I love credit cards so much!

[apollodi]

I've been planning out my RMN gift card strategy. Is anyone else struggling with the opportunity cost of getting one GC instead of another? For every Disney GC I get at Walgreen's, I am giving up getting an Amazon GC with the same discount instead. But I would spend both, with the holidays and an eventual park ticket purchase coming up. How does everyone account for that in their budgets and savings spreadsheets?

I just realized the same issue will apply for the next Freedom quarter, which I expect to max out and then some. Either I am over-thinking this or I need another Freedom card.

 

[hsmamato2]

SPG Lux's $300 is for marriott purchases though. im not sure what method u will go through to get JetBlue gift cards.

ok..... how does one learn WHAT properties the SPG luxe TC will work at? I'm thinking the swolphin will work, (based on pp's) but not with a Marriott(starriott) gc,correct? (spg I assume no longer sells gc? if they did,would this trigger the TC?)

 

[trenty]

I've been planning out my RMN gift card strategy. Is anyone else struggling with the opportunity cost of getting one GC instead of another? For every Disney GC I get at Walgreen's, I am giving up getting an Amazon GC with the same discount instead. But I would spend both, with the holidays and an eventual park ticket purchase coming up. How does everyone account for that in their budgets and savings spreadsheets?

I just realized the same issue will apply for the next Freedom quarter, which I expect to max out and then some. Either I am over-thinking this or I need another Freedom card.

I look at this all differently.

I buy what I would normally buy and the RMN bonus is just that - a bonus! Now that being said, I choose the stores where I shop based on RMN (and other) offers. All of the last CF quarter whenever I needed drug store items or a gift card to use as a gift I went to Walgreens. RMN was sometimes a bonus too. I maxed out the CF category organically without stocking up on gift cards for my own personal use (except for a few Disney cards before my trip - and I actually used cash back from Discover IT to pay for them at Walgreens using my CF).

There are so many good RMN offers right now, I don't plan on rushing out to get them. I will need something from Staples before the offer is over (printer ink maybe) and will get the bonus then. I always need drugstore items - so Walgreens and CVS it will be. Home Depot is a given at any time and am sure I will use that. I use certain make up products from Clinique and I need to replenish one of them currently - Macy's has RMN.

 

[Lain]

Sorry I think this is last bit of info needed for this question.... in scenario noted DW has credit score of 726,(and a p/t job in childcare) but DH only 696. Obviously they need to raise those...what do you guess they're eligible for? I was thinking at the very least she could get a biz card with her DH as AU so the credit scores could go up from there....(?) just wondering if same goal works now, DW could get the CIP, Dh an AU,then she could go for SWA biz in Dec? or need to scale back to build credit with something else? (I mean sheesh,and legit biz and only a debit card for years....)

I agree that W would have a better shot at approval with the higher score, but adding H as an AU on a biz card won’t do anything for his credit score because the biz card doesn’t report to the credit bureaus. I’m not that familiar with DPs about how low is too low to be approved for a CIP (CIC and CIU could also be options, as I think both have lower credit limit requirements.)

 

[GlamMistress]

So my credit score is not very good, 640, credit karma is showing 1 charge off 2 years ago and 1 medical bill last year, I have no clue what it is, I would like to get my credit score up, What do y'all suggest is a good starter credit card that may earn rewards? My husbands credit is only slightly better than mine, No credit cards anymore, last one was like 15 years ago, He does do a lot of side jobs, but not sure he could get a business credit card or not.... any help would be appreciated--

and oh, just did RMN this week, and have 3 $10 pending from Walgreens, CVS and Home Depot...

Can you call the credit bureaus and try to track down the info on the medical charge off?

Will you use your card and pay it off each month? Do you have the Disney Visa? It is an easier card to get approved for. The cards with really big rewards, like all the Chase Ultimate Rewards cards, require a score in the 700s at least.

Perhaps you could try for an Amex green charge card. That way you can't carry a balance, so no debt risk there.

 

[afan]

I've been planning out my RMN gift card strategy. Is anyone else struggling with the opportunity cost of getting one GC instead of another? For every Disney GC I get at Walgreen's, I am giving up getting an Amazon GC with the same discount instead. But I would spend both, with the holidays and an eventual park ticket purchase coming up. How does everyone account for that in their budgets and savings spreadsheets?

I just realized the same issue will apply for the next Freedom quarter, which I expect to max out and then some. Either I am over-thinking this or I need another Freedom card.

It all comes down to which budget you want to stretch further. At least that's how I look at it.

 

[Alexle2007]

I've been planning out my RMN gift card strategy. Is anyone else struggling with the opportunity cost of getting one GC instead of another? For every Disney GC I get at Walgreen's, I am giving up getting an Amazon GC with the same discount instead. But I would spend both, with the holidays and an eventual park ticket purchase coming up. How does everyone account for that in their budgets and savings spreadsheets?

I just realized the same issue will apply for the next Freedom quarter, which I expect to max out and then some. Either I am over-thinking this or I need another Freedom card.

I just purchase GCs for places we typically go- Olive Garden, PF Chang’s, Barnes and Noble, TJ Maxx, etc. Since Q4 on Discover includes Amazon, I didn’t purchase them. I am up to $100 cash back and hope to be able to use them one more time before they expire on 9/30.

 

[Alexle2007]

I look at this all differently.

I buy what I would normally buy and the RMN bonus is just that - a bonus! Now that being said, I choose the stores where I shop based on RMN (and other) offers. All of the last CF quarter whenever I needed drug store items or a gift card to use as a gift I went to Walgreens. RMN was sometimes a bonus too. I maxed out the CF category organically without stocking up on gift cards for my own personal use (except for a few Disney cards before my trip - and I actually used cash back from Discover IT to pay for them at Walgreens using my CF).

There are so many good RMN offers right now, I don't plan on rushing out to get them. I will need something from Staples before the offer is over (printer ink maybe) and will get the bonus then. I always need drugstore items - so Walgreens and CVS it will be. Home Depot is a given at any time and am sure I will use that. I use certain make up products from Clinique and I need to replenish one of them currently - Macy's has RMN.

Darn, I didn’t even think about Clinique when I went into Macy’s. But DS probably needs sweatpants more than I need new foundation. I wonder if it was bonus time? That’s typically when I purchase.

 

[trenty]

I wonder if it was bonus time? That’s typically when I purchase.

I am hoping it is bonus time for Clinique. A gift and RMN bonus would be great. But I will just take the RMN.

 

[wenpop]

Can you call the credit bureaus and try to track down the info on the medical charge off?

Will you use your card and pay it off each month? Do you have the Disney Visa? It is an easier card to get approved for. The cards with really big rewards, like all the Chase Ultimate Rewards cards, require a score in the 700s at least.

Perhaps you could try for an Amex green charge card. That way you can't carry a balance, so no debt risk there.

I will pay off my card each month, I do not have a Disney Visa, Maybe I should just get a secured Discover It card and make payments until my credit score goes up, I tried for a Chase Amazon card 1 year ago and got turned down... or maybe a quicksilver capital one card.....

 

[Alexle2007]

I am hoping it is bonus time for Clinique. A gift and RMN bonus would be great. But I will just take the RMN.

I’m still at the mall. Maybe I need to go check...

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I will pay off my card each month, I do not have a Disney Visa, Maybe I should just get a secured Discover It card and make payments until my credit score goes up, I tried for a Chase Amazon card 1 year ago and got turned down... or maybe a quicksilver capital one card.....

Yeah - unfortunately this thread here is mainly about leveraging CC rewards for large returns in the form of travel points (and on a smaller scale cash back). Don't take this the wrong way but we likely don't have a large amount of expertise in re-building credit. If you can get a Discover Card that sounds like a decent plan to me...

 

[happ]

I only add something if there is something I want. At Walgreens, my boys wanted gummi bears lol, so I did add those to one purchase (but I made three purchases). No filler at HD, CVS or Kohls and all purchases are pending for cash back.

Did your Kohl's purchase go pending right away? I made a non-gc purchase today, but did not get a notification and it hasn't gone to pending.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Did your Kohl's purchase go pending right away? I made a non-gc purchase today, but did not get a notification and it hasn't gone to pending.

I made a non gift card purchases at Kohls today and it did go pending right away....also made a non go purchase at Staples...that has not gone pending

 

[wendow]

Did your Kohl's purchase go pending right away? I made a non-gc purchase today, but did not get a notification and it hasn't gone to pending.

It did go to pending right away. I only bought GCs.

 

[apollodi]

I am hoping it is bonus time for Clinique. A gift and RMN bonus would be great. But I will just take the RMN.

Just got a mailer today saying it will be Clinique bonus week at Macy's 9/26 through 10/9. That was my plan for Macy's too.

As for the gift cards, I think I'm going to go with "overthinking", get what makes sense, and not worry about it too much!

 

[KPK02090]

We are currently paying my cell phone bill with DH’s CIP. I have an iPhone 7 and it’s been giving me trouble - keeps telling me “no SIM card installed.” I have to turn it off then on a couple of times a day to fix it.

Do you think this is something that the CIP phone insurance would cover to get fixed or better yet replaced?

 

[Alexle2007]

Just got a mailer today saying it will be Clinique bonus week at Macy's 9/26 through 10/9. That was my plan for Macy's too.

As for the gift cards, I think I'm going to go with "overthinking", get what makes sense, and not worry about it too much!

@trenty I just went down to Macy’s and it is indeed Clinique bonus time. It was a really nice bonus! I never buy mascara and always just use the free ones since they are full size.

 

[MrPTato]

I will pay off my card each month, I do not have a Disney Visa, Maybe I should just get a secured Discover It card and make payments until my credit score goes up, I tried for a Chase Amazon card 1 year ago and got turned down... or maybe a quicksilver capital one card.....

You may even qualify for an unsecured version. I think you will get a pop up that you don't qualify but would like to offer you "this" product instead.

 

[Albort]

We are currently paying my cell phone bill with DH’s CIP. I have an iPhone 7 and it’s been giving me trouble - keeps telling me “no SIM card installed.” I have to turn it off then on a couple of times a day to fix it.

Do you think this is something that the CIP phone insurance would cover to get fixed or better yet replaced?

this is not a phone issue but an sim card issue. Take your phone to whatever provider u have and have them fix it. A new sim card should be the fix.