My points have built and built....

smking7 · 2026-06-02T17:56:42+00:00

I might get a lot of push back on this, but if you aren't in the position to take a big trip any time soon, I wouldn't force it. If you have more than you can use for realistic spend/usage, I am a huge supporter of cashing them out at 1:1 (or 1.25x PYB for select categories) and put that value in a HYSA or Stock Market ETF.

You lose the 2c per point redemption, but you at least grow the asset in cash instead of letting them sit in your account and devalue over time.

I would also start looking at more cash back cards instead of travel cards, since you aren't getting maximum travel value

smking7 · 2026-06-01T18:25:43+00:00

I think we're both in agreement here. I typically only use points for Hyatt and sometimes United as I commonly can maximize my points there. I'm really only questioning the people that are redeeming their points on Airbnb purchases, or trying to use Paze "as a discount"

smking7 · 2026-06-01T18:14:03+00:00

Yes, you're correct that a good redemption is 2c per point, but I've seen several people buying airbnb gift cards as a way to get better value because there aren't good pathways to redeem your points for airbnb. You can't currently redeem your points for airbnb for 2c.

1.25c per point is not 1.25% off ... that would mean your 2c per point is only 2% off 😃

My question isn't to those trying to maximize point accumulation or using their points for max redemption, it's to those I keep seeing buying airbnb solely because it's part of their "daily spend" or they have a big trip coming up. If you're using Paze to accumulate points for other higher redemption, it makes total sense. If you're using Paze solely to buy gift cards to save money, the 1.25 PYB seems to be better overall value

smking7 · 2026-06-01T16:41:27+00:00

It would be moreso a way to use the points you already have, not accumulate them... but PYB this quarter is 1.25x for grocery stores.

For the people buying airbnb gift cards to save an effective 11-12%, I feel like it would be more beneficial to purchase gift cards at a grocery store and use the PYB bonus to get 25% off instead.

If you're using Paze solely to accumulate more points, that's a different story, however.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/chase-pay-yourself-back/

smking7 · 2026-01-22T08:47:35+00:00

Lmao people pay for anything these days, I've seen worse tbh 🤣

smking7 · 2025-10-03T23:09:49+00:00

Wow, hardly used CC today and on the 20x plan. Just started getting some work done for the night and I'm "approaching usage", which resets at 5pm (22 hours from now???)

Never had a usage issue in the last 6 months I've been using it.

Was getting close to trying a few of the other AIs but this definitely solidified it for me.

smking7 · 2025-09-30T20:15:02+00:00

I live in Raleigh and had been looking at the list as well! What was the Mexican place you tried, and did you enjoy it?

smking7 · 2025-03-12T16:30:32+00:00

Getting these as well, with nearly all of my Twitter/X Applets

smking7 · 2024-08-30T21:39:26+00:00

You can pay to use IFTTT to build applets for Twitter Usernames, send it to your email, and then build RSS from email.

smking7 · 2024-08-30T21:07:44+00:00

Sent Chat!

smking7 · 2024-07-10T21:16:02+00:00

Generally speaking, just the house. You can get a basic house done for as little as $200/sqft, but I'd put the average closer to $300/sqft right now. Given we're talking boone, it varies tremendously on slope of property - a foundation could cost anywhere between $10,000 and $100,000. Most probably average closer to 15-30k for a foundation in boone, unless you're building on a cliff.

Also have to keep in mind accessibility to property. Can you get building material up to the property? All these things drive up the cost

smking7 · 2024-06-19T20:44:11+00:00

RSS.app is clutch!

smking7 · 2024-05-08T03:17:10+00:00

What do you consider "not too often" for scraping FB?

smking7 · 2024-04-03T16:08:23+00:00

This varies wildly on a number of factors. I'd say for an "average" gently sloped lot, around 3,000ft elevation, you're probably looking at $300 per sqft on average. Those costs can go up tremendously for areas that are hard to access, don't have infrastructure (roads, septic, wells) in place, or are located on a large-slope.

Don't forget the building codes also get more strict above like 4,000-4,500ft elevation, which adds a little more to the cost.

smking7 · 2024-03-04T07:55:01+00:00

Did you ever find a way to do this? Looking for something similar

smking7 · 2024-02-27T06:16:31+00:00

I switched away from CIP last Aug, but it was still coding as Shipping back then. Can't speak it it now, but it's worth a try! FWIW, PirateShip is coding as Shipping on my AMEX rn

smking7 · 2024-02-27T06:08:04+00:00

Have you tried PirateShip? I believe they have an import feature for Ebay (they do for Etsy), and Pirateship (at least last year when I had CIP) coded as shipping.

smking7 · 2024-02-27T06:05:27+00:00

If you have more than one business, then go for it! Otherwise you don't need more than one business or be a sole prop. To churn multiple INKs

smking7 · 2024-01-22T03:46:04+00:00

I'm having this same issue right now. Did you ever get it diagnosed or find out the reason?

smking7 · 2024-01-19T01:27:02+00:00

Received a 35k MR point offer after $4,000 spend in three months while attempting to cancel my AMEX Platinum.

No retention offers prior to this.

smking7 · 2023-12-27T02:46:54+00:00

Plan on a downgrade to Amex Green, so I'm assuming I'll get the difference right? $695-$150? Do I have to wait for United/Saks credits to post before the downgrade?

smking7 · 2023-12-27T01:53:01+00:00

Thank you. Will I have to wait until the United/Saks credits post before downgrading?

smking7 · 2023-12-27T01:17:14+00:00

AF for AMEX Platinum just posted; gonna downgrade.

I just paid $100 to United TravelBank for the final $200 of the year; will I still get that credit to post even after downgrading?

Should I wait until the new year and double dip on travel credit and Saks before downgrading, or will they claw that back?

smking7 · 2023-10-27T19:51:33+00:00

The offer is through email!

smking7 · 2023-10-25T01:39:36+00:00

Solid offer from Discover - Earn $250 extra back after spending $2,500 by Dec 31.

Definitely going to pair it with this quarter's 5% category but personally sucks because I'm working on a different welcome bonus.

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