I love credit cards so much!

[Lain]

Just checked out Gyft and Swych. I don't frequent many of those places so I don't want to load up on gift cards for any of them. However, Can I buy a gift card on Swych while I'm in Home Depot and then use it to check out?

In theory, delivery is supposed to be instantaneous and you should be able to buy a card in line and use it at checkout (usually it comes with a scannable barcode or gift code number/pin), but real world usage is mixed. Sometimes orders can get held up for verification or fraud alerts.

 

[Lain]

I did my third trip yesterday and was already

Have ~27 more to go if I want to complete the offer on all 5 cards...

We have a trip to Disneyland in about 2 weeks, so the motivation is there!

 

[Judique]

I’m jumping in the middle of a conversation here, but I’m interested in this Disney card and DVC topic. Is this in reference to purchasing a DVC contract with a Disney credit card? Meaning, making the down payment with a Disney credit card? What bonus does the Disney card have? Is this better than using a CSP?

The Disney card has the 6 month financing option if you buy directly from Disney. And depending on your credit limit and how much you were going to purchase, some have put it all on the Disney card to get the rewards. If you were going to put more than $5K on the card, upgrading to the fee card would double your Disney rewards as the fee is $49 on the fee card. In the previous posters situation, he could cancel and reapply, get the $200 bonus and then charge his down payment or entire purchase, depending on his credit limit.

So, doing the math on the bigger picture as a one time thing it could work out better than csp, but you are being rewarded in Disney dollars which a dvc member will find a way to spend.

 

[SBWB48]

We have a trip to Disneyland in about 2 weeks, so the motivation is there!

Well, on that note...

Keep plugging away!

 

[Judique]

I did my third trip yesterday and was already

Have ~27 more to go if I want to complete the offer on all 5 cards...

OMG! Not me....I'll stick with one trip and 10%. But, I am going to get better at maximizing more.

 

[amalone1013]

Am I understanding this right? I just want to make sure I know my options before I sign DH up for a Hilton Biz.

Me:

• SPG Personal open 6/16, bonus rec'd 7/16
• SPG Biz open 10/17, bonus rec'd 1/18
• Marriott Personal open 9/17, bonus rec'd 10/17 technically for the $3k MSR, but I got them to match the $5k/100k and that last 20k points posted 11/17 and they say enrollment bonus on my Marriott account

DH

• SPG Personal open 6/16, bonus rec'd 7/16
• SPG Biz open 6/16, bonus rec'd 7/16

So technically before 8/26 I could get Marriott Biz and SPG Lux (if it comes out). DH could get either Marriott card or SPG Lux.
After 8/26, I can't get SPG Lux or Marriott Personal (churn) until 12/19 (being safe). I could still get Marriott Biz if so inclined. DH could get SPG Lux, unless he gets a Marriott card before 8/26.

Not sure I'm interested in SPG Lux even if it comes out before 8/26. I imagine the MSR will be high and at this point I'm not 100% I would be spending $300 on property (I'm sure I could find somewhere, but would I be "spending" $300 on an AF to have $300 in free rooms, or would I have booked something else on points/for cheaper?) except we will owe about $190 on resort fees at the Dolphin next month. Also it's not out yet and I'd like to get a card going today, since I'm not 100% when my car will be ready. I'm thinking over a week but would rather be prepared.

I don't want to get Marriott biz for myself because I want to have DH refer me to CIP in October, 105k URs > 81k Starriott points

This leaves DH, he is 3/24 (Disney/SPG pers 8/16, CSR 8/17, CIP 5/18). I just want to leave him open for SW CP for 2019-2020. I think if I squeeze another Chase business card in for him before then I'd rather do CIC. So that would leave Marriott Personal, which looks like it is down to 75k/$3k.

So I could do Marriott Personal 81k Starriott, Hilton Biz for 109k (plus $50 credit plus AF waived), or heck we can throw in the new Hyatt card (60k/$6k in 6mths) or a United card (40k/$2k plus $100 credit). I guess I could use some of the Hyatt points for our other night in Nashville, or the appealing thing for Starriott would be I see some good options for a Europe trip that is not yet planned and wouldn't happen until late 2019/early 2020 at the earliest. Beyond those two ideas, there are no set plans for any of the points. But I know I have about $3500 of non-regular spend in the next 2 months.

Also DH falling asleep last night is exactly why you all have to put up with these posts

 

[Lain]

This especially bums me out because I had it on 8 cards with a DLR trip coming up next week. I also have the Bed Bath & Beyond offer, but my closest store doesn't carry Disney. I'm actually considering driving the 20 miles to another store, but will call first for sure. Boo x 2!!

The BB&B in the Bay Area carry $25 and $50 Disney Gift Cards if you're headed down this way first. But calling first sounds good. Bring all your cards with the offer on it, make one stop, and do a split tender or multiple transactions. lol!

 

[StephPlum]

Dh has been approved for the CSR!!!! We also paid off part of our October wdw trip today and it’s pending so we should be able to get my bonus for the CIP.

Congratulations!!

Quoting myself since this was already approximately 1,000 pages ago from Monday evening.

I got approved for the CIP!


Now, to get it expedited? And I remember reading that you need to set up a new log in for your business card? Any good cheat sheets?

Thanks everyone!

Congratulations.

Why is SW not giving me the option to refund my taxes/fees on a points book? It's just telling me they'll be held for future use

I think this changed sometime in 1Q this year. I canceled one flight and got the taxes refunded. About a month later did the same thing on another flight and only got the travel funds. Not liking this.

 

[Lain]

Thanks @Lain just applied and got approved for SPG biz. Was going to get one for DH too but between that MSR plus my new BGR MSR it’s too much. He has the Marriott premier plus and is just AU on my SPG. I have the SPG AND Marriott premier and now SPG biz. I’ll now be shut out of Marriott biz but that’s ok since I want to chill with Chase anyways. Once I’m 4/24 I’ll go for CIP and when he has a break from Chase go for it for him. Then maybe SPG for him. My head hurts from all this!!!! Lol!!

Congratulations! I'm glad the timing with the new offers worked out for you! I hoped some of what I posted helped.

 

[Livelovedance]

The Disney card has the 6 month financing option if you buy directly from Disney. And depending on your credit limit and how much you were going to purchase, some have put it all on the Disney card to get the rewards. If you were going to put more than $5K on the card, upgrading to the fee card would double your Disney rewards as the fee is $49 on the fee card. In the previous posters situation, he could cancel and reapply, get the $200 bonus and then charge his down payment or entire purchase, depending on his credit limit.

So, doing the math on the bigger picture as a one time thing it could work out better than csp, but you are being rewarded in Disney dollars which a dvc member will find a way to spend.

This is very interesting! I bought into dvc not too long ago and recently received an offer in the mail to add on points. A part of me is thinking it might be worthwhile with this strategy... I just don’t know if it’s worth the large expense right now. I have to put some more thought into it. Thank you for the information!

 

[Lain]

Thanks for laying it all out! Gotta think on it a bit. Might be a good way to go for me!

Yes, 8k is worrisome too...but 1) it is 2k less and 2) it's VISA!!! I can fund bank accounts, pay my mortgage, so many more options!

Well, $5k on an Amex (the SPG Biz) and $3k on a Visa (the Marriott Biz).

But yes, I'm trying to allocate my upcoming Plastiq payments between the big $10k Biz Plat spend and an expected $3k Marriott Premier+ depending on what I can and can't put on the Amex. Rent on Amex is fine, but student loans aren't so they'll go on the Marriott.

 

[Lain]

Because clearly Starwood was superior and should be listed first.

Welllll…..I can see Marriott wanting to be first in line and all that, but I think Starriott actually has a certain allure, while Marriwood sounds settled down and matronly.

But Marriott bought Starwood, so it gets to go first!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Those lake views are really nice! I am on the waitlist for 75-100 points (I want the direct benefits and figured it was good to have them with a resort for a long duration of 45/46 years). I made an offer late Monday on a similar size resale contract with the same UY to see if I can get about 160 points to start out with. Hoping for a few nights in December annually starting in 2019. If all goes well, I really want to add at BWV or BCV. I love the walk to Epcot and DHS!



Well I guess I have been a business this whole time! HAHA Thank you! I am hoping to get VGF for the holiday season, and then an Epcot resort for F&W resale later on. That walk to the park is amazing! It is part of the reason I chose the Oct UY. Oct, Dec, and Mar would be my main travel times.



Oh wow, this is very helpful. So you can technically open the Ink card, then also double dip on both Sapphires. WOW! That sounds so rewarding hahaha I think I have waited long enough to get the $200 promo with the Premier Disney Visa again too, but since this is also Chase, it would probably be factored into the 5/24 again? I will definitely PM them. Thanks for all your help!



So I could technically qualify for the Ink cards. I did not realize Chase had so many other great options. The Ink Cash on bills and gas is definitely something I would also consider. I have to look into the process of transferring the points to the Sapphire Reserve because this definitely seems like the way I should probably go.

As you’ve found out there are a lot of great Chase cards to earn UR on...you know about the 5/24 rule...also watch the timing of applying for cards...Chases allows you to apply for 1 business card in 30 days...2 personal cards in 30dYs but most here recommend spacing out applications 3 months apart....if you have a significant other....it’s recommended not to add them as an authorized user but to have them open their own cards and you earn bonus URs for each person

 

[WVMomof3]

Here's my dilemma. I'll need about 20,000 more Rapid Rewards to book airfare for my next Disney trip. I don't have southwest cards and am over 5/24 so that's not an option. I can transfer Marriot points or maybe upgrade a Freedom card to CSP to use URs and pay the annual fee, which I'd rather not do. I don't have enough Marriot points to do the nights & flights thing. Is the Marriot transfer such a terrible redemption that I shouldn't consider it? I could just pay cash for the airfare, but the flexibility of booking early with points and getting points back if the price drops is appealing. I don't want to end up with travel vouchers. What would you do?

So with everything changing, not sure if I have the right numbers but I saw that 70,000 Marriott points = 25,000 SW. Marriott worth about 0.9 cents and SW worth about 1.5 cents. So if my calculations are correct you are trading $630 worth of Marriot for $375 worth of SW. Seems like it is not worth it. But do you have plans soon for those Marriot points? If you don't, then maybe worth it to you. I understand wanting to book SW on points. Have none myself right now and looking at a flight I want to book. I can transfer my URs but not sure I want to on a maybe/maybe not trip.

 

[Judique]

This is very interesting! I bought into dvc not too long ago and recently received an offer in the mail to add on points. A part of me is thinking it might be worthwhile with this strategy... I just don’t know if it’s worth the large expense right now. I have to put some more thought into it. Thank you for the information!

I got the Copper Creek offer also but since I paid less than half of what they charge now, it's not something I even glance at.

 

[Lain]

Quoting myself since this was already approximately 1,000 pages ago from Monday evening.

I got approved for the CIP!


Now, to get it expedited? And I remember reading that you need to set up a new log in for your business card? Any good cheat sheets?

Thanks everyone!

Not sure if anyone ever got back to you with all the buzz about the SPG cards and Amex Offers this morning.

You can call 1-800-945-2028 (CIP Customer Service) to ask that your card be expedited, but yes you'll need to set up a new Chase for Business online account for the CIP.

 

[tink1970]

I lol’ed that DoC’s post about this said, “This offer sucks.” I appreciate DoC’s candor, but while it doesn’t seem like the best offer, it is (I believe) an elevated offer and some people could really use the points.

Especially if you use skypesos all the time

Because clearly Starwood was superior and should be listed first.

Exactly!

Welllll…..I can see Marriott wanting to be first in line and all that, but I think Starriott actually has a certain allure, while Marriwood sounds settled down and matronly.

Look at Homewood suites and embassy suites. Great for big families.

It is hard for me to choose a marriott property. I think b/c we are used to diamond benefits at hilton and aren't familiar with marriott nor do we get elite benefits. Plus there is just the fact that change is hard.



Thank yoU!

Change IS hard! I'm going to miss Starwood as Starwood and am starting to book more Hilton. It's a coke v pepsi thing; I cannot lie

 

[wendow]

Well, $5k on an Amex (the SPG Biz) and $3k on a Visa (the Marriott Biz).

But yes, I'm trying to allocate my upcoming Plastiq payments between the big $10k Biz Plat spend and an expected $3k Marriott Premier+ depending on what I can and can't put on the Amex. Rent on Amex is fine, but student loans aren't so they'll go on the Marriott.

Oh, doh, I totally spaced that! Got excited thinking it was all Visa. I still have $2k on the BBP I just got too. I love how Amex hands their cards out like candy but it's so hard to meet the MSR's on them!

 

[Lain]

Oh, doh, I totally spaced that! Got excited thinking it was all Visa. I still have $2k on the BBP I just got too. I love how Amex hands their cards out like candy but hate that it's so hard to meet the MSR's on them!

Fixed that for you.

 

[wendow]

Look at Homewood suites and embassy suites. Great for big families.

I forget that Embassy Suites is part of Hilton. We just stayed in one on our CA trip! I love ES! Hmm, maybe I will look more at the Hilton cards...