re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion

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Is it ok to go to Staples buy two $200 Visa gift cards (is it still 5x on Ink if buying gift cards in an office store?) then go to Walmart or something for two money orders then use those for purchase?

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Yes and yes. At the WM register, tell the rep that you want to buy a $400 MO and you want to do a split transaction of 2x$200. Have 70c in cash to pay for MO fee. This way you will be able to unload both GCs into a single $400 MO.

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How do you get so many? The reason I got this one was because of my roommate. I've since moved out. So don't know how I will be able to get my hands on any more.

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I used to receive some family members' mail at my house while they were in transition between job/cities. Apparently it was long enough for some banks to pick them up as residents at my house. I literally get an AA 50k mailer every 2 or 3 months in one of their names. I just got another one actually, so I now have two waiting to be used.

As long as it has been at least 2 years (24 months) since you got your last bonus (if any), you are eligible to apply and get the signing bonus on Chase cards, including the Ink.

Here is an offer for 60K: LINK.

You may be able to get an extra 10K match from Chase. If you get approved, report back and I can let you know how.

Oh fun fact I found out about, Hyatt's policy is no blackout reward dates as long as standard rate rooms are available.


Basically, if you are trying to book Park City Centric for New Years ski trip that is $1000+/night on points, they will let you book it for 15,000 points despite no redemption available online.

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s long as it has been at least 2 years (24 months) since you got your last bonus (if any), you are eligible to apply and get the signing bonus on Chase cards, including the Ink.

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Ok- I'm fixing to get the 50,000 from my new personal CSP, but I don't think my LLC has gotten a reward in a while. Does that make a difference? If the annual fee was waived the first year, I'd definitely apply for it, but I don't want to spend $95 and not get the bonus.

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Ok- I'm fixing to get the 50,000 from my new personal CSP, but I don't think my LLC has gotten a reward in a while. Does that make a difference? If the annual fee was waived the first year, I'd definitely apply for it, but I don't want to spend $95 and not get the bonus

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CSP and Ink are two different products. One will not affect the other. Keep calm and apply

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Oh fun fact I found out about, Hyatt's policy is no blackout reward dates as long as standard rate rooms are available.

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Hyatt and every other chain. If you see standard room availability and it is not showing you a points rate, simply call in and they will be able to book. Hyatt, SPG, Hilton..doesn't matter.

Looks like it would be a 1.64c/point redemption. That is a solid redemption in my experience.

Generally speaking, SW seems to value $1 at 70 points which is ~1.4c per point from what I have read. Anything above that is gravy train

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How do you calculate this exactly? thx

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$400 = 19k + $88 fees
$318 = 19k points (take out fees which are in both prices)
$318/(19,000) = Value of 1 Point (Divide by how many points to get value of each point)

1.64c = 1 point

Again - If you open this app link, you will notice the terms are: "This new cardmember bonus offer is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of this business credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of this business credit card who received a new cardmember bonus for this business credit card within the last 24 months."

This holds for all Chase cards. If you are not eligible for the bonus, Chase will deny you. But if you have not received this bonus in the last 24 months and get the card using something like the offer above, you will be eligible for the 60K points.

tigers444

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I'm looking at a flight on SW to Mexico and it would cost me 19k miles + $88 in fees roundtrip. It would be $400 without the points. Value wise, would this be a good choice to use the points? TIA

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Building on what GenesChin accurately described, I must add that I don't bother myself with the value of SW points typically. This is because SW points are revenue based. As long as SW is selling a ticket on a flight, that seat can be had for a formula driven amount of points. SW points typically come out to value around 1.4c-1.7c per point. Difference is marginal. This is unlike Zone or distance based programs where the per point value is much more relevant.

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SW points typically come out to value around 1.4c-1.7c per point.

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This.