points Archives - Your Mileage May Vary

Credit Card Review: Chase Ink Business Preferred

I’ve made no secret about the problems I had trying to convince Chase that I’m running an actual business. The reason I went through all of that trouble was so I would be able to get some of the awesome business credit cards that Chase offers. Having a business opens up a whole other world of sign up bonuses.

Now, I’m not going to tell you to sign up for a business credit card if you don’t have a business. That’s something I will not do for Your Mileage May Vary. However, if you have a side business that has expenses (and hopefully an income as well) you should be able to apply for a business card. Just be honest on the application.

Once I was able to get a business card from Chase, the first card I signed up for was the Ink Business Preferred. Here are the reasons why it was on the top of my list: Continue reading “Credit Card Review: Chase Ink Business Preferred”

I’ll Take Better Coverage Over More Points

For those who collect (and spend) points and miles, deciding which credit card to use when making a purchase is a straightforward process. For most, the card providing the largest return is the one you’ll use. There are some calculations to do considering how much each different point is worth to you but for the most part, the card with the biggest return wins.

If you’re thick into the weeds of maximizing return, you might know of a workaround to get even more points. You may be able to buy a gift card at Staples for 5x points or you might just pick up a discounted gift card on eBay to save 10%. Don’t forget to use a shopping portal for extra points.

For me, there’s one more thought that I need to consider; what card will give me the best insurance coverage for this purchase. It’s not a popular stance, but I’ll give up points for better coverage. Here’s some of the categories where coverage matters to me.

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IHG Brings Back The Rewards Club Points Sale

Buying IHG points can be a great way to get a discount on your vacation. With this current offer, you get a 100% bonus on points purchased for anything over 30,000 points. Points are being sold at 1 cent each, meaning the cost would be 0.5 cents each

I went over the math the last time IHG had one of these sales and showed the savings possible. I don’t like to recommend buying points when you have no use for them. However at this price and the number of hotels in the IHG family, you have to work hard to lose money at this price (but it is possible).

Points purchases are run through Points.com so you don’t get any bonus for hotel purchases with your credit cards. IHG also limits points purchases to 100,000 points a year (not including the bonus points). Here’s the LINK to the promotion. You can purchase points with this promotion from anytime after signing up until October 31, 2018.

Here are some examples of uses for IHG points.

Continue reading “IHG Brings Back The Rewards Club Points Sale”

What’s The Best Credit Card To Maximize Earnings For Gas Purchases?

If you spend a lot of money each month filling your car with gas, it makes sense to maximize your return on those expenses. Many credit cards offer bonuses on gas purchases. It’s a smart business choice because using a card for gas means that card will always be in your wallet or purse and you’re more likely to use that card for other purchases besides when you go to fill up the tank.

Which card is the BEST? It depends on what type of reward you want to earn (cash or points), if you want to pay an annual fee and if you want an all-around card or a card that’s just for gas purchases. This is one of the instances where Your Mileage May Vary. Here are some of the cards available, with above average return on gas purchases.

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All Miles/Points Are NOT Equal

When talking to people about miles and points, I’ve found explaining the concept of a point in one program is not worth the same as a point in another program is one of the most difficult things for people to understand. Using two hotel chains as an example, why are a Hyatt point and a Hilton point not equal? You have 1 mile/point in each program so they’re worth about the same, right? Wrong!

I’ve gone over the different types of points you can earn in a previous post. Now let’s talk about how even the same type of points can have very different values. Continue reading “All Miles/Points Are NOT Equal”