I love credit cards so much!

[SouthFayetteFan]

I had a BoA card - it was my longest open account actually, from back during college. I hadn't used it in years. They were always hard to deal with on the phone. I eventually just relented and canceled the account. AAoA be damned! #Rebel

If you never read about my hatred of BofA...Well let's say that we just don't get along well. I cancelled everything with them earlier this year and was so happy to do it, HAHA!

 

[mmmears]

I'm actually planning just to pick up a gift card for now and maybe combine with some other offers closer to the holidays. Are the cosmetic counters' prices set by the company or the store? I've used Clinique occasionally but have always purchased at Macy's -- would the prices be the same at any department store?

Yes, they are the same. I just bought a bunch of Clinique face care items from Saks (bonus time) to use up my AMEX free $50 offer and the prices were the same as the other stores I usually frequent.

Around the holidays NM carries a great selection of items from Dylan's Candy Bar that make great gifts. They also carry some very nice food items online. I bought one $20.00 GC and it has already credited. Thought about getting another one today as I was passing through the store but decided not to as I hadn't loaded the offer and I left my cell phone in the car (didn't feel like going out to my car, getting the phone, then going back in and buying the GC -- just being lazy I suppose!).

Oooh! Great idea! I forgot all about the wonderful candies they have during the holidays. Now I'm kicking myself for not getting a gift card for myself. I linked the offer but haven't been shopping (well, other than the CVS/Walgreens stuff) this week. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Albort]

@Albort - for those of us considering cash back cards (I'm actually in that camp myself a bit right now) do you have some easy info on the signup bonuses on these cards??

Are they just good "everyday cash back cards" or do they also have some sort of lucrative signup bonus that might get me 15%+ back there too??

im not too sure what @GlamMistress mean, but im more point at this --> https://www.doctorofcredit.com/bank...gram-business-checking-credit-card-customers/
its just the fact of having your investment with BOA will give u more bonus. My aunt is currently doing this where she has 100k investment account with them earning 75% more bonuses.

the other card i was made aware of but i cant seem to find the info is paypal card. its 2% on its regular credit card, then u attach to pay via paypal instantly, u get 1% back on that which gives u a total of 3% back. Its limited to your paypal transfer rate though which i think is $2500 a day. I will need to ask for more info on this one from someone who discovered it if u want more details of it.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

CSR vs. CSP

I know a few people have mentioned this recently - now that you can ONLY get one of these cards is our consensus that if you don't immediately need to use your URs (and the 3x dining isn't a game changer for you) that CSP is the better card to get?

I believe the advice I've read (and somewhat agree with) is...

• Apply for CSP 50,000 point offer
• Probably still add your dog or kid or middle name as an AU and hope to get the 5,000 bonus (if it doesn't post, who cares - worth a shot)
• Meet the $4,000 spend
• Earn 54,000+ URs
• During the next 12 months earn a bunch of other URs too
• After a year (and I think you have to wait this long due to the laws) upgrade to CSR
• Pay the $450 and double dip the Travel Credit - a $150 gain over the next 12 months
• Use all your URs in all their CSR Glory while you hold a CSR.
• Downgrade to CSP or CF...wait awhile and then repeat the CSR TC Double Dip in the future

I know this sounds somewhat complex for a newbie (who are typically the people we'd be advising to do this). I'm thinking about it for myself actually when I get eligible for a Sapphire card in March 2020 (yes that is CRAZY far away, haha!). Any thoughts on this? Good Plan...Bad Plan...Do you have a better plan or reason why you'd just get the CSR?

Excellent post...the reason I went for the CSR was as you laid out...the need to use URs within the first year...otherwise the CSP was the better fit...I’ll also keep it since we will continue to redeem URs for travel.

 

[LynnTH]

So I got the AT&T $200 offer on one of my cards. Our phone bill is set for auto pay on DH’s work credit card. ( his work pays for his phone and cheaper to add our phones to that plan. So we just reimburse his work each month fo our 4 phones). Can he go online or on the app and make a one time payment with my AmEx card and that won’t mess with the auto pay?

 

[ctinct]

So glad tomorrow is October 1. I work virtually across the street from a Costco, and I’m down to my last roll of toilet paper. Didn’t want to buy it before 5x on my Freedom. I had to cave on the kitty litter, though. Getting too stinky!

I don’t contribute much here, but I read every day. I think it was SouthFayetteFan (or possibly Lain) who suggested I product change my CSP to a Freedom rather than close the card. I did that a month or two ago, so thanks for that suggestion. The other suggestion was to apply for a Chase business card. I’m not quite there yet, but I can feel myself getting braver and considering trying. I’ve just never been turned down for a card before, and I’m afraid I might be. I don’t even really have a “business” yet.....just a thought of one. If I don’t get up the nerve to do that, I think I’ll just go for a SW card. I had one that I closed some months ago. I don’t really need a companion pass, and I could get a few flights out of it. I’m a slow and cautious, some would say chicken, churner.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So glad tomorrow is October 1. I work virtually across the street from a Costco, and I’m down to my last roll of toilet paper. Didn’t want to buy it before 5x on my Freedom. I had to cave on the kitty litter, though. Getting too stinky!

I don’t contribute much here, but I read every day. I think it was SouthFayetteFan (or possibly Lain) who suggested I product change my CSP to a Freedom rather than close the card. I did that a month or two ago, so thanks for that suggestion. The other suggestion was to apply for a Chase business card. I’m not quite there yet, but I can feel myself getting braver and considering trying. I’ve just never been turned down for a card before, and I’m afraid I might be. I don’t even really have a “business” yet.....just a thought of one. If I don’t get up the nerve to do that, I think I’ll just go for a SW card. I had one that I closed some months ago. I don’t really need a companion pass, and I could get a few flights out of it. I’m a slow and cautious, some would say chicken, churner.

Chicken Churner...psht no way...we call that a slow churner around here. Hmmm maybe we combine the terms and call you a Slow Roasted Chicken Churner?? Mmmmm now I'm hungry!

 

[speedyfishy]

We will be at WDW in about a month and I’m excited to try Port Orleans French Quarter for the first time. Other firsts for my family on this trip are Food and Wine and MVMCP. I used UR to buy our tickets so I’m devastated that this option is no longer available. Here’s hoping that it comes back.

So jealous that you are staying at French Quater. I just stayed there a few weeks ago for the first time and it is probably my favorite resort taking into account price and amenities. It’s really the perfect hotel. It’s a moderate but still has a deluxeish feel. (I really think it’s a better option than Saratoga even if the price was the same and it pains me to say that because Saratoga is special to me) It’s small and quiet, the buses weren’t packed, and the updated rooms were so nice. Now I want to go back. lol

 

[GlamMistress]

im not too sure what @GlamMistress mean, but im more point at this --> https://www.doctorofcredit.com/bank...gram-business-checking-credit-card-customers/
its just the fact of having your investment with BOA will give u more bonus. My aunt is currently doing this where she has 100k investment account with them earning 75% more bonuses.

the other card i was made aware of but i cant seem to find the info is paypal card. its 2% on its regular credit card, then u attach to pay via paypal instantly, u get 1% back on that which gives u a total of 3% back. Its limited to your paypal transfer rate though which i think is $2500 a day. I will need to ask for more info on this one from someone who discovered it if u want more details of it.

I get an email for the Paypal card everyday. Issued by Synchrony but I don't see the bit about paypal transfer rate being the limit. There's no redemption threshold - rewards go back to Paypal. I still think Double Cash is probably better for 2%, right? I still prefer by Uber for cash back.

https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/credit-card/2-percent-cash-back-mastercard

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

CSR vs. CSP

I know a few people have mentioned this recently - now that you can ONLY get one of these cards is our consensus that if you don't immediately need to use your URs (and the 3x dining isn't a game changer for you) that CSP is the better card to get?

I believe the advice I've read (and somewhat agree with) is...

• Apply for CSP 50,000 point offer
• Probably still add your dog or kid or middle name as an AU and hope to get the 5,000 bonus (if it doesn't post, who cares - worth a shot)
• Meet the $4,000 spend
• Earn 54,000+ URs
• During the next 12 months earn a bunch of other URs too
• After a year (and I think you have to wait this long due to the laws) upgrade to CSR
• Pay the $450 and double dip the Travel Credit - a $150 gain over the next 12 months
• Use all your URs in all their CSR Glory while you hold a CSR.
• Downgrade to CSP or CF...wait awhile and then repeat the CSR TC Double Dip in the future

I know this sounds somewhat complex for a newbie (who are typically the people we'd be advising to do this). I'm thinking about it for myself actually when I get eligible for a Sapphire card in March 2020 (yes that is CRAZY far away, haha!). Any thoughts on this? Good Plan...Bad Plan...Do you have a better plan or reason why you'd just get the CSR?

Tagging @Lain @striker1064 - I know you guys are some of our top "Strategists" - would love to hear your thoughts

 

[Albort]

I get an email for the Paypal card everyday. Issued by Synchrony but I don't see the bit about paypal transfer rate being the limit. There's no redemption threshold - rewards go back to Paypal. I still think Double Cash is probably better for 2%, right? I still prefer by Uber for cash back.

https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/credit-card/2-percent-cash-back-mastercard

alrighty, i went back to my logs from that talk, it seems like getting the Paypal 2% and Paypal Business debit which gets 1% back with a total of 3%. i guess u put your backup funding to 2% and it should work swiping your paypal business debit.

 

[WVMomof3]

So glad tomorrow is October 1. I work virtually across the street from a Costco, and I’m down to my last roll of toilet paper. Didn’t want to buy it before 5x on my Freedom. I had to cave on the kitty litter, though. Getting too stinky!

I don’t contribute much here, but I read every day. I think it was SouthFayetteFan (or possibly Lain) who suggested I product change my CSP to a Freedom rather than close the card. I did that a month or two ago, so thanks for that suggestion. The other suggestion was to apply for a Chase business card. I’m not quite there yet, but I can feel myself getting braver and considering trying. I’ve just never been turned down for a card before, and I’m afraid I might be. I don’t even really have a “business” yet.....just a thought of one. If I don’t get up the nerve to do that, I think I’ll just go for a SW card. I had one that I closed some months ago. I don’t really need a companion pass, and I could get a few flights out of it. I’m a slow and cautious, some would say chicken, churner.

I was where you are for a long time. Major chicken churner when it came to Biz cards. I believe I started several apps and changed my mind and didn't finish. Finally, earlier this year I had major FOMO on the high offer of the SPG biz. It was so easy that made it easier to try for CIP several months later. I dont know that I will ever do as many cards as most do here, but it is a start. And I hate to say it aloud, but I am still in the "thought of a business" stage. I do have lots of stuff I could sell on ebay/fb yard sale so that was my initial "business", I just have not gotten around to actually listing anything. My DH was firmly in the no biz cards until I got my 2nd one. Then he said do whatever you want. lol He now also has SPG biz and doesn't know it yet, but will get a Southwest biz in a few months.

 

[mom2elal]

I wouldn't say "stay away" from AMEX. They just add a layer of complexity to cash out.

• You would first need to open a Charles Schwab Brokerage account
• Then apply for a Charles Schwab Platinum Card.
• Once you hold that card, THEN you could cash out your AMEX Membership Rewards (MR) points at 1.25 cents each.
• Without that card, they are unfortunately only worth 0.6 cents as cash.

So for example that 50k point offer you see is only worth $300 without a Schwab Platinum card. Now you could also cash out via gift cards - you could get $500 in Home Depot cards for that 50k point offer. Target & Walmart are the most "cash-like" gift cards they have (I say that since you can buy practically anything there) - and you would only get $350 worth of them for your 50k offer.

Essentially...if Cash Back is your focus - you could embrace Chase for now with all of these offers:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP)
• Chase Ink Preferred (CIP)
• Chase Ink Cash (CIC)
• Chase Ink Unlimited (CIU)
• Chase Freedom (CF)
• Chase Freedom Unlimited (CFU)

You have 2 players so you can refer back and forth to cards. If you just work through Chase you will generate an ENORMOUS amount of cash back with the offers above. If each of you hit all of these cards referring back and forth with a strictly cash focus you would earn approx. $6,000 in cash on $32,000 in purchases @ a 19% return!

(I'm not suggesting you hit all those cards in 3 months either lol...probably over the course of 18 months+)

If we already have Schwab IRA accounts, but we wanted to actually take the cash out, do we need to open another type of account, like a regular bank account with them?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

If we already have Schwab IRA accounts, but we wanted to actually take the cash out, do we need to open another type of account, like a regular bank account with them?

I think you’d need a brokerage account (non-IRA). You don’t actually need to keep money in there though or invest. I keep $100 in cash I. mine and my wife’s just to keep them active. That seems to do the trick.

 

[disneybirds]

So jealous that you are staying at French Quater. I just stayed there a few weeks ago for the first time and it is probably my favorite resort taking into account price and amenities. It’s really the perfect hotel. It’s a moderate but still has a deluxeish feel. (I really think it’s a better option than Saratoga even if the price was the same and it pains me to say that because Saratoga is special to me) It’s small and quiet, the buses weren’t packed, and the updated rooms were so nice. Now I want to go back. lol

Thanks for the mini review of French Quarter. We have attempted to try several new places with our APs this year and this was on my list. Didn't make it FQ or AKV, but hopefully someday!

 

[trstno1]

CSR vs. CSP

I know a few people have mentioned this recently - now that you can ONLY get one of these cards is our consensus that if you don't immediately need to use your URs (and the 3x dining isn't a game changer for you) that CSP is the better card to get?

I believe the advice I've read (and somewhat agree with) is...

• Apply for CSP 50,000 point offer
• Probably still add your dog or kid or middle name as an AU and hope to get the 5,000 bonus (if it doesn't post, who cares - worth a shot)
• Meet the $4,000 spend
• Earn 54,000+ URs
• During the next 12 months earn a bunch of other URs too
• After a year (and I think you have to wait this long due to the laws) upgrade to CSR
• Pay the $450 and double dip the Travel Credit - a $150 gain over the next 12 months
• Use all your URs in all their CSR Glory while you hold a CSR.
• Downgrade to CSP or CF...wait awhile and then repeat the CSR TC Double Dip in the future

I know this sounds somewhat complex for a newbie (who are typically the people we'd be advising to do this). I'm thinking about it for myself actually when I get eligible for a Sapphire card in March 2020 (yes that is CRAZY far away, haha!). Any thoughts on this? Good Plan...Bad Plan...Do you have a better plan or reason why you'd just get the CSR?

Do we know if upgrading/downgrading the CSP and CSR reset the 48 month clock? And does it matter?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Do we know if upgrading/downgrading the CSP and CSR reset the 48 month clock? And does it matter?

Nope - nothing will reset that clock. It is 48 months from the date you earned the bonus too (not the date approved). It’s a super crummy rule!! Very Sucky in technical terms...

 

[GZanta77]

Do we know if upgrading/downgrading the CSP and CSR reset the 48 month clock? And does it matter?

I wouldn't think so - the 48 months refers to when you last received an introductory bonus. So unless you receive a bonus for upgrading - (does Chase even do those?) - then the 'clock' should not be affected.

 

[MrPTato]

So glad tomorrow is October 1. I work virtually across the street from a Costco, and I’m down to my last roll of toilet paper. Didn’t want to buy it before 5x on my Freedom. I had to cave on the kitty litter, though. Getting too stinky!

I don’t contribute much here, but I read every day. I think it was SouthFayetteFan (or possibly Lain) who suggested I product change my CSP to a Freedom rather than close the card. I did that a month or two ago, so thanks for that suggestion. The other suggestion was to apply for a Chase business card. I’m not quite there yet, but I can feel myself getting braver and considering trying. I’ve just never been turned down for a card before, and I’m afraid I might be. I don’t even really have a “business” yet.....just a thought of one. If I don’t get up the nerve to do that, I think I’ll just go for a SW card. I had one that I closed some months ago. I don’t really need a companion pass, and I could get a few flights out of it. I’m a slow and cautious, some would say chicken, churner.

I have been pulling apart the two ply for the last day and a half . Heading to BJs tomorrow!

 

[mom2elal]

I did the RMN rounds today and I should end up with $70 cash back from just the last ten days or so! I did Walgreens 3X (Disney gc), CVS once (merch), Kohls once (merch), Home Depot once (Disney gc) and Big Lots once (merch). I bought a filller item every time I bought a gc and so far everything has tracked! I wish I'd gotten started sooner, and I can't wait to find out what the new deals are going to be!