I love credit cards so much!

[Oscar Madison]

If there is a possibility of NOT making MSR, then I wouldn't think of it as paying $24 for 2000 Stariott points, I'd think of it as paying $24 for 125k points. That we know would get you at least 2-3 nights at the S&D or 4-5 nights at many other places. That should put it in a better perspective. Since AmEx offers are once in a lifetime (or possibly a doggie year) if you don't make the MSR that would be an expensive lesson. In that case even I'd spend the $24.

However, if you can meet it without fees then that means more profit for you. That's my preferred method for everything CC related, the least amount of fees if any at all. But if it means the difference between getting the bonus and not, $24 is a small price to pay. (plus you earn points on the fee so it'd be 2048 Stariott pts. woo )

Thanks..this helps me think through it. Yes, my goal will always be to not pay any fees, but I don't want to screw up the first 5k MSR. My first 3k was a breeze, but there is a possibility, SOOO I'll most likely pay the $24. Thanks again.

 

[Albort]

Okay, now I feel much better. Thanks for walking me thru it.

its worth a bit more than what @platamama has. $140 + the $1000 x 2x x.007 = $154
if u know u have other means to complete the spendings, then do that route. Amex is def harder to MS than other cards though so doing this MS with fees may be a better solution. I had a friend who had to spend close to $3k in the last week of her MSR... it was so intense for her and I, i didnt want to help her out again... lol.
other cards, there are tons of other options.

 

[Oscar Madison]

its worth a bit more than what @platamama has. $140 + the $1000 x 2x x.007 = $154
if u know u have other means to complete the spendings, then do that route. Amex is def harder to MS than other cards though so doing this MS with fees may be a better solution. I had a friend who had to spend close to $3k in the last week of her MSR... it was so intense for her and I, i didnt want to help her out again... lol.
other cards, there are tons of other options.

Wise words, especially after I checked Costco doesn't take AMEX.

 

[elgerber]

Yep, my AU cards for dh's new Hilton Biz is here, before his LOL. Totally works for me, as I do all the spending anyway!

 

[Jaime4004]

Of course! I was just thinking it'd be better to grab the 80k now in case Chase does something negative to the bonus before May. It's hard to gamble on what happens bonus wise but I think 80-100k in the hand is worth more than a potential 100-120k later... but that could be because my luck is mostly that I wait for the extra 20-40k to come around again and they reduce it by 20-30k instead

I know the CIP has been pretty consistent with the 80k offer but I figure all good things have to end at some point when they reach a quota for sign ups. The Freedom is pretty consistent and I'd rather have the extra sign up bonus over a quarter at 7500. But everyone is different and there's nothing wrong with either.

Don't I know it. It took me years to pull the trigger on the CSR due to the scary fee. Then I got it to use for a WDW trip... about two weeks before chase killed those plans. Luckily I always have places to spend points, which is why I now need to rebuild again.

 

[platamama]

Wise words, especially after I checked Costco doesn't take AMEX.

Yes, but if you can buy VGC at grocery stores with your AMEX then you can use the VGC at Costco. I've done it quite a bit.

 

[elgerber]

Question on the IHG cards. I know there was some hubbub about the free nights awhile back. I currently have the $49 fee card. I just got a mailer to upgrade to the $89 fee card, for 5000 points with one purchase. It mentions that next year the free night for that card will be for 40000 point values. What is going to happen to the $49 card next year if I keep it the way it is?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I purchased originally a cat 1-5 knowing I would later pay 90k to upgrade for our Hawaii stay we had booked. Merger happened and the hotel actually lowered a category which was going to lower my upgrade miles needed to 60k. When I called in (US line this time thank goodness) and told the rep "The hotel changed categories and I need to upgrade my certificate" mostly trying to give him a good reason to allow me to upgrade (since they weren't supposedly allowing upgrades) he tells me "You booked before the merger and shouldn't have to pay to upgrade when we changed the category during the merger. Let me fix it." and he went in and upgraded and attached my original 1-5! I don't think he realized the hotel dropped a category and I was planning on upgrading anyway

haaaaa!!!!! What luck! Congrats!! I like the wording you used. Unfortunately I didn't keep the ressies I made pre-merger once I realized we wouldn't use them. I guess I should've and I could have tried your method to get the cert updated. That is awesome!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I worry I would regret not getting white or a silver/gray color, something neutral. But now I see this one:

ooohhhhh that would be gorgeous on my counter. My whole house is neutrals...creams/whites/grays. Love it! Mine is a light aqua color.

 

[thevalley]

Wow!!!! Crazy turn of events. I’m currently sitting in the emergency room waiting for a plastic surgeon. My for year ran smack into the front door and require several stitches. We fly out of dca Monday morning. Does anyone know of a good hospital in Orlando to remove the stitches? May be Tuesday or Wednesday. Thanks. Sorry this has nothing to do with cc.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

From Swolphin thread:

View attachment 362858

I guess this makes the point value better than when we first heard of this change and I ran the math on my own stay?

what am I missing here? The price? It is over $500 for a regular room for my dates at swan.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Wow!!!! Crazy turn of events. I’m currently sitting in the emergency room waiting for a plastic surgeon. My for year ran smack into the front door and require several stitches. We fly out of dca Monday morning. Does anyone know of a good hospital in Orlando to remove the stitches? May be Tuesday or Wednesday. Thanks. Sorry this has nothing to do with cc.

awwww, poor thing. I always remove them myself. Of course, I am a nurse, but you just snip and slide the right out. Maybe just bring along some tiny scissors, tweezers, and alcohol pads? If not, an urgent care center should be able to do it, so you don't have to wait at a hospital.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Soooo my first SW statement closed at midnight or so and my points posted to SW and I am the proud owner of a new CP! Whoop! Got DD2 added to all 8 of my upcoming flights, then booked us all for a return flight for our cruise. We are driving from the port to TPA b/c the flight is 7000 points and leaves at 1:30, landing in BNA at 4:30. Only reasonable option from MCO was more like 10,500 points, leaving at 4:30 and landing at 9:30pm. I decided to save to points, take the longer drive, and get home 5 hours earlier.

 

[miztressuz]

Question on the IHG cards. I know there was some hubbub about the free nights awhile back. I currently have the $49 fee card. I just got a mailer to upgrade to the $89 fee card, for 5000 points with one purchase. It mentions that next year the free night for that card will be for 40000 point values. What is going to happen to the $49 card next year if I keep it the way it is?

It's still restricted to the 40k point value. All cards get the restriction starting next year. If you still have an unrestricted free night coming for the $49 card, wait to upgrade until you get it if you want to keep it. The wording on the upgrade somewhere says that you'll get the new restricted night since the Premier card released with the 40k restriction in place. (Although there were reports of people's cert being changed after the upgrade anyway but I'm not sure how accurate that was. To be safe use the cert and then upgrade if you need to use it at a higher value property)

 

[DisneyMandC]

Wow!!!! Crazy turn of events. I’m currently sitting in the emergency room waiting for a plastic surgeon. My for year ran smack into the front door and require several stitches. We fly out of dca Monday morning. Does anyone know of a good hospital in Orlando to remove the stitches? May be Tuesday or Wednesday. Thanks. Sorry this has nothing to do with cc.

omg! Poor kid! But I agree with @disneymagicgirl that it is very easy to remove stitches (and I'm not a nurse!) as long as you kid is willing to sit still for you. But yes, somewhere like Patient First/BetterMed should be able to do it.

 

[elgerber]

It's still restricted to the 40k point value. All cards get the restriction starting next year. If you still have an unrestricted free night coming for the $49 card, wait to upgrade until you get it if you want to keep it. The wording on the upgrade somewhere says that you'll get the new restricted night since the Premier card released with the 40k restriction in place. (Although there were reports of people's cert being changed after the upgrade anyway but I'm not sure how accurate that was. To be safe use the cert and then upgrade if you need to use it at a higher value property)

But my $49 card will still be a $49 card next year, it's not going away or being a forced upgrade? I already have my certificate, as of last month for this year.

 

[mmmears]

Wow!!!! Crazy turn of events. I’m currently sitting in the emergency room waiting for a plastic surgeon. My for year ran smack into the front door and require several stitches. We fly out of dca Monday morning. Does anyone know of a good hospital in Orlando to remove the stitches? May be Tuesday or Wednesday. Thanks. Sorry this has nothing to do with cc.

I'm so sorry to read this. Poor little one. I have seen lots of posts on the DIS naming CentraCare as a close walk in urgent care place, but I haven't tried it. We did have to take DD to the ER at the hospital in Celebration when she was younger and they were really good with her.

 

[Albort]

Wise words, especially after I checked Costco doesn't take AMEX.

all sorts of stuff u can do... my friend did like $600 on her Verizon bill, $1000 worth in gas gift cards... i for got what else she did haha.

 

[amalone1013]

As of earlier this week, Marriott took over the Swan Dolphin website. The room rates have increased and you now have to give a pretty sizable deposit down!

what am I missing here? The price? It is over $500 for a regular room for my dates at swan.

Ack, I messed up. That screenshot was for DH, the quote above was supposed to go in that post. But overall I am seeing $100ish more a night at the Dolphin in 2019, for the same days we stayed in 2018

 

[miztressuz]

But my $49 card will still be a $49 card next year, it's not going away or being a forced upgrade? I already have my certificate, as of last month for this year.

Correct, your card stays the same. It's just the free night that changed.