extremely grateful! I have already become more confident and now hold my first business card. Our sights are set high on a trip to Italy in 2020 and another WDW trip then as well. I am 1/24 (2/24 with business) DH is, I believe 4/24.

 

[amalone1013]

@disneymagicgirl Do you have any knowledge of this magical Christmas parade in downtown Nashville this weekend?

 

[wendow]

I wouldn't mind churning faster, as long as we can keep up with the MSR without MS.

This is 1000% why I am a slow churner! I'd churn much, much faster if we could handle the MSR's but we can't. I used to freak out about the 5k/3 mos ones but I've learned those are pretty doable for us. Anything more than that, or two MSR's going at once, and it's just too stressful for me and I start looking to spend money I wouldn't normally spend. Even with the slow churn though, we've paid for a WDW trip in full and about 3/4 of a DLR trip, as well as several small get-aways. I'm in 'hoarders' mode right now with my points because I'm unsure what next year's travel will look like

 

[hsmamato2]

SWA... Plus card($69 AF) how long to wait if you have to cancel the one you currently have to app for a new one? is it 30 days? also..... I'm trying to recall the swa bonus rules-it's once every 24 mos,right? is this across all cards, or by card type? (i.e. biz,plus,premier,that new one) so If you have the plus now and cancel,got bonus 23 mos ago,can you app for the biz or the premier now and get the bonus,or must you wait?