I love credit cards so much! v3.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[DisneyMandC]

so is each account a different line with the acct number? I'm just wondering how to calculate this on our taxes.... any tips?

Yes, that's right. It shows the full account number so you know exactly which card it was. I just put the total number in for the 1099 section. I know absolutely nothing about taxes so I just do what TurboTax tells me and hope it's right lol.

 

[NewbieMom]

@stitchfan18 @Breck Check your HH accounts. My Aspire SUB has posted!!

I also spend them as fast as I earn them. Just booked a week at the Grand Wailea using all my points and FNC. Thanks @Lain the suggestion. I was going to use them in Waikiki, but DH actually spent entire high school summers there (I learned something new!) so he prefers Maui. I can't wait; the resort looks amazing!

 

[Lain]

I also spend them as fast as I earn them. Just booked a week at the Grand Wailea using all my points and FNC. Thanks @Lain the suggestion. I was going to use them in Waikiki, but DH actually spent entire high school summers there (I learned something new!) so he prefers Maui. I can't wait; the resort looks amazing!

When are you planning on going? Do you have flights booked? If I'm there before you, I'll be sure to post pictures!

 

[hsmamato2]

*** Is there a way to look back farther in rewards activity history to verify balances etc??? I can only see back to last October.... ***

Ok.... all this chat about the forms got me to go into my accts to verify numbers (this is one area I haven't been tracking via spreadsheet,I know I'm a loser) anyway I've found a few questionable things....

1) on my acct page, I see what @Oscar Madison posted, but the balance at the bottom says 0,rather than -80,even tho I've transferred them to another
2) On P2 acct page, I see exactly what @Oscar Madison sees....
3) I see a missing transfer from 10/3/19- the acct page shows I transferred a (bonus) chunk of points, but the 'transfer to' acct doesn't show it....
4) On my acct page I see a transfer from P2 acct on my page, but it doesn't show on his acct page as being transferred out......

I realize this is my own shoddy record keeping...and I had *thought* my UR balance was correct, but now I'm not sure since I can't figure out how see farther back.... (You don't need to tell me, I'm starting a new spreadsheet for this stuff today)

 

[hsmamato2]

When are you planning on going? Do you have flights booked? If I'm there before you, I'll be sure to post pictures!

This place is BEYOND beautiful...... I'm jealous!!!

 

[Haley R]

DS has requested to go back to WDW as he is tired of USO. So I am now quickly turning something together for March to celebrate his 13th birthday before our Harmony of the Seas cruise.

I can use points to stay at Swan or Dolphin for basically free

Or Boardwalk Inn for $1600.

Our flight gets in at 6:30 pm on Thurs and we’ll check out on Sun to get to PC.
Fri and Sat will be our park days at DHS and Epcot.

Which one would you choose? I am leaning towards the free but can’t choose between the two. They are basically the same price.

I would for sure go with the free option.

 

[Haley R]

I got my Chase 1099 yesterday too. $995- oof. 2 Hyatt links plus $5 statement credit, 3 CIP links, plus 2 CFU links. It is what it is. I wouldn’t be able to travel like we do without this hobby, so it’s worth it!

Dh had one for $200 and another for $750. I haven’t even got mine yet

 

[Judique]

I would for sure go with the free option.

@Alexle2007

We all lean towards free, but free comes in many disguises for churners. Free could be cashing out enough UR's or MR's to buy discounted gift cards for Boardwalk Inn.

So, if OP has a million UR's, she can do many things and still be free, because earning Marriott points for a free Swan or Dolphin stay is in my opinion in the same category as earning a more flexible currency to do a different redemption.

@SouthFayetteFan has shown us how to not get tied up in the dynamics of spending point money. He's redeemed for the suite at Universal, for the cash to pay off his mortgage and for Home Depot gift cards to buy an appliance, and for gift cards with gravy.

And, it just came to me that @Alexle2007 has that Australia trip coming up so she probably has all her UR's put aside for that.

If we take how it's going to be paid for or cost out of the equation, I would choose the Boardwalk Inn and probably go for Club. If I were budget minded I'd pick Swan. The older I get the more I want an occasional splurge. But I can still budget as well.

 

[miztressuz]

so is each account a different line with the acct number? I'm just wondering how to calculate this on our taxes.... any tips?

It's just considered Other Income and is added to your wages income just like you do interest. If the schedule form is the same as last year it's listed on Schedule 1, line 21 in the Additional Income section. That gets carried onto the 1040 form on line 6 when you add up your Total Income.

If you're using tax software you just enter a 1099-MISC when you get to the Other Income section and it'll take care of it for you.

The only number(s) you should need to enter for federal taxes is up in the numbered "boxes" at the top in the Summary section. (Chase just lists the box numbers, didn't actually make the boxes) The box 3 is the total amount you'd enter for the 1040.

Each state will do something different with it and you'd have to look up how to account for it in your state and/or locality.

I'm not a tax expert in any way, but this should get you started.

 

[NewbieMom]

When are you planning on going? Do you have flights booked? If I'm there before you, I'll be sure to post pictures!

We are going Christmas week! That's why I was so anxious to get my points and book before all the points rooms are gone. Cash rate is $1200/night that week!!

I have to figure out our flights next. I'm leaning towards SW, but we don't have any points there. I don't like flying out of SFO, but if we do United is a possible option.

 

[Lain]

We are going Christmas week! That's why I was so anxious to get my points and book before all the points rooms are gone. Cash rate is $1200/night that week!!

I have to figure out our flights next. I'm leaning towards SW, but we don't have any points there. I don't like flying out of SFO, but if we do United is a possible option.

Do you have URs and a CSR? (I know you've got a CIP)

We booked our Christmas flights to HNL on United using URs through the CSR portal.

United has their schedule up through Christmas Day as of today, and flights out of SFO to OGG range from $299-359 per person/one way. That's really good and it'll probably creep up. I've found among the major legacy carriers, United often has the best prices to Hawaii out of the Bay Area. Hawaiian's schedule for Christmas week is just opening up and is asking $700+ per person/one way. The big question is Southwest, since it'll be a few months before they open up flights for the holidays, although I doubt the schedule change trick will be around by then. United's morning flights that'll get you into OGG earlier are, generally, pricier. But at say $359 using URs through the CSR portal, you're looking at about 24k UR per person/one way. With a CSP/CIP, that's 28,720 UR. Using United miles, it's 30.5k-37k per person/one way.

 

[Haley R]

Our next Japan vlog. This one shows our time in Osaka.

 

[Albort]

wait...what??? if I had like,$200 support from last year,(we got not forms) and didn't go looking or report it,we could be in trouble now????

Yes, example for me was bank A did in fact sent a 1099 but it never showed up. IRS will usually match bank's tax report with yours and find that discrepancy. then they will come knocking...
best practice is to ask them to produce a 1099, if they cannot, then ur usually in the clear.

 

[kylenne]

An update on the stolen gift card saga: BJs customer care reached out to me today to confirm that they did deactivate the stolen cards and sent out new ones, with a new tracking number. Fortunately someone will actually be home this time to sign for the package, so fingers crossed this will go better than the last time.

As for the UPS investigation, after I gave the social media agent all the information she asked for, it was kicked up to corporate and that will likely still take a few days.

 

[NewbieMom]

Do you have URs and a CSR? (I know you've got a CIP)

We booked our Christmas flights to HNL on United using URs through the CSR portal.

United has their schedule up through Christmas Day as of today, and flights out of SFO to OGG range from $299-359 per person/one way. That's really good and it'll probably creep up. I've found among the major legacy carriers, United often has the best prices to Hawaii out of the Bay Area. Hawaiian's schedule for Christmas week is just opening up and is asking $700+ per person/one way. The big question is Southwest, since it'll be a few months before they open up flights for the holidays, although I doubt the schedule change trick will be around by then. United's morning flights that'll get you into OGG earlier are, generally, pricier. But at say $359 using URs through the CSR portal, you're looking at about 24k UR per person/one way. With a CSP/CIP, that's 28,720 UR. Using United miles, it's 30.5k-37k per person/one way.

Thanks for the breakdown. I don't have a CSR, but am considering upgrading my CF. I really would prefer SW though, but like you said, their Christmas schedules aren't out yet. We are in the South Bay so it's not as convenient to fly out of SFO. Also I prefer SW for the free bags, as we tend to carry a LOT (with 3 kids, I have one suitcase just for diapers and wipes). I only have 20k URs left. I spend them so quickly! But with the later SW schedule, I'm hoping to collect either RRs or URs (to then transfer to RR) by the time the schedule is released.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Thinking of getting DH an Amex (he has none). I have a small tax payment and would like a low MSR and no or low AF. When I try to refer DH from my Amex Marriott Card, it says any card will work for referral but it takes me to a page with only Marriott cards. If I navigate away from that page will the referral still track?
Also, the only Amex cards I have are Hilton & Marriott. Is $300 a good offer for Blue Cash preferred? $100 MSR.

 

[Alexle2007]

Thanks @Judique @hsmamato2 @Haley R @disneybirds We are all booked at the Swan for March. Now I just need to get our 2 day passes, link the Swan in MDE (which looks like I can’t do until tomorrow), make a lightsaber making reservation for DS, book FPs and dining. Right now I have the Yachtsman booked. We went to Shula’s over Christmas and were not impressed. I guess I am used to Ruth’s Chris where the plate is sizzling when they bring it out. But maybe a free entree would sway us. We bummed that the menu is no longer on a football and that they don’t show you the meat cuts any longer.

@Judique I didn’t realize the Baltimore location had closed. They had the best cream of crab soup.

I am getting excited! DS will be also since this is a surprise for him. He thinks we are going back to USO.

 

[Alexle2007]

Thinking of getting DH an Amex (he has none). I have a small tax payment and would like a low MSR and no or low AF. When I try to refer DH from my Amex Marriott Card, it says any card will work for referral but it takes me to a page with only Marriott cards. If I navigate away from that page will the referral still track?
Also, the only Amex cards I have are Hilton & Marriott. Is $300 a good offer for Blue Cash preferred? $100 MSR.

I don’t think you can refer to a regular AmEx from a co-brand. BBP is typically want people have gotten but that’s really a placeholder for MRs since it has no AF.

 

[wannabee]

Quick question... I just got a new Amex card for DH and I. Plan is to put everyday spend like groceries, lunch out etc on it. We have been using debit cards for this. I want to pay off weekly or poss bi-weekly just to be careful how much is being spent. Any problems with Amex if I pay the cards every week?

 

[miztressuz]

Thinking of getting DH an Amex (he has none). I have a small tax payment and would like a low MSR and no or low AF. When I try to refer DH from my Amex Marriott Card, it says any card will work for referral but it takes me to a page with only Marriott cards. If I navigate away from that page will the referral still track?
Also, the only Amex cards I have are Hilton & Marriott. Is $300 a good offer for Blue Cash preferred? $100 MSR.

Co-brand cards can only refer within their brand. So you can get any Hilton card from another Hilton, any Marriott from any other Marriott. But you can't go Marriott to AmEx. Only AmEx cards can do both AmEx and co-brand.

I believe $300 is good for the BCP and is pretty standard now. Not sure if there is still an incognito offer floating around for higher. US CC Guide keeps a historic chart going.
https://www.uscreditcardguide.com/blue-cash-preferred-credit-card/?mobile=