topic Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories! in Credit Cards

Time to choose your Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

celluloid17 — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 17:26:19 GMT

Just as the subject line states, you can now select your January-March 2016 5%/2% categories! The options are exactly the same as they were for this past year - no nerfing.

I'm sticking with Cell phone/Fast Food for 5% and Restaurants for 2%.

How about you?

Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

kdm31091 — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 17:27:57 GMT

I was happy to see nothing has changed with the options!

I did 2% grocery, only because it works at Target and I'm trying to rack up to $100 in rewards to get that $25 bonus, and I think I can rack up rewards quicker on grocery vs restaurants. 5% fast food and 5% bookstores. This quarter I had done 5% furniture for IKEA, but figured I'd switch it up as I don't have any major IKEA purchases planned. I just like it there lol

Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

celluloid17 — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 17:34:37 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
I was happy to see nothing has changed with the options!

I did 2% grocery, only because it works at Target and I'm trying to rack up to $100 in rewards to get that $25 bonus, and I think I can rack up rewards quicker on grocery vs restaurants. 5% fast food and 5% bookstores. This quarter I had done 5% furniture for IKEA, but figured I'd switch it up as I don't have any major IKEA purchases planned. I just like it there lol

I was realieved to see no changes as well!

That's good to know that Cash + counts (some?) Targets as grocery stores. I definitely think you'll get more mileage out of the grocery store category (and reach your bonus) if you can shop at Target.

Do they count Amazon as a bookstore?

Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

kdm31091 — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 17:37:12 GMT

@celluloid17 wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
I was happy to see nothing has changed with the options!

I did 2% grocery, only because it works at Target and I'm trying to rack up to $100 in rewards to get that $25 bonus, and I think I can rack up rewards quicker on grocery vs restaurants. 5% fast food and 5% bookstores. This quarter I had done 5% furniture for IKEA, but figured I'd switch it up as I don't have any major IKEA purchases planned. I just like it there lol
I was realieved to see no changes as well!

That's good to know that Cash + counts (some?) Targets as grocery stores. I definitely think you'll get more mileage out of the grocery store category (and reach your bonus) if you can shop at Target.

Do they count Amazon as a bookstore?

I just know my local Target comes up as grocery, but not all Targets do.

Haven't tried the amazon/bookstore thing since I've never used it as a category but I have heard it does count. I may or may not even get use out of it, since most of my Amazon shopping happens around the holidays, but we'll see. If nothing else, I plan to use it at the actual bookstore.

Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

celluloid17 — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 17:51:16 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
@celluloid17 wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
I was happy to see nothing has changed with the options!

I did 2% grocery, only because it works at Target and I'm trying to rack up to $100 in rewards to get that $25 bonus, and I think I can rack up rewards quicker on grocery vs restaurants. 5% fast food and 5% bookstores. This quarter I had done 5% furniture for IKEA, but figured I'd switch it up as I don't have any major IKEA purchases planned. I just like it there lol
I was realieved to see no changes as well!

That's good to know that Cash + counts (some?) Targets as grocery stores. I definitely think you'll get more mileage out of the grocery store category (and reach your bonus) if you can shop at Target.

Do they count Amazon as a bookstore?

I just know my local Target comes up as grocery, but not all Targets do.

Haven't tried the amazon/bookstore thing since I've never used it as a category but I have heard it does count. I may or may not even get use out of it, since most of my Amazon shopping happens around the holidays, but we'll see. If nothing else, I plan to use it at the actual bookstore.

Wow, they still have actual bookstores where you live?! In the past, I would have loved the bookstores category, but there are so few actual brick and mortar bookstores these days (and I live in Los Angeles).

Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

kdm31091 — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 17:43:43 GMT

@celluloid17 wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
@celluloid17 wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
I was happy to see nothing has changed with the options!

I did 2% grocery, only because it works at Target and I'm trying to rack up to $100 in rewards to get that $25 bonus, and I think I can rack up rewards quicker on grocery vs restaurants. 5% fast food and 5% bookstores. This quarter I had done 5% furniture for IKEA, but figured I'd switch it up as I don't have any major IKEA purchases planned. I just like it there lol
I was realieved to see no changes as well!

That's good to know that Cash + counts (some?) Targets as grocery stores. I definitely think you'll get more mileage out of the grocery store category (and reach your bonus) if you can shop at Target.

Do they count Amazon as a bookstore?

I just know my local Target comes up as grocery, but not all Targets do.

Haven't tried the amazon/bookstore thing since I've never used it as a category but I have heard it does count. I may or may not even get use out of it, since most of my Amazon shopping happens around the holidays, but we'll see. If nothing else, I plan to use it at the actual bookstore.
Wow, they still have actual bookstores where you live?! In the past, I would loved the bookstores category, but there are so few actual brick and mortar bookstores these days (and I live in Los Angeles).

Well, sort of...the only nearby bookstores are two Barnes and Noble locations. I like it there, though. I'm sad about the slow demise of brick and mortar bookstores.

Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

thelethargicage — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 18:06:53 GMT

kdm31091 wrote:

I was happy to see nothing has changed with the options!

"You closed Sallie Mae and now you're using Cash+ at Target?!"

Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

kdm31091 — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 18:09:24 GMT

@thelethargicage wrote:

@kdm31091 wrote:
I was happy to see nothing has changed with the options!

I did 2% grocery, only because it works at Target and I'm trying to rack up to $100 in rewards to get that $25 bonus, and I think I can rack up rewards quicker on grocery vs restaurants. 5% fast food and 5% bookstores. This quarter I had done 5% furniture for IKEA, but figured I'd switch it up as I don't have any major IKEA purchases planned. I just like it there lol

"You closed Sallie Mae and now you're using Cash+ at Target?!"

Temporarily only. I have a target redcard for 5% at target normally. So giving up a bit to get to the cash+ bonus (would take almost 1k in spend to make up a 3% reward difference vs getting the $25 cash+ bonus). I normally just use my debit redcard, though, and will continue to do so one the cash+ bonus is done. So long term, I don't utilize the "some Targets code as grocery" thing.

Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

thelethargicage — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 18:17:01 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
@thelethargicage wrote:

@kdm31091 wrote:
I was happy to see nothing has changed with the options!

I did 2% grocery, only because it works at Target and I'm trying to rack up to $100 in rewards to get that $25 bonus, and I think I can rack up rewards quicker on grocery vs restaurants. 5% fast food and 5% bookstores. This quarter I had done 5% furniture for IKEA, but figured I'd switch it up as I don't have any major IKEA purchases planned. I just like it there lol

"You closed Sallie Mae and now you're using Cash+ at Target?!"
Temporarily only. I have a target redcard for 5% at target normally. So giving up a bit to get to the cash+ bonus (would take almost 1k in spend to make up a 3% reward difference vs getting the $25 cash+ bonus). I normally just use my debit redcard, though, and will continue to do so one the cash+ bonus is done. So long term, I don't utilize the "some Targets code as grocery" thing.

You're giving up a 5% discount so you can earn 2%? That makes even less sense!

Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

kdm31091 — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 18:25:29 GMT

@thelethargicage wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
@thelethargicage wrote:

@kdm31091 wrote:
I was happy to see nothing has changed with the options!

I did 2% grocery, only because it works at Target and I'm trying to rack up to $100 in rewards to get that $25 bonus, and I think I can rack up rewards quicker on grocery vs restaurants. 5% fast food and 5% bookstores. This quarter I had done 5% furniture for IKEA, but figured I'd switch it up as I don't have any major IKEA purchases planned. I just like it there lol

"You closed Sallie Mae and now you're using Cash+ at Target?!"
Temporarily only. I have a target redcard for 5% at target normally. So giving up a bit to get to the cash+ bonus (would take almost 1k in spend to make up a 3% reward difference vs getting the $25 cash+ bonus). I normally just use my debit redcard, though, and will continue to do so one the cash+ bonus is done. So long term, I don't utilize the "some Targets code as grocery" thing.
You're giving up a 5% discount so you can earn 2%? That makes even less sense!

Let me try this again: As I said, yes, temporarily, and it would take almost 1k in Target spending to where my 2% + $25 bonus would be less than my 5% redcard. I don't even spend 1k at Target in a year.

I'm only doing this until I get to $100 in cash+ rewards, claim my $125 (you get a $25 bonus for redeeming $100 or more, one time only), and then back to the redcard.

Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 19:19:04 GMT

The bonus is greater than the extra 3%.

Re: Time to choose you Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

SunriseEarth — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 20:56:49 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
@thelethargicage wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
@thelethargicage wrote:

@kdm31091 wrote:
I was happy to see nothing has changed with the options!

I did 2% grocery, only because it works at Target and I'm trying to rack up to $100 in rewards to get that $25 bonus, and I think I can rack up rewards quicker on grocery vs restaurants. 5% fast food and 5% bookstores. This quarter I had done 5% furniture for IKEA, but figured I'd switch it up as I don't have any major IKEA purchases planned. I just like it there lol

"You closed Sallie Mae and now you're using Cash+ at Target?!"
Temporarily only. I have a target redcard for 5% at target normally. So giving up a bit to get to the cash+ bonus (would take almost 1k in spend to make up a 3% reward difference vs getting the $25 cash+ bonus). I normally just use my debit redcard, though, and will continue to do so one the cash+ bonus is done. So long term, I don't utilize the "some Targets code as grocery" thing.
You're giving up a 5% discount so you can earn 2%? That makes even less sense!
Let me try this again: As I said, yes, temporarily, and it would take almost 1k in Target spending to where my 2% + $25 bonus would be less than my 5% redcard. I don't even spend 1k at Target in a year.

I'm only doing this until I get to $100 in cash+ rewards, claim my $125 (you get a $25 bonus for redeeming $100 or more, one time only), and then back to the redcard.

That's also why I'm doing 2% restaurants on my Cash+. Sam's Club gives me 3% restaurants, but I'd have to spend $2500 to make up for that $25 bonus, as well.

Re: Time to choose your Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

SunriseEarth — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 21:03:48 GMT

For Q4, I did Fast Food and Movie Theaters at 5%, Restaurants at 2%. For Q1, I'm switching in Dept. Stores for Movies. I've really underutilized Movies and dept stores is going away on Discover, so this may come in handy. This makes my BCE even more useless aside from AMEX Offers.

Re: Time to choose your Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

uswala — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 21:21:21 GMT

@celluloid17 wrote:
Just as the subject line states, you can now select your January-March 2016 5%/2% categories! The options are exactly the same as they were for this past year - no nerfing.

I'm sticking with Cell phone/Fast Food for 5% and Restaurants for 2%.

How about you?

Exactly the same with me.

Re: Time to choose your Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

thelethargicage — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 21:22:52 GMT

@kdm31091: on second thought, you're right.

Re: Time to choose your Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

kdm31091 — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 21:40:40 GMT

Re: Time to choose your Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

Kidcat — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 22:19:12 GMT

I am gonna stick with cell phone, fast food and restaurants. That combo has worked for me thus far.

Re: Time to choose your Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 00:18:35 GMT

I've had cell phone continually and bounced between electronics and sporting goods. I think I may roll the dice and risk that I may outspend my $160 cellphone bill in both of those, and switch to electronics and sporting goods for Q1. The 2%, meh. I never use it for any of the 2%.

Re: Time to choose your Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 00:53:24 GMT

@Kidcat wrote:
I am gonna stick with cell phone, fast food and restaurants. That combo has worked for me thus far.

Yup, cell phone and fast food were my 5% categories this quarter, too. I already capped them out....

Re: Time to choose your Cash + Q1 2016 categories!

kdm31091 — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 00:54:48 GMT

Wow and I thought I ate too much fast food lol