topic CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo in Credit Cards

CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

revjamesl — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 21:53:17 GMT

How many of you have all three of the above listed cards, and use this 3-way combo? I have both the CSR and Unlimited, and am thinking of applying for the Freedom to maximize the rewards system.

Any thoughts or comments appreciated.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 21:57:38 GMT

I am not a participant but I am completely jealous of all who are. I would add that whoever has this trio needs to add the Chase Ink Cash and Preferred cards. Big time benefits in addition with 3-5% categories.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 21:59:49 GMT

@revjamesl wrote:
How many of you have all three of the above listed cards, and use this 3-way combo? I have both the CSR and Unlimited, and am thinking of applying for the Freedom to maximize the rewards system.

Any thoughts or comments appreciated.

I have all 3. Great combination. Of the 3, the Freedom is the one that you have to 'work' the hardest and make sure you maximize the quarterly bonuses. Otherwise, just the CSR and FU cards work well together. Of course this is all dependent on your use use of UR points and maximizing their value with travel partners.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 22:02:12 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I am not a participant but I am completely jealous of all who are. I would add that whoever has this trio needs to add the Chase Ink Cash and Preferred cards. Big time benefits in addition with 3-5% categories.

The Ink cards are a great addition (I have the Ink+) but you definitely don't need the CSP if you have the CSR. CSR is equal to or outdoes the CSP in every category and having it does nothing for you.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 22:33:26 GMT

I was referring to the new Ink Preferred. It offers 3% cash-back in a few interesting categories, like cell phone, shipping and online advertising, not to mention it also gives you free cell phone protection, so no need for Square Trade or other phone insurances.

Any owner of the CSR and the CSP should product-change the CSP.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 22:45:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I was referring to the new Ink Preferred. It offers 3% cash-back in a few interesting categories, like cell phone, shipping and online advertising, not to mention it also gives you free cell phone protection, so no need for Square Trade or other phone insurances.

Any owner of the CSR and the CSP should product-change the CSP.

Gotcha, my mistake and yes, that is a great card as well and you're right on the PC

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

BronzeTrader — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 23:03:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I am not a participant but I am completely jealous of all who are. I would add that whoever has this trio needs to add the Chase Ink Cash and Preferred cards. Big time benefits in addition with 3-5% categories.
The Ink cards are a great addition (I have the Ink+) but you definitely don't need the CSP if you have the CSR. CSR is equal to or outdoes the CSP in every category and having it does nothing for you.

I currently use the Citi Costco Business card. I may get Ink card (no Ink+), but I'm still in holding mode.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Fleuriste — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 02:05:14 GMT

@revjamesl wrote:
How many of you have all three of the above listed cards, and use this 3-way combo? I have both the CSR and Unlimited, and am thinking of applying for the Freedom to maximize the rewards system.

Any thoughts or comments appreciated.

I have the first two in that trio, but the next card I will apply for is the Ink. I'm trying to clear some things up first, because they denied me a year ago.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Ghoshida — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 06:25:31 GMT

@revjamesl wrote:
How many of you have all three of the above listed cards, and use this 3-way combo? I have both the CSR and Unlimited, and am thinking of applying for the Freedom to maximize the rewards system.

Any thoughts or comments appreciated.

I had the CSP and the Freedom, then I got the CSR, converted the CSP to the FU, and now I have all 3 of the ones you mentioned.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 13:49:41 GMT

I have the combo now. Easy way to earn valuable UR points. I use them frequently for Hyatt.

Freedom is a good card, not always easy to maximize categories but even if you can't spend $1500 for the quarter, the earning rate is still high and no annual fee. Hard to beat.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

noobody — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 14:35:03 GMT

I have CSR and two freedom (double the CAP)

All my non Category spending goes to SPG, so I have no spending left for FU.

When I got CSR, I PC CSP to slate and move all but 1k credit line to CSR. Only benefit I want from Slate is free EX Fico.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

kristin93 — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 17:34:30 GMT

Can someone explain why having this tri-fecta is so great as opposed to any other cluster of cards? I have two chase cards (Original Freedom and Slate) and wanted to do a PC at some point early next year, so everyones insight would really help

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Fleuriste — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 18:26:22 GMT

The trifecta is good if you are trying to maximize ultimate rewards points. A CSP or CSR will give you extra points on restaurants and travel (plus no foreign transaction fees, car rental insurance,etc.). The Ink cash will give you 5x points at office supply stores- so you can purchase gift cards to the places that don't get extra points earned. Then the Freedom gives you 5% in rotating categories or the Freedom Unlimited gives you 1.5% on all purchases. Earn bonuses for minimum spending when you sign up and then combine all of your points. You are maximizing your points potential on purchases and then have lots of flexibility in how you use the points because of the many travel partners that Chase works with.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

android01 — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 18:35:12 GMT

I also have the combo of C$R and FU. I product changed my CSP to the FU when I got the C$R. As far as the Combo goes, I think having the Freedom Unlimited works out better for me because it has 1.5 points on everything all the time with no caps. I hate chasing categories like I would have to with the Freedom. IMO, point accumulation would happen faster combining the Freedom Unlimited with the C$R.

I also product changed my old JP Morgan Select card to the new JP Morgan Reserve. It's redundant for the most part with the C$R as far as benefits goes, but it can add to the overall point count quickly. Plus, it's a hidden trade line like the old JP Morgan Select was. I like hidden trade lines.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 18:35:43 GMT

@Fleuriste wrote:
The trifecta is good if you are trying to maximize ultimate rewards points. A CSP or CSR will give you extra points on restaurants and travel (plus no foreign transaction fees, car rental insurance,etc.). The Ink cash will give you 5x points at office supply stores- so you can purchase gift cards to the places that don't get extra points earned. Then the Freedom gives you 5% in rotating categories or the Freedom Unlimited gives you 1.5% on all purchases. Earn bonuses for minimum spending when you sign up and then combine all of your points. You are maximizing your points potential on purchases and then have lots of flexibility in how you use the points because of the many travel partners that Chase works with.

Right. Some people will put all their spend on UR cards, just because they value the points enough. Others might put some spend on high cashback (e.g. 5%+ on groceries) vs 1.5UR on FU, but even then if you need lots of URs for a particular reward, using the FU anyway may be the smart thing to do.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

redpat — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 18:37:20 GMT

You can get the superfecta, CSR, Ink+, FU and Freedom or the "Pick five" by adding the Ink Preferred now.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Fleuriste — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 18:46:28 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Fleuriste wrote:
The trifecta is good if you are trying to maximize ultimate rewards points. A CSP or CSR will give you extra points on restaurants and travel (plus no foreign transaction fees, car rental insurance,etc.). The Ink cash will give you 5x points at office supply stores- so you can purchase gift cards to the places that don't get extra points earned. Then the Freedom gives you 5% in rotating categories or the Freedom Unlimited gives you 1.5% on all purchases. Earn bonuses for minimum spending when you sign up and then combine all of your points. You are maximizing your points potential on purchases and then have lots of flexibility in how you use the points because of the many travel partners that Chase works with.
Right. Some people will put all their spend on UR cards, just because they value the points enough. Others might put some spend on high cashback (e.g. 5%+ on groceries) vs 1.5UR on FU, but even then if you need lots of URs for a particular reward, using the FU anyway may be the smart thing to do.

If you can get an Ink card, you really can maximize your cash back rewards. I'm still waiting to apply for one, since I was declined a year ago. With an Ink card, you could funnell practically all of your ordinary spend through Ink by purchasing gift cards. You do have the option of coverting UR points to cash, but they are much more valuable when transferred to Chase partners. I'm using Chase UR so that I can take my family on a trip to Europe.

My next holy grail for points after I do that is the Southwest Companion Pass. My plan is to apply for the Chase Southwest Cards in one year so that I can use the companion pass to take my kids on college visits.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Fleuriste — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 18:47:46 GMT

The Ink+ is only available now through referral codes. They stopped offering it on Monday when the ChIP launched.

Re: CSR/Chase Freedom/Chase Freedom Unlimited Combo

Fleuriste — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 18:58:25 GMT

@android01 wrote:
I also have the combo of C$R and FU. I product changed my CSP to the FU when I got the C$R. As far as the Combo goes, I think having the Freedom Unlimited works out better for me because it has 1.5 points on everything all the time with no caps. I hate chasing categories like I would have to with the Freedom. IMO, point accumulation would happen faster combining the Freedom Unlimited with the C$R.

I also product changed my old JP Morgan Select card to the new JP Morgan Reserve. It's redundant for the most part with the C$R as far as benefits goes, but it can add to the overall point count quickly. Plus, it's a hidden trade line like the old JP Morgan Select was. I like hidden trade lines.

I hear you about the FU. I just PC'd my CSP to the Freedom this month. I was really hoping that the Freedom was going to announce the Amazon 10% cash back for December again. It doesn't look like it is going to happen. On the other hand, I've been purchasing cash cards at Costco so that I can earn 5% cash back on Costco gas.