1. Office Depot / OfficeMax stores have $15 off of $300+ in Visa gift cards through Saturday. It’s almost like it’s predictable that the Visas will go on sale the week after Mastercards do. For best results:

    – Buy in even multiples of $200
    – Don’t forget about your American Express Business Gold monthly credit
    – Look for ‘Anywhere cards’ which may be cheaper as long as you can liquidate them

    These are Pathward gift cards.
  2. The Citi Shop Your Way Rewards card, the President of all Mastercards, sent out mid-month February offers. We’ve seen:

    – $75 statement credit after in $750 in online spend
    – $100 statement credit after $1,000 in online spend
    – 15,000 ThankYou Points after $1,000 in online spend
    – 250,000 Shop Your Way points after $750 in online spend

    It stacks with the other ongoing offers too, obviously. Now we just need Lowe’s or Home Depot to sell Visas or Mastercards online to make the stack even easier. (Thanks to Cashback Cowgirl, Matt, Santosh, and Brandon)
  3. Citi ThankYou Points has a 20% transfer bonus to Qatar Privilege Club Avios until March 15. Of course you can transfer these Avios to British Airways, FinnAir, Ibera, Aer Lingus, and Vueling after they’re in your Privilege Club account.
  4. Chase Ultimate Rewards has a 50% transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy through the end of March. The main utility here is that Marriott can transfer to JAL Mileage Bank, and you get bonus miles at 60,000 Bonvoy points intervals. The math means:

    – 40,000 Ultimate Rewards → 60,000 Bonvoy Points
    – 60,000 Bonvoy Points → 25,000 JAL Mileage Bank miles

    In other words, you’re getting a 1:0.625 ratio from Ultimate Rewards to Milage Bank which isn’t great, but isn’t awful for the utility of JAL’s own upgrades and expanded award availability.
  5. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express has a targeted heightened offer of 150,000 Bonvoy points and $250 statement credit after $6,000 spend in six months. See previous discussion on JAL MileageBank for an alternate use for the card.

    There is commentary on various forums on the internet that this is a modified link, but I believe the commentary is incorrect and there’s no abnormal risk in this link, rather it’s using a different campaign code than the previous version of the offer.

Happy President’s Day!

The Presidential Citi Shop Your Way Rewards salary beats the average US Government Job *circa 1940.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Some of the smartest members of the community have stepped up with guest posts during the holiday break in 2024 and now on Saturdays in early 2025. Special thanks to today’s author Jonathan, a second time guest poster, for taking the time to write an anecdote about characters encountered in manufactured spend. You can find his first article from last year here. Have a nice weekend!

Introduction

You know that inner debate we all have when driving home late: “Should I make another stop or just screw it and head home?” “It’s just 10 mins out of the way.” “But it’s late and I am tired.” “Yeah, but one stop is definitely worth it, and Sharalyn is there tonight.” Well, that night, I decided to make that stop. (Note: I’ve changed her name to Sharalyn to protect her anonymity—though I’m sure she wouldn’t care one bit. That’s just the kind of person she is.)

This was at my go-to Speedway for manufactured spend, the kind of place where you know the clerks’ schedules better than your own. I pulled up, expecting the usual, but noticed the door was locked during business hours. Strange. Then I spotted Sharalyn behind the counter, busy with something.

A Quick Backstory on Sharalyn: Sharalyn was one of my all-time favorite Speedway clerks. She’s the kind of person who doesn’t care at all what you do. She told me once she was 43, but honestly, she looked closer to 66—life has been hard on her, and her dental situation (4 teeth left) didn’t help. But still, she was a gem.

Anyway, I wasn’t about to let a locked door stop me. I went back to my truck and called the store. Sharalyn picked up:

Me: “Hey, Sharalyn, it’s Jonathan. Can I come in and do some gift cards?”
Shariee: “Ah, I’m having a bit of trouble right now… I $*!? my pants.”
Me:“Oh… well, that’s okay. It’ll just take a second.”
Shariee: “Alright, I’ll unlock the door.”

Now, at this point, I figured I’d walk in, see Sharalyn awkwardly holding her composure, and move on. I was surprised about what happened next.

No Pants, No Problem

As I walked up, true to her word, Sharalyn unlocked the door—wearing NO PANTS.
She had on a sweatshirt that was juuuuust long enough to make this a PG-13 situation. She went right back to the register while I grabbed my cards. Let’s just say the “Speedway” name was fitting.
I paused for a moment, feeling a mix of surprise and sympathy. “Sharalyn, do you want me to grab you a pair of pants or something?” I offered, genuinely concerned for her.

Meanwhile, another guy walked in behind me, froze mid-step, and said, “Wow… you know you’re not wearing any pants, right?”

Sharalyn, unfazed as ever, ignored him completely. I purchased my cards, gave her a nod of respect, and left.

The End of an Era

Unfortunately, that was the last time I saw Sharalyn. The store was closing, and apparently, she didn’t transfer to another location. I looked for her at many other speedways in the city. Wherever she is, I hope she’s still rocking that I-don’t-give-a-#%&$ attitude.

– Jonathan

Speedway: Where the receipts never stop printing, and neither does your safety paranoia.

The Citi Shop Your Way Rewards Mastercard card was an overlooked value machine for years, and it was the first MEAB Unsung Hero card too. I think churners know the card’s value machine status now though, so proselytizing at this point is passé.

But, questions often come up around the card, so let’s answer ’em like a boss:

  • [Q] When do I start getting offers?
    [A] Usually 3-5 months after getting the card
  • [Q] What’s the offer cadence?
    [A] Citi sends offers on the 1st and the 15th of each month via email, and sometimes earlier via snail-mail
  • [Q] What’s the sign-up bonus?
    [A] I dunno, but it’s crap, and it’s always been crap – that’s not why we get the card
  • [Q] How long until the sign-up bonus posts after hitting spend?
    [A] Forever, it probably won’t post (unless you’re really lucky or you bug Citi)
  • [Q] When do semi-monthly spend offers post?
    [A] For points usually within a week. For statement credits, either (a) a few weeks after the statement close, or (b) the middle of the next month depending on the offer
  • [Q] Can I have multiple Shop Your Way Rewards cards?
    [A] Historically yes, but now now (since about mid-2023)
  • [Q] What counts as an online purchase?
    [A] ymmv, but: some floosie things, your online utility payments, and probably whatever counts on the AT&T Access More card which would also be an Unsung Hero if you could still get it
  • [Q] Can I product change to this card?
    [A] No
  • [Q] Can I switch to the ThankYou Points version of this card?
    [A] Not since 2021
  • [Q] What’s the best redemption of Shop Your Way Rewards points?
    [A] Almost always Visa gift cards
  • [Q] What’s an unknown feature of the card?
    [A] It has special payment-fu, and lacks the Big Bank Energy™ that Citi’s known for
  • [Q] How do I get a credit line increase?
    [A] They award them automatically on most card anniversaries
  • [Q] I don’t see any offers in the ‘Offers’ tab on the account dashboard
    [A] That’s not a question, but sounds about right for this card. Don’t worry, no one else sees their offers either
  • [Q] What’s this card’s annual expectation value?
    [A] Almost as much as a maxed American Express Resy Platinum sign-up bonus

Good luck, and Happy #CitiGonnaCiti day.

[Bonus Q] In the year 2025, I get this message while trying to log into the card’s dashboard, what’s up?
[A] #CitiGonnaCiti

  1. The Citi AA Platinum personal card has an increased sign-up bonus of 75,000 AAdvantage miles after $3,500 spend in four months.

    AA miles are the most valuable currency for several use cases typically exercised by US based fliers. The program hasn’t devalued in a while though so caveat emptor and it’s the only thing in the AA ecosystem that’s keeping the lights on, but AA is good at cutting off its profit centers when they make too much money for shareholders for some reason. (Thanks to casinovibes)
  2. The American Express Business Platinum card has a hacked upgrade link from a Business Gold or Green that awards 120,000 Membership Rewards after $10,000 spend in three months. Remember:

    – You can stack employee card bonuses with upgrade bonuses
    – You can stack retention offers with upgrade bonuses
    – You can stack with new card sign-up bonuses
    – Retention offers may be better before upgrade
    – An upgrade is a no-harm/no-foul maneuver with American Express
    – You can do this in the first year of card membership because it’s a business card

    Now, the question that comes up often after these: How risky are hacked links? There have been historic shutdowns for hacked links, but there haven’t been any of those in nearly a decade. American Express doesn’t seem to care now, but that may change in the future. Do your own risk assessment, ideally involving variational calculus if you’re a bored super-nerd.
  3. The American Express Business Platinum card also has a new targeted no-lifetime language (NLL) link for 175,000 Membership Rewards after $20,000 spend in three months.

Happy Thursday friends!

An exclusive look at the AA executive management playbook helps explain their decision making.

The CFPB is effectively non-existent 🪦, which means that when a bank holds your money and shouldn’t, doesn’t award a bonus when they should, changes credit card terms in an illegal manner, or sends all of your personal details to an adult website owner, you don’t have an easy, central resource for fixing it. You still have tools at your disposal to help though (ordered by of likely ease of use):

  • Your state banking regulator and charter administration
  • The BBB
  • Your state banking commission
  • The FDIC for banks or the NCUA for credit unions
  • State small claims court
  • The OCC (ya down with OCC? yeah you know me!)
  • FTC
  • Arbitration (most banks have these clauses in their paperwork, and they’re almost always obligated to pay for the arbitration too)

Don’t shy away from the arbitration option when the numbers get into five digits, if the bank obviously behaved incorrectly your odds are probably great.

Happy Wednesday!

OCC’s current official coffee mug.

  1. Do this now: Register for double points at Choice hotels through April 7, but the offer is only good on up to four stays because how dare Choice encourage you to stay more than 4 times?
  2. Mastercardgiftcard.com has fee-free gift Mastercard cards with promo code MCGIFT.

    You can buy up to $10,000 of these per account per rolling 24 hours. Don’t use an American Express because it won’t earn points, and make sure you have an air-tight liquidation plan because these InComm issued cards have gotten difficult.
  3. The CFPB has effectively been shut down. Expect more on this later, but for now assume that no government agency will take action on your CFPB feedback from this time forward, and explore other options when you demand satisfaction.
  4. You’ve got until February 28 to finish earning AA Loyalty Points for the current elite year, and right now PointsYeah is offering 25 miles per dollar through the AA eShopping portal in case another 2,500 miles will make the difference for you. It didn’t for the CFPB though so there’s that.

How to recognize a churner in the post-CFPB world.

How about that sports ball yesterday, amirite? That was [awesome / awful] (choose one). Anyway:

  1. There’s a new link for getting a $75 Uber voucher with a new Clear sign-up bonus using promo code VDAY25, a promo code that’s clearly named for Veterans Day on the 25th. These promotions are effectively a way to turn a nearly worthless American Express $199 credit into a $75 credit that’s actually worth about $50.

    Even though the language says that enrolling at airport is required after registering online, that’s never been enforced prior and probably won’t be this time either, just ask your aunt, dog, or lampshade.
  2. There are two shopping portal bonuses for airline portals:

    – United MileagePlus Shopping: 500 bonus miles for $150+ spend through today
    – Alaska Mileage Plan Shopping: 500 bonus miles for $150+ spend through Friday

    Obviously you should hit these in a particular order, perhaps even with giftcards.com.
  3. The American Express Marriott Bonvoy business card has a heightened sign-up bonus of 125,000 points after $8,000 spend in six months. I prefer points only offers on this card to its low-cap free-night certificate bonus offers, but 125,000 Marriott points won’t even get a single night at some hotels so there’s that.
  4. British Airways has a 20% transfer bonus for incoming miles from Chase Ultimate Rewards through March 31. The bonus isn’t instant, expect it to take 24+ hours.

    Because Avios transfer freely between British Airways and other Avios airlines, this is really a transfer bonus for FinnAir, Qatar, Ibera, and Aer Lingus too.
  5. The Barclays Hawaiian credit card has a sign-up bonus of 70,000 bonus miles after making a single purchase and paying the $99 annual fee. You need to enter a random flight attendant code, like 001111 (which is binary for 15 because that’s how many people will find that joke funny).

    Because Hawaiian miles transfer freely to Alaska, this is really a great sign-up bonus for a Alaska miles. This product will turn into a pumpkin soon so it’s getting close to now or never.
  6. The American Express Delta Business cards have new heightened sign-up bonuses (the personal ones have been heightened since January 17):

    – Reserve Business: 110,000 SkyMiles after $12,000 spend in six months
    – Platinum Business: 100,000 SkyMiles after $8,000 spend in six months
    – Gold Business: 90,000 SkyMiles after $6,000 spend in six months and a waived first year annual fee

    Each of these cards have Delta Stays credits, and since they’re business cards you’re not stuck with the same product for the first year due to the CARD act.
  7. American Express Offers has a targeted card-linked offer for a $60 statement credit on $300+ in spend at Hilton properties. Gamers gonna game in multiple ways.

Happy Monday!

Celebrating yesterday’s win.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Some of the smartest members of the community have stepped up with guest posts during the holiday break in 2024 and now on Saturdays in early 2025. Special thanks to today’s author Jim for his reinforcement of the gospel of SSB. Have a nice weekend!

I just finished reading MEAB’s annual mistake of letting the inmates run the asylum, and need to RAT (calm down, Amex MSers, just a phrase) out Slideshow Bob 223 and reveal his true identity:

Since he showed up around the time Ronald McDonald was no longer showing up in commercials, it is obvious that Ronald got axed, and, having no other marketable skills (like most MSers) got a “job” MSing.

Now, don’t get me wrong: most of what SlideshowRon223 said about MSers needing to avoid opening Citi and Chase bank accounts if they want to continue raking in the points, is right on target.
Especially the part where he warned that images of unemployed clowns trapped in rooms filled with rakes and annoyed at MSing P2s could be very disturbing. (At least that’s as best as I can remember, as Barbra sang in The Way We Were: “what’s too painful to remember we simply choose to  forget”.)

So, to get those disturbing images out of my mind (think: writing therapy) I wanted to amplify on Ron’s Slideshow on Citi and Chase.

Citi is not only, as Slideshow and the guy who is letting the inmates run the asylum (whose identity I will not mention) one of the worst cancerous lesions of unbridled American capitalism, but they are Shameless (very funny show, BTW) about it: After Citi told me I could open a bank account, deposit numerous money orders and it would all be good, and after I did what they specifically said was OK, they axed me. They took the position that it did not matter if they lied to me and then closed my account when I relied on their lie.

Their clause in the terms and conditions about letting them close accounts for any reason, permits them to close accounts because they do not like the nature of their money order deposits, the color of a clown’s hair, the color of a person’s skin, and let’s them lie about it to prospective customers.
Sounds like a job for …CFPB (Commission F*ed up Pretty Badly).

When I asked them for help, it turns out the CFPB is like the Wizard of Oz: a toothless figurehead hiding inside some really scarily impressive trappings. They were fine with letting a major bank (Citi) set the precedent that, as long as they had the close for any reason clause it would justify whatever other slimy actions they took.

Only good thing about the CFPB/Wizard of Oz experience is it helped me come up with a one word description of Citi: Wicked.

The few readers who have taken enough of your meds to still be reading this may be wondering: how did I know to ask Citi if they would axe me for depositing tons of similar looking  money orders?
That’s because Chase axed me (and several family members guilty by association) for that many years ago.

But since MEAB is supposed to include not just disjointed ramblings, and Citi Piti Parties, here’s an actual important MS PSA: even if you are on Chase’s Lubbock list, they take a little while to figure it out and axe your newly opened account.

My family has gotten ~10 opening bonuses for spending quickly, and qualifying for the opening bonus before the axe falls. In fact a Chase CSR  told me that as long as you qualify, they will give you the bonus even if they know they are going to axe you and have scheduled your final MS meal.

(Note: any Chase RAT people reading this do not need to track down the author and bar him from opening Chase accounts in the future: he was tragically crushed to death by large piles of unused Amex AU cards falling on him, after he submitted this post)

In any event, I likely could have and would have avoided these MS faceplants if I had shared intel with other MSers. The easiest way to do that is to join a insiders group, but for those that are too lazy, or can’t pass the mental health background check ( I’m talking to you, SlideshowRon 233), just find an informal group.

For extra bonus points you can share not only MS tips but pool your resources for mutual benefit, e.g. let MSer with incredibly profitable Kroger play who has maxed out CL use your CL and share the profits.

Two suggestions for informal groups: MEAB Matt (not just saying that to suck up to him so he will publish this post: he  really is good); and AA (does not stand for Awards Anonymous, he is a real person: not mentioning his name here but email me for contact info.)

Likewise, the previous inmate post asked if there is a better way to cash out Membership Rewards points than transferring to airline partners or Schwabbing.

There is and I can email it to you offline. Matt does not want it broadcast online, and even tho it is pretty clear he is not editing or reading these inmate posts, i thought I would err on the side of caution and not divulge it here.

Sideshow Bob as the wicked witch of the west Citi, as imagined by creepy AI.