topic Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend in Credit Cards

BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards

Kostya1992 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 05:46:44 GMT

Hello Everyone!

Was just wondering if anyone here recently had success buying gift cards from AMEX via BeFrugal to help meet a credit card spend? I really like the 1.5% cashback that BeFrugal offers. Currently looking into buying some gift cards from AMEX for the family to help meet my spend on Citi TYP Premier and wondering if this is considered OK from Citi's side? Thanks.

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 23:21:38 GMT

@Kostya1992 wrote:
Hello Everyone!

Was just wondering if anyone here recently had success buying gift cards from AMEX via BeFrugal to help meet a credit card spend? I really like the 1.5% cashback that BeFrugal offers. Currently looking into buying some gift cards from AMEX for the family to help meet my spend on Citi TYP Premier and wondering if this is considered OK from Citi's side? Thanks.

It's fine as long as it's not excessive. I would put some other regular spend on there as well.

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

kdm31091 — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 23:27:17 GMT

Dont go crazy with it. Next time just apply for something when you know you have expenses coming up to meet spend, as technically right now you're just spending extra money to get the bonus which makes little sense

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Kostya1992 — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 23:34:54 GMT

I genuinely am interested in investing into some gift cards though, there are some birthdays and events coming up at the end of the summer and something like AMEX gift cards could be the perfect gifts. Especially when BeFrugal is offering 1.5% cashback and whatnot. I'll be getting the bonus either way but this could help me get it faster. The only thing I'm afraid of is spooking Citi, but I would pay off the balance in a few months without any issues.

EDIT: Also, what is considered to be "going crazy" in your opinion? I'd never do this with an AMEX credit card as I know they're insane about it, but I've never heard about Citi caring. I just want to avoid headache and that's all. This isn't something I need I'm just wondering if anyone has any recent experiance with them. Thanks.

@kdm31091 wrote:
Dont go crazy with it. Next time just apply for something when you know you have expenses coming up to meet spend, as technically right now you're just spending extra money to get the bonus which makes little sense

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

kdm31091 — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 23:36:46 GMT

No one can tell you at what point they will care. Technically, its probably against terms and conditions so if they want to do something about it they will.

By going crazy, I meant something like buying 1000 in gift cards and nothing else at all.

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 23:48:52 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
No one can tell you at what point they will care. Technically, its probably against terms and conditions so if they want to do something about it they will.

By going crazy, I meant something like buying 1000 in gift cards and nothing else at all.

Amex is in fact the safest card to do it on! You are buying directly from Amex, with no bonus category, so it's not like buying gift cards from a grocery store and getting a grocery bonus.

Going crazy means different things to different people. I buy about $20K a month, others do much more. The best value is the $2K cards. If you don't have the shipping plan, the purchase fee and shipping costs negate the gains on smaller value cards (and using fee-free or free shipping codes will prevent cash back)

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

taxi818 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 00:05:45 GMT

@Kostya1992 wrote:
I genuinely am interested in investing into some gift cards though, there are some birthdays and events coming up at the end of the summer and something like AMEX gift cards could be the perfect gifts. Especially when BeFrugal is offering 1.5% cashback and whatnot. I'll be getting the bonus either way but this could help me get it faster. The only thing I'm afraid of is spooking Citi, but I would pay off the balance in a few months without any issues.

EDIT: Also, what is considered to be "going crazy" in your opinion? I'd never do this with an AMEX credit card as I know they're insane about it, but I've never heard about Citi caring. I just want to avoid headache and that's all. This isn't something I need I'm just wondering if anyone has any recent experiance with them. Thanks.
@kdm31091 wrote:
Dont go crazy with it. Next time just apply for something when you know you have expenses coming up to meet spend, as technically right now you're just spending extra money to get the bonus which makes little sense

They Don't care as long as you are buying them from them. hehehe

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Closingracer99 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:09:55 GMT

@Kostya1992 wrote:
Hello Everyone!

Was just wondering if anyone here recently had success buying gift cards from AMEX via BeFrugal to help meet a credit card spend? I really like the 1.5% cashback that BeFrugal offers. Currently looking into buying some gift cards from AMEX for the family to help meet my spend on Citi TYP Premier and wondering if this is considered OK from Citi's side? Thanks.

Isn't this close to being MS? I wouldn't condone that at all

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

kdm31091 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:11:59 GMT

Its not just close to MS. It is MS. Where one stands on that varies as far as whether they feel its right, but this is MS.

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:12:02 GMT

@Closingracer99 wrote:
@Kostya1992 wrote:
Hello Everyone!

Was just wondering if anyone here recently had success buying gift cards from AMEX via BeFrugal to help meet a credit card spend? I really like the 1.5% cashback that BeFrugal offers. Currently looking into buying some gift cards from AMEX for the family to help meet my spend on Citi TYP Premier and wondering if this is considered OK from Citi's side? Thanks.
Isn't this close to being MS? I wouldn't condone that at all

They said it was for gifts, must we think the worst immediately?

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:16:14 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
Its not just close to MS. It is MS. Where one stands on that varies as far as whether they feel its right, but this is MS.

Sigh. We aren't going to turn this into a discussion of MS but buying gift cards with a credit card is not by itself MS. So let's drop this part of the discussion before this turns into a long battle back and forth.

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

kdm31091 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:16:54 GMT

If its for gifts its a gray area but it just happens to coincide with wanting to meet bonus spend? Anyway, it doesnt matter. Point is OP may see consequences or may not and has to decide what they feel is best. If I cant meet bonus spend with things I was going to buy anyway, I forego the bonus. No need to overspend to get a bonus.

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Closingracer99 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:21:07 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Closingracer99 wrote:
@Kostya1992 wrote:
Hello Everyone!

Was just wondering if anyone here recently had success buying gift cards from AMEX via BeFrugal to help meet a credit card spend? I really like the 1.5% cashback that BeFrugal offers. Currently looking into buying some gift cards from AMEX for the family to help meet my spend on Citi TYP Premier and wondering if this is considered OK from Citi's side? Thanks.
Isn't this close to being MS? I wouldn't condone that at all
They said it was for gifts, must we think the worst immediately?

It's still MSing in Amex or whoever card your using eyes.

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:23:07 GMT

@Closingracer99 wrote:

It's still MSing in Amex or whoever card your using eyes.

@Anonymous wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
Its not just close to MS. It is MS. Where one stands on that varies as far as whether they feel its right, but this is MS.
Sigh. We aren't going to turn this into a discussion of MS but buying gift cards with a credit card is not by itself MS. So let's drop this part of the discussion before this turns into a long battle back and forth.

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Closingracer99 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:24:43 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Closingracer99 wrote:
It's still MSing in Amex or whoever card your using eyes.
@Anonymous wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
Its not just close to MS. It is MS. Where one stands on that varies as far as whether they feel its right, but this is MS.
Sigh. We aren't going to turn this into a discussion of MS but buying gift cards with a credit card is not by itself MS. So let's drop this part of the discussion before this turns into a long battle back and forth.

I didn't read that until after? Duh

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:25:46 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Closingracer99 wrote:
It's still MSing in Amex or whoever card your using eyes.
@Anonymous wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
Its not just close to MS. It is MS. Where one stands on that varies as far as whether they feel its right, but this is MS.
Sigh. We aren't going to turn this into a discussion of MS but buying gift cards with a credit card is not by itself MS. So let's drop this part of the discussion before this turns into a long battle back and forth.

ugh! that horrible video from delta safety video... "smoking in cabin is not allowed" *finger wagging*

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:33:17 GMT

@Closingracer99 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Closingracer99 wrote:
@Kostya1992 wrote:
Hello Everyone!

Was just wondering if anyone here recently had success buying gift cards from AMEX via BeFrugal to help meet a credit card spend? I really like the 1.5% cashback that BeFrugal offers. Currently looking into buying some gift cards from AMEX for the family to help meet my spend on Citi TYP Premier and wondering if this is considered OK from Citi's side? Thanks.
Isn't this close to being MS? I wouldn't condone that at all
They said it was for gifts, must we think the worst immediately?
It's still MSing in Amex or whoever card your using eyes.

(Ignoring Irish's warning In which case we would see people being shut down for doing this, right? I haven't heard of a single case, whereas people being shut down for buying cards at grocery or drug stores etc is much more common. So even if you want this to be considered MS by the issuers, it really isn't, almost certainly because there is no bonus category involved, all purchases are rewarded by the credit card at the standard rate. If it not an Amex card, they get the swipe fee that more than makes up for the reward.

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

Closingracer99 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:36:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Closingracer99 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Closingracer99 wrote:
@Kostya1992 wrote:
Hello Everyone!

Was just wondering if anyone here recently had success buying gift cards from AMEX via BeFrugal to help meet a credit card spend? I really like the 1.5% cashback that BeFrugal offers. Currently looking into buying some gift cards from AMEX for the family to help meet my spend on Citi TYP Premier and wondering if this is considered OK from Citi's side? Thanks.
Isn't this close to being MS? I wouldn't condone that at all
They said it was for gifts, must we think the worst immediately?
It's still MSing in Amex or whoever card your using eyes.
(Ignoring Irish's warning In which case we would see people being shut down for doing this, right? I haven't heard of a single case, whereas people being shut down for buying cards at grocery or drug stores etc is much more common. So even if you want this to be considered MS by the issuers, it really isn't, almost certainly because there is no bonus category involved, all purchases are rewarded by the credit card at the standard rate. If it not an Amex card, they get the swipe fee that more than makes up for the reward.

It's your card when you get down to it and if you wanna do it be my guest. I just consider it MS personally

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

kdm31091 — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:46:10 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
No one can tell you at what point they will care. Technically, its probably against terms and conditions so if they want to do something about it they will.

By going crazy, I meant something like buying 1000 in gift cards and nothing else at all.
Amex is in fact the safest card to do it on! You are buying directly from Amex, with no bonus category, so it's not like buying gift cards from a grocery store and getting a grocery bonus.

Going crazy means different things to different people. I buy about $20K a month, others do much more. The best value is the $2K cards. If you don't have the shipping plan, the purchase fee and shipping costs negate the gains on smaller value cards (and using fee-free or free shipping codes will prevent cash back)

Am I reading that right? 20k a month? Wow...that's a lot

Re: BeFrugal AMEX Gift Cards to help meet spend

CreditDunce — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 02:15:58 GMT

I doubt that Citi will care if you buy gift cards. However, Citi is known for categorizing some gift cards as cash advances. Not the gift cards from stores, but gift cards from banks. I don't how how they would categorize BeFrugal.