I love credit cards so much!

[wendow]

Definitely interested in the Reddit group, SouthFayetteFan. Thank you!

Welcome to the thread Another idea, in addition to the ones @SouthFayetteFan gave, for hitting MSR's is to go for bank bonuses that allow CC funding. That has helped me hit a few MSR's and get a bank bonus at the same time. Win-Win! I've even opened a couple of accounts where there was no bonus but the bank allowed CC funding.

 

[alryan]

Anyone had luck with Disney tix on UR portal? That portal is crap. Trying to search Anaheim things to do and I get Legoland and Knotts. Nothing for Universal or Disneyland

I didn't see them either. All the Disneyland talk was making me want to take a trip there with my boys. But couldn't find the tickets either

 

[alryan]

Spending my New Years planning 2020 travel.
Looking at 2 Cali trips maybe. Disneyland/Universal in June. Northern Cal in July/August
For Cali peeps, would it be reasonable to fly into Oakland, hit Yosemite & Sequoia NP, and fly home from Burbank in a 7-8 day trip? How is weather then? I generally avoid August travel because I hate hot/humid but is NoCal that bad?

We did something similar a few years ago, but all in one trip. We flew into SNA, 7 nights for Disneyland/So Cal, 2 nights at Sequioa, 2 in Yosemite, and then flew home out of San Francisco. At that time, one way car rentals were much cheaper going the way we did it. I think 7-8 days would be a good amount of time for you. We wished we had more time at Sequoia, we loved the trees and it was so much less crowded than Yosemite. That trip is still one of our favorites.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

We did something similar a few years ago, but all in one trip. We flew into SNA, 7 nights for Disneyland/So Cal, 2 nights at Sequioa, 2 in Yosemite, and then flew home out of San Francisco. At that time, one way car rentals were much cheaper going the way we did it. I think 7-8 days would be a good amount of time for you. We wished we had more time at Sequoia, we loved the trees and it was so much less crowded than Yosemite. That trip is still one of our favorites.

Ooh I would love to hear a mini report of your trip and where you stayed!
The Disneyland trip is DSs choice. The other will be a National Park type vacation to an undecided location, though Yosemite is top of the list. We can’t take 2 weeks of vacation so they will be separate

 

[alryan]

Disneyland would be separate in June, right after school is out, then end of July or beginning of August for NorCal and National Parks. Just figured starting in NorCal, would be easier to fly home from LA area after heading south. Other option would be to do the NorCal part for Spring Break which is last week in March. Would Yosemite & SNP still have snow in March? I’m not particularly looking for snow (we generally get enough of that in Chicago and we don’t ski or anything).
Oh and I would love to spend a couple days in SF before heading south, because food. Although that may not be realistic

We went in May and had snow in Sequoia and Yosemite.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

We went in May and had snow in Sequoia and Yosemite.

I’m rethinking the north to south idea. Not sure why it didn’t even occur to me to go south to north, or at least check prices.

My biggest concern with July is snow melt will be gone, thus no waterfalls.

 

[mmmears]

I’m rethinking the north to south idea. Not sure why it didn’t even occur to me to go south to north, or at least check prices.

My biggest concern with July is snow melt will be gone, thus no waterfalls.

There should still be waterfalls. They won't be gushing like they will in May (or sometime around then) but they should still be flowing. We went in early October and there were still waterfalls (and we don't get much in the way of rain/snow between May and October). We did the Vernal Falls hike and there was still a good sized waterfall there. The snow up in the higher elevations doesn't all melt in the spring.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I didn't see them either. All the Disneyland talk was making me want to take a trip there with my boys. But couldn't find the tickets either

Tagging @CyndiLouWho also...

I believe it’s some sort of backdoor method where you pick universal tix and then it suggests Disney tix at the bottom (like “people also viewed this” or something like that, lol). I know I’m not explaining that well but maybe somebody else can further clarify.

 

[WVMomof3]

@SouthFayetteFan My total number of checks for the year was 34. Most of that was to either to the school or a few to church before I switched to CC and my DDs rent. My DH is not all that interested in my numbers, but he is excited to be helping me build my spreadsheet. lol He is learning all about pivot tables and wondering how he has lived his life without them. Going forward I think my spreadsheets will be awesome. lol It doesn't take much to excite us.

 

[Haley R]

So I went back through my sheet I made with our train expenses for our Japan trip and I’m a little upset. I did some math and it’ll cost us $750+ just for train travel and I don’t see any way to get this discounted or reduced. It’s hard to pay cash for things after using points for the majority of our trip

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So I went back through my sheet I made with our train expenses for our Japan trip and I’m a little upset. I did some math and it’ll cost us $750+ just for train travel and I don’t see any way to get this discounted or reduced. It’s hard to pay cash for things after using points for the majority of our trip

I totally understand how that can be psychologically frustrating...BUT we all have cash expenses in our travel and those of us that like to claim it's "free" will use other cash savings from churning related activities to offset those expenses.

Here's some examples of my accounting last year:

• Sea World Trip - Airport Meals, $5.60 x 8 fees for flights, gasoline in rental car - Offset by AMEX Blue Cash Preferred cash back redeemed
• Myrtle Beach Trip - Misc Beach Items (sunscreen, chairs, etc.), Groceries and eating out, Go-Kart tickets - Offset by points redeemed for a target gift card (I allocated the expense to necessities from Target and gave myself a credit against my travel expenses)
• Disney World - $5.60 x 8 fees for flights, Airport Meals - Offset by Gas Savings purchasing VGCs for everyday expenses (I can get 12% back on VGCs at our grocery store - less the $6.95 fee still puts $17 per card in my pocket)

These are just three examples, but anyway that you can generate cash back or savings from this game can be mentally (or in my case literally) accounted for against travel expenses.

• Maybe you could signup for an AMEX Blue Cash card to generate a nice sign up cash bonus if you're over 5/24 or simply are willing to use a slot
• Chase Disney credit cards are offering a $200 statement credit for spending $500 if that make sense as a 5/24 slot for you
• Some people will attribute bank account bonuses to travel (I personally don't account for them this way)

Just some thoughts I fully realize I'm tying things together that aren't necessarily related, but I like the idea that all churning activities result in free travel and thus Target Gift Cards, and gas saved purchasing VGCs, and a $10 bonus for signing up for paperless billing and anything else I can gain through this game goes into that bucket

EDIT: I just realized I missed some huge ones like thousands of dollars of AMEX MRs redeemed through Schwab as cash, Citi Prestige TY pts redeemed as cash. These were used to offset Disney Gift Cards I purchased.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

New Wells Fargo Bank Bonus: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wells-fargo-250-nationwide-checking-bonus/

- $150 bonus for cumulative $500 or more direct deposits within 60 days; bonus to post within 45 days of meeting requirement
- Additional $100 if you have cumulative $500 in direct deposits every 30 days for an additional 150 days after the initial 60-day qualification period; bonus will basically post within 255 days from account opening (8.5 months)

Essentially, you deposit $250 into the account every other paycheck. You start that in month 2...you get $150 (you could obviously start sooner). Then you continue that for 5 more months and you get another $100.

I've been out of the bank bonus game for awhile...but it's easy for me to split up my direct deposit so I'm strongly considering this one for an easy $500 between the 2 players

 

[Alexle2007]

So I went back through my sheet I made with our train expenses for our Japan trip and I’m a little upset. I did some math and it’ll cost us $750+ just for train travel and I don’t see any way to get this discounted or reduced. It’s hard to pay cash for things after using points for the majority of our trip

Any way to take adventure of the travel cash back from like the Barclay Arrival + or Venture? So you would pay the train fare and then erase it a credit?

 

[Alexle2007]

Staples and Lowe’s 10% off offers are back on AmEx. Staples is up to $50 and Lowe’s is up to $100.

 

[striker1064]

New Wells Fargo Bank Bonus: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wells-fargo-250-nationwide-checking-bonus/

- $150 bonus for cumulative $500 or more direct deposits within 60 days; bonus to post within 45 days of meeting requirement
- Additional $100 if you have cumulative $500 in direct deposits every 30 days for an additional 150 days after the initial 60-day qualification period; bonus will basically post within 255 days from account opening (8.5 months)

Essentially, you deposit $250 into the account every other paycheck. You start that in month 2...you get $150 (you could obviously start sooner). Then you continue that for 5 more months and you get another $100.

I've been out of the bank bonus game for awhile...but it's easy for me to split up my direct deposit so I'm strongly considering this one for an easy $500 between the 2 players

I saw this one too. I received my last Wells Fargo personal bonus on 1/24/18, so I'll be up against it to get signed up for this one. Hopefully it doesn't get pulled early!

Although I am still waiting for them to post my biz $500 bonus.

 

[GZanta77]

Staples and Lowe’s 10% off offers are back on AmEx. Staples is up to $50 and Lowe’s is up to $100.

Dell and Boxed too.

Note: Terms say offers for enrolled BUSINESS cards - but looks like someone at Amex has screwed up and the offers are going to personal cards also. Grab 'em while you can, but tread carefully if not adding to a business card.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Tagging @CyndiLouWho also...

I believe it’s some sort of backdoor method where you pick universal tix and then it suggests Disney tix at the bottom (like “people also viewed this” or something like that, lol). I know I’m not explaining that well but maybe somebody else can further clarify.

I saw Disney tickets listed that way last month....looking today they aren’t showing up on my CSR anymore

 

[Haley R]

Any way to take adventure of the travel cash back from like the Barclay Arrival + or Venture? So you would pay the train fare and then erase it a credit?

I guess I’m not sure what you’re asking. Do those cards give you money back when it’s a travel expense?

 

[Haley R]

I totally understand how that can be psychologically frustrating...BUT we all have cash expenses in our travel and those of us that like to claim it's "free" will use other cash savings from churning related activities to offset those expenses.

Here's some examples of my accounting last year:

• Sea World Trip - Airport Meals, $5.60 x 8 fees for flights, gasoline in rental car - Offset by AMEX Blue Cash Preferred cash back redeemed
• Myrtle Beach Trip - Misc Beach Items (sunscreen, chairs, etc.), Groceries and eating out, Go-Kart tickets - Offset by points redeemed for a target gift card (I allocated the expense to necessities from Target and gave myself a credit against my travel expenses)
• Disney World - $5.60 x 8 fees for flights, Airport Meals - Offset by Gas Savings purchasing VGCs for everyday expenses (I can get 12% back on VGCs at our grocery store - less the $6.95 fee still puts $17 per card in my pocket)

These are just three examples, but anyway that you can generate cash back or savings from this game can be mentally (or in my case literally) accounted for against travel expenses.

• Maybe you could signup for an AMEX Blue Cash card to generate a nice sign up cash bonus if you're over 5/24 or simply are willing to use a slot
• Chase Disney credit cards are offering a $200 statement credit for spending $500 if that make sense as a 5/24 slot for you
• Some people will attribute bank account bonuses to travel (I personally don't account for them this way)

Just some thoughts I fully realize I'm tying things together that aren't necessarily related, but I like the idea that all churning activities result in free travel and thus Target Gift Cards, and gas saved purchasing VGCs, and a $10 bonus for signing up for paperless billing and anything else I can gain through this game goes into that bucket

EDIT: I just realized I missed some huge ones like thousands of dollars of AMEX MRs redeemed through Schwab as cash, Citi Prestige TY pts redeemed as cash. These were used to offset Disney Gift Cards I purchased.

Those are very good points you made! I guess we did get $8,000 plane tickets with points so that offsets our train expenses quite a bit. I’m not sure Dh and I are ready to get a new card just yet. We finished our Hilton MSRs in December and agreed we don’t really want any more Hilton cards since we struggled to use Amex in a lot of places. We also finished our southwest MSR in December. I might look into bank bonuses. We haven’t done any of those before. The only bank we’ve joined since I’ve been on this thread was heritage and the interest rate with them is fantastic. We get around $60-70 in interest every month.

 

[Haley R]

Staples and Lowe’s 10% off offers are back on AmEx. Staples is up to $50 and Lowe’s is up to $100.

Awesome! We didn’t get the 30% chase offer so we will definitely use this to go get Airbnb gcs.