- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Am I using the right card for my lifestyle and goals?
Posted on 11/9/14 at 2:56 pm
Posted on 11/9/14 at 2:56 pm
OK MB experts. I'm trying to figure out if I'm doing this right. I got the Barclays card this spring on the advice of members of this board. I basically use it for 95% of my purchase because of the 2 points for each dollar spent. The only place I don't use it is Krogers because I have a Kroger card and I get the fuel points.
Since I got the card and the 40K points that came with it, I'm now at 130K points.
A pleasure flight I'm looking at is going to cost me around $1200 for 2 tickets, effectively eating up my points.
In my mind when I got the card, I thought for 130K points I would ultimately be able to get at least a couple of flights, and with my spending, I was expecting to be able to get a couple of free flights per year for the Mrs. and I to travel.
Is my issue the card, or just the flight prices? My main airline is Delta, and I have a Delta Amex card I use for Delta flights and purchases, but I think it's just a 1-1 return on other expenses.
Am I thinking about this wrong? I got the Barclay card because it seemed to be the best card for throwing all your purchases on one card, but maybe my strategy is wrong.
Is that enough info to help me? I supposed at the end of the day, I was thinking with my CC spending each year with the right rewards programs, I could get the equivalent of 4 flights for free per year. Doesn't look to be that way unless the cost of flights come down a lot. Should I look to segregate my purchases to different cards?
Since I got the card and the 40K points that came with it, I'm now at 130K points.
A pleasure flight I'm looking at is going to cost me around $1200 for 2 tickets, effectively eating up my points.
In my mind when I got the card, I thought for 130K points I would ultimately be able to get at least a couple of flights, and with my spending, I was expecting to be able to get a couple of free flights per year for the Mrs. and I to travel.
Is my issue the card, or just the flight prices? My main airline is Delta, and I have a Delta Amex card I use for Delta flights and purchases, but I think it's just a 1-1 return on other expenses.
Am I thinking about this wrong? I got the Barclay card because it seemed to be the best card for throwing all your purchases on one card, but maybe my strategy is wrong.
Is that enough info to help me? I supposed at the end of the day, I was thinking with my CC spending each year with the right rewards programs, I could get the equivalent of 4 flights for free per year. Doesn't look to be that way unless the cost of flights come down a lot. Should I look to segregate my purchases to different cards?
4
Posted on 11/9/14 at 3:20 pm to kywildcatfanone
I already answered this question when you wrote it in the other thread days ago.
Was it not thorough enough? Or was the explanation confusing or incomplete?
LINK
Was it not thorough enough? Or was the explanation confusing or incomplete?
LINK
This post was edited on 11/9/14 at 3:24 pm
Posted on 11/9/14 at 3:42 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
Teddy, OK, in that thread I was asking specifically about flights on that card, in this thread I'm trying to determine if I should stick with that card or look at other card options based upon my expectations.
I feel like I was asking 2 different things, but both around the same category. Sorry if I'm not being clear.
I feel like I was asking 2 different things, but both around the same category. Sorry if I'm not being clear.
Posted on 11/9/14 at 3:48 pm to kywildcatfanone
To answer your question we have to know where you're trying to go.
Are you flying domestic or international or both? How often?
Delta, 3/4 flights a year and "this flight is $1200" isn't enough info.
Where is that flight going? Why is it so much if that isn't international?
Are you flying domestic or international or both? How often?
Delta, 3/4 flights a year and "this flight is $1200" isn't enough info.
Where is that flight going? Why is it so much if that isn't international?
This post was edited on 11/9/14 at 3:49 pm
Posted on 11/9/14 at 3:48 pm to kywildcatfanone
quote:
it seemed to be the best card for throwing all your purchases on one card, but maybe my strategy is wrong.
This is wrong. You rape the bonus and then move on. Don't focus on one card.
To put it in sexual terms, always hit and quit.
Posted on 11/9/14 at 3:50 pm to I Love Bama
quote:
This is wrong. You rape the bonus and then move on. Don't focus on one card.
Yes and No.
I do a bit of both raping and keeping. Some people find this to get too complicated so it's easier to go with 1-3 cards.
I keep this Barclay card in my arsenal because at minimum I can generate over $350-fee (if your spouse cooperates more like $700)a year without even buying anything. So I use it to cover ticket taxes, parking, little stuff like that
This post was edited on 11/9/14 at 3:53 pm
Posted on 11/9/14 at 3:53 pm to I Love Bama
Do you cancel the card after quitting it? Or do you have a stack of cards you just don't use?
Posted on 11/9/14 at 3:55 pm to secondandshort
quote:
Do you cancel the card after quitting it?
Depends. If it has a fee, yes or downgrade to no fee version. If it has no fee, keep it or cancel to get bonus again later when clock resets.
quote:
Or do you have a stack of cards you just don't use?
You'll always have this
Posted on 11/9/14 at 3:57 pm to secondandshort
Teddy has a point but I always cancel before the year is over so I don't pay a fee or I only pay it once.
You should try for the Chase Ink right now. 70,000 point bonus. I've got almost 200,000 chase points in less than a year.
You should try for the Chase Ink right now. 70,000 point bonus. I've got almost 200,000 chase points in less than a year.
Posted on 11/9/14 at 3:59 pm to I Love Bama
You can generate so many points if you keep that Ink card too. I love it (both of the ones I have )*
*they stopped offering Bold
)* *they stopped offering Bold
This post was edited on 11/9/14 at 4:00 pm
Posted on 11/9/14 at 4:08 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
I don't keep any card that has a yearly fee. I bit the bullet on the Ink card because thats roughly $700 - $900 in travel.
Posted on 11/9/14 at 4:12 pm to I Love Bama
quote:
I don't keep any card that has a yearly fee.
I can generate 25,000 points a month on an Ink card at a max cost of $125 (if I wanted, I do a little less) so that's why I keep it.
But ya, if you can rotate enough you can keep thay going for awhile. Except Amex. I keep SPG since you can't churn it at all for life
This post was edited on 11/9/14 at 4:13 pm
Posted on 11/9/14 at 4:13 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:
Where is that flight going? Why is it so much if that isn't international?
Flights from the Lexington/Louisville/Cincinnati area to South Florida, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach.
My wife is a teacher, so that the times we fly on vacation, it's peak times. Have paid over $1K the last 2 years on two coach tickets. Next year is currently $1200 or so.
Posted on 11/9/14 at 4:17 pm to I Love Bama
quote:
You rape the bonus and then move on. Don't focus on one card.
Doesn't this harm your credit to flip cards constantly? Don't the card companies catch on and cut you off?
Posted on 11/9/14 at 4:17 pm to kywildcatfanone
I'd look into earning and burning Southwest personal cards between you and your wife only when Chase is offering the 50k bonus.
Chase has two personal cards Premier and Plus both offering the 50k after 2 spend for $99 and $69.(50k bonus happening now but limited time but offered a few times a year)
You and your wife therefore can earn this bonus 4 separate times over time.
Remember, she can apply and get very card you do SEPARATELY.
So, essentially, every card bonus you see can be earned twice by yall. A benefit of having a nice life pal
Chase has two personal cards Premier and Plus both offering the 50k after 2 spend for $99 and $69.(50k bonus happening now but limited time but offered a few times a year)
You and your wife therefore can earn this bonus 4 separate times over time.
Remember, she can apply and get very card you do SEPARATELY.
So, essentially, every card bonus you see can be earned twice by yall. A benefit of having a nice life pal
This post was edited on 11/9/14 at 4:21 pm
Posted on 11/9/14 at 4:19 pm to kywildcatfanone
quote:
Doesn't this harm your credit to flip cards constantly? Don't the card companies catch on and cut you off?
If you have good credit, it will be negligible. But don't take my word for it. Google and educate yourself.
Card companies are far more lenient than you think. Some more so than others. Again, you have to read aaround and educate yourself.
If it gets too much to handle, there is nothing wrong with simply doing 2% cash back on Fidelity Amex or Citi's card
This post was edited on 11/9/14 at 4:30 pm
Posted on 11/9/14 at 5:04 pm to kywildcatfanone
You people with your miles and points remind me of 1950s housewives pasting their S&H green stamps in the book and always shopping on double stamp day to get that elusive silver-plated serving bowl in two years.
Posted on 11/9/14 at 5:06 pm to Layabout
quote:
You people with your miles and points remind me of 1950s housewives pasting their S&H green stamps in the book and always shopping on double stamp day to get that elusive silver-plated serving bowl in two years.
Close, if that bowl was a two week vacation to SE Asia with hotel and airfare for two people costing a few hundred bucks
The math is sound. If you mess it up that's on you.
This post was edited on 11/9/14 at 5:08 pm
Posted on 11/9/14 at 5:18 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
Thanks Teddy. will look into the Southwest card. Would prefer to fly in and out of Lexington, but can do Louisville if the price is right.
Do you space your card changes out over a year or so, to get the bonus points, but not flip too quickly?
I have a 800+ credit score, and don't want to modify that significantly.
Do you space your card changes out over a year or so, to get the bonus points, but not flip too quickly?
I have a 800+ credit score, and don't want to modify that significantly.
Posted on 11/9/14 at 5:32 pm to kywildcatfanone
quote:
Do you space your card changes out over a year or so, to get the bonus points, but not flip too quickly?
It's based on a few factors:
Where do I want to go?
What is the best way to get there? Sometimes cash is preferable.
When am I going? You may need more or less time to get everything in order.
How many applications have I done in the last 90 days overall? How many cards do I have with this company overall? What is the general "attitude" of this bank? Ie some banks will issue you 5 credit cards and let you churn relentlessly. Others like Barclay's don't like issuing cards to people who don't use their cards past the bonus threshold.
You need to have a good reason IMO for every application you do or you just become a hoarder. Points lose value over time if not used. And a billion points is worth zero if you don't use them.
quote:
I have a 800+ credit score, and don't want to modify that significantly.
Anything over 760 is essentially worthless for interest rates for home/car. Keeping an 800 score is an ego driven accomplishment. Not to say it isn't great and congratulations, but good credit is an asset that can be leveraged. It's worth nothing if you don't.
This post was edited on 11/9/14 at 5:38 pm
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News