I love credit cards so much!

[SmallMama]

Ink Preferred has a much higher signup bonus (but also a higher min spend). Here's a quick comparison:

INK PREFERRED

• 80,000 URs for $5k spend in 90 days
• $95 annual fee (NOT WAIVED)
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, and on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
  
• Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

INK CASH

• 30,000 URs for $3k spend in 90 days
• NO annual fee
• Earn 5 points per $1 on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year at Office supply stores, Internet, Cable and Phone services
• Earn 2 points per $1 on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year at Gas Stations and Restaurants
• Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Due to the Signup bonus if the $5k isn't a problem, Ink Preferred is your better choice.

ALSO another point to consider is neither of these cards will report to your personal credit report (since they are Biz cards) SO while they are subject to the 5/24 application rule, they WILL NOT add to your 5/24 status.

EDIT: Also will add that CIP has "support links" on DISchurners. CIC does not offer "support links" but please don't let that factor affect your decision in any way. Do what's best for you I only point that out so you weren't searching for CIC links, haha.

One last question is the venture even worth considering when compare to ink?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

One last question is the venture even worth considering when compare to ink?

In my blunt opinion...Absolutely not at this point. Venture will still potentially be available to you later...CIP will not. Venture signup is worth $560 (including min spend)...CIP is worth a minimum of $1062.50 (including min spend) when redeemed for travel...

EDIT: Additional reasons: CIP doesn't count towards 5/24, Venture Does; Capital One typically pulls all 3 bureaus, Chase typically pulls one... I could probably come up with more reasons, lol

 

[Lain]

One last question is the venture even worth considering when compare to ink?

I’m going to be blunt too. At this point, you probably need to look at your credit report, on Credit Karma or something, figure out how many cards have been reported opened in the last 24 months, and if you’re still under 5/24, focus on getting the Chase cards that are subject to the 5/24 rule. Otherwise, you are ruling them out for at least another 18 months.

 

[Alexle2007]

I put exactly $3k on DH’s new personal Marriott. The 3k points posted to his account but the 80k + 7.5k (AU) bonus points did not. Do I need to put another small purchase on it or should spending the required $3k have triggered it? The transaction posted on 2/15 and his statement closed on 2/16.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I put exactly $3k on DH’s new personal Marriott. The 3k points posted to his account but the 80k + 7.5k (AU) bonus points did not. Do I need to put another small purchase on it or should spending the required $3k have triggered it? The transaction posted on 2/15 and his statement closed on 2/16.

The closeness of the dates is probably the reason. Sometimes you need to meet the min. spend a week or so ahead of the statement date. That said - perhaps you make another $5 purchase just to be safe...it doesn't really hurt and will give you peace of mind while you wait it out for 2 more weeks.

 

[SmallMama]

In my blunt opinion...Absolutely not at this point. Venture will still potentially be available to you later...CIP will not. Venture signup is worth $560 (including min spend)...CIP is worth a minimum of $1062.50 (including min spend) when redeemed for travel...

EDIT: Additional reasons: CIP doesn't count towards 5/24, Venture Does; Capital One typically pulls all 3 bureaus, Chase typically pulls one... I could probably come up with more reasons, lol

Okay so CIP it is then. Also, do i have to prove i have a business l?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Okay so CIP it is then. Also, do i have to prove i have a business l?

You'll have to pick a business category of some sort. I assume you're going with something like "selling stuff on Ebay" or something like that so make your best choice. You also need to report your revenue - that could be your actual revenue or your "projected" revenue for the next year...The application is pretty straight forward but if you have questions as you work through it just ask here.

 

[SmallMama]

I’m going to be blunt too. At this point, you probably need to look at your credit report, on Credit Karma or something, figure out how many cards have been reported opened in the last 24 months, and if you’re still under 5/24, focus on getting the Chase cards that are subject to the 5/24 rule. Otherwise, you are ruling them out for at least another 18 months.

It actually looks like i only have 3 CC reported including the questionable care credit. So my citi and amex are not on there and my next report update is schedule at the end of this month.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

It actually looks like i only have 3 CC reported including the questionable care credit. So my citi and amex are not on there and my next report update is schedule at the end of this month.

Yeah - so you shouldn't have an issue with the CIP now. Your bigger question mark will come in 3+ months or so when you're ready for your next card. By then the Citi and AMEX cards will be reporting and then you'll have a question mark. You should be good for now though We can deal with that when the time is right

 

[Lain]

Okay so CIP it is then. Also, do i have to prove i have a business l?

You shouldn’t have to prove up your “business” if you apply under a sole proprietorship. A sole proprietor is “you” so your business name is your name, your EIN or Tax ID number is your SSN. Don’t get fancy here, or Chase could ask for documentation. If you’ve ever sold anything on eBay, Craigslist, Facebook, etc., congrats! You have an ecommerce business! Select "retail: books, hobbies, music, sports, general, non store retail" (or the other retail category) > "electronic shopping and mail-order" > "electronic shopping" and apply!

Personal data point, DW applied for the CIP with her 1 year old eBay business and $1500 business revenue and was approved.

Most likely, you won’t be approved right away but will get a we’ll let you know in 30 days message. Don’t worry. This is totally typical. Over the next few days, just call the automated status line at 1-800-432-3117, follow the prompts with #, 3, 1, SSN, periodically to check the progress of your application. When you get approved, you can call CIP's customer service line at 1-800-945-2028 to request the card expedited to you.

If you do apply for the CIP, please show your support for this wonderful community and thank someone who you feel has helped you in this thread by applying through their link on the /r/DISchurners subreddit.

 

[SmallMama]

Yeah - so you shouldn't have an issue with the CIP now. Your bigger question mark will come in 3+ months or so when you're ready for your next card. By then the Citi and AMEX cards will be reporting and then you'll have a question mark. You should be good for now though We can deal with that when the time is right

Thank you!!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I've gotten into rooms at Disney as early as 7am. I would never tell anyone to depend on this as I've also not gotten my room until after 5pm, when I've gotten there early.

Me too!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

A few pages ago I saw something about buying SPG points to help meet the SPG min spend. Can someone tell me more about that?

 

[pillow]

I put exactly $3k on DH’s new personal Marriott. The 3k points posted to his account but the 80k + 7.5k (AU) bonus points did not. Do I need to put another small purchase on it or should spending the required $3k have triggered it? The transaction posted on 2/15 and his statement closed on 2/16.

Also make sure the 3K you spent doesn't include the annual fee. That does not count toward your min spend requirement.

 

[Albort]

A few pages ago I saw something about buying SPG points to help meet the SPG min spend. Can someone tell me more about that?

they are 35% off right now. for $680, u get 2x as well on top of the 30k. so like a total of 32k.

I think offer ends end of this month.

 

[Lain]

A few pages ago I saw something about buying SPG points to help meet the SPG min spend. Can someone tell me more about that?

Yes! I wish I could go on in length but I’m out and about right now.

Here are two helpful articles from FrequentMiler:

Buy SPG points for 35% off. Cheap way to buy Marriott points or airline miles

and

How to buy more than 30K SPG points

Basically, points . com has Starpoints on sale for 35% off (2.275 cents per point) right now through 3/16/18. You can buy up to 30,000 Starpoints per person in a calendar year, but you can also purchase a gift of additional Starpoints to SPG members who have had their accounts set up for more than 14 days. If DH, has a SPG account already set up, you could also buy and gift points to him, then transfer the points within your household. (If not, it may be too late to set up an account for DH for this promotion.) Points are deposited to your SPG account within minutes after purchase. If you pay with an Amex SPG card, you’ll earn 2x Starpoints on the purchase (and it’ll count towards your MSR). If you use TopCashBack shopping portal, I believe points . com earns 1.5% cash back. Obviously, check the links for more information.

Hope this helps!

ETA: Adding to @Albort’s point, buying a maximum 30,000 Starpoints = $682.50, at 2x on the SPG Biz is 1,365 Starpoints earned on the purchase, resulting in 31,365 more Starpoints to your SPG account.

 

[mhartman09]

@ski_mom - Sorry to hear about your mom having cancer, but glad to hear things seem to be going so well.

I had to share this here. It is copied by a poster on one of the travel hacker bloggers' FB page. It made me LOL and I figured many of us here could relate:

"I need travel points/miles/value seriously dumbed down. Every time I think I understand a thread, someone throws in a comment like, "But if it coded as XYZ and you got 0.05 divided by 63967843 pesos minus the 0.99% transaction fee, you would be paying only 3 cents and get upgraded to Air Force One for round trip from DC to the Maldives with a free night at the Grand Hyatt and a narwhal sighting excursion in Antarctica."

I saw this last night and cracked up so much I had to read it to DH!!


DH's Freedom came in this week and we've activated the 1st quarter bonus categories. Since he PCd his CSR to this Freedom, his old CSR card should still work, right? I want to put it in my wallet so that I can help max out the categories each quarter. Actually, he wants me to take the Freedom and he wants to keep the CSR if it will still work....LOL. IIRC I read here that it would still work, but wanted to confirm.

So, my SPG biz bonus posted and I'm now looking into booking a stay at Swan or Dolphin for an adults trip with SIL and BIL who will be upgrading to APs on our Easter trip. Does anyone here have experience with the suites at either hotel? I'm thinking this might be a decent option for us but wanted to check here for first hand experience.

 

[Alexle2007]

Also make sure the 3K you spent doesn't include the annual fee. That does not count toward your min spend requirement.

Oh, I did. $3k went to the orthodontist (since they don’t take Amex).

 

[DisneyMandC]

This is a throwback, but does anyone remember how long it took for their Marriott More points to post when you did the first order to get 1000 points? I ordered 10 days ago and the charge has cleared and I've received my package, but still no points.

 

[Lain]

This is a throwback, but does anyone remember how long it took for their Marriott More points to post when you did the first order to get 1000 points? I ordered 10 days ago and the charge has cleared and I've received my package, but still no points.

My Marriott MORE points always post immediately.