I love credit cards so much! v4.0 - 2021 (see first page for add'l details)

[disfanforlife]

Transfers take a bit. So once the money is in my Discover account and Citi shows $0, I’ll close it.

Sounds like a good plan. I was wondering too just incase they charge a few for low balance in the mean time. Do you have to call to close it?

 

[babyready]

I am working on booking things for a large family trip to Disneyland this Christmas. It was supposed to be last Christmas but...you know. Of course, there are so many unknowns and I am driving myself a little crazy planning. Our family is paying for the "housing". I had been going back and forth between getting hotel rooms (walking distance, use points so less out of pocket, but it is a LOT of points, probably more than we have right now) but I think we are going to get an Airbnb with our Venture credit.

That leaves us with 198,000 URs. I think the best thing to do would be to cash these out for Disney gift cards and then use those to pay for our tickets. DH has a CSP, so 1.25%, which isn't bad. I downgraded my CSR for a Freedom last year since we weren't traveling and I didn't want to pay the AF. I am thinking about upgrading it back to the CSR for this trip. I have done the math and it seems like we would come out ahead, even after the AF. I could use the $300 credit for a rental car, which would be helpful. I have a few questions, though.

First, I feel like there is some "trick" to upgrading and then downgrading again shortly after? Can someone refresh my memory or lead me to a place where that is discussed?

Second, is the AF back to $550? I see that it is for new apps but wondering if that has been true for renewals and upgrades as well.

Any other tips or things I might not be thinking of?

Thank you!

 

[havaneselover]

Away sale for anyone looking for new luggage...View attachment 564903

Nice! Some interesting colors

 

[Judique]

I ordered some refrigerator filters from home depot for the platinum amex credit. Unfortunately, I got the wrong size. If I return then at the local store and buy the right size there, will Amex claw back the credit? What if I return them for store credit?

Store credit won't affect you.
Are you talking water filters? If you have Samsung and if they have your filter type, I just bought one from the Samsung website for $15 less than Home Depot in February. This is where they send you one every 6 months which works for me.

 

[hsmamato2]

@gottalovepluto- You were so right! Being a lefty and sleeping on my left side part of the night, my shoulder/arm is feeling it this morning. Final dose is definitely going on the right side.

so..... are you saying you prefer it on non dominant side? I'm trying to decide which is worse(better lol) getting it in an already 'bad' shoulder (maybe making that worse) or the 'good' shoulder (concerned I'll then have 2 bad shoulders)

 

[TDSAXX]

Yes, you have a reservation. You'll have a car.

Well not necessarily.

 

[Judique]

Exactly! My 25 year old was very dramatic when she got hers and it was the first out of 2. She wants me to go with her for second. Sigh.

Mine was actually not the dramatic one. I needed her to go with me. I'm needle phobic and was afraid I would get weak and faint after seeing so many jabs on TV. She's the healthy one with the huge immune response - good thing.

So, meanwhile my son in law tested positive. DD and girls were out of town using my Hilton Head reservation (I didn't go) and got back this past weekend. He was sick (didn't travel) from Thursday on through the weekend, so first night she stayed here. She's had the vaccine due to education job. Anyway, yesterday, she took herself and the girls for tests as youngest was throwing up overnight Monday. Still waiting for those tests. Vaccine or not, staying clear since no way I want to be even a bit sick. I'm sending SIL daily messages to stay home and quarantine - he says he's doing it.

 

[striker1064]

IHG Reward night question:

I have a free night cert from the old IHG card that was issued in April 2020 and has since been extended to December 2021 due to COVID. Because of the issue date, I know this is a 40k cert, and it even says so in the description of the free night. However, the website lets me book any hotel with availability whether it's 40k or not. Is this a bug on IHG's website? Can I expect this to be canceled if I book it?

UPDATE: It turns out that the NYC Kimpton Muse and the Intercontinental Barclay are both 40k properties. I kinda can't believe that.

 

[Judique]

So glad my fabulous Costco agent stayed with me yesterday instead of sending me to another team that would get back to me in one to two days. The cruise I booked (which had gone up $540 before I was able to book, then another $180 last night) is showing no availability for anything but inside or concierge. Not sure if it's a glitch or the silver castaway club members snatched everything else up. Seems to be strong demand for cruises and I know lots of people are sitting on large credits.

I'm sure the vaccine is a game changer for that industry for 2022.

 

[elgerber]

Finally got my Citi checking bonus. That was a long wait! Opened 10/26, funded on 11/9 and bonus posted on 3/16. And now to move the funds back.

Wow, I am two months behind you, guess I won't be looking for that anytime soon.

 

[Judique]

Thanks for calming my semi-freak out, LOL!

I can't help but poke the bear, lol! Remember the Seinfeld episode where they didn't have a car for Jerry.

I'm sure you will be fine!

 

[havaneselover]

Well not necessarily.

I have been on a business trip to WI and we had to wait over an hour for a car.

 

[Judique]

IHG Reward night question:

I have a free night cert from the old IHG card that was issued in April 2020 and has since been extended to December 2021 due to COVID. Because of the issue date, I know this is a 40k cert, and it even says so in the description of the free night. However, the website lets me book any hotel with availability whether it's 40k or not. Is this a bug on IHG's website? Can I expect this to be canceled if I book it?

UPDATE: It turns out that the NYC Kimpton Muse and the Intercontinental Barclay are both 40k properties. I kinda can't believe that.

IHG also has variable pricing so you might have hit good days! (I didn't look at your hotels to know if that's their regular points rate, but I've seen lowered points on a few options over the winter.) I spend way too much time on all these hotel sites!

 

[hsmamato2]

I got my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine today. I had Covid in late June and I’m still not fully recovered. If you’ve done any reading about Long Haulers, I am one of those. I was in perfectly good health before Covid, and I’m in my early 40’s. I’ve been reading reports that about 30-40% of Long Haulers have their symptoms resolve after their second dose of the shot, and nobody understands why. But I sure hope that is my experience. So far my arm is just sore, but no worse than when I get a flu shot.

I;m sorry to hear that, I have a few friends who are also long haulers....it's not fun.

 

[platamama]

Well not necessarily.

I can't help but poke the bear, lol! Remember the Seinfeld episode where they didn't have a car for Jerry.

I'm sure you will be fine!

That was exactly what came to mind for me too! lol

 

[LynnTH]

I got hooked on the idea of churning about getting a 100K sign up bonus on a Marriott Bonvoy card and then putting all of my spend on it for a couple of years resulting in over 300K points, and that includes using a few free nights. Now that my eyes have been opened, I want more! LOL! Before the Bonvoy card, we were pretty anti-credit card around here. I was scared of ruining my credit and getting into lots of debt.

By the way, how do you get your Disney tickets for free? Are you cashing out bonuses?

I don't cash out my UR's for Disney Tickets online (find them more valuable other ways - like cruises.). Like #magickingdomprincess - I had the Citi Cards that I used with a 25% bonus to cash out. I also use other cards that I get in between my Chase Cards. BOA Biz card has a $750 bonus going on with $5000 MSR. Does not affect 5/24 status and a good bonus. This is an option for tickets. I may also buy some Disney GC at the Grocery Store or Home Depot and then use PYB with my CSR also. I already have enough for my May trip but might as well start stocking up for the next trip before the PYB goes away (if it does)

 

[Alexle2007]

Sounds like a good plan. I was wondering too just incase they charge a few for low balance in the mean time. Do you have to call to close it?

I am hoping you can use the live chat.

 

[Alexle2007]

so..... are you saying you prefer it on non dominant side? I'm trying to decide which is worse(better lol) getting it in an already 'bad' shoulder (maybe making that worse) or the 'good' shoulder (concerned I'll then have 2 bad shoulders)

Yes, since I think it made it hurt more since I use that arm for writing and sleeping on that side. I am thinking the other side will help negate that discomfort.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Ok, leave a little before shutting down or move full amount out and shut down simultaneously?

Wait for the money to fully clear your bank, my rule of thumb is 3 business days. Make sure you don’t transfer when your statement is about to cycle or the zero balance could trigger a monthly fee.

 

[hsmamato2]

Yes, since I think it made it hurt more since I use that arm for writing and sleeping on that side. I am thinking the other side will help negate that discomfort.

well I think after reading advice here I'll just take in the bad arm.... (which is better lately due to extensive p/t) at least that way I'll still have one arm in case it gets really sore,and that arm/shoulder I'm actually used to it feeling crummy frequently anyway... yikes I'm anxious!