Question: My wife and I both requested security freezes from the credit monitoring companies a few years ago in the wake of one of the big data breaches. I have a Capital One credit card, and somehow CreditWise is still able to generate a score estimate every month...how is this possible?

I don't think you can be too heavy on UR since the transfer to so many places and can be redeemed as cash toward travel at a decent rate. (I currently have half a million UR and would be happy to continue to earn them)

You should look at the chase cards that are affected by 5/24, and decide if you need any of them (like Chase united card). FYI, not sure if it's possible, but call and ask to PC your Sapphire regular to the FU. Sapphire regular is pointless if you have the CSR because the bonus categories are duplicated.

If minimum spends are not a problem, maybe look into one of those massive 150k MR amex platinum bonuses

I figured even though it's a small bonus I should get the cfu through applying to not miss out on the free $225 to travel. Should I not worry about that and just try to move the sapphire regular to the cfu? The sapphire regular came about from downgrading my CSP when I got the CSR. I just have my Netflix sub or something on it, I never actually use it besides that, just wanted to keep the credit history on it going.

I could definitely get use out of the United or southwest card points. I guess I could use those points/miles first and save my ur points.

I'll look into the Amex. Their Pts don't seem as awesome as the ur points but I'm sure it's still great value.

Thanks

TheTyman, if you have plenty of UR or airmiles, consider getting some hotel cards. They can have tremendous value. You can either stretch them and stay at lower tier hotels (IHG card can get you 10 nights at a low end), or you can do something like Hyatt and get 2 nights, but at any property (aka, Tokyo, Paris, or NYC), which are valued as high as $1k per night. It could be an experience that you would never pay for, or you could save money at the lower end hotels.

If you like Marriott properties, consider doing a combo of Marriott + SPG cards. SPG transfers to Marriott at 1:3 because of the merger. You could do a personal and business SPG for ~60k SPG (180k Marriott) + 1 personal and 1 business Marriott card from Chase (87.5k for personal and 80k for biz). That would net you a total of ~350k Marriott points which gives you lots of options at higher end hotels (7 nights at the top tier, or 10 nights in Hawaii, or 46 nights at a Cat 1 hotel (middle of nowhere).

You can do something similar with Hilton points using two Amex cards and two Citi cards to build up a stash of them. I don't value Hilton points as much as Marriott or IHG, but they're easy cards to get as Amex and Citi are pretty generous (although follow Citi's app rules if you choose this route!).

How does one go about applying for a business card if they don't have a business? Like getting the chase ink or whatever it's called that gives 60k ur Pts or something like that.

I could do the hotel cards I suppose. I usually do air bnb but it'd probably be nice to have some cheaper/free hotel rooms.

Just apply say you have a sole proprietorship and use your social. If they call to ask (which they won't) say you sell stuff on ebay.

Any idea if this:

http://www.staples.com/Visa-reg-300-...roduct_1922766

Would be excluded from this:

Terms
Valid online only. Valid only on US website. Not valid on purchases shipped outside of the US. See merchant website for shipping policy. Some merchants may not ship to all areas. Excludes Staples branded e-gift cards. Excludes Quill, Smilemaker, Staples Business Advantage, Staples 4 Government, Staples Toner Services, Staples Technology Solutions, Staples Promotional Products, Staples Print Solutions, Copy and Printing Services, Staples Contract and Commercial, Staples App Center, Staples Industrial, Staples Book Rental, Staples Simplexity, Staples Share Fund, Coastwide Labs, Catalog and Staples Fundraising. Enrollment limited. Must add offer to Card and use same Card to redeem. Limit 1 statement credit(s) per American Express® Card across all American Express offer channels. Statement credit will appear on your billing statement within 90 days after 12/31/2016, provided that American Express receives information from the merchant about your qualifying purchase. Note that American Express may not receive information about your qualifying purchase from merchant until all items from your qualifying purchase have been provided/shipped by merchant. Statement credit may be reversed if qualifying purchase is returned/cancelled. If American Express does not receive information that identifies your transaction as qualifying for the offer, you will not receive the statement credit. For example, your transaction will not qualify if it is not made directly with the merchant. In addition, in most cases, you may not receive the statement credit if your transaction is made with an electronic wallet or through a third party or if the merchant uses a mobile or wireless card reader to process it. By adding an offer to a Card, you agree that American Express may send you communications about the offer. POID: CEDJ:0001

Amex has a $20 off 100$ purchase on staples.com

Will work fine.
Staples gift cards are specifically excluded because they're processed by cashstar, not staples.

VGCs will be ok.

Was impatient and did it anyway. Gonna be doing a round of MS w/ VGC from this + CF bonus with CVS VGC -> Money Order likely from PO (or grocery store). Will be my first attempt so hopefully goes well.

Saw you guys talking about the Chase Sapphire Reserve. I got mine a couple weeks ago and will hit my minimum spend by the end of the week. I'm planning a honeymoon to Hawaii for next spring, May into June. I've looked on several airlines and don't think I'll be able to find any cheap deals on award flights since we are going during peak season.

My question is regarding the travel credit. I want to get credit for this year, but don't have any specific plans for using it. What is the best way to get the credit? I know some airline gift cards work and other things but what exactly is my best route here?

I'd like to add that after getting my UR points, I'll have roughly 125,000 UR points and around 56,000 American Airlines points. I know they aren't interchangeable, but wanted to point out that I have points on other airlines.

I'll probably get the CSP next to get more UR points and most likely book a full points flight. I just don't see how I can get a discounted rate in late spring.

Airline or hotel gift cards is a good option. Or prepaying for tolls/parking passes/train/subway etc if you use those. Airbnb gift card should work as well.

Definitely do not let it expire for the year without maxing. Worst case scenario you can buy a gift card and resell it at a discount if you won't use it.

Taxi/Uber also counts

Hmm. I need to look into this. I haven't been stacking up new cards since my normal monthly spend is so low, but it could be that I just haven't been trying hard enough. Never even considered student loan payments.

Even if your loan servicer doesn't support CC payments, you can use plastiq. Nominal fee but worth it if you are racking up min spend bonuses.

Some student loan servicers won't list CC payment as an option online, but if you call and ask they will let you with no fee.

I never considered this, does anyone know if putting money on my EZPass account counts as travel spending? I've been holding off on getting the CSR just because I'm not going on any flights or staying in any hotels before the end of the year.

It depends on the state you're in. To be safe maybe google around for your state.

Travel is super flexible. Gas, uber, lyft, tolls, parking, airline gcs, etc.

I definitely did not have to try hard to utilize my credit

Can someone tell me what makes sites have spg valuations so high? Maybe there's something missing? I'm guessing wither the 4th night free on award bookings?

So just went to the riteaid I got my Amazon gc from, and attempted to buy a vanilla vgc. They said you can't buy giftcards with cc. Is this normal or did I get super excited unlucky with the cashier.

I haven't tried buying from Rite Aid in a long time, but even back then it was hit or miss whether they would let you.

Do you have a CVS near you? They have zero problems selling up to $2k (I think) per day. They will scan your license though in order to enforce this policy and for anti-fraud purposes. I purchase frequently from multiple CVS's in my area and have never had an issue. Keep in mind that the Vanillas from both of these drugstores will not be able to be used at Walmart to purchase a MO.

You can also buy from Walmart, Target, or online (use a portal and use either giftcardmall or giftcards) and if you're really lucky and have either a Simon Mall or Macerich Mall near you, they sell as well. So do Krogers and a handful of other grocery stores (those are the only ones in my area that sell them).

I have a handful of places that sell Money Orders that work for MS, but would rather PM them at this point (I might have mentioned them before itt), so hit me up if you need some help or advice.

They have a lot of flexibility. They offer bonuses for transfers with Airline partners and they typically run promos for even bigger transfer bonuses.

There collection of hotels are pretty nice, but don't take many points to stay there. I think rooms start out at 3k points (Just a guess). I just looked up a week in Hawaii and the rooms were 16k points per night on avg.

Just looked up a random room in NYC and it's 5k points per night in an Aloft hotel, which are nice.

thanks OS for lifting my spirits with those post(not that i needed it )

wife got the bonus recently with SPG. i just sign up, usually dont know a ton of the deets, just the important ones(AF due dates, etc). sounds like those SPG points will suit us well

Taking my fiance to a Chase branch tomorrow to apply for the CSR. She's at 5/24 and three of them are AMEX authorized user cards which you can't get removed from credit reports. I would really like to take that card on our Hawaii trip next month. Fingers crossed!

Good luck!

I'm heading out of town this weekend and am definitely checking to see if there are any Chase branches on the trip. I'm not sure I'll even have a chance in-branch though because of opened accounts... We will see!