Getting spending up without the Mint
Jun 16, 2011, 1:05 pm
#226
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,052
same here. put $4k GCs at BC with the BA Chase Visa. NO probs
Jun 17, 2011, 8:49 pm
#227
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,485
With all the recent reports of mega-scale hacks of merchants and banks, I try to never use my actual Citi CC number when purchasing online...always use a Virtual Account Number.
Jun 20, 2011, 9:02 am
#229
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Around The World
Programs: ALL :)
Posts: 384
Gift Cards with Incentives
I also take advantage of special promotions that grocery stores run. For example a local store here just ran a promotion for a $100 gift card, pay $89.99. I bought the max you could buy which will stock me up for 5 months. But I received the credit card points and the 10% savings.
I did this at a local restaurant for 20% bonus as well.
I did this at a local restaurant for 20% bonus as well.
Jun 20, 2011, 5:38 pm
#230
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Gift Cards - Best Western Summer Deal
Buy 'em with your credit card to rack up spend and then double dip with points to SWA, Continental, Aeroplan, Alaska, American, Delta, USAir or AirMiles. http://travelcard.bestwestern.com/tr...inebonus11.jsp
Jun 20, 2011, 6:48 pm
#231
Join Date: May 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, SPG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 333
Fantastic!
Buy 'em with your credit card to rack up spend and then double dip with points to SWA, Continental, Aeroplan, Alaska, American, Delta, USAir or AirMiles. http://travelcard.bestwestern.com/tr...inebonus11.jsp
Jun 20, 2011, 9:56 pm
#233
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Around The World
Programs: ALL :)
Posts: 384
Best Western
He is buying the giftcards to get his credit card spend. Then redeeming the gift cards when he travels to those hotels. In addition he gets airline points for purchasing the giftcards.
Jun 21, 2011, 3:59 pm
#234
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,485
VanillaVisa is Vile
Today I needed some spend in a hurry, so I went to CVS and purchased a $500 VanillaVisa gift card. It was only when I got home and registered it that I discovered what a bad GC it is.
The issue is that you can register a ZIP code to the card, but not a name or address. That suggests that the card probably will be usable for local spending (gasoline, groceries), but will not be usable for online purchases.
Dang!
The issue is that you can register a ZIP code to the card, but not a name or address. That suggests that the card probably will be usable for local spending (gasoline, groceries), but will not be usable for online purchases.
Dang!
Jun 21, 2011, 5:38 pm
#235
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,052
Today I needed some spend in a hurry, so I went to CVS and purchased a $500 VanillaVisa gift card. It was only when I got home and registered it that I discovered what a bad GC it is.
The issue is that you can register a ZIP code to the card, but not a name or address. That suggests that the card probably will be usable for local spending (gasoline, groceries), but will not be usable for online purchases.
Dang!
The issue is that you can register a ZIP code to the card, but not a name or address. That suggests that the card probably will be usable for local spending (gasoline, groceries), but will not be usable for online purchases.
Dang!
buy the amex gcs at big crumbs for the 1.6% cash back
use the amex gcs to buy vanilla visa gcs at stores.
the cash back money offsets the store fees
use the vanillas to buy coins
only have to register your zip so its faster.
Jun 21, 2011, 6:23 pm
#236
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 102
Have to meet a sizeable 23k churn by the end of the year (BA card companion cert) I've been using the usual methods, but afraid to come up short. I know one possibility, but it might get me banned from a certain retail store, so I'm not as inclined to use it. Any PMs with ideas are welcome... I will share details of said possibility 
Jun 22, 2011, 7:33 am
#237
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA EXP, AA LT Gold, SPG Plat 75
Posts: 890
Have to meet a sizeable 23k churn by the end of the year (BA card companion cert) I've been using the usual methods, but afraid to come up short. I know one possibility, but it might get me banned from a certain retail store, so I'm not as inclined to use it. Any PMs with ideas are welcome... I will share details of said possibility
Jun 22, 2011, 8:17 am
#238
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 13
If you're getting financial aid for college or have a family member who is, you can pay the tuition prior to the financial aid posting, and the financial aid will be dispersed to the recipient in its entirety.
Otherwise, the financial aid reduces the tutition prior to distributing the remainder via dispersement.
Otherwise, the financial aid reduces the tutition prior to distributing the remainder via dispersement.
Jun 22, 2011, 9:31 am
#239
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,480
If you're getting financial aid for college or have a family member who is, you can pay the tuition prior to the financial aid posting, and the financial aid will be dispersed to the recipient in its entirety.
Otherwise, the financial aid reduces the tutition prior to distributing the remainder via dispersement.
Otherwise, the financial aid reduces the tutition prior to distributing the remainder via dispersement.
Jun 22, 2011, 10:40 am
#240
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Around The World
Programs: ALL :)
Posts: 384
University Payment
Yeah when I was going to school they allowed you to pay with credit card with no fee, I only had a 1,000 credit limit so I payed school off in $500 increments. Now they charge 3% a believe through an outside source.
One other way I thought was donating to Charities via credit card. My state allows you to do Tax Rebates, which means you can donate to a charity and recieve 100% of that money back if you owe that much in taxes. In essence paying your taxes with credit card. AND helping out a charity... It allows you to decide where you want your tax money to go instead of straight to the gov.
**Disclaimer I am not a tax advisor and this info is general in nature and is not intended as tax advice. Furthermore, the information contained herein may not be applicable to or suitable for the individuals' specific circumstances or needs and may require consideration of other matters.
You should CONTACT your tax advisor on this before trying it.
One other way I thought was donating to Charities via credit card. My state allows you to do Tax Rebates, which means you can donate to a charity and recieve 100% of that money back if you owe that much in taxes. In essence paying your taxes with credit card. AND helping out a charity... It allows you to decide where you want your tax money to go instead of straight to the gov.
**Disclaimer I am not a tax advisor and this info is general in nature and is not intended as tax advice. Furthermore, the information contained herein may not be applicable to or suitable for the individuals' specific circumstances or needs and may require consideration of other matters.
You should CONTACT your tax advisor on this before trying it.