topic Re: How do you guys use your Discover? in Credit Cards

How do you guys use your Discover?

icyhot — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 15:08:54 GMT

I just got approved for a Discover card, after YEARS of trying. I've already met my PRG spend bonus so no need to concentrate all my spend on it. I plan to use it for category spend HEAVILY to get that double cash back. I see gas and ground transport is the current category, what does that include? I figure I use Discover for gas this quarter and PRG for groceries/restaurants and then Discover for restaurants and PRG for gas/restaurants. CSP for all other travel of course. Still on the fence if I should use the QS or Discover for non-category spend, technically Discover is 2% right? So it'd be a tad more lucrative in the end. Do any of you use yours for non-category for the double cash back?

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Sharingan — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 15:27:23 GMT

No. I use my Discover solely for category spending and the Discover Deals portals. It's also the reason why I don't really mind that it's one of my lowest CL cards. I was one of the lucky few who managed to get the Double Cash Back promotion on an existing account before they closed that loophole. Still, I do not use it for noncategory spending because I already have 2% CB cards that don't make me wait up to a year before finally awarding me the full cash back.

I view Discover's promotion as a deferred sign up bonus, so I'd rather give noncategory spending to my Fidelity/Double Cash for the same 2%.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 15:43:28 GMT

Short version:

Since I've got the DC, I am using it for some general spend as well as gas right now.

Long version:

I got my Discover in 2013. I only used it as a BT card. I don't think I charged a thing to it until last spring. That's about the same time I paid off the existing balance. I got the DC on the existing card too, then I started using it a bit. But I really started using it when I asked to have the APR lowered and got 0% for a year right about the same time as the ApplePay deal. And I found I REALLY like it. I like the CS, I like the website, I like the app. (I like being able to charge and not worry about PIF). Call me crazy, but I also kind of like the 1/1 cashback. I don't like the TE and others with ALL the cashback delayed. But I'm really looking forward to the chunk I'll get in July! (Oh, and I like the CLI's too...I've gone from $4k to $11.5k in 10 months. I got a 50% CLI when I started carrying a balance on purchases at 0%).

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 16:26:26 GMT

I use my Discover as main card for everything except groceries right now. I was able to sneak in to the double cash deal when they left it open for existing cardholders. I don't have another 2% card so this will catch all of my spend until the deal ends, then I will switch back to QS. BCE gets my grocery spend for the 3%. I may or may not app for Citi DC when the 2% promo is over. It depends on how close I feel I may be to applying for a mortgage at that time. If I see that I may want to do that in the next year or so, then I will hold off on the DC.

I have had zero problems with Discover since I started using it in April. Easy website to navigate, good customer service. I like them.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Irisa — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 16:51:42 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I use my Discover as main card for everything except groceries right now. I was able to sneak in to the double cash deal when they left it open for existing cardholders. I don't have another 2% card so this will catch all of my spend until the deal ends, then I will switch back to QS. BCE gets my grocery spend for the 3%. I may or may not app for Citi DC when the 2% promo is over. It depends on how close I feel I may be to applying for a mortgage at that time. If I see that I may want to do that in the next year or so, then I will hold off on the DC.

I have had zero problems with Discover since I started using it in April. Easy website to navigate, good customer service. I like them.

Exactly what I am doing. I also really like using Discover Deals for my online purchases.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

icyhot — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 16:50:45 GMT

That's probably what I'll do. Use for double cash back until promotion ends, then go back to QS. Great how I have so many options. I'm officially done with apping

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Saleen099 — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 16:58:49 GMT

Outside of the categories I barely use my Discover card that might be the reason I don't get any credit line increases to.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Closingracer99 — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 17:31:26 GMT

My Disover card has been in my SD for like forever with some spending to keep it active because its my oldest card.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 18:59:30 GMT

I use my Discover It and my Chase Freedom for the 5% categories. You have to activate the 5% promotions, and they only apply to up to $1,500 in purchases per category. However, the Discover It 2% offer seems to have no total spend limitations.

Discover says this about Gas and Ground Transportation:

Purchases made at Gas Stations affiliated with superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs may not be eligible. Ground Transportation is defined as local and suburban commuter transportation, including: ferries, passenger railways, taxicabs, limousines/rental cars and charter/tour bus lines. Ground Transportation purchases made through travel agencies or travel aggregator sites will not be eligible. Purchases made using tap-and-pay, mobile or wireless card readers, virtual wallets or similar technology may not be eligible.

Since Discover It has a 2% cash back promotion for new cards, it seems like your best return for the next year will be had if you use the Discover for the 5% categories as well for all other spending that is not in a 2%+ category in you other cards. After the 2% promotion ends, you still should use the Discover for the 5% categories.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 19:05:12 GMT

@icyhot wrote:
I just got approved for a Discover card, after YEARS of trying. I've already met my PRG spend bonus so no need to concentrate all my spend on it. I plan to use it for category spend HEAVILY to get that double cash back. I see gas and ground transport is the current category, what does that include? I figure I use Discover for gas this quarter and PRG for groceries/restaurants and then Discover for restaurants and PRG for gas/restaurants. CSP for all other travel of course. Still on the fence if I should use the QS or Discover for non-category spend, technically Discover is 2% right? So it'd be a tad more lucrative in the end. Do any of you use yours for non-category for the double cash back?

LIke others, I have the 2%, but also have a Citi DC. I go back and forth on which I use for gen spend, since I'm trying to get CLIs for both, and both are being stubborn. However, when trying to decide between QS and Discover, you need to keep in mind the chance that the double cash won't ever be paid out. I think it's low, so I think you should use Discover a lot, but there is the chance. Additioanlly, you won't get it for a year, while the QS rewards post instantly.

RE: "Gas and ground transport." Gas is self-explanatory, so I'll focus on "Ground Transport." The category is very broad. I used it last year for taxis and tokens for the subway. i've also used it for passes for the local train.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Mattopotamus — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 19:14:21 GMT

@Closingracer99 wrote:
My Disover card has been in my SD for like forever with some spending to keep it active because its my oldest card.

Likewise. I did use it when they had the 10% back at apple. Today I randomly tried for a CLI and was approved for an addional $4400 without a hard pull.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Chris679 — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 19:39:11 GMT

Netflix

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 19:41:56 GMT

How do I use it you ask?? I swipe where I can or use chip where enabled.

(at work and needed a laugh)

Just got mine too. I am going to use it for rotating categories. Glad there is no minimum to redeem so I can pull the rewards every month and apply them to my Disney fund. I just got the BCP so not sure what I will do if Discover has groceries. 5% vs 6%. May just keep using the BCP. I will use and hope for some of this Discover luv going around. I would be happy around $15k but glad I have a decent line to use now.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 19:42:56 GMT

General spending and 5% categories. Once double cash is over I'll figure out what I want to do with it. It'll be probably one of only 3 cards so it should get some use.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 19:45:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
How do I use it you ask?? I swipe where I can or use chip where enabled.

(at work and needed a laugh)

Just got mine too. I am going to use it for rotating categories. Glad there is no minimum to redeem so I can pull the rewards every month and apply them to my Disney fund. I just got the BCP so not sure what I will do if Discover has groceries. 5% vs 6%. May just keep using the BCP. I will use and hope for some of this Discover luv going around. I would be happy around $15k but glad I have a decent line to use now.

I hope Discover does have a grocery category some day, but I haven't heard of one yet.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Anonymous — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 16:59:17 GMT

It's easier for me to answer what I don't use my Discover for. Resturants( that will change next quarter) and parking meeters( just tried to use it at one today and they don't take Discover). I use my card for everything else. When I first got it I BT's smaller blances on to it and paid it off. I also got grandfathered in on the 2 X cashback. I'm affraid my Chase cards aren't getting much use but Discover has not made it easy for me to spread the luv. I started out with 6k and now I'm at 17k. It's only been 9.5 months.

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

L-TWT — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 01:38:06 GMT

ALOT,

I use it for everything where Discover is excepted, domestic and internationally!

Re: How do you guys use your Discover?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 02:10:44 GMT

I want to correct myself:

Discover is not just 2% back. It is double your cash back. That means you can get 10% back in the quarterly categories. If you spend $1000 in Apr-June on restaurants and movie theaters, you'll get $50 cash back at the time, and an additional $50 cash back at the end of the year. If you spent the max $1500 each quarter in the 5% bonus categories, you would get a total of $600 cash back for those purchases.