The Finances and Debt Thread

[Pick6]

End of busy season is in sight. I took some time today to work on the churning game for ez extra income. Got a targeted $400 offer from Citizens Bank in the mail, all I need to do is open an account and make a direct deposit. Now that I'm living with my GF, who I trust and has additional expenses outside of mine, I also took the dive into credit card churning and applied for the Chase Ink Business Preferred today. 80k bonus points for meeting a 5k spend in the first 3 months. Luckily for me, the GF and I (along with parents) are about to book a trip to Aruba in the fall. Easy minimum spend req. met + 3x Ultimate Reward points for travel = a great start!

 

[Ob1]

End of busy season is in sight. I took some time today to work on the churning game for ez extra income. Got a targeted $400 offer from Citizens Bank in the mail, all I need to do is open an account and make a direct deposit. Now that I'm living with my GF, who I trust and has additional expenses outside of mine, I also took the dive into credit card churning and applied for the Chase Ink Business Preferred today. 80k bonus points for meeting a 5k spend in the first 3 months. Luckily for me, the GF and I (along with parents) are about to book a trip to Aruba in the fall. Easy minimum spend req. met + 3x Ultimate Reward points for travel = a great start!

You gonna double dip sapphire cards?

 

[Pick6]

You gonna double dip sapphire cards?

I've read Chase has fixed the double dip loophole. Is that not correct?

 

[Ob1]

I've read Chase has fixed the double dip loophole. Is that not correct?

Look up the Sapphire Modified Double Dip.

Basically: Chase doesn't allow multiple sapphire products and same day double dip is dead, but MDD is the workaround.

You apply for CSR first, once approved, apply for CSP the next calendar day. The reason is to get both bonuses (100k) instead of one (CSR), or else you're locked out of CSP bonus for 4 years.

 

[BMAN]

End of busy season is in sight. I took some time today to work on the churning game for ez extra income. Got a targeted $400 offer from Citizens Bank in the mail, all I need to do is open an account and make a direct deposit. Now that I'm living with my GF, who I trust and has additional expenses outside of mine, I also took the dive into credit card churning and applied for the Chase Ink Business Preferred today. 80k bonus points for meeting a 5k spend in the first 3 months. Luckily for me, the GF and I (along with parents) are about to book a trip to Aruba in the fall. Easy minimum spend req. met + 3x Ultimate Reward points for travel = a great start!

That shit is easy to hit. It seems like a lot, but if you just put your bills and stuff on it you’ll get it in no time. I did that with my Chase Sapphire Reserved.

 

[FiveThous]

So I'm thinking of making the switch to an internet bank instead of BoA. Can I still go into a bank to make change or is that something only available to customers these days? That's the one thing holding me back from biting the bullet. Any tips?

 

[TheISHT]

Leave a free checking account open. I don't think there are any limits.

 

[BMAN]

Look up the Sapphire Modified Double Dip.

Basically: Chase doesn't allow multiple sapphire products and same day double dip is dead, but MDD is the workaround.

You apply for CSR first, once approved, apply for CSP the next calendar day. The reason is to get both bonuses (100k) instead of one (CSR), or else you're locked out of CSP bonus for 4 years.

So I have the Sapphire reserved. Should I be getting the Chase Freedom Unlimited for everything other than travel and dining? And OG Freedom for the 5% categories?

 

[Ob1]

So I have the Sapphire reserved. Should I be getting the Chase Freedom Unlimited for everything other than travel and dining? And OG Freedom for the 5% categories?

Do you have all 3 of those or are you asking me if you should get them? There are better cards out there than the Freedom unlimited (2% on everything, some have even more), but there's nothing wrong with a nice Reserve (for food and travel), Freedom (for 5%) and Unlimited (for everything else) combo.

I would not suggest opening the chase freedom unlimited or freedom cards if you don't already have them. As I said, you can get cards that have much better sign up offers that also give you greater rewards.

 

[BMAN]

Do you have all 3 of those or are you asking me if you should get them? There are better cards out there than the Freedom unlimited (2% on everything, some have even more), but there's nothing wrong with a nice Reserve (for food and travel), Freedom (for 5%) and Unlimited (for everything else) combo.

I would not suggest opening the chase freedom unlimited or freedom cards if you don't already have them. As I said, you can get cards that have much better sign up offers that also give you greater rewards.

I was just asking. I have Reserve and that’s it. Any cards you’d suggest? Was just gonna keep it all under chase since I have checking and savings with them too. But could be flexible if I was going to go the churning route.

 

[Ob1]

I was just asking. I have Reserve and that’s it. Any cards you’d suggest? Was just gonna keep it all under chase since I have checking and savings with them too. But could be flexible if I was going to go the churning route.

Really depends on your goals. Do you want a high % back card? Free or willing to pay an AF? Best bonus offer? Do you fly one airline a lot or stay at one hotel a lot?

IMO the best Chase card to get right now is the Ink Preferred so you can get the 80k points. My favorite AMEX right now is the gold (4x food, 10$ grubhub per month, $100 airline credit which can be used for some gift cards - $195 AF). But there's tons of great cards out there.


No matter what, every year when your AF hits you better be calling them and asking for a retention offer. More often than not you can get your AF + paid for.

 

[BMAN]

Really depends on your goals. Do you want a high % back card? Free or willing to pay an AF? Best bonus offer? Do you fly one airline a lot or stay at one hotel a lot?

IMO the best Chase card to get right now is the Ink Preferred so you can get the 80k points. My favorite AMEX right now is the gold (4x food, 10$ grubhub per month, $100 airline credit which can be used for some gift cards - $195 AF). But there's tons of great cards out there.


No matter what, every year when your AF hits you better be calling them and asking for a retention offer. More often than not you can get your AF + paid for.

Yeah my fee just hit today. Had no idea about that. Should I just call the number on the back of the card? What do I say?

 

[Ob1]

Yeah my fee just hit today. Had no idea about that. Should I just call the number on the back of the card? What do I say?

https://wallethub.com/answers/how-do-i-get-a-chase-sapphire-reserve-retention-offer-2140664335/

I always just call and say I'm not sure I'm getting enough value out of the card, do you have any retention offers so that I can see if I will get more value out of it this year? Often times they'll say something like:

1) Here is the benefit yada yada yada

THEN they will either:
1) tell you you can downgrade to a cheaper option or keep the card as is (hang up, call again) or
2) say here is an offer I can give you to keep the card.

I keep hanging up and calling again until I get #2. That or I product change to a free card.

 

[BMAN]

https://wallethub.com/answers/how-do-i-get-a-chase-sapphire-reserve-retention-offer-2140664335/

I always just call and say I'm not sure I'm getting enough value out of the card, do you have any retention offers so that I can see if I will get more value out of it this year? Often times they'll say something like:

1) Here is the benefit yada yada yada

THEN they will either:
1) tell you you can downgrade to a cheaper option or keep the card as is (hang up, call again) or
2) say here is an offer I can give you to keep the card.

I keep hanging up and calling again until I get #2. That or I product change to a free card.

I had no idea any of this was possible. Thank you

 

[Ob1]

I had no idea any of this was possible. Thank you

Yeah, I have 13 cards. I don't pay almost anything per year. If I do, I product change to a free card where possible. If it's not possible, I cancel. Doesn't effect credit much at all (hit after 10 years when it drops off your account - both bc your average age goes down, and bc you get a ding for cancelling - also a small hit at first because your utilization amount lowers so your total utilization goes up a bit).

Let me know how it goes when you call to get a retention offer. Some DP's are currently saying the standard offer is 20k points to stay with the card. If you're utilizing the 300$ credit, then the extra 20k points gets you closer to a net 0 total fee.