Another newbie q: what to do w/misc points?

rockhopper

Level 2 Member
We are new to the points game, and so we had some points that we accumulated previously that we didn't even really think about (I shudder to think about how many points I've wasted in the past). I have two old credit cards that have points (USAA & BofA) as well as a smattering of Marriott, SPG, Hyatt, Carlson, and Kimpton stays. I can list specific balances if that's helpful.

My question is whether it would be advantageous in the long run to take the time & effort to try to top each one up to the next reward (free night for most), or to just let them expire & concentrate on my new chosen programs? Some already have enough points for at least one free night somewhere (USAA) but I think most don't. I know that I can transfer CSP to Hyatt & Marriott, but the rest, I'm not sure if I should just let them go. WWYD?
 

Annie H.

Egalatarian
Donating is a great idea although I have found it a bit time consuming. Is your USAA so old that they won't let you have cash back? We were able to get cash on a one-to-one basis for USAA.
 

rockhopper

Level 2 Member
Donating is a great idea although I have found it a bit time consuming. Is your USAA so old that they won't let you have cash back? We were able to get cash on a one-to-one basis for USAA.
I'm actually not sure. It was a cash back reward back in the day, I believe, but I seem to remember thinking points would be a good idea so I converted it over, back before I really knew anything about points. But I have almost 33k points in there, so I think I could at least get a free night or two depending.
 

Annie H.

Egalatarian
Earlier this year, before I started doing MS, my SO paid our $2500 USAA policy with a pull from his checking account! After the demise of the USAA DC he started paying all his bills that way so not only is my learning curve steep, I have to deal with his-- no wonder my head is full! In the past:rolleyes:--before MS--we also mostly used our USAA CC for all our joint spending.and just got cash back as we weren't traveling. I cannot remember what/how we cashed in the USAA DC points-- I sure miss that card. I find the USAA website exceedingly clunky but you should be able to find a link to reward redemption.

For charitable donations:
http://www.redcross.org/support/donating-fundraising/other-ways-to-give/rewards
 

Matt

Administrator
Staff member
One thing (that I need to do myself too!) is to ensure your points don't expire as you procrastinate. Look for ways to top them up and keep them active, best methods may be a transfer partner of Amex or Chase or an online shopping portal.
 

Annie H.

Egalatarian
Thanks for your response, @Annie H. We have not yet waded into the waters of MS. I'm taking baby steps. :cool:
Baby steps it is--except it never stops, there's always something else to learn. :) You buy a GC, you need to figure out how to drain the GC, once you get that down, you need to learn how to spend the miles or what CCs to apply for or what a double open jaw is or converting MRs to Avios and on and on. This community is very, very helpful and you can stop whatever point you choose-- if you don't catch the MS disease/addiction:D. Some times for me it's more the thrill of the hunt for information than doing the deal.

Is there any reason you can't just request a check from USAA (through their partner that handles it) for your points? It's 1/1 and may be a better deal than booking a "free" night somewhere-- you'd have to check it out and there is the convenience factor of getting it over with and starting from scratch.
 

smittytabb

Moderator
Staff member
There is a steep learning curve, but also an organizational challenge. I keep track of over 125 accounts with points of some kind and I could not do it without Award Wallet. Find a system of some kind to keep track of what you have and anyone else in your family if they are interested. Then as @Matt suggested you will want to be sure to keep them alive if they are close to expiring. I like AW because for many accounts it automatically keeps track of expiration. You can input expiration dates for the others, if they exist. It can be overwhelming to start in on which ones to work on, but I think attempting to keep track is the first step.
 

mrsjon01

Level 2 Member
Charity Forum Mod
There is a steep learning curve, but also an organizational challenge. I keep track of over 125 accounts with points of some kind and I could not do it without Award Wallet. Find a system of some kind to keep track of what you have and anyone else in your family if they are interested. Then as @Matt suggested you will want to be sure to keep them alive if they are close to expiring. I like AW because for many accounts it automatically keeps track of expiration. You can input expiration dates for the others, if they exist. It can be overwhelming to start in on which ones to work on, but I think attempting to keep track is the first step.
125 accounts? Holy shit, I am doing it wrong. :)
 

cocobird

Level 2 Member
125 accounts? Holy shit, I am doing it wrong. :)
No - you have to figure out what works for you and what are your goals. As the number of account rise, the amount of work increases as does the time commitment and the potential stress. Some people love collecting points and are nearly competitive about it. For others, it's simply a way to travel less expensively, so they work on it as much as needed for their next trip.
 

Annie H.

Egalatarian
No - you have to figure out what works for you and what are your goals. As the number of account rise, the amount of work increases as does the time commitment and the potential stress. Some people love collecting points and are nearly competitive about it. For others, it's simply a way to travel less expensively, so they work on it as much as needed for their next trip.
I just absolutely cannot imagine the work involved with that number of accounts although I realize the longer one does stuff the easier it becomes. For me the amount of time spent record-keeping is almost more than non-pajama MS. A few old-timers have shared pictures of their bulging wallets (always need to be alert to the next opportunity) and complex spreadsheets and I can't tell anymore whether I'm in awe or scared!
 

smittytabb

Moderator
Staff member
I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it. I love the stats and keeping track of it all and strategizing and planning the trips and of course the travel it provides. 95 of the accounts are mine. The rest are mostly my husband's and a few miscellaneous others. I am always adding new things all the time. I've been doing this awhile and traveling seriously most of my adult life.
 

mrsjon01

Level 2 Member
Charity Forum Mod
I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it. I love the stats and keeping track of it all and strategizing and planning the trips and of course the travel it provides. 95 of the accounts are mine. The rest are mostly my husband's and a few miscellaneous others. I am always adding new things all the time. I've been doing this awhile and traveling seriously most of my adult life.
While it's not for me, I definitely admire the tenacity required to maintain 95 personal accounts!! I was kidding when I said I am doing it wrong - I'm just a beginner MSer.
 

Annie H.

Egalatarian
I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it. I love the stats and keeping track of it all and strategizing and planning the trips and of course the travel it provides. 95 of the accounts are mine. The rest are mostly my husband's and a few miscellaneous others. I am always adding new things all the time. I've been doing this awhile and traveling seriously most of my adult life.
Do you mind sharing just a ball park figure of how many CCs you have? I don't understand the strategy here--yet-- and I'd love to be able to ask you some questions. I think this is a somewhat sensitive area (I'm getting ready to figure out a *real* strategy for credit card apps for the next 6-12 months) and this subject is one of the ones I thought perhaps folks would be more comfortable discussing through PM. One of the things I don't really understand is sock-drawering. I read one needs to use the cards to keep them active and I can't imagine doing that with upwards of 50 cards or more. I guess I understand the rationale of keeping the cards open in order to re-allocate credit but then there are things like AFs, Chase 24 months until one can re-apply. At your level can you still find cards out there to apply for?
 

smittytabb

Moderator
Staff member
Just to clarify, the accounts I mention are frequent flier and hotel and other reward accounts, not CC accounts!
 

Matt

Administrator
Staff member
Yeah award wallet tracks some weird stuff- I have NCL latitudes, cash back sites and a casino on mine.
 

Matt

Administrator
Staff member
Borgata in AC- I have a few hundred bucks to spend there before October... But harder now I moved the other direction into the boonies.
 

smittytabb

Moderator
Staff member
That is hilarious that AW tracks that! I think if you ask them to add stuff, they will do it. My husband was just asking me the other night what the NCL Latitudes was. Guess it's time to take a cruise.
 

Matt

Administrator
Staff member
Yeah we are booking another too. Think it will be kiddie friendly to sail from nyc .
 

smittytabb

Moderator
Staff member
My youngest is graduating from college in December and he wants to go to Alaska. Cruise seems like a plan for that!
 

Skywardbd

Level 2 Member
Another way to use up small residual points in reward programs in which you're no longer accruing rewards is to use them to purchase subscriptions- but only if you would purchase these anyway or would really enjoy the publication. For instance, we get our local newspaper and the WSJ with points from one of our little used reward accounts. (We alternate between mine and my husband's account, as some of these subscriptions are offered to "new subscribers only.")
To keep a little used account with points active so the points don't expire, several easy options exist: most have an associated dining program. Registering and then just buying a take-out drink will generate the required activity; actually, after registering, any small activity in any of their affiliate programs is enough to maintain your account in active status.
 
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