I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 (see first page for add'l details)

[becauseimnew]

If you're willing to take a little less profit, you can always send $2,000/week via Venmo to a trusted party who returns it to you for some easy manufactured spending. You'll pay $120 for the $4,000 in spend, but the bonuses should more than cover that if you're facing a crunch.

I thought Venmo started coding as cash advance.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

OMG! FOMO set in seriously!

All talk about offer ending soon made me app for a CIU.

It took me longer to fill out the application than to get an approval.

Now I'm working on how to spend $6k in 3 months. Due to car insurance, utilities and aother insurance premium, I have $1400 sitting ready to be paid. Would have paid yesterday except I was busy. That leaves $4600 to find. I guess I can pick up some visa gc's at staples, and then pay ahead on electric a couple of times.

Meeting 6K is a stretch but I'll make it somehow.

Congrats If you ask to have the card expedited Staples has the fee free Visas next week

 

[Zhoen]

I’ll help with what I can….
Since you sell things definitely apply for the CIC or CIU as a sole proprietor using just your first and last name as the business name. Once approved if your P2 will apply for a business card generated a support link from your card so you get the extra 20k URs.

You don’t have to wait 30 days from the Capital 1 card…the 30 is for Chase applications, but the recommended time between Chase cards is 90 days
Bank bonus will not affect the Chase application
For me on LI 7-11 codes as gas,
Fast food will code as restaurants

Thanks for the help! I'm still feeling twitchy I might hold off on the idea of a business card until I'm more confident (yes, I realize it's a really good deal, and ending soon... but clearly my anxiety outweighs my FOMO, and I can live with that ...)

But I do have another question... any military types on here know how the commissaries code for credit card categories? It occurred to me that for cards that do the rotating categories, that matters... I buy most of my groceries on-base...

 

[punkin]

Has everyone seen the distressing news?

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/chas...d-soon/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I just finished a platinum $15k spend. I wonder if I can swing another one....

 

[Arcades]

Hiya Dis-ies!!!

I have been taking a break from credit cards the last year or three, but after lurking here and getting emboldened by your cleverness, last month I got me a Capital one card... and now, $216 richer between the SUB and all the groceries I would have bought anyway for my teens, I am thinking I like this game... so I come to y'all for advice, oh advise-y ones...

My stats...
I am at 1/24 (to the very best of my knowledge) and it's:
02/23- Capital One Quicksilver (personal)

P2 has a bank-issued MC, but he's had it forever.

My personal "natural spend" is about $1.5k per month (gas and groceries... I repeat, TEENAGERS!!!) But if I combine forces with P2 (currently doesn't play at all...) we could meet the $6k/3mo minimum spend I am seeing on the Chase Ink Business Cash card I am looking at, which has a $900 SUB and a big banner that says "ending soon!" I like that one for the 5% on our $300/month phone and internet bill...

I am interested in doing this just because I like free stuff, especially free money (so, cash back)... no immediate travel on the horizon. My next big trip plan is Europe in summer of 2025 after DD graduates from high school (and I hit a certain landmark birthday that shall not be named...) So maybe that's what I should say my goal is... Cash back to cash out and save up for the trip for now, free/cheaper travel as the time actually gets close enough. But I think I'm too far out right now to make any of the points-cards-with-annual-fees worth it just yet.

So, my questions, and your advice...

First, I am looking at Chase Ink, but I am a bit twitchy about calling myself a "business," though people do pay me from time to time for everything from babysitting, tutoring, and my phenomenal creative services to occasional junk I sell at flea markets or (long ago) on eBay. But, I mean, the worst they could say is "no," right?

Second, I signed up for my Capitol One card on February 4th... do I have to wait until after 30 days before applying for Chase? I think I read that somewhere (probably here...)

Third, I am in the process of getting (created, but have not yet funded) a TD bank personal checking account that has a $200 SUB. I am thinking that shouldn't affect anything Chase-wise, but I thought I'd run it by y'all, just to be sure.

Fourth, my two closest gas stations are 7-eleven and Wawa... which could also be considered convenience stores... anybody already with Chase know how those code for CB purposes?

Fourth (and this is sooooo low-end, but I'm just curious and thinking ahead...) does fast-food count in the 2% restaurants category? I'm talking McD's, Taco Bell, Domino's, Pizza Hut... (and I repeat repeating... TEENAGERS!!! No real restaurants for us until their metabolisms slow down!!!) Again, if those code as restaurants (2%), great... if not, I'll stick with the Cap1 for those purchases...

Alright, bright ones, enlighten me...

A couple of things to help guide your thinking:

1. Almost everyone in this game has a "business" and I have not come across a single credit card issuer that cares if you put personal spending on your business credit cards. While you're new, you should always apply as a sole proprietorship in your own name (First and Last) because it makes verification a LOT easier and they are less likely to ask for business documents, such as Articles of Incorporation. Down the road, there are ways to double the cards you are eligible for using things like a Limited Liability Company, but stick with sole proprietorships for now on ALL business applications. I have only been asked twice about my "business" and I always stick to saying I'm a consultant in the same field as my real job, so I can speak intelligently about the nature of my business if asked. Typically list at least $1,000 in business income, but if asked you can tell them it's "anticipated income" since this is a new business. I use 10% of my actual earnings as my stated anticipated income. I also put 0-1 years in business and 1 employee (myself, listed as "Owner"). With Chase, you usually get a call from the "Fraud Department" on your first business credit card, but that's usually just for identification purposes, so don't freak out! They can even approve you over the phone in most cases after you confirm you applied. American Express is my favorite issuer because after you have a relationship with them on one card, they don't do hard pulls on your credit for future cards (which helps with companies like Barclays and US Bank that look at # of hard pulls in the last 24 months).

2. While all of those fast food restaurants do count as restaurant, the way to truly profit in this game is to hunt for more Sign Up Bonuses (SUBs) as soon as you have met the spend on your current card. I track payments, rather than spending, since it's easier for me. For example, when I get a new CIC, I track the payments I make on the card until I hit $6,000. Remember, Annual Fees do NOT count towards MSR, but CIC and CIU are $0 AF, so there's no need to worry about it for those cards. As soon as you're done with one card, try to look for a new card to get, rather than calculating the 1-2% you can save on your groceries or restaurant spending (also known as organic spending). The SUBs always outweigh the points you earn on organic spending, even with bonus categories, such as CIC's 5x on Office Supplies and 2x on Restaurants. The only time you worry about categorizing your organic spend is when you have no new MSRs to work towards.

3. Business credit cards from most issuers do not count towards your Chase 5/24 count. So, if you decide to take it slow with Chase (1 card every 3-4 months), and you meet the MSR early, get a business card from American Express, Barclays, Citibank or US Bank. Capital One business cards vary on whether they report to personal credit and count against 5/24. So, stay away from C1 business cards for now.

4. Lastly, as I mentioned above to another user, if you *really* want to play the game, certain issuers, like Chase (or Citibank/Barclays/Bank of America), don't mind manufactured spending (Amex does). Manufactured spending is a way of hitting larger MSRs without actually spending a large amount of principal cash. Example: I send my wife $2,000 over Venmo. She withdraws the $2,000 in Venmo to our joint account (NOT the same account I sent her the money from -- Venmo tracks that and will shut you down). Then, I simply move it from my joint account to my operating account and repeat the process as necessary (usually no more than $2,000 per month and Venmo prefers you "ramp up", start with $500, then graduate to $1,000, etc). In the end, you will have paid Venmo a 3% fee on every dollar sent, but you likely hit a larger SUB worth 10-15x more than the fee paid. It's also how you can hit multiple MSRs at once (organic spending + manufactured spending).

Welcome to the wonderful world of churning, I hope you enjoy your stay!

 

[Arcades]

I thought Venmo started coding as cash advance.

Depends on the issuer, but you can always protect against that by reducing your Cash Advance limit to $0 and the transaction won't go through if that's the case.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

good morning! Just coming on here to report that the remainder of my Chase restaurant offers (4) finally credited They were all Starbucks/Dunkin reloads. One of the offers was even a double dip - it credited a 10% Dunkin offer and the $5 restaurant offer, so my OOP was $4. Love saving money.

 

[DogCat]

Does anyone have a quick solution to this dilemma? A friend planned a trip to Canada (leaving in 1 week) and applied to renew their passport. They just found out their new passport won't be received in time. I remember something about a card that you could get to just get you in and out of Canada...

 

[LynnTH]

My DS in 5/24, with a card falling off on 3/10. Been waiting for him to be able to get one of the INK Cards. He has an engagement ring to buy so will meet the spend easily.

With the now news that this is ending soon. Do you think it is Ok to apply now? I know some have said that the card falls off on the beginning of the 24th month... anyone have experience with this?

 

[becauseimnew]

My DS in 5/24, with a card falling off on 3/10. Been waiting for him to be able to get one of the INK Cards. He has an engagement ring to buy so will meet the spend easily.

With the now news that this is ending soon. Do you think it is Ok to apply now? I know some have said that the card falls off on the beginning of the 24th month... anyone have experience with this?

From everything I've read you are good to go on the 1st of the month.

 

[elgerber]

We have gotten the 90k three times. Technically I am within the time that I could try for another, but I still have $1400 left to spend on p2. I don't know that I could pull off another 6k.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

We have done it 3 times also. Wish we could do it a fourth but I had gotten an ink in May 2022... should have waited! So I guess we're done for now but I still need more URs for next year's trips. Too soon for a CSP or CSR. Can't do the 15K spend Ink, it's too much rn (unless I convince DH to let us buy the new DVC at Disneyland lol). Any suggestions?

They'll all end up at Hyatt anyway, so maybe it's time for me to get a Hyatt card?

 

[becauseimnew]

We have gotten the 90k three times. Technically I am within the time that I could try for another, but I still have $1400 left to spend on p2. I don't know that I could pull off another 6k.

We are in the same boat. I was just approved for a CIC, DH's could apply for another one but I don't know if we could meet the $12K MSR considering we can't put any of our Japan spend on those cards. I was planning on applying for an Amex Business Plat or gold card for all our Japan purchases. That would add another $10K-$15K to the $12K MSR.
I just need to take time to see how much we could do.

 

[wanderlust7]

We have done it 3 times also. Wish we could do it a fourth but I had gotten an ink in May 2022... should have waited! So I guess we're done for now but I still need more URs for next year's trips. Too soon for a CSP or CSR. Can't do the 15K spend Ink, it's too much rn (unless I convince DH to let us buy the new DVC at Disneyland lol). Any suggestions?

They'll all end up at Hyatt anyway, so maybe it's time for me to get a Hyatt card?

If you can get a Hyatt card, you can get an Ink. Or is this question for after the 90k CIU/CIC bonus expires?

Both the personal and biz Hyatt SUBs aren't great. To me, they only make sense as part of a larger strategy to get to Globalist. But who knows what the new Ink SUB will be, hard to say which will be better (I suspect still CIU/CIC).

 

[becauseimnew]

We have done it 3 times also. Wish we could do it a fourth but I had gotten an ink in May 2022... should have waited! So I guess we're done for now but I still need more URs for next year's trips. Too soon for a CSP or CSR. Can't do the 15K spend Ink, it's too much rn (unless I convince DH to let us buy the new DVC at Disneyland lol). Any suggestions?

They'll all end up at Hyatt anyway, so maybe it's time for me to get a Hyatt card?

The only thing I don't like about the Hyatt Biz card is the AF, but $100 is off-set by the $100 credit.

 

[EACarlson]

Does anyone have a quick solution to this dilemma? A friend planned a trip to Canada (leaving in 1 week) and applied to renew their passport. They misunderstood the time it will take and now they just found out their new passport won't be received in time. I remember something about a card that you could get to just get you in and out of Canada...

I believe you are referring to NEXUS, that has a very long wait time and is only valid at land and sea ports of entry. When used by air it needs to be accompanied by a passport. When travelling by air there are no options other than a passport. Your friend may be able to go to a passport office and have one issued same day.

 

[becauseimnew]

But who knows what the new Ink SUB will be, hard to say which will be better (I suspect still CIU/CIC).

What new Ink SUB are you referring to? CIP?

 

[wanderlust7]

What new Ink SUB are you referring to? CIP?

After the current 90k CIU/CIC SUB expires, there will be a "new" one. Or maybe it just goes back to the old SUB?

 

[DogCat]

After the current 90k CIU/CIC SUB expires, there will be a "new" one. Or maybe it just goes back to the old SUB?

I wish they would give us an exact date when the 90k SUB expires

 

[LynnTH]

From everything I've read you are good to go on the 1st of the month.

Well, he just applied and was denied. I think we will wait for the letter and then call after the 10th to see if he can get it pushed through.

I just applied again for another card and got instant approval. Just got the AMEX Plat Biz too - good thing we will have a lot of spend with our remodel coming up.