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I just paid my rent using my CSP before logging on here ha. Fortunately for me my apartment only has a $15 convenience fee per credit card transaction. Because of this what I did was that I paid for my last four months of my lease with the CSP at about $4500 and only paid the $15 convenience fee once. So I'll get 4500 UR points, and I also completed the initial spending needed for the 40,000 UR Bonus. May not be the best route for all though.
@Stralem wrote:Just reading about how you guys game the system is both inspiring and exhausting.
I'm quite the lazy SOB, so I just plunk down cash for rent. No muss, no fuss.
But of course, no rewards either.
I think I'll live.
Oh this is mild compared to some people. I don't think going to CVS is exhausting, it's basically on my way anywhere around where I live and I have an actual reason to pick something up (besides VR). I'm fortunate, I can pay rent for a $10 fee online with Visa or MC.
@B335is wrote:
@Stralem wrote:Just reading about how you guys game the system is both inspiring and exhausting.
I'm quite the lazy SOB, so I just plunk down cash for rent. No muss, no fuss.
But of course, no rewards either.
I think I'll live.
Oh this is mild compared to some people. I don't think going to CVS is exhausting, it's basically on my way anywhere around where I live and I have an actual reason to pick something up (besides VR). I'm fortunate, I can pay rent for a $10 fee online with Visa or MC.
Nice~ My place charges $56 fee if i want to charge it w/ my CC.
@Jlu wrote:The cheapest way I've found to turn credit into cash is as follows:
1. Go to squareup.com and get a free credit card reader that plugs into the mic jack on your phone.
2. Link your bank account to the Square account.
3. Charge your card rent + 2.75% (Square's flat rate merchant fee).
4. Collect 1 to 2% cash back from CC.
5. You now have rent money, no cash advance fees and no extra interest since CC thinks it's a point of sale purchase.
Not something you should get in the habit of doing but I'll admit to doing it once or twice when cash flow was especially tight.
Wouldn't recommend trying this with Square or Paypal. They may freeze your account and hold onto the money for quite a while. Secondly, your credit card company may close all your accounts, and potentially blacklisting you, if they ever detect this. This is a workaround for a cash advance, and credit card companies do not like this at all. To be fair most credit card companies don't even like it when customers take a cash advance.
If you need those funds to pay your bills and can't have them frozen indefinitely, then don't do it. Just stick to bluebird / vanilla reloads. They are generally much 'safer' compared to square.
@vayub4 wrote:
I am not sure you can purchase a money order with one Vanilla card...
You can at many Walmarts (and elsewhere) as it is just a debit card with a pin. In some areas, individual Walmarts (or individual cashiers) aren't allowing the use of gift cards as debit card for this, so not guaranteed. You can try it with a small amount (or else get the $500 and use it for purchases if you can't buy the money order).
Aside walmart, Any other place I can buy? Like cvs, walgreens or Kroger? I have a Walmart discover card but I hate their business methods. I would prefer doing business else where if I could..
Didn't Know Vanila cards come with pins. I thought you could only swipe them as credit cards at the register... I guess I need to try it!! I am not about to spend over 30k in rent for three years and not get some of that back in rewards!
@vayub4 wrote:Aside walmart, Any other place I can buy? Like cvs, walgreens or Kroger? I have a Walmart discover card but I hate their business methods. I would prefer doing business else where if I could..
Didn't Know Vanila cards come with pins. I thought you could only swipe them as credit cards at the register... I guess I need to try it!! I am not about to spend over 30k in rent for three years and not get some of that back in rewards!
Check the card you buy, most Vanilla you just set the pin on first use, some cards you set on line or call.
Re where else: just have to try. A lot of stores, like my local Stop & Shop, are cash only for money orders. I think people have had success at Kroger. Haven't tried CVS or Walgreens.
Interesting idea...
My BECU card is my first rewards card. I could pay my $1800 rent with it and then PIF whenever since they are also my local CU... will have to check with the property and see what the fees are. I pay through my checking account and when I choose the credit card option it says to call for the fee.... that can't be good. LOL
Honestly though... why bother. I mean, if I want to accumulate the 876,000 points necessary to get a nice 75" 1080p HDTV I would have to pay my rent online every month...
... for the next 41 years.