Nice job! Which program(s) did you think yielded the most bang for the effort?
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Details? Sounds an impressive accomplishment
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It was a combination of Chase Ultimate Rewards and United, though I think Chase are the most flexible currency, which makes them very valuable to me.
I took advantage of sign up bonuses, and cycled through three new cards, putting all household expenses on them to meet the required spends. As soon as I hit the SUB, I got a new card. It was a bit of work to change the card for all of the auto-pay items each time, but worth it. I started this endeavor in November, and had enough a few weeks ago to cover everything (plus used a travel statement credit one of the cards offered to pay for our car rental when we went to Puerto Rico last month).
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My S and DIL have done a lot of travel on points & miles—in fact their round the world honeymoon was all points & miles.
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Is the newer policy of adding 3% to your charge amount if using credit card not impacting this? My youngest son does follow the points guy and uses his credit cards for the right things at the right times but now, is it worth it to pay more for something?
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I feel like I’ve done fairly well with American Airlines and Southwest credit cards. I’ve taken five people to Hawaii multiple times on AA points, and gone lots of places with SW. I have a fair number of Chase points (240K maybe) that I told my son he could use to go to the Grand Hyatt in Kauai, but they just recently upped the number of points you need to get rooms, so he may not take them.
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I won’t use a cc if there is a surcharge. My whole motivation is to earn free travel, so if there’s an upcharge it defeats the purpose.
There’s plenty of ways to spend a few thousand a month that doesn’t cost any extra (grocery store, gas, home improvement stores, several of my utility bills, car insurance, online shopping)…
Occasionally we still pay with our SW card even when it is a 3% upcharge. I haven’t done the math, but one of our larger recurring expenses has the 3% (but we get a discount for paying quickly, which is accomplished by paying over the phone with cc). I still want to get the SW points because I love the flexibility of booking with points. The flexibility adds value to me, even if the math isn’t 100% in my favor.
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I tend to pay cash when there’s a charge to use credit cards. I don’t optimize my points the way that S and DIL do—it’s too much like work. I do offer to let S have charges of items I’m paying for and send him a check so that he can get more points and he’s very pleased about that.
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Different but Viking offers a 3.3% discount if paying by checking or savings.
My Costco credit card gives me 3% and offers some safety by paying with credit. I pay by credit card.
I’d like to try and collect travel points. My husband wants one card. We have our Costco card and it gives some cash back. Not great but it works for our family.
What I’d really like is to have a united or delta airline card so I could have some lounge access. I’ve had a few layovers where a lounge would be nice to have as an option.
I think it’s great. I know one of my kids loves to play the points game.
Many of the gas stations around Atlanta (big ones) add 3% at the pump if you pay by credit card. You don’t know it because it’s not in the advertised price on the big sign, but it shows up as a small sticker at the pump. I noticed the guys who came to cut down my trees charge the 3% on both credit card and debit card - they did take cash or check (had to hunt down my check book and never have cash) but it was frustrating. I did a money transfer to pay for my Viking cruise and they give you a 3% discount (ha!).
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So we have been very successful with points with the Chase United Card. They also have “specials.” H, S24 and I went to the canary islands with points over spring break. However, the cards are being changed and not so much of an advantage while increasing costs. I just got a Chase Sapphire card and they have 1:1 united point conversions and tons of bonus point opportunities. Also 100K points for signing up now (only have to spend 5K over 3 months). I actually got S21 to get one, thought the point bonus and points going forward are worth it for a $95 yearly fee
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HImom - we do that too! Big dinners, shows, concerts, etc - we let our youngest pick up the tab and transfer funds to him (he still has his high school/college account connected to us). We do not use the points but it is a real benefit to him because he gets them from work too and uses them for vacations.
They might here, as well. But, I’m not one to carry much cash on me so I’ve always paid for gas with debit or credit card…figured u might as well get something in return.
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Do you have a referral or link for the 100k bonus?
I locked my credit report but that sounds very intriguing
Looks like it’s advertised for anyone Chase Sapphire Card Collection | Chase.com
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I do! If you use a link I send I get a bonus as well.