I love credit cards so much!

[Judique]

I'm not worried about anything shady happening to it (going through Fidelity). I was just thinking that they might credit the deposit back and want the whole purchase in cash.

I've never dealt with Fidelity, but I think they've been in business for quite a long time. I can't see them doing that unless it's written into your contract somewhere. Aren't they the company Disney DVC uses?

 

[happ]

I had the Staples offer on several of my Chase cards so loaded up on Amazon because no plans for Disney. I knew that my Prime fee was due soon, so I thought it was a great way to save on that. Just looked and they charged my card instead of debiting from gift card balances. Grrrrrr Also forgot to cancel my free Kindle Unlimited and they hit my Visa for that also. At least I had loaded a Kindle offer on that card so I got 20% off, but hadn't planned on renewing at all. Double Grrrrrrr.

Here's one workaround. I was able to buy a "gift of prime membership" before the last price increase and pay with my gc balance. Then I canceled prime just before it was due to renew, waited a few days after it expired, and then used the gift membership for my next year of prime.

 

[Judique]

DH had to have a sewing machine one time when they were good price on Amazon. It still sits in our garage unopened just like the mitre saw and table saw...

So let me know when you are having a garage sale.....<G>.

 

[Haley R]

Not CC related, but relates to the Disney dining talk from a few days ago. My DD asked me to make her a Snow White dress for our May trip, so of course then I decided that we have to go to the Storybook Dining to meet Snow White. I've been checking for the past few days with no luck. Just now I had this weird feeling that I should check again and I got a reservation at the perfect time! So excited!

Nice! I have the touring plans reservation finder set up and I woke up with an alert from 7 this morning. I definitely wasn't awake that early. I'm fine that I missed it because I needed the sleep. If we don't get one for Feb 2 we will be just as happy eating at Kona Cafe.

 

[Jaime4004]

So I see there are a few of you in Nursing. DD17 is considering going to college to for RN. Seems like it is a good field - they seem to always need nurses... Any input would be great.

It is a great field as far as i'm concerned. So flexible, you can work in so many different areas, depending on your interest. And if you get bored, try a new aspect of nursing. I've been a nurse for 20 years and never worked in a hospital. I never liked the hospital rotations in school and have never had a desire to work in one. I have done nursing home, home care, school nurse, and ambulatory care in primary care and different specialties. Different nursing jobs have different hours and pay. I've been able to move around to jobs that suited my family life the best, at that time. Some paid great, some not so much.

 

[mmmears]

Behind but trying to catch up. I'm just going to respond to what I've seen so far today.

Still no where near caught up so I'm just jumping in right here. If I missed anything, please let me know.
Just wanted to give a friendly reminder to all who have calendar year airline or travel credits. It's January and time for me and DH to purchase airline GCs. We do AA gift cards. Here is a reminder of some of the calendar year cards and also what we are doing/did to trigger the credit.

Citi Prestige (just DH) $250 airline credit. Purchase one $250 AA GC

P1 and P2
Amex Hilton Aspire: $250 airline credit. The preferred airline we chose is AA. Purchased $100 AA Gcs x 2 and one $50 AA GC
Amex Personal Plat: $200 airline credit. The preferred airline we chose is AA. Purchased $100 AA Gcs x 2
$50 Sax 5th Ave credit (Jan-Jun). Will be purchasing $50 Saks GC in store.
Amex Business Plat: $200 airline credit. The preferred airline we chose is AA. Purchased $100 AA Gcs x 2
Amex Rose Gold: $100 airline credit. The preferred airline we chose is AA. Purchased $100 AA Gcs
BOA Premium Rewards $100 airline credit. Purchased $100 AA GC

Thanks for the reminder. DH and I just sat down today and were trying to figure out what to do with all the credits (as in, which airline(s) to choose. AA is so much more versatile for us than SW, but then I worry I'll need to fly to MDW and SW is the only direct from here. But then I'm locked into domestic... Ack I hate having to decide so early. Don't know where DD will be next year - this year was easy since she flies AA home for breaks.

Latest DPs say Amex airline fee credit now works on single AA GCs up to $250. I've seen DPs about single $200 AA GCs successfully crediting floating around for months.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ame...200-100-reimbursement-reports-aa-only-91.html

Ah... good to know since we need $800 worth in total.

So aside from buying discounted Disney GCs and cashing out URs to “reimburse” yourself, is there any viable and scaleable (ie you can earn a lot of pts easily) churning avenue to Disney Cruises right now?

The death of URs for Disney frustrates me continually, lol.

Good question. I haven't found another way (and I'm reluctant to sink all that cash into so many GCs). One tiny factor that helps is that TAs will give you some OBC if you book with them. Not a make or break amount, but every little bit counts (oh, and Costco gives store credit). Let me know if you find a good way! Are you considering DCL? Honestly I think it's a great product.

 

[havaneselover]

Pretty sure you can’t pay for Prime with GCs.

You actually can and I did a few months ago. I had to buy myself a gift of prime and pay for that with gift cards.

ETA: I see @happ beat me to it

 

[AmyAnne]

I've never dealt with Fidelity, but I think they've been in business for quite a long time. I can't see them doing that unless it's written into your contract somewhere. Aren't they the company Disney DVC uses?

Fidelity shows up on all of the "which resale company should I use" threads on the DVC forum. I'm not sure about what company Disney uses--I did go to a DVC presentation once long ago, while on a DCL cruise, but that was as close as I've gotten to purchasing until now.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Got DH's PNC debit card today and get it all set up! So now I just need to do Amazon reloads with his debit card.

Does everyone usually pull the money back out once the bonus posts, or leave it in? It says no fee if there's a direct deposit of $2000, which I did, but I wasn't sure if that was monthly or just the initial one works to leave it fee free.

 

[Alexle2007]

So I see there are a few of you in Nursing. DD17 is considering going to college to for RN. Seems like it is a good field - they seem to always need nurses... Any input would be great.

Two of my good friends are nurses at the top ranked teaching hospital in MD and the nation and absolutely love it there. One of them works in their NICU and the other who is finishing up her PhD that the hospital is paying for works in the post op/surgery dept. They really like that is a teaching hospital. The one came over from the Philippines when the hospital was recruiting nurses from there due to the shortage in the US. They both seem to make very good money. They both work the night shift there. It seems to be easy to pick up extra shifts and to switch shifts around. The one from the Philippines is able to go home almost every other summer for 5-6 weeks and just makes up the time either before or after. The one was part-time until she got divorced and had no trouble going back to full-time for the extra money and health insurance benefits.

 

[LynnTH]

We've been told that the programs are highly competitive as well. Something like only 25% of qualified applicants are accepted. That left me scratching my head since there is such a shortage...why in the world not take more applicants if they are qualified?? Apparently, it comes down to instructors for the programs. Most nurses are making so much money in clinical work that they are not willing to leave that and go be an instructor for these programs. Since there is such an instructor shortage, there is also limited program spots and the nursing shortage continues.

I think the school she is looking at is at about 50% accepted. Will find out more next month. She just finished up her application and essays for Presidential scholarship which would be $5000 a year for 4 years. Not sure how many students get this. It also automatically applies her for the honors program, so hoping that will help her also.

Thanks to everyone for all the great info. It is really helpful to hear from others who are in that environment.

 

[miztressuz]

Here's one workaround. I was able to buy a "gift of prime membership" before the last price increase and pay with my gc balance. Then I canceled prime just before it was due to renew, waited a few days after it expired, and then used the gift membership for my next year of prime.

This That's the only way I'm aware to use a GC for Prime.

 

[miztressuz]

Got DH's PNC debit card today and get it all set up! So now I just need to do Amazon reloads with his debit card.

Does everyone usually pull the money back out once the bonus posts, or leave it in? It says no fee if there's a direct deposit of $2000, which I did, but I wasn't sure if that was monthly or just the initial one works to leave it fee free.

What you are avoiding is the monthly account fee, so each statement either has to have 2k in DDs or an average daily balance of 2k else you'll get hit with the fee.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Behind but trying to catch up. I'm just going to respond to what I've seen so far today.



Thanks for the reminder. DH and I just sat down today and were trying to figure out what to do with all the credits (as in, which airline(s) to choose. AA is so much more versatile for us than SW, but then I worry I'll need to fly to MDW and SW is the only direct from here. But then I'm locked into domestic... Ack I hate having to decide so early. Don't know where DD will be next year - this year was easy since she flies AA home for breaks.



Ah... good to know since we need $800 worth in total.



Good question. I haven't found another way (and I'm reluctant to sink all that cash into so many GCs). One tiny factor that helps is that TAs will give you some OBC if you book with them. Not a make or break amount, but every little bit counts (oh, and Costco gives store credit). Let me know if you find a good way! Are you considering DCL? Honestly I think it's a great product.

I was going to use URs for a Disney Cruise at some point. We’ll probably still do one someday - just trying to figure out options to use CC towards it

 

[DisneyMandC]

What you are avoiding is the monthly account fee, so each statement either has to have 2k in DDs or an average daily balance of 2k else you'll get hit with the fee.

Thanks! I'll just leave the money there. I tried to do a .50 Amazon reload with the card, but it was denied. Maybe too soon after activating my card? Not sure.

 

[calypso726]

Yay - my $250 stmt credit posted on my AA biz for my AA eGC. Now I just need to sell it for $200+ to get my cash in my pocket

I'll take that off your hands if you don't want to bother with listing it and are comfortable selling it to me. PM me where to PayPal, Venmo whatever.

Latest DPs say Amex airline fee credit now works on single AA GCs up to $250. I've seen DPs about single $200 AA GCs successfully crediting floating around for months.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ame...200-100-reimbursement-reports-aa-only-91.html

Aaaargh! I wish I would have seen that before I bought them all. I'll keep that in mind and look for DPs next year. Sigh.

So aside from buying discounted Disney GCs and cashing out URs to “reimburse” yourself, is there any viable and scaleable (ie you can earn a lot of pts easily) churning avenue to Disney Cruises right now?

The death of URs for Disney frustrates me continually, lol.

None that I can think of but if you are going that route, might as well earn 5x using a Chase Ink Cash at office supply stores.

Had DH add EBCI to a flight today to use BOA travel credit. I have a million things to do (including paying off our Disney Cruise today which is giving me a little anxiety) and just asked him to handle it. He somehow managed to put one EBCI on BOA card and the other on CitiBiz AA card.
BTW message @calypso726 , didn’t she says she might be interested in AA GC?

Yes, I did. I was wondering who was borrowing @Lain spreadsheet

 

[mmmears]

I'm surprised at how it seems like 1/2 of this thread is filled with nurses. Thank you for your time and care and compassion. My DM wanted me to be a nurse, but I run away at the sight of blood or pain and I just couldn't do it. I have a friend who is a NP and she loves her job. My mom may "sort of" get her wish since DD is going for med, which has a 45% acceptance rate nationally and will require many years and very large loans (so I stress over it and keep asking her if there isn't something else she might want to do). DD has 2 friends in direct to nursing programs, one at Georgetown and one at NYU. Good luck to the kids applying... it's tough to get a slot even though there is a shortage out there.

Amex Hilton public offers decreased.

I posted yesterday that the Ascend was showing up at 125K so it changed yesterday morning, or maybe even earlier than that? I only checked because DH's got that special offer for 130K and I wanted to see just how special it was. He's more interested in the Aspire, but we have to wait for a while before he goes for another AMEX.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Amex Hilton public offers decreased.

EDIT: OFFERS ONLY DECREASED ON THE NO AF CARD AND ASCEND!

Quoting this and Bolding for emphasis:

HILTON Public Offers have been decreased - HOWEVER...Increased Offers are still available via Support links:

The offer details via support link are:

• AMEX Hilton Honors - 100,000 Hilton pts. after spending $1,000 within 3 months
• AMEX Hilton Honors Ascend - 150,000 Hilton pts. after spending $3,000 within 3 months
• AMEX Hilton Honors Aspire - 150,000 Hilton pts. after spending $4,000 within 3 months
• AMEX Hilton Business Card - 125,000 Hilton pts. after spending $3,000 within 3 months

If one of these cards was in your immediate plans, it may make sense to look at it now. AMEX does play with their offers a lot though so it's possible increased offers will return or even be higher in the future. Also reminder to self-refer if you are able to and can generate the higher offer. If not please consider supporting a DISchurner Also - if anybody notices these support links stop working please let the group know.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I'll take that off your hands if you don't want to bother with listing it and are comfortable selling it to me. PM me where to PayPal, Venmo whatever.

If you need $200 more (or anyone else here) let me know

 

[mmmears]

I was going to use URs for a Disney Cruise at some point. We’ll probably still do one someday - just trying to figure out options to use CC towards it

TBH that was the whole reason (or a large part of the reason) why I joined in here and started getting URs. Sad that I won't get the chance to use them this way.