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CSP + Freedom + Checking. Use wisely.

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jefftca925
Established Contributor

Re: CSP + Freedom + Checking. Use wisely.


@FrugalRican wrote:

You're telling me, CSP would be my third card with them.

I feel so cheap.


If you have other Chase "travel-related" co-branded cards (i.e. United, Southwest, Hyatt, etc.) you could cancel those and just have the CSP.  You can transfer UR points to any one of their travel partner programs 1:1.

CCs: Chase Freedom VS 12.9k, CSP VISA Sg 13k, BofA Amex 24.5k, Discover 12.5k, US Bank Cash+ Visa Sg 17k, Macy's Amex 8k/1.5k, Gap Visa 10k, Best Buy 11.1k, Citi TY MC 10.8k, Citi AA Amex 6k, Nordstrom VS 10k, Costco Amex 12k, BofA CR VS 5k, Amex BCP 13.5k, Amex ED 5k, Sears MC 9k, HD 7k, Target 600, Amazon 7k, US Bank MC 15k, US Airways MC 8k, NFL Visa 4k, Patelco Visa 10k, Penfed PR VS 44.6k, Chase Hyatt VS 8k, Citi Simplicity 13.3k, PayPal MC 7.5k, BBVA Visa 4k, WF VS 14k, FNBO Amex 14.1k, OCCU VISA 15k, TR Visa Sg 16.3k, C1 QS Visa 11k, FRN MC 15k, HSN 4k, Saks WEMC 10k/4k, Chase Ink 18k, Arrival WEMC 10k, Ebates VS 8k, Orbitz VS 12k, NASA V 30k, USBk FP VS 21.5k, DC 30k, VirgAm 15k, Sams MC 15k, Amex Bz Gold, Amex SC 10k, BofW Bz MC 18k
Message 21 of 113
FrugalRican
Blogger

Re: CSP + Freedom + Checking. Use wisely.

The Hyatt gives me free nights just for having it Smiley Very Happy

I'll be keeping that one lol

 

But that's one of the reasons why I'm not eyeballing the United Mileage card anymore.

I'm better off just having the CSP.

Follow my financial journey: http://www.frugalrican.com


EQ FICO (01/16/2012): 656 - EQ FICO (02/16/2012): 743 - EQ (02/24/2012): 760 - EX (04/28/2012): 739 - GOAL 2013: 800+

AMEX BCE (0/10K) --- BOA 1-2-3 (0/15.9K) --- Discover More (0/6K) --- Chase Freedom Visa (0/1.4K) -- Hyatt Visa Sign. (0/5.8K) -- Barclay's NFL Card (0/7.5K) -- Chase Sapphire Preferred (0/5K)

Message 22 of 113
bribro
Valued Contributor

Re: CSP + Freedom + Checking. Use wisely.

FYI: The exact breakeven point when someone should use CSP over Freedom for restaurant/travel (assuming those aren't 5% categories) is $9.62 and up. So if you go into McDonald's and your total is $10, use CSP, if it's $9.50 use Freedom. Not that it makes much of a difference. Smiley Happy

TU FICO: 800 (2/1/14) | CK Score: 802 (2/1/14) | CS Score: 805 (2/1/14)

J.P. Morgan Palladium ($250k) | AmEx Platinum (NPSL) | AmEx SPG Personal/Business ($50k/$50k) | Citi Executive AAdvantage WEMC ($50k) | Citi Dividend WEMC ($50k) | Chase Sapphire Preferred VS ($50k) | Chase Ink Bold WEMC ($50k Flex) | Chase Ink Plus WEMC ($25k) | Chase Freedom VS ($25k) | Chase Freedom WMC ($25k) | Chase MileagePlus Explorer ($25k) | Chase Southwest RR Plus Business/Personal ($15k/$15k) | Barclays US Airways ($25k) | Barclays Hawaiian Airlines ($25k) | BofA Alaska Airlines ($10k) | Lexus Financial Services ($30k) | Mercedes-Benz Financial Services ($50k)
Message 23 of 113
FrugalRican
Blogger

Re: CSP + Freedom + Checking. Use wisely.

It still is a good thing to keep in mind.

 

Still wondering about the break even for dining and the annual fee.

9500 points transfers to the $95 fee. Technically, that'd mean spending $9,500 in dining to do that, but seeing as it's 2X, it'd be halved to $4,750 in dining, but with the bonuses, it'd be less. Without the bonuses, it comes down to spending about $92 a week in dining just to cover the annual fee. I don't spend that much or my math is terrible...

 

But technically I could spend a bunch on the Freedom and just transfer points to the CSP to cover for the annual fee anyway.


Things to think about.

Follow my financial journey: http://www.frugalrican.com


EQ FICO (01/16/2012): 656 - EQ FICO (02/16/2012): 743 - EQ (02/24/2012): 760 - EX (04/28/2012): 739 - GOAL 2013: 800+

AMEX BCE (0/10K) --- BOA 1-2-3 (0/15.9K) --- Discover More (0/6K) --- Chase Freedom Visa (0/1.4K) -- Hyatt Visa Sign. (0/5.8K) -- Barclay's NFL Card (0/7.5K) -- Chase Sapphire Preferred (0/5K)

Message 24 of 113
Open123
Super Contributor

Re: CSP + Freedom + Checking. Use wisely.

The beauty of this combo is using the Freedom for non-bonus category spending, especially the small coffee, mints, and candy bar purchases.  10 points for a cup of coffee, another 10 for a candybar/mint, and another 10 for paying a $2 parking toll adds up.

 

I can see where this get tiresome, but one could maximize rewards by partitioning all small purchases and non-bonus category expenditures to the Freedom.

 

PS - I think Amex has responded to this concept by offering a new business no fee Blue card that offers 10% MR bonus the first year, then 20% the second year, and 30% MR bonus on the third year onwards; however, there is a no minimum "10pt" bonus concept as there is with the Freedom.

Message 25 of 113
FrugalRican
Blogger

Re: CSP + Freedom + Checking. Use wisely.

Open, do you know if the 40,000 bonus is going to be as good as it gets from here until December?

 

Follow my financial journey: http://www.frugalrican.com


EQ FICO (01/16/2012): 656 - EQ FICO (02/16/2012): 743 - EQ (02/24/2012): 760 - EX (04/28/2012): 739 - GOAL 2013: 800+

AMEX BCE (0/10K) --- BOA 1-2-3 (0/15.9K) --- Discover More (0/6K) --- Chase Freedom Visa (0/1.4K) -- Hyatt Visa Sign. (0/5.8K) -- Barclay's NFL Card (0/7.5K) -- Chase Sapphire Preferred (0/5K)

Message 26 of 113
Open123
Super Contributor

Re: CSP + Freedom + Checking. Use wisely.


@FrugalRican wrote:

Open, do you know if the 40,000 bonus is going to be as good as it gets from here until December?

 


On the CSP?  Or, do you mean the UA?

 

For the CSP, I think it's 40k for a while.  We may see another 50k in Sep/Oct, but I'd bet the spending requirement goes up to at least $5k for 3 months.  The UA currently is 50K for the first swipe, and $50 statement credit, if you have some miles in your UA Mileage account.

Message 27 of 113
FrugalRican
Blogger

Re: CSP + Freedom + Checking. Use wisely.

The CSP. I'm going to go for the CSP rather than the UMP.

I've nixed the airline card idea. I won't be travelling exclusively through United, so I'm better off with the CSP.

Follow my financial journey: http://www.frugalrican.com


EQ FICO (01/16/2012): 656 - EQ FICO (02/16/2012): 743 - EQ (02/24/2012): 760 - EX (04/28/2012): 739 - GOAL 2013: 800+

AMEX BCE (0/10K) --- BOA 1-2-3 (0/15.9K) --- Discover More (0/6K) --- Chase Freedom Visa (0/1.4K) -- Hyatt Visa Sign. (0/5.8K) -- Barclay's NFL Card (0/7.5K) -- Chase Sapphire Preferred (0/5K)

Message 28 of 113
Open123
Super Contributor

Re: CSP + Freedom + Checking. Use wisely.


@FrugalRican wrote:

The CSP. I'm going to go for the CSP rather than the UMP.

I've nixed the airline card idea. I won't be travelling exclusively through United, so I'm better off with the CSP.


My guess is the spending requirements will increase.  We're starting to see that now.  

 

For example, the Chase Ink Bold increased the 50k bonus to $10k in 3 months.  Amex has been offering short term bonus offers but requiring a spending of $5k in 4 months.  While bonuses will still be offered, I think it'll be more difficult to meet the spending requirements.

Message 29 of 113
Lilybuggy
Valued Member

Re: CSP + Freedom + Checking. Use wisely.

Sorry if I missed this but how does the checking account play into this combo.  I get the CSP and CF combo/rewards, etc. but what about banking?

Message 30 of 113
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