I’m Lovin’ Five Points per Dollar

August 6, 2012 - Rick

I’m constantly holding my breath carrying these prepaid cards. Earning five points per dollar is the best thing “since sliced bread”, but I’ve had two friends get their accounts closed down for unacceptable usage patterns.

I am of course talking about the INK Bold or Plus cards and buying prepaid re-loadable cards from Office Depot. Katy and I each got Amex prepaid cards and loaded the allowable $2,500 in July on each. We also got the NS (Netspend) prepaid card which has become my card of the day and I’m using it everyday for everyday purchases. I have only taken out $200 cash back at grocery stores three times and did one MO (money order) at Walmart for $800 after using the card for over a week. Howie got zapped doing an $800 Walmart MO the first week he was using the card and had his account closed.

I wrote about this several weeks ago when discussing my addictive behavior and would love to hear how others are doing with keeping the five points flowing?

Katy has a NS prepaid card we have yet to activate and I’ve got 2-$500 vanilla reloads in my pocket right now waiting to add them somewhere. If, or when, we get shut down by NS, we still have the option for MIO I guess, but I really want to use this thing to its full advantage and not lose any of my options with careless spending or withdrawals.

NOTE: I have not used the full name of the prepaid card so not as to peak the interest of the issuer. I’m sure we are being watched by Google Search or Notice of whatever they call that thing. No sense in bringing to much attention to it, yet I’d still love to hear how you are doing?

Deal of the Day

For today’s Deal of the Day American Airlines AAdvantage® has provided 2500 AAdvantage® miles for the best deals, fares, promotions, anything related to American Airlines, their Oneworld partners or AAdvantage ® partners. Add it to the comments section of this post or this afternoon’s Deal of the Day post (with your first name, last initial, and home airport) to be eligible to win.

Stephanie S.

Hmm.. How about 1500 Aadvantage miles for purchasing the new Bose QuietComfort acoustic noise-canceling headphones? Would be great for a long trip if you’re stuck in coach! Purchase through the link here:
https://www.boseaadvantagemiles.com/2012_QC_1500

Stephanie S., LAX
Guest

I know, how about the blogs stop talking about it, then the card issuers wouldn’t be seeing things like use ink bold to get 5% back on everything!
travellover202

Did Howie get all of his Chase accounts closed or just the ink bold?

http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/ Frugal Travel Guy

just his NS card; not Chase cards

Guest

stupid question, what is NS?

Steve Z.

When booking hotels on the Aadvantage website you need to log in AGAIN after choosing “Redeem Miles” in the Aadvantage drop down menu then choosing hotels/car rentals, now log in, and the mileage needed to redeem a hotel will drop considerably, Steve Z. SLC
Susan Cline

From a BA email this morning…
You can now use your Avios to upgrade bookings that have been made through your travel agent.

If you have the required number of Avios and there are seats available, you can upgrade your booking online at ba.com or by calling the Executive Club Service Centre.
You can now use your Avios to upgrade:
• Eligible bookings that have been made directly with British Airways for travel with our transatlantic joint business partners – American Airlines and IberiaIf you don’t have enough Avios to upgrade your entire journey, you can also upgrade part of your journey.Suzy C TVC
Kathryn I – OKC

DFW to TLV $460 total all taxes and fees flying on American to LHR then onto Tel Aviv on El Al. I found it on Expedia so you’ll get airline miles, per the Expedia website. I used November 7 and returning November 14.

Kathryn I – OKC
Johndoe

no idea what NS and MIO mean any hints?
Frank-o

I’ve been using that pre-paid AmEx anywhere that it’s accepted but have been trying to show restraint with pulling too much cash out.
Piecerate

I got the NS and was quickly shut down for using it with irrational exuberance. Now my wife has one and is trying to find the balance between utility and closure. I wish I knew the threshold beyond which you should not pass.
Michael D, DFW

Earn miles for dry cleaning. Every little bit helps.

https://secure.thanksagain.com/
Tracertoo

I still grab several hundred free miles a month with Opinion Place surveys. Best part, it keeps my miles from ever expiring.
Raymondlam8

http://www.fly.com/Deal/?Id=NYC080612&utm_source=tzoo&utm_medium=nf&utm_campaign=NYC080612&v=2
Raymond G.

Flights are loading on El Al by way of American Airlines for ~$350 round trip JFK to Tel Aviv anytime from this November to February!

Raymond G., JFK

Traveler

Johndoe
N like you are on now
S like you need to do to satisfy requirements for a new cc bonus

Ahmed Abdullah

Up To 30% Off And 20 Times The Miles With Budget

Simply rent a Budget vehicle for 2 or more consecutive days at participating airport locations in the U.S. and Canada and use coupon number MUAZ013. Plus, save up to 30% off your rental when you useBCD #U072421.

The longer you rent, the more you can earn!*
See the examples below:
http://lifesmack.tv/ Julie

Flights to Israel $337 RT
Guest

totally agree..won’t be long until these too get shutdown..ugg
gomike

Does Starwood AMEX track bonus on account opening or account closing?

http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/ Frugal Travel Guy

closing.

Tim

So just to be clear: people are having their NS prepaid card accounts closed because of unacceptable usage patterns, not their Ink Bold Cards, right?

http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/ Frugal Travel Guy

in this case; yes.

Oliver H. MIA

Alternative to the Avis AA deal.

You can earn up to 10000 AA miles with budget and save up to 30%.
Use coupon MUAZ013 and BCD U072421 at participating airports.
2 days gets you 2000 miles bonus, 5 days 5000 and 10 days 10000.

Not sure if targeted.

Oliver H. MIA
AADDff

LAX – Willemstad Curacao (CUR) $394/rt in early to mid-October on AA. Available on AA.com

Price is $1000+ on other carriers.
Ted F (ROC)

Deal of the Day!

“Plan your fall travel now to save up to 30% and earn up to 20 times the American Airlines AAdvantage® miles on your Budget car rental – up to 10,000 miles!

Simply rent a Budget vehicle for 2 or more consecutive days at
participating airport locations in the U.S. and Canada and use coupon
number MUAZ013. Plus, save up to 30% off your rental when you use
BCD #U072421.

This special car rental offer from Budget is available from August 6, 2012 until September 30, 2012.”

Link: https://www.budget.com/budgetWeb/html/en/partners/partners/aa20.html

Ted F, ROC
Guest

so much for posting in code…………..I guess this one won’t be lasting too much longer
Cory Zimmerman

Hi Rick -

Just a quck Q re: the increase of spg to 30K points for signup and min. spend…
Do you know if that will apply to people who are signing up through a referral link also – or only if they sign up on their own?
i.e., can I refer-a-friend (for my 5K points) AND have my friend get the 30K??

Thanks!

http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/ Frugal Travel Guy

should work through referrals as it’ll be a public offer.

Doshivk

You can earn 10k miles for a 10 day booking with budget rental cars
Thomasporay

What does MO mean?
Mark R / DFW

Deal of the day – A new offer from Budget gives 1000 miles per day, plus 30% off. Similar to the recent Budget/Avis bonus, but better in many ways.
- The old offer ends 8/31, this one good thru 9/30
- Old offer gave up to 5K for Avis, but only 3K for the often-cheaper Budget.
- New offer is a sliding scale, 2K for 2 days, 3K for 3 days, 4K for 4 days, 5K for 5 days.
https://www.budget.com/budgetWeb/html/en/partners/partners/aa20.html
Johndoe

still no clue what NS means…