So much for writing a weekly manufactured spending report! At some point last month, I got overwhelmed with non-blogging stuff and decided to skip my weekly posts altogether. Keeping in mind that I had a reputation to uphold, I did push myself to keep ordering gift cards. The last thing I want is to use that hall of shame stock photo on yet another blog post.
Overall, I came back with halfway decent numbers, considering the circumstances. I tried to order some Visa gift cards from Staples a couple of times to hit my $5k monthly quota, but each time I checked, they were sold out.
So I mostly stuck to GiftCardMall and Simon Mall, being careful not to accrue big balances before the statement closing date. The results were as follows:
Cash back
I placed two $1517.85 Visa gift card orders through GiftCardMall with the Fidelity 2% Cash Back Card, which cost $35.70 in fees. However, I did ear $60.71 from the credit card, plus $30 cash back via Rakuten.
I also stopped by my local Simon Mall, where I placed a large order that I split between several credit cards – $10,055 went on the Discover It Miles Card. The fees for those 20 gift cards came to $79 and I earned about $150 cash back. Overall, my profit on all cash back card purchases this month, after fees, was $126.
- Cash earned: $210.71
- Fees: $114.70
- Ebates cash back: $30
- Total profit: $126.01
American AAdvantage miles
My American Airlines balance is getting uncomfortably high, so I am exploring ways to put those miles to use. In the meantime, earning them is so easy I keep doing it. Normally, GiftCardMall purchases significantly reduce my fees.
Last month, I did use my AAdvantage card for a $6551 gift card purchase at Simon Mall. That carried $51.35 worth of fees, which is why I don’t use Simon Mall that much anymore.
I also placed $4,500 worth of Visa gift cards orders through GiftCardMall, which carried $53.55 in fees. Luckily, I got $45 cash back from Ebates, bringing my out of pocket cost down to $8.55 for over 4,553 AAdvantage miles.
- Points earned: 11,155 miles
- Fees: $104.90
- Ebates cash back: $45
- Total cost: $59.90
Chase Ultimate Rewards
I fell short of my $5,000 monthly purchase goal at Staples again. Staples.com was sold out of the $300 Visa gift cards practically every time I checked. I did manage to place a single $1800 order (the maximum allowed), which carried $53.70 in fees. Not ideal, but it did earn me 9,071 points.
I managed one single $1517.85 Visa gift card order through GiftCardMall using my Chase Sapphire card. In total, that’s 10,588 Ultimate Rewards points for $56.55 out of pocket.
- Points earned: 10,588
- Fees: $71.55
- Ebates cash back: $15
- Total cost: $56.55
Citi ThankYou points
I placed a single $1517.85 Visa gift card order with my Citi Prestige card, which cost me $2.85 out of pocket. I’m not sure why I didn’t put more spending on that card. I generally try to focus on manufactured spend with cards after the statement closing date passes.
Somehow all my Citi ThankYou cards slipped through the cracks…
- Points earned: 1517
- Fees: $17.85
- Ebates cash back: $15
- Total cost: $2.85
Radisson Rewards points
Why am I still collecting Radisson Rewards points? Because a few years ago I booked a last minute trip to Europe and the only good hotel options would have been Radisson hotels.
As someone who’s painstakingly researched every Radisson hotel around the world for a Best Radisson Hotel series, take it from me: The points come in handy. Granted, I only earned 2,855 points from a $961.90 GiftCardMall order, but it’s something…
- Points earned: 2,885 points
- Fees: $11.90
- Ebates cash back: $9.50
- Total cost: $2.40
Total points and miles earned
In total, I earned 26,145 points and miles and earned a $4.84 profit. I didn’t incur any money order fees because I loaded my Visa gift cards onto GoBank cards. April wasn’t my worst month, but it was miles from the best.
Despite my numbers being so low, I think if I didn’t have this post to write I would have been closer to $0. We all have different priorities and last month non-manufactured spending stuff just took over.
- 11,155 American AAdvantage Miles
- 10,588 Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 1,517 Citi ThankYou Points
- 2,885 Radisson Rewards Points
- Cash profit: $4.84
I’d love to know how you all did last month. How many points and miles did you generate and at what cost?
Which GoBank do you use? Is it the green? And how do you get so many liquidated? Assuming family members cards? TIA!
Still churning instead of MSing – got 60K AA last month. But I love reading about your MSing adventures!
I did get a couple of card bonuses last month, but I gots to keep churning those gift cards. 🙂
Nice article!! Thanks for writing it. How do you get the money out of your GoBank card, via transfer to your main bank?
Got a couple of different options. I’ll share details in Wednesday’s post!
I picked up 1000$ in Disney gift gards through BJ’s for an overall cost of 929$ which will be used for expenses on a trip to Disney world in August. I paid for them with my Advantage card which will get me to the required spend level for the 50000 point bonus. I then earned 2100 miles with my frontier card after booking my flight for said trip.
My Chase free night through ihg seemed to be missing from my account so after talking to their overseas customer service for about an hour, they decided to load a free night into my account. I earned about 100 points with that card last month.
Those are the only accruals I can think of worth mentioning.
That’s awesome! It’s always great when you can save money and generate miles.
These articles don’t cover the most important part of credit cards
How did you pay back $10,000.
That you just spend on gift cards.
Website is reckless and give people dumb ideas
She liquidates the cards via money orders…if you read any of her other entries it would be abundantly clear.
Dude, you’re dumb.
Lol! Reuben, most people reading this blog (especially the last paragraph of the post) know that I’m liquidating the cards and using the funds to pay off my credit card. Obviously, spending $20k+ just for the miles is not advisable.
could you elaborate on GoBank card?
Yup! Post coming soon.
Had a decent month.
Earned 24k UR – Made about $10/$15 profit with the OM / OD sale
Earned 8k MR – Cost of $24
Earned 2K Hyatt Points – Cost of $15
I’m jealous. I need to step up my OD game.
In what single GC increments of card amount are you making your purchases? Is there a value you have to avoid to not trigger red flags on your account?
You can max out the GC denominations.
The red flag will only be on depositing them into your bank account.
I personally use a couple of techniques which is well worth the time if you’re doing high volume.
If you’re doing anything under $10k a month you do not need any special techniques.
Are you referring to my GCM gift card purchases? I buy those in $500×3 increments. That works out cheapest because orders above that incur shipping fees.
No Gobank fees?
No loading fees. There is a $8.95 monthly fee that gets waived if you have a direct deposit of $500 per month.
Does that have to be a payroll type of direct deposit or can I just do a scheduled transfer from another bank account? Or does the direct loads count as direct deposits?
Direct loads don’t count and I’m not sure about scheduled transfers. I just did a payroll direct deposit.
Please tell us more about Go Bank
Lol! Working on a post that should be up by Wednesday or Thursday.
Thanks
Radisson Rewards Points: 5 points per $1 spent in eligible net purchases everywhere else= 4809 points!
I actually downgraded to the Radisson Rewards Visa. That one earns 3x points per $1.
Think your Radisson rewards calculation is wrong, it should be 4809 points(5*961.90)
Nope! The non-premier version earns 3x points.
Where do you load your GoBank cards for no fees?
Walmart.
If you do a lot of European travel, Radisson is essential. Especially for Scandinavia, where it is often the only option available. I still miss the days of when it was Club Carlson and gave the free night per stay, but still – It’s worthwhile to have. I do at least a week in Edinburgh every August with Radisson points. Best location in the city.
I agree. I learned that one the hard way a few years ago. It’s especially valuable if you travel through Scandinavian countries.
We had a great month, far better than most, so I need to brag.
Cashback $709.86 after accounting for any fees (grocery store and GCM)
MR 71956 (grocery store)
UR 47939 (OM/OD)
Marriott 51249 (GCM)
I like your idea of keeping track monthly. I was previously keeping track for the year, but it didn’t keep me as motivated.
I made a lot of trips to WM!!!!
Wow….very nice
Brag away! That’s what this is for. 🙂
April
AA 36,573
United 12,998
TYP 17,553
MR 17,910
Marriott 40,122
UR 131,126 (lots of staples deals! – these were the cheapest)
Alaska 3,499
Total MS points 264,856
(Does not include signup bonuses)
Total cost (fees & liquidation, net of cash back and rebates) $1,406
I am too lazy to go to WM. Even though high cost, I believe I get great value.
I do need to reduce my costs
That’s awesome Chaser123! You’re giving me something to aspire to.
If not redeeming the GCs at WM, where do you go then?
holy inspiration!! how do you liquidate all of that without going to Walmart ?
Chaser123- that’s remarkable !!!
Well diversified.
Hi, I am a new to your blog. How do you decide which credit card to use for each retailer ? I saw you mentioned about using cash back card at Ebates. Is it better deal than any other card that you have .
I honestly don’t worry about that anymore. I just use whatever card doesn’t have an upcoming statement closing date. But I’d recommend you focus on cards that earn you the miles/points you need.
Ariana, I honest don’t get the part on “use whatever card doesn’t have an upcoming statement closing date.” why is it important to not be around closing date? TIA
Because you don’t want your utilization rate to increase. If your card is maxed out when your statement closes, that increases your utilization rate and negatively impacts credit. You wanna keep that number under 30%
How do I liquidate Visa/Master gift cards that I buy for the Manufactured Spend through easy means ?
Walmart associates have been rejecting loading these to Bluebird cards off-late & money-orders seems can be done through cash or named-Debit cards only. Suggest some easy options please
You just have to keep trying. WM has high turnover, so it’s a matter of time before you come across an ms-friendly cashier.
Hello! I’m having trouble finding a card that offers both miles and cash back (in order to offset the gift card fees). You mentioned getting cash back using your Discover it Miles card, but when I look into it, they don’t offer cash back. How did you find cards that allow your $ spending to earn miles, and give you cash back as you spend?
I think I just figured it out. Just read one of your previous posts where you mentioned going to GC.com through a portal like Yazing, and get cash back there. That makes more sense. Very new to this game. Trying to wrap my head around it before I jump in!
Discover It Miles cards offer 1.5 miles per $1, which is equivalent to 1.5% cash back.