Getting spending up without the Mint
Jun 8, 2011, 6:53 am
#196
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 879
In addition to above: Our Security Monitoring Service uses Am Ex, so does our Trash Collector hair cuts, most charities,and lawn service. All monthly recurring. If someone looks into every possible way to pay monthly the amount really adds up.
Jun 8, 2011, 7:21 am
#197
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 43
Thanks everyone! I am new, but am learning fast. I just got a AMEX Surpass HH card.
We spend ~ 500/mo on groceries from a store (Wegmans) in the DC area. If I get my wife a ~1K GC every two months, will that equal to 6,000 HH points? It is my understanding that 6 points / $ on grocery purchases.
Have not checked to see if the Wegman's GC come free or with a service charge.
We spend ~ 500/mo on groceries from a store (Wegmans) in the DC area. If I get my wife a ~1K GC every two months, will that equal to 6,000 HH points? It is my understanding that 6 points / $ on grocery purchases.
Have not checked to see if the Wegman's GC come free or with a service charge.
Jun 8, 2011, 7:52 am
#198
Join Date: May 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, SPG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 333
Buying Gift Cards or Vouchers on eBay through MR Portal?
Now that I've been bitten by the FT bug and have 2 AMEX cards... I've been looking for a way maximize my MR points earnings rate. I shop on eBay often and thought this would be a way to do just that. In addition to shopping for merchandise, and in the topic of this thread, what about buying gift cards/certificates/vouchers/prepaid charge cards/etc. on eBay?
Buying GC's on BigCrumbs.com, etc. has been covered and definitely something we all can consider (Thanks, MM!)... I'm just brainstorming here, so bear with me:
1.) Get to eBay through MR Shopping Portal
2.) Buy GC/cert/prepaid charge card (*usually can get these discounted. e.g. someone selling a $100 Best Buy GC for $95)
3.) Purchase gets 4X Bonus MR points
4.) ... proceed as usual
The only variable I see is the Bonus MR points T&C, which states:
... the last item seems like a deal breaker, but, I think this condition was meant to restrict awarding bonus points for purchases of the actual eBay gift card. It may even cover gift card purchases through the eBay Gift Card Mall... hard to be certain, any thoughts?
Buying GC's on BigCrumbs.com, etc. has been covered and definitely something we all can consider (Thanks, MM!)... I'm just brainstorming here, so bear with me:
1.) Get to eBay through MR Shopping Portal
2.) Buy GC/cert/prepaid charge card (*usually can get these discounted. e.g. someone selling a $100 Best Buy GC for $95)
3.) Purchase gets 4X Bonus MR points
4.) ... proceed as usual
The only variable I see is the Bonus MR points T&C, which states:
"Bonus points will NOT be awarded on the following products and product categories: Business and Industrial, eBay Motors, Real Estate, eBay Giving Works or other purchases that benefits charities or non-profit organizations, Gift certificates."
Jun 8, 2011, 8:00 am
#199
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NC, USA
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AA Exec Plat, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,012
Good ideas, but what do you then do with the GC/cert/prepaid charge card? In the end, the goal is to find eligible spend without a remaining asset in hand. You could buy gift cards 24/7 to get a lot of spend, but what good does that do you when you now have $xx thousand in gift cards to use on spend which you could have used your credit card for in the first place?
Jun 8, 2011, 8:08 am
#200
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,052
Good ideas, but what do you then do with the GC/cert/prepaid charge card? In the end, the goal is to find eligible spend without a remaining asset in hand. You could buy gift cards 24/7 to get a lot of spend, but what good does that do you when you now have $xx thousand in gift cards to use on spend which you could have used your credit card for in the first place?
But consider this:
Say your new CC has a spend of $4k but it needs to get done in 90 days.
Say you have a situation whereas you wont be able to actually spend that money in that time period.
Well the idea of buying GCs now is that you would in fact make it on time, but then you could use those GCs even AFTER the spend period of the promo is over. I have said this many times before in here and in related threads.
the first point is to make the spend. then of course, it's to have whatever you get be either a charge you would have done anyway, or a way to pay back the spended CC.
But if you end up with all these GCs and the 90 promo period is over, just use THOSE on things you'd normally do now. You will eventually burn them up. At least you would have made the spend in time.
that's the key here.
Jun 8, 2011, 9:20 am
#201
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: SPG GOLD
Posts: 217
I was churning heavily buying eBay GC with eBay GC. eBay never gave eBay Bucks for it, but you could receive rebates through MrRebates or BigCrumbs on it. You cant do that any more. Other gcs should still receive rebates. When rebates were not given on ebay gc. I cashed out by bidding on visa gc and amazon gc. What a headache that was. You don't understand the meaning of amateur until you deal with hobby eBay sellers.
Last edited by sunk818; Jun 8, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Jun 9, 2011, 12:13 am
#202
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: AVP
Programs: gold, titanium, platinum and diamond, but still no giraffe.
Posts: 330
I only buy store GCs when the rotating 5% cards (Discover, Chase Freedom) are in that category and I haven't maxed it out that month/quarter. I don't know if that card gets the scanned receipts on the statements like amex used to but Discover and Chase don't care what you buy as long as the store is coded correctly for the category.
We spend ~ 500/mo on groceries from a store (Wegmans) in the DC area. If I get my wife a ~1K GC every two months, will that equal to 6,000 HH points? It is my understanding that 6 points / $ on grocery purchases.
Have not checked to see if the Wegman's GC come free or with a service charge.
Have not checked to see if the Wegman's GC come free or with a service charge.
Jun 9, 2011, 12:32 pm
#203
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,259
I think an excellent way to meet spending requirements now is to purchase 100K US miles for $1500. It's not an everyday spend, but 100K US miles can take one to HK in business class, so for someone needing to go to Asia and wants to meet spending requirements, it's a good deal.
Jun 9, 2011, 12:59 pm
#204
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Reston, Virginia, USA
Posts: 653
Marathon Man's posts got me thinking. There are very few items I DON'T pay by CC:
1. The CC's themselves.
2. Taxes. Fairfax Co. charges usurious "convienience" fees.
3. Insurance premiums. I want the bank record.
4. Charities. Two reasons. This is not a small item in our budget. First, Quicken gives me a nice summary for the IRS. This is a hefty deduction. Second, some charities may be worthy causes, but their collection arms include some sketchy dealers. I was burned by a worthy cause "helping themselves" to my CC.
5. Magazine subscriptions. Again sketchy collection practices. They don't get to know my CC numbers.
6. And a few vendors that don't take CCs.
1. The CC's themselves.
2. Taxes. Fairfax Co. charges usurious "convienience" fees.
3. Insurance premiums. I want the bank record.
4. Charities. Two reasons. This is not a small item in our budget. First, Quicken gives me a nice summary for the IRS. This is a hefty deduction. Second, some charities may be worthy causes, but their collection arms include some sketchy dealers. I was burned by a worthy cause "helping themselves" to my CC.
5. Magazine subscriptions. Again sketchy collection practices. They don't get to know my CC numbers.
6. And a few vendors that don't take CCs.
Jun 9, 2011, 1:18 pm
#205
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,060
Marathon Man's posts got me thinking. There are very few items I DON'T pay by CC:
1. The CC's themselves.
2. Taxes. Fairfax Co. charges usurious "convienience" fees.
3. Insurance premiums. I want the bank record.
4. Charities. Two reasons. This is not a small item in our budget. First, Quicken gives me a nice summary for the IRS. This is a hefty deduction. Second, some charities may be worthy causes, but their collection arms include some sketchy dealers. I was burned by a worthy cause "helping themselves" to my CC.
5. Magazine subscriptions. Again sketchy collection practices. They don't get to know my CC numbers.
6. And a few vendors that don't take CCs.
1. The CC's themselves.
2. Taxes. Fairfax Co. charges usurious "convienience" fees.
3. Insurance premiums. I want the bank record.
4. Charities. Two reasons. This is not a small item in our budget. First, Quicken gives me a nice summary for the IRS. This is a hefty deduction. Second, some charities may be worthy causes, but their collection arms include some sketchy dealers. I was burned by a worthy cause "helping themselves" to my CC.
5. Magazine subscriptions. Again sketchy collection practices. They don't get to know my CC numbers.
6. And a few vendors that don't take CCs.
2 - The CC record isn't sufficient? These are big payments usually.
4 - Don't forget that you're also really getting more money to the charity by avoiding CCs.
5 - That's what private payment numbers are for!
Jun 9, 2011, 1:30 pm
#207
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Scenic Great Plains USA
Programs: AGR Starwood Whoever I can get points with :D
Posts: 677
Did Judy already post about using Kiva as a way to use Amex GC? This is her message from the Kiva website:
Join Bigcrumbs, hopefully with my referral! Buy Amex Gift cards (up to $5K per order every 14 days on the personal side) with a miles earning card register them with your name and billing address by phone and then use them with your Paypal acct. You will get around $80 back per purchase. Use code DAILYWISH for a discount.
Lend on KIVA and then when repaid, withdraw to your bank account via PAYPAL and then rinse, lather, and repeat.
JudyJFLA
home.bigcrumbs.com/JudyJFLA
More about FT's team on Kiva:
http://www.kiva.org/team/flyertalkers
Join Bigcrumbs, hopefully with my referral! Buy Amex Gift cards (up to $5K per order every 14 days on the personal side) with a miles earning card register them with your name and billing address by phone and then use them with your Paypal acct. You will get around $80 back per purchase. Use code DAILYWISH for a discount.
Lend on KIVA and then when repaid, withdraw to your bank account via PAYPAL and then rinse, lather, and repeat.
JudyJFLA
home.bigcrumbs.com/JudyJFLA
More about FT's team on Kiva:
http://www.kiva.org/team/flyertalkers
Jun 9, 2011, 1:32 pm
#209
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 749
Definitely an interesting post. I've never NOT used a CC when I can, save for convenience fees (and I even pay those, if I need to hit a threshold).
2 - The CC record isn't sufficient? These are big payments usually.
4 - Don't forget that you're also really getting more money to the charity by avoiding CCs.
5 - That's what private payment numbers are for!
2 - The CC record isn't sufficient? These are big payments usually.
4 - Don't forget that you're also really getting more money to the charity by avoiding CCs.
5 - That's what private payment numbers are for!
Second this. Virtual CC numbers are wonderful for Magazine Subs, and for those times when you don't feel 100% safe with your real CC number.
However, don't use them when you'll need to present the physical card for proof (Some hotels).
Very few places I don't use a card anymore, the rewards are just too good to pass up.
Jun 9, 2011, 6:53 pm
#210
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 201
But Not impossible as it has happened only once in my lifetime.
I was overseas when I remembered a CC balance/payment was due. I called the card CS and explained the situation. Didn't want to miss the payment but being overseas I didn't have checking acct info on hand as I didn't remember the acct #. I told them I only had 2 credit cards I was traveling with. They made a very rare exception and actually let me pay off the CC payment with my other CC. I avoided the late fee and late payment that would've dented my credit rating. Don't think I could ever repeat this again nor would I want to.
From my experiences.
PT