RECENT POSTS
  • Travel Rewards

    Double-Dipping the Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit

    NOTE: For applications after May 21, 2017, Chase has changed the date that the Reserve’s annual travel credit resets from each December to the first statement after your account anniversary. If you applied prior to May 21, 2017, the information in this post still applies. For those who applied more recently, please refer to the double-dipping information in this updated post. One of the most generous benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card is its $300 annual travel credit. Even better, during the first year you have the card, you can receive the full travel credit twice–that’s $600–while paying only one annual fee of $450. You will have more…

  • Credit Cards

    [Targeted] Extra 5000 MR Points for Adding User to Amex PRG

    If you are an American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card holder, check your email today. I received an offer of an extra 5000 Membership Rewards points for adding an additional card to my account. The additional card member needs to spend at least $500 within 3 months for you to qualify for the offer. There is no annual fee for up to 5 additional Premier Rewards Gold Cards on your account. You need to have the new card member’s social security number in order to do this. You can even add yourself if you want an additional card that has your name appear differently, such as first initial and last…

  • Amex Offers
    Credit Cards,  Offers

    Many New Amex Offers: Here’s a Run Down

    UPDATE: As expected, the maximum number of Card Members have already enrolled in #AmexDell offer. The others are still available to add to your card. A bunch of new Amex Offers have appeared over the last couple days-many are publicly available to add to your card(s) using twitter hashtags. Act fast to add the one’s you’re interested in, as these offers often sell out quickly. For newcomers to these deals, check out my primer: Amex Offers = Too Good To Miss Out!. I wrote about how to connect your American Express card to your social media account and how to add offers to your card via Twitter, Facebook, or your americanexpress.com account. Twitter is…

  • Credit Cards,  Offers

    Amex Shop Small Offer – 2x Rewards at Small Businesses

    American Express is once again offering incentives to their cardholders to spend at small businesses during the Shop Small promotion. This year, American Express Card Members can enroll their eligible American Express Card(s) and earn 2X rewards when they Shop Small for the entire holiday season–now through December 31. In past years, Amex has offered statement credits, but only on Small Business Saturday on Thanksgiving weekend. Last year, cardholders were disappointed when they didn’t offer any incentives at all. How it Works First, enroll your eligible American Express Personal or OPEN Small Business Card by going to amex.co/shopsmalloffer. A list of all eligible cards can be found here. Once you’re enrolled, all purchases at qualifying small businesses will earn…

  • Credit Cards,  Travel Rewards

    Transfer Points and Status Match Between Marriott and Starwood

    Marriott has completed its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, giving the combined company 30 hotel brands and over 5700 properties worldwide. Effective immediately, you can now match your highest level status and transfer points in either direction between the programs. The 3:1 ratio for transferring points is fair: 3 Marriott/Ritz Carlton Rewards points = 1 Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) point. The only limitations are a minimum of 1000 points and a maximum of all the points in your account. If you have a Marriott or Ritz Carlton account and an SPG account, you can link them together here. If you are not already a member of one or both of the programs,…

  • Credit Cards

    Results of my Chase Sapphire Reserve Application…

    Yesterday I wrote about the new premium Chase Sapphire Reserve card and all its benefits. I also wrote about how this card, like many other Chase credit cards, is subject to the Chase 5/24 approval rule. Regardless, I decided to apply today and my results are inconclusive, but doubtful. I’ve opened more than 5 new credit cards in the last 24 months, so I knew applying online via the Chase website would be just about futile. After reading countless data points of approvals and denials over the last 2 days, I knew my best hope of circumventing the rule was going into a branch to see if I happened to be pre-approved.…