I love credit cards so much!

[Luvdancink]

When my mom told me her new mortgage company was called, "Mr Cooper", I couldn't stop laughing at how silly it was. Now, knowing how plastiq is working, I kind of wish I held a mortgage with Mr. Cooper

My old mortgage company was bought bun mr cooper I keep trying to talk DH into refying back just to use plastiq lol (we would like to refi our mortgage at some point)

 

[Judique]

Was able to use the ihg POINTBREAKS today. I was able to use the rest of my ihg points to book two rooms at the Holiday Inn Express in Downtown Calgary for 15,000 ihg points each. The points rooms only fit 2 people so me and DH plan to split up-one with each kid. This hotel is only 3 minutes by car from the bus we are taking to Lake Louise and Banff. Using 2 free night certs and suite and room upgrades to stay at the Chateau Lake Louise over Easter/Spring break. Paying cash for the Rimrock resort in Banff. Using the remaining 60,000 ihg points at the Palazzo in Vegas next week.

All in all, very pleased with churning. Thanks everyone!

I have to ask when you said that the points rooms only fit 2 people, did you try for the room with 4 people added? By putting 4 in the information requested?

The reward room usually defaults to the 2 people choices with IHG. If you don't put in more than 2 you will usually only get king bed offerings, no queens or doubles.

 

[Ngwira]

I have to ask when you said that the points rooms only fit 2 people, did you try for the room with 4 people added? By putting 4 in the information requested?

The reward room usually defaults to the 2 people choices with IHG. If you don't put in more than 2 you will usually only get king bed offerings, no queens or doubles.

I did and there was nothing available for our dates. I even called ihg to book the first room and there was only a cash option for the room with two queen beds. So we’re rolling with it. I called the hotel and they have blocked 2 rooms next to each other for us.

 

[Livelovedance]

Just wanted to share my experiences regarding the Shop Rite 10x points offer for the CSP.

This is probably common knowledge, but I am new to the credit card game and never actually tried to purchase gift cards in a supermarket before. Apparently each store has their own policy for purchasing gift cards! I went to 3 Shop Rite stores to try to buy Disney gift cards for the 10x points. The first said I could only pay with cash, and the second said only cash or debit card. Feeling defeated, I called a third to avoid driving there only to be disappointed for the third time!

The woman on the phone said I could purchase gift cards with a credit card, but I was still a little hesitant. After arriving and finding the gift cards, I took them to customer service. After checking my id and the card (she wasn’t sure how to check my id with just the chase pay app), she processed my payment, and I maxed out the Shop Rite offer all at once!

Lesson learned: Call the store before driving there to check their gift card policies!

 

[Alexle2007]

Just booked a surprise trip to Universal to celebrate DS’s birthday in March. Flights free with RR and CP, annual passes so free admission and Portofino for $100 a night (thanks to my nephew working there!) And this time I am keeping it a surprise! We tried this in Dec but three days before the trip he overheard me mention it. Not happening this time.

 

[Tikitoi]

@CyndiLouWho @gottalovepluto @Alexle2007 @DisneyMandC @wendow...Thanks for your responses...I do feel better now...But will definitely get a confirmation # from the hotel itself...

 

[gottalovepluto]

Hmmmm I got the BCP+ about 6 months ago.... will that make a difference?

From Reddit it seems like it's a crapshoot whether they'll hit you with a HP or not, sorry I thought 6 months was like a mark or something but the DPs on it seem to be all over the place.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Someone on Reddit said they got the CSR Best Buy 10x for a purchase made on 1/26. My fam member's 1/20 purchase is still showing as 1x and Chase still says 1-2 billing cycles and the points will post. c'est la vie, time to be patient. I purchased on my own CSR yesterday so I should have my own DP on it tomorrow.

 

[kmc8826]

@CyndiLouWho @gottalovepluto @Alexle2007 @DisneyMandC @wendow...Thanks for your responses...I do feel better now...But will definitely get a confirmation # from the hotel itself...

Sorry I am late in the responding but did want to add one more point to maybe make you feel better In September 2016 we did a driving trip through Virginia and Maryland. All 5 hotels were booked entirely with UR's. I never called and tried to confirm. We just showed up and cave the name without issue. (We didn't have the kids so I wasn't too worried about it). What I did notice is that multiple hotels they came up booked through Expedia.

 

[havaneselover]

Someone on Reddit said they got the CSR Best Buy 10x for a purchase made on 1/26. My fam member's 1/20 purchase is still showing as 1x and Chase still says 1-2 billing cycles and the points will post. c'est la vie, time to be patient. I purchased on my own CSR yesterday so I should have my own DP on it tomorrow.

I got 10x from my 1/27 BB purchase using csr.

 

[DisneyMandC]

After being in 30 day limbo since applying 4 days ago, I just called the automated line again and discovered that I was approved for the Marriott business card! First business card for me! Thanks to everyone here for the help- time to get started on my spending!

 

[Lain]

After being in 30 day limbo since applying 4 days ago, I just called the automated line again and discovered that I was approved for the Marriott business card! First business card for me! Thanks to everyone here for the help- time to get started on my spending!

Congratulations!

 

[FredtheDuck]

Question: We've got a Capital One QuickSilver card that we do most of our spending on (groceries, dining/entertainment, our kiddos daycare). In doing some research, we're clearly not maximizing the cash back potential. Groceries/dining out are a fairly big component of our monthly chargeable spend (mostly groceries). At this point, we don't charge utilities/car insurance to our cards.

Would it make sense to switch to switch to something like the AmEx Blue Cash Preferred? We have the Everyday already because DH doesn't love AFs, but it seems like the 6x on groceries might make sense for us until we max the benefit at $6k, as which point maybe we'd start charging to a travel rewards card (my AmEx SPG probably the leading contender)? If Preferred makes sense, we'd probably just PC to that from our Everyday. I also saw Cap1's Savor card, and am wondering if maybe BCP for groceries and Savor for dining out make sense for us.

As context: I have a few other cards that could be considered, too, including an AmEx SPG. We don't have CSR/CSP. I'm probably over 5/24 (I'd have to double check), but DH isn't, so that could be an option. I think our primary goal would be cash back options, with travel a secondary benefit after we hit category maximums.

DH is newly willing to diversify which cards we spend on if it means we maximize benefits (before it was easy enough to say 1.5% back on the Cap1 was good enough), which is why I'm hoping to tap in to the wonderful wisdom here.

 

[pinkxray]

Just wanted to share my experiences regarding the Shop Rite 10x points offer for the CSP.

This is probably common knowledge, but I am new to the credit card game and never actually tried to purchase gift cards in a supermarket before. Apparently each store has their own policy for purchasing gift cards! I went to 3 Shop Rite stores to try to buy Disney gift cards for the 10x points. The first said I could only pay with cash, and the second said only cash or debit card. Feeling defeated, I called a third to avoid driving there only to be disappointed for the third time!

The woman on the phone said I could purchase gift cards with a credit card, but I was still a little hesitant. After arriving and finding the gift cards, I took them to customer service. After checking my id and the card (she wasn’t sure how to check my id with just the chase pay app), she processed my payment, and I maxed out the Shop Rite offer all at once!

Lesson learned: Call the store before driving there to check their gift card policies!

Do you mind sharing what state you are in? Are you in CT? I've only tried 2 stores but they were cash only.

 

[Budzooka]

Question: We've got a Capital One QuickSilver card that we do most of our spending on (groceries, dining/entertainment, our kiddos daycare). In doing some research, we're clearly not maximizing the cash back potential. Groceries/dining out are a fairly big component of our monthly chargeable spend (mostly groceries). At this point, we don't charge utilities/car insurance to our cards.

Would it make sense to switch to switch to something like the AmEx Blue Cash Preferred? We have the Everyday already because DH doesn't love AFs, but it seems like the 6x on groceries might make sense for us until we max the benefit at $6k, as which point maybe we'd start charging to a travel rewards card (my AmEx SPG probably the leading contender)? If Preferred makes sense, we'd probably just PC to that from our Everyday. I also saw Cap1's Savor card, and am wondering if maybe BCP for groceries and Savor for dining out make sense for us.

As context: I have a few other cards that could be considered, too, including an AmEx SPG. We don't have CSR/CSP. I'm probably over 5/24 (I'd have to double check), but DH isn't, so that could be an option. I think our primary goal would be cash back options, with travel a secondary benefit after we hit category maximums.

DH is newly willing to diversify which cards we spend on if it means we maximize benefits (before it was easy enough to say 1.5% back on the Cap1 was good enough), which is why I'm hoping to tap in to the wonderful wisdom here.

I would definitely get rid of the QuickSilver, as that only gets 1.5% cash back on all purchases. I have the Amex Blue, but not the Preferred. I have run the numbers and we just don't spend enough on groceries to justify the annual fee. I realize I could buy gift cards to get more out of it, but haven't gone that route yet. Instead, I have the following cashback cards: Amex Blue 3% on groceries; Uber Visa 4% on dining; Costco 4% gas; and Fidelity Visa (or Citi Double Cash) will get 2% back on everything else. I also have the DiscoverIt for 5% on rotating quarters (and they double it for 10% the first year). I have the Chase Sapphire Preferred for travel, but Costco and Uber offer 3% cash back on that category as well.

I put all of our cash back into a savings account and then use for travel. In my opinion, the lack of signup bonuses is the biggest difference between the travel cards and cash back, although it depends on how you use your travel rewards. I'm pretty much a SWA guy, so I value my rewards at 1.6 cents each. Therefore, 2% cash back is more valuable to me than putting it on the CSP for 1x rewards, but travel at 2x is worth 3.2 cents, which is why I use that instead of Uber or Costco.

I am over 5/24, but once I get back under, I am going to try to churn the travel cards for the signup bonuses while using the cashback for most of my everyday spend.

 

[havaneselover]

Question: We've got a Capital One QuickSilver card that we do most of our spending on (groceries, dining/entertainment, our kiddos daycare). In doing some research, we're clearly not maximizing the cash back potential. Groceries/dining out are a fairly big component of our monthly chargeable spend (mostly groceries). At this point, we don't charge utilities/car insurance to our cards.

Would it make sense to switch to switch to something like the AmEx Blue Cash Preferred? We have the Everyday already because DH doesn't love AFs, but it seems like the 6x on groceries might make sense for us until we max the benefit at $6k, as which point maybe we'd start charging to a travel rewards card (my AmEx SPG probably the leading contender)? If Preferred makes sense, we'd probably just PC to that from our Everyday. I also saw Cap1's Savor card, and am wondering if maybe BCP for groceries and Savor for dining out make sense for us.

As context: I have a few other cards that could be considered, too, including an AmEx SPG. We don't have CSR/CSP. I'm probably over 5/24 (I'd have to double check), but DH isn't, so that could be an option. I think our primary goal would be cash back options, with travel a secondary benefit after we hit category maximums.

DH is newly willing to diversify which cards we spend on if it means we maximize benefits (before it was easy enough to say 1.5% back on the Cap1 was good enough), which is why I'm hoping to tap in to the wonderful wisdom here.

I have C1 QS and use it occasionally but once I get Chase Freedom Unlimited I will stop using it.

BCP is great and worth it over BCE if you spend over $3,167/year on groceries (about $260/month).

I also have Amex SPG but will probably cancel in March even though it's my best earner or regular spend. Will likely go for SPG Biz and keep that.

I also have CSR/CSP. Will cancel CSP this year (no need to pay an annual fee if I'm keeping CSR which I am). I love my CSR.

 

[platamama]

Question: We've got a Capital One QuickSilver card that we do most of our spending on (groceries, dining/entertainment, our kiddos daycare). In doing some research, we're clearly not maximizing the cash back potential. Groceries/dining out are a fairly big component of our monthly chargeable spend (mostly groceries). At this point, we don't charge utilities/car insurance to our cards.

Would it make sense to switch to switch to something like the AmEx Blue Cash Preferred? We have the Everyday already because DH doesn't love AFs, but it seems like the 6x on groceries might make sense for us until we max the benefit at $6k, as which point maybe we'd start charging to a travel rewards card (my AmEx SPG probably the leading contender)? If Preferred makes sense, we'd probably just PC to that from our Everyday. I also saw Cap1's Savor card, and am wondering if maybe BCP for groceries and Savor for dining out make sense for us.

As context: I have a few other cards that could be considered, too, including an AmEx SPG. We don't have CSR/CSP. I'm probably over 5/24 (I'd have to double check), but DH isn't, so that could be an option. I think our primary goal would be cash back options, with travel a secondary benefit after we hit category maximums.

DH is newly willing to diversify which cards we spend on if it means we maximize benefits (before it was easy enough to say 1.5% back on the Cap1 was good enough), which is why I'm hoping to tap in to the wonderful wisdom here.

With cash back options as your primary goal, here's the best ones I know of in the categories you mention:

Groceries - AMEX Blue Cash Preferred, $95 AF, 6% up to $6000 grocery spend

Dining out - Barclay Uber Visa 4%, $0 AF

Daycare - Alliant Visa Signature card, $59 AF waived first year, 3% on everything first year then 2.5%

I wouldn't close your Capital One QS since it has no AF, just sock-drawer it since it is a positive factor in your credit history.

Anyone who is under 5/24, I think should get the Chase Business Ink Preferred with its 80,000 UR [cash equiv. to $800, worth even more if used strategically] sign up bonus. There's lots of discussion of that card on this thread, sometimes it's just referred to as CIP.

 

[hsmamato2]

with the Jb cc, when do I get charged the AF? I don't see it yet on first months statement...(I hit the spend, but I'm assuming the AF doesn't count in that)

 

[FredtheDuck]

Thank you all for your responses! SO helpful! I'm writing an email to DH now with the recommendations. I love the idea of putting the funds aside for a travel account, too. We're working to meet the spend on my SPG now, will refer and then spend on his SPG, but after that we don't have any sign-up bonuses on the horizon.

I wish we could do CIP, but we don't have anything that can even be possibly claimed as a business (and we have to be careful about that because of the industries we're in), so we're out of luck there.

Now I'm off to see which of our utility and insurance bills can be paid via CC. Anyways, thanks again!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I got 10x from my 1/27 BB purchase using csr.

My 1/28 purchase gave me 10x. The fam member with the 1/21 purchase is still sitting at 1x, Chase has said they'll get the points in 1-2 billing cycles. Looks like those who purchased prior to 1/26(? not solid on this date) will have to wait it out, but anyone purchasing now is good to go!