So I need to buy a new roof, and it's going to cost 10k. The roofer will let me pay by CC if I eat the 2% convenience fee. The question is whether this is worth it or not, and if so, which card do I put it on. I fly out of WAS mostly, so United miles have the most value to me. I could use a BA card and make a big headstart on a companion ticket, but with a small child, I'm not sure Europe is in our immediate plans.

Speaking of which, she's off to private school next year at a cost of 20k. They will let me pay that by CC too, same deal, if I eat the the 2%. So this may be an ongoing question.....

Thanks!

I think most people will tell you that 2% isn't worth paying unless it's to meet the min spending requirements for a sign-up bonus. To that end if you're able to get the Amex gold business card offer (75k) that comes around once in a while it would probably be worth it since it has a 10k spending requirement. You'd effectively be paying $0.00235 per Amex point.

The offer comes around every few months (or at least it has in the past):

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/mommyp...p-bonus-today/

Thanks Saranyc. I don't think I'd bother for AMEX points since I don't really have a use for them. The best use is probably for the BA card because of the matching ticket since I'd basically be getting it for $500 and could redeem it in biz class. The downside though is finding the time to use it.

Ink Bold and Ink Plus both offer 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points for a $10,000 spend in 90 days, and Ultimate Rewards points can be converted to UA miles. The downside is that these are business cards, and if you were to have a dispute with your roofer Chase may not provide the same level of support as they would if you used a personal card.

A better strategy might be to apply for two Chase Sapphire Preferred cards. One in your name, one your spouse's name. Each card offers 40,000 Ultimate Rewards points for spending $3,000 in 90 days. This would generate more points, and you would have better consumer protections, although splitting the payment between two accounts might create some confusion in that regard.

Have you had success in using the BA companion pass? The fuel surcharges are really high but could be worth it if you do it in first class (you'll still pay >$1K in surcharges though). With the 85k points you'd get from Amex (75k bonus + 10k points for spending $10k) you could transfer to a lot of airlines including BA:

http://www.membershiprewards.com/cat...readcrumb=true

Thanks for the great suggestions. I already have an Ink Bold and a Sapphire card, although not the Ink Plus. Not sure if I can have both. Wife has none of these cards, so I kind of like the idea of her getting the Sapphire card and getting 40k in UR points. Certaintly worth $200 to us. Thanks much.

Problem with AMEX is I can't transfer to UA or US, which are really the only two airlines of use to us.

Does the roofer accept American Express? Membership Rewards points can be redeemed though Air Canada, ANA or Singapore Airlines for travel on flights operated by UA, US or any other Star Alliance airline.

Were you specific with the roofer about the card(s)? Amex reportedly charges more than Visa/MC. The roofer might not take Amex even for the 2%.

I paid a contractor in part recently using $500 Visa gift cards. Might absorb some of the cost for you if you get 5X back on the cards you purchase. I would not pay the entire roof cost this way, so as to have credit card protection on the repair. The school would likely not care. Good luck!

Not available right now, but for future consideration, some cards offer promotional 5% back at times. My Citi Preferred card has been giving me 5% in TYP for six months, prior to that there was the AARP card which gave 5% for 6 months. I don't know of any right now. So I have had about 1 year of 5% back, through which I have eaten the cost of 2%+ to pay my taxes with the CCs.

Regarding the other recommendations, just keep in mind if you can meet the spending requirements for bonuses without needing to pay the CC fees then you should do that instead of paying the 2% fees for the situations you brought up. I have always been able to meet the spending for bonus sign ups through regular (and sometimes contrived) spending.

I wanted to add that I just got a US Bank flexperks card. I also have a Platinum account with them. (25K+ relationship for free Platinum.) So I get a 50% bonus on points earned. Each point is worth $2 toward flight ticket. So with the bonus this gives $3 or 3% return. Tickets redemptions are tiered, however, so you would need to exactly hit each threshold to get the return. A ticket slightly over a threshold would net you much less.