I love credit cards so much!

[speedyfishy]

I have all of mine in a spreadsheet. I am at $7962.57. But hoping to add a lot more to it as soon as my SPG points transfer and I can book the Swan. I redeemed my first travel for May 2017.

Would you mind sharing the redemptions you have so far? Also, how do you organize your excel sheet? Is it just like trip, points used, cash value? I originally had how many points I used where I keep track of the cards I sign up for. So it was card, application date, MSR, card bonus, use of points, points remaining, but that isn’t working out lol and I think two separate excel sheets would work best.

 

[miztressuz]

Love this kind of stuff! I am also keeping track of my Disney gift cards as I earn them for free/discounts.

That was my very favorite spreadsheet. I track all the GC numbers/pins and so I added a column for cost. It's so fun to put a "$0" in that column and watch the % off jump Since I pay no fees for my cashback cards I count all that money as free, so between that and rewards programs and free target GC's, it's amazing to watch the values all add up without increasing the cost
Since my next trip isn't Disney, I'm mostly tracking cash which isn't quite as fun for now. But I think I'll be amazed at the end though when I break it all down like @speedyfishy did.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I'm trying to decide which card I should look to after CIP. DH will be double dipping CSR/CSP in July and I'll be at 3/24 (assuming Marriott Biz and CIP don't count... right?). I don't have the personal Marriott card, which could be helpful. I also don't have any airline cards. I guess depending on what Southwest flights to Hawaii look like, I could head towards that next? Southwest flights aren't a great option from my home airport otherwise though. The only other big trip besides WDW that we have on the horizon is Japan, which I know I'll need to branch out to Amex for that. Thoughts?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So it’s been about 13 months since SO and I have started this hobby we started with the Freedom Unlimited lol. I didn’t MS back then so I started will a small bonus.

Since then I have redeemed over $8,000 in travel plus I received $1,000 in bank bonuses.

I still have 137k SPG, 63k Delta, 12,000 URs and 8,000 Rapid Rewards. I have $400 in bank bonuses pending.


My breakdown is as follows:

Disney World-$600 Two flights to Orlando and three nights in a value.
Disneyland flights- $1500 (3 tickets from the east coast to LAX)
Flights to look at apartments for my move -$400 (3 tickets)
Disneyland flights-$800(2 tickets from east cost to LAX)
Disneyland hotel for six nights- $3000
Flights to Bahamas-$800 (2 tickets)
Royal Towers for five nights- $1,400

I find this so fun to add up!

It is and I was so surprised. I think I’m going to try and keep this all updated in an excel sheet.

Love this kind of stuff! I am also keeping track of my Disney gift cards as I earn them for free/discounts.

Oh I'm totally going to start another page with this information on my excel sheet.
Now if only I could remember all that we've done with our travel awards.

I have all of mine in a spreadsheet. I am at $7962.57. But hoping to add a lot more to it as soon as my SPG points transfer and I can book the Swan. I redeemed my first travel for May 2017.

I keep track of all of this in a spreadsheet (I know...shocking!! hahaha!)

I put my "travel" savings into the following buckets:

• Disney Discounts: this category is only used for our Disney trips and tracks the difference between rack rate on the room and what I actually pay as well as any other savings through a travel agent
• Flight Points Redeemed & related flight discounts: This is where I apply my Southwest Points savings and any other offsets such as travel credits applied to the fees or Gift Cards I purchased through CC reimbursements (i.e. Citi Prestige, AMEX plat, etc.)
• Hotel Points Redeemed: Savings via hotel points used vs. the cash amount I'd have paid for the property
• Misc Credit Card Related Discounts: Other savings on CC that I am internally applying towards the cost of the trip. This includes flexible points redeemed, referral bonuses, and cash back I've earmarked towards a trip.
• Other Discounts: Savings on GCs purchased, Gas Perks and other savings I count as "travel savings"

I obviously take things overboard when it comes to spreadsheets, but I love to see where my actual savings came from

Here's some rough numbers from our 2017 (rounded to the nearest 100):

• Disney Discounts = $600
• Flights = $2,300
• Hotels = $3,000
• Other CC = $3,800
• Misc = $2,000
• TOTAL = $11,700

EDIT: I should also say I start with the gross cost of everything broken down in categories too (Flights, Hotel/Tix, Food/Dining, Other). Then I subtract the discounts from there to get a net cost (hopefully of $0!)

 

[WVMomof3]

Would you mind sharing the redemptions you have so far? Also, how do you organize your excel sheet? Is it just like trip, points used, cash value? I originally had how many points I used where I keep track of the cards I sign up for. So it was card, application date, MSR, card bonus, use of points, points remaining, but that isn’t working out lol and I think two separate excel sheets would work best.

So, I accidently forgot to add in the last 2 rows I had just added so I am really at $8754.57! I have it organized by the following column headers:
Date of Travel
What (flight/hotel/rental car etc)
Details (here I put exactly what and where - example - 5 flights Pit-Vegas (4 on pts +1Companion))
Cash Equivalent
Points Used
Type of Point used
Dollar/Point Value (my highest has been 0.043 for a Chase to Hyatt Transfer)

My redemptions so far have been
$3704 (this includes value for Companion pass tickets) in Southwest Flights for 161,840 SW points (My SW points now at Zero! )
$3391 redeemed 226,089 UR points thru Chase UR portal for various flights/hotels/rental cars
$1659 transferred 56,000 UR points points to Hyatt

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Would you mind sharing the redemptions you have so far? Also, how do you organize your excel sheet? Is it just like trip, points used, cash value? I originally had how many points I used where I keep track of the cards I sign up for. So it was card, application date, MSR, card bonus, use of points, points remaining, but that isn’t working out lol and I think two separate excel sheets would work best.

I would agree that redemptions should be an entirely separate sheet (or tab). I also love it because I will actually go back and read about our previous trips and it will remind me of them, lol (kinda pathetic, I know haha!)

I'll copy and paste the text from one of my vacations on my spreadsheet (You'll just have to imagine the columns and grid-lines, lol!). I do both a line item detail and summary section

DETAILS:
Flights There (19,500pts) $347.92
Flights Home (20,840pts) $367.92
(less) Southwest Points (40,340 pts total) $ (671.04)

Hotel - Beach Club (3 nights) $ 1,355.79
Hotel - Polynesian (4 nights) $ 2,157.43
(less) Hotel Discount (Agency Excl.) $ (1,030.56)
Tickets $ 1,746.60
(less) Ticket Discount (Agency Excl.) $ (174.66)

Dining Plan Cost $ 607.44
Dining Tips $ 107.98
Dining Table Service OOP $ 320.02
Dining Quick Service OOP $ 86.26
Dining Snacks & Misc OOP $ 45.30

Souven'ears $ 235.47
Other MISC Costs $ 55.84

(less) Gas Savings To Date $ (316.00)
(less) Target Savings $ (160.00)
(less) Misc Gas Savings $ (125.00)
(less) Credit Card Signup Bonuses & Referrals $ (4,956.71)
DETAIL TOTAL $ 0.00

SUMMARY:
Flights $ 715.84
Hotel/Tickets $ 5,259.82
Dining $ 1,152.80
Other $ 305.51
GROSS COST $ 7,433.97
(less) Disney Discounts $ (1,205.22)
(less) Flight Points & Discounts $ (671.04)
(less) Hotel Points Redeemed $ -
(less) Credit Card Related Discounts $ (4,956.71)
(less) Oither/Misc Discounts $ (601.00)
TOTAL AMOUNT EXPENSED $ 0

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I'm trying to decide which card I should look to after CIP. DH will be double dipping CSR/CSP in July and I'll be at 3/24 (assuming Marriott Biz and CIP don't count... right?). I don't have the personal Marriott card, which could be helpful. I also don't have any airline cards. I guess depending on what Southwest flights to Hawaii look like, I could head towards that next? Southwest flights aren't a great option from my home airport otherwise though. The only other big trip besides WDW that we have on the horizon is Japan, which I know I'll need to branch out to Amex for that. Thoughts?

So are you saying your strategy is...
1) May = CIP (you)
2) July = CSR/CSP double dip (husband)
...and then you're looking to strategize beyond that?

 

[DisneyMandC]

So are you saying your strategy is...
1) May = CIP (you)
2) July = CSR/CSP double dip (husband)
...and then you're looking to strategize beyond that?

Correct! Sorry, that was a little ramble-y. I feel like I should start branching out to the world of MRs, but don't know if I should burn remaining 5/24 slots. I also got a mailer (which I mentioned here before) for the Capital One Venture card for an increased offer of $750 which expires I think June 20.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Correct! Sorry, that was a little ramble-y. I feel like I should start branching out to the world of MRs, but don't know if I should burn remaining 5/24 slots. I also got a mailer (which I mentioned here before) for the Capital One Venture card for an increased offer of $750 which expires I think June 20.

Ugh Capital One, haha...probably not a bad offer. I just don't really like them.

What are all the cards in your 3/24 (and other Chase biz cards too) with month/year? I think once you get to 3/24 you're a great candidate for charting a 12 month strategy (which is what it sounds like you're trying to do). Is your husband fully in this game too or just dabbling? What's his 5/24?

 

[elgerber]

Wow, all that tracking is fantastic! I wish I had one that. I kinda have a little tracking from my UK trip last year, but nothing like that.

 

[disneybirds]

If I add the dining plan to an existing Chase reservation, do you get the benefit of the CSR discount or is it full value?

 

[elgerber]

Timing is everything! I won't be under 5/24 until July and now I have a big purchase to make in the next 30 days and the Starwood bonuses have gone south. Already have personal so was looking at the Biz. And if I could put this off until July I could do a double dip - darn timing issue!

So that got me to looking at other (non Chase) business cards and they mostly don't do a thing for me. I don't need any air miles. So no Delta or AA. I could use an MR card as I have a small MR stash and could add to it. Not really interested in the small cash back cards - I want a decent sized travel bonus card but have to wait for the Chase ones.

Am I missing anything great out there? I've looked at Citi, Barclay, US bank, Amex and now it is really hitting me why Chase is so sought after!

I am in kinda the same boat. Except I don't have a big expense, I just don't like not working toward a bonus LOL.
I am out of Chase personal till late fall, and I don't want to do anything to jeopardize that, but I am tired of meeting spends with AMEX, because they are so difficult sometimes. Would like to be back to a Visa or MC, that could maybe fund some bank with or something LOL.
Can you get a Chase biz card with a "business" like you can with AMEX? And would that make things tougher for me for the SW CP when I am back under 5/24?

 

[DisneyMandC]

Yeah, I haven't heard great things on Capital One, but the $750 does seem like a pretty decent offer if there's nothing else I really have on the table... and I do use hotels.com a lot.

6/17- AU on one of my mom's cards (before I got into churning, won't happen again)
9/17- CSP
10/17- CF
1/18- Marriott Biz
5/18 (hopefully)- CIP

I removed DH as an AU from CSP and CF a couple months ago. Assuming those won't count against him, he is 2/24
5/17- Amazon
2/18- CIP

He'll sign up for whatever I sign him up for :-D

I guess I need to check out more on traveling to Japan and staying there. I know Reddit has a lot of info on that. I have potentials plans for one round trip flight on United this year, but the cash price is only $167 per person, so it's not like I'm in dire need of the points to afford it, so I'm not sure that card is good for me. I have no experience with IHG/Hyatt as DH has always been a Marriott rewards member, which I guess is what makes me more inclined to lean towards the Marriott personal card. Part of me also wonders if I should make a run on the CIC for him this month before the offer expires.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I am in kinda the same boat. Except I don't have a big expense, I just don't like not working toward a bonus LOL.
I am out of Chase personal till late fall, and I don't want to do anything to jeopardize that, but I am tired of meeting spends with AMEX, because they are so difficult sometimes. Would like to be back to a Visa or MC, that could maybe fund some bank with or something LOL.
Can you get a Chase biz card with a "business" like you can with AMEX? And would that make things tougher for me for the SW CP when I am back under 5/24?

If you're over 5/24 the only Chase Biz card you can get is Marriott. CIC, CIP, SW Biz are all subject to 5/24 unfortunately).

 

[DisneyMandC]

If I add the dining plan to an existing Chase reservation, do you get the benefit of the CSR discount or is it full value?

I assume you mean paying with UR points? My understanding when booking with Cruise and Tour before (in cash) was that ALL the UR points you want to use must be used at the time of booking to pay for the trip. The agent made it sound like this was for all trips booked with them, not just specific to WDW. Maybe call and ask and let us know if you hear something different!

 

[afan]

Kind of For those of us traveling to WDW in Nov our ADR date is approaching. I know there are a few of us with overlapping dates. I'm there the 2nd to the 10th, solo starting the afternoon of the 6th. Going to MVMCP on the 8th. I know there had been chat about doing a meet up, and I know it's still 6 months away, but if we wanted to do it somewhere that needs an ADR we may need to figure it out

I also saw this guy and thought it was appropriate given all spreadsheet talk Going to need to set up a spreadsheet to track. When you track do you put the actual cost of it or what you would have paid? We're staying super fancy at the Hyatt Vendome in Paris next month but wouldn't have spent more than $300/night otherwise, and that would have been split since we each pay half.

 

[speedyfishy]

So, I accidently forgot to add in the last 2 rows I had just added so I am really at $8754.57! I have it organized by the following column headers:
Date of Travel
What (flight/hotel/rental car etc)
Details (here I put exactly what and where - example - 5 flights Pit-Vegas (4 on pts +1Companion))
Cash Equivalent
Points Used
Type of Point used
Dollar/Point Value (my highest has been 0.043 for a Chase to Hyatt Transfer)

My redemptions so far have been
$3704 (this includes value for Companion pass tickets) in Southwest Flights for 161,840 SW points (My SW points now at Zero! )
$3391 redeemed 226,089 UR points thru Chase UR portal for various flights/hotels/rental cars
$1659 transferred 56,000 UR points points to Hyatt

I would agree that redemptions should be an entirely separate sheet (or tab). I also love it because I will actually go back and read about our previous trips and it will remind me of them, lol (kinda pathetic, I know haha!)

I'll copy and paste the text from one of my vacations on my spreadsheet (You'll just have to imagine the columns and grid-lines, lol!). I do both a line item detail and summary section

DETAILS:
Flights There (19,500pts) $347.92
Flights Home (20,840pts) $367.92
(less) Southwest Points (40,340 pts total) $ (671.04)

Hotel - Beach Club (3 nights) $ 1,355.79
Hotel - Polynesian (4 nights) $ 2,157.43
(less) Hotel Discount (Agency Excl.) $ (1,030.56)
Tickets $ 1,746.60
(less) Ticket Discount (Agency Excl.) $ (174.66)

Dining Plan Cost $ 607.44
Dining Tips $ 107.98
Dining Table Service OOP $ 320.02
Dining Quick Service OOP $ 86.26
Dining Snacks & Misc OOP $ 45.30

Souven'ears $ 235.47
Other MISC Costs $ 55.84

(less) Gas Savings To Date $ (316.00)
(less) Target Savings $ (160.00)
(less) Misc Gas Savings $ (125.00)
(less) Credit Card Signup Bonuses & Referrals $ (4,956.71)
DETAIL TOTAL $ 0.00

SUMMARY:
Flights $ 715.84
Hotel/Tickets $ 5,259.82
Dining $ 1,152.80
Other $ 305.51
GROSS COST $ 7,433.97
(less) Disney Discounts $ (1,205.22)
(less) Flight Points & Discounts $ (671.04)
(less) Hotel Points Redeemed $ -
(less) Credit Card Related Discounts $ (4,956.71)
(less) Oither/Misc Discounts $ (601.00)
TOTAL AMOUNT EXPENSED $ 0

Thanks! I’m going to get organized after finals!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Yeah, I haven't heard great things on Capital One, but the $750 does seem like a pretty decent offer if there's nothing else I really have on the table... and I do use hotels.com a lot.

6/17- AU on one of my mom's cards (before I got into churning, won't happen again)
9/17- CSP
10/17- CF
1/18- Marriott Biz
5/18 (hopefully)- CIP

I removed DH as an AU from CSP and CF a couple months ago. Assuming those won't count against him, he is 2/24
5/17- Amazon
2/18- CIP

He'll sign up for whatever I sign him up for :-D

I guess I need to check out more on traveling to Japan and staying there. I know Reddit has a lot of info on that. I have potentials plans for one round trip flight on United this year, but the cash price is only $167 per person, so it's not like I'm in dire need of the points to afford it, so I'm not sure that card is good for me. I have no experience with IHG/Hyatt as DH has always been a Marriott rewards member, which I guess is what makes me more inclined to lean towards the Marriott personal card. Part of me also wonders if I should make a run on the CIC for him this month before the offer expires.

So the problem with having your husband go for that CIC is the whole "running too fast" with Chase thing... If he has a CIP in Feb, CIC in May, and then comes back for a CSR/CSP double dip in July...I dunno, maybe too much too fast. Do you need that CSR for a 1.5x redemption later this year? Or could you delay his double dip until fall?

I know you said Southwest isn't a great option for you, have you considered getting them and then redeeming for gift cards? With a SW credit card you can redeem at $0.01 per point so a 50k signup is worth $500. Target is one of the options so you could even do the Target => Disney trick and then that signup bonus is like $500 towards Disney (if that's a desired travel destination).

If I were in your shoes I'd probably be looking at CIP, then the CSR/CSP double dip, then each of you getting a CIC, maybe the new Marriott card, SW if you're interested in the gift card angle.

If you're interested in AMEX MRs, I'd start with the biz cards since you're still under 5/24. Also this could help you stretch out the time between Chase apps and keep those Chase gods happy! Keep in mind that you CANNOT combine MRs between spouses like you can URs so it's best to pick a spouse and go with that. You could like at BGR, Biz Green, Biz Plat to get some chunks of points. Also I'd advise getting a Biz Blue+ which has no AF and will let you keep your MRs active forever.

I know this is somewhat scattered but you have a lot of directions you could go.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Kind of For those of us traveling to WDW in Nov our ADR date is approaching. I know there are a few of us with overlapping dates. I'm there the 2nd to the 10th, solo starting the afternoon of the 6th. Going to MVMCP on the 8th. I know there had been chat about doing a meet up, and I know it's still 6 months away, but if we wanted to do it somewhere that needs an ADR we may need to figure it out

I also saw this guy and thought it was appropriate given all spreadsheet talk Going to need to set up a spreadsheet to track. When you track do you put the actual cost of it or what you would have paid? We're staying super fancy at the Hyatt Vendome in Paris next month but wouldn't have spent more than $300/night otherwise, and that would have been split since we each pay half.

I would try to track as much detail as possible, but that's just me. I'd probably put in the gross cost, then somehow make a comment of what it could've cost had I selected an alternate lodging (just so if I was trying to do the trip again in the future or talk to a friend about it, I would know all of the pertinent details). When it comes to how much I "saved" though I always discount off of the full gross cost...It just makes me feel happier

 

[elgerber]

If you're over 5/24 the only Chase Biz card you can get is Marriott. CIC, CIP, SW Biz are all subject to 5/24 unfortunately).

Is it easy to get? With just a "business" And do you think it would cause me troubles with Chase personal in the fall, as far as # of cards and credit limits?
I am probably close to 50% of my income with Chase lines already (because they keep giving me ridiculous lines).
The only cards I will have gotten since last fall are 2 AMEX Biz cards.