From famine to feast: My month in manufactured spending

Remember a month or so ago, I was whining about not kicking up my game on the 5X Staples Free Week. Well I kicked it up and overdid it for an old guy. In the last 21 days I’ve:

1. I spoke at the Chicago Seminars and reconnected with some great old friends.

My topic was personal accountability. We are responsible for our own actions. You are the one to hit the “apply button” not the blogger. And you are the one buying and liquidating the gift cards. We are all responsible for our own actions.

2. Promoted the SoFi new accounts referrals very successfully to friends and family.

I was surprised at how little activity there was with the Invest account?

3. Applied for 6 credit cards total for Katy and me.

Suntrust Travel Rewards $250 cash back, Navy Federal cashREWARDS for $250 cashback and used the 45,000K link for the Amex Green card each which will net a nice chunk of change at 1.25% sending to our Schwab account.

4. Amex Green Card

Bought the $100 worth of AWAY luggage (actually $96) with the credit from the Amex Green Card. Studied the LoungeBuddy credit and CLEAR application. Any comments on the usefulness of those two products?

5. Spent $400 on my usually dormant Citi Premier Card

I was targeted for 5X up to 2500 points Only collected 1X but at least extended the expiration date on the points.

6. Finished the minimum spending requirement on the Navy Federal cards.

With a little manufactured spending. I paid my last Federal Quarterly Estimate to knock out the $2,000 minimum on my Ame Green Card.

7. Bought a new dental appliance

And paid my stupid timeshare dues on a long-ago mistake of buying a timeshare here on the island. We use the Marriott points for St. Kitts and in the past, Hawaii, but it is just not cost-effective. This covers the minimum spend on Katy’s Amex Green card.

8. Helped some PointChaser readers.

With 15,000 sign-up bonuses on the fee-free Amex Business Blue card. I got referral bonuses for that. Thank You.

9. Cancelled our trip to Hawaii next September using our Hilton points and AA miles.

The grandkids’ Dad was not able to pull off the trip to the medical conference where we would have been designated babysitters. ( I hate those cancellation fees to redeposit miles $175).

10. Fought a fraud alert on a simple, second day we had the Suntrust card.

For a tiny little $800 purchase during Staples fee-free Visa week. I still can’t get the card registered for online access as Katy and I have a joint checking account, I have my own Suntrust cards and she does too but we can’t get her an online account?

11. Started the process of looking for more MS opportunities again.

After these minimum spending requirements, it looks like its back to the 3X at Kroger with the Navy Federal card.

12. More card bonuses.

This morning at 5 AM I’m up looking for more cards to apply for and the latest MS deals online.

13. MasterCard Gift card fraud.

And last but not least, had to file a claim with Mastercard over 3 of my ten purchased $200 Staples Mastercards that got drained while trying to do a split payment at Kroger for a $399 Money order. The card reader would say “Not Authorized” yet it drained the $200 gift card.

This could take months to resolve as it happened to many nationwide from all kind of retail outlets that sell Mastercard gift cards. If you tried to drain it all in one swipe, you potentially could lose the whole thing. I’m done with Staple Mastercard Fee Free Week.

Final thoughts

I’d like to know if you guys and gals go through these same streaks of MS madness, or if you have better control over your activities. For me, my actions have always been based on a pact Howie and I made years ago that said simply: ” If you see a $100 bill on the sidewalk, bend down and pick it up” No matter how busy you are, bend down and pick it up.

It’s been a great run and very profitable as well even with the Mastercard fiasco.  So tell me, Do you guys go on these streaks as well?

I think I’ll take a nap!