Memorial day marks the traditional start of summer and with Citi and AMEX extending their bonus periods for new applicants to 6 months if they apply by 5/31/20 (right beyond Black Friday) it makes sense to just do it now and have the cards in time for summer spending all the way until Christmas shopping.
Here is my spree w/ spend requirements w/ perks:
Chase World of Hyatt 6,000/6 months ($1500 value SUB, Hyatt Discoverist, Annual Free night)
-Approved 5/29 (20.9k SL)
AMEX Green 2,000/6 months ($900 value SUB, Plan IT, Rakuten bonuses, Amazon offers, Loungebuddy)
-Approved (10k?? NPSL)
Citi Rewards+ 1500/6 months ($300 value SUB, App purchases, Amazon offers, Small Purchases)
Total spend requirement: $9500
Planned Purchases: $9500???
IHG 100% point bonus $2500???
Hilton 100% point bonus $1600???
8 hotel nights @ 200 a night $1600
Purchase laptop $900
Purchase air conditioner $900
New set of tires $500
Birthday gifts $500
Christmas Gifts $1000
-WoH and AMEX Green are approved so far. Citi had an in-branch offer for me on the Rewards+ but the branch closed right before I could walk in. I tried to get an offer over the phone. They said they had access to mailers which were not even sent out yet, however their system was down.
-Not sure what my daily spend limit is on the AMEX Green is yet. Its at least $2300 but they only let you check 3 times a day.
-So far my 6 month SUB commitments stand at $8000. One thing I could do is forget the IHG points and take on the Hilton that expires 6/3 offer since I do happen to have the AMEX Green digitally. If I want to just stick with the 2 cards I picked up and not app for anymore.
-The question is what to do about grocery/gas categories when I don't have Freedom bonuses there (also Disco 5% coverage). I'm okay on gas with the Citi AA card at 2.8% but no backup on grocery aside from my FCU. If I go the Hilton route that can be my backup and has the elevated 7.2% food earning rate until 7/31. If I go Rewards+ its about 2.5% groceries/gas but goes higher for small purchases.
-The 20k/1500 in branch offer for Rewards+ was just the right spend size. 15k/1000 a little too small. The Premier 60k/4000 a little too big less I want to buy Hilton and IHG points. It just starts to seem like overkill at that point.
Official travel point totals as of 12/26/23 (1,382,693 Total Points)
Chase Ultimate Rewards 661,525 | IHG One Rewards 144,443 | Hilton Honors 143,801 | AMEX Membership Rewards 102,729 | World of Hyatt 90,413 | Marriott Bonvoy 65,343 | Citi Thank You 62,712 | Wells Fargo Rewards 33,652 | Southwest Rapid Rewards 28,105 | United MileagePlus 13,316 | British Airways Avios 12,333 | Jet Blue TrueBlue 11,661 | NASA Platinum Rewards 1,883 | AA Advantage 1,744 | Navy Federal Rewards 792 | Delta Sky Miles 175 | Virgin Atlantic Virgin Points 100 | Lowes Business Rewards 6,992 ($69.92) | Amazon Rewards 475 ($4.75) | Discover CB 499 ($4.99)
