I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[elgerber]

FINALLY got the 10K MR pay over time offer on my Biz Gold. I've been checking Biz Gold and Rose Gold for it every day (already had it on my Plat, Biz Plat and Biz Green). Yesterday I got an email for the Biz Gold with the 10K offer and enrolled. Rose Gold, I'm looking at you...

I also went ahead and SM'd Chase about the 50K bonus points for DH's SW Priority (my patience lasted only so long, lol). Got an SM back that the points have been earned and will show up on the next statement in Feb. That's fine in terms of our travel plans for CP and might mean DH will get some bonus points under the SW promo, but I think it is so strange that I already got the 2K points for the base spend, but the bonus will take longer. Especially because the bonus and base points for his SW Biz posted at the same time. I'm just glad to have the confirmation in writing the the 50K bonus points have been earned.

@Calfan have you seen the 10k credited yet?

 

[amalone1013]

Ok... here with go with our cars.

I'm on my third Camry in my 12th year of driving. That sounds so wrong, doesn't it? I got my mom's 98 Camry as a hand me down when I turned 16... would have drove that thing forever (white, leather, sunroof, spoiler, tinted windows... parents got it after it had been leased new by a dealership employee for 1-2yrs). I was home for the summer from college at 20 when I left the sunroof open over night, the only time I've ever done that in my life, and some kid

SET IT ON FIRE



Yeah. Still have pictures of that damage. It was awful, it was in such good shape and 150k miles. I still get upset when I see similar ones on the road.

Then I had a Pontiac Grand Am from the As-Is trade in row at the Honda dealer, to take back to school, for about a year. Poor car was junk, and someone hit it and busted the taillight while it was parked at my apartment.

Then I got a 2003 Camry we bought from my cousin... had that for a few years, it needed some minor work that my dad would not do (and wouldn't let DH do for stupid reasons... ) which turned into problems ignored that turned into major problems. I'd have to stop to add oil multiple times driving it back to NE. Originally I wanted to buy it off my dad, but after all that and some other drama going on, I went car shopping.

And now I have a 2016 Camry, sunroof, leather, heated seats. Pearl white. And I've never giving it up! But I might get the windows tinted

DH shared a 90s Ford Tbird with his brothers in high school, then had a Buick Park Avenue Electra (man he misses that car still ), an old Dodge Van, drove his mom's old Ford Taurus after his brother was done with it for a bit, then his dad's old 90s Ford Ranger for a bit, then a Ford Fusion, and now a Ford F150.

They're a Ford family.

Seriously, DH drove this creeper van in college and I still started dating him

And because it's on my mind now... RIP first Camry... I miss you

 

[schmass]

You can put in fake info, but I have read before that you don't need to. Apparently, as long as you have a resort ressie you can hop on whenever you want.

Good to know! So even if I put my real flight information arriving on May 3rd I'd be able to get on the ME May 4th?

 

[amalone1013]

I was working my first job when I had to buy my current car and I had juuuuust enough cash to purchase it outright without taking out a car loan. That meant no sunroof or heated seats for me. I've actually gotten by fine without the heated seats, but I REALLY miss the sunroof. Almost four years without it has made me realize that it will be worth it for me to spend the extra money to get a car that has one next time!

I love love love love a sunroof. DH doesn't get it at all. I open it all the time. Since it was in my first car which was my mom's handed down it had one, and I've somehow lucked out to always have one through all four cars I've had at this point. Honestly my current car was not the best move overall, but it's the one I'm paying off with Plastiq right now I should have picked up something used. But if I could control the universe, I would still have my mom's car.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Good to know! So even if I put my real flight information arriving on May 3rd I'd be able to get on the ME May 4th?

yes. you can call and tell them what you are doing if it gives you peace of mind. they can set it up over the phone. (866) 599-0951

 

[amalone1013]

NON-expedited...what are people seeing as the turnaround time for receiving a CIC card?

Instant approval on 1/3... It came while we were in Disney so 1/10-1/14

Best Buy via SB is up to 4% today

Woohoo, we're stopping there today anyways!

 

[schmass]

yes. you can call and tell them what you are doing if it gives you peace of mind. they can set it up over the phone. (866) 599-0951

Awesome, thanks! Even though I know it doesn't really matter if we're coming from the Hyatt or an early flight from ATL, I'd still feel shady putting fake information. I will give them a call!

 

[alryan]

Purchased two fee free $100 MCGC from Staples on 1/22, shipped today and went pending on RMN. I've always got the credit from those that went pending before so hopefully that is the case again.

 

[GZanta77]

I've heard much love for the heated steering wheels. Is NE - northeast or Nebraska?

.

Actually - I was thinking New England when I wrote that, but north-east works too. (After I posted I did think someone might read that as Nebraska but was too lazy to change it)

 

[havaneselover]

I really want a Mini Cooper. I guess that can be my retirement gift to myself in 5-6 years.

My sister is in her third. She loves her mini!

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Cruise people: we leave in 2 weeks from today. Oasis of the Sea. Just recently hit with the noro virus but not going to think about that! Two questions:
1. How much cash should I bring? 2 adults and 2 kids - they are 9&12. We don’t gamble, did the drink package onboard, not huge shoppers but will pick up a few small souvenirs
2. Tips for the kids? They are threatening not going to the kids club. At all. I was thinking card games like Uno to occupy them? Any other thoughts?

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

@amalone1013 not sure if it was an urban legend but growing up we were told to never get in a van that looked exactly like that except white and driven by a clown. Apparently they were kidnapping children all over town. I couldn’t get in that thing for that reason alone!!!

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I'm being a total ditz about my upcoming trip to Orlando. I leave in less than 2 weeks - haven't set up Magical Express, haven't bought Universal tickets yet, and apparently we never actually told my parents when we are going (important because we are only taking one kid - they need to be on to supervise my teen!) Fortunately my little one filled them in and they don't have any plans that interfere.

I did get Disney tix and set up fastpasses for DH and LO (no Disney parks for me on this trip), and set them up with a couple of dining reservations (the breakfast at Park Fare because we are staying at the GF, even though the characters for that one are kind of random) and Skipper Canteen for lunch (our favorite at MK, although I hear that Tony's doesn't suck as much anymore?)

Staying at RPR at Universal - we will be there for the first night of their Mardi Gras parade, which I'm hoping will mean we will have Harry Potter Land all to ourselves in the evening .

We are staying at RPR end of the trip. Presidents weekend. Rides are more open during parade? When does it start? Uni virgins here open to any suggestions.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Our next Christmas visit to Hawaii is coming together!

I booked 3 economy saver awards on UA this morning for 22.5k United miles + $5.60 per person, flying out of SFO on Christmas Eve. I don't even want to think about the cash price for these tickets over the holidays.

About a week and a half ago, I booked 7 nights at the Royal Hawaiian for 60k Marriott points a night, before peak pricing kicks in, for 360k Marriott points + resort fees total. Interestingly, the member rate here jumped up from $475/night when I booked to $802/night currently. We're also booked for 3 nights at Aulani to ring in the new year and finish off our trip.

Now I need return flights when they open up in a week or two.

Sounds amazing!!

We'll be there the 5-12, hoping it warms up a little too. Although anything will feel nice to us, next week we have three days with negative numbers for highs!

Nice!! All I’ve been hearing is how unseasonably hot disney has been and now it gets a cold snap. Same for us we are from Boston so anything will feel warm. We will just be in the parks 8-9 then go on our cruise. Staying Pop then Swan. What about you?

 

[Alexle2007]

Cruise people: we leave in 2 weeks from today. Oasis of the Sea. Just recently hit with the noro virus but not going to think about that! Two questions:
1. How much cash should I bring? 2 adults and 2 kids - they are 9&12. We don’t gamble, did the drink package onboard, not huge shoppers but will pick up a few small souvenirs
2. Tips for the kids? They are threatening not going to the kids club. At all. I was thinking card games like Uno to occupy them? Any other thoughts?

On the ship, we charging everything to the room. I do bring cash for room service tips, additional service tips (sometimes I do cash, sometimes I just put in the card), if you are getting off at any of the ports, you'll want some. I think we take $1000 at most since we just use our credit cards for everything.
2. There is some much to do on the ships, even if the kids don't go to the club. My DS really enjoyed playing ping pong. I can't imagine needing to bring your own games. We did make sure DS had Wi-Fi so he could still use his iPad to play games.

Enjoy! We loved her sister ship the Allure!

 

[amalone1013]

@amalone1013 not sure if it was an urban legend but growing up we were told to never get in a van that looked exactly like that except white and driven by a clown. Apparently they were kidnapping children all over town. I couldn’t get in that thing for that reason alone!!!

My roommate and I used to find it in the student parking lot during the day and decorate the windows.

 

[Eeyore2142]

Cruise people: we leave in 2 weeks from today. Oasis of the Sea. Just recently hit with the noro virus but not going to think about that! Two questions:
1. How much cash should I bring? 2 adults and 2 kids - they are 9&12. We don’t gamble, did the drink package onboard, not huge shoppers but will pick up a few small souvenirs
2. Tips for the kids? They are threatening not going to the kids club. At all. I was thinking card games like Uno to occupy them? Any other thoughts?

We did Oasis in October with our 8 and 12 year old boys.

1 - You won't need much cash - you charge everything on the ship. You may want some while on shore for tips.
2 - My boys went to the kids club once and then never again. They liked it, but didn't feel the need. There was so much to do otherwise. They loved the pool and the arcade and just wandering. My younger one loved the ice cream machine and the rock wall.

You will have a great time. My kids declared it the best vacation ever.

 

[wanderlust7]

DH drives an electric Fiat. He got it as his commuter car (free charging at work), but we take it everywhere. Family of 4 in a tiny little car. It makes for interesting shopping trips. He'll either remember oh that won't fit in the car, or we'll get carried away and be playing Tetris with the shopping.

He got it used at a great price. But I question if it really saves money if he didn't get rid of the minivan he was driving? We still need that for trips and moving big stuff. DD calls it the "vacation car" now, lol.

 

[wendow]

I am going to attempt to convert it/upgrade it at the same time. Was just reading up on it again last night. Hoping to get a new cat 6. Then could use at Swan/Dolphin or Maui...or most anywhere really.

If I can't upgrade it, I will have to decide between cancelling for the 75k points towards a 5 night stay somewhere I'd really like to stay (since 5th night free) or using it in chs for a week at a cat 4.

Are people having luck upgrading? Is CHS for Charleston?

 

[DrFacilier]

Planning to cancel both my SW cards. Bonus just posted on my Plus but no af yet. Do I need to wait for the AF to post before canceling?

Following this. P2’s Plus and Premier are coming up on the anniversary and I’m also wondering when to cancel.

NON-expedited...what are people seeing as the turnaround time for receiving a CIC card?

That's our next application, and while we are holding our mail while gone, I don't want the card to get into that stack in case anything weird happens. I was going to try to time my application to have the card arrive no earlier than 2/5 (of course I'm assuming I'll get auto-approved which likely won't happen)...

At any rate, thoughts on that turnaround time (from approval to card in hand)?

Don’t want to talk about it. I’ve been stuck at 2 weeks for almost 3 days! @PolyRob got me so excited when he posted that his got approved quickly and that same day someone else got a CIP auto approval. I am calling nonstop and it’s driving me mad! Seriously though, 2 weeks is a good place to be stuck right?