I love credit cards so much!

[Ngwira]

Busy few days here as well as at work...breaking in the CIP, oh how I love a new credit card, for whatever reason just so much more satisfying spending money then doing bank bonuses Already have a plan for using those UR's for a disneyland trip next year. I'm still hoping to manage a CP with SW early next year with likely a double dip since I'm 4/5, then will upgrade my CSP at it's one year anniversary to the CSR for the redemption benefit and travel credit. A couple credit cards drop off in the first few months of the new year and I really don't have a solid plan for what to get next...no real travel goals, probably will just keep saving URs, Marriott and maybe acquire some United points with possibility of another Hawaii trip in the next couple years...I'm not too worried as whatever points I earn I'll find something to use them on--likely disney! CIP is my first business card and I'll probably be looking at some AMEX business cards until my planned double dip...

This weeks goal is to find my next bank bonus!

I just got $200 from Capital One for opening up a money market account. Check doc..easiest bonus ever. Opened acct on 8/3, funded with 10k on 8/6, $200 bonus posted 8/9. No minimum length of account opening so closing it in 2 weeks and using the 10k to pay off my student loan.

 

[Lain]

So we ate at Olive Garden last night and Dh used his CSR to pay. The waitress came back and said “that is the thickest card I have ever held before. After I put it in the machine I had to pull it out and feel it again”. She seemed beyond amazed lol.

The Amex Platinum is heavier. The retired Ritz-Carlton was even heavier. LOL

When we vacationed in Hawaii, the CSR would get a lot of fun comments. Probably in part because there are no Chase branches in Hawaii. (My favorite, “Ho, you could kill someone if you trew dat!”) But here in the Bay Area, it seems like every young professional and techie has it, and almost every other person too. (And yet I seem to find myself constantly in line behind folks who pay with debit.)

 

[babyready]

You didn't get one at all? I only got $49 when it seemed like everyone else was getting $100.

Nada. On either card. It just made the decision to keep it or cancel it a lot easier!

 

[tink1970]

Oops. I guess I can say that I at least censor myself?

Me too I blame my profanity on being raised by two truck drivers

I censor myself here too...and I blame being in the military and my dear mother for my creative utilization of curse words. When Brian Price, the Reds manager made headlines cussing out my brother (with 77 f bombs) I just shook my head and said "amateur, Bubba has heard much worse than that."

The Amex Platinum is heavier. The retired Ritz-Carlton was even heavier.

I give one or the other to DD when she travels (otherwise she has the Amex EDP for her frequent small purchases) so she is less likely to lose it. Her R-C Visa got quite a tour of Spain this summer. Sometimes the heft helps.

And yet I seem to find myself constantly in line behind folks who pay with debit.)

Oooh, debit is high tech...I'm always behind the ladies writing a check...or today found me behind someone who paid $103.67 cash at Publix...walked out fuming to my DH saying "does he know how much he could have earned back???" He indulged me with "fools, the lot of them," with only a touch of sarcasm.

 

[striker1064]

There is definitely weird stuff going on with the Hamilton tickets at the DC Kennedy Center. I looked this morning and there were maybe 40 orchestra tickets left for each performance today for either $349 or $399, so I figured I'd wait it out and see if they dropped. Now they're all gone. I feel like they didn't all sell in a couple of hours, unless KC really did drop the price rapidly and I just missed it. Gonna keep checking for future shows now that I know about this, though.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Sorry can’t quote for some reason.
We are camping near Lewis beach. Went to cape henelopen state park and the beach there is nice. It’s very busy down here. Went to Rehobeth beach boardwalk last night and it was hot and muggy. It was quite busy but you could still find parking with some patience.

Lewes has some really great restaurants downtown, but waits can be insane during the season. I stay at a friend's house there for girls' weekends. Cape Henlopen beach is our favorite

(DE resident here who doesn't really like going to the beach)

 

[DisneyMandC]

My first Citi statement closed yesterday. I logged on this morning to set up my payment and noticed that I already have 20,000 AA miles, which I knew wasn't possible because I only had a $350 statement balance. Turns out Citi already credited me the 20,000 miles I requested for the match!! I'll take it!

 

[magickingdomprincess]

I'm trying to decide if I should suggest to my DMom to apply for the SPG biz and Marriott biz before the new restrictions are put into place later this month to help with a F&W trip for us in Oct 2019 at Swolphin. She doesn't have any Marriott or SPG cards currently, and I'd rather stick to biz cards to not add to her 5/24. Anything I'm not thinking about why she should wait? TIA!

Also, I'm really bummed that it seems like N/F certs won't be converted to points! I was hoping to use that to help with nights at the Swolphin! Not sure what I will use it on now... maybe DL in the summer oe for spring break, but really want to go back to FL to use our Universal ap's before they expire and also go to WDW of course! I mostly bought the package for the RR points so I'm still glad I bought it.

 

[Judique]

I didn’t end up going as I changed my flight so I got home last night. (Busy family weekend and while DC is great I wanted to get home). But had to say you all are enablers by extension! While I was sitting in the conference and we were posting about it at the KC my friend went over there to see about same night stand by standing room only. He was too late for that but was able to buy a turned in single season pass holder ticket from the box office for next night. Word from last night was that he “loved it, was worth every penny, but his marriage is going to be rocky for a little while now lol.” Wife was home with the kids and didn’t go...apparently she is a big fan.

I do now have another new mission to take my family to DC on points in the next year or two. I think they would love it. Last time we all went my oldest was 2 and the others weren’t even born yet.

I'm so glad that he enjoyed it and sorry you didn't get to go!

Before I went I had no idea that I would like Hamilton as much as I did. I was mainly enabling my son and youngest daughter, who never would have bought those tickets on their own.

Called oldest daughter and told her I would pay for a $349 seat for her as she didn't get to go. Her response was similar, don't want to go for that much money.

I on the other hand see it as an experience worth having and sharing and have thought about going again several times.

And, the KC is an iconic experience all by itself if you come here. Well worth an admission price to the many performances going on there. Plus there is usually some performance at 6PM that is free - but maybe not always your taste as the range is just about anything and everything. But it is a way to experience the setting, for the price of parking ($20-23). Plus you can have dinner there. Don't need a ticket.

 

[Judique]

So we ate at Olive Garden last night and Dh used his CSR to pay. The waitress came back and said “that is the thickest card I have ever held before. After I put it in the machine I had to pull it out and feel it again”. She seemed beyond amazed lol.

My daughter made a similar comment when I gave her one of my metal cards, lol! Something to the tune of, 'I'll have to get one of those for me.' She has her own cards but I guess they are all plastic. According to my older daughter, the Ritz card is the snazziest.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Ugh. Marriott won’t let me book a nights and flights. I don’t have enough points and they’ve disabled the systems allowing me to transfer DHs points which would give me enough for the package. So annoying.

 

[Judique]

There is definitely weird stuff going on with the Hamilton tickets at the DC Kennedy Center. I looked this morning and there were maybe 40 orchestra tickets left for each performance today for either $349 or $399, so I figured I'd wait it out and see if they dropped. Now they're all gone. I feel like they didn't all sell in a couple of hours, unless KC really did drop the price rapidly and I just missed it. Gonna keep checking for future shows now that I know about this, though.

After watching the site all summer, I would say now if you see tickets for $299 for any performance that you can attend and want to go, buy them. Those are very few. $349 and $399 are common prices that will show once inside of a week.

But also, it's getting late and all the procrastinators may start buying as it's in its last month and as more buzz goes around.

Whoever runs that website is having a great time with bouncing those tickets! One of the things I noted one day not too long ago was 2 front orchestra seats for $349 right dead smack in the middle of a bank of $625 tickets. So if you see the slider, use it to check for random bargains.

The other variable is there are mid orchestra areas where they can add seats. It shows as no seating there one day and then you will have seating a few days later. Plus the handicapped spaces can have chairs added if they don't sell for the wheelchairs.

And then there are the 40 ten dollar seats. I'm guessing these get no shows as well. There is a time limit to buy so they may go back on sale.

Edit: Sunday night has $299 tickets right now.

 

[Alexle2007]

Now that I have convinced DH use Gyft, I really wish it would stop declining my card!

 

[Albort]

The Amex Platinum is heavier. The retired Ritz-Carlton was even heavier. LOL

@Haley R
a friend of mine did a drop test with the CSR, Amex Plat, and Ritz Carlton...
really loved the sound of the Ritz Carlton dropping... sounds like actual metal LOL.

 

[kmc8826]

@Judique, @striker1064, @calypso726 the ticket my friend got at the box office for next day show was the $625 ticket for $299. It definitely sounds like if you are a little flexible you can definitely score.

 

[Lain]

Gyft:

That is all.

Now that I have convinced DH use Gyft, I really wish it would stop declining my card!

It gets better.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

For those that have interest...I finally updated the INDEX on our Hotel Reviews thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...f-i-love-credit-cards-so-much-thread.3680669/

Thanks to everybody who has shared reviews of properties!

 

[striker1064]

After watching the site all summer, I would say now if you see tickets for $299 for any performance that you can attend and want to go, buy them. Those are very few. $349 and $399 are common prices that will show once inside of a week.

But also, it's getting late and all the procrastinators may start buying as it's in its last month and as more buzz goes around.

Whoever runs that website is having a great time with bouncing those tickets! One of the things I noted one day not too long ago was 2 front orchestra seats for $349 right dead smack in the middle of a bank of $625 tickets. So if you see the slider, use it to check for random bargains.

The other variable is there are mid orchestra areas where they can add seats. It shows as no seating there one day and then you will have seating a few days later. Plus the handicapped spaces can have chairs added if they don't sell for the wheelchairs.

And then there are the 40 ten dollar seats. I'm guessing these get no shows as well. There is a time limit to buy so they may go back on sale.

Edit: Sunday night has $299 tickets right now.

@Judique, @striker1064, @calypso726 the ticket my friend got at the box office for next day show was the $625 ticket for $299. It definitely sounds like if you are a little flexible you can definitely score.

Yeah, as of right now I'm seeing $299 for both shows today and tomorrow, but they are jumping in and out of availability. So weird!

 

[DisneyMandC]

For those that have interest...I finally updated the INDEX on our Hotel Reviews thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...f-i-love-credit-cards-so-much-thread.3680669/

Thanks to everybody who has shared reviews of properties!

I still need to do my review for Virginia Beach. I'll probably do that after I get back from OK, so that way I can also add my hotel review from exotic Tulsa

Speaking of OK, I can't believe I forgot to mention this earlier. When we were checking out of our Marriott in VB last weekend, I waited in the lobby with our luggage while DH went to get the car. A woman started talking to me asking about our trip and if we'd had a good time. I didn't want to be rude, but I was a little grumpy about it being my last day of vacation and didn't really want to talk, so I just I told her we did and hoped she'd kind of go away. She then asked if we were planning to return next year and I just said no. Not a lie, since my work conference is moving next year and DH and I would never vacation in VB since he lived there for 23 years. She then asked me where we would be vacationing next, which got me thinking perhaps she was a Marriott employee (she had no name tag). So I truthfully said, "Tulsa, Oklahoma." She just kind of stared at me and then said "oh, we don't have any vacation club properties there." and then just kind of walked away. So apparently if you really don't want to talk to the Marriott employees and get suckered into a spiel, the correct answer is "Oklahoma!"

 

[mefordis]

I just saw an offer for a United Explorer card with a 60k sign up bonus, no annual fee for the first year! It expires Aug 16 and would be perfect for dh/p2. However, I am waiting to hear back from his application for his CIP, which still says will notify in 30 days. I can't have two applications going at once, can I? Just applied for the CIP last week.