Spending Strategy
 

Need some help with my Spending Strategy... I have a Hilton Honors AMEX and Chase Sapphire... I don't travel much (for now)... once a year for around 1 week... should I be putting most of my expenses on Hilton Honors AMEX or Chase Sapphire... Hiton Card would give me 6 points for most spending while Chase gives me 2 points (I think). Which set of points is easier to redeem?


Thanks

Sapphire or Sapphire Preferred? If Preferred, you can transfer the points into other programs, so it might be more useful that way. Also, how much spending are you talking about?

I'm not at all familiar with the Hilton card, but I know Chase Sapphire Preferred gives 2x points on restaurants and travel (travel is liberally defined, I think it even includes taxis) and a 7% bonus each year.

It would also help if you described your situation separately as to (a) how you are spending money to earn points and (b) how you plan to or hope to redeem your points for travel or other rewards.

Are you sure the Hilton card gives 6x points for all spending? Or is that only spending at Hiltons?

First try and look up or come up with your own value per point. Remember that restaurants/travel get double points on sapphire, so that will most likely get those spends. Then Hilton gives 9X on hilton spends. So make sure to use that card. And Hilton gives 6X on supermarkets, drug stores, stand- alone gas stations, and home telephone, wireless, cable, satellite TV and internet service providers, so probably use that card. I think 1 for 1 spends should probably go to sapphire assuming it's pref, which you didn't mention so it may not be, maybe time to upgrade if so?

Adding in some more details:

1. The Card is Saphhire.

2. The printed material I got with the Hilton card said 6X on supermarkets, drug stores, stand- alone gas stations, and home telephone, wireless, cable, satellite TV and internet service providers.

3. Spending.. we're talking (on a monthly basis) roughly $400 on gas, $200 on groceries (sucks that Costco does not count else that would be another $250), $50 on internet, $150 on cell phone and $100 on satellite tv.

Hope this clears things up. Thanks to everyone for responding.

Still didn't tell us if its the regular Sapph. card or the Preferred?? as one card allows transfers (and more benefits) and the other do not.

Regular Sapphire Card

I would use the Hilton card at supermarkets, drug stores, stand- alone gas stations, and home telephone, wireless, cable, satellite TV and internet service providers, and of course at Hilton hotel.
The rest on Sapphire because to me their points are more valuable.

One more question.. and do let me know if this belongs in another thread... I have a different AMEX that gives me 5% Cashback on Gas and Groceries... if my monthly for that is $650.. my annual becomes $7800 and 5% back on that is $390.

If I use my Hilton Honors Amex for that, the $7800 becomes 46,800 Hilton Points (6 points per $ spent).

Are 46,800 Hilton Points more valuable than $390?

Everyone has their own value system for points. Why don't you take a look at a property you're interested in and see how much the points would be worth. This is assuming you'd book the room to begin with.

Hilton points seem to vary more so then a lot of other programs. It depends where you want to stay, tier etc. Here's a good thread you should read through. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...rs-points.html

You may want to jump to more current valuations.

Thanks for pointing me to the right thread. My challenge in valuing points is that I don't have a particular place that I plan on visiting and it becomes difficult to put a monetary value to the room because of that flexibility.

Thanks again/.

Do you plan to stay at a Hilton in the next year or maybe even two? If not then even if you get a good points multiplier at 6x it's rather useless to you. The entire program may change in two years who knows? Values change all the time. Take the money now. Or get point's in another valuable program like ultimate rewards or members rewards or take your cash back. Most people here like UR/MR because it has a lot of options.

If I were you I'd apply for the sapphire pref for one year and give it a shot, you'll get the bonus and fee free for a year. You get 2x Travel on top of the 2x restaurant your regular card gives you now, along with no forex fee if that's useful to you. If you like it then cancel your regular sapphire.

You can use it to transfer to tons of airlines and hotels and if you get the freedom card you get rotating 5x categories. That's my personally preference that combo earns well for me. Some people value UR points at about 1.9+. So when using 5x on freedom I really get 9.5 a dollar. Or you can cash out at 5% cash back. Really valuable card in my opinion.

Good read on valuation of some programs:

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemil...t-card-points/

But once again you need to value your points based on how useful they are to you.

Thanks.