I love credit cards so much!

[WVMomof3]

In the comments it's good at nordstrom rack too. I shop at both, more the rack for handbags and wallets.

Is this the my at&t app? I just downloaded it and will have to get the login info from mom. Is this something they do often? Is it worth my keeping an eye on the app?

Look for the at&t thanks app. I already had the my at&t app, just downloaded the Thanks app and found the $30 offer. I get their Thanks emails all the time and just delete them. Maybe I should actually read them.

 

[DisneyMandC]

In the comments it's good at nordstrom rack too. I shop at both, more the rack for handbags and wallets.

Is this the my at&t app? I just downloaded it and will have to get the login info from mom. Is this something they do often? Is it worth my keeping an eye on the app?

No, this is in the AT&T Thanks app, which is separate. I think it's the same login info for you AT&T account though. I just checked my inbox on the app and it was there!

 

[PolyRob]

Ohhh...I think I get it now! I had a travel refund, but I haven't had any travel charges since then except for that parking one. So my theory now is that they will just keep giving me 0 points on travel until I've "paid back" the points. What an odd way to do it, instead of just deducting the points from the balance. Darn, I was wondering why they didn't take back the points, thought maybe I'd get to keep them, lol (fat chance!).

Not sure if this is the norm/correct, but it kinda "makes sense" that its evening itself out. Would be more logical to always show the - and +, but Chase didn't ask me my opinion lol

 

[calypso726]

I struggle to identify with a normal human when it comes to money. As churners and deal-searchers ...we spend so far in advance it's like I live in the future.

When we travel people are always like, "oh yeah gonna be paying that off for awhile, huh?" and I'm like...no we paid for this trip with points, gift cards, etc. like 6+ months ago. People talk about "paying the bills"...and I'm lost. We pay most of our Utilities 12 months at a time while on a large MSR. I often pay our cable bill with VGCs acquired months prior and sometimes I'll just pay it ahead by 4-6 months to hit an MSR too. We try to acquire Walmart gift cards on Raise for all expenses there so we typically have 3-6 months of that sitting on hand.

I have realized I'm so out of touch that I just mimic and mirror people when I get in one of these conversations. A lot of head nods and agreement. If I even try to start explaining to them what I do they either a) think I'm crazy, b) think I'm super rich, or c) BOTH.

shhh...perhaps I am crazy AND super rich...

I feel that way too many times..... like I noted earlier, we are NOT wealthy people! But when one of our trips is looming (usually 2-3x a year, not even a lot around here!) I start getting weird questions and funny stares in response....I try to avoid as many of them as I can but I got cornered last night and the response from the prying person was so neurotic and somewhat scary..... "WHAT???? HOW much is Hawaii costing you? I KNOW it's really expensive! I've asked (x,y,z) and they told me how $$$ it is!"
So I tell the truth rotfl2:basically free) and then I get...."hook me up! why are you keeping secrets?? I want it for free too! Just tell me how to get this deal and I'll do it!!!" (as if it's one simple step and it all falls into your lap lol) which is exactly why I try to avoid these types of conversations in the first place...If I mention something insane like prepaying my electric bill for points at the right time...I don't even know what would happen!

Most of my friends and family know we travel hack. My co-workers do as well. So I don’t run into that kind of thing very often. In terms of financial situation, we are fortunate but not what is considered uber wealthy. We don’t have children so there is no college or wedding to pay for and it leaves us with a bit more disposable income. The mortgage is paid off and we don’t try to keep up with the Jones’. We each drive 2012 Toyotas and won’t get another car until the current ones are dead. We work crazy hard but also play hard. We could not travel the way we do without this hobby. Our flights in March to the Maldives are $28,000 ... as if.

Now with that said, we find ourselves unable to relate to others from time to time. I’ve had people tell me this hobby will ruin my credit. I’ve explained that done correctly it raises your score. They say aim wrong and I ask them to explain how my score went from the low 700s to staying in the 800s since I started this hobby opening and closing 5-8 cards per year. They can’t and still insist I’m wrong. I will apologize for the fact that they don’t fully understand how credit works and they may want to actually learn. Just a suggestion.

I’ve had people tell me they would never use a credit card and if you can’t affird to pay for something with cash you shouldn’t be so irresponsible. This got me riled up. I said, “The money is in the bank and I pay balances in full each month. Using a credit card doesn’t mean you are being irresponsible or that you can’t afford it. It means you are likely smart enough to get paid something back, in points or miles, for what you were already going to buy. So, I would never use cash because it doesn’t pay me anything for using it.”

I did get someone who asked me how much my flights to Hawaii were. I answered honestly and said $5.60 each way. I’ve had people tell me that they wanted to go somewhere but flights are too expensive. I usually respond with, “Who pays for flights? Why would you do that?” It’s usually people who know I travel hack and have offered to help them learn. So they chuckle when I say that. Mostly they think it’s too complicated or exhausting. I have friends that think I’m doing something illegal and may wind up in jail.

Everyone already thinks I’m crazy so I don’t care if I reinforce that notion by explaining MS or pre paying bills.

 

[schmass]

I could use some travel help, please! I was supposed to go to Germany for work next week but my BIL just passed away and now I won't be able to go. If I call the airline and cancel, do I get any kind of credit? The flight was over $1200. Also not sure that I'd even use a credit if I did receive one, since it's Singapore Air and I can't imagine flying them within the next year.

 

[1st*toright]

And my reluctant player 2 FINALLY got ahold of one of the Amex reps (thanks Lain and Albort!) Instant approval and a shiny new Biz Plat coming our way - just in time for them to jack up the AF to ridiculous levels!!! Will definitely get a double dip on the airline credit, maybe even a triple, since it took him weeks to actually make the call and get someone on the other end (he said he called a few times and it went to vm). Can't see keeping the biz amex for the price long term, though - we will just wait until the new AF hits and then maybe go for a personal plat for one of us.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

By the way, I finally got around to reading that Mommy Points article on TPG that everyone was talking about. What a... bizarre story. I truly didn't understand it. I know I'm not a mother, but I don't really understand how not having lounge access just to spend another, what, maybe an hour?, with her kids somehow left her in tears and so upset that she needed to write this article. I mean, we're talking about her leaving to take a nice vacation with her own mother when she already travels all the time for her job anyways. It's not like she was leaving for a year's deployment to Afghanistan...

I really don't mean to mom-shame. This was just a super strange scenario to me.

I have to be honest...please don't ban me from our little group here...I get major anxiety on the very rare occasion that I have to leave my babies. I'd totally cry in the airport if they were there with me. BUT, I wouldn't cause a scene and I'd wait til I walked away with them to shed a tear. So I get why she was so anxious about this and if I read it right, it seems she wanted the lounge access just to enter that terminal to stay with the kids, and going to the lounge was just a cherry on top if it worked out. Maybe I am misunderstanding. All I know is I get the leaving kids anxiety part. I do fine once I am gone, it is just leading up to a trip and the actual goodbyes that I have a hard time with. I can count on one hand how many nights I have been away from my 10 year old in his life...and 2 of those nights were to birth his siblings. I'm not a control freak, I just worry something awful will happen and I won't be there...irrational I know.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I have to be honest...please don't ban me from our little group here...I get major anxiety on the very rare occasion that I have to leave my babies. I'd totally cry in the airport if they were there with me. BUT, I wouldn't cause a scene and I'd wait til I walked away with them to shed a tear. So I get why she was so anxious about this and if I read it right, it seems she wanted the lounge access just to enter that terminal to stay with the kids, and going to the lounge was just a cherry on top if it worked out. Maybe I am misunderstanding. All I know is I get the leaving kids anxiety part. I do fine once I am gone, it is just leading up to a trip and the actual goodbyes that I have a hard time with. I can count on one hand how many nights I have been away from my 10 year old in his life...and 2 of those nights were to birth his siblings. I'm not a control freak, I just worry something awful will happen and I won't be there...irrational I know.

No shame or irrationality in that at all!! That's why I said I'm not trying to mom-shame! I think your response is totally normal and I'm sure I would feel the same way. It was just particularly odd to me for her scenario because she DOES travel all the time. It just seemed like such an odd article to write for a credit card/points travel site. The fact that she argued with TSA so much and then just decided to sit there and cry in the airport in front of her kids was just a little odd on what seemed like a fairly innocuous trip.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

DoC just posted about this AT&T deal and I actually had it on my app! https://www.doctorofcredit.com/highly-ymmv-att-thanks-app-30-nordstroms-gift-certificate/

Any ideas on what to buy at Nordstrom, maybe for resale? We have one locally and I've gone in it several times, but I've never bought anything there besides my mom's mother-of-the-bride dress for my wedding.

well dang, there is a dress on Nordstrom I've been meaning to order for DD3 for our cruise...and it is $34.

 

[hsmamato2]

this is assuming she is 2 years since she got a SW bonus.

yes she is past 2 years now

 

[amalone1013]

off topic... but does anyone know what happens to your Kohls cash if you order something online for in store pickup, and don't pick it up? I accidentally ordered something to the wrong location, and today is the last day to get it, but I don't know if I'll make it. I used $13 in KC for it and no real money. My KC is from BF so it's supposed to be good until Wednesday.

 

[speedyfishy]

Went to McDonald’s and they had the buy a $50 giftcard get a free Big Mac once every month for all of 2019. Big Macs are 4.49 here so that’s a great deal. I really do hate McDonald’s but tbh i eat it at least once a month.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I only put $3000 for my dd18’s CFU app. She makes more than that just at her PT job and she babysits a lot still. She was approved with a $600 CL.

I may have missed it skimming though, but did she have the discover it first? If so, for how long. DD19 is still using one of my cards, so I'd like to transition her to her own.

 

[wendow]

I may have missed it skimming though, but did she have the discover it first? If so, for how long. DD19 is still using one of my cards, so I'd like to transition her to her own.

She did get the Discover back in May/June right after turning 18yo so it's been about 6 mos.

 

[wendow]

Got approved for the Arrival+

Again, opened the card last year, and then PC'ed it 6 weeks ago when the AF posted. Most sites, like DoC, say you need to wait 6 mos after closing it to apply for it again but I read DP's from 2017 that said people were successful getting approved for it again much sooner.

 

[Calfan]

Just got an email “update on American Express Platinum Upgrades for 2019.” Blah, blah, blah—AF increased to $595!

Yup got this too. WTH! $200 Dell credit every year. I’ll use that and it will be getting cancelled for the next annual fee. I will always keep some form of a Plat tho.

I just got this too! No thank you! I like having the perks, but not for $600!!

A $145 dollar increase to the biz plat fee? Thank u, next.

Yeah, the new stuff really didn't wow me, but the fee did make me I think that I will be a one year holder of this card. A little bummed as I could almost justify it for another year before the increase and I enjoyed the in-flight internet and Delta Club access.

Got the email about the changes to the Biz Plat also and Wow!! I had pretty much decided to keep this card with the $450 AF because I really like the Gogo inflight wifi passes as well, and the $$$ I have *made* using Amex offers more than covered the remaining AF on this card after using the airline fee credit. But I don't think there is any way I'm going to be able to stomach $595 (well, $395 after the airline fee credit) just for Internet access. So far, I have not been using/maximizing the 35% points refund, so I can't really factor that in as a justification to keep the card. Agree I wouldn't want to be without a Platinum, but so far I'm getting a lot more benefit out of my personal Platinum, so that is looking like it will be the keeper card.

Just met Citi Premier MSR with Edinburgh Military Tattoo tickets! Way more excited about the actual purchase this time compared to meeting MSR, lol. Hopefully I'll get 2x entertainment on it. Can't wait to go!!

We attended the Tattoo a number of years ago (2012), and it was fantastic! You will really enjoy it. We are tentatively planning a Scotland/England trip in August to visit universities for my DD, and we might try to see the Tattoo again if the timing works out for our visit to the University of Edinburgh.

In other news, FINALLY got an email confirming my $3 back on my $30 Starbucks reload using the Chase 10% back offer on my United Club card. Those Chase offers are super super slow....The actual statement credit has yet to post.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Look for the at&t thanks app. I already had the my at&t app, just downloaded the Thanks app and found the $30 offer. I get their Thanks emails all the time and just delete them. Maybe I should actually read them.

I just downloaded it too. No Nordstrom deal, but decent dining coupons for pei Wei and blaze pizza. Of course recently got pei Wei and something had changed...it was awful.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I could use some travel help, please! I was supposed to go to Germany for work next week but my BIL just passed away and now I won't be able to go. If I call the airline and cancel, do I get any kind of credit? The flight was over $1200. Also not sure that I'd even use a credit if I did receive one, since it's Singapore Air and I can't imagine flying them within the next year.

Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry.

 

[wendow]

So it looks like I'm just going to be out my SW Plus 3k anniversary points. I called again today to check on my points and they said I should get them when my statement closed on 12/9. Well, my payment is due 12/6 and I don't have a retention offer on my account, so I need to either pay the AF or close the card. I really don't think I have a reason to keep the card, I don't really get referrals (although it seems like I'm always telling people they should get a SW card!). Oh well. One less card to keep track of I guess. That will leave me with only 1 personal Chase card (and one that I'm an AU on from a long time ago), and three Chase biz cards! I'm hoping to get the CIC in Feb. and maybe the CSP in Apr or so, but still working on that plan.

I’m sorry your points aren’t posting. I’d probably just close it too and hope the points are on their way and show up.

I’ve had a SW card of some kind since 2010 and never had a support click either. It’s never been a profitable card, from that perspective, for me. It doesn’t help that the public offer is better a lot of the times so I’m always encouraging people to apply that way.

 

[AmyAnne]

I could use some travel help, please! I was supposed to go to Germany for work next week but my BIL just passed away and now I won't be able to go. If I call the airline and cancel, do I get any kind of credit? The flight was over $1200. Also not sure that I'd even use a credit if I did receive one, since it's Singapore Air and I can't imagine flying them within the next year.

Yes, if Singapore works like Delta and United, you should get a credit for the cost minus any cancellation fee. Sometimes the airlines will waive the cancellation fee for illness or death -- I once had Delta waive the fee when my son unexpectedly needed surgery.