With US Bank introducing 5% cashback in the Book Stores category on the Cash+ card, this could be a very lucrative opportunity to pay for all of my point earning expenditures when I buy American Express Campus Edition cards or loads. Each load of $500 would net met at least $25.20 cash back ($504.95 buying a new Campus Edition card, $503.95 for a load). Arbitrarily, if there is $15 in fees for loading and ATM withdrawals, I would have a $10 profit. Do this method a few times, and this would greatly reduce my current cost of $267.88
How would I liquidate the non personalized Campus Edition cards? You’d have to check out Personal Finance Digest because they have some great ideas.
From the screenshot above, I barely use my Cash+, but with the new book store category I could see myself adding extra use.
Hat tip to bocastephen on FlyerTalk for the idea of earning cash back in lieu of points.
*Note my SPG point balance is all out of whack at the moment. Some of my gift cards that I purchased with that card have already been factored in, but have not been sold yet.
A huge traffic spike coming from CTP! Thanks for the link. 🙂
Did you end up choosing the 5% cashback bonus for bookstores? Books and restaurants are two of my top spending categories (Amazon and Barnes & Noble being the top bookstores, but several others as well). I was looking at the US Bank Cash + card because it seems ideal for these spending habits (at least for now) but I heard that Kindle books don’t qualify for the 5% cashback. Have you found that to be the case?
Yup I did and still do choose 5% with bookstores. However, with the latest US Bank changes, I’ve maxed out very quickly @ $1500 per quarter.
Honestly, I never used the Cash+ card on Amazon or a regular B&N, just the Campus B&N to buy all the non personalized AMEX Campus Edition cards.
Kindle books should receive 5% back.
From US Bank Cash+
Thanks! I’m more likely to max out the restaurant category, unfortunately for both my waistline and my mind! But now I’m much more certain that the card well be right for me. Thanks again!