Credit Card Thread - Now with a Beginner's Guide to free travel/FAQ

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by blind dog, Apr 10, 2015.

  1. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    I can respect not diving in to the credit card game if you are unsure if you can keep track of it or whatever. But I think there are some misconceptions about opening credit cards and affecting your credit score. The only reason your score will temporarily dip is because you got a hard pull on your credit. Assuming you pay it off every month, every other aspect of getting a new card (Increased credit Line, Lower Overall Credit Utilization, etc) will raise your score in the long term.

    The Hebrew Husker If you want to dabble in churning cards, but are unsure, I would recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred. 0% Interest for 12 months, Annual fee waived the first year, and a signup bonus worth between $500-$1000. Basically its a no commitment card. I don't have the card myself, but I'm sure one of these fine gentleman in this thread can provide you with a referral link. If you aren't interested, it's completely understandable, just know that signup bonuses on cards will dwarf regular cash back.
     
    ohhaithur and The Hebrew Husker like this.
  2. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
    Donor
    Penn State Nittany LionsGreen Bay PackersChelseaHartford WhalersPhoenix Rising

    Racking up credit card debt to buy furniture seems silly. Hell, a lot of places will let you finance it at 0% for awhile.
     
    tjsblue, Uncle Tupelo and ohhaithur like this.
  3. The Hebrew Husker

    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersSeattle MarinersColorado AvalanceWWENebraska Cornhuskers alt

    I get what you’re saying. TBH without going into details I just had some “life changes” which is why I moved in the first place. I paid cash for 90% of the stuff. I can easily pay off the CC whenever I want, which is why I’m doing it now. I just carried a balance the last few months while I was dealing with the other real life bullshit.
     
  4. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Wtf I already quit my job to swipe your new credit card full time
     
    arrdub, Lipp, tjsblue and 5 others like this.
  5. The Hebrew Husker

    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersSeattle MarinersColorado AvalanceWWENebraska Cornhuskers alt

    I was just about to email you the terms and conditions before you quit. Fuck.

    Hopefully you invested that free credit card money wisely.
     
    ohhaithur likes this.
  6. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    a
     
    #7756 ohhaithur, Oct 10, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2020
    The Hebrew Husker likes this.
  7. The Hebrew Husker

    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersSeattle MarinersColorado AvalanceWWENebraska Cornhuskers alt

    Definitely will look into these cards. Didn’t realize this stuff even existed.
     
    Uncle Tupelo and ohhaithur like this.
  8. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Let us know if you need help
     
    The Hebrew Husker likes this.
  9. The Hebrew Husker

    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersSeattle MarinersColorado AvalanceWWENebraska Cornhuskers alt

    Appreciate it. As I said might look into this early 2019, after I get a house. Will obviously have some expenses with that, would be nice to get some bonuses
     
    ohhaithur likes this.
  10. Zebbie

    Zebbie Hey Mike, guess what I have in my underwear?
    Donor
    Texas Tech Red RaidersTexas RangersChicago CubsDallas StarsTexas Tech Red Raiders alt

    Welcome to the dark side, my friend
     
    The Hebrew Husker and ohhaithur like this.
  11. GoodForAnother

    GoodForAnother I’d rather be down the allotment
    Staff Donor TMB OG
    Kansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsSporting Kansas CityTottenham HotspurBig 8 ConferenceBig 12 ConferenceCoors LightFormula 1

    There’s nothing wrong with carrying a balance for the flexibility when you need it. It should be rare though. However you don’t want to do that with the high points earning cards. When I have made large purchases I want to pay over time I have typically put the purchase on a good rewards card and then balance transferred to my old reliable discover which always has a 2-3% balance transfer offer and does them very quickly. These high end cards we discuss in here are like 20% interest so definitely don’t carry a balance on those. It is not something to make a habit out of but if you have a large expense you want to pay over a few months there’s nothing wrong with that process.

    TLDR be smart and have some self control
     
    The Hebrew Husker likes this.
  12. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    :grinch: Come and join us, friend.
     
    The Hebrew Husker and marcus like this.
  13. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
    Donor TMB OG
    Clemson TigersWashington Capitals

    Just got approved for Citi Thank You Premier because yolo. Nice signup bonus, solid multipliers, and no fee the first year.
     
  14. The Hebrew Husker

    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersSeattle MarinersColorado AvalanceWWENebraska Cornhuskers alt

    Yeah, that’s basically what I do. I mentioned the $600 balance just to show how much/rarely I use cards. Basically that’s what happened, I moved into an apartment alone after living with my ex GF so I had to buy basically a full apartment’s worth of shit, plus pay to move, pay for two months of rent up front (with deposit), etc. Just for my psyche I decided to put 1-2 things on a card rather than going Straight Cash Homie, even though I could/should have.

    It’s not like I’m putting $600 worth of life needs on a card and paying 10.00 a month.

    (Posting this just to clear my name, please see my username as to why)
     
    laxjoe, ohhaithur and Uncle Tupelo like this.
  15. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati BengalsXavier MusketeersFC CincinnatiTottenham HotspurUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Going to be getting the Citi AA card soon. Can it be downgraded to a card with no fee after a year?
     
  16. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    Double cash would be a good option. There are others as well.
     
  17. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Yes. You can have get the dividend, doublecash, mileup, etc...

    My drawer is full of these
     
  18. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati BengalsXavier MusketeersFC CincinnatiTottenham HotspurUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Anyone have a Citi AA referral? Or does that card not do those?
     
  19. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Colorado BuffaloesOakland RaidersFulhamLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    I don't believe they do referrals.
     
    ohhaithur likes this.
  20. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Hell Citi sends me a 0% APR offer mailer each month for all of my existing citi cards, which ofcourse gets annoying real fast.
     
  21. phunkybuck

    phunkybuck Your pennies have been in my ass
    Donor TMB OG
    Ohio State BuckeyesCleveland BrownsColumbus Blue JacketsCleveland CavaliersCleveland IndiansGrateful Dead

    Is the Chase Marriott card considered the best in the SPG/Marriott family? I'm near the minimum spend on the Hyatt card, but I'm about to pay for a wedding at the JW Marriott Marco Island so I figured I'd get a Marriott card to get max points out of this thing.
     
  22. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
    Donor
    Texas RangersKansas City ChiefsDallas Mavericks altTexas Tech Red Raiders alt

    That or the SPG Lux

    Mariott referral
    Earn 2 Free Night Awards with the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card. I can be rewarded too, learn more.
    https://www.referyourchasecard.com/252/XQWOGWSA3N

    SPG Lux Referral
    http://refer.amex.us/DAVIDScg0x?XLINK=MYCP
     
    phunkybuck likes this.
  23. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Lux
     
    texasraider and phunkybuck like this.
  24. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    I'll throw my hat in too for any amex you pick cuz why not:

    www.tinyurl.com/ohhspg
     
  25. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
    Donor TMB OG
    Clemson TigersWashington Capitals

    Amex Platinum signup bonus is now 75k. Is that common knowledge?
     
  26. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    It's all over the place. Some get 100,000
     
    FriendsofJtyler likes this.
  27. Baby Boy

    Baby Boy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesCarolina Panthers

    If you're just going to use Amex for minimal travel a couple times a year would you try for the Platinum 75k/potentially 100k or Gold with the current 50,000 referral? I am just skeptical that Chase Ink Preferred is going to be approved and want a backup plan.
     
  28. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    ohhaithur jyst curious, why tiny URLs?

    U ‘avin a giggle and referring to lemon party dot com?
     
  29. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    I have my reasons
     
  30. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    I wouldn't burn 5/24 slots for those, no. For a plat 100k I most likely would though. depends on your goals and what your end game is though.
     
    Buzz likes this.
  31. bRamonceTaylor

    bRamonceTaylor Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Have some big expenses in the next couple weeks and would like to use them toward a new card. Below are what I've got right now and some other related info. Would appreciate any suggestions/referrals out there.

    Currently:
    Amex Platinum - 2/2015 (upgraded from Gold in 12/2017)
    Citi AA - 8/2015
    CSP - 2/2018
    CSR - 2/2018
    CIP - 5/2018

    I have an email for the SPG Lux 125k signup offer that expires in December, so thinking I'll apply for that right before the holidays and try to get another chase card or two now while still under 5/24.

    Home airport is Austin, so I fly a random assortment of United, AA and Southwest, mostly. Although, I just got the lowest level of status with United (lived in Houston until this summer).

    Mostly stay at SPG/Marriott properties, but don't stay in hotels a ton. Wouldn't mind another chain, though.

    Gracias in advance.
     
    #7782 bRamonceTaylor, Oct 11, 2018
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2018
  32. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    Are you comfortable applying for business cards? CIP at 80K points is always good.
     
    bRamonceTaylor likes this.
  33. bRamonceTaylor

    bRamonceTaylor Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Accidentally put CSP twice. Will edit the post. Thanks!
     
    Uncle Tupelo likes this.
  34. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    If you fly southwest a decent amount, have you thought about the companion pass? It being close to the end of the year means it would be a good time to start applying to a card like the Southwest Biz to maximize the amount of time you would get the pass.

    Also, I would look into the Marriot Biz 125K + $100 (Highest Offer ever), Barclays Aviator Biz (one purchase for 60K AA miles), SPG Biz as well for Airline Miles and/or hotel points. You could get another Chase business card that earns UR points too (CIC or CIU).
     
    bRamonceTaylor likes this.
  35. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    If you can hold off on those expenses for a month double dip that Southwest and get companion pass
     
    bRamonceTaylor likes this.
  36. bRamonceTaylor

    bRamonceTaylor Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Single AF, sir.
     
  37. bRamonceTaylor

    bRamonceTaylor Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Why do you have to apply for the card EOY to get the companion pass? Couldn't you get the 110k points and then just apply them toward the companion pass the following January?
     
  38. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    You need them in one calendar year and you get 23 months if you do it in January
     
    bRamonceTaylor and Uncle Tupelo like this.
  39. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    Like ohhaithur said, the points need to be earned in a calandar year. You could get it this year, but you would lose 12 months of use for it. (2018-2019). If you got it in January of 2019, you would get ALL of 2019 and 2020. If you earned half the miles in 2018, and half the miles in 2019, you fucked yourself completely, and you won't get it at all.
     
    Lipp, bRamonceTaylor and ohhaithur like this.
  40. Zabka

    Zabka Well-Known Member
    Donor

    If you decide to go the new hotel chain route, I strongly recommend going with Hyatt and get the Chase Hyatt Visa. It's a great value and one of only two branded cards I carry (I'm on the west coast so BofA Alaska Airlines for the companion fare is the other card). The Hyatt 60k sign up bonus goes a very long way. The $95 annual fee is easily covered by the annual free night (up to category 4, which has some very nice options). If you spend $15k in a year you'll earn a second free night. Lastly, cardholders get automatic Discoverist status, which has some good perks and isn't a throwaway status.

    In my experience you'll almost always get at least $.02 of value per point, and getting upwards of $0.04 per point isn't as rare as you would expect. Just this past summer I've booked Hyatt rooms in Oregon and Florida which were each listed for $300+/nt and both were available for 8,000 points (category 2). You won't find value anywhere near that among the other hotel programs (Marriott, Hilton, IHG, etc.). With the others you often end up with less than $.01 of value per point. My only knock against Hyatt compared to Marriott is the number of properties (800 vs. almost 7,000), but in general I personally find the Hyatt properties to be nicer that Marriott's.

    Here is a Hyatt referral is you need one...https://www.referyourchasecard.com/205/GB83T9OCK6
     
    Lipp, Buzz, PAHokieinRVA and 3 others like this.
  41. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    For all the love Hyatts get in this thread, it's infuriating how they just arbitrarily decide not to accept point stays. fuck sake.
     
  42. rezy

    rezy Member
    Donor
    Florida State SeminolesNew York YankeesLos Angeles ClippersNew York GiantsManchester United

    Is there a limit to the number of chase biz cards I can get? Currently have two ink cash cards that were downgraded from an ink + and preferred. Can I still get the ink unlimited?
     
  43. The_Baumer

    The_Baumer Go Mordecai!
    Donor

    Yeah, as long as youre under 5/24 status, you can. I have three business cards from Chase but you’ll likely want to lower your limits on the cards you do have before applying since Chase is extra vigilant these days it seems.
     
  44. rezy

    rezy Member
    Donor
    Florida State SeminolesNew York YankeesLos Angeles ClippersNew York GiantsManchester United

    Yeah I am at 3/24 by my count right now, I’ll go ahead and apply
     
    The_Baumer likes this.
  45. rezy

    rezy Member
    Donor
    Florida State SeminolesNew York YankeesLos Angeles ClippersNew York GiantsManchester United

    Got a 30 day notice, I am assuming that’s good
     
  46. The_Baumer

    The_Baumer Go Mordecai!
    Donor

    Likely, yes.
     
  47. Baby Boy

    Baby Boy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesCarolina Panthers

    So when you're immediate email from Chase is you'll be notified within 30 days of writing that's good?

    That's what I got on the Chase Ink Business Preferred but still getting the 7-10 business days when I call the automated line.

    Still holding out hope.
     
  48. The_Baumer

    The_Baumer Go Mordecai!
    Donor

    Have you called and actually spoken to someone? I would.
     
  49. Baby Boy

    Baby Boy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersAtlanta BravesCarolina Panthers

    Not yet. Trying to avoid that for obvious reasons of having to answer questions.