topic Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies in Credit Cards

Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

MrDisco99 — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:09:44 GMT

I'm expecting my new EDP card to show up in the mail in the next day or so. I intend to maximize my earnings on it by charging it at least 30 times a month.

My most common category, however, is restaurants, and for now that's going on my Citi TYP (until I meet the bonus spend really soon) and my Amex PRG, which earn more points in that category.

I know I'll use it at gas stations and groceries, as well as non-category spend like Home Depot and most Plastiq purchases, but I'm not sure I'll get to 30 transactions a month that way unless I change my habits somewhat and split purchases up smaller.

Those of you who have an ED/EDP with other cards as part of a rewards portfolio, how do you ensure you meet the transaction count every month?

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

mongstradamus — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:29:56 GMT

@MrDisco99 wrote:
I'm expecting my new EDP card to show up in the mail in the next day or so. I intend to maximize my earnings on it by charging it at least 30 times a month.

My most common category, however, is restaurants, and for now that's going on my Citi TYP (until I meet the bonus spend really soon) and my Amex PRG, which earn more points in that category.

I know I'll use it at gas stations and groceries, as well as non-category spend like Home Depot and most Plastiq purchases, but I'm not sure I'll get to 30 transactions a month that way unless I change my habits somewhat and split purchases up smaller.

Those of you who have an ED/EDP with other cards as part of a rewards portfolio, how do you ensure you meet the transaction count every month?

I put any bills i have on my EDP that can be used to pay with CC, like auto and home insurance for example. I don't know if putting 1 penny on amazon gift card still works but i did that when i first got the card if i was around 25-29 swipes by the time the statement credit data was coming around

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

shoegal — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:32:52 GMT

It was hard for me at first to do the 20 charges for the ED since I just got a Discover it and the BCE, too. I ended up using my ED for everything except restaurants (I use discover) and groceries/shopping which go on my BCE. I use the ED for Uber rides, bills, and small purchases. I only use my Cap1 Quicksilver on occasion but no much this month since I wanted to get the ED bonus.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 15:11:49 GMT

Amazon subscribe and save for soap deodrant pet food etc. Ebay purchases thru paypal are a bunch of separate transactions too

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 15:37:48 GMT

I compare this card every once in a while but I always come to the same conclusion, it's just not worth the hassle

Its a 1.5% card if you meet the difficult to keep up with requirements

for the other categories the BOA 3-2-1 card beats it in gas w/o an AF, the Amex BCP beats it in groceries while matching gas and you don't have to pay attention to anything to get the rewards

If they made it 40 purchases a month to get 2x the points in every category then I would be all over it, otherwise it's too much work with lack luster rewards.

Your question, I would look at your history if you don't consistantly make 30-40 purchases a month its going to be a job to keep up with it.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

MrDisco99 — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 17:10:34 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I compare this card every once in a while but I always come to the same conclusion, it's just not worth the hassle

Its a 1.5% card if you meet the difficult to keep up with requirements

for the other categories the BOA 3-2-1 card beats it in gas w/o an AF, the Amex BCP beats it in groceries while matching gas and you don't have to pay attention to anything to get the rewards

If they made it 40 purchases a month to get 2x the points in every category then I would be all over it, otherwise it's too much work with lack luster rewards.

Your question, I would look at your history if you don't consistantly make 30-40 purchases a month its going to be a job to keep up with it.

I think we value MR points differently. I plan to transfer to FlyingBlue miles for flights to Europe, so each MR point is easily worth about 2% to me. That makes the EDP equivalent to 9% on groceries, 6% on gas, and 3% on everything else. No cash back card comes close to that.

I actually posted a thread a while back asking for opinions/comparisons between the EDP and BCP and originally I'd thought similarly to you, but then realized that MR points can be valued quite differently depending on where and how likely you are to use them.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 17:37:08 GMT

@MrDisco99 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I compare this card every once in a while but I always come to the same conclusion, it's just not worth the hassle

Its a 1.5% card if you meet the difficult to keep up with requirements

for the other categories the BOA 3-2-1 card beats it in gas w/o an AF, the Amex BCP beats it in groceries while matching gas and you don't have to pay attention to anything to get the rewards

If they made it 40 purchases a month to get 2x the points in every category then I would be all over it, otherwise it's too much work with lack luster rewards.

Your question, I would look at your history if you don't consistantly make 30-40 purchases a month its going to be a job to keep up with it.
I think we value MR points differently. I plan to transfer to FlyingBlue miles for flights to Europe, so each MR point is easily worth about 2% to me. That makes the EDP equivalent to 9% on groceries, 6% on gas, and 3% on everything else. No cash back card comes close to that.

I actually posted a thread a while back asking for opinions/comparisons between the EDP and BCP and originally I'd thought similarly to you, but then realized that MR points can be valued quite differently depending on where and how likely you are to use them.

I think you are overvaluing MR points. I looked up a chart and it said 50k miles round trip from PHL to Paris roundtrip . But they also charge a couple hundred dollars on fuel surcharges. I saw flights last June going for 600 dollars round trip for this and the average cost I saw over time was 700 dollars. So Subtract 200 dolalrs at the higher fare rate and you are getting 500 dollars for 50k miles. So you are getting a penny a point.

I managed to get 1.1 cent per point for my PRG points by transferring to British Airways with the 40 percent bonus and using BA to book a hotel. Using BA for flights is pretty pointless as they charge insane fuel surcharges. I think Amex points are really hard to find good value with them. Even most of the gift cards are less than a penny a point.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

mongstradamus — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 17:48:02 GMT

valuing MR points and UR/SPG/TYP for that matter, is way too subjective, it depends on what you want to use them for. I personally am saving up MR for trip from JFK-Tokyo, but not everybody is going to value their miles for big trips like that. If you do the pure math i think its like 20 cpp.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

wasCB14 — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 17:52:12 GMT

I used to do $1 Amazon gift cards on EDP to "top off" a month that had large purchases but not quite 30 total. Also, I would occasionally split my cart into two transactions during grocery self-checkout if there was no one behind me. I ended up downgrading to ED, deciding a few extra points weren't worth the hassle. I get more value from perks, benefits, and bonuses than perfect category allocation.

A significant factor in that decision was Costco's imminent switch to Visa which would reduce both my spend and organic transaction count on EDP. Also, I started getting a larger share of my food from Costco so traditional grocery spend fell.

CSP was my main dining card, but I'd use EDP if I was just getting a $2 cup of coffee or something.

So I decided jumping through hoops wasn't for me, but it may be worth it for you. In this post-Sallie world, if I was shopping heavily at traditional grocery stores instead of Costco, I'd almost certainly PC back to EDP.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

MrDisco99 — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 18:12:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

I think you are overvaluing MR points. I looked up a chart and it said 50k miles round trip from PHL to Paris roundtrip . But they also charge a couple hundred dollars on fuel surcharges. I saw flights last June going for 600 dollars round trip for this and the average cost I saw over time was 700 dollars. So Subtract 200 dolalrs at the higher fare rate and you are getting 500 dollars for 50k miles. So you are getting a penny a point.

I managed to get 1.1 cent per point for my PRG points by transferring to British Airways with the 40 percent bonus and using BA to book a hotel. Using BA for flights is pretty pointless as they charge insane fuel surcharges. I think Amex points are really hard to find good value with them. Even most of the gift cards are less than a penny a point.

As always, it depends on where you're going. I'm looking at Atlanta to Istanbul and then Athens back to Atlanta. Those are also 25K miles each way despite having far higher cash value. You can go as far as Israel on just 25K miles.

By comparison most other programs I've looked at want at least 30K miles each way. Many want more miles for going to eastern Europe vs. western Europe. US airlines have lower taxes and surcharges, but higher cost in miles. UK airlines have the cheapest miles redemptions to the UK, but ridiculously high taxes, and the miles redemptions go way up when you fly beyond the UK.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 18:49:42 GMT

To answer OPs questions:

I'm sure you did your research before you applied for the card? If not...

For me, a family of 4 (including my dog), this card might not work because of the transactions i have in a monthly basis:

1. Netflix

2. Water bill

3. Gas & Electric

4. Internet

5. Cell Bill

6. Spotify

7. Dog Insurance

8. Auto/Home Owners/Life/Umbrella Insurance

9. Gas (3x a week

10. Gas (3x a week

11. Gas (3x a week Some months have 5 weekends

12. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend

13. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend

14. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend

15. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend Some months have 5 weeks

Even if i buy beer (which i do SOMETIMES 2 to 3 times a month), that makes it 17 to 18 transactions. To your question, if you don't have more transactions than the above? you will have a hard time making the 30 transactions. Even if you dine say 5 times a month, that's only 22 to 23 transactions. If you start making unnecessary transactions just to meet the 30, it might not be worth it.

Like above was saying, you could split your groceries in two transactions, which would put you at 8 transactions / month rather than 4; then you would be at 26 to 27. IF you have someone to add as an authorized user, they might be able to help you meet that (not sure if that counts)...it should.

As you can see, FOR ME, it would barely work. You could split groceries in threes IF you buy groceries say Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays...but again, too much of a hussle to keep up. My head is spinning just thinking about it lol.

Good luck OP

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 19:00:20 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
To answer OPs questions:

I'm sure you did your research before you applied for the card? If not...

For me, a family of 4 (including my dog), this card might not work because of the transactions i have in a monthly basis:

1. Netflix
2. Water bill
3. Gas & Electric
4. Internet
5. Cell Bill
6. Spotify
7. Dog Insurance
8. Auto/Home Owners/Life/Umbrella Insurance
9. Gas (3x a week
10. Gas (3x a week
11. Gas (3x a week Some months have 5 weekends
12. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend
13. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend
14. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend
15. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend Some months have 5 weeks

Even if i buy beer (which i do SOMETIMES 2 to 3 times a month), that makes it 17 to 18 transactions. To your question, if you don't have more transactions than the above? you will have a hard time making the 30 transactions. Even if you dine say 5 times a month, that's only 22 to 23 transactions. If you start making unnecessary transactions just to meet the 30, it might not be worth it.

Like above was saying, you could split your groceries in two transactions, which would put you at 8 transactions / month rather than 4; then you would be at 26 to 27. IF you have someone to add as an authorized user, they might be able to help you meet that (not sure if that counts)...it should.

As you can see, FOR ME, it would barely work. You could split groceries in threes IF you buy groceries say Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays...but again, too much of a hussle to keep up. My head is spinning just thinking about it lol.

Good luck OP

Do you not buy clothing? If there are 3 of you (not including the dog) I would think you would have multiple clothing purchases a month. Do you got to the movies or buy a cup of coffee?

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

wasCB14 — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 19:31:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Do you not buy clothing? If there are 3 of you (not including the dog) I would think you would have multiple clothing purchases a month. Do you got to the movies or buy a cup of coffee?

I price rewind most of my clothing and probably recover 20%-30% of my total clothing spend that way.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

pizza1 — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 19:41:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
To answer OPs questions:

I'm sure you did your research before you applied for the card? If not...

For me, a family of 4 (including my dog), this card might not work because of the transactions i have in a monthly basis:

1. Netflix
2. Water bill
3. Gas & Electric
4. Internet
5. Cell Bill
6. Spotify
7. Dog Insurance
8. Auto/Home Owners/Life/Umbrella Insurance
9. Gas (3x a week
10. Gas (3x a week
11. Gas (3x a week Some months have 5 weekends
12. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend
13. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend
14. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend
15. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend Some months have 5 weeks

Even if i buy beer (which i do SOMETIMES 2 to 3 times a month), that makes it 17 to 18 transactions. To your question, if you don't have more transactions than the above? you will have a hard time making the 30 transactions. Even if you dine say 5 times a month, that's only 22 to 23 transactions. If you start making unnecessary transactions just to meet the 30, it might not be worth it.

Like above was saying, you could split your groceries in two transactions, which would put you at 8 transactions / month rather than 4; then you would be at 26 to 27. IF you have someone to add as an authorized user, they might be able to help you meet that (not sure if that counts)...it should.

As you can see, FOR ME, it would barely work. You could split groceries in threes IF you buy groceries say Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays...but again, too much of a hussle to keep up. My head is spinning just thinking about it lol.

Good luck OP

Thank you for getting back on topic, and to help the OP figure how how to get his swipes in

OP...My friend (who I am now AU on his ED), has lots cards, and still gets his swipes in easily. He uses the kiosk every day at work a few times for snacks/vending machines for soda. You'd be surprised how many times that ads up.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 19:51:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
To answer OPs questions:

I'm sure you did your research before you applied for the card? If not...

For me, a family of 4 (including my dog), this card might not work because of the transactions i have in a monthly basis:

1. Netflix
2. Water bill
3. Gas & Electric
4. Internet
5. Cell Bill
6. Spotify
7. Dog Insurance
8. Auto/Home Owners/Life/Umbrella Insurance
9. Gas (3x a week
10. Gas (3x a week
11. Gas (3x a week Some months have 5 weekends
12. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend
13. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend
14. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend
15. Groceries (4x a week) every weekend Some months have 5 weeks

Even if i buy beer (which i do SOMETIMES 2 to 3 times a month), that makes it 17 to 18 transactions. To your question, if you don't have more transactions than the above? you will have a hard time making the 30 transactions. Even if you dine say 5 times a month, that's only 22 to 23 transactions. If you start making unnecessary transactions just to meet the 30, it might not be worth it.

Like above was saying, you could split your groceries in two transactions, which would put you at 8 transactions / month rather than 4; then you would be at 26 to 27. IF you have someone to add as an authorized user, they might be able to help you meet that (not sure if that counts)...it should.

As you can see, FOR ME, it would barely work. You could split groceries in threes IF you buy groceries say Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays...but again, too much of a hussle to keep up. My head is spinning just thinking about it lol.

Good luck OP
Do you not buy clothing? If there are 3 of you (not including the dog) I would think you would have multiple clothing purchases a month. Do you got to the movies or buy a cup of coffee?

We only buy what we need and we do not buy clothes every single month....no lol. We have a lot of clothes but we buy as we need. Coffee is included in groceries, we make it at home

OP, the other thing you can do is split your cell bill. Say your bill is $100, you can pay $30, $30 and $40 until you pay it to $0, not sure if your cell company lets you do that but that is another option. You could also do this for water and electric bill.

Also, when putting gas in your car, you could do swipes rather than one.

With the above, that's an easy 10+ swipes.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 20:01:41 GMT

How much MR points are worth to every person will be different. No reason to even get into that discussion.

As for the topic at hand, I get coffee at Speedway every work day so that help me get to mine. But even then, she gets all her groceries in one trip as where I make several visits because I never know what I want to cook. That combined with other frequent purchases such as us getting gas gets us there. I also pay several bills autopay with my EDP as it was my best non-category card (been too lazy to change my bills over). We are usually a little short of about 60 transactions by end of statement

You don't want to go too out of the way to make your charges. Hopefully it's some charge you go through daily that will get you at least a swipe a day since once you meet that goal, you'll get 20/50% addtional points! Don't use it on restaurants since you can get more points on PRG/Citi. Try to use it on as many 'non-category' purchases as possible!

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 20:14:52 GMT

I believe c00mtg is only referring to what he would put on his ED/EDP if they had/have one. They have too many cards to only have 17-18 transactions a month... that would be too efficent!

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 20:49:21 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I believe c00mtg is only referring to what he would put on his ED/EDP if they had/have one. They have too many cards to only have 17-18 transactions a month... that would be too efficent!

Just trying to give OP ideas on how he could meet the 30, it's doable, just takes time/planning. I added my example/case because for me having a family and all those bills, it would be a bit hard to meet that. In the case of the OP (if he's single and not much responsabilities), it would be even harder.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 20:50:21 GMT

I feel I missed the OPs question and only put my opinion out there on the card itself

One reason I often go back and compare the card on Amex website to my BCE is because I make so many purchases each month.

To answer your question I would be very conservative. I would find out the statement closing date and I would assume that the day after that until the day before the next statement closing date is your window so on average you have 28 days to get 30 purchases.

For me it would be simple since I buy lunch 4 out 7 days a week along with grabbing a beer at least once every weekend making the gap very narrow for the remaining required swipes which tempts me with this card but I'm moving towards simplicity.

Re: Amex ED/EDP purchase strategies

MrDisco99 — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 22:40:29 GMT

I'm sure I could figure something out if I really worked at it. I'm just looking for ways that are either automated or low effort, and don't add too much to my spend or steal from what I would want to put on other cards.

You guys had some good ideas. I really like the one about splitting up bill payments. Thanks!

I have a feeling it might be easier than I think. I've already put three purchases on it and I haven't even received it in the mail yet!