I love credit cards so much!

[mom2elal]

Our 2019 travel plans:
Spending the beginning of the year at DLR
January anniversary trip with dh, hopefully using free Hilton nights (if not, some other points currency)
Spring break camping in Death Valley
June--two weeks at WDW
August--Socal to visit family
We'll have some weekend trips sprinkled in for college visits, which we'll hopefully use points for
The rest of the year is up in the air because I'm probably going to be applying for full-time jobs starting this summer, and that's going to be a huge change that will cramp my traveling style.

Churning goals for me are kind of up in the air right now also, because I've been denied a few cards in the last few months, which is weirding me out and has me questioning whether I've hit some sort of wall where I need to take a break. I'll probably continue to get dh a new card every 3 or 4 months.

 

[StephPlum]

Any suggestions for National Parks in the Midwest (weekend drive from Chicago)? DS is a 4th grader so we have free admission until end of August.

I was going to suggest Pictured Rocks in UP Michigan but that is probably not a weekend drive. No admission fee either.

 

[platamama]

@SouthFayetteFan I'll throw another idea out there. Cash in your MRs for a Home Depot gc like you mentioned before. Go to Hotels .com to exchange your HD gc for one of theirs. I'm seeing you would get $92.64 in exchange for a $100 HD gc.* Book Grand Floridian through Hotels .com and get the room and dates you stated before for $1510.59 (with coupon code JOLLY, expires today). This gets you closer to .9cpp which is incrementally better than the .7cpp you'd get by redeeming for a Hotels .com gc directly from Amex with your MRs.

*I've never done this before, but see that it's possible on their website. Looks like funds might not be immediate, so that's not great given that the coupon code expires today. Are you aiming for as close to 1cpp as possible for your MRs at this point because of DW's popup?

ETA: Use of a coupon code keeps you from earning nights and cash back from portals, so there's more to the big picture here depending on cash back rates and if you would like to earn nights with their program.

 

[GPC0321]

Whew. That was a lot of reading.

I'm small-time compared to you guys, both in traveling and churning, but here are my 2019 goals:

1. Only vacation is WDW in June. Flights, resort, and park tickets are paid in full, and I have about $160 or so between an old Disney gift card and a Disney Dollar redemption card.
2. Plan to maximize cash back to be used to offset remaining spending/dining expenses when down at Disney
3. Just (like an hour ago) got approved for a Discover It Miles. It'll be the main card throughout 2019 to get the cashback match, essentially 3% on everything.
4. Use original Discover It for 5% categories
5. PC CFU to CF and use it for 5X categories
6. Move all URs earned on CF to CSP and transfer to SW as needed to keep RR account open

2019 is a year for paying down debt (mortgage is paid off in September) and saving for some substantial home/farm improvement projects. It's also a time to continue focusing on my health. 2018 featured an unexpected major surgery and cancer diagnosis (though thankfully a very curable one caught early), and that kind of thing tends to change one's perspective a bit.

Happy churning, DISers!

ETA: I figure on $600 back with the cashback match on the Disco Miles card. Did some quick math last night to figure out the total cost of the "extras" (Hoop Dee Doo, Crystal Palace breakfast, Star Wars dessert party) that I want to book for the trip. Including all tax and tip...$599. It's meant to be. Thanks, credit card!

 

[afan]

I was going to suggest Pictured Rocks in UP Michigan but that is probably not a weekend drive. No admission fee either.

They are pretty, we did a boat tour to see them. But the UP isn't a weekend trip from most of MI nevermind IL. My grandma lived in Kalamazoo and my aunt and uncle in Gladstone in the UP so closer to the bridge than the painted rocks I think and it was a 6 to 8 hour drive to their house.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

@SouthFayetteFan I'll throw another idea out there. Cash in your MRs for a Home Depot gc like you mentioned before. Go to Hotels .com to exchange your HD gc for one of theirs. I'm seeing you would get $92.64 in exchange for a $100 HD gc.* Book Grand Floridian through Hotels .com and get the room and dates you stated before for $1510.59 (with coupon code JOLLY, expires today). This gets you closer to .9cpp which is incrementally better than the .7cpp you'd get by redeeming for a Hotels .com gc directly from Amex with your MRs.

*I've never done this before, but see that it's possible on their website. Looks like funds might not be immediate, so that's not great given that the coupon code expires today. Are you aiming for as close to 1cpp as possible for your MRs at this point because of DW's popup?

ETA: Use of a coupon code keeps you from earning nights and cash back from portals, so there's more to the big picture here depending on cash back rates and if you would like to earn nights with their program.

Hey - neat idea. I’m not looking for this trip. Just more hypothetically for future trips.

 

[tink1970]

2019 trips (vastly more interesting than my credit card goals):

March-Brussels/SFO
Flying to BRU on DL (skypennies) and returning to SFO on United (Miles Plus primarily through MPX app/portal/URs)
back home on DL ($)

June-DD's grad trip
Flying to BUD (miles), ABD river cruise (Disney gc), Prague ($/Hilton points), Krakow ($), home (miles)

Oct- ABD podcast to London/Paris/DLP
ABD (gc)
flight to London on DL (miles) and back (DH) DL (miles), me on Aer Lingus (mies) via Dub (hotels.com gc) and MCO (Hyatt points via UR)

Interesting fact-on the June trip I'll be flying American, Air France, Austrian Air, Czech Air, Delta, KLM, Lufthansa, and United. The confirmation number list is long

In October, I'll be flying DL, Aer Lingus, Swiss and either Silver/AA/DL. I'm really trying to become a "free agent" in terms of airlines.

 

[mamathompson]

Whew, took me an hour to catch up this morning after taking a few days away. Exciting to see we are not the only ones planning an Italy trip in 2020!
We are meeting MSR incredibly quick (Christmas, vacation, and five kids will do that) DH has opened 3 new cards since September. His credit score dropped 40 points. I was expecting a dip for a while but not expecting that much. Is this a normal amount for a new churner? Any idea how long it will stay down? We don't carry a balance or have any other debts. I guess I am leery of applying him for another card even though we really could use another MSR already.

 

[spacerangerqueen]

My 2019 travel plans so far are:

January- last minute cruise on The Dream. Paid a chunk of it with discounted gift cards and need to aquire some more for onboard charges.

March - girls weekend to NYC to see the Sailor Moon Musical. Used jetblue points for flights and right now Hilton for hotel, but still looking at options. My friend said I don't owe her for show tix since I am covering hotel so very cheap trip!

April - thinking about a Royal Caribbean cruise for just DH and I for his birthday. Will hopefully use UR for that and we are in Orlando so if we can use BIL for transport we won't have any other major costs.

Summer- Hoping for an Alaskan cruise, but might delay a year since we jumped on the January cruise.

Cards for 2019:

I plan to downgrade my CSP to a CF next month when fee is due.
I have held off on meeting my MSR on my SW Priority just in case I decide I do want a CP.
I want the Amex Gold.
I am going to try and convince DH to get a CSR before we redeem for a cruise.
On the chopping block most likely are Hilton Biz and CIP when AF are due.
Other than that going to have to see what cards catch my eye.

 

[speedyfishy]

2019 trips

March: Disneyworld staying at Coronado Springs. We are going to be in Florida for a friends wedding so we will take a week but do most of the time at Disney.

June: Disneyworld again for SOs birthday

December: wedding trip. We will spend at week at world. I’m thinking of doing another week after somewhere for a honeymoon.

Maybe labor day and Fourth of July we will do something new.

 

[Andysol]

2019 goals:
2. On anniversaries cancel cards I don't need - CIP, Hilton Biz, Barclays
3. New signups - probably CIU for DH. Not sure I can convince DH of any personal cards.

Several things here, just because I haven't been around on this thread, but want to make sure you get the best things:

1) Downgrade the CIP to a CIC or CIU instead of cancelling it.
2) Does DH have a CIP yet? If not- refer him to that vs a CIU. Additionally, you can get a 2nd CIP if you use an EIN number vs a SSN. That said- make sure to make a referral link to your CIP if you end up downgrading it. It still works, even with the downgrade.

Whew, took me an hour to catch up this morning after taking a few days away. Exciting to see we are not the only ones planning an Italy trip in 2020!
We are meeting MSR incredibly quick (Christmas, vacation, and five kids will do that) DH has opened 3 new cards since September. His credit score dropped 40 points. I was expecting a dip for a while but not expecting that much. Is this a normal amount for a new churner? Any idea how long it will stay down? We don't carry a balance or have any other debts. I guess I am leery of applying him for another card even though we really could use another MSR already.

You're fine- it'll recover without issue.

Mark me down as another person going to Italy with the family in 2020. Actually doing a 5+ week long RTW trip to England, France, Italy, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Taiwan.
I use Adventures by Disney to help with itineraries for my family. Going to be doing this Italy one, for the italy leg, for example. https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/europe/italy-vacations/

 

[wanderlust7]

Whew, took me an hour to catch up this morning after taking a few days away. Exciting to see we are not the only ones planning an Italy trip in 2020!
We are meeting MSR incredibly quick (Christmas, vacation, and five kids will do that) DH has opened 3 new cards since September. His credit score dropped 40 points. I was expecting a dip for a while but not expecting that much. Is this a normal amount for a new churner? Any idea how long it will stay down? We don't carry a balance or have any other debts. I guess I am leery of applying him for another card even though we really could use another MSR already.

Are they all personal cards? If his other cards are not that old, that would bring down his average age of credit. Also, if you had all the MSR on the cards and if wasn't paid yet, that would affect utilization. Once it's paid, utilization will go down, and hopefully score will go up. At least I think that's how it all works. I started in September too. Credit Karma (for Transunion and Equifax) and a free Experian account will have more details.

 

[Mopedmom1]

My 2019 Churning Goals:

1. Maximize UR for a Panama Canal Cruise 2020 or 2021 and acquire hotel points and stays for NBA trips
   
2. Downgrade BCP to BCE 01/03 - not buying gc's for Disney so won't come close to recouping the $95 AF, and crummy AMEX offers don't come close to making up the difference
3. Meet spend on SW Priority opened 12/03; Apply for SW BIZ @4/24, meet spend and acquire CP
4. PC DH's CIP to CIC before 2/17 renewal date
5. Go on Cruise/New Mexico vacation 90% paid with points and cashback
6. App DH for a new card @2/24 for upcoming insurance premiums (thinking SPG BIZ to coincide with mine opened 03/27/18 and a CFU)
   
7. Figure out what to do with DH CSR before 05/05 ~ PC to a CF or close? (He has quickly become a metal card princess and cried a little when I told him it was going away)

This takes us to about mid year, at which time I will eagerly await the upcoming NBA schedule to figure out our fall/winter mini-vacations, and reevaluate our cc goals.

 

[mamathompson]

Are they all personal cards? If his other cards are not that old, that would bring down his average age of credit. Also, if you had all the MSR on the cards and if wasn't paid yet, that would affect utilization. Once it's paid, utilization will go down, and hopefully score will go up. At least I think that's how it all works. I started in September too. Credit Karma (for Transunion and Equifax) and a free Experian account will have more details.

They were all personal. He pays them off weekly so they never did show a high balance. Maybe it does have to do with length of credit.

 

[amalone1013]

2019:
Jan: weekend Orlando trip for DHs Christmas gift concert plus Uni/WDW
June: family cruise trip
Dec: Orlando to stalk @speedyfishy...

 

[Andysol]

Figure out what to do with DH CSR before 05/05 ~ PC to a CF or close? (He has quickly become a metal card princess and cried a little when I told him it was going away)

Just PC and let DH keep using the CSR metal card. It’s the same number and still usable, just with a different expiration date. Win-win.

 

[Haley R]

I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t been able to post much on here.

2019 trips:

January-College basketball game (with my parents), Harry Potter live in concert (Dh and I)

February-Hoping to take a week or so at gulf shores while my parents are spending the whole month there

May/June-Japan!! I wish we were able to spend a little bit longer in LA to do DL but I don’t think Dh can take that much work off

Other than those trips I’m not sure if we will be traveling a whole lot. It’ll probably have to be all weekend trips if we do go anywhere since Dh will be using most of his vacation for Japan.

2019 churning:

I haven’t thought too hard on this yet but I know for sure some of our cards will be product changed to cards with no AF. I’m not sure if we will be getting any more cards next year or not. Our churning was mainly just for Japan so after that I’ll have to just see what our plans are and if we’ll need more bonuses/points.

 

[StephPlum]

Downgrade the CIP to a CIC or CIU instead of cancelling it.
2) Does DH have a CIP yet? If not- refer him to that vs a CIU. Additionally, you can get a 2nd CIP if you use an EIN number vs a SSN. That said- make sure to
make a referral link to your CIP if you end up downgrading it. It still works, even with the downgrade.

Here are our Chase cards:
me: CIP, CIC, SW Biz, CSR, CF
DH: CIP (my referral), CIC
I see the CIC as a long term keeper for office store and cable/phone/internet 5X. Instead of PCing to CIUs, I want DH to apply for CIU and after I cancel my CIP, I'll probably apply for a CIU. If I don't get the bonus, no need to get a CIU. I don't need a CIP for transfers since I have the CSR.
No EIN here as we have "businesses"

PC DH's CIP to CIC before 2/17 renewal date

If it were me, apply for the CIC before PCing. You'll get the 50K bonus vs PC and no bonus. If you are denied, then you can always PC later. Both DH and I have a CIP and a CIC with "businesses".

 

[Andysol]

I guess I’ll play too. No WDW this year (just finished last trip 2 weeks ago). Actually not going back to WDW until late 2020. Avoiding the Star Wars crowds like the plague.

For 2019, All of these with the entire family unless mentioned otherwise

• January: Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta
  
  
• February: Phoenix/Sedona
  
  
• March: Costa Rica
  
  
• April: Tampa and Los Cabos Hyatt Ziva (Both just wife and I)
  
  
• May: Austin (Me w/ friends)
  
  
• June: Hawaii and Japan (Kyoto/Tokyo) when will you be there @Haley R ?
  
  
• July: Boston over the 4th of July
  
  
• August: Banff
  
  
• September: New York City (Mother/Daughter Trip)
  
  
• October: Brazil (Guy’s Trip)
  
  
• December: Not booked yet, but Barbados
  

 

[Andysol]

Here are our Chase cards:
me: CIP, CIC, SW Biz, CSR, CF
DH: CIP (my referral), CIC
I see the CIC as a long term keeper for office store and cable/phone/internet 5X. Instead of PCing to CIUs, I want DH to apply for CIU and after I cancel my CIP, I'll probably apply for a CIU. If I don't get the bonus, no need to get a CIU. I don't need a CIP for transfers since I have the CSR.
No EIN here as we have "businesses"


If it were me, apply for the CIC before PCing. You'll get the 50K bonus vs PC and no bonus. If you are denied, then you can always PC later. Both DH and I have a CIP and a CIC with "businesses".

You can still get an EIN even with a “business”. It’s free, easy, instant and no tax implications. Get one for each of you and go that route.
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-to-apply-for-an-ein