Right now I’m only using my Uber card (4% back on dining is insane) and my Discover IT.
Looking to add a travel card. CSR may be alittle too ballin for me. Contemplating the Citi Thank you Premier or looking at the new Marriott card since I stay there a bit.
What do you guys use?
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I love my CSR. The signup bonus (back when I got it) was insane and justified the annual fee for several years on its own. 3% on dining and travel is great, especially when you consider that they are tranfserable to most airlines and worth even more in the built in travel marketplace. If you travel, I think it’s the best choice (the free lounge access and annual travel credit is pretty decent too). It looks like Amex recently came out with a competitor to these (CSR and prestige), and it looks pretty solid too.
How much should one travel to make the CSR worth it?
I spend a ton on dining and I also spend a decent amount per month on commuting which accounts for their travel. I travel anywhere from 3-5x a year
Well, assuming you spend at least $300/yr to get the statement travel credit, then you only need to justify the effective annual fee of $150. By my math, if you assume you can redeem each point for $0.02 (which is usually my goal, sometimes closer to $0.015 though), it would require $2,500 of annual spending on 3x categories (travel, dining) to effectively make up your $150 fee. But that doesn’t take into account the 50k point bonus that is worth at least $750. Also, the lounges are in most international airport terminals (fewer on the domestic side), and drinks/food is free in them, so that’s just an added perk, especially when you consider 3 drinks in an airport would cost you at least $25. Tack on $100 every five years for TSA precheck, and it’s hard to lose money on the card. The risk is that points continue to decline in value, as airlines realize they’re losing too much money.
CSR is really the best value for a premium credit card right now. The 3x on dining and travel adds up quickly. The 300$ travel credit is very easy to get back, works on cabs, Uber, subway, flights etc... (much more flexible than Amex plat which is restricted to incidentals). So after this effectively the annual fee is 150, at that point you need to determine if you get the value from it. Personally I earn over $150 worth of points in a year (CSR is main card for spend). But I also enjoy perks like the concierge (dinner reservations in NYC) + lounge access etc...
If you combine it with the chase freedom you’ll be able to earn 5x on the rotating categories and combine points.. easy to rack up a ton of points.
You're better off having CSR or CSP along with Freedom Unlimited and 5% Cash back. You spend on the lower tier cards to collect points and then through the portal, log in under your CSR / CSP card when redeeming points you rack them up at a faster rate and then redeem them at a higher value / point as well.
I think your research is on point. I have CSR which basically pays out 4.5 points for dining and travel (31.5) and I use freedom unlimited for 2.25 (1.51.5) for all other purchases apart from bonus category for regular freedom (gas and lyft this quarter for 7.5 points). I would highly recommend jumping into the chase system and getting CSR or even a CSP. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think you get 1.5 times your points with a CSP as well. Are the other cards that you mentioned have comparable benefits? (Also don't forget about the sign up bonus points you get with CSR or CSP).
If you like to fly lowkey on a budget, the southwest airlines card by chase is a good deal. I also like the chase freedom unlimited - 1.5% back on everything which ultimately probably beats out extras on dining/travel mentioned above, depending on how you spend your $. Gas and groceries are my biggest credit card charges by far
Maybe you can look into AMEX Blue Cash Everyday. I used to use that all the time for grocery and gas before I got freedom by chase and Amazon prime card for whole foods.
super good looks, might have to get that right now! I do like my Chase cards though because all my stuffs in one place.
That's right. Other cards start to make little sense once you get the chase card series all the way up to Sapphire. I think the only card that makes sense at that point is the Amazon Prime card for the 5% cashback on all purchase on AMZN and WholeFoods. All hail Bezos.
you really buy that much stuff from amazon? idk I guess I'm more on the frugal side and don't buy anything I don't "need", which usually results in me spending
[quote="BBDreamin"] you really buy that much stuff from amazon? idk I guess I'm more on the frugal side and don't buy anything I don't "need", which usually results in me spending RX bars / Kind bars / Gatorade / GU, etc.)
The black card they send now is pretty cool. Its thick.
I probably save 20% on Amazon on the bars and whatnot. Maybe 30% vs Whole Foods, which is funny as it is the same company.
you MTB too? or just road bike?
Yeah I MTB too. I have two Treks (one road/tri bike, one mountain bike). My setup is pretty crappy on my mountain bike, but I love that bike as I have had it forever and I just beat it to the ground. I have taken that mountain bike to Europe and Asia and like trails or casual biking, but don't currently live near any good trails or mountain bike type stuff despite city biking/jumping, so mainly resort to road biking.
I had a hiatus on road biking for a while as I haven't done a triathlon in years, but I am training for the 5th avenue mile and busted my patella so have to bike instead of run until the race on 9/9 (I'd like to break 5min, but not sure at this point. PR is 5:18, I'd be cool with 5:15).
But, had an accident today on my road bike and it is in the shop for 2 days. I live in the south and some New Yorker had the audacity to step into the bike lane, without looking just turning and swiveling all nibbly bibbly on his cell phone and I couldn't tell which way he was going next and picked a side and he swiveled and picked that side too without seeing me, in my lane. I hit him going pretty fast and he largely deflected, but I had a bad crash that messed up my carbon fiber road bike (Trek Madone). Not the frame, thank God. Just some minor glitches hopefully. The back rim looked visibly bent and I told the dude he was paying for all the repairs for this bull shit right now and we walked right to the bike shop and he put his card down.
I basically buy everything I can from AMZN. I think most of the time its the cheapest option. Also, AMZN gives you opportunities to save such as 5% off from AMZN prime card and bonus from subscription (I think 5 or 10%... can't remember). Also I'm long AMZN so I feel good spending money there hah.
Also I second that the new black card is pretty cool and thick. Its as thick as my CSR. Feels nice when you hold it.
I am using the CSP. Once the free year is up instead of paying an annual fee I am going to downgrade it to a Freedom, which won't hurt my credit score because it won't show as a closed card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Citi Prestige Amex Starwood Preferred Guest
Anyone get the new Marriott Premier plus card?
costco
chase sapphire reserve
The uber card is fantastic. Love the dining bonus.
Probably will stick with it until I can get a Reserve or something similar.
Chase Sapphire Reserve. It's amazing, had a minor scratch on a rental car that Avis was trying to bill me $800ish for. Whole bill was covered by Chase, easily worth the high yearly fee.
My card has -2% cash back on EVERYTHING -no foreign transaction fees (on foreign purchases AND foreign ATMS (huge for me)) -rental car CDW insurance in both the US and internationally -luggage reimbursement
Best of all? no annual fees. zilch. nada.
Which card is this?
I'm betting its the Citi Double Cash card
Amex Platinum CSP Marriot Reward Premiere Plus IHG CSR (just closed a week ago) USAA
Looking into the Citi Prestige, either that or wait until another solid reward card with big sign-up bonus comes out. I churn through cards as they allow me to essentially travel the world for free.
Why did you close the CSR?
any thoughts on the Citi TY Premier?
CSR is probably the best overall card. I use that mainly. The Amex Platinum is awesome as well. Especially with their Amex offers. I use my Citi Prestige whenever I do 4 day trips.
BAML Premium Rewards Credit Card + Preferred Rewards Plat Honors tier for having assets at BofA and ML. 3.5% cash back on travel and dining, 2.6% cash back on every other purchase, all for a $95/year fee (also provides a $100 TSA credit and $100 airline incidentals credit).
BAML looks like they are really leaning in to compete with Chase on this one. If you have your assets in BAML then it really looks good. To earn the extra $200 fee on the CSR with a 2% cash back, you would need to spend $10,000 just to break even with the BAML card - but of course if you spent that getting 2.6% or 3.5% cash back then BAML would pull even farther ahead.
Chase Freedom/AmEx Blue Cash (for every day use - I cycle b/w the two depending on what the Freedom's 5% is that month)
AmEx Blue Sky (for larger purchase - it's actually a p shit card, but I've had it since I started working and my limit is super high)
Amazon Prime Visa (for Amazon, duh)
Is the CSP still worth it?
I think it is. First year free and if you spend enough (4k in 3 months) you get 50k pts which is about $625 in travel.
Though is CSR offers a free 1st year you should go with that as it is essentially the same but you'll get more travel perks.
Primarily use AMEX Platinum. Don't have any complaints. I really do think their customer service is among the best.
Capital One Savor card. $500 initial bonus, 4% on dining and entertainment, 2% on grocery stores. They even sent me a free cookbook in the mail with the card. Annual fee is $95 but waived for the first year, so you can always just churn it and downgrade. I'm hard pressed to find a better value card than this one at the moment.
now that's service
lol exactly
I churn credit cards so it's always something new. https://www.thesimpledollar.com/the-high-risk-high-reward-world-of-cred…
Discover IT for 5% off when categories are good. Chase Freedom for 5% when categories are good. US Bank Cash+ for 5% off Phone Bill, Internet, and Dining. I also use the Citi Double Cash if nothing else earns a better reward.
I do this exact same thing. Churning nonstop and Citi Double Cash as a back up. Great minds think alike!
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