Keeping track of manufactured spend
Aug 23, 2013, 2:58 pm
#76
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: MR,UR, UA, BA, AA, Hotels
Posts: 581
I forgot to add that I count TCB cash back as income to the Miles Fees category and all credit card annual fees as expenses to Miles Fees.
This information is incredibly valuable since I can run a report on the category Miles Fees and see my net spend for Miles. For example, in the last 12 months I had a net spend of about $1100 in order to acquire over 2M miles. Granted, a large number of those miles are from sign up bonuses. But with this information I'm able to easily explain to my wife the value of stopping at Walmart on the way to visit her parents or why she needs to make a VR run at CVS with her new SPG card. She also understands the value when we fly in biz class across the Pacific or Atlantic for just the cost of taxes and fees on the awards.
This information is incredibly valuable since I can run a report on the category Miles Fees and see my net spend for Miles. For example, in the last 12 months I had a net spend of about $1100 in order to acquire over 2M miles. Granted, a large number of those miles are from sign up bonuses. But with this information I'm able to easily explain to my wife the value of stopping at Walmart on the way to visit her parents or why she needs to make a VR run at CVS with her new SPG card. She also understands the value when we fly in biz class across the Pacific or Atlantic for just the cost of taxes and fees on the awards.
I also use excel to track total card spend (for data to negotiate on card renewal and to make sure I'm not going too crazy on any 1 card) and to track reload dates for things that have a roll-over date (Chase GC, PP, Target etc.)
Aug 23, 2013, 10:41 pm
#77
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
Jeez, I guess I'm from the dark ages. I use the baggie method.
1) Write down amount of cards purchased on "August" index card. Index card lives in an "August" baggie. Only used cards are in the baggie. All unused cards in another place.
2) Place daily spending cards in mini wallet. Spend cards. Wrap receipt around used card
3) Put used cards in baggie w/ receipt. Make check mark on index card to indicate "spent". Put baggie in drawer and forget about it.
I'm not too worried about mixing up spend or utilization rates, because I'm still fairly new to this and am able to use most of my credit cards regularly. I'm more concerned about high balances reporting. I pay off my balances whenever I log on to the bank web sites and it seems too high. Floating the gift cards and the spend involved has messed up my ratios of debt to CL.
1) Write down amount of cards purchased on "August" index card. Index card lives in an "August" baggie. Only used cards are in the baggie. All unused cards in another place.
2) Place daily spending cards in mini wallet. Spend cards. Wrap receipt around used card
3) Put used cards in baggie w/ receipt. Make check mark on index card to indicate "spent". Put baggie in drawer and forget about it.
I'm not too worried about mixing up spend or utilization rates, because I'm still fairly new to this and am able to use most of my credit cards regularly. I'm more concerned about high balances reporting. I pay off my balances whenever I log on to the bank web sites and it seems too high. Floating the gift cards and the spend involved has messed up my ratios of debt to CL.
Aug 27, 2013, 1:30 pm
#78
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: Shamelessly Gold at Flying Burrito and AirTrain A+ Elite. Turkish Star Gold, 100k at Flying Eskimo
Posts: 742
Excel does great for keeping track of such things. Plus it enables up to 16 digit accuracy on cpm calculation. What else would you want?
Aug 28, 2013, 10:14 am
#79
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,036
I use excel. I have multiple tabs to account for every aspect of my finances. I have a separate tab for every CC that will add up all the points I should be earning and do a quick 2 minute sanity check when my statements close. I have a category called fees which inclues annual fees and GC fees and a category called cashback. Cashback-fees= net. I categorize Giftcards as exactly that. - for payment, + for load to BB, gobank, etc.
Aug 28, 2013, 10:25 am
#80
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
I've been looking into more personal finance apps. You Need a Budget (YNAB) is highly recommended. Regularly priced at $60, you can pick up a copy for only $15 through August 29th over on Steam. I just bought a copy. For some reason I trust paid software more than free.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/227320/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/227320/
Feb 10, 2014, 11:53 am
#81
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AS, AA, UR, SPG,
Posts: 101
I Just started this game back in the summer. I have 7 cards and I have been burn by making some mistakes and forgetting stuff to do. I could swear I have lost some gift cards...
I do have mint, but I will need to track this on either access or excel pronto..
I do have mint, but I will need to track this on either access or excel pronto..
Feb 11, 2014, 12:07 pm
#82
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: LA, CA
Programs: AA EXP, exSPG, Marriott TE
Posts: 26
Was just clearing out my latest stash of used VR and PP cards. 93 VR and 21 PP.
#FAIL. Found two unused PP cards. Hit limit for this month already.
Guess I'll have to wait until next month to see if they are still valid??? Unless anyone has a genius way of unloading a PayPal card that doesn't involve giving it to a friend?
#FAIL. Found two unused PP cards. Hit limit for this month already.
Guess I'll have to wait until next month to see if they are still valid??? Unless anyone has a genius way of unloading a PayPal card that doesn't involve giving it to a friend?
Feb 11, 2014, 2:05 pm
#83
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
Put a label on the cards, wrap a rubber band around all of them,
First to go on top last on the bottom, and you are done.
Keep them all in one place.
First to go on top last on the bottom, and you are done.
Keep them all in one place.
Mar 20, 2014, 9:18 am
#84
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NC
Programs: CITI, Barclay, Fidelity Amex, CC
Posts: 128
Tools/Apps/Methods For Organizing MS
Hi all. I looked back through the thread history and couldn't find this subject, so here goes:
Anyone interested in sharing how they stay on top of their MS? So far I use the Notebooks app in my iPhone to keep track of SS #s, approval dates, ideas, plans, purchases, liquidation schedules and deadlines, etc. But I suspect I'll soon outgrow it...
Anyone interested in sharing how they stay on top of their MS? So far I use the Notebooks app in my iPhone to keep track of SS #s, approval dates, ideas, plans, purchases, liquidation schedules and deadlines, etc. But I suspect I'll soon outgrow it...
Mar 20, 2014, 9:22 am
#85
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 511
Perhaps its just because I use Excel all day at work, but I find Microsoft Excel takes care of all my needs. It can be incredibly robust when you need it to be.
Granted I only do $30-50k a month, much less than some. But I don't forsee a situation where Excel wouldn't be able to handle what I'm doing.
Granted I only do $30-50k a month, much less than some. But I don't forsee a situation where Excel wouldn't be able to handle what I'm doing.
Mar 20, 2014, 9:28 am
#86
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHL
Posts: 930
Hi all. I looked back through the thread history and couldn't find this subject, so here goes:
Anyone interested in sharing how they stay on top of their MS? So far I use the Notebooks app in my iPhone to keep track of SS #s, approval dates, ideas, plans, purchases, liquidation schedules and deadlines, etc. But I suspect I'll soon outgrow it...
Anyone interested in sharing how they stay on top of their MS? So far I use the Notebooks app in my iPhone to keep track of SS #s, approval dates, ideas, plans, purchases, liquidation schedules and deadlines, etc. But I suspect I'll soon outgrow it...
Mar 20, 2014, 9:46 am
#89
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AA, SPG, MR, UR, Cash Back!
Posts: 606
Perhaps its just because I use Excel all day at work, but I find Microsoft Excel takes care of all my needs. It can be incredibly robust when you need it to be.
Granted I only do $30-50k a month, much less than some. But I don't forsee a situation where Excel wouldn't be able to handle what I'm doing.
Granted I only do $30-50k a month, much less than some. But I don't forsee a situation where Excel wouldn't be able to handle what I'm doing.
Mar 20, 2014, 9:50 am
#90
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, TY, UR, UA, US, WN, MR, SPG
Posts: 1,453
Excel is your friend. One workbook, two sheets. One for card, approval/AF dates, minimum spend tracking (window, amount spent + remaining). One for manufactured spend tracking. I track how much of the balance on each card is MS, and how much of the balance in my bank account is from MS. I updated the MS tracker every day or two, and it takes ~30 seconds.