I love credit cards so much!

[miztressuz]

My hubby has given me the green light to apply for him. He jokes that he'll get an email at work that says . . ."You've been approved!" and has no clue what he's been approved for. Lol. Good thing I'm honest!

LOL. I really thought about asking him if he wanted me to just do it for him But I kinda used my "nagging" on a couple other things lately so didn't want to push it just for this, hehe. I'm sure I have a limit to the scheming that I just haven't found yet. So far he goes along with a lot (for him, you guys are in a whole other league he can't even fathom ) and he does appreciate the vacations we get, but haven't been able to convince him to step it up yet. Although I'm working on it, we've got an anniversary trip in 2019 I'm starting to plan and so I've started the "battle plan" for getting him to buy things or get cards for the points we'll need.

 

[peel]

Both DH and I did the Best Buy one using my CSR and his Freedom. I really wanted Visa gift cards but couldn't find any. I ended up buying gas cards since we don't need any Disney right now.

Awesome! Those gas cards should last you a while!

 

[pillow]

Awesome! Those gas cards should last you a while!

I wish! 4 cars and 4 drivers + we live in a rural community + we are driving to WDW this month. I figure 3 - 4 months??

But then I may not use them from Jan - Mar since Discover's 1st quarter cash back is gas stations. So many things to think about!

 

[peel]

I wish! 4 cars and 4 drivers + we live in a rural community + we are driving to WDW this month. I figure 3 - 4 months??

But then I may not use them from Jan - Mar since Discover's 1st quarter cash back is gas stations. So many things to think about!

Haha! Of course. I forget that not everyone spends $30 a week on gas.

 

[amalone1013]

My 25,000 SPG points posted for the $6k min. spend. The charges pushing me over were made Sun 12/3 and posted on Monday evening.

Included in that minimum spend were the following transactions:
$1,700 in Disney Gift Cards at Giant Eagle (grocery store)
$700 in Disney Gift Cards at Giant Eagle (grocery store)
$100 in Kohls Gift Cards at Giant Eagle (grocery store)
And I'm not sure which of these transactions put me over the $6k but there were SIX (6) transactions for $270 at Target Sunday for...you guessed it...$300 Target Gift Cards.

So I will say this is another recent datapoint that AMEX isn't worried about 3rd party gift cards at this time. Obviously anything can change in the future, but makes me very happy to report back to the group that the points posted. I should meet the additional $4k in the next month or so and will report back if any issues there.

I don't really see why 3rd party gift cards should be an issue really. Maybe if they're like, hmmm SFF bought $5900 in Netflix gift cards in the first week having this card... But like you said earlier in the thread, what about people who buy one as a gift or something?

My hubby has given me the green light to apply for him. He jokes that he'll get an email at work that says . . ."You've been approved!" and has no clue what he's been approved for. Lol. Good thing I'm honest!

Haha whenever my husband gets an email or text for a security code he just asks if it's me. Yup!

We'll be down there from late on the 14th to the 18th!

For those doing the new Marriott Chase offers ($10 back on $50 Lowes, $10 back on $25 Whole Foods), how long is it taking for the cash back to post? TIA!

I did a $50 Target card at Lowe's last Thursday, and no credit even though I immediately got an email acknowledging my purchase...

 

[amalone1013]

I just started reading this thread from the beginning a few days ago and have learned so much! I'm wondering if I can check my understanding of something and get some advice:

I saw the SPG Amex offer for 25k points with a $3k spend. Amex's website shows the offer for 30 (incognito), so great. I'm looking at the Swan/Dolphin website and seeing 8k points/night for a 5 night stay (I'm guessing the typical 10k/night rate but 5th night free). So, if my math is right, between the bonus and the spend, I'd have enough points to cover the hotel entirely (I know the resort fee would be separate)... does that sound right?

Hi! I hadn't seen anyone answer yet so here's my 2 cents. You'll need 40k points for a 5 night stay. What's the spend requirement for the 30k offer? We got these cards for our honeymoon for the regular 25k points/$3k spend. I signed up, then referred DH so we got I think 63.5k points = 25k + 3k for spend on mine, 25k + 3k for spend on his, and 7.5k from me referring him.

SPG is my only AMEX card right now, so others know a lot more about the Platinum, etc.

Also we have a Reddit group too with good info. PM Albort or SouthFayetteFan if you'd like to join

LOL. I really thought about asking him if he wanted me to just do it for him But I kinda used my "nagging" on a couple other things lately so didn't want to push it just for this, hehe. I'm sure I have a limit to the scheming that I just haven't found yet. So far he goes along with a lot (for him, you guys are in a whole other league he can't even fathom ) and he does appreciate the vacations we get, but haven't been able to convince him to step it up yet. Although I'm working on it, we've got an anniversary trip in 2019 I'm starting to plan and so I've started the "battle plan" for getting him to buy things or get cards for the points we'll need.

My DH wasn't excited until we got close to our wedding vendor pay dates (about a month out) and we had earned SW CP plus 120k RR points, 7 free nights at the Dolphin, $700ish to put towards our DVC rental, 3 nights at a USO hotel for $325, a free night in Cocoa Beach, 150k+ UR points, and saved $1400 on gift cards. And had helped his parents earn 7 free nights at the Dolphin too (we got married down there). Now he's like, should we get a new card for this? Extra points have helped us so we can now do a long weekend for Christmas, 5 nights in January, cover a lot of our Socal trip next spring for his brothers wedding, and we're planning a few more long weekends to different places around the US to use the SW CP.

I wish! 4 cars and 4 drivers + we live in a rural community + we are driving to WDW this month. I figure 3 - 4 months??

But then I may not use them from Jan - Mar since Discover's 1st quarter cash back is gas stations. So many things to think about!

I had a moment reading about your gas cards where I was like, hmmm... Then thought of Discover too! lol. We spend around $200 a month on gas... you've got me thinking.

 

[wendow]

Thinking about the business Ink card, but am a nervous nelly with that one without a legit business even though I see people on here get approved for it all the time. Is there any spend that should NOT go on a business card?

I was nervous to apply for the CIP also but now dh & I both have one and only have 'businesses' As far as spend that should not go on a biz card, well, you could justify almost anything really. I think the only thing I have been hesitant with is medical bills.

If you have a mortgage, it might be worth it to look into plastiq. My understanding is that the CIP is still coding 3x for most people paying their mortgage or rent through them. The fee is 2.5% but you get back 3% so it's a bit of a money maker and helps meet the min spend.

 

[Albort]

I wish! 4 cars and 4 drivers + we live in a rural community + we are driving to WDW this month. I figure 3 - 4 months??

But then I may not use them from Jan - Mar since Discover's 1st quarter cash back is gas stations. So many things to think about!

also keep in mind, if you have a Freedom Card, its usually Gas for Q1.

 

[FredtheDuck]

Hi! I hadn't seen anyone answer yet so here's my 2 cents. You'll need 40k points for a 5 night stay. What's the spend requirement for the 30k offer? We got these cards for our honeymoon for the regular 25k points/$3k spend. I signed up, then referred DH so we got I think 63.5k points = 25k + 3k for spend on mine, 25k + 3k for spend on his, and 7.5k from me referring him.

Thanks so much for responding! Spend was 3k. Didn't know about the referral option - great to know that exists!

Also thanks for the heads up about the r/ group - just got the info from Albort via PM (appreciate it!).

 

[speedyfishy]

Almost done hitting my CIP minimum spend. I think next my SO and I are going to apply for the Marriott 120k offer. That would be 220k worth of Marriott points, but would require 24k of spend in 12 months. I’m conflicted on whether it is worth all that spend. I could try and do more PNC bank funding or finally start trying to get money orders but it makes me nervous. Ugh idk what to do. I also don’t have the CSR or CSP yet should I do that first and try for a double dip? I’m 3/24 right now and was thinking the Marriott then try for the CIC, then double dip CSR and CSP. My SO is 1/24.

 

[peel]

I was nervous to apply for the CIP also but now dh & I both have one and only have 'businesses' As far as spend that should not go on a biz card, well, you could justify almost anything really. I think the only thing I have been hesitant with is medical bills.

If you have a mortgage, it might be worth it to look into plastiq. My understanding is that the CIP is still coding 3x for most people paying their mortgage or rent through them. The fee is 2.5% but you get back 3% so it's a bit of a money maker and helps meet the min spend.

@WVMomof3 If you use a referral for Plastiq you'll get some Fee Free Dollars (FFD) to cut back on your first round of fees, too. I use Plastiq to pay my mortgage with the CIP. Technically, mortgages are not eligible with Visa cards, but if the company name doesn't explicitly include the word "mortgage" the charge seems to get past the Visa people. I got lucky that my big bad giant mortgage company sold my loan to another company that had just changed its name to the ridiculous "Mr. Cooper", so I think Plastiq and/or Visa thinks I'm being very formal when I address my rent payments.

 

[Lain]

Almost done hitting my CIP minimum spend. I think next my SO and I are going to apply for the Marriott 120k offer. That would be 220k worth of Marriott points, but would require 24k of spend in 12 months. I’m conflicted on whether it is worth all that spend. I could try and do more PNC bank funding or finally start trying to get money orders but it makes me nervous. Ugh idk what to do. I also don’t have the CSR or CSP yet should I do that first and try for a double dip? I’m 3/24 right now and was thinking the Marriott then try for the CIC, then double dip CSR and CSP. My SO is 1/24.

If you’re at 3/24 now, the issue with the CSP+CSR double dip is it’ll put you at 5/24 and preclude you from the CIC and Marriott cards, until one of those slots drop off. (This is why a lot of people wait til they’re at 4/24 to double dip because that last slot will get them up to 6/24.)

If you do the CIC, that won’t count against your 5/24, and you can still do the Marriott and CSP+CSR double dip. If you do the Marriott first, that’ll put you at 4/24, and you can still do the CIC (won’t add to your count), and then double dip the CSP+CSR with your final slot.

The big hurdle that I see is the huge $12k spend on the Marriott card. Granted you have a year to complete it, but that seems to me like tying up a lot of spend to that card and maybe diverting spend that could be maximized with better bonuses elsewhere.

 

[Albort]

I could try and do more PNC bank funding or finally start trying to get money orders but it makes me nervous. Ugh idk what to do.

I did a lot of money orders during the summer, its not bad as you think. You do have to play dumb when u do get rejected.
If you want to try it, i would suggest buying a gift card from Giftcardmall first and then try buying it at walmart. u can get a couple(assuming you have other means to get rid of them) and try different amounts.
Your location is def important, most smaller city walmart is a lot easier to get MO from. Here in Los Angeles, its not, i have to hit up at least 3-4 walmarts to pull out 4 MOs. it was like a 70% success rate. Some areas, they would let ppl do 10k worth of MO. trial and errors.

 

[speedyfishy]

If you’re at 3/24 now, the issue with the CSP+CSR double dip is it’ll put you at 5/24 and preclude you from the CIC and Marriott cards, until one of those slots drop off. (This is why a lot of people wait til they’re at 4/24 to double dip because that last slot will get them up to 6/24.)

If you do the CIC, that won’t count against your 5/24, and you can still do the Marriott and CSP+CSR double dip. If you do the Marriott first, that’ll put you at 4/24, and you can still do the CIC (won’t add to your count), and then double dip the CSP+CSR with your final slot.

The big hurdle that I see is the huge $12k spend on the Marriott card. Granted you have a year to complete it, but that seems to me like tying up a lot of spend to that card and maybe diverting spend that could be maximized with better bonuses elsewhere.

Thanks for the feedback. The double dip for me seems like a bad idea right now. So I guess I should decide if I want the CIC or the Marriott. The CIC is the better offer if I go in branch and get 50kUR but I have a “business” and got the CIP in October.

 

[speedyfishy]

I did a lot of money orders during the summer, its not bad as you think. You do have to play dumb when u do get rejected.
If you want to try it, i would suggest buying a gift card from Giftcardmall first and then try buying it at walmart. u can get a couple(assuming you have other means to get rid of them) and try different amounts.
Your location is def important, most smaller city walmart is a lot easier to get MO from. Here in Los Angeles, its not, i have to hit up at least 3-4 walmarts to pull out 4 MOs. it was like a 70% success rate. Some areas, they would let ppl do 10k worth of MO. trial and errors.

Yeah I think I’m eventually going to have to start doing MOs. Thanks for breaking it down for me. I’m in NYC now so no Walmart is near me but I am moving in a few months to an area that should have some. Where do you deposit your MOs? I am going to need to get a new bank because I don’t want to deposit them into my Chase account. Once I get a bank account set up for a bit I will probably start.

 

[Albort]

Yeah I think I’m eventually going to have to start doing MOs. Thanks for breaking it down for me. I’m in NYC now so no Walmart is near me but I am moving in a few months to an area that should have some. Where do you deposit your MOs? I am going to need to get a new bank because I don’t want to deposit them into my Chase account. Once I get a bank account set up for a bit I will probably start.

yes, do not deposit them into your chase account. I currently deposit them into Wells Fargo. Ever since their scandal, they have eased up a lot and want to keep their customers so i took advantage of that. Once you move, you can search around your local town for credit unions and see if they take MOs.

edit: i also got a $250 bonus from wells fargo... :] Find a bank your willing to lose relations with. If they shut you down, they wont keep your money, they will send u a check.

 

[Lain]

I was nervous to apply for the CIP also but now dh & I both have one and only have 'businesses' As far as spend that should not go on a biz card, well, you could justify almost anything really. I think the only thing I have been hesitant with is medical bills.

If you have a mortgage, it might be worth it to look into plastiq. My understanding is that the CIP is still coding 3x for most people paying their mortgage or rent through them. The fee is 2.5% but you get back 3% so it's a bit of a money maker and helps meet the min spend.

Looks like Plastiq finally caught someone's Wells Fargo Mortgage payments...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/7hx41q/daily_discussion_thread_december_06_2017/dquu7km/

 

[Albort]

Looks like Plastiq finally caught someone's Wells Fargo Mortgage payments...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/7hx41q/daily_discussion_thread_december_06_2017/dquu7km/

well, i guess it was good while it last... haha.

 

[AmyAnne]

Has anyone returned something purchased either through Chase Pay or Google Pay?

Today I returned something purchased from Wal-Mart through Chase Pay and was told that because the payment was processed through Chase Pay, I could only be refunded in the form of a gift card. It was not a big deal because it was only a $10 item but I would have been unhappy if it had been an expensive item. I'm actually hoping the same thing happens when I return another item to Wal-Mart purchased through Google Pay. This item was part of the AmEx deal so I need to total order to remain more than $50.

 

[Lain]

Here's little story:

I see Amex has a new offer for spend $250 at Saks Fifth Avenue, get a $50 statement credit (80% off).

The last time Amex ran a similar offer, I used all my cards that had the offer to purchase the spend requirement in the form of gift cards (I had them mailed, free, since I've read about problems dealing with Saks' egift card system). My wife had her eye on a locket, so these discounted gift cards were going toward actual shopping. I waited until Saks' Friends & Family Sale when jewelry was marked off 20%. Shop Through Chase had Saks at 6 UR/$1. I bought the locket with mostly gift cards bought with the Amex Offer and put a small remaining balance on the Freedom (Q4 5x UR at department stores). Shop Through Chase took about a week and a half to credit, but I got over 6000 UR from the purchase.

The locket was lovely, but a little too small and had to be returned. When I took the locket back to the store, the lady at jewelry couldn't figure out how to refund the amounts back onto separate gift cards or the credit card, so she gave me the full refund amount back on one merchandise credit card. The merchandise credit card is exactly the same as a Saks gift card, I just now had one gift card with over $1000 on it and nothing to spend it on. Eventually, I decided to sell the card on Raise. I was surprised it sold rather quickly, and I got about 86.7% of the face value back. A few weeks passed, my Freedom statement closed, and I noticed that Chase never bothered to claw back the ~6000 UR. It's been a few months now, and no points adjustments.

TL;DR - I took advantage of the Amex Offer for Saks, and with a little bit of bother walked away making ~$60 and 6000 UR, oh and the ~1000 MR from actual spend.