CSP + Freedom maximizing ?!

[Anonymous]

How do I reap the most benefits !? Considering freedom only offers 5% back on restaurants and CSP is unlimited 2% would I have to use the sapphire for everything and anything unless it's a freedom bonus cat spend ?! 

[hyprble]

I think CSP is only 2 pts in certain categories (hotels/travel, restaurants, etc).  I would use the Freedom for its bonus categories up to $1500, CSP for 2pt categories, then I use a CapOne Quicksilver for all others at 1.5pts.  For example when the restaurants 5% bonus quarter hits, I'll use my Freedom for restaurants up to $1500 then switch to my CSP.

[Anonymous]

I don't have 10 kids and I don't eat caviar for breakfast lunch and dinner so there is no way I Would reach 1.5k  in 3 months just eating out .... I got 23$ back on my freedom last year lol , haven't redeemed them , I've been using my discover it as my workhorse card lately , but now that I have 9 cards I just rotate them almost daily 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I don't have 10 kids and I don't eat caviar for breakfast lunch and dinner so there is no way I Would reach 1.5k  in 3 months just eating out .... I got 23$ back on my freedom last year lol , haven't redeemed them , I've been using my discover it as my workhorse card lately , but now that I have 9 cards I just rotate them almost daily 

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Yeah, it's fun thinking of new payment strategies for your plasticz. I'm sure you'll make the most of whatever cards you have dude.

[mikelo22]

The idea is just using the Freedom when it's 5x back and transfering those UR to the CSP. That's the real value. They make a fanastic duo since UR points can be valued at roughly 2cpp making the 5% cash back on the Freedom really a 10% CB. 

This is all assuming that you spend enough to justify the CSP annual fee though.

[kdm31091]

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@mikelo22 wrote:

The idea is just using the Freedom when it's 5x back and transfering those UR to the CSP. That's the real value. They make a fanastic duo since UR points can be valued at roughly 2cpp making the 5% cash back on the Freedom really a 10% CB. 

This is all assuming that you spend enough to justify the CSP annual fee though.

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+1. If you got $23 back from the Freedom last year, you likely do not spend enough in general to justify the CSP. Which isn't a bad thing -- I don't spend enough to justify it either.

You have to be honest with yourself and decide what is really beneficial to you. Not what's popular with other forum posters. Not what's good for free airfare to China. But what's good for you and what will actually suit your lifestyle. If you do not travel, CSP is not as helpful of a card to have. Even if you do travel, you still have to spend a decent amount to justify the fee or else it's just an expensive card that you don't need. For those who can maximize it, it's fantastic, but that doesn't mean it's gonna make sense for everyone.

[chalupaman]

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@Anonymous wrote:

How do I reap the most benefits !? Considering freedom only offers 5% back on restaurants and CSP is unlimited 2% would I have to use the sapphire for everything and anything unless it's a freedom bonus cat spend ?! 

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I think it's best for you to start doing more research on your own about these cards. I think you'd benefit a lot more going through the disclosures, terms, reward structures and such and making the most informed decision then.

[Anonymous]

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@kdm31091 wrote:

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@mikelo22 wrote:

The idea is just using the Freedom when it's 5x back and transfering those UR to the CSP. That's the real value. They make a fanastic duo since UR points can be valued at roughly 2cpp making the 5% cash back on the Freedom really a 10% CB. 

This is all assuming that you spend enough to justify the CSP annual fee though.

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+1. If you got $23 back from the Freedom last year, you likely do not spend enough in general to justify the CSP. Which isn't a bad thing -- I don't spend enough to justify it either.

You have to be honest with yourself and decide what is really beneficial to you. Not what's popular with other forum posters. Not what's good for free airfare to China. But what's good for you and what will actually suit your lifestyle. If you do not travel, CSP is not as helpful of a card to have. Even if you do travel, you still have to spend a decent amount to justify the fee or else it's just an expensive card that you don't need. For those who can maximize it, it's fantastic, but that doesn't mean it's gonna make sense for everyone.

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Right.   If you spend enough and tranfer (or at very list buy travel through the UR portal), after the first year the CSP is an expensive limited 2% card (as compared to say the free Citi DC).  Worth for the first year, with the bonus and no AF, but make sure spend is justifiried after that.