I love credit cards so much! v5.0 - 2022 (see first page for add'l details)

[afan]

Oh interesting - I assumed I needed to wait for my AF to post to ask for a retention offer. It would be nice to get an offer before then, to start the clock ticking (is it right that you need to keep a card 13 months after a retention bonus posts? Or is it just 12 months?)

You have to wait 13 months before you can get another retention offer. 12 months from accepting it.

 

[IFlossU]

Been looking at all the Instacart discussion with interest (I have never used it)... and the one place I checked for (Total Wine) was $2 more per bottle of the three items I wanted. I really really don't want to go down there because I hate the location (in a busy mall area with terrible parking) so maybe I'll look more into the Instacart credit (I have a CSP... should it be there?) and see if it offsets the increased price over "in store."

Does instacart charge an additional fee on top of the increased prices?

You will need to sign up for Instacart + using your CSP and then it will be “activated.” This gives you free delivery for 6 mos, but you will still need to tip the driver, which is why most people probably elect to pick up. I got an email a day after signing up for $20 off my first order, which made it worth while since the offers stacked for a total of $35 off. If you continue to poke around Instacart there are a few places in our area that offer pick up. Total Wine is a nightmare. $15 off is nice, but only if you’re going to pick up because tipping the driver kind of negates the savings.

 

[platamama]

@WardFam @platamama
I think you've both been in Costa Rica recently. Any recommendations for tours (or ones you hated). We have 3 days at Andaz Papagayo and 4 at Los Altos near Manuel Antonio.

I plan on doing a write-up on the Andaz, but have been trying to catch up with life since SW canceled our flight home from Houston. I don't know what Google maps is thinking saying it's a 16 hour drive, no flipping way. We had two full 12-hour days of being on the road and I'm kind of wiped out especially since the last few hours were during a surprise, unforecasted blizzard.

We were at Andaz for 5 days and kept busy doing several on-site activities (coffee class, latin dance, sound healing, meditation, hike in the forest, pottery painting, stargazing), and we booked a 2hr wave runner tour and that was a blast. Scary! and thrilling. We booked that with the concierge because I wanted to charge it to the room, but I think it might have been the same guys as the ones who hang out at the beach (cheaper through them, but they preferred cash and I didn't bring enough with me). It was $550 for two wave runners for two hours with a guide. We actually saw humpbacks out in the ocean, and we were pretty darn close while on the machines, so that was a truly memorable experience. It was a wild ride when we were hitting four foot swells on the way back, catching air and landing with a thud, and getting completely drenched. Those same guys also do a half-day boat tour that takes you around to different sites and you can snorkel or whatever, they seem pretty flexible and willing to do whatever you want and that was $500 cash. I kept trying to do the bioluminescent kayak during the new moon but unfortunately the only night they had space was on Christmas Eve and I had already booked our dinner at the resort at the same time. I did a bioluminescent boat ride 15 years ago in Jamaica and it was so magical to see the water light up, it doesn't seem real. Ask any questions about the Andaz and I'll try to answer since it's fresh in my mind. I can't remember when you were going, I thought maybe over spring break? Numerous staff people mentioned that it gets super hot in March and April, like 100 degrees, and that it is during their dry season so the leaves are brown or have already fallen onto the ground. Also, the property is not good for anyone with mobility issues. Each time we went from the beach to our room, it was like climbing 18 stories, no joke.

ETA: Near Manuel Antonio we did something called a Ten-in-One Tour with Amigos del Rio. One of the fondest travel memories of my life. I would totally do it again.

 

[ten6mom]

You will need to sign up for Instacart + using your CSP and then it will be “activated.” This gives you free delivery for 6 mos, but you will still need to tip the driver, which is why most people probably elect to pick up. I got an email a day after signing up for $20 off my first order, which made it worth while since the offers stacked for a total of $35 off. If you continue to poke around Instacart there are a few places in our area that offer pick up. Total Wine is a nightmare. $15 off is nice, but only if you’re going to pick up because tipping the driver kind of negates the savings.

Interesting; thank you! Nice to hear experience from a 'neighbor'!

 

[djmeredith]

I just placed my first Instacart pick up order at Aldi's (very few p/u choices here). Like others here, I was having trouble finding ways to use my credits because I can't get free pickup. I decided to go ahead and do a $35 min order of stuff I need/would use since my CSP credit would take care of $15. I bought the paper towels mentioned previously, Dawn, generic Tylenol, Tide Pods (they have a $3 coupon and they are cheaper than Target right now), a small cheese tray, and some frozen soft pretzels. It was $40 but I get the credit plus Rakuten was 2% back.. They had some good deals on things that most families would need/use, so it might be worth exploring the Aldi option if you have one near you.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Well I just signed up for another Huntington Biz bank bonus. Ironically the last time I did this was just after getting a large check when my granny died (my dad's mom). Now I'm doing it with money from my dad. $1000 bonus, I have to deposit $20k. If I do $50k in deposits a month it waives the monthly fee. They also offered a MMA at 3.1%. I figure I can park the rest of the money in that account. Then just transfer back and forth to hit my $50k/mo. And earn some interest while it all sits there.

Still not completely sure what I'm going to do with the money as far as long term investing. I think I'll for sure do some bank bonuses. This one I have to tie up for 6 mos before I can close the account, 3 mos till I get the money.

I figure it's a decent start for now. And $1000 is a nice bonus. The 3.1% is decent enough too if I don't find anything else to do with it for awhile. I guess maybe in the new year I'll look and see if I want to do another iBond. But for now I think this gives back a nice chunk, LOL.

 

[gmi3804]

ACT TODAY! Chase Sapphire Reserve will give you a 50% bonus when you use Pay Yourself Back today to pay your $550 annual fee with CUR points. Instead of using 55,000 points, it'll only cost 43,000 points. If you navigate to the CUR PYB page, it indicates there's only a 25% bonus, but they've extended their 50% bonus offer from earlier this year UNTIL TODAY ONLY. A $550 statement credit isn't back for 43,000 CUR points. Here's the article which details the bonus extension:

Chase Will Honor Sapphire Reserve 50% Bonus On Annual Fee Via Pay Yourself Back, But Only Through Tomorrow

The deadline to do this is 12/31/22.

I paid both my and my husband's annual fees just now, so it works. I'll be looking for the additional 25% points credit.

ETA: Looking at my charges that are eligible, they go back 90 days, and restaurant charges are also eligible for today's 50% bonus.

ETA: We both received the $550 statement credits today, the day after we paid with points.

 

[leeniewdw]

Still not completely sure what I'm going to do with the money as far as long term investing. I think I'll for sure do some bank bonuses. This one I have to tie up for 6 mos before I can close the account, 3 mos till I get the money.

You might want to look at CDs or a CD Ladder (if you don't want to invest in the market). Rates are up and it seems simpler than bank bonuses.

 

[becauseimnew]

Southwest is extending CP that expire 12/31/22 until 1/31/23.
https://viewfromthewing.com/southwe...om&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=MilesFeed.com

 

[djmeredith]

I

Southwest is extending CP that expire 12/31/22 until 1/31/23.
https://viewfromthewing.com/southwe...om&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=MilesFeed.com

I got that email too. I am thinking about squeezing in a quick Jan trip.

 

[georgina]

ACT TODAY! Chase Sapphire Reserve will give you a 50% bonus when you use Pay Yourself Back today to pay your $550 annual fee with CUR points. Instead of using 55,000 points, it'll only cost 43,000 points. If you navigate to the CUR PYB page, it indicates there's only a 25% bonus, but they've extended their 50% bonus offer from earlier this year UNTIL TODAY ONLY. A $550 statement credit isn't back for 43,000 CUR points. Here's the article which details the bonus extension:

Chase Will Honor Sapphire Reserve 50% Bonus On Annual Fee Via Pay Yourself Back, But Only Through Tomorrow

The article was written yesterday, so "tomorrow" is actually today.

I paid both my and my husband's annual fees just now, so it works. I'll be looking for the additional 25% points credit.

ETA: Looking at my charges that are eligible, they go back 90 days, and restaurant charges are also eligible for today's 50% bonus.

Interesting on the AF. I used the 50% PYB on our AF in August. Restaurant PYB has been 50% all year, I've used it a lot, sadly expires tomorrow. I see only charity donations extended at 50% for another year.

Depending on what 2023 categories/bonuses there are, it will definitely affect my spending on other UR earning cards that I was transferring the points to CSR. Should I bother using CF for groceries if the 5% UR is only worth 6.25 in PYB UR's, or just use my 6% AmEx cash back.

 

[happ]

Wanted to offer my DP for the AmEx biz bank account offer. I opened my account with the 30K MR offer; shortly afterwards the 60K offer came out. I did an online chat with AmEx this morning to try to get a match but the best I got was 10K MRs as a "goodwill gesture", which I accepted.

I tried to see if this would work for me too since I also got the 30K offer. The chat rep did not offer any goodwill points but told me I could open another account with an ein and get the 60K bonus. So that's what I did. We'll see what happens.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

As of yesterday I am 2/24, so decided to apply for the Hilton Aspire (app. Dec. 2018, canc. Feb. 2021). I received this message:

"---- you are pre-approved! Get a decision in as little as 30 seconds". I was logged into AmEx when I hit the apply button. At what point would I get the pop-up to lmk that I wouldn't receive the points? Or would I be okay at this point?

Would love to have this card again.

 

[becauseimnew]

As of yesterday I am 2/24, so decided to apply for the Hilton Aspire (app. Dec. 2018, canc. Feb. 2021). I received this message:

"---- you are pre-approved! Get a decision in as little as 30 seconds". I was logged into AmEx when I hit the apply button. At what point would I get the pop-up to lmk that I wouldn't receive the points? Or would I be okay at this point?

Would love to have this card again.

During the approval process, it will let you know if you know that you don't qualify for the bonus and asks if you want to proceed.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

During the approval process, it will let you know if you know that you don't qualify for the bonus and asks if you want to proceed.

I continued with the application process, but received the pop-up that I wouldn't qualify for the bonus, so I cancelled the application. I would love the Surpass, but will wait and hope that they have another offer like they did last year with the FNC + 130k HH pts SUB.

 

[Alexle2007]

in case anyone is close SW A list status, it does look like if you purchase points those count to A list.

Note: Not CP status though.

 

[trenty]

So...even though I have the CSP, seeing the posts about PYP on the CSR AF, made me take a look at my CSP.

I have the ability to use PYB on a recent grocery purchase, even thought the PYB cateories listed are AirBnb and select charities.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I have dd's tuition and res to pay in late January, so I am looking for a new SUB. I think I have narrowed it down to the Hyatt biz (60k pts after $5k spend) or another CIU (opened Nov. 12th).

I am worried about applying for another CIU so close to my last application. Any thoughts? I can always use Hyatt points.

 

[afan]

I have dd's tuition and res to pay in late January, so I am looking for a new SUB. I think I have narrowed it down to the Hyatt biz (60k pts after $5k spend) or another CIU (opened Nov. 12th).

I am worried about applying for another CIU so close to my last application. Any thoughts? I can always use Hyatt points.

They are both chase cards so if one worries you they both should. When was your last app?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

They are both chase cards so if one worries you they both should. When was your last app?

November 12th. I need to apply now and have the card delivered by January 10th.