Use Kiva.org to Help with Minimum Spend Requirements, plus Free GoGo
Posted by Rick Tuesday, August 02, 2011, 8 Comments
As we struggle to find new ways to meet our minimum spends on new credit card sign-ups, “Bikeguy” may have come up with an answer that can help all of us and those less fortunate than us at the same time.
Kiva.org grants interest-free micro loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries. If you need to reach a minimum of $1000 on a given card, consider lending that much or part of your minimum spend to those in need through Kiva.org. Your money will be returned to you over time when the entrepreneur you help is able to repay it. You will receive no interest and there is some risk of non payment, although all of my Kiva loans have been repaid in full. Loans can be for as little as $25.
Kiva will accept your credit card to fund your personal lending account and the transaction will be treated as a purchase.
This method will not work if you need to repay your card with the same funds before the balance is due on your next card statement. I know some of you are in that position, but many of you could cover at least part of your required minimum spend this way, couldn’t you?
Both Flyertalk and Milepoint have Kiva lending teams you can join by targeting your loans to the team of your choice.
I hope you will check out Kiva.org and the respective threads on FT and MP. We can make a difference in the countries we visit and the lives of those struggling to improve their circumstances through their small businesses. Imagine the difference we could make if we turned just 10% of our minimum spend into Kiva loans.
Speaking of Lower Minimum Spends…
Rick,
Credit to “lowtek” on SlickDeals: New targeted offers for Chase Sapphire with promo code “GX1″ and an invitation number. I just received my card in the mail today when I signed up under the $3K/3 month promo for 50k. I called to activate and informed the rep that a friend received an offer today with the GX1 code that only required $750 spend in three months to get the 50k points. She sent a note to marketing to put this offer on my account and then activated my card with this new promo. She stated I would receive a snail-mail confirmation of this in 7-10 business days. So, if anyone has applied recently and not received the card, they should be able to activate it under this new promo with offer code GX1.
– Ryan L. (posting as: MrRedskin)
To All: Please report your successes in the comments section for others to see.
Free GoGo in August
Rick – from Slickdeals in case you have not seen:
Free GoGo in-flight wi-fi Internet for August with coupon on American Airlines, Delta, United, US Airways etc. Use code DIETCOKEGOGO . Valid during entire August 2011.
List of participating airlines http://www.gogoair.com/gogo/cms/airlines.do
Connect to GoGo in-flight. Buy a $12.95 or lower plan (usually the 24 hour pass). Enter DIETCOKEGOGO at checkout. Price: Free.
– Nick
Thanks, Nick, for saving everybody $12.95. You and Ryan are our Frugal Travel Guys of the Day.
New Starwood 30,000 Point Offer Here Limited Time Offer
My Next Credit Card Churn Moves Back to Citi Cards and Chase Priority Club
Posted by Rick Tuesday, May 10, 2011, 25 Comments
I’ve got two of them figured out and you may be surprised. I’m applying for the Citi Thank You Points Preferred Card and the Citi Forward Card. Why the swap?
Because I’m tired of being short on hotel points and stays for elite status. I’ll double my per-dollar-spent return for the first year. Hear me out.
You know I love my SPG card. It earns me points that I think are worth 2.5 cents each at a minimum and considerably more in a cash and points redemption in higher priced markets. I will continue to use it on non-bonus-spending categories. I will put away Katy’s Hilton Surpass card that earns six points (worth .6 cents each) on gas, groceries, and prescriptions in favor of:
1. The Citi Preferred Card, which earns five points (worth one penny each) at the grocery store, drugstore, and gas stations.
2. My new dining card will be the Citi Forward Card, which pays me five points (worth one penny each) for restaurants and other entertainment.
With $2000 in spend times five points per dollar, I will earn $100 Hyatt or Marriott gift cards that I can use on qualifying stays towards future elite status. It took $3000 to $4000 in spend to earn a reward stay with my SPG card. I stay at lower-end properties and can find stays in the $100 range that will qualify as stays for elite status and promotions for bonus points.
The bonus points are only issued for the first year on these two cards, then they fall back to one point per dollar no matter the category of spend. I do believe the MTVU Card offers five points per dollar on restaurants for more than one year, and I’ll switch to that a year down the road.
The sign-up bonuses are lousy at 6000 points for the Preferred card and 1000 points for the Forward card, but I need new cards to apply for. And the extra earnings per dollar will add up quickly in my categories. Note: Believe it or not Citi actually dropped the bonus on the Forward card???
Those will be my first two cards on my next churn scheduled for May 20th, one day after two (2) year-old inquiries fall off my credit report. Now to find a few more.
Chase Priority Club Visa for 60,000 Points NOT Targeted
I’ve been hunting for the invitation for months and find out now I don’t need it. It is available to everyone on the Priority Club website while you are shopping for a hotel:
Earn 60,000 Points!
Plus, get a Free Night every year, worldwide, and a 10% rebate on redemptions with the Priority Club® Select Visa®. Learn more.
Plus, get a Free Night every year, worldwide, and a 10% rebate on redemptions with the Priority Club® Select Visa®. Learn more.
I found this on the website Reservations Desk Page while attempting to book a night at the Savannah Airport. Just do a hotel search and when you have found the hotel you want, this should be above the room options. Maybe all you guys saw it before, but it is new to me and a card I plan on adding to my churn. Note: the application page it takes you to does indicate the 60K sign-up bonus and that the bonus is for first-time cardholders. The info is in the terms and conditions on the bottom of the page.
On a Speculative Note
I have nothing definite, can give no more info and don’t have any more info but get the feeling we will be playing a game of Chase the miles again soon. As Colonel Clink, or maybe it was the Sargent, used to say: “I know nothing” What was the name of that show? American prisoners of war in WWII camp?
Katybug’s Scores Amazed Me
I handle Katy’s applications, and try to mirror mine. She does not exactly match my apps but I assumed her scores were similar to mine. The girl has two 900+ scores on the VantageScore scale on Transunion and Equifax. Her Experian score is very close to mine in the 830s as most of our pulls come from Experian in South Carolina, but the 900+ numbers really floored me. We’ll be looking for more non Experian pulls for Katy in the very near future. She won’t be applying for the Citi Forward or Preferred card as we shop together and the sign- up bonuses hardly warrant the inquiries unless you are a heavy spender in the bonus categories. We only need one Thank You point account at this point.
25,000 Membership Rewards Points,$200 Airline Credit, and One Year Lounge Access.
