I love credit cards so much!

[3 DD love princesses]

Ok so rethinking getting the cp for 19 &20. Have 2 flights planned for 19 and nothing for 20 yet.
Need to check the numbers but I think if DH gets the sw bus now he could make cp this year. Then in oct he could do the Csr/Csp so I could refer before I pc mine.

Is this hitting chase up too quick?

 

[striker1064]

DVC member here and I also pay my annual dues with Disney gift cards purchased at Staples for 5x UR. If I purchase $500 in Disney gift cards and take the Target 5% off then I save $25. This is a nice savings of course and cash is king for some. However, I think one also must take into account how they plan to utilize the savings. If the savings is to go towards travel then further exploration may be in order.

If I get the $500 in Disney GCs at staples for 5x then I get 2,500 UR points. I can redeem them for travel via the CSR UR portal for a value of $37.50. If I have the CSP or CIP then I have $31.25 that I can use towards my travel purchase via the UR portal. If I don’t purchase travel enough to warrant holding UR points then of course that would be a moot point.

For me personally, I will sacrifice the 5x bonus points for either meeting an MSR or when I have an Amex offer that will get me 10% or better in a statement credit. I hope this helps any who may be weighing options on whether to go for bonus points or immediate cash savings and discounts.

Yep, all of this is true. I personally do not have a CSR. I've burned through all of the UR cards. I'm way past 5/24. So I don't care about earning an extra ~$30 in URs because I simply don't use them anymore. I get far more value putting my every day spend on a new card/MSR and getting a bonus than adding to a stash of Chase points.

 

[DrFacilier]

If you have multiple airports close to you check them. We have bwi and dca about the same distance from us and found dca cheaper to fly out and bwi back home.

Thanks. We are in RI so PVD is closer and easier with kids but I can check BOS just in case. Sometimes the convenience is worth paying a little more. I lived in DC for a few years quite a while ago. Love that area! Need to head back soon.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Ok so rethinking getting the cp for 19 &20. Have 2 flights planned for 19 and nothing for 20 yet.
Need to check the numbers but I think if DH gets the sw bus now he could make cp this year. Then in oct he could do the Csr/Csp so I could refer before I pc mine.

Is this hitting chase up too quick?

Are those his only 3 chase cards in the last 24 months? It gives you 3 months in-between...which is good. I am just wondering what he had in the last 6 months/12mths/24mths.

 

[MrPTato]

Thanks. We are in RI so PVD is closer and easier with kids but I can check BOS just in case. Sometimes the convenience is worth paying a little more. I lived in DC for a few years quite a while ago. Love that area! Need to head back soon.

PVD is nice...live 15 mins away from it and have always experienced quick security lines.

 

[Lain]

For me personally, I will sacrifice the 5x bonus points for either meeting an MSR or when I have an Amex offer that will get me 10% or better in a statement credit.

LOL. I’ve been thinking about where I draw the line for sacrificing a category bonus for spend towards MSR since we’ve been hitting a lot of new cards lately.

For cards like the CIP and CIC, it doesn’t require much sacrifice since their bonus categories easily fit into an organic spend optimization strategy and you can easily knock out the MSR using Plastiq for 3x on the CIP and third-party gift cards for 5x on the CIC.

But these $5k/3 months Amex MSRs are killing me, smalls, since the bonus categories on a lot of these cards are not so useful for everyday spend or I can do better with Chase cards and the URs they earn. (Yes, I realize a signup bonus gives the MSR spend an outsized value compared to category bonuses, but I want to minimize my lost opportunity costs.) It’s great if you have usable Amex Offers or a hotel stay on a co-branded card, and that spend contributes toward the MSR, but that’s not always the case.

I’ll put 1x everyday spend on an Amex that I’m working on MSR (even willing to sacrifice some points or miles I might get from buying gift cards), gas where my go-to cards earn me at best 2x MR or 2x UR (when I don’t have gas gift cards bought from SVM/eBay at a discount, or Shell gas cards from OD/OM at 5x UR, or when the Freedom 5x category includes gas or I’ve maxed out the category), groceries where my best go-to card earns only 2x MR (and I don’t have a Safeway gift card at an effective 5x UR). I HATE having to sacrifice spend from my 3x category expenses like Plastiq, and will only do this if I can’t manage the MSR on spend that earns me a lower spending bonus. I don’t think I’d sacrifice 5x, except out of convenience because I could earn 5x on gas and groceries by buying gift cards at office supply stores but I don’t always have these gift cards in my wallet and an office supply store is out of the way.

 

[Albort]

Thanks! With your good DP's I went ahead and ordered all I needed last night and I did get them about 3 hours after ordering them. Just now placed my order online with them too

I'm tempted to buy these too but I'm still trying to spend 1k at Lowes for that offer on my other card! what does Lowes sell that I need????? I need to get going on all of this- I see topcashback has 6% back offer on lowes.com, but says no gc purchase.... any DP's on this? i.e. it might actually post with a store gc purchase? or..... can I use an e-gc from STaples to purchase lowes branded gc? or is that against the rules.....

Seems to be a lot of Lowes gift cards on sale. Staples = 10% off, Gyft.com = 10% off, Swych = 12.5% off.
@hsmamato2 if you need something else, u should buy something else. buy something else for 10% lowes(ie gift cards for other places).

Hmm... I no longer see Target eGift cards on Gyft...

I suppose one could still by Target eGift cards from GiftCardMall with CIP for 3x UR, or use a REDcard.

Could be some kind of flux on gyft.com end. Ive seen them remove and readd target gc a few times... they once even made the minimum amount $75! i bet its got something to do with the event number... i hope.

 

[LynnTH]

So, I booked a cruise through Carnival and then transferred to Chase and used 200,000 UR for $3000 towards the cruise. So, I have only around $400 left to pay. DH just got his Barclaycard Arrival + in the mail so need to meet MSR on that. Can I use this card for the balance or does it have to be a Chase Card?

 

[DrFacilier]

PVD is nice...live 15 mins away from it and have always experienced quick security lines.

Hi Neighbor! Yeah security is a breeze and we love the morning nonstops to MCO.

 

[vanjust14]

PVD is nice...live 15 mins away from it and have always experienced quick security lines.

Same here! All we need is a PP lounge now

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Yep, all of this is true. I personally do not have a CSR. I've burned through all of the UR cards. I'm way past 5/24. So I don't care about earning an extra ~$30 in URs because I simply don't use them anymore. I get far more value putting my every day spend on a new card/MSR and getting a bonus than adding to a stash of Chase points.

Really Appreciate everyone’s input ....Im new to this...previously used our DVC points and SW miles +CP to travel....
found this thread in May while searching for ways to go to either Hawaii or Europe in 2020 using points.
I’m concentrating on accumulating URs now....thought I’d just be using them in 2 years...but unexpectedly needed to book a room in Orlando for Christmas....found what I think is a good deal 5 nights at Wyndham Bonnet Creek in a 2br for about 80,000UR....so my sign up bonus on the CIP...is used and I’m considering the $95 annual fee well worth it.

 

[calypso726]

Yep, all of this is true. I personally do not have a CSR. I've burned through all of the UR cards. I'm way past 5/24. So I don't care about earning an extra ~$30 in URs because I simply don't use them anymore. I get far more value putting my every day spend on a new card/MSR and getting a bonus than adding to a stash of Chase points.

Exactly, my point in your shoes it would not make any sense to go for the UR points over the 5% savings. $25 saved now is better than $30 or so stashed in UR later. Granted, I am likely an extreme outlier on purchasing Disney GCs as far as examples go. But I know there are a few here than can give me a run for my money on their Disney trip expenses We will be purchasing a LOT of Disney GCs this year. Between the Japan Adventure By Disney trip and our DVC dues alone it will be $33,000 in Disney gift cards. With the Redcard I'd be able to save $1,650. 5x UR points on that will get me $2,475 in my CSR to use to travel purchases at the very least. We do use our UR points for either travel purchases or transfers to airline where I often get better value than 1.5 per point. Staying under 5/24 is not an option for us either. Maxing the UR bonus categories and piling up the UR points is what works best for us.

Each of us has our own unique situations with regards to cards we hold, 5/24 status, travel goals etc. I know we get a regular influx of newbies on this thread and who knows how many that don't post but do lurk *waves hello to the lurkers* I've always felt one the great things about this thread is how we share our diverse travels goals, point collecting strategies, to be or not to be LOL/24 etc. and the why some of us do what we do. I think it helps others that are newer to the game help formulate what will work best for them. Even for those of us who have been doing this for quite some time may find value by learning what others do and why when it is different than what they do and why. It may serve them down the line for a unique situation. I know it has for me.

For the record, my everyday non bonus spend was on the SPG but I think I may be moving towards the Amex Blue biz for everyday non bonus spend after August since it is 2x MR. I figure I can hit the UR bonuses pretty easily with Disney GCs and don't need to add more by using the CFU. So, I think I will use the Amex Blue biz to diversify. Would love to hear anyone else's thoughts on what they plan to do for everyday spend and why.

 

[striker1064]

(Yes, I realize a signup bonus gives the MSR spend an outsized value compared to category bonuses, but I want to minimize my lost opportunity costs.)

Now wait, I'm going to challenge this idea since I think it's a good topic for discussion. Wouldn't minimizing your lost opportunity costs mean you should always be putting all of your spend on new cards and ignoring category bonuses?

It's great that Plastiq earns you 3x UR on your CIP. Let's say my rent is $2,000 per month. With Plastiq's fee, running the charge will cost me $2,050. I'll earn 6,150 URs, worth $61.50 in cash, or $92.25 redeemed through Chase's travel portal after transferring to the CSR.

However! One must consider the costs of doing this.

First, I need a CIP. That costs me $95/year. Next, I need a CSR. It's true that after year 1, you can be up $150 due to the double travel credit, but that's only if you cancel the card. If you keep the card year after year, you're in the hole $150 annually. You'll have to pay that $2k rent 3 times before you make up the fees on your card. If your rent or mortgage is lower, it takes longer to make that up, but in our hypothetical analysis this isn't important.

Or, instead of trying to do all that mental gymnastics for a few extra URs, what if you just signed up for new cards? Let's take Amex. It's notoriously difficult to MS on Amex cards, and it's only getting harder, so it makes sense to put large organic spend on Amex cards. Let's say you're interested in Schwab cashout. This is easiest because we can do a dollar-for-dollar comparison.

The Schwab Platinum requires a hefty $5k spend for 60k MR points and a $550 annual fee. Our MSR will be met on Plastiq alone after 3 months. This will net 66,150 MRs after the bonus posts. Schwab cashouts need to be made in 1k MR increments, so we can cash out those 66k MR at 1.25cpp and end up with $825. Less our $550 AF, we're up $275.

But the Schwab card was just the beginning. Now that we have the card we need, we can get the Schwab train rolling and get a new card every month. There are so many MR cards that either have the AF waived or no AF. You can use just Plastiq to meet the minimum spend on those cards and cash out literally thousands of dollars. Or you can earn $92.25 in travel. The Schwab example isn't even totally necessary. The 60k MR (or 75k or 100k from the Vanilla Platinum) is worth many times more than the 3x UR through Plastiq. And that's just the beginning.

In my eyes, the missed opportunity cost of trying to reign in category spending just for Chase is huge. I'm interested to hear other's thoughts about this. I realize I'm in an extreme minority, and most people talking about churning are actually more or less just talking about Chase churning. But once I started to think about how much further I could go, how many more trips I could take, how many more points I could amass, and how I could turn a lot of those points into pure cash, trying to do category spend became worthless. The points I would earn from category spending are a rounding error on the number of points I've amassed. That's not a brag either, by the way - it's just reality.

Would love to hear anyone else's thoughts on what they plan to do for everyday spend and why.

Well, we posted these two things at the perfect time!

 

[schmass]

Thanks. We are in RI so PVD is closer and easier with kids but I can check BOS just in case. Sometimes the convenience is worth paying a little more. I lived in DC for a few years quite a while ago. Love that area! Need to head back soon.

PVD is nice...live 15 mins away from it and have always experienced quick security lines.

Same here! All we need is a PP lounge now

We are just north of Boston, but we love flying out of PVD! The nonstop to MCO on Southwest plus the ease of the airport and cheaper parking are worth the extra drive for us.

 

[linzjane88]

I almost made the biggest mistake ever. I am trying to get 4 one way tickets from PDX to MCO nonstop (of which there is one flight per day from the entire airport--on AS metal). There are 2 saver seats (25k total) then I can use the UR's portal for something like 32k total on the other 2. I started trying to get creative with my booking thinking I could make use of some of the orphaned points in both mine and DH's American/Alaska accounts and then I had the worst ever. I incorrectly thought if I transferred over 6700 URs-->Marriott-->20,100 SPG-->25,000 AA. See what I did there? Haha! I fully had the UR transfer page up with my Marriott number in ready to make a deal when I kept having this nagging feeling telling me something wasn't right. I am SO glad I listened to my gut and redid my math! Boy it would be nice if that 3:1 ratio worked the other way though...

 

[Albort]

It's great that Plastiq earns you 3x UR on your CIP. Let's say my rent is $2,000 per month. With Plastiq's fee, running the charge will cost me $2,050. I'll earn 6,150 URs, worth $61.50 in cash, or $92.25 redeemed through Chase's travel portal after transferring to the CSR.

However! One must consider the costs of doing this.

First, I need a CIP. That costs me $95/year. Next, I need a CSR. It's true that after year 1, you can be up $150 due to the double travel credit, but that's only if you cancel the card. If you keep the card year after year, you're in the hole $150 annually. You'll have to pay that $2k rent 3 times before you make up the fees on your card. If your rent or mortgage is lower, it takes longer to make that up, but in our hypothetical analysis this isn't important.

Or, instead of trying to do all that mental gymnastics for a few extra URs, what if you just signed up for new cards? Let's take Amex. It's notoriously difficult to MS on Amex cards, and it's only getting harder, so it makes sense to put large organic spend on Amex cards. Let's say you're interested in Schwab cashout. This is easiest because we can do a dollar-for-dollar comparison.

Well, we posted these two things at the perfect time!

heh, im starting to see this as well, i mean, u can earn a crapload of UR points but ur basically buying the points at less than a cent a point. i guess in a way, u can still be profitable in the long run. i depends on what u redeem i guess.
As for MS on amex cards, its pretty easy. After reaching MSR, it seems like Amex doesnt care what u do. Simons mall still work for 1x on SPG... Amex offer also works very well to MS as well.

 

[DisneyMandC]

LOL. I’ve been thinking about where I draw the line for sacrificing a category bonus for spend towards MSR since we’ve been hitting a lot of new cards lately.

For cards like the CIP and CIC, it doesn’t require much sacrifice since their bonus categories easily fit into an organic spend optimization strategy and you can easily knock out the MSR using Plastiq for 3x on the CIP and third-party gift cards for 5x on the CIC.

But these $5k/3 months Amex MSRs are killing me, smalls, since the bonus categories on a lot of these cards are not so useful for everyday spend or I can do better with Chase cards and the URs they earn. (Yes, I realize a signup bonus gives the MSR spend an outsized value compared to category bonuses, but I want to minimize my lost opportunity costs.) It’s great if you have usable Amex Offers or a hotel stay on a co-branded card, and that spend contributes toward the MSR, but that’s not always the case.

I’ll put 1x everyday spend on an Amex that I’m working on MSR (even willing to sacrifice some points or miles I might get from buying gift cards), gas where my go-to cards earn me at best 2x MR or 2x UR (when I don’t have gas gift cards bought from SVM/eBay at a discount, or Shell gas cards from OD/OM at 5x UR, or when the Freedom 5x category includes gas or I’ve maxed out the category), groceries where my best go-to card earns only 2x MR (and I don’t have a Safeway gift card at an effective 5x UR). I HATE having to sacrifice spend from my 3x category expenses like Plastiq, and will only do this if I can’t manage the MSR on spend that earns me a lower spending bonus. I don’t think I’d sacrifice 5x, except out of convenience because I could earn 5x on gas and groceries by buying gift cards at office supply stores but I don’t always have these gift cards in my wallet and an office supply store is out of the way.

Totally agree on the AmEx spends. It just takes forever when I’m too nervous to buy gift cards with it. I’ve kind of made a little vow to myself that once I finish up this 5k Hilton card, that I’m going to just be aiming to maximizing UR categories. I have my new Citi card, but I’m just going to use that for any spend that would be 1x on URs. I haven’t even touched my CF card this quarter other than one $11 Walgreens charge.

 

[striker1064]

heh, im starting to see this as well, i mean, u can earn a crapload of UR points but ur basically buying the points at less than a cent a point. i guess in a way, u can still be profitable in the long run. i depends on what u redeem i guess.
As for MS on amex cards, its pretty easy. After reaching MSR, it seems like Amex doesnt care what u do. Simons mall still work for 1x on SPG... Amex offer also works very well to MS as well.

Right. You can earn a bunch of UR points, but you can earn even more of every other currency.

I have a theory that the ease of use of UR points and the fear of being beyond 5/24 and locked out of those cards makes everyone hoard and stay in the system. Because like I said, the URs I would theoretically earn from category spend would be a rounding error in the grand scheme of all the other bonuses I've earned in the meantime.

I just don't like MS on Amex. It seems like there are far too frequently issues with bonuses or points posting, and they go through your transactions when that happens. Plus I don't really have anywhere left that doesn't report L3 data or a way to liquidate the GCs. Although Venmo still works, as I discovered recently, even though their terms specifically call out peer-to-peer payments.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I’m in the camp of just hitting my MSRs via organic spend. I know we can run about $25k+ annually thru credit cards. I will attempt to use a category bonus while hitting the MSR (for example, when I signed up for an AMEX BGR, I bought a lot of gift cards at gas stations to max my MRs on that particular signup). However once the MSR is done, that card never sees the light of day again (except for a once every 6 month charge to avoid closure due to inactivity). My theory is that signup bonuses are worth 15%-40% back and no category bonus can compete.

My one exception to this is Chase Freedom as we are back in the UR game and the 7.5% return of the CF category of the quarter. This has enabled me to slightly slow my roll with Chase and avoid the eyes of shutdown.

 

[Albort]

My one exception to this is Chase Freedom as we are back in the UR game and the 7.5% return of the CF category of the quarter. This has enabled me to slightly slow my roll with Chase and avoid the eyes of shutdown.

speaking of the CF, were u able to activate 5x on all your cards? someone told me Chase forced it down to 1 card only.