Getting spending up without the Mint
Aug 23, 2012, 12:39 pm
#2746
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Stockholm, Sweden + Austin, Tx
Programs: "But, I'm a GLOBALIST guest...."
Posts: 2,848
I know people who make north of 1M and are still concerned about their mileage accrual, bonuses, etc; a penny saved is a penny earned regardless of your income.
Aug 23, 2012, 1:23 pm
#2747
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
FTers who want to buy them, though, get them at face value.
Mike
Aug 23, 2012, 1:51 pm
#2748
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
I know people who make north of 1M and are still concerned about their mileage accrual, bonuses, etc; a penny saved is a penny earned regardless of your income.
. I'd have to figure out the point where the time spent tracking all of this and working out details wasn't worth it. But then again, even if you simply don't bother with getting absolute max values for points, and just use them instead of paying whenever convenient, it is still money saved.Now, I need to convince someone to make use of my forest permit...
Aug 23, 2012, 2:19 pm
#2749
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 766
Certainly used to do it before I got into this game when I had Minnesota Vikings season tickets. What is the question? It is a very good idea, provided the team you are working with does not tank that season.....
Aug 23, 2012, 3:17 pm
#2750
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: On the Lake USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond because they have nothing higher
Posts: 523
Aug 23, 2012, 3:24 pm
#2751
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: On the Lake USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond because they have nothing higher
Posts: 523
I learned while traveling on points/miles/free hotel stays, that the cost to stay at some places is INSANE to me.
For example. I stayed two nights at the Carmel Highlands Hyatt. Nice hotel. Amazing views. But overall not that nice. The room itself was a bit dated. The balcony had great views but the road below was LOUD which sucked. Now if you told me that room was $120/night then fine. Hell for $200 a night I would say it was pricey but possibly worth it. The room if I paid for it was $639/night + tax. ...! No way was it worth that much. Not even half that. No way!!!
So even if I had a ton of money I would not spend $639/night for that hotel. No way.
I just don't see the value there. Thank you Hyatt CC for $1200+ in free hotel rooms.
.
For example. I stayed two nights at the Carmel Highlands Hyatt. Nice hotel. Amazing views. But overall not that nice. The room itself was a bit dated. The balcony had great views but the road below was LOUD which sucked. Now if you told me that room was $120/night then fine. Hell for $200 a night I would say it was pricey but possibly worth it. The room if I paid for it was $639/night + tax. ...! No way was it worth that much. Not even half that. No way!!!
So even if I had a ton of money I would not spend $639/night for that hotel. No way.
I just don't see the value there. Thank you Hyatt CC for $1200+ in free hotel rooms.
.
Similar hotels in major metro area business centers charge $300-$500 a night commonly and then offer the same room on weekends for $89 when all the business travelers fly home.
Aug 23, 2012, 3:48 pm
#2752
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 766
Wish I could argue, but sadly I can't. This will be an interesting season for the Vike's. It is the type of team that could either surprise people, or be completely horrible, not much in between.
Aug 23, 2012, 7:09 pm
#2753
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: 25 million points to burn!
Posts: 1,522
credit card and the 1000 miles/$1 on 800 Flowers.
Aug 23, 2012, 7:44 pm
#2754
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Agreed, but for a different reason. If your income allows you to buy (for example) a pair of premium cabin airline tickets you are spoiled, and don't want to fly in economy the next trip. You do the math and realize that you cannot afford to regularly buy such tickets, and that the experience does not really justify the price. The search begins .
.They shouldn't. Anyone has good credit and a reasonable sense of self-discipline should take advantage of the CC offers. It is the sign up bonuses, not the spend, that generate the miles needed for the majority of folks.
Aug 23, 2012, 8:21 pm
#2755
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 362
Still, for $1k I got a year of gifts AND roundtrip TATL in J. If I knew what I know now....eBay.
Aug 23, 2012, 8:38 pm
#2757
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SEA
Posts: 70
Google Wallet app update - make an Amex look like a Mastercard (in-store only)
Google just released an update to their wallet app for Android phones:
"Add your Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express to your Google Wallet and use them for in-store purchases anywhere Google Wallet is accepted. If you already have an online Google Wallet account, your cards will be automatically synced to your Google Wallet app."
The beautiful thing about this is that you're not actually using the card you add to Google Wallet; rather, Google gives you a "virtual" Mastercard. The merchant charges Google, and then they turn around and charge your actual card (and eat the processing fees). Now you can use your Amex at any NFC terminal, even if the merchant doesn't accept American Express!
As alluded to earlier in this thread, you can also add prepaid funds to Google Wallet using a credit card. Lots of possibilities...
"Add your Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express to your Google Wallet and use them for in-store purchases anywhere Google Wallet is accepted. If you already have an online Google Wallet account, your cards will be automatically synced to your Google Wallet app."
The beautiful thing about this is that you're not actually using the card you add to Google Wallet; rather, Google gives you a "virtual" Mastercard. The merchant charges Google, and then they turn around and charge your actual card (and eat the processing fees). Now you can use your Amex at any NFC terminal, even if the merchant doesn't accept American Express!
As alluded to earlier in this thread, you can also add prepaid funds to Google Wallet using a credit card. Lots of possibilities...
Aug 23, 2012, 8:47 pm
#2758
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: On the Lake USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond because they have nothing higher
Posts: 523
Aug 23, 2012, 9:28 pm
#2760
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: MKE
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 205
Lendingclub.com would require a long period of float, since I don't think you can fund your account and then withdraw immediately.