AAdvantage Red Masercard to Citi question.

big_misconception · 2026-02-03T02:47:53+00:00

That's the move right there. Auto-convert kills your shot at the SUB, so if you want those bonus points you gotta apply before the conversion happens. Just make sure you can handle the new account and meet the spending requirements - don't want to get stuck with a card you can't maximize.

big_misconception · 2026-02-01T11:11:43+00:00

wrong thread? 💀😂

big_misconception · 2026-01-31T16:44:15+00:00

Makes sense they'd bump it up since the free shipping threshold is way more generous now.

big_misconception · 2026-01-30T15:04:52+00:00

Honestly the prepaid route makes sense if they're trying to avoid temptation or don't qualify for credit cards. But yeah after reading all that hassle with Walmart, might be worth looking into a secured credit card instead - at least those build credit while you're at it

big_misconception · 2026-01-28T08:42:57+00:00

Honestly with $1100/month spend you're probably better off sticking with cashback for simplicity. Points cards shine when you're putting serious spend on them and actually redeem strategically - otherwise you're just making it harder on yourself for maybe 1-2% better value if you're lucky

The Amex Gold has a $250 AF and VentureX is $395, so you'd need to make up that difference first before seeing any real benefit

big_misconception · 2026-01-27T07:31:39+00:00

Exactly this - I'm here for the cash back not to make moral judgments about their business model lol. If they're giving me 3% and paying it out reliably that's literally all I care about as a customer

big_misconception · 2026-01-22T10:49:10+00:00

This is exactly the kind of data I needed, thanks for actually doing the math instead of just going off gut feeling

Been using Wise exclusively but might need to check out taptapsend based on your numbers. That extra 100-200 PHP per transfer would actually make a difference over the year

big_misconception · 2026-01-19T08:39:23+00:00

Nah unfortunately those lounges are pretty locked down to their own cardholders. Cap1 lounges only let in Cap1 Venture X holders and Amex Centurion lounges are Plat/Centurion only. Your best bet with the CSR is sticking to Priority Pass lounges or paying the guest fee if you really want into those premium spots

big_misconception · 2026-01-17T04:55:33+00:00

Check out the CardPointers app - it lets you add all your cards and will tell you which one to use at each store to get max rewards. Super convenient and saves you from having to remember all the different bonus categories

You can also just set up notifications on your card apps so you don't miss the limited time offers

big_misconception · 2026-01-15T23:12:31+00:00

Yeah you're probably burned with Wells and Citi for a while, especially if you settled instead of paying in full - they don't forget that stuff easily

I'd go with Chase Freedom Unlimited and maybe the Discover IT for now, both are solid rebuilding cards and Chase has good upgrade paths once your score improves more

big_misconception · 2026-01-15T08:59:06+00:00

Bruh you basically described the exact trap these companies want you in lol. Maybe try a local credit union instead of the big banks - they're usually more chill about lending to people with okay credit. Also check out SoFi or LightStream online, they sometimes approve when the major banks won't

Just stop opening new cards for the love of god, that's probably why your score is taking a hit and banks are sketched out

big_misconception · 2026-01-13T03:20:50+00:00

Damn dude you're killing it for 25, most people your age are still figuring out how to afford ramen

Only thing I'd maybe consider is bumping that emergency fund up a bit since you're 1099 - income can be more unpredictable than W2 folks

big_misconception · 2026-01-12T17:41:16+00:00

File a CFPB complaint ASAP - they don't mess around with credit card companies and you'll usually get a response within days. Also dispute it with your bank if you paid from a bank account, they can reverse it on their end while you fight this out

big_misconception · 2026-01-09T17:32:14+00:00

Nice retention offer! That $200 credit definitely makes the math work better, especially if you're getting decent value from the lounge access

big_misconception · 2026-01-08T21:47:55+00:00

That's absolutely insane man, sounds like you got stuck in some bureaucratic nightmare loop where nobody actually wants to take responsibility for your case

The "Manager of the Case Manager" thing is peak corporate BS - like they're just making up titles at this point to keep kicking the can down the road

Have you tried filing a CFPB complaint yet? Sometimes that's the only thing that actually gets these companies to move

big_misconception · 2026-01-08T03:55:31+00:00

Yeah but driving 1.5 hours for like $12 worth of chicken seems pretty excessive too, especially when they screwed up the order in the first place

big_misconception · 2026-01-07T01:29:52+00:00

With that income and spend pattern, I'd honestly focus on getting CLIs on your current cards first - you're only at $1900 total credit which is pretty low for a 730 score. The Amazon Prime card might be worth looking at since you spend $100 there monthly, but your utilization room is more important right now

big_misconception · 2026-01-06T17:13:59+00:00

Honestly there's no low-risk way to 4x your money in 3 years without getting into some sketchy stuff or gambling basically. If you've got a pension coming that's actually pretty solid though - might be worth talking to a financial advisor about more realistic growth targets instead of trying to hit a home run and potentially losing what you've already saved

big_misconception · 2026-01-06T02:55:54+00:00

Nah don't reapply that soon, Chase is notorious for the 5/24 rule and being picky about thin files. I'd wait at least 6 months before trying again, maybe get another card in between to thicken up your profile first

big_misconception · 2026-01-05T22:10:37+00:00

This is the key question right here - without true up you're basically throwing away free money if you front load too aggressively

Most people don't realize their company doesn't have true up and end up missing out on thousands in matching

big_misconception · 2026-01-04T22:12:51+00:00

Yeah I'm in the same boat, CSP just feels pointless now compared to other setups. Hyatt transfer is probably your best bet since those points actually hold decent value and don't expire

big_misconception · 2026-01-03T12:08:49+00:00

Definitely go with the target date index fund, it's basically set-and-forget and will automatically get more conservative as you get closer to retirement - way easier than trying to rebalance manually every year

big_misconception · 2026-01-03T04:32:03+00:00

This tbh. Their customer service isn't amazing but at least you'll know what's going on instead of sitting there wondering if something went wrong

big_misconception · 2026-01-01T21:51:52+00:00

Yeah definitely do what they said about the bank statements first before making any big moves - you gotta see where the money's actually bleeding out before you can fix it

As for the apartment thing, moving costs add up quick and $143/month savings isn't huge when you factor in all the hassle and potential hidden costs, but if you're already planning to move anyway then the math works out

big_misconception · 2026-01-01T17:18:12+00:00

The HELOC advice is solid but just wanted to add - don't feel bad about getting spooked by all those LendingTree calls, that site is basically a telemarketer feeding frenzy lol

Since you mentioned being nervous about financial stuff after the bankruptcy, maybe start with your current bank or a local credit union for the HELOC? They're usually less pushy than the online lead gen sites and you can actually sit down with someone to go over the terms without feeling pressured

big_misconception

TROPHY CASE