I love credit cards so much! v4.0 - 2021 (see first page for add'l details)

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

And on a happy note, as I sit here paying all my bills, I see my $500 bank bonus for BOA posted. YAY! Now time to look at another bank bonus!

 

[Alexle2007]

Can I transfer the points to my csp before I downgrade the card?

If you are keeping your CSP, you are golden because you can transfer from the CIC to CSP.

 

[MinnieMay]

In the wake of the remnants of Tropical Storm IDA, we were out of power, water, internet, and cell signal for 3 days. Just got it back!! Flooding and numerous trees and branches took down power lines on our property and all around the area. Lucky for us, no trees hit our house. Three days were brutal, though. I am so glad to have all my services back online.

I posted a few days ago about refinancing my mortgage with a home equity loan and I went ahead and applied today as soon as my internet came back. I decided to do that application first and then I will apply for a CIC. Too bad because I really could use a SUB... How long should I wait after the loan is approved before I apply?

 

[Alexle2007]

WWYD?

I have $2700 in taxes to pay. I am working on a MSR for the new IHG card I have. I've got about $1500 more to spend by 11/14. In other words, I will EASILY meet this spend. The fee to use a card is $74.

Does it make sense to use the IHG card and hit the spend? I'm sitting at 4/24. I am thinking of maybe trying the MDD next. I just got the IHG card in August, so I'm waiting a few till I apply for the CSR/CSP. Just adding this, as I don't have any other cards I'm looking at very soon. Hopefully I can had a MDD MSR to work on when I have to pay my winter taxes, LOL.

I have the CIU which gets the 1.5x. I'm thinking that doesn't make sense, as the points I get, don't offset the fee I have to pay.

Does it only make sense to use a CC when you're meeting a MSR? They charge for using a debit as well, so doing something like using VGC won't help me avoid the fees.

No, but if you use the CIC for VGCs, you are at 5x which is greater than the fee.

 

[catsinawindow]

Thoughts on whether the "pay yourself back" feature of CSP is worth it? My SUB just posted and I now see that there's a number of transactions that qualify for PYB (mostly restaurants and groceries). I was thinking of changing my URs to either Southwest RR for travel next summer or using them to book hotel stays through the Chase Travel Portal. But now I'm thinking that 1.25 cents/point is actually pretty good for PYB and maybe I should be looking at doing that first? Thoughts?

 

[trenty]

Thoughts on whether the "pay yourself back" feature of CSP is worth it? My SUB just posted and I now see that there's a number of transactions that qualify for PYB (mostly restaurants and groceries). I was thinking of changing my URs to either Southwest RR for travel next summer or using them to book hotel stays through the Chase Travel Portal. But now I'm thinking that 1.25 cents/point is actually pretty good for PYB and maybe I should be looking at doing that first? Thoughts?

For me, it depends on what I want to use the URs for. I always use them for travel so I never used PYB, just to use it and get the 1.25. I know people here do that though and then transfer money saved into a vacation savings account. You could do that and then use the cash for travel. But I wouldn't for Southwest. If you transfer the URs to SW, and then use the RR points for booking flights, the flights are refundable with points. So if the fare goes down, SW will refund your points. If you book SW with cash and the fare goes down (or you have to cancel), they issue a travel credit that has restrictions (must be used within a year of booking date; only the person on the ticket can use the credit.)

BUT - I did use PYB to buy a lot of Disney gift cards before my last trip.

 

[happ]

Thoughts on whether the "pay yourself back" feature of CSP is worth it? My SUB just posted and I now see that there's a number of transactions that qualify for PYB (mostly restaurants and groceries). I was thinking of changing my URs to either Southwest RR for travel next summer or using them to book hotel stays through the Chase Travel Portal. But now I'm thinking that 1.25 cents/point is actually pretty good for PYB and maybe I should be looking at doing that first? Thoughts?

PYB is great! You won't get 1.25 transferring to SW, but you will get it for the hotel stays through the portal. It's really a matter of whether you want to save your points for later. I used PYB to buy myself a new lawn tractor. There's no guarantee that PYB is here permanently, but hopefully it will stay.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

No, but if you use the CIC for VGCs, you are at 5x which is greater than the fee.

I guess that is true....hmmm.....I not sure if I want to do all the transactions though using VCG, LOL.

 

[MinnieMay]

Thoughts on whether the "pay yourself back" feature of CSP is worth it? My SUB just posted and I now see that there's a number of transactions that qualify for PYB (mostly restaurants and groceries). I was thinking of changing my URs to either Southwest RR for travel next summer or using them to book hotel stays through the Chase Travel Portal. But now I'm thinking that 1.25 cents/point is actually pretty good for PYB and maybe I should be looking at doing that first? Thoughts?

I love PYB. I decided I'd rather use my UR to PYB for other expenses than use them to book hotels. Whenever I stay at hotels using Chase UR, many of the hotels tend to treat me like a second class citizen (cause they say I booked through Expedia). Don't get me wrong, I will still do it, but if I use PYB for all expenses that qualify first and then book hotels if i have any left. Plus, I just book hotels directly, I earn points on those stays. I hope PYB stays.

 

[catsinawindow]

For me, it depends on what I want to use the URs for. I always use them for travel so I never used PYB, just to use it and get the 1.25. I know people here do that though and then transfer money saved into a vacation savings account. You could do that and then use the cash for travel. But I wouldn't for Southwest. If you transfer the URs to SW, and then use the RR points for booking flights, the flights are refundable with points. So if the fare goes down, SW will refund your points. If you book SW with cash and the fare goes down (or you have to cancel), they issue a travel credit that has restrictions (must be used within a year of booking date; only the person on the ticket can use the credit.)

BUT - I did use PYB to buy a lot of Disney gift cards before my last trip.

Thanks for this info on booking Southwest flights with points versus cash. I also have SW points from the SUB of a SW card, although it won't be quite enough to cover flights next summer for the whole family. I am thinking of referring DH for his own SW card (he already has CSP) once the startup bonus is good again and he's a few months out from his last application, so hopefully we can get enough SW points between those two cards to cover our flights. PYB sounds like a good option, so I'll likely use at least some of my URs for that in the meantime!

 

[wanderlust7]

Thoughts on whether the "pay yourself back" feature of CSP is worth it? My SUB just posted and I now see that there's a number of transactions that qualify for PYB (mostly restaurants and groceries). I was thinking of changing my URs to either Southwest RR for travel next summer or using them to book hotel stays through the Chase Travel Portal. But now I'm thinking that 1.25 cents/point is actually pretty good for PYB and maybe I should be looking at doing that first? Thoughts?

If the hotel stay is a Hyatt, you should also compare transferring the UR to Hyatt. You can often get more than 1.25 cent per point value, but depends on the cash rate.

 

[havaneselover]

Staples has visa $200 gift cards on sale starting tomorrow. I'll go before I take my van in for an oil change. First oil change in a year as I only put 6,000 miles on it last year. I'd been averaging 18,000 pre-pandemic.

And I close on my refi on Wednesday. Chase was so easy to work with. Next I need to pick my bathroom vanity, counter, and tile. And once I can close I can start thinking about another card but I'm still working on my retention bonus on my CS Amex (I figure with some bathroom purchase I will wipe that spend out pretty quickly).

 

[EACarlson]

not strictly CC related, but I am thinking of buying a new car. I know some of you have been able to put a few thousand on a credit card (seems to be highly dealership-dependent)... for those who've been successful, do you just ask at signing if you can do that?

And,

Has anyone bought a new car recently? Is this a terrible time (low supply) to do so, do you think? It's not critical to have a new one right now. I just paid off both motorcycles so gosh, I feel like I need another vehicle payment...

I bought a late model used car last year and the dealer told me the limit I could put on my visa was 2k. It varies by dealer how much they will let you do. I've seen reports of people being able to do up to 10k on their Amex Plat.
I wouldn't be opposed to buying a new vehicle now, but I would definitely be ordering it exactly how I want rather than just taking whatever is on the lot. You aren't going to find many great deals, if that is a prime consideration I'd be waiting a couple years.

Thoughts on whether the "pay yourself back" feature of CSP is worth it? My SUB just posted and I now see that there's a number of transactions that qualify for PYB (mostly restaurants and groceries). I was thinking of changing my URs to either Southwest RR for travel next summer or using them to book hotel stays through the Chase Travel Portal. But now I'm thinking that 1.25 cents/point is actually pretty good for PYB and maybe I should be looking at doing that first? Thoughts?

I don't find it useful to me, I could see using it to offset costs for home improvements during the pandemic, of if you were having a cash flow issue. Otherwise I'd prefer to save the points for use once travel is available again. I don't book through the Chase portal for my hotel stays. I guess that will change next year with the $50 credit for a hotel room booked through the portal.

I love PYB. I decided I'd rather use my UR to PYB for other expenses than use them to book hotels. Whenever I stay at hotels using Chase UR, many of the hotels tend to treat me like a second class citizen (cause they say I booked through Expedia). Don't get me wrong, I will still do it, but if I use PYB for all expenses that qualify first and then book hotels if i have any left. Plus, I just book hotels directly, I earn points on those stays. I hope PYB stays.

That's exactly what it is, an expedia stay. I will always book directly with hotels, but will transfer to Hyatt for some redemptions.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Okay I'm just filled with questions today....as I am avoiding doing landscaping work outside, LOL. Best Buy sent me an email that they are going to close my card since I haven't used it. I opened it a few years back to get the 0% offer when I was buying a washer/dryer. I obv NEVER use the card. Is it worth it to go buy something (small) and keep it open? Or let it close? It has a $4 CL and I have like 2874736654 cards, LOL.

 

[wanderlust7]

Questions for my mom. She hit her spend on the CSP and got the 100k URs (she did in branch, so she did get the 80 + 20). Part of her spend was $1400 for an AirBNB she's cancelling. She's gotten the points. She's going to keep spending on the card, so she's hopefully she'll be over the $4k spend, but if she's not, does Chase claw back? I've told her to run to OD/OM and grab some giftcards, LOL. I don't know exactly when her 90 days are up, and how close she'll be.

Chase isn't known to claw back. Good practice to make it up, but I think she doesn't need to worry too much about being within the time period. Amex would be a totally different story!

WWYD?

I have $2700 in taxes to pay. I am working on a MSR for the new IHG card I have. I've got about $1500 more to spend by 11/14. In other words, I will EASILY meet this spend. The fee to use a card is $74.

Does it make sense to use the IHG card and hit the spend? I'm sitting at 4/24. I am thinking of maybe trying the MDD next. I just got the IHG card in August, so I'm waiting a few till I apply for the CSR/CSP. Just adding this, as I don't have any other cards I'm looking at very soon. Hopefully I can had a MDD MSR to work on when I have to pay my winter taxes, LOL.

I have the CIU which gets the 1.5x. I'm thinking that doesn't make sense, as the points I get, don't offset the fee I have to pay.

Does it only make sense to use a CC when you're meeting a MSR? They charge for using a debit as well, so doing something like using VGC won't help me avoid the fees.

I pay all my taxes with fees to meet MSR. I plan out when I get cards based on when the taxes are due. But I think it only makes sense if you wouldn't meet the MSR with a no fee way. It wouldn't make sense to pay the fee and meet the MSR, only to have $1500 no fee spend that's not going towards any MSR.

 

[Alexle2007]

I guess that is true....hmmm.....I not sure if I want to do all the transactions though using VCG, LOL.

I have $23k in private school tuition that I happily do it for. $193.00 for tuition, $5.50 fee and $1.50 to Amazon, rinse and repeat, over and over.

 

[Alexle2007]

Staples has visa $200 gift cards on sale starting tomorrow. I'll go before I take my van in for an oil change. First oil change in a year as I only put 6,000 miles on it last year. I'd been averaging 18,000 pre-pandemic.

And I close on my refi on Wednesday. Chase was so easy to work with. Next I need to pick my bathroom vanity, counter, and tile. And once I can close I can start thinking about another card but I'm still working on my retention bonus on my CS Amex (I figure with some bathroom purchase I will wipe that spend out pretty quickly).

Beat me to it! Hopefully I’ll make it this time.

 

[Alexle2007]

Decisions, decisions… Renaissance SeaWorld or Gaylord to use some free nights? Nothing special planned. Originally was going to do the Grand Cypress but figure I should burn some FNC certs and save my Hyatt points.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I have $23k in private school tuition that I happily do it for. $193.00 for tuition, $5.50 fee and $1.50 to Amazon, rinse and repeat, over and over.

I'm impressed! I need to figure out the fee....I was thinking that too, I'm going to have all these leftover small amount VGC, LOL.

I guess if I can find 13 cards this next week, maybe I'll do it.

 

[Judique]

Can I transfer the points to my csp before I downgrade the card?

Yes!