I love credit cards so much!

[wendow]

We haven't decided where we are going yet and I was trying not to move more points than are needed. DH is antsy about making sure he isn't hit with the annual fee so he wants me to get it changed ASAP. His year isn't up until the end of Oct. so I thought I had to PC to a Sapphire and then change to CF in early Nov. But by then we should have booked our Christmas flights.

My 1-year is coming up soon and I should get hit with my AF Oct 1. There has been some chatter about not cancelling or product changing the CSR until the 2018 travel credit hits sometime in Dec. Then PC and you can get a decent amount of the AF refunded (if you cancel, you get nothing back). I think that is my plan. I'll be PC'ing to a CFU.

 

[wendow]

I also drag out my 6K spending on BCP for the same reason as you. Maybe it's not 6% at Costco, but if you have the Exec Membership (2%) and Costco VI card (2%), you can get 4% at Costco. Break even after $3000/annual spend ($250/mo). And just starting this month, Costco Travel will also earn you 2% back if you have the Exec Membership. Plus, I buy Costco cash cards with whatever new MC I'm trying to meet minimum spending on, so Costco has gotten a lot of my grocery shopping this year. I see I've only reached $2400 out of my 6K on BCP for the year so far. Looks like I'll be getting gift cards from grocery stores for the next couple of months...

Alternatively, I'll buy VGC from Staples whenever they're running their promos (like getting a $20 VGC for buying $300 VGC) with my Ink Cash thereby getting 5xUR, and use VGC at Costco for things that I'm not worried about having an extended warranty for, like food.

I do have the Costco Visa card and am Executive. It's definitely worth it for us too. I really love my Costco Visa for 4% gas

Good thinking on the VGC from Staples. I've actually never done that but I think I'll do that next time there is a promo.

 

[hsmamato2]

What? costcotravel gives extra cashback with executive? that might be a reason to up it.... last time I didn't use it fully and got a refund for the year. That's another reason I like costco, but I don't love it. The restriction on what card to use gets me, it used to be my spg points cow- Now I keep it mainly to save money on car rentals (just did it again today) as I save more than $60 per year using the portal. ---also I like 6% back better than large containers of hummus lol. I buy a LOT on amazon,and buy gc at the grocery too, just spent $350 this week on that for some needed items. I think that's what's going to put me way over 6k per year. This is literally the first cashback card I've bothered with in SO many years! I may just hunt for another offer, DH can get a referral bonus so maybe we'll try that.

 

[Albort]

I do have the Costco Visa card and am Executive. It's definitely worth it for us too. I really love my Costco Visa for 4% gas

Good thinking on the VGC from Staples. I've actually never done that but I think I'll do that next time there is a promo.

heh, i bought it in the last 4 runs... i got 4 rebates coming to me. so far 2 have arrived. I used a $20 VGC to buy 2x$300 VGC bring my total to $595. 5x that, close to 3000 pts.
still hoping i can use a staples gift card on it. gonna have to try it next week.

 

[Alexle2007]

My 1-year is coming up soon and I should get hit with my AF Oct 1. There has been some chatter about not cancelling or product changing the CSR until the 2018 travel credit hits sometime in Dec. Then PC and you can get a decent amount of the AF refunded (if you cancel, you get nothing back). I think that is my plan. I'll be PC'ing to a CFU.

I would do that but DH is dead set against it. I can't even locate the Sapphire no fee on the Chase site to get any information on it.

 

[Albort]

So, I've been thinking that once I'm back under 5/24, I'd re-apply for the CSP, get the sweet sign-up, and have a way to transfer all the UR points I earn with Freedom and Freedom Unlimited to travel partners.

But, newbie that I am to this game, I just discovered the Capital One Venture card last night. That...seems...like a really good card for me. 40,000 mile sign-up bonus, flexible and only $59 annual fee (waived first year). Oh, and 2X miles for every purchase.

And not subject to 5/24, so I shouldn't have to wait as long to get it (though I've got some min spends to knock out before I'd consider it, of course).

Am I missing something?? This card seems kind of superior to CSP. AND it's metal!

Id probably wait 3 months for the CSP/CSR. People have said you can apply for both at the same time and get both cards... now the question is, if you will get bonus points for both. Wait out for the DP and see if they get both bonuses... would be pretty cool if you can.

I just had someone from Chase Fraud call me on my new CSP card that I received yesterday. I put a $107 charge on it last night after activating it and they just wanted to verify it. Is that normal? I didn't give out any personal information beyond my email and confirming the charge, and the number they called from is a Chase customer service number. I figured maybe they're just being extra careful what with the Equifax breach?

Its probably because they dont know your shopping patterns. They probably just over cautious haha. I have it set up where they would txt me asap and 1 for yes, it was me, 2 for no i didnt do that transaction. works super sufficiently unlike other banks that deny it right off the bat.

My 1-year is coming up soon and I should get hit with my AF Oct 1. There has been some chatter about not cancelling or product changing the CSR until the 2018 travel credit hits sometime in Dec. Then PC and you can get a decent amount of the AF refunded (if you cancel, you get nothing back). I think that is my plan. I'll be PC'ing to a CFU.

Could do some math on your situation. So you pay $37.50 per month for the AF. so Oct Nov Dec, which = $112.50. $300 travel credit kicks in, you use it. seems profitable to me. That if you have something to use it on in Dec though.

I would do that but DH is dead set against it. I can't even locate the Sapphire no fee on the Chase site to get any information on it.

No fee Sapphire isnt available to apply for, but you can product change to it. Its basically a CSP but with no annual fee and no transfer partners. This PC to Sapphire gets you around the 1 year requirement to PC to Freedom line.

 

[wendow]

I would do that but DH is dead set against it. I can't even locate the Sapphire no fee on the Chase site to get any information on it.

Ah, ok. Well, as far the Sapphire no fee. It is not offered anymore so the only way to get it is to request a PC to it.

 

[wendow]

also I like 6% back better than large containers of hummus lol. I buy a LOT on amazon,and buy gc at the grocery too, just spent $350 this week on that for some needed items. I think that's what's going to put me way over 6k per year. This is literally the first cashback card I've bothered with in SO many years! I may just hunt for another offer, DH can get a referral bonus so maybe we'll try that.

I eat a lot of hummus also The large container is only $3.49 at Costco and I pay $2.50 (on sale) for the small container at the grocery store so for me, that beats the 6%. But I hear you, the 6% is awesome and the BCP works very well for me. I buy Amazon and Disney GC's at the grocery store and get 6% plus fuel rewards. The savings is right at 20% and there is simply no other way to consistently get that kind of savings.

 

[wendow]

Could do some math on your situation. So you pay $37.50 per month for the AF. so Oct Nov Dec, which = $112.50. $300 travel credit kicks in, you use it. seems profitable to me. That if you have something to use it on in Dec though.

I need to buy DL tickets so as long as I can buy them through LMTclub or someone else coding 3x, I am good.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I would do that but DH is dead set against it. I can't even locate the Sapphire no fee on the Chase site to get any information on it.

Yeah, not worth the argument I'd PC that sucker too in your shoes. FWIW paying the fee now to get another dip on the travel credit and then get a good chunk of the AF refunded after that is just speculation at this point. So far Chase has been refunding AFs automatically if you downgrade- even though people are told the AF won't be refunded sometimes by customer service reps. It's entire possible the AF won't be refunded like people think and if that were to happen it sounds like your DH might never trust you again when it comes to CC AFs- better safe than sorry in your situation

 

[wendow]

Yeah, not worth the argument I'd PC that sucker too in your shoes. FWIW paying the fee now to get another dip on the travel credit and then get a good chunk of the AF refunded after that is just speculation at this point. So far Chase has been refunding AFs automatically if you downgrade- even though people are told the AF won't be refunded sometimes by customer service reps. It's entire possible the AF won't be refunded like people think and if that were to happen it sounds like your DH might never trust you again when it comes to CC AFs- better safe than sorry in your situation

I 1000% agree. Would never get into a battle with my dh over any of this. At this point, I am completely in the driver's seat and he doesn't ask/I don't tell He just knows we stayed at WDW for free, flew there for free and $900 of our food money was free (from his and my CSR travel credits).

And the CSR stuff is completely speculation and it's a risk that not everyone is willing to take. I get that.

 

[TDSAXX]

Agree. Was hoping for Amazon like two years ago.

Not sure why your disappointed? WalMart sells $500 Visa cards that can be easily converted to money orders. Pick up three of those and you'll still clear nearly 6000 Chase UR points.

Rinse and repeat if you have more than one card.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

Yikes- did you miss the change over from dec stmt cycles to account anniversary for your travel credit to post? That happened right around there- if you're under the old system you get a new travel credit when you statement closes in Dec and you could easily double dip. Gonna be trickier if you're on the new system. If you don't know SM Chase and ask them on what date your $300 travel credit resets.

Well, I finally got around to calling Chase. The Travel credit gets "reset" in December per the agent on the line and his next annual fee will be charged on his June statement which I assume ends at the end of May. Thank you gottalovepluto.

I just finished spend on my Ink card today and my Hyatt card should be arriving within 10 days. My hay man just got the horses' hay baled so that will complete the Hyatt spend.

I was thinking maybe an Ink card for my husband.

 

[wendow]

I was thinking maybe an Ink card for my husband.

Be sure to go through your referral for 20k more for you!

 

[thevalley]

Hi everyone!!! This is my first post and could use some help.

I plan on using my chase rewards to book at a walt disney world resort this weekend for a trip next year. i was wondering if i only say that 2 adults are staying and not adding the kids, if i could later add the kids through disney once the hotel is booked. it looked like less points were being used this way. I wasn't sure if this is possible . I am a family of 5.

thanks for all of your help!!!

 

[wendow]

Hi everyone!!! This is my first post and could use some help.

I plan on using my chase rewards to book at a walt disney world resort this weekend for a trip next year. i was wondering if i only say that 2 adults are staying and not adding the kids, if i could later add the kids through disney once the hotel is booked. it looked like less points were being used this way. I wasn't sure if this is possible . I am a family of 5.

thanks for all of your help!!!

You definitely can do that. I did it for our recent trip. We are a family of 6 and I booked two rooms with just my dh & I on each reservation. The system was charging me more points when I added two kids to each room so I left them off. I called Disney wholesale, which you will have to do anyways to get your conf#, and I added the kids at that time.

 

[thevalley]

You definitely can do that. I did it for our recent trip. We are a family of 6 and I booked two rooms with just my dh & I on each reservation. The system was charging me more points when I added two kids to each room so I left them off. I called Disney wholesale, which you will have to do anyways to get your conf#, and I added the kids at that time.

Thank you wendow. I have learned so much on this site.

 

[Lain]

I plan on using my chase rewards to book at a walt disney world resort this weekend for a trip next year.

I only have to add that as you get closer to your trip, check the Ultimate Rewards site periodically as the points needed for some resorts can come down. I think @wendow and a few others here have noticed the points for some resorts at certain times of the year came down quite significantly a week or two out from their trips, and if your reservation is refundable it can make sense to cancel and rebook at a better value.

 

[wendow]

Not sure why your disappointed? WalMart sells $500 Visa cards that can be easily converted to money orders. Pick up three of those and you'll still clear nearly 6000 Chase UR points.

Rinse and repeat if you have more than one card.

I'm disappointed b/c Amazon is where I spend the most during Q4. I got really spoiled with Amazon being a CF category for several years and then being 10x for 2015.

I've never done what you are suggesting and not even sure how to go about it. I will look into it though.

 

[hsmamato2]

I was really excited to see we could book some onsite rooms thru the chase portal.... what's the wholesale number we have to call for that number for the mde?