@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:@notmyrealname23 he asked for basic amex math, not how to maximize his rewards to offset the fee. I posted the minimum spend to offset the AF at 1x, 4x, and if he used all of his dining credits.
She.
But yes, I wanted the min possible conversion / math. Which you provided. I appreciate it 
it's what I was looking for.
I know there is ton of value based on usage and spend and all sorts of factors that are unique to every individual. But basic math sometimes is how my brain works.
@notmyrealname23 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:. Proving is the long way but the instant way for them to fall in love with you is really just cleaning up your profile (if it's got stuff they don't like).
It is literally the long way because a) I have a Chapter 13 full discharge as paid that won't fall off until January 2021 (I can do some early expungements but that clock doesn't start until this July) and b) AMEX was involved in the Chapter 13 and only got 50 cents on the dollar (and they were owed a crooked digit five figure sum). Getting accepted back by them in Q1 for a charge card and a credit card without paying back and going through an Optima (spoiler: I was NEVER going to give them that other 50%, too many fish in the sea) was very much a
"I didn't expect that" experience.
There isn't actually much I can do here except pay the bills and demonstrate I'm doing a good job of managing CLs while the clock ticks down; to be very honest I'm pretty close to a set of cards I can live with long term.
I see. Sorry to hear 
. Hang in there.
Time is the ultimate healer for you I guess.
@Anonymous wrote:I see. Sorry to hear
Time is the ultimate healer for you I guess.
I came out in relatively good shape, honestly- at this point very little point in crying over spilt milk, just finish the job I started years ago. Thank you for the consideration.
FWIW, the math on those categories upthread ^^ is right (except AMEX Gold is "misc food stuff like Grubhub or Shake Shack" not Uber) but AMEX Gold is a terrible card if all you want is cashback unless you are doing a LOT of spend. The breakeven on AMEX Gold cashback over using a 2% no annual fee cashback card is $76, 397.78 for unbonused 1x spend (assuming you get NO value from the credits), $19,099 for the 4x categories (dining/groceries... p.s: grocery cashback 4x bonus is capped at 25k, it's 1x after that).
Given that no annual fee cards are out there that give 3x on travel/dining that translate to 3% cashback (which moves those breakevens even FARTHER away in spend), I would argue nobody (but the biggest ballers) should be getting AMEX charge cards for simple cashback (the exception being the AMEX Platinum cobrands with Morgan Stanley/Charles Schwab, but that's another $550 AF you need to account for in the math). AMEX MR is for playing the premium travel game (it's a fun game, but it is not a game for everyone- I completely respect those who have zero interest in it and just want $). If you want cashback, Chase, Wells Fargo, any number of credit unions, Bank of America, Citi, Fidelity... very long list of better options. Heck, even AMEX's own cashback cards are better than the charge cards. Granted, they aren't shiny metal cards that go "clunk".
@Anonymous wrote:Since I have the BCP for grocery spend, the gold doesn't get used in that category. So i only use it for dining, even still I would prefer the 6% CB as opposed to trying to convert 4X MR into redeemable cash. For me the Gold doesn't offer enough categories to get rid of 1- 2 other cards and maximize the MRs on it. And even if it did, we're still in the low coversion rate to cash so i wouldn't want an all in one for MR unless I was able to redeem for travel.
My only wish is that all these points and miles I'm sitting on do not get devalued during this whole ****storm. I was looking at a fairly nice vacation in May/June in Japan with almost no Airfare cost and a big siscoiunton lodging. All that went out the window when this happend.
Looking to the future and wondering when/if I ever will be able to go, and what kind of hassles it comes with in the aftermath.
Very sensible. I'm fine with MR/Hilton/other accumulation in loyalty programs right now because I have expensive tastes. 
