Analysis: 1.5% CB on non-CC items with Ink Plus
Nov 20, 2014, 11:13 pm
#31
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
Smh
Congrats OP, you've figured it all out. Make sure to stop MS'ing at the amount of your mortgage payment or else you lose.
I'm ready for the OP's next post in a few months: "I've been buying VGC to load to BB to pay my mortgage, taxes, and credit card bills, but I just realized that by doing so I've created a new credit card balance to be paid. It turns out there's a closed loop, no arbitrary bills needed!"
Congrats OP, you've figured it all out. Make sure to stop MS'ing at the amount of your mortgage payment or else you lose.
I'm ready for the OP's next post in a few months: "I've been buying VGC to load to BB to pay my mortgage, taxes, and credit card bills, but I just realized that by doing so I've created a new credit card balance to be paid. It turns out there's a closed loop, no arbitrary bills needed!"
Nov 20, 2014, 11:22 pm
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 49
Smh
Congrats OP, you've figured it all out. Make sure to stop MS'ing at the amount of your mortgage payment or else you lose.
I'm ready for the OP's next post in a few months: "I've been buying VGC to load to BB to pay my mortgage, taxes, and credit card bills, but I just realized that by doing so I've created a new credit card balance to be paid. It turns out there's a closed loop, no arbitrary bills needed!"
Congrats OP, you've figured it all out. Make sure to stop MS'ing at the amount of your mortgage payment or else you lose.
I'm ready for the OP's next post in a few months: "I've been buying VGC to load to BB to pay my mortgage, taxes, and credit card bills, but I just realized that by doing so I've created a new credit card balance to be paid. It turns out there's a closed loop, no arbitrary bills needed!"
Nov 20, 2014, 11:33 pm
#33
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
Just read what other people have written. Basically you are buying GCs and loading them. You also have other bills. The sum of those bills and the credit card bill is constant. Buying the GCs generates the same reward whatever you do later. So how you split that payments doesn't matter, and using BB to (mainly) pay off the cc is the easiest for many.
Nov 20, 2014, 11:55 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 129
what every1 is saying is u are just over complicating things
u took an extra unnecessary step to pay bills
using GC to pay ur mortgage and ur bank to pay ur CC =
using GC to pay CC and ur bank to pay ur mortgage
except u took an uneeded extra step to pay ur mortgage
u took an extra unnecessary step to pay bills
using GC to pay ur mortgage and ur bank to pay ur CC =
using GC to pay CC and ur bank to pay ur mortgage
except u took an uneeded extra step to pay ur mortgage
Nov 21, 2014, 12:14 am
#35
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,500
ericdabbs, I believe you are missing our point. Let me give you the scenario:
1. Buy $1448.65 in VGC (7-$206.95 VGC cards) from OSS using Ink Plus
2. Load $1448.65 to BB
3. Use BB BP to pay $1448.65 mortgage
4. Use checking account to pay off Ink Plus $1448.65 statement
So in the final assessment of the above scenario Either $23.78 ($72.43 cash back - $48.65 card fees) B-$49 fees - 1.5%) or 7,243 Ultimate Reward Points (1448.65*5) can be earned. Based upon others' feedback, saving the points and transferring to an airline partner is the preferred route.
The alternate scenario (paying your mortgage directly from your bank) would NOT have earned any cash back.
1. Buy $1448.65 in VGC (7-$206.95 VGC cards) from OSS using Ink Plus
2. Load $1448.65 to BB
3. Use BB BP to pay $1448.65 mortgage
4. Use checking account to pay off Ink Plus $1448.65 statement
So in the final assessment of the above scenario Either $23.78 ($72.43 cash back - $48.65 card fees) B-$49 fees - 1.5%) or 7,243 Ultimate Reward Points (1448.65*5) can be earned. Based upon others' feedback, saving the points and transferring to an airline partner is the preferred route.
The alternate scenario (paying your mortgage directly from your bank) would NOT have earned any cash back.
Last edited by ericdabbs; Nov 21, 2014 at 12:23 am
Nov 21, 2014, 12:25 am
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 49
Guys, read my scenario analysis and tell me where my math is off... Rather than offering fragmented responses please post in logical order of events the error in my assessment. I can't emphasize enough the distinction of earning 5x rewards vs. sending a check to the mortgage company...sending a check debits the bank account, but it sacrifices the 5x ink plus multiplier in the process.
Nov 21, 2014, 12:36 am
#37
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,500
Guys, read my scenario analysis and tell me where my math is off... Rather than offering fragmented responses please post in logical order of events the error in my assessment. I can't emphasize enough the distinction of earning 5x rewards vs. sending a check to the mortgage company...sending a check debits the bank account, but it sacrifices the 5x ink plus multiplier in the process.
I can bet that if you did that just once, you will see that you will arrive at the same conclusion. But feel free to keep doing what you are doing now if you think it works for you better.
Last edited by ericdabbs; Nov 21, 2014 at 12:45 am
Nov 21, 2014, 12:56 am
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 49
Ericdaabs, thanks for patiently explaining, at last I realize what you are saying. I will adjust my approach. I think paying off the card balance is the way to go with BB as it is the easiest approach. Why complicate things!!
Nov 21, 2014, 1:13 am
#39
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 215
Guys, read my scenario analysis and tell me where my math is off... Rather than offering fragmented responses please post in logical order of events the error in my assessment. I can't emphasize enough the distinction of earning 5x rewards vs. sending a check to the mortgage company...sending a check debits the bank account, but it sacrifices the 5x ink plus multiplier in the process.
can you elaborate on your scenario analysis?
Nov 21, 2014, 3:30 am
#40
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: PHL ILG
Posts: 87
Do you use your Ink Plus for ANYTHING else? Or do you have:
10/1 STAPLES $206.95
10/2 STAPLES $413.90
10/3 STAPLES $206.95
10/4 STAPLES $206.95
10/4 VISA SAVINGS EDGE -$4.14
10/5 STAPLES $827.80
BTW, you see my VSE credit?? Your analysis doesn't have that so I think you might need to do more reading - you're leaving some money on the table.
10/1 STAPLES $206.95
10/2 STAPLES $413.90
10/3 STAPLES $206.95
10/4 STAPLES $206.95
10/4 VISA SAVINGS EDGE -$4.14
10/5 STAPLES $827.80
BTW, you see my VSE credit?? Your analysis doesn't have that so I think you might need to do more reading - you're leaving some money on the table.
Nov 21, 2014, 7:28 am
#42
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 466
My favorite part is when OP says that she's "paying bills with a CC that traditionally can't be paid that way."
You know who else is fond of saying that, right?
Nov 21, 2014, 7:36 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
My favorite part was the not understanding that using bb to pay bills and your bank to pay the cc is the same thing as using bb to pay the cc and using the bank to pay the bills....
Nov 21, 2014, 9:00 am
#44
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 9
hi y'all, this was a very fun thread to read!!! probably one of my favorites 
question -- why is using bluebird to pay off the card easier/more recommended than using bluebird to pay bills? i'm confused about that part.
do tell!!! you guys rock!
question -- why is using bluebird to pay off the card easier/more recommended than using bluebird to pay bills? i'm confused about that part.
do tell!!! you guys rock!
Nov 21, 2014, 9:07 am
#45
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 191
shame on you