Most efficient way to MS if cost isn't an issue?
Apr 15, 2014, 11:52 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 104
The uber-basics, without any discounts, point malls, rebates or anything else (both methods basically unlimited):
Buying GCs from grocery stores, convenience stores, etc: $4.95/$500 = about 1 cent per mile. Slightly less than that if you buy Money Orders to cash out.
Buying GCs from Staples with Ink card: $6.95/$200 (1000+ miles) = .7 cents per mile. Ditto on money order thing.
Those are pretty much the easiest methods that you can get.
Buying GCs from grocery stores, convenience stores, etc: $4.95/$500 = about 1 cent per mile. Slightly less than that if you buy Money Orders to cash out.
Buying GCs from Staples with Ink card: $6.95/$200 (1000+ miles) = .7 cents per mile. Ditto on money order thing.
Those are pretty much the easiest methods that you can get.
Apr 15, 2014, 1:21 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 52
I'd say in your scenario, the best way MS methods will involve those that do not require going to the store since that can be time consuming depending on how convenient the locations are to you. If you accumulate a variety of methods that will allow you to do so online then you'll never have to leave your seat. Amazon payments as already mentioned. Serve will allow you to load $1k/$1.5k (w/ ISIS) per month. I've been able to use the PayPal Business Debit card conservatively for about $1k+/mo as well. I have to go to pick the reload cards up at a drugstore but it is literally along the way I walk home from work. I timed myself and it adds no more than 4 minutes to my commute. Good luck!
Apr 15, 2014, 1:37 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 139
Thanks all for the comments, I am not against doing my own homework - in fact I read over these forums for a solid month before buying a single bean. And yes, there are a great many methods out there and the one that YOU are most comfortable with are the ones that you will dive deeper into. The 2 methods above (along with AP) are what I am going to concentrate on and ramp up as needed. Figure I can always buy the miles/points I need to augment the MS that i am comfortable continuing going forward...
Apr 15, 2014, 1:39 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 276
Depends on your credit line as well.
It is pretty easy to go to store x, buy in quantity for item y, set up yourself as an Amazon seller and ship the lot to their warehouse. If you can buy 10-20k in product at a time and send it in all at once it is pretty low effort.
But you may be floating that money awhile and if you don't do enough research on 'item y' you might get stuck with them.
Another low effort but requires float is Kiva Loans. If you figure the cost of floating funds in you might beat 1.8 cents a mile.
One caution: Miles are not worth what you can buy them for, the value is based on how you use them. Look at best fare price use flexible dates and search all routes (because that is what you often need to do to book an award ticket) figure miles to get that same fare, then subtract from cash ticket price the tax and fees on the reward ticket, divide by number of miles. That is the value. Now subtract your MS costs. Was it worth the effort?
It isn't always. Time is money.
It is pretty easy to go to store x, buy in quantity for item y, set up yourself as an Amazon seller and ship the lot to their warehouse. If you can buy 10-20k in product at a time and send it in all at once it is pretty low effort.
But you may be floating that money awhile and if you don't do enough research on 'item y' you might get stuck with them.
Another low effort but requires float is Kiva Loans. If you figure the cost of floating funds in you might beat 1.8 cents a mile.
One caution: Miles are not worth what you can buy them for, the value is based on how you use them. Look at best fare price use flexible dates and search all routes (because that is what you often need to do to book an award ticket) figure miles to get that same fare, then subtract from cash ticket price the tax and fees on the reward ticket, divide by number of miles. That is the value. Now subtract your MS costs. Was it worth the effort?
It isn't always. Time is money.
Apr 15, 2014, 1:53 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, WI, USA
Posts: 14,162
I by no means believe I am an expert or veteran, but once you have your own solid methods down that you feel comfortable with, and that work for you; you will realize that having someone ask to have your favorite method explained on an open internet forum for anyone to read may not be your favorite thing to do. (My English teacher would be mad at that run-on sentence) Somethings should be slightly difficult for the masses to get into. It protects both them and the method.
Apr 15, 2014, 2:01 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 546
I by no means believe I am an expert or veteran, but once you have your own solid methods down that you feel comfortable with, and that work for you; you will realize that having someone ask to have your favorite method explained on an open internet forum for anyone to read may not be your favorite thing to do. (My English teacher would be mad at that run-on sentence) Somethings should be slightly difficult for the masses to get into. It protects both them and the method.
Apr 15, 2014, 2:20 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,123
you will realize that having someone ask to have your favorite method explained on an open internet forum for anyone to read may not be your favorite thing to do. (My English teacher would be mad at that run-on sentence) Somethings should be slightly difficult for the masses to get into. It protects both them and the method.
Apr 15, 2014, 3:54 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 546
That's about 1.3-1.5 cents per mile. Below the OPs 1.8 cents "number to beat". Plus, it's super easy and efficient.
Apr 15, 2014, 4:05 pm
#26
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 139
Maybe I have the wrong idea but that is how I feel about it.
Apr 15, 2014, 4:36 pm
#27
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 52
I'm not sure where you're getting your math from unless you're using a credit card that earns more than 1 mile per dollar spent on Google Wallet. In order to get down to 1.3 cents per mile, you'd have to have a credit card that gives about 2 miles per dollar spent on Google Wallet. Am I missing something?
Apr 15, 2014, 4:40 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 546
I'm not sure where you're getting your math from unless you're using a credit card that earns more than 1 mile per dollar spent on Google Wallet. In order to get down to 1.3 cents per mile, you'd have to have a credit card that gives about 2 miles per dollar spent on Google Wallet. Am I missing something?
Apr 15, 2014, 9:10 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 104
