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@enharu wrote:
Well you can use your CSP as well. If I'm not wrong, I think you break even using a 1% card for GC purchases. UR points are worth more than 1ccp though if you use it the right way.
It really depends. Some people think it's not worth the risk of getting AA if you are just breaking even. Personally I find it too troublesome for what it's worth, but if you can spare the time and effort go for it.
AA?
I believe that I can use the BCP at a grocery store for four months, getting 3 $500 gift cards. This results in $360 back and $71 in activation fees. For next month, I can use my Freedom card at Kohls (or gas stations if they have cards) and get 5% back for one month (up to $1,500). After that I can use my BCP for four months at a department store and get 3% for buying the gift cards there. Then process all through Blue Bird.
AA = Adverse Action, your lender closing your card or reducing limits etc. At the rate you are thinking about, this is a very unlikely event.
But, per Enharu's point, remember the value of your time! You are trying to avoid only $20 a month, so it only makes sense if there is very little extra time and/or driving spent
@longtimelurker wrote:AA = Adverse Action, your lender closing your card or reducing limits etc. At the rate you are thinking about, this is a very unlikely event.
But, per Enharu's point, remember the value of your time! You are trying to avoid only $20 a month, so it only makes sense if there is very little extra time and/or driving spent
We figured out the numbers and it goes like this:
For four months out of the year we use BCP at a grocery store maxing out $6,000 just with gift cards at 3%. Ending up with a net of $289.00.
For one month this year I buy gift cards at Kohls on Freedom maxing out $1500 just with gift card. Ending up with a net of $57.
For four months out of the year I buy gift cards at Kohls on BCP maxing out $6,000 with gift cards at 3%. Ending up with a net of $109.
At the end of that I would have purchased $13.5k in gift cards, paid nine months of rent at $12,060 ($1340/month), and therefore end up with $1,440 unspent, which will take on another month of rent, equally 10 months. The additional $39 will be grocery store purchases, etc.
For the last two months we will pay the $20 convience fee to our CSP. Subtracting $40 from our net of $455 to $415.
I am afraid of getting AA'd then. This seems perfectly legal though.
@enharu wrote:
The 5% for freedom and discover applies mostly at pumps only. I forgot which card was it but one specifically mentions at the pump only. The convenience store inside the gas station are sometimes coded as a grocery or convenience or a store of some sort, so it does not fall under the 5% gas station category.
If you are already spending 500 a month on groceries, don't bother using bcp for gift cards. You will reach the cap anyhow without having to pay any activation fee. Use another card instead.
AA = adverse actions. Banks sometimes take adverse action, such as closing account(s) and/or blacklisting the customer, if they feel you have abused the card rewards program.
1-2 thousand worth of GC each month should be fine in most cases, but it also depends on how much you are using on those cards. If those GC purchases make up for the bulk of your charges, then the chances of you running into issues with the banks are higher. Theres no clear definition of how much in GC/VR purchases is considered as abuse as well, so its kinda a YMMV situation depending on your profile and also luck.
I would be losing money if I used my CSP with only 1:! points. Same with the Freedom. My only other card is the Hyatt, which I don't think that is worth it unless I found a way to spend ~$5k more in order to make $20k/year and get stays towards platinum (whatever that means).
@jenn_bar wrote:
@enharu wrote:
The 5% for freedom and discover applies mostly at pumps only. I forgot which card was it but one specifically mentions at the pump only. The convenience store inside the gas station are sometimes coded as a grocery or convenience or a store of some sort, so it does not fall under the 5% gas station category.
If you are already spending 500 a month on groceries, don't bother using bcp for gift cards. You will reach the cap anyhow without having to pay any activation fee. Use another card instead.
AA = adverse actions. Banks sometimes take adverse action, such as closing account(s) and/or blacklisting the customer, if they feel you have abused the card rewards program.
1-2 thousand worth of GC each month should be fine in most cases, but it also depends on how much you are using on those cards. If those GC purchases make up for the bulk of your charges, then the chances of you running into issues with the banks are higher. Theres no clear definition of how much in GC/VR purchases is considered as abuse as well, so its kinda a YMMV situation depending on your profile and also luck.I would be losing money if I used my CSP with only 1:! points. Same with the Freedom. My only other card is the Hyatt, which I don't think that is worth it unless I found a way to spend ~$5k more in order to make $20k/year and get stays towards platinum (whatever that means).
I don't htink you got enharu's point.
@parakleet wrote:
@jenn_bar wrote:
@enharu wrote:
The 5% for freedom and discover applies mostly at pumps only. I forgot which card was it but one specifically mentions at the pump only. The convenience store inside the gas station are sometimes coded as a grocery or convenience or a store of some sort, so it does not fall under the 5% gas station category.
If you are already spending 500 a month on groceries, don't bother using bcp for gift cards. You will reach the cap anyhow without having to pay any activation fee. Use another card instead.
AA = adverse actions. Banks sometimes take adverse action, such as closing account(s) and/or blacklisting the customer, if they feel you have abused the card rewards program.
1-2 thousand worth of GC each month should be fine in most cases, but it also depends on how much you are using on those cards. If those GC purchases make up for the bulk of your charges, then the chances of you running into issues with the banks are higher. Theres no clear definition of how much in GC/VR purchases is considered as abuse as well, so its kinda a YMMV situation depending on your profile and also luck.I would be losing money if I used my CSP with only 1:! points. Same with the Freedom. My only other card is the Hyatt, which I don't think that is worth it unless I found a way to spend ~$5k more in order to make $20k/year and get stays towards platinum (whatever that means).
I don't htink you got enharu's point.
Maybe not? I just would be then paying $240/year in convience charges if I used another card/did it another way. This way I am eliminating the convience charge and getting rewards in the process.
@jenn_bar wrote:I am afraid of getting AA'd then. This seems perfectly legal though.
For what you're doing, don't fret over AA.
At the amounts you're utilizing, all things being equal, no issuer is going to care or inquire. You're buying gift cards to pay rent to avoid paying the service fees while earning some rewards from your cards. Perfectly legal, legitimate and completely above board.
I'll only add another option. Remember the Amex Hilton? There's a no fee version with 50k sign-up bonus which ears 5X at supermarkets. You can use this when you've hit the $6k limit on your BCE or BCP.
Just for paying rent, you'll get a free night at any Hilton per year.
PS - I think Enharu's point is that with the right card, you can increase your rate of return on spending.
@jenn_bar wrote:
Did any of you happen to see that Chase is waiving the $5 shipping fee for their gift cards online right now because they're not available at branches?
Could i use these with bluebird?
HOWEVER I wouldn't get 6% so scrap that.
Where can you buy visa reloads on the chase website?