Based on my scenario, would you keep a CSP or go for the CSR?

[Anonymous]

The better question for me is why would you want to cash out your points?  I also have the CSP and am considering upgrading to CSR not to cash out points but because right now it is cheaper than the CSP.  CSP is $95 a year.  CSR is $450 minus $300 in travel credit and $120 in Doordash credit, or $30 a year.  I will downgrade back to CSP in 1 year.  Either way I'm not touching my points. I routinely get 2cpp in value out of them by transferring to Hyatt.  I am in the unique situation of being self employeed in an industry that requires extensive travel, so those aren't theoretical values.  Every $ I don't spend on a hotel is absolutely that amount of value in my pocket.  On top of that you will have to spend $2850 in specific categories over the next 4 months in order to cash them out (groceries, restaurants, and home improvement stores I think?).  

[Citylights18]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The better question for me is why would you want to cash out your points?  I also have the CSP and am considering upgrading to CSR not to cash out points but because right now it is cheaper than the CSP.  CSP is $95 a year.  CSR is $450 minus $300 in travel credit and $120 in Doordash credit, or $30 a year.  I will downgrade back to CSP in 1 year.  Either way I'm not touching my points. I routinely get 2cpp in value out of them by transferring to Hyatt.  I am in the unique situation of being self employeed in an industry that requires extensive travel, so those aren't theoretical values.  Every $ I don't spend on a hotel is absolutely that amount of value in my pocket.  On top of that you will have to spend $2850 in specific categories over the next 4 months in order to cash them out (groceries, restaurants, and home improvement stores I think?).  

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While you are making some good points here you still have to fork out of wallet $550 or $450 at one shot.

A $95 AF you're not going to even feel. That is like an average dinner bill.

[Anonymous]

I can count the number of times I've spent $95 on a meal on one hand.  That's nowhere near average for me.  

It's about managing money for me.  If you're playing the rewards game then most people would agree you should be free of consumer debt.  I don't mind prepaying at a discount for things.  It's the same reason I buy bulk consumer items when they're cheaper.  To me the rewards game is the same.  So yeah, I don't mind paying out the $450 AF (provided that price will be the same if I upgrade) just like I don't mind paying the $550 for my Amex Platinum or $295 for my Amex Biz Gold or $595 for my Amex Biz Platinum or the $450 for the Hilton Aspire when I upgrade it in November or the $450 for the Marriott Brilliant when I get it next summer.

I have a modest income, but I live modestly and manage what I have well.  So no, I don't have a problem with shelling out the $$.