Negative cost purchase

[Gone Fishing]

I wanted an anti-Mustachian treat off of Amazon and didn't want to pony up the cash so I cobbled together 2 credit card offers, a gift card offer, a mobile app bonus, and a product rebate to fund the purchase.  Net cost -$19. (remaining as gift card credit).  If I were truly badass I would have used the credits for necessities, but I think it's time to live a little!

[arebelspy]

Haha.  The tricks we play, for amusement.  Well done.  :)

[MasterStache]

Hilarious. Good work!

Reminds me of a short trip we decided to take over spring break to do some hiking with the kids. Don't really feel like dropping down the dough for a cabin rental so I opened a new CC with a cash back reward that will cover the cost of the cabin. My wife just rolled her eyes.

[ender]

I wanted an anti-Mustachian treat off of Amazon and didn't want to pony up the cash so I cobbled together 2 credit card offers, a gift card offer, a mobile app bonus, and a product rebate to fund the purchase.  Net cost -$19. (remaining as gift card credit).  If I were truly badass I would have used the credits for necessities, but I think it's time to live a little!

Amazon keeps tempting me with their $80 credit card offer...

[arebelspy]

I wanted an anti-Mustachian treat off of Amazon and didn't want to pony up the cash so I cobbled together 2 credit card offers, a gift card offer, a mobile app bonus, and a product rebate to fund the purchase.  Net cost -$19. (remaining as gift card credit).  If I were truly badass I would have used the credits for necessities, but I think it's time to live a little!

Amazon keeps tempting me with their $80 credit card offer...

Meh, you should be shooting for $500 if you're going to sign up for a CC.

[The Money Monk]

Meh, you should be shooting for $500 if you're going to sign up for a CC.

Why? I do any that give at least $100. No reason not too in my mind. Takes only a few minutes. My credit score is still like 780 or something, and the cards with lower signup bonuses also have lower spending requirements, and usually no annual fees so you don't have to close the card  (which can minorly affect your credit).

Don't get me wrong, I do the $500 ones too, but there just aren't that many of those, and they tend to come with big annual fees and $2k to $3K spending minimums to get the bonus.

[arebelspy]

Meh, you should be shooting for $500 if you're going to sign up for a CC.

Why? I do any that give at least $100. No reason not too in my mind. Takes only a few minutes. My credit score is still like 780 or something, and the cards with lower signup bonuses also have lower spending requirements, and usually no annual fees so you don't have to close the card  (which can minorly affect your credit).

Don't get me wrong, I do the $500 ones too, but there just aren't that many of those, and they tend to come with big annual fees and $2k to $3K spending minimums to get the bonus.

I mean, you get semi-maxed out (Chase has started not issuing new cards if you've gotten 5 in the last year from ANY cc company).. so better to use them for the good ones.

And if you're gonna be working to hit a minimum spend level, at least have it be for a worthwhile bonus.

We signed up for like 20 cards over the course of about 3 months to earn 1MM miles (or 500k miles, and 5k cash, if we desire).  If we wanted to sign up for 50 cards, or 100, I guess we could dip down to ones giving you $100, or 80... just doesn't seem worth it.  Your hourly rate goes way down too, when you drop from $500 to $100.

[Gone Fishing]

We signed up for like 20 cards over the course of about 3 months to earn 1MM miles (or 500k miles, and 5k cash, if we desire).  If we wanted to sign up for 50 cards, or 100, I guess we could dip down to ones giving you $100, or 80... just doesn't seem worth it.  Your hourly rate goes way down too, when you drop from $500 to $100.

How did you hit the spend requirements?

[arebelspy]

We signed up for like 20 cards over the course of about 3 months to earn 1MM miles (or 500k miles, and 5k cash, if we desire).  If we wanted to sign up for 50 cards, or 100, I guess we could dip down to ones giving you $100, or 80... just doesn't seem worth it.  Your hourly rate goes way down too, when you drop from $500 to $100.

How did you hit the spend requirements?

Manufactured spending.  IIRC, we had to spend something like 70k in 3 months (when we normally spend--as an annual budget--about 20k, and most of that can't be put on a credit card.  Even not counting that fact, over 3 years spending in 3 months.)  It was actually easier than you'd think, though outdated now.

[Rosy]

Sweet:) on the negative cost purchase.

Wow - 20 cards ARS, that's formidable:)

The $200 to $300 offers can be sweet too and are easier to complete. I haven't done a $100 one yet, could have at my credit union, but since I actually intend to keep my card with them I chose to go with the card that offered the best interest rate instead of the 100 bucks and the rewards. In the long run, that was the smarter choice for me.

But, I'm so looking forward to opening a Chase bank account for a $300 bonus and closing that sucker down the line. I am not interested in a relationship with them - only their bonus money for a cc and bank account. I'm sure they feel equally as warm and fuzzy about me:) 

[The Money Monk]

I mean, you get semi-maxed out (Chase has started not issuing new cards if you've gotten 5 in the last year from ANY cc company).. so better to use them for the good ones.

And if you're gonna be working to hit a minimum spend level, at least have it be for a worthwhile bonus.

We signed up for like 20 cards over the course of about 3 months to earn 1MM miles (or 500k miles, and 5k cash, if we desire).  If we wanted to sign up for 50 cards, or 100, I guess we could dip down to ones giving you $100, or 80... just doesn't seem worth it.  Your hourly rate goes way down too, when you drop from $500 to $100.

Wasn't aware of that about Chase, Good to know. I am also not super serious with the manufactured spending yet either, so the lower spending requirements are good for me. And yes the hourly rate is lower, but it doesn't take me even an hour total time per card, so still well worth it for me.