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Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth carrying permanently?

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jsucool76
Super Contributor

Re: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth carrying permanently?

Im just trying to point out that everything has an opportunity cost, so thinking of only money (annual fees) isn't always the best thing.
Message 11 of 40
HiLine
Blogger

Re: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth carrying permanently?


@bs6054 wrote:

 

Re the analysis: CSP and the 2% cards aren't of course the only choices.   So for example, if eating out is a major portion, then something like Citi Forward would do well.


I picked the 2% cash back cards as the bare minimum for opportunity cost, but these cards, as well as the CSP, are very versatile and offer consistently high cash back for all categories of spending. For consumers with highly skewed spending patterns, there are definitely better cards out there. Citi Forward is a great example! 

Message 12 of 40
HiLine
Blogger

Re: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth carrying permanently?


@jsucool76 wrote:
Im just trying to point out that everything has an opportunity cost, so thinking of only money (annual fees) isn't always the best thing.

Any numerical estimate for such an opportunity cost is welcome. If it's near 0, then let's call it 0 for the sake of simplicity. Smiley Wink

Message 13 of 40
bs6054
Valued Contributor

Re: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth carrying permanently?

Edit: this was to jsucool76's comment!

 

 

I don't know what that means in a practical sense!  The OP was doing a straight-forward financial analysis, and when asked about the $11K, explained that it was more than $9,500 because of the cash back use of a 2% card would generate on that spend.  So clearly talking only about money here, and that makes sense if the Fidelity Amex account had fees etc.

 

In your more general sense, yes, everything has an opportunity cost, but saying that doesn't really get the discussion any more forward.

Message 14 of 40
youngandcreditwrthy
Senior Contributor

Re: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth carrying permanently?

You guys and your crazy math hahah:-P
Marriott PR$25k | BCE $24.5K |BankAmericard Visa $25k| BOA Better Bal $17.5k |Wmt Discover $12.5k | BR Visa $17.5k | Amex Delta Gold $10k | Discover IT $10k | Paypal Extras MC $15k | Amazon Store $10k|Smile Gen $7.25k | Dillard's $10k | West Elm $4k| Express $3.05K | Mypoints.com Visa $4.5k | Freedom Visa $1k| Amex Surpass $1k
Message 15 of 40
youngandcreditwrthy
Senior Contributor

Re: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth carrying permanently?

 
Marriott PR$25k | BCE $24.5K |BankAmericard Visa $25k| BOA Better Bal $17.5k |Wmt Discover $12.5k | BR Visa $17.5k | Amex Delta Gold $10k | Discover IT $10k | Paypal Extras MC $15k | Amazon Store $10k|Smile Gen $7.25k | Dillard's $10k | West Elm $4k| Express $3.05K | Mypoints.com Visa $4.5k | Freedom Visa $1k| Amex Surpass $1k
Message 16 of 40
Open123
Super Contributor

Re: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth carrying permanently?

For spending ranging from $12k - $15k, I think the best are no fee cash rewards cards.  

 

To wit, all non bonus spending on 2% Fid Amex with specialty spending on Disc, Freedom, Forward, and the rest on US Bank Cash+ 5% categories.  Forex spending on the BofA Travel card with chip, no forex, and no annual fee for 1.5 rewards.  Avg roe should be about 3.5% - approx $450 - $500 per year.  

 

For higher spending, the fee travel cards are more compelling.  Mainly, because when spending increases, the most important aspect isn't the bonus spending, but not have caps on said spending.  All issuers have caps of some kind.  5% categories are capped at $1,500; Priceline bonuss capped at 2,500; etc...Amex and Chase are two of the only issuers who have 0 caps on regular spending.  For instance, let's say you pay vendors $100,000 per year.  MR points/UR points more valuable, or 2% cash?  When points get into the 100s of thousands, very valuable redemptions can be had which easily out paces 2%.  Moreover, Amex business blue Open has 30% bonus on all points earned.  

 

In my estimation, if one spends around $12k - $15k, cash rewards no fee cards are the best option.  For those who spend north of 30K, the annual fee rewards cards are a much more compelling value.  For those who spend 100k+, then only the Amex or Chase uncapped rewards would suffice.

 

As per the CSP, I think one who travels, dines, spends time abroad and spendings around $12k - $15k, there is no better value.

Message 17 of 40
mikka1
Frequent Contributor

Re: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth carrying permanently?

Just will try to add my 2cents to the discussion...

 

First, I think we need to separate two types of comparison:

1) Compare CSP with hypothetical portfolio of other cards

2) Compare CSP with one specific card

 

If we are talking about #1, then I'am almost 100% sure we will quickly find a combination of 3...4 or more cards (even no-AF ones) that will economically be better than CSP alone. If we also take into account cards with rotating categories, CSP will lose this battle for sure. 

Although I think that this comparison is not 100% fair. It is cherrypicking and I doubt an average consumer (one who doesn't spend all nights long on myFico :-) ) will be able to properly handle all those cards to maximize his gain. CSP is more positioned (at least in my view) as a kind of "everyday use card"...

 

Talking about #2 I would try to compare it with BofA 1-2-3 Travel rewards (1.5% cashback on all purchases). One feature they have in common is zero foreign transaction fee, so even if travelling with those 2 cards (CSP and BofA Travel) they will be more or less equal. So, the only remaining calculation we have is to subtract BofA cashback of 1.5% on all from assumed weighted average of CSP cashbacks (if you plan to spend half on 2pts categories and half on 1pt it will then be 1.5pts on average which will lead to 1,605% with 7% bonus) and divide $95 by that number. So, in the case above it will be 95/(1.605%-1.5%) = $90 476.

Now, we can play around with spending patterns. Assuming that all spend will be in 2pts it will be 95/(2.14%-1.5%) = $14 844 - much better already!

 

And finally, we need to determine how your spending pattern (travel&dining vs other spend) should look like to get any gain at all (just looking for a theoretical point).

Let X be the share of your spending for travel&dining, then solving the following equation for X:

x*0.02 + (1-x)*0.01 = 0.015 / 1.07

we come up with X = 40.2%

 

What it means is that if the share of your spending on travel & dining on CSP is less than 40%, than it will NEVER be better than BofA 1-2-3 Travel rewards. 

More you spend on travel&dining relative to other categories, less you need to spend overall to make any gain compared to BofA 1-2-3 Travel rewards. 

Another interesting result is that even if you have no AF for CSP (for the 1st year) in order for it to be better than BofA 1-2-3 Travel Rewards you need to maintain at least this 40/60 split for travel&dining vs other spending. Otherwise BofA is better for you...

 

It seems I don't really want CSP anymore after these calculations Smiley Happy))))))))) Maybe only for a sign-up bonus :-))))

 

Edited: a couple of typos fixed

In my wallet now: Amex PRG NPSL, Amex BCE $15k $17k (thanks to recent CLI), Chase Freedom 11k, CSP $6k, Chase United ME $5k, Citi Dividend $5.6k, Discover It $4.5k and a handful of other cards...
TU Dec 2013 - 752Sep 2013 - 764 - new all time maximum

Obsolete data aboveCurrent TU - probably around ~810, only using a few Chase & BofA cards now, not applying for much until we buy a house
Message 18 of 40
Open123
Super Contributor

Re: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth carrying permanently?

Mikka - Nice analysis!

 

The BofA Travel rewards is really an excellent card, especially if you have a checking account.  If you had an investment account/or deposits of $50K (say, an IRA), you can get the 2% Travel Rewards with no annual fee.

 

Only reason to opt for Chase or Amex would be the travel rewards programs.

Message 19 of 40
nickn86
Contributor

Re: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth carrying permanently?


@Open123 wrote:

For spending ranging from $12k - $15k, I think the best are no fee cash rewards cards.  

 

To wit, all non bonus spending on 2% Fid Amex with specialty spending on Disc, Freedom, Forward, and the rest on US Bank Cash+ 5% categories.  Forex spending on the BofA Travel card with chip, no forex, and no annual fee for 1.5 rewards.  Avg roe should be about 3.5% - approx $450 - $500 per year.  

 

For higher spending, the fee travel cards are more compelling.  Mainly, because when spending increases, the most important aspect isn't the bonus spending, but not have caps on said spending.  All issuers have caps of some kind.  5% categories are capped at $1,500; Priceline bonuss capped at 2,500; etc...Amex and Chase are two of the only issuers who have 0 caps on regular spending.  For instance, let's say you pay vendors $100,000 per year.  MR points/UR points more valuable, or 2% cash?  When points get into the 100s of thousands, very valuable redemptions can be had which easily out paces 2%.  Moreover, Amex business blue Open has 30% bonus on all points earned.  

 

In my estimation, if one spends around $12k - $15k, cash rewards no fee cards are the best option.  For those who spend north of 30K, the annual fee rewards cards are a much more compelling value.  For those who spend 100k+, then only the Amex or Chase uncapped rewards would suffice.

 

As per the CSP, I think one who travels, dines, spends time abroad and spendings around $12k - $15k, there is no better value.


Citi Forward is also uncapped now.

I think for the CSP it is best to also have a Freedom you can transfer the 5% UR purchases over to the CSP (and then possibly over to a FF program).

Chase Sapphire Preferred - 5.6k (3/13) | Amex Premier Rewards Gold - NPSL (1/13) | Chase United MileagePlus Explorer Visa Signature - 9k (1/13) | Amex Delta Gold - 6k (9/12) | Citi Forward Visa - 10k (10/12) | Discover It - 2k (2/12) | Chase +1 Visa - $300 (2/11)
Message 20 of 40
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