I love credit cards so much!

[Alexle2007]

ugh, I had forgotten to go into Experian to have AUs removed and, of course, that is the one CIP uses in MD. Now to wait for them to remove them so I can apply for it.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Booked hotel for next year thru Hilton Honors. Got email today from AA, can book same hotel for $42 more & get 5k AA miles. I have never bought miles/points. Is this worth $42?

 

[peel]

The nights and flights takes into account the 5th night free in the points cost, so you still get that benefit.

Oh really? You don't just get a 5 night certificate? I guess I haven't the details as closely as I thought I did. Off to do more research!

well, its just a place to sleep right? you should be out a majority of the day!

We like to move around on vacation, so 7 nights in one city is never gonna happen.

 

[pinkxray]

Do you guys mind sharing how many cards you have at one time? I get that many people who churn get a card and cancel it after getting the bonus but what about other cards that you value?
What are your everyday cards that you have held on to?

I just ask because I would like to add maybe the AMex BLue for the 6% on groceries and eventually the Chase Saphire Reserve however I already have a bunch of cards I like for specific reasons and know I wouldn't end up canceling either of these two.

 

[hurt817]

I'm trying to make some calculations for a possible stay at the Swan or Dolphin. I don't have any other specific possible uses in mind for SPG at the moment but using them for a free trip to WDW keeps floating around in my head. I have enough for the Dolphin but I'd need more for the Swan.

For some reason on my dates Swan on the UR site was quite a bit cheaper (point wise) than Dolphin - using my SPG points it was the opposite. I ended up using my UR points. SPG points Dolphin was 10k ~ Swan was 12k / UR Points Dolphin 14k ~ Swan 10k. I know the points valuation is different but I felt the 10k UR points was a better use of points in my situation. We REALLY wanted the Swan because they have queen beds over the Dolphin's doubles. The newly renovated rooms were amazing!!! We were on the 10th floor with a resort view & could see Epcot, Hollywood Studios & The Boardwalk.

 

[peel]

For some reason on my dates Swan on the UR site was quite a bit cheaper (point wise) than Dolphin - using my SPG points it was the opposite. I ended up using my UR points. SPG points Dolphin was 10k ~ Swan was 12k / UR Points Dolphin 14k ~ Swan 10k. I know the points valuation is different but I felt the 10k UR points was a better use of points in my situation. We REALLY wanted the Swan because they have queen beds over the Dolphin's doubles. The newly renovated rooms were amazing!!! We were on the 10th floor with a resort view & could see Epcot, Hollywood Studios & The Boardwalk.

That's a good tip...always check the UR portal! I would prefer the Swan too, for the reasons you mentioned but also because it's supposed to have a better vibe since it's smaller.

I think I've decided not to buy the points. I've been thinking about getting the Marriott card, and if I transfer the bonus points to SPG after meeting the minimum spend with organic purchases, I can still get the nights and flights package without spending the extra money now.

I have one question on using either SPG or UR points for the Swolphin for anyone here who might know. Can you get a suite with all points or do you have to pay an upgrade fee in cash? I'm very tired today and my Googling capabilities seem to be failing me.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Oh really? You don't just get a 5 night certificate? I guess I haven't the details as closely as I thought I did. Off to do more research!

We like to move around on vacation, so 7 nights in one city is never gonna happen.

We used Nights and Flights last year for a trip to Disneyland. You don't get a certificate. You actually book a hotel reservation. Everything for nights and flights must be done by calling SPG directly. You can't book a package through their website.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Do you guys mind sharing how many cards you have at one time? I get that many people who churn get a card and cancel it after getting the bonus but what about other cards that you value?
What are your everyday cards that you have held on to?

I just ask because I would like to add maybe the AMex BLue for the 6% on groceries and eventually the Chase Saphire Reserve however I already have a bunch of cards I like for specific reasons and know I wouldn't end up canceling either of these two.

My everyday cards I'm not getting rid of are Chase Freedom Unlimited, CSR (for the next year, this will be re-evaluated each year depending on how the benefits and usability of UR change) and an old Citi Thankyou card from college. IMHO however many credit cards you can manage is your limit. I'm pretty near mine to be honest (around half a dozen, I'm a baby churner!). Don't forget Chase 5/24, if you've gotten more than 5 cards in the last 24 months you will be denied for the CSR.

 

[Albort]

Do you guys mind sharing how many cards you have at one time? I get that many people who churn get a card and cancel it after getting the bonus but what about other cards that you value?
What are your everyday cards that you have held on to?

I just ask because I would like to add maybe the AMex BLue for the 6% on groceries and eventually the Chase Saphire Reserve however I already have a bunch of cards I like for specific reasons and know I wouldn't end up canceling either of these two.

Whats in your wallet time! lol

i carry...
CitiBank TYP Premier - Gas/Travel Card
Amex SPG - 1x category
Freedom - 5x resturants
I do carry my CSR just for giggles, it never gets used.

i carry my iPhone + gyft app, which is 5x at a crap ton of stores.

 

[peel]

We used Nights and Flights last year for a trip to Disneyland. You don't get a certificate. You actually book a hotel reservation. Everything for nights and flights must be done by calling SPG directly. You can't book a package through their website.

Ahhhhh, okay. So you buy the package when you're booking your hotel then, rather than buying the package and holding onto the nights until you're ready to use them?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Ahhhhh, okay. So you buy the package when you're booking your hotel then, rather than buying the package and holding onto the nights until you're ready to use them?

Yes, SPG doesn't give out certificates for hotel redemptions. They just apply points towards reservations.

 

[peel]

Yes, SPG doesn't give out certificates for hotel redemptions. They just apply points towards reservations.

Got it, thank you!

 

[peel]

i carry my iPhone + gyft app, which is 5x at a crap ton of stores.

Can you elaborate on this, pretty please?

 

[calypso726]

Booked hotel for next year thru Hilton Honors. Got email today from AA, can book same hotel for $42 more & get 5k AA miles. I have never bought miles/points. Is this worth $42?

@CyndiLouWho - I would at $42. If you go to the AA website 5,000 AA miles is $188.56 after taxes and processing charges.

 

[Lain]

Can you elaborate on this, pretty please?

I think @Albort is saying Gyft -- an app that sells gift cards -- earns 5x UR points when paying with an Ink Cash/Ink+ through PayPal. You can also earn 5x UR with these cards when buying gift cards on PayPal Digital Gifts. The CIP earns 3x UR on Gyft and PPDG.

 

[peel]

I think @Albort is saying Gyft -- an app that sells gift cards -- earns 5x UR points when paying with an Ink Cash/Ink+ through PayPal. You can also earn 5x UR with these cards when buying gift cards on PayPal Digital Gifts. The CIP earns 3x UR on Gyft and PPDG.

I'm so dense today.

 

[calypso726]

Do you guys mind sharing how many cards you have at one time? I get that many people who churn get a card and cancel it after getting the bonus but what about other cards that you value?
What are your everyday cards that you have held on to?

I just ask because I would like to add maybe the AMex Blue for the 6% on groceries and eventually the Chase Saphire Reserve however I already have a bunch of cards I like for specific reasons and know I wouldn't end up canceling either of these two.

I currently have 30 cards. I have some cards that I don't use but have had forever so I won't cancel them and take a hit on my credit score, didn't list them though. I also have a bunch I use for specific reasons. I don't cancel a card unless it has a fee and I have no use for it.

Here is "what's in my wallet" ... and sock drawer:

In the wallet and not going anywhere:
SPG Business (pending what happens after merger is complete)
The Quadfecta - Chase CSR, Chase Ink Plus, Chase Freedom, Chase Unlimited

I think everyone would know why I keep the above cards. I also can't churn them since I will never be under 5/24

Sock drawer but totally Rick Rolled:
Marriott (annual night cat 1-5 out weighs fee and DH also has the same card)
IHG (annual night any room no cat restrictions worth way more than the fee and DH has the same card)
Club Carlson (40,000 points every card anniversary outweighs the fee and DH has the same card)
Amex Everyday no fee card (kept to keep MR points active if and when I cancel an MR premium card)
United (kept for better award availability and the 2 lounge passes each year)
Citi AAdvantage Platinum (10% back on redeemed AA miles up to 10,000 and I max that out each year)
Barclay AA Aviator (this one keeps offering me amazing bonus spend that is easy to meet every anniversary year and worth more than the fee)
Barclay Arrival no fee (downgraded from the plus so I can have a true chip and pin overseas)

May or may not keep these cards which get evaluated yearly:
Citi Prestige (4th night free hotel benefit, $250 airline credit mitigates the high fee)
Amex Business Platinum ( Concierge service which got me tickets to see HAMILTON at the end of the month 10 GoGo internet inflight passes, $200 airline credit, Centurion Lounge Access, Delta lounge access, Fine Resort & Hotels benefit, 50% back on pay with points airfare until the end of the year for me then it's 35%, 50% bonus on $5k+ purchases)
Amex Personal Platinum (5x on flight booked with airline, 5x on hotels booked with amex travel, SPG gold status, Hilton gold status, $200 airline credit, Centurion Lounge Access, Delta lounge access, Fine Resort & Hotels benefit).

I currently also have a Delta personal and business card that I picked up for the bonus and won't be keeping. I also have a Chase BA that I am working on getting a travel together ticket before the year is out. I may or may not keep that one.

 

[Judique]

That's a good tip...always check the UR portal! I would prefer the Swan too, for the reasons you mentioned but also because it's supposed to have a better vibe since it's smaller.

I think I've decided not to buy the points. I've been thinking about getting the Marriott card, and if I transfer the bonus points to SPG after meeting the minimum spend with organic purchases, I can still get the nights and flights package without spending the extra money now.

I have one question on using either SPG or UR points for the Swolphin for anyone here who might know. Can you get a suite with all points or do you have to pay an upgrade fee in cash? I'm very tired today and my Googling capabilities seem to be failing me.

It's been years since I've stayed at the Swan because I bought DVC. But I used to be able to upgrade to a suite using points. I know I had to call in to upgrade. Different suites cost different amounts of points.

Sometimes I got the suite upgrade even when I didn't book it. I was usually happy at Swan so long as they gave me a balcony.

 

[AmyAnne]

There's a great story on Reddit from a guy who bought individual crickets at a pet store after telling the cashier he didn't want to actually take the crickets, he just wanted to pay for them.

I'm curious which banks you all are using. I've read up on the high-interest checking accounts a few times but in the end never could decide that the effort was worth it, mainly because of the limits on how much earns the high-interest. Maybe I should re-investigate?

 

[Albort]

I'm curious which banks you all are using. I've read up on the high-interest checking accounts a few times but in the end never could decide that the effort was worth it, mainly because of the limits on how much earns the high-interest. Maybe I should re-investigate?

i have a few high % earning...

i currently have $15,000 earning 5% (working to increase this by another $20k)
$10,000 earning 3%
rest earns 1.15%