What's your Christmas credit card spending strategy?

**Mogul of Pineapples** · Nov 5, 10, 4:46 pm

As I mentioned in another thread I am using my $50 bonus on spending of $2,600 before Dec 31st for my Amazon card. Almost every credit card is running some sort of promotion during the holidays to get you to use their card for shopping. What offers are you taking advantage of for the season?

One offer that is noticeable absent this year is the $20 Discover gift card for $200 spending at malls. That was a great offer and I wish Discover would bring it back.

**jeffysdad** · Nov 6, 10, 5:31 am

Hey, MoP. My only strategy is to buy presents only for myself and give a few bucks to charity. Screw the rest of them.

On that Amazon offer, as it turns out I did get it, too. It came almost a month late, end of October for a fourth quarter promotion. I think I need to spend $1,600 to get another 2,500 points, which amounts to a $25 gift certificate at Amazon, so it's a little different from yours. I'm not going to make it, though, because it's grocery quarter over at Freedom and 5% at restaurants from Discover.

**infomaniac** · Nov 7, 10, 3:10 pm

I have not received any of the Christmas credit card promotions mentioned. What I have received is a double cash back for online purchases from Discover. The problem is yearly spending below $3,000 earns 0.25% and I am still at that level. Doubling that to be 0.5% is less than all my other credit cards give.

**Mogul of Pineapples** · Nov 10, 10, 12:31 am

Originally Posted by jeffysdad

Hey, MoP. My only strategy is to buy presents only for myself and give a few bucks to charity. Screw the rest of them.

Ha! Doesn't sound like a bad idea!

In all seriousness I don't even understand the whole over-consumerism around the holidays. To celebrate the true spirit, charitable giving would be better than whatever today's version of the useless tickle-me-Elmo version is that is just forgotten about after a few days.

That's interesting your offer was only for $1,600. Maybe I was sent a better offer because I hardly ever use my Amazon card and they figure it needs to be a really tempting offer. Your offer equals out to be an additional 1.56% back, making it 2.56% total rebate when you take into account the normal 1%. Still a great deal but if it's that or the 5% on Freedom and More it's an easy choice.

Speaking of More I wish the ceiling wasn't at $300 this quarter and infomaniac makes an excellent point for those in the under $3,000 tier.

**rightmindedUSA** · Nov 10, 10, 7:43 pm

I will be using my new Discover More for its 5% this quarter at department stores. Aside from that all other purchase will go one my 1 pt. per dollar Bank of America credit card. I have received no such promotions in the mail for my cards.

**Cucumber** · Nov 12, 10, 2:28 pm

I wish I spent enough to take advantage of the Discover $250 offer

**Mogul of Pineapples** · Nov 20, 10, 3:09 pm

I just discovered the Citi Dividend is doing 5% at department, clothing and electronics stores thru Dec 31st. A bit surprised to see that because I have all but gave up on my Dividend card ever since the gas/grocery/drugstore rebate was cut out.

**JL70** · Nov 21, 10, 4:49 pm

Originally Posted by Mogul of Pineapples

As I mentioned in another thread I am using my $50 bonus on spending of $2,600 before Dec 31st for my Amazon card. Almost every credit card is running some sort of promotion during the holidays to get you to use their card for shopping. What offers are you taking advantage of for the season?

One offer that is noticeable absent this year is the $20 Discover gift card for $200 spending at malls. That was a great offer and I wish Discover would bring it back.

Well, I have roughly a $600 modest budget for family gifts, starting putting money aside since September. My strategy will be put all my purchases on my Blue Cash, so they can add up to get to the 5% cash back tier. Then PIF along with my other Grocery, Gas and Bills that I'm using the Blue for.

**infomaniac** · Nov 25, 10, 8:35 am

I received an email for another Chase Freedom card promotion.

This weekend..... 8% cash back back through the bonus points mall at some stores through the end of the weekend.

**Mogul of Pineapples** · Nov 28, 10, 8:16 pm

Originally Posted by JL70

My strategy will be put all my purchases on my Blue Cash, so they can add up to get to the 5% cash back tier

When does your 12 month anniversary start?

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What's your Christmas credit card spending strategy?