re: How much do you have built up in CC points/rewards?

It depends on which card.

Generally, redeeming points for travel through the Chase/Amex portal is high value. Redeeming points for retail items is nearly without question, the absolute worst redemption value available. Redeem for 3 nights in an $800 a night hotel, or get a $200 ladder, your choice

Ya I'm not understanding that math because money is fungible, but I could be dumb.

very smart

One Visa card is set for a statement credit every time cash back builds to $25.

Discover, I keep a few hundred in cashback balance to trade in for Lands End gift cards as needed. They give you a little extra, like spend $90 in cashback and get a $100 e-card.

One Visa, I have let cashback build to about $1,800. It’s dumb because I earn no interest on the cashback sitting there, but I’m saving it to apply to the balance after a vacation later this year, to take some sting out of that big bill. Financially dumb perhaps, but it’s a psychological benefit.

About $1,400 toward travel

seriously we get about 2k a year in rewards.

1.4M amex points. Have hoarded them for awhile. Want to do a big Euro trip (flights etc ) w them but prob hasn’t been the best move.

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As for people getting Chase UR, I feel like I basically use that for Hyatt hotels 90% of the time

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Same here. I usually can save 50% - 70% on stays. Wish chase would have kept their pay yourself back program the way it was. It was a good way to keep my point balance in check.

We typically earn about $500-700 in cash back per year. We apply it back to the cc in December almost like a Christmas savings account.

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Wouldn’t it basically be the same thing? If you get a statement credit, that’s $5 less you need to spend to pay off that balance. As a result, $5 more to spend and get the same $5.25?

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No, I saw a article a while back saying the same as I did. But can't seem to find it

Let's say you go your route with two 100 dollar purchases.

Spend 100 and get 5 dollars back (5%). You credit that to your statement and make another 100 dollar purchase (95 with your credit). You will get 4.75 (5%) back on your 95 dollar purchase.

So you've spent $195 dollars and gotten $4.75 back you then stick in savings. So $195 spent and 4.75 in savings. So 190.25 spent.

Go my route and you spend 100, put 5 in savings. Spend and another 100 and put 5 in savings.

You've spent 200 dollars and have put 10 in savings. 190 dollars spent.


Whether you put in savings or just spend again towards your next credit card bill doesn't really matter much. Just used for clarification.

They don't pay rewards on statement credits. That's where the difference is.