I love credit cards so much!

[jhoannam]

I also have been toying with the idea of the SPG card and was leaning towards 'no' until I read the above posts.

If both DH and myself got the SPG Biz (already did the personals and closed them 2 years ago) and earned the bonus that would be 70k SPG bonus+14K bonus from spend--> sent to Mariott at 1:3= 252000 Mariott points which if used for nights and flights would earn me 7 free nights +100k SW miles which would mean a companion pass? That can't be how that works...

I don't love the idea of 14k in spend but if I funneled everything through (including using Plastiq) we could make it work.

The transfer points to SW don't count towards companion pass anymore, I think that ended early last year.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I also have been toying with the idea of the SPG card and was leaning towards 'no' until I read the above posts.

If both DH and myself got the SPG Biz (already did the personals and closed them 2 years ago) and earned the bonus that would be 70k SPG bonus+14K bonus from spend--> sent to Mariott at 1:3= 252000 Mariott points which if used for nights and flights would earn me 7 free nights +100k SW miles which would mean a companion pass? That can't be how that works...

I don't love the idea of 14k in spend but if I funneled everything through (including using Plastiq) we could make it work.

You're missing one step here...You want to get the card first...THEN refer your husband That's an extra 22,500 Marriott points right there. Of course you'd need to refer him by 3/28.

ALSO - hate to burst one bubble for you BUT Marriott points converted to SW no longer qualify for CP. It used to work that way until March of 2017 when they shut down that loophole. However 100k SW points is still worth $1,600 in flights (even without the CP that's a nice haul)!

 

[calypso726]

I agree that value is subjective. Like I said, my aunt is looking for the bargain (and typically finds it as she cruises for so little $). She wants to cruise a lot and there have been years, she's gone on 7-8 a year. I think she mostly cruises RC followed by Princess. I know she has some kind of status with RC, been on every ship, knows bunch of their crew...She also has met people over the years on her cruises that are all now life-long friends and they all cruise together, have meetups all over the world, etc. So, she would argue those experiences aren't unique to DCL.

However, she has no particular attachment to Disney, nor is she cruising with kids (other than occasionally with her grands who are not into Disney) so there really is no reason to pay more for DCL. All of us here on this thread love Disney and many would say it's worth it just cause it's Disney. As much as I'd love to try DCL, we cannot afford their pricing for our fam of six.

That’s good to know that those experiences aren’t unique to DCL. It will make me less reluctant to try out another cruise line. Having tried two others before DCL, I was ok with never going on a cruise again. It was DCL that changed my mind. I imagine being in a Disney bubble while getting to know people online and having something in common like a love for Disney had a lot to do with it. I am an introvert and sometimes it is challenging for me to get past that and social anxiety. I always find myself more comfortable when it comes to meeting new people when I’m in a Disney bubble. So, for me there is value in seeing myself able to be more social and act more like the person I wish I was on the inside, without the interior battle of forcing myself to act normal and be social. I guess for me it’s more about the comfort zone.

Has anyone ever used the car insurance benefits on the CSR?

I'm going to Oahu in May to visit family and wondering if it's beneficial to just go with the insurance on the card, or pay extra for the LDW with the rental car company. With how small the parking spots are in Hawaii, I'm kind of worried about renting a car, getting side swiped and the CSR somehow not covering the rental.

Yes. It is primary insurance. You would have to pay with the CSR and decline the car rental insurance.

OK- need a little kick in the pants. I've been hovering over applying for the SPG Biz for the past couple of days. My card count and apps are fine - and I have work travel planned that will put a big dent in the MSR, so thats ok too. What I'm struggling with is losing out on the UR for all those travel dollars! Someone remind me that 35k starpoints will be very helpful for future travel (even though I don't have a specific trip planned to use them yet) and the return on my spend will still be good. The MSR on the CIP was much less painful, because the travel charges were still getting 3 UR points, at least... That spend went way faster than I expected (work travel, summer camp payment) but the 7k is going to take me a while.

Should I do the SPG Biz or wait a little bit and do one of the Chase Freedom products (and keep using my CSR for travel!)

As much as I love my UR points, I value SPG points way more. I have always been able to get more value from SPG points than from UR.

 

[Lain]

Has anyone tweeted @MarriottRewards a pic with the hashtags #RewardsPoints#LeafsFansTravel for 100 Marriott Rewards points yet?

I just tweeted GO LEAFS! with a pic of the team logo and got this reply:

Thanks for sharing your #LeafsFansTravel photo. You just earned 100 #RewardsPoints!

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-100-free-points-posting-pic-rewardspoints-leafsfanstravel/

 

[wendow]

@wendow Did you say you pay your kids' dance/activities with Plastiq? Does everything through Plastiq earn 3 points using CIP?

I have been paying my dd's dance tuition through plastiq but so far, I've been putting it on my BGR. It's almost $300 mo and I needed that to help meet spend. I think I can finish off my SPG before next month is due so I'll pay dance with the CIP. It should code 3x. @Lain seems to be getting 3x on everything.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Has anyone tweeted @MarriottRewards a pic with the hashtags #RewardsPoints#LeafsFansTravel for 100 Marriott Rewards points yet?

I just tweeted GO LEAFS! with a pic of the team logo and got this reply:


https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-100-free-points-posting-pic-rewardspoints-leafsfanstravel/

I think this one is actually beyond my commitment level, haha! 100 points...why so stingy Marriott??

 

[wendow]

That’s good to know that those experiences aren’t unique to DCL. It will make me less reluctant to try out another cruise line. Having tried two others before DCL, I was ok with never going on a cruise again. It was DCL that changed my mind. I imagine being in a Disney bubble while getting to know people online and having something in common like a love for Disney had a lot to do with it. I am an introvert and sometimes it is challenging for me to get past that and social anxiety. I always find myself more comfortable when it comes to meeting new people when I’m in a Disney bubble. So, for me there is value in seeing myself able to be more social and act more like the person I wish I was on the inside, without the interior battle of forcing myself to act normal and be social. I guess for me it’s more about the comfort zone.

I can totally see that! My aunt is a social butterfly if there ever was one. She never meets a stranger, and again, she has no reason to fork out more money for DCL. She has no attachment to the brand at all. I can see exactly why you'd want to keep cruising with them after having so many wonderful experiences!

 

[jhoannam]

Has anyone tweeted @MarriottRewards a pic with the hashtags #RewardsPoints#LeafsFansTravel for 100 Marriott Rewards points yet?

I just tweeted GO LEAFS! with a pic of the team logo and got this reply:


https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-100-free-points-posting-pic-rewardspoints-leafsfanstravel/

Thanks for sharing... that was easy!

 

[Lain]

I think this one is actually beyond my commitment level, haha! 100 points...why so stingy Marriott??

It’s seriously like coming across a penny on the ground. It’s free money, but eeeehhh, then I’d have to stop for a sec and bend down to pick it up. Is it worth the hassle? Debatable.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Took your advice for a tad bit more peace of mind @SouthFayetteFan and shuffled my SPG points over to Marriott for the time being. If they ever decide they want 'em back they'll have to extra, extra step it! Although after the conversion if I ever shuffle them back to SPG I'm gonna feel poor

 

[peel]

Has anyone tweeted @MarriottRewards a pic with the hashtags #RewardsPoints#LeafsFansTravel for 100 Marriott Rewards points yet?

I just tweeted GO LEAFS! with a pic of the team logo and got this reply:


https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-100-free-points-posting-pic-rewardspoints-leafsfanstravel/

Thanks, I'll take anything I can get!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Took your advice for a tad bit more peace of mind @SouthFayetteFan and shuffled my SPG points over to Marriott for the time being. If they ever decide they want 'em back they'll have to extra, extra step it! Although after the conversion if I ever shuffle them back to SPG I'm gonna feel poor

I 100% agree...My 1 Million+ point Marriott stash feels so much more exciting than a 400k SP stash...even though they LITERALLY have the same value.

 

[peel]

Hold up! Are saying I'm old lol?!?

I have those misperceptions about people here all the time. I remember when @vanjust14 first mentioned her son in college, my jaw dropped .I thought she was like 23yo with just her little one. Now I have to reconfigure her all over in my head!

I have mental images of some folks based on their user name and profile pics. Sometimes when the name is a mashup of letters and numbers, or abbreviations, I've created a whole new word or phrase in my mind. The fun begins when I realize I've been misreading or misinterpreting the names and photos for ages.

 

[PrincessMom98]

OK- need a little kick in the pants. I've been hovering over applying for the SPG Biz for the past couple of days. My card count and apps are fine - and I have work travel planned that will put a big dent in the MSR, so thats ok too. What I'm struggling with is losing out on the UR for all those travel dollars! Someone remind me that 35k starpoints will be very helpful for future travel (even though I don't have a specific trip planned to use them yet) and the return on my spend will still be good. The MSR on the CIP was much less painful, because the travel charges were still getting 3 UR points, at least... That spend went way faster than I expected (work travel, summer camp payment) but the 7k is going to take me a while.

Should I do the SPG Biz or wait a little bit and do one of the Chase Freedom products (and keep using my CSR for travel!)

I went back and forth about the SPG Biz as well. I finally decided to go for it. I don't have a definite plan for using the points. I know I can use them to visit DD in college or transfer them for airline miles. I am really hoping to combine them with my Marriott points for Nights and Flights package but I don't know where yet. I have a spreadsheet with all my upcoming bills/expenses and I'm trying to use my CSP for as much of my travel expenses as I can while still meeting the SPG MSR.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

Has anyone been able to use their cards for a good portion of a car purchase? We need to buy another van for our business, so if it is 25 k I would probably put half on the card if possible. I am just wondering if you have any suggestions on it? Are there any rules against it? We have in the past always just paid outright or put half in cash down, that kind of thing. TIA!

 

[peel]

Has anyone been able to use their cards for a good portion of a car purchase? We need to buy another van for our business, so if it is 25 k I would probably put half on the card if possible. I am just wondering if you have any suggestions on it? Are there any rules against it? We have in the past always just paid outright or put half in cash down, that kind of thing. TIA!

There aren't rules against it on the part of the credit card issuers, but I believe there is usually a cap on how much a dealer will allow you to put on a credit card.

EDIT: Here is a MMS article about paying for at least a portion of a car with a credit card. They mention the option of going through AMEX to find a dealer, in which case you could use a credit card for the entire purchase.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Has anyone been able to use their cards for a good portion of a car purchase? We need to buy another van for our business, so if it is 25 k I would probably put half on the card if possible. I am just wondering if you have any suggestions on it? Are there any rules against it? We have in the past always just paid outright or put half in cash down, that kind of thing. TIA!

Very rare for that much. Sometimes a company/dealership will allow you to put a few thousand down, some allow more, some allow none, some allow but charge you the processing fee. You'll need to contact the seller and find out if they accept credit cards, sometimes that can even be a part of the negotiation.

 

[Lain]

Has anyone been able to use their cards for a good portion of a car purchase? We need to buy another van for our business, so if it is 25 k I would probably put half on the card if possible. I am just wondering if you have any suggestions on it? Are there any rules against it? We have in the past always just paid outright or put half in cash down, that kind of thing. TIA!

I know it’s possible, but how much on a credit card is always very YMMV depending on the dealer. You’d have to ask, but maybe save the credit card part until you’re further into the negotiations.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I know it’s possible, but how much on a credit card is always very YMMV depending on the dealer. You’d have to ask, but maybe save the credit card part until you’re further into the negotiations.

Sneaky. I like it!

 

[WVMomof3]

I know someone has used their CC to pay student loan, can't remember who. Can someone tell me how that might work? Was it through gift of college GCs? And are those a no no on the spg biz?