I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[miztressuz]

Hi all. It's been a rough week. I'm not even going to try to catch up at this point. MIL received a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, then went for a second opinion & received a diagnosis of lymphoma.

So sorry to hear that. Sounds like more opinions and tests are in the future for her. Wishing a treatment plan is found and for everyone involved the strength to work through it.

 

[nickle831]

Holy Moly last week was crazy for me. Finally caught up reading.
For all the help we get on choosing cards I would never hold any of y'all responsible for any claw backs. I appreciate all the help.
My churning update:
I'm about to, or I may have hit this weekend my Spend for my 1st CIP. I still need to add last weeks transactions to my spreadsheet, but it was an expensive week so I should be there. Myself and P2 aren't applying for anything until next month, so just sitting back for now. I did get my "new" BoA card in the mail (one I've had for awhile) with the new upgrades of 3%, 2%, and 1% cashback on certain categories that you can change once a month. So we will be using that in between cards with SUBs spends to get us through until we get our next cards.
Our flights to SEA open up on Wed with Alaska Airlines, so I'm impatiently waiting to get our flights booked for the cruise next summer.

 

[NewbieMom]

Safeway/Vons/Randall’s/Albertsons/Tom Thumb/Acme/Jewel/Shaw’s is running a deal on Visa Gift Cards until 8/3/19.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/safe...alls-albertsons-tom-thumb-acme-jewel-shaws-3/
• Save $10 on 2x $50 VGC ($4.95 activation fee, $0.10 savings)

• Save $15 on 2x $100 VGC ($5.95 activation fee, $3.10 savings)

Check your Safeway app for Just4U coupons.

Pay with a credit card that gets you a bonus at supermarkets (e.g., Amex Gold for 4x Membership Rewards, Amex Hilton Surpass for 6x Hilton Honors points, Amex Blue Cash Preferred for 6% cash back).

Any serve users in Norcal? I've been reading back through the pages of success offloading these to serve, but have always heard of Norcal as a ms wasteland. I still have the $500 cards from the last promotion, and with all the MSRs I'm currently working on, it seems too difficult to spend down these organically.

 

[happ]

I am working on a paper for school.... for those of you (seems like all of you!) who frequent WDW (I only go to DL), have they done away with the plastic straws yet? I am seeing it was supposed to have been "Mid-2019". Thank you!

When I was there in April I found some plastic staws at the bakery in France. I actually grabbed some extra because I forgot all about the paper straw thing and had one deteriorate in my coffee drink from Joffreys on arrival day. The Dolphin also had paper straws even though they're not officially Disney.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Saw lion king yesterday. We loved it! I missed the regular version of ‘Be Prepared’ and didn’t care for ‘Circle of Life’ but overall, it was well done and very intense.

Totally agree on Be Prepared. I thought Circle of Life sounded good, but it didn’t seem loud enough?? Like the volume on the movie itself seemed fine, but that song seemed quieter if that makes sense? Maybe it’s just me because I really enjoy listening to that song full blast in my car lol

 

[Albort]

Any serve users in Norcal? I've been reading back through the pages of success offloading these to serve, but have always heard of Norcal as a ms wasteland. I still have the $500 cards from the last promotion, and with all the MSRs I'm currently working on, it seems too difficult to spend down these organically.

pay ur utility bills with them...

 

[Lain]

San Francisco Day (Saturday), thoughts...

8am leave hotel (Springhill Suites OAK or Hyatt Emoryville as backup)
8:40 Alamo Square
9:30 Lombard Street
10 Park at Pier 39 Garage (book this online for $30, have never done this before, assuming prepaying and booking a spot is a good idea)
11 Blue & Gold Cruise around Alcatraz (1.5hr) then lunch OR Lunch then 1pm B&G Cruise
Wander around Fisherman's Wharf, visit Ghirardelli and then wing it from there

Or, at least that's as far as I got. This is assuming we get the Bridge, Disney museum and Tonga Room done on Friday.

The cruise will be 15332 UR for all of us. Or, I get the Go Explorer card which covers the cruise, 1 Day Muni pass for 23598 UR or add an attraction to that for 28800 UR. Leaning toward the card so we have the MUNI pass because after Lombard, I was considering following this: https://www.tripsavvy.com/san-francisco-in-a-day-1479082 I like the idea of tossing in Chinatown. I'm just not sure how long this will take, assuming I need to book the B&G cruise very soon rather than day of.

A few more thoughts. (I promise I’ll put them into a more cohesive form when I have more time.)

- Since you’ll be in the Presidio for the Walt Disney Family Museum and Golden Gate Bridge, you may as well swing by LucasFilm/ILM and take a pic at the Yoda Fountain.

- Driving will get you from place to place faster, especially some of the quick stops I’m suggesting. But you have the right idea of eventually parking somewhere to walk around and explore.

- If/when you drive, be sure to bring all valuables with you or keep them out of view. San Francisco has been having a serious problem with car break-ins for years, especially around Alamo Square. I live in a relatively nice neighborhood, but I’ve still had my car broken into while parked on the street 3x in the last two years.

- If you’ll be in the Fisherman’s Wharf area, there’s an In-N-Out and Boudin there, two iconic California and Bay Area brands. There are a lot of overpriced but old timey Italian seafood restaurants too.

- Check out Musée Mécanique at Fisherman’s Wharf! You can actually play a lot of their old mechanical (and some retro digital) arcade games. Free admission, but you’ll need cash to change into quarters. Their games can be seen in The Princess Diaries, but the museum relocated from Land’s End as seen on film to the Fisherman’s Wharf location a few years ago. It was most recently seen on screen in Netflix’s Always Be My Maybe.

- Hyde Street Pier is nearby Fisherman’s Wharf if you’re interested in checking out some historic sailing and steam ships.

- There's a cable car turnaround between Hyde Street Pier and Ghirardelli Square.

- This is all a short walk from Ghirardelli Square. There’s the original fountain shop on the side, and a newer and bigger gift shop towards the middle of the center, where you can order ice cream, sundaes and shakes and sit down to views of the Bay, including Aquatic Park below and Alcatraz.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I can't find the Serve MS discussion that I recently read on dischurners. Did it move? Possibly (probably) I just have no clue how to use reddit properly...

So the staples MCGC that are fee free this week I can use at walmart for serve or plastiq for mortgage. correct?
And VGC that may be on sale in the future I need to use at FD or DG?

Do I have that right? This is my first week for serve...whoop whoop!

 

[Lain]

Totally agree on Be Prepared. I thought Circle of Life sounded good, but it didn’t seem loud enough?? Like the volume on the movie itself seemed fine, but that song seemed quieter if that makes sense? Maybe it’s just me because I really enjoy listening to that song full blast in my car lol

Circle of life? No... life is a line!

 

[wendow]

Totally agree on Be Prepared. I thought Circle of Life sounded good, but it didn’t seem loud enough?? Like the volume on the movie itself seemed fine, but that song seemed quieter if that makes sense? Maybe it’s just me because I really enjoy listening to that song full blast in my car lol

Maybe it was just a volume issue. The song just didn’t seem ‘big’ enough so maybe if they just cranked it up a bit lol!

 

[Judique]

Questions on the Lion King: Did you see it in Dolby or 3D?

 

[Albort]

I can't find the Serve MS discussion that I recently read on dischurners. Did it move? Possibly (probably) I just have no clue how to use reddit properly...

So the staples MCGC that are fee free this week I can use at walmart for serve or plastiq for mortgage. correct?
And VGC that may be on sale in the future I need to use at FD or DG?

Do I have that right? This is my first week for serve...whoop whoop!

its highly recommended to not use MCGC at walmart because you need to cancel the auto select of credit and run it as a debit. VisaGC are the way to go for walmart. if i recall correctly, FD is fine with MCGCs.
alternatively, there are $100 VGC x2, buy 2 get $15 back. u can do those at WM, FD, DG.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

its highly recommended to not use MCGC at walmart because you need to cancel the auto select of credit and run it as a debit. VisaGC are the way to go for walmart. if i recall correctly, FD is fine with MCGCs.
alternatively, there are $100 VGC x2, buy 2 get $15 back. u can do those at WM, FD, DG.

OK, I had walmart backwards. Thank you!
The 2 pack of VGC sale is at staples?

 

[speedyfishy]

Any serve users in Norcal? I've been reading back through the pages of success offloading these to serve, but have always heard of Norcal as a ms wasteland. I still have the $500 cards from the last promotion, and with all the MSRs I'm currently working on, it seems too difficult to spend down these organically.

ca is tough but people say that about NYC too and I had had success msing there. I’d play around and try some places in your area. It may take you a few tries but once you find something that works it’s easy.

I can't find the Serve MS discussion that I recently read on dischurners. Did it move? Possibly (probably) I just have no clue how to use reddit properly...

So the staples MCGC that are fee free this week I can use at walmart for serve or plastiq for mortgage. correct?
And VGC that may be on sale in the future I need to use at FD or DG?

Do I have that right? This is my first week for serve...whoop whoop!

VGC and and MCGCs work at FD and DG Walmart stick to VGCs.

 

[Judique]

Going to the bathroom once is no big deal. This was a baby crying off and on for two hours, a 2 or 3 yo bored out of her brain who was whining and fussy, and just tons of littles up and down and playing (running around) in the aisles. It’s just not a little kid movie and they got bored. My 8yo stayed focused and I’m sure younger kids who have good focus would be fine but the movie is intense with lots to follow.

Great feedback! I am thinking #1 might be okay but #2 would be too young. And easier to exit with one than 2.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Maybe it was just a volume issue. The song just didn’t seem ‘big’ enough so maybe if they just cranked it up a bit lol!

Yes! Definitely not big enough. I need that song to physically push me back into my seat

Questions on the Lion King: Did you see it in Dolby or 3D?

Dolby I guess, I always buy whatever the cheapest movie ticket is lol.

 

[Lain]

Any serve users in Norcal? I've been reading back through the pages of success offloading these to serve, but have always heard of Norcal as a ms wasteland. I still have the $500 cards from the last promotion, and with all the MSRs I'm currently working on, it seems too difficult to spend down these organically.

I'm floating almost $1.5k in VGCs and working on multiple MSRs so I feel your pain. I not aware of any good ways to liquidate VGCs via MS in NorCal, so I just use them at Costco and other places that don't accept Amex.

 

[speedyfishy]

I'm floating almost $1.5k in VGCs and working on multiple MSRs so I feel your pain. I not aware of any good ways to liquidate VGCs via MS in NorCal, so I just use them at Costco and other places that don't accept Amex.

Do you have any bodegas that sell MOs?

 

[lynzi2004]

Y'all! We leave for WDW in a little over 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's been two years since we've been there for a family vacation - dh & I have been there for a resort stay but it's not the same - I am so psyched to get to go back with my family!!!!

If you've hung out on this thread for long, you know I love split-stays! My sweet dh indulges me. He despises having to pack up and move but he knows how much this makes the kids and i happy. Well, this trip, I get a triple split-stay cause we are 1 night at Pop, 4 nights at POR and 5 nights at Swan. I am so stinking excited!!! Two new resorts (Pop and Swan) and a fav (POR). Life is good and we are blessed!

Thank you ALL for sharing your knowledge and encouraging each other! This trip is costing us <$1k OOP. How is that even possible with all the hits we've taken over the years?? Welp, despite the hits, there is always another way. This group keeps finding and sharing. Love you all! Keep on keeping on, my friends!

So I’m still trying to figure out how to do this myself. I can get my flights and my hotels cheap, but it seems as if I’m always paying OOP for the tickets. Which isn’t a big deal, and may even be where some of your OOP expense is coming from. But if not, is it from gift card churning or something. Bc at least right now, there’s not a point system I can utilize to buy Disney tix right?! Thanks for any insight!

 

[DisneyMandC]

Went on a Disney GC shopping spree this morning lol. Went to Staples and used one of the Amex offers there. Picked up a $50 Disney GC for $10 off. For some reason Staples didn't track through Dosh for me this time. It's worked with my CIP before but for some reason didn't work with my Amex. Didn't have DH's Hilton Biz so couldn't use his Staples offer. Then I went to BB&B and got $25 GCs on each of our Bonbon Biz. I even found an super old Rite Aid in my area and picked up a $40 Disney GC with the 10% off Chase offer! Finally, I stopped at Kroger and got a $100 Disney GC and $100 VGC with 4x fuel points on each plus 5% back with Dosh.

So, $240 worth of Disney GC for around $199 after I calculate fuel savings too. I'll stop at Walmart this week to liquidate the VGC to Serve- wasn't trying to stop in a Walmart on a Sunday!