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re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion
Posted on 7/23/15 at 2:59 pm to SouthOfSouth
Posted on 7/23/15 at 2:59 pm to SouthOfSouth
I buy Amazon gift cards with my AMEX Blue Cash preferred + Pen Fed Gas card at grocery store. They get 6% (grocery cap $6k) & 3% back respectively at the grocery store.
PenFed get 5% gas and no fee
PenFed get 5% gas and no fee
1
Posted on 7/23/15 at 3:06 pm to SouthOfSouth
I got a question for the manufacturing spending people. If I buy VISA money cards from CVS or Walgreens. Is there a limit to how many i can buy in a transaction?
Posted on 7/23/15 at 3:14 pm to GenesChin
quote:Yeah I buy my Amazon gift cards at Office Depot for 5% points with Chase Ink Plus.
I buy Amazon gift cards with my AMEX Blue Cash preferred
I'll just go pick up a few hundred dollars with it and load and use as needed. I spend an unfortunate amount on Amazon so I seem to be there once a month.
Posted on 7/23/15 at 3:16 pm to Civildawg
$2k limit. It's a 24 hour cycle. Clock doesn't reset at midnight.
And you can't just go to another CVS. They track it by making you swipe your ID.
And you can't just go to another CVS. They track it by making you swipe your ID.
Posted on 7/23/15 at 4:22 pm to SouthOfSouth
I'm only seeing $30 for the Amazon Card.
Posted on 7/23/15 at 4:28 pm to LSUtoOmaha
quote:
I'm only seeing $30 for the Amazon Card.
Maybe it was a Prime Day deal. I spent $150 that day and only got charged $70. It was pretty awesome.
Posted on 7/24/15 at 1:18 pm to SouthOfSouth
I know I've posted my plan before, but now that I'm getting to the next app (about to finish my three months with the Ink Plus), I figured I would revisit to see if anything has changed:
I currently have a Freedom, no-fee Sapphire, Ink Bold, and Ink Plus. My next planned app will be for a Barclaycard Arrival+ for a few reasons. First, it will fill the gap in 2x travel left by downgrading my CSP (and will continue to do so even after I downgrade to the Arrival in a year). Second, it would be my first and only chip and pin card. Third, being it wipes out charges after they are made, I can use points in instances in which I normally can't, such as using a corporate code on a hotel website.
With all of that said, are there any cards that would better serve me at this point?
I currently have a Freedom, no-fee Sapphire, Ink Bold, and Ink Plus. My next planned app will be for a Barclaycard Arrival+ for a few reasons. First, it will fill the gap in 2x travel left by downgrading my CSP (and will continue to do so even after I downgrade to the Arrival in a year). Second, it would be my first and only chip and pin card. Third, being it wipes out charges after they are made, I can use points in instances in which I normally can't, such as using a corporate code on a hotel website.
With all of that said, are there any cards that would better serve me at this point?
Posted on 7/24/15 at 1:33 pm to Joshjrn
quote:So, you're getting 5x on gas 6 months out of the year, and 2% the other 6 months. That's good.
I currently have a Freedom, no-fee Sapphire, Ink Bold, and Ink Plus.
You're covering household bills with the Inks. That's good.
You get 2% back at restaurants 9 months and 5% 3 months. That's good.
Where else do you spend your money? Grocery(not called Target or Walmart), restaurants, hotels?
Where are you looking to beef up points?
I'd take 1 Starpoint(SPG Amex) over 2 Arrivals points all day. I don't think the $95 is justifable anymore, and it doesn't really sound like you need a category card.
This post was edited on 7/24/15 at 1:34 pm
Posted on 7/24/15 at 1:47 pm to LSUAfro
quote:
So, you're getting 5x on gas 6 months out of the year, and 2% the other 6 months. That's good.
2x half the year? I just have to take a few more trips to Office Depot to buy Shell gift cards with my Ink those months
I spend an obscene amount of money at restaurants (currently going on my no fee Sapphire, some of which would migrate to the Arrival/Arrival+). The bulk of my shopping occurs on Amazon or at Whole Foods (I buy gift cards with the Ink at 5x for Amazon and 7x for WF through the UR portal) and Trader Joe's (speaking of, is anyone aware of an office supply store that sells gift cards for TJ?).
I rarely spend money at hotels, but when I do, it goes on my Ink at 2x.
Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm necessarily looking to beef up points (unless there is something out there I'm just not aware of) as much as I'm looking to add flexibility by being able to wipe out charges on the back end, along with the other things listed.
ETA: I would have no intention of paying the annual fee for the +. I would downgrade to the no-fee arrival at the end of the year. The Ink Plus is my only planned "eat the fee" card for now (they keep waiving my Bold fee every time I call to cancel).
This post was edited on 7/24/15 at 1:51 pm
Posted on 7/24/15 at 1:57 pm to Joshjrn
quote:Ah...yeah. I was referring to the Freedom bonus, but Ink is the way to go if you're willing to put in the extra work.
2x half the year? I just have to take a few more trips to Office Depot to buy Shell gift cards with my Ink those months
quote:
I spend an obscene amount of money at restaurants (currently going on my no fee Sapphire, some of which would migrate to the Arrival/Arrival+)
Same here. I sadly maxed out the Freedom quarterly bonus on my card and my wife's card.
Does the Sapphire allow you to transfer to the Ink?
If it does, 2x Chase UR points are still better than 2x cash back on travel on Barclays.
I use the Hyatt personal card or the United Biz card for restaurants since they both get 2x and I use the crap out of Hyatt points.
quote:
Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm necessarily looking to beef up points (unless there is something out there I'm just not aware of) as much as I'm looking to add flexibility by being able to wipe out charges on the back end, along with the other things listed.
Sounds like it would be a good card for you then. I'm sure I'll get it again at some point to cover some random expenses not covered by points, but I just wouldn't throw any spend on it. Unless you have an AMEX Serve card collecting free money on it for you like others on this board.
This post was edited on 7/24/15 at 1:58 pm
Posted on 7/24/15 at 2:05 pm to LSUAfro
quote:
Does the Sapphire allow you to transfer to the Ink?
To my knowledge, all of the Chase cards do. I've had no issue transferring both from my Freedom and no-fee Sapphire to my Ink.
quote:
I use the Hyatt personal card or the United Biz card for restaurants since they both get 2x and I use the crap out of Hyatt points.
I use a ton of Hyatt points as well, but since they transfer from my Sapphire, I've never seen the need to get a branded card. You're right, though. I should keep all of my restaurant spending on my Sapphire. I'm going to have a real decision on my hands when I become eligible to reapply for a Sapphire Preferred and get the bonus again considering I wouldn't be able to downgrade like I did the last time my fee came due.
As for the Serve, I'm embarrassed to say that I got one only to never load it and have it cancelled on me. Just never took the effort to learn exactly how to use it properly. Maybe one day
Posted on 7/24/15 at 3:36 pm to Joshjrn
You'll have no problem transferring Chase points to any other Chase account you hold. I have a no fee sapphire on my wife's account, and I send that points to her Freedom then to my Bold all the time. The transfer to the freedom is only done because the site gets fidgety sometimes and doesn't link my Bold at times to her cards, but its not prohibited. I transfer my Freedom to Bold all the time too.
As for Arrival+, one year is fine, but after that I think its a cancel. I'm moving my 1X spend all to SPG for all time now even if the added expense. I'm not willing to give up the point flexibility yet. While I like the idea of non-award travel being credited back to you with Arrival, that can effectively achieve it with a no fee cash back card at 2%. And of course, as Fro noted, you could use something else on those 1x costs that are more valuable.
I only kept my Arrival past one year because the Serve points were easy to offset. But I'm not going to two years on it.
Still good for GC liquidation, but no more CC loading unless you're grandfathered in/they catch us.
As for Arrival+, one year is fine, but after that I think its a cancel. I'm moving my 1X spend all to SPG for all time now even if the added expense. I'm not willing to give up the point flexibility yet. While I like the idea of non-award travel being credited back to you with Arrival, that can effectively achieve it with a no fee cash back card at 2%. And of course, as Fro noted, you could use something else on those 1x costs that are more valuable.
I only kept my Arrival past one year because the Serve points were easy to offset. But I'm not going to two years on it.
quote:
As for the Serve, I'm embarrassed to say that I got one only to never load it and have it cancelled on me. Just never took the effort to learn exactly how to use it properly. Maybe one day
Still good for GC liquidation, but no more CC loading unless you're grandfathered in/they catch us.
This post was edited on 7/24/15 at 3:38 pm
Posted on 7/24/15 at 3:43 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
I actually claimed I was going to cancel my AMEX SPG this year when the fee comes due, but after thinking about it, I'm not.
I forget that Small business Saturday comes with a free $30 credit per card and since my wife is an authorized user, her card is also eligible for the $30 credit. I can usually take advantage of other Amex offers to offset the annual fee and I bet I could get another 3-5k Starpoints just for threatening to cancel.
Never thought I'd be paying $500/year in credit card fees
.
I forget that Small business Saturday comes with a free $30 credit per card and since my wife is an authorized user, her card is also eligible for the $30 credit. I can usually take advantage of other Amex offers to offset the annual fee and I bet I could get another 3-5k Starpoints just for threatening to cancel.
Never thought I'd be paying $500/year in credit card fees
. 
Posted on 7/24/15 at 3:45 pm to Joshjrn
quote:
I spend an obscene amount of money at restaurants (currently going on my no fee Sapphire, some of which would migrate to the Arrival/Arrival+). The bulk of my shopping occurs on Amazon or at Whole Foods (I buy gift cards with the Ink at 5x for Amazon and 7x for WF through the UR portal) and Trader Joe's (speaking of, is anyone aware of an office supply store that sells gift cards for TJ?).
You get x5 at amazon with Ink?
Posted on 7/24/15 at 4:12 pm to fatboydave
quote:
You get x5 at amazon with Ink?
Yes, buy Amazon GC at Office Depot/Office Max/Staples whoever has them and then load them to Amazon.
Posted on 7/24/15 at 4:12 pm to LSUAfro
quote:
I forget that Small business Saturday comes with a free $30 credit per card and since my wife is an authorized user, her card is also eligible for the $30 credit. I can usually take advantage of other Amex offers to offset the annual fee and I bet I could get another 3-5k Starpoints just for threatening to cancel.
No worries. I need to be much much better about Amex Small Business Saturdays. I've been asleep at the wheel with Amex offers as well.
Posted on 7/24/15 at 4:14 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
I can confirm that the Office Depot on College in Baton Rouge carries Amazon cards pretty consistently.
ETA: Why cancel the Arrival+ instead of downgrading to Arrival? It still has 2x travel and dining, no foreign transaction fees, and chip and pin tech (which is rare for cards here).
ETA: Why cancel the Arrival+ instead of downgrading to Arrival? It still has 2x travel and dining, no foreign transaction fees, and chip and pin tech (which is rare for cards here).
This post was edited on 7/24/15 at 4:18 pm
Posted on 7/24/15 at 4:41 pm to Joshjrn
quote:
Why cancel the Arrival+ instead of downgrading to Arrival? It still has 2x travel and dining, no foreign transaction fees, and chip and pin tech (which is rare for cards here)
Dining is already covered by Chase which I value more.
2 X Hotels are covered by Ink and Bold
I'm not paying a whole lot for "travel" outside of hotels anyways since I'm using awards pretty much all the time.
I value canceling and getting the card later more than keeping it.
I have it until January. I suspect Chip and PIN will be more widely in use on American cards by the end of 2016 when I'll be planning another trip. I can use Arrival+ for Thailand this December before getting rid of it.
My wife has a downgraded Arrival we don't even think about too if push comes to shove.
This post was edited on 7/24/15 at 4:45 pm
Posted on 7/24/15 at 4:48 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
That's fair.
I think I'm going to get the Arrival+ for now (in the next month or two), use it for any spending that would normally be 1x for me, then survey the landscape in mid to late 2016 and see where we are.
I think I'm going to get the Arrival+ for now (in the next month or two), use it for any spending that would normally be 1x for me, then survey the landscape in mid to late 2016 and see where we are.
Posted on 7/24/15 at 4:50 pm to Joshjrn
quote:
I think I'm going to get the Arrival+ for now (in the next month or two), use it for any spending that would normally be 1x for me, then survey the landscape in mid to late 2016 and see where we are.
I think that's perfectly reasonable. Especially if you have non-award cost coming up in the first year. Perfect for that.
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