re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion

Can you guys please give me your opinion on my current credit card situation:

I have both CSR and Freedom. My annual fee is due in the end of March. I am already using my 2nd annual $300 travel credit and I plan on using the rest of my sign up bonus to plan trips for the rest of the year since it's worth more when you book with Chase through that card than the Freedom.


I don't necessarily want to pay the $450 annual fee as I am not really an OT baller and don't want to cough up $450 at the moment...What should I do? Flat out cancel it and just use my Freedom for everyday purchases? Downgrade to CSP and pay the $95 annual fee? Or is there a better card out there for everyday use? I only spend about $1,500 per month on the CSR.

I've never closed any of my CC accounts (few entry cards and store cards) and have 11 total. Credit score is 811-815.

Also got a Marriott offering waiving the $95 annual fee and 75k in rewards? Worth grabbing and using the points for hotel rooms this year then canceling the following?



Any help/thoughts would be appreciated

I was under the impression that you couldn't have both freedom and freedom unlimited. I already have Freedom.

If true it may be best to just close the CSR and upgrade the Freedom to Freedom Unlimited since the account has been open longer?


ETA: Looks like I am wrong. Looks like you can have both Freedom and Freedom Unlimited. I'm not sure why I thought you could only have one or the other.

If you are under 5/24 then you could pick up other Chase cards for more UR signup bonuses. The ink preferred has a 80k signup now. The UR earning cards as you know can transfer into Marriott and some of the other hotel and airlines.

Some of the Hyatt Places are good redemption.

I need to check these Hyatt Zilaras out.

The CSR BestBuy/ChasePay deal shows up at 1x pt rather than 10x pts and it pisses me off. Got a couple grand GCM VGCs on the same statement or I would cause some shite with the csrs but I'll let this one go.

Some of the other regulars will have better advice. I haven't used Flying blue yet. I did look into it for recent flight to Hawaii but couldn't make flight on Delta work.

Thought it would be worth bumping this to point out AMEX is currently running increased signup bonuses on a lot of their cards. Doctor of credit did a rundown of the offers and how to get them earlier LINK

Everyday up to 25k from 10k
SPG up to 30k from 25k
Platinum up to 75k from 60k
Gold up to 50k from 25k
Blue Cash up to $200 from $100

One he didn't mention that I'm probably going to get is the green card is now $25k for $1000 spend. Usually there is no signup bonus for this one, and this matches the best offer they've ever given on this card. Annual fee is waived the first year, so this is a quick and easy 26k points and then cancel the card.

Also, if anyone is interested in the blue business plus card, I was able to call last week and get the 20k/3k offer that expired for the public back in December. If you don't know about this card, it has no annual fee and offers 2x points on every purchase for the first $50,000 spent on the card each year. So it's a really great card to have because it earns 2x points on everything, and has no AF. That way if you decide to move away from AMEX but don't have anything immediate to do with your MR, this card let's you keep them in place and use them for free for as long as you want.

None that I'm aware of

I’ve already used the Sapphire preferred & reserve for signup bonuses. I’ve now just gotten my signup bonus from the BOA Platinum rewards card. What’s the next best card for a cash signup bonus offer?

I already have the CSR. CIP is offering 80,000 points for $5,000 spend, then I would revert back to using my CSR.

In that case the Ink has a good signup bonus and some 3x categories. The biz card isn't difficult with your SSN & sole proprietor. I've done 2 like that. Go for it.