🎉 Happy New Year y’all! Let’s kick 2025 off with a bang. What credit card lessons did YOU learn this year? 🚨 Best Card Offers: spencerjohnsoncards.com/bonuses
In 2024, I realized 3 things with credit cards. 1. An imperfect, but simpler setup is better than trying to chase nickels and dimes. 2. Including a general-purpose travel card wouldn't be such a bad idea, especially seeing as I'm nearing the end of my student loans and would like to travel a bit more. 3. If I factor in my natural spending habits, the only general-purpose travel card's SUB I could realistically achieve is the Wells Fargo Autograph. However, I'd prefer to go for one of the Sapphire cards, seeing as I already have a Freedom Unlimited. Granted, I could apply for one of the Sapphire cards with the knowledge that I'm likely not hitting the SUB, but that's leaving money on the table. What this all boils down to is as much as I'd like to jump on the travel train, cashback cards are a better financial fit for me for the time being. I didn't choose the cashback life; the cashback life chose me.
Love that third point. I feel like a lot of people feel like they need to go do those big international business trips because they see others do it but it’s all about what makes sense for someone as an individual. Great video as always, Spencer!
I’m really happy that resonated with you! I completely agree with what you said here. You gotta make your cards/redemptions fit your lifestyle, not the other way around.
@@SpencerJohnsonOfficial 13:04 it all depends on the spending habits and lifestyles, not to mention all those limited-time promos that the credit card issuers and their transfer partners offer as well
I agree. I’m looking to use my points to get us to Disneyland. Found that virgin has a good value and I’ll use a transfer bonus to sweeten it further. Doesn’t have to be rocket science.
@@WroteItLikeABook I’m one of those people that do big international business trips because it suits my field of business. I work internationally as utilize my cards to make the see requirements as much as possible. If I didn’t work internationally and didn’t get reimbursed for spend I wouldn’t recommend it for those don’t need to travel often internationally. You can really jam yourself if you can’t at back the charges.
I feel like this is one of the youngest content creators in the game yet has the most common sense wisdom in his channel. Love that you continue to give realistic financial wisdom, in a sea of Instagram click bait videos that might as well be Expedia ads. Can’t thank you enough!
Wow John, thank you so much for saying that! I truly do my best to be as introspective and transparent as possible on this channel, so it means a lot that you'd say this. It truly means a ton!!
I couldn't agree more on point number 3. It's laughable that people will criticize you for living your own life instead of letting a reward seat availability slave you into a trip.
Amen! I completely agree with you here. That’s why I’ll never say one redemption style is better than another as long as you’re at or above your table minimum. Everyone’s strategy is unique!
Great video, Spencer... very honest and down to earth. You know who you are and stand by it. Its rare to see that for someone your age. Great video as always and have a Happy New Year. Tell Odin I said what's up!
Thank you so much Stayc! I really appreciate you saying that. At the end of the day, honesty and transparency are at the core of my channel and that'll always be the case. Odin and I both say happy new year to you as well!
Unfortunately that is true in some cases. However, I know that the circle of creators I call friends do not fit that description. It's always important to assess whether or not someone's telling the truth or not, and the best way I've found to tell is how much conviction they have about the topic they're covering. If it seems more like an ad than a review, that should raise red flags. However, at the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their opinion, so we can't be too quick to judge and instead use critical thinking to analyze these topics from our own perspective rather than taking someone's word from the internet at face value.
Happy New Year! Although still very early to “the game” I have quickly learned I am much more of a points realistic than a maximalist and simplicity far outweighs getting max value. My goal for 2025 is finishing up my core setup and fine tuning it in order to be able to feed my CSR and USBAR for simple 1.5 cpp redemptions while simultaneously leaving myself the option to maximize redemptions when available with my C1 duo, Chase trifecta/Inks, and Bilt. Hope you have a great 2025!
Same to you my man! That's so cool to hear your goals for 2025. You're in a prime position to really profit from the credit card game so I'm excited to hear how your setup continues to evolve. Also, I'm super jealous of your USBAR if I'm honest 😆 I hope you have a great year as well!!
I agree, always get a card that works out for you and not others and get cards that will benefit you and never rack up fees, I agree with #3. Have a happy new year 2025.
Great video man, as a young person getting in to credit cards my self it’s refreshing to see a different side compared to point maxing international business trips, i just want to have a fun and use the point i’ve accumulated to do so.
Thank you so much my man! I’m really glad this resonated with you. At the end of the day, you gotta put your points to work and not let them do the same to you!
Just booked travel to Florida for Feb. Some hotel stays were great use of points for max value. Others some would say were horrible use of points (Amex transferred to Hilton for example) but it meant I covered a lot of the travel costs at no out of pocket. The stress relief and money to put toward food and activities makes it worthwhile even though I basically drained all of my Hilton points.
Great video Spencer! Really like how you and I are on the same page when it comes to cents per point. It’s all about where you want to travel and then figure out the best redemption. You are in control of your points, not the other way around! Happy new year bro! We should meet up in 2025 and collab. 🎉
Thanks so much Stan! I agree with you here 100%. I'm not gonna force myself to be someone I'm not. I love my domestic economy trips! We'll definitely meet up in 2025... hopefully a few times! Happy New Year to you too my man 👊🏼
Great video, Spencer! I’m right there with you, I travel when I want and then maximize the redemption from there - versus finding the top redemption and traveling because of it.
Thank you so much Beau! It sounds like we're on the same page when it comes to redemptions. We put our points to work for us rather than us working for them.
"Banks are not your friend" Funny thing about this statement is that the average person treats banks LIKE a friend whom they borrowed money from. "Sorry man, I don't have it..."
Loved the video and your thoughts! I think we align on most of points of view. Particularly, I’ve always thought it was silly for people to obviously go out of their way to get the AMEX Plat/Gold cards. You’re either extremely wealthy and don’t care about the fees, are overspending to earn points so you can “justify” having them, or are getting them “just cause”. Subscribed and looking forward to more content!
I tend to agree mostly. I recently redeemed about 45000 Chase points and $27 for two nights in a nice hotel through the Chase Portal. I was thrilled. No maximized redemption. No stressing. No problem.
That's awesome to hear! I love redemptions like that. At the end of the day, you won't remember the CPP you got in 10 years, just the memories from the trip.
Great content! Do you have tools to help track and monitor points and miles utilization for all your credit cards accounts to stay on top of balances especially when booking trips? Thank you.
Wow, thank you so much for saying that! I'm a big fan of a lot of creators in this space and their quality of content, so knowing that's how you feel means a lot.
After listening to your recent videos on the CSR I went back and redid my numbers and since my family and I travel mostly domestic we are going to start running my chase trio and my wife is getting the CSR. I will be keeping the VX just because it offsets the annual fee so easily, but I think we will be done on cards for a while since /I don't want to pay those fees at Amex. I wouldn't be able to justify the annual fees and would over spend taking advantage of the gold card credits. Plus with the Sapphire lounge opening in PHL, we will have a lounge to go to finally. Great content, looking forward to more videos in 2025.
That's so cool to hear! It's crazy what a good EAF calculation can do for you. I'm excited to hear how the CSR treats you! Thank you so much for the support.
The welcome offer is awesome. The best part of the welcome offer is by the end of one cycle from different banks, the first one will be available again. Except AMEX.
USBAR rocks! That 50% boost is so hard to beat when traveling domestically. I just started the “game” and will be adding 2-3 cards a year. Not an aggressive rate but it’s good enough to learn which ecosystems make the most sense. Really hoping Citi strata elite really changes the game on the high end but I am not holding my breath.
I'm glad to have the CSR that does the same for me! Just wish I could cash out those points at a 1.5cpp redemption rate as well like you can do with your USBAR. As for your approach to the credit card game, that makes a ton of sense! You're doing everything right for you and that's what's important. Fingers crossed we see something come out of the Strata Elite this year!
I love both of those guys, but my redemption strategy is definitely more similar to Stan’s which is why I resonate a lot with his content like yourself. I’m proud to be listed in the same sentence as those two, so thank you for saying that!
The next round of coupons for AMEX are as follows 120 gas station credit for beef jerky and red bull Redbox yearly subscription Taxes filled through turbo tax waived
I have 4 Chase cards 3 business and 1 personal. I really want the CSR and BIC cards. I haven’t used any of my points yet and also got the 120k points with the BIP which I get beginning in January. I’m excited to start using my points for trips and get the elevated 50% from booking from the Chase travel portal.
@ Yes, Ija ent used any of my points yet from either of the card which bonuses I accumulated. That’s 2 business card because the first one I didn’t meet the spend requirement unfortunately. I knew I couldn’t let that happen again. I did it with one personal card which I used for a balance transfer The CFU. Also the BIU I didn’t meet that sorbs requirement. Now I’m on a roll with the BIP and the BIPremier.
Amex quality started going down way before 2024. It happened before Covid, we just didn’t start paying attention until 2023/2024. Matter of fact, the last time I remember Amex concierge being worth anything was in January 2009. So somewhere between then and January 2020 is when the decline happened. This is one of many reasons I am canceling my Plat in August.
It's been a gradual decline for sure. I think the reason it became more apparent last year is because so many people have gotten involved in the credit card game so the pain has been shared by more than previously. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!
About Lesson 3…. I feel that Spencer has the flexibility to NOT be a points maximalist BECAUSE he earns A LOT OF POINTS through REFERRALS. Let us not forget that…
That's definitely true! Hence why I covered that topic in that section. For some, it makes sense to stockpile points for one big trip here and there while for others who play the game more like I do (getting a new SUB every few months), you can afford to take lower CPP rates. Thanks for the comment!
Hahah that definitely seems to be the case. We’ll see how people’s mindset shifts on them this year with the updates they’ll make to their cards. Thanks for watching as always man!
I get 100% of all the credits minus the Duncan credit, so the $325 fee doesn’t feel nearly as heavy to me tbh, considering all the other benefits of the card. That being said I can see why a lot of folks wouldn’t be into it. If you don’t live in areas where you can use them easily or have to alter your behavior it def probably wouldn’t make sense. It’s the same with the platinum. If you are the type who wants to maximize use to offset AF and can’t do it, it won’t be a good card for you.
I gave up my platinum am ex. 5ere new lounge policy sucks, and the fact that they are still way over crowded. And increasing the yearly and making it a coupon book, no way. However, I do have the am ex Hilton aspire. Love it
I completely get where you're coming from! I love certain Amex cards, but others just don't work for my lifestyle which is the case for everyone. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Quick question I have after watching several of your videos-if I have the AMEX Gold and the Chase Sapphire Reserve, how do I spend each to maximize? They both have offers with groceries/dining, so I'm wondering your thoughts
all points are great. FOR NOW my gold card brings me value. I eat out more then I'm home and I make use of most if not all of the credits. I also feel I can when I start building other eco systems. but.. the second it has no value to me I'll get rid of it.
I've learned to be more patient (albeit too late) and that annual fees are not always a bad thing (though with Amex constantly raising fees I'll have to be cautious of that)
For the most part, every travel portal is competitive these days. You always need to cross-reference to be sure, but I personally use the Chase portal almost exclusively and that's because of the boost I get paired with the fact that the cash prices are accurate to the company websites.
I totally agree with you Spence. I personally have never (in the year of doing points and miles) redeemed points for a hotel, because I don’t travel to see a total, but rather a city, and I just want to travel for free. With the CSP and Bilt card I’ve booked three free flights for a 1.25 CPP, and I couldn’t care less that the CPP wasn’t higher, the point is the flights were FREE!!! Someone suggesting “ONLY” 1.5 CPP is kinda funny to me!
This is so great to hear! You're traveling in a manner that suits your natural habits, and that's the best thing you can do. I'm glad that point resonated with you!
I’m moving my spend more towards Citi and the CSR. With Citi trending towards adding American Airlines as a transfer partner, there will be huge value there. I think Hyatt could be added as well, since AA and Hyatt have a partnership. Only things that suck with Citi are customer service and no Visa outside of the Costco card
I completely get where you're coming from! Funny enough, I'm kinda doing the same with my Custom Cash, Strata Premier, and CSR. Excited to see what they come out with this year!
Hey man, I will be working in the US as an international student for the next 6 months and need to open an account in a US bank, as a complete beginner with no credit score, how would you go about it? Thanks
To be honest, I'm not super knowledgeable on this topic, but I bet there are videos dedicated to this exact situation. I'm pretty sure my friend Kevin Yang did this a while back on a visa from Canada, so it may be worth checking out with him!
I agree with you 100% it’s nice to be able to redeem the points for higher values but for a short flight less than 10 hours I don’t care to fly business a lot of travels I pay out of pocket then why would I care about points? Because I might as well get something out of it if I am gone spend the same amount of money. I’ll find a way to use my points at some point. Haha. Til then I’m more than ok paying whatever it cost me out of pocket to do what I wanna do!!
I just can't get over these high annual fee cards.... I'm new to the game but I just can't wrap my head around those fees!!! haha I'm sticking to no annual fee cards for now. haha
I completely get it! Never force yourself into one, just remember that every card has an effective annual fee to be calculated rather than taking the sticker annual fee at face value.
AMEX has always had a specific demographic 😅 that's not new. I'm just only sticking with them cause they have blue cash everyday and I get credit back on my Disney bundle and it makes for a good Christmas shopping card. If they switched up this no annual fee card I'm out lol
Do you take economy flights? I personally prefer to take the economy flights through the chase portal if it means I’m using less points overall. I understand people’s desire for luxury and a better cpp value but when I’m traveling with a family of 5, I really just want to redeem the flight for as close to free as possible 😅
Absolutely! I've only ever taken one business-class flight in my entire life and I've traveled quite a bit. I'm more than happy flying economy for much cheaper as long as it's not a super long-haul international flight.
We have very similar travel habits, probably why I follow you. 😅 but I messed up last year and got to 6/24 because I thought I don’t care about Chase and their stupid rule. 😂 Anyway, I started doing business cards to finally get under 5/24 next year. One good option I found is the Biz platinum’s point rebate on flight bookings. It is less flexible but it gives you 1.54 cpp effective value on all bookings for your selected airline (which for domestic flights, you probably have one you frequently use) and all business and first class on any airlines. What do you think of this? I’m waiting for my mailer to get to 250k offer before I get it though.
That's awesome man! I love getting connected with folks who have similar travel habits. Great note on the Biz Platinum btw. I'm hoping to put that benefit to use a ton in 2025, so we'll see how that pans out. I think that's a really smart move as long as you'll use the other benefits on the card to help offset the AF as well.
Yeah I don’t do max value of points. I got the AMEX Charles Schwab and invest all my points. In the long run it will be worth way more than 2 cents per point.
That's awesome. I have plans to make a video about that exact redemption strategy, so hopefully you enjoy that one. If you want to DM me about your experience so far, I'd love to include that in the video! Just hit me up on Instagram if so (@spencerjohnsonofficial).
Hey, so I have the Amex Plat and the CSP. Do you think having the CSR and downgrading the Plat to the Gold would work about the same? TIA and appreciate the content 🙏
Depends on how you're using the Amex platinum. If you're using it just for the 5x flights and centurion lounges, then it would not work the same. If you're keeping that card just for the MR ecosystem, you're probably better off getting a free Amex blue business plus, because that card would pair better with the CSR as a catch all card that provides MR pts.
I agree with Tommy below. It all depends on what exact benefits you need from each card. To add to what he said, an example of a benefit you need to compare between the two is their lounge accesses. If that's something you value and you have a Centurion lounge in your home airport, then the CSR wouldn't be advantageous there. However, if you really like that 50% boost on the CSR and don't care for the Platinum cards benefits as much, it could make more sense to focus on that one. Hopefully that helps a bit!
Couldn't agree more about people misusing their points in the goal of "max value". Seems backwards to me. Primary way I use UR points is transferring to Hyatt and getting ~2cpp for rooms for my family to go to Disney World. Wife and I will get about 180k in SUB UR points this year. That's over 20 nights at the Hyatt Place near Disney World. Max value? Probably not but it makes those 3-4 trips each year attainable for us.
I resonate with your redemption strategy heavily! That's exactly how I think about my redemption strategy as well. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the topic!
I’m in the Amex ecosystem now, ONLY for the SUBs. I’m a frugal spender, they’re not for me and I’m not trying to run around using useless credits either.
That's basically the only reason I'm in their ecosystem right now myself. Their business card SUBs are awesome, plus they have some solid cobranded options as well. Other than that, they aren't for me right now.
What would you say is the annual revenue or credit card spend for someone to have AMEX make sense? I’m sure there’s no magic number, just curious what you think!
Great question. For the Gold card specifically, you’ll see people state that you should be spending at least $25k pre-refresh ($32.5k now) for the card to make sense compared to a free alternative like the Savor that gives 1x less per dollar spent on dining and groceries, but of course that doesn’t take into account the credits and benefits. Everyone’s magic number will be different, but the important thing to realize is that there are so many options out there these days so Amex’s cards aren’t as competitive as they used to be.
@ good point. I’m thinking about Citi SP in 2026 if I don’t get enough out of Amex Gold. The refreshed credits actually work better in our spending habits so going to be interesting to analyze next fall
I got a 132 miles first/business on AA to the U.K., and 70 miles in economy back to Seattle plus a total of $300. I used 5 Marriott certificates for my stay. It has been a hell of a trip that I would of spend double the miles if needed.
🎉 Happy New Year y’all! Let’s kick 2025 off with a bang. What credit card lessons did YOU learn this year?
🚨 Best Card Offers: spencerjohnsoncards.com/bonuses
In 2024, I realized 3 things with credit cards. 1. An imperfect, but simpler setup is better than trying to chase nickels and dimes. 2. Including a general-purpose travel card wouldn't be such a bad idea, especially seeing as I'm nearing the end of my student loans and would like to travel a bit more. 3. If I factor in my natural spending habits, the only general-purpose travel card's SUB I could realistically achieve is the Wells Fargo Autograph. However, I'd prefer to go for one of the Sapphire cards, seeing as I already have a Freedom Unlimited. Granted, I could apply for one of the Sapphire cards with the knowledge that I'm likely not hitting the SUB, but that's leaving money on the table.
What this all boils down to is as much as I'd like to jump on the travel train, cashback cards are a better financial fit for me for the time being. I didn't choose the cashback life; the cashback life chose me.
Love that third point. I feel like a lot of people feel like they need to go do those big international business trips because they see others do it but it’s all about what makes sense for someone as an individual. Great video as always, Spencer!
I’m really happy that resonated with you! I completely agree with what you said here. You gotta make your cards/redemptions fit your lifestyle, not the other way around.
@@SpencerJohnsonOfficial 13:04 it all depends on the spending habits and lifestyles, not to mention all those limited-time promos that the credit card issuers and their transfer partners offer as well
I agree. I’m looking to use my points to get us to Disneyland. Found that virgin has a good value and I’ll use a transfer bonus to sweeten it further. Doesn’t have to be rocket science.
@@WroteItLikeABook I’m one of those people that do big international business trips because it suits my field of business. I work internationally as utilize my cards to make the see requirements as much as possible. If I didn’t work internationally and didn’t get reimbursed for spend I wouldn’t recommend it for those don’t need to travel often internationally. You can really jam yourself if you can’t at back the charges.
I feel like this is one of the youngest content creators in the game yet has the most common sense wisdom in his channel. Love that you continue to give realistic financial wisdom, in a sea of Instagram click bait videos that might as well be Expedia ads. Can’t thank you enough!
Wow John, thank you so much for saying that! I truly do my best to be as introspective and transparent as possible on this channel, so it means a lot that you'd say this. It truly means a ton!!
Frankly being put in pop up jail should be seen as an achievement. You’ve broken Amex’s system and aren’t profitable lol.
Hahah that's a great way to look at it.
I couldn't agree more on point number 3. It's laughable that people will criticize you for living your own life instead of letting a reward seat availability slave you into a trip.
Amen! I completely agree with you here. That’s why I’ll never say one redemption style is better than another as long as you’re at or above your table minimum. Everyone’s strategy is unique!
I like your common sense practical approach to cards and points. Happy New Year and happy travels!!
Awesome video!!!
Great video, Spencer... very honest and down to earth. You know who you are and stand by it. Its rare to see that for someone your age. Great video as always and have a Happy New Year. Tell Odin I said what's up!
Thank you so much Stayc! I really appreciate you saying that. At the end of the day, honesty and transparency are at the core of my channel and that'll always be the case. Odin and I both say happy new year to you as well!
What 2024 Taught Me About Credit Cards.... that content creators tell you anything to get more likes and referrals lol
Unfortunately that is true in some cases. However, I know that the circle of creators I call friends do not fit that description. It's always important to assess whether or not someone's telling the truth or not, and the best way I've found to tell is how much conviction they have about the topic they're covering. If it seems more like an ad than a review, that should raise red flags. However, at the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their opinion, so we can't be too quick to judge and instead use critical thinking to analyze these topics from our own perspective rather than taking someone's word from the internet at face value.
💯
Happy New Year! Although still very early to “the game” I have quickly learned I am much more of a points realistic than a maximalist and simplicity far outweighs getting max value. My goal for 2025 is finishing up my core setup and fine tuning it in order to be able to feed my CSR and USBAR for simple 1.5 cpp redemptions while simultaneously leaving myself the option to maximize redemptions when available with my C1 duo, Chase trifecta/Inks, and Bilt. Hope you have a great 2025!
Same to you my man! That's so cool to hear your goals for 2025. You're in a prime position to really profit from the credit card game so I'm excited to hear how your setup continues to evolve. Also, I'm super jealous of your USBAR if I'm honest 😆 I hope you have a great year as well!!
Well said!
Use the points, don’t let the points use you! I love that, homie. 💯👍🏾
Amen! I appreciate you watching a ton 👊🏼
I agree, always get a card that works out for you and not others and get cards that will benefit you and never rack up fees, I agree with #3. Have a happy new year 2025.
That's right!! Happy New Year to you as well James!
@@SpencerJohnsonOfficialthank you
I loved this video! Makes a lot of sense. Thank you for this video
Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching.
Great video man, as a young person getting in to credit cards my self it’s refreshing to see a different side compared to point maxing international business trips, i just want to have a fun and use the point i’ve accumulated to do so.
Thank you so much my man! I’m really glad this resonated with you. At the end of the day, you gotta put your points to work and not let them do the same to you!
Just booked travel to Florida for Feb. Some hotel stays were great use of points for max value. Others some would say were horrible use of points (Amex transferred to Hilton for example) but it meant I covered a lot of the travel costs at no out of pocket. The stress relief and money to put toward food and activities makes it worthwhile even though I basically drained all of my Hilton points.
Great video Spencer! Really like how you and I are on the same page when it comes to cents per point. It’s all about where you want to travel and then figure out the best redemption. You are in control of your points, not the other way around! Happy new year bro! We should meet up in 2025 and collab. 🎉
Thanks so much Stan! I agree with you here 100%. I'm not gonna force myself to be someone I'm not. I love my domestic economy trips! We'll definitely meet up in 2025... hopefully a few times! Happy New Year to you too my man 👊🏼
Great video, Spencer! I’m right there with you, I travel when I want and then maximize the redemption from there - versus finding the top redemption and traveling because of it.
Thank you so much Beau! It sounds like we're on the same page when it comes to redemptions. We put our points to work for us rather than us working for them.
"Banks are not your friend" Funny thing about this statement is that the average person treats banks LIKE a friend whom they borrowed money from. "Sorry man, I don't have it..."
Excellent and a very level-headed video about cards and points. Buying points is also a good source of value in the points game
Thanks so much for the kind words! Buying points is definitely an interesting approach that I want to explore further.
Thank you for sharing your philosophy! Happy new year!
Absolutely! I'll always be as open and honest with everything as possible! Happy New Year to you as well.
Tremendous video! The 3 key points resonate given everything that happened in the credit card ecosystem especially #1
Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm really glad these points resonated with you.
Loved the video and your thoughts! I think we align on most of points of view. Particularly, I’ve always thought it was silly for people to obviously go out of their way to get the AMEX Plat/Gold cards. You’re either extremely wealthy and don’t care about the fees, are overspending to earn points so you can “justify” having them, or are getting them “just cause”.
Subscribed and looking forward to more content!
That's so great to hear. I completely agree with you! Thank you so much for the support and I look forward to chatting more in the future as well.
I tend to agree mostly. I recently redeemed about 45000 Chase points and $27 for two nights in a nice hotel through the Chase Portal. I was thrilled. No maximized redemption. No stressing. No problem.
That's awesome to hear! I love redemptions like that. At the end of the day, you won't remember the CPP you got in 10 years, just the memories from the trip.
Happy New Year Spencer! Hope 2025 treats you well
Same to you Jake!! I appreciate you as always.
Great content! Do you have tools to help track and monitor points and miles utilization for all your credit cards accounts to stay on top of balances especially when booking trips? Thank you.
No offense to other youtube cc creators, but your contents are the best. Well done and keep it up!! 🎉
Wow, thank you so much for saying that! I'm a big fan of a lot of creators in this space and their quality of content, so knowing that's how you feel means a lot.
Great take
After listening to your recent videos on the CSR I went back and redid my numbers and since my family and I travel mostly domestic we are going to start running my chase trio and my wife is getting the CSR. I will be keeping the VX just because it offsets the annual fee so easily, but I think we will be done on cards for a while since /I don't want to pay those fees at Amex. I wouldn't be able to justify the annual fees and would over spend taking advantage of the gold card credits. Plus with the Sapphire lounge opening in PHL, we will have a lounge to go to finally. Great content, looking forward to more videos in 2025.
That's so cool to hear! It's crazy what a good EAF calculation can do for you. I'm excited to hear how the CSR treats you! Thank you so much for the support.
The welcome offer is awesome. The best part of the welcome offer is by the end of one cycle from different banks, the first one will be available again. Except AMEX.
Very true! They've played a massive role in my ability to travel in the ways I want to, so I'm a big fan of them.
You should do a video on the Robinhood gold card
It's an interesting product for sure... thanks for the idea!
USBAR rocks! That 50% boost is so hard to beat when traveling domestically. I just started the “game” and will be adding 2-3 cards a year. Not an aggressive rate but it’s good enough to learn which ecosystems make the most sense. Really hoping Citi strata elite really changes the game on the high end but I am not holding my breath.
I'm glad to have the CSR that does the same for me! Just wish I could cash out those points at a 1.5cpp redemption rate as well like you can do with your USBAR. As for your approach to the credit card game, that makes a ton of sense! You're doing everything right for you and that's what's important. Fingers crossed we see something come out of the Strata Elite this year!
@ when the sapphire lounge opens in Philly I may be adding the CSR myself.
This vid tells me that as a credit card warrior, I'm more of a Spencer Johnson + Stan the Credit 🐸than a Sebby. 🤔🐸💳
I love both of those guys, but my redemption strategy is definitely more similar to Stan’s which is why I resonate a lot with his content like yourself. I’m proud to be listed in the same sentence as those two, so thank you for saying that!
The next round of coupons for AMEX are as follows
120 gas station credit for beef jerky and red bull
Redbox yearly subscription
Taxes filled through turbo tax waived
Hahahah don't give them ideas!!
I have 4 Chase cards 3 business and 1 personal. I really want the CSR and BIC cards. I haven’t used any of my points yet and also got the 120k points with the BIP which I get beginning in January. I’m excited to start using my points for trips and get the elevated 50% from booking from the Chase travel portal.
It sounds like you have an awesome stockpile of points right now! I love to hear it. Super stoked to hear about your future redemptions!
@ Yes, Ija ent used any of my points yet from either of the card which bonuses I accumulated. That’s 2 business card because the first one I didn’t meet the spend requirement unfortunately. I knew I couldn’t let that happen again. I did it with one personal card which I used for a balance transfer The CFU. Also the BIU I didn’t meet that sorbs requirement. Now I’m on a roll with the BIP and the BIPremier.
13:37 ouch. But you're right... Time to think about redeeming
Haha I'm sorry I made that so blunt, but I think it's an important reminder, even for myself!
Happy New Year Spencer
Same to you Dalton!
Amex quality started going down way before 2024. It happened before Covid, we just didn’t start paying attention until 2023/2024. Matter of fact, the last time I remember Amex concierge being worth anything was in January 2009. So somewhere between then and January 2020 is when the decline happened. This is one of many reasons I am canceling my Plat in August.
It's been a gradual decline for sure. I think the reason it became more apparent last year is because so many people have gotten involved in the credit card game so the pain has been shared by more than previously. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!
About Lesson 3…. I feel that Spencer has the flexibility to NOT be a points maximalist BECAUSE he earns A LOT OF POINTS through REFERRALS.
Let us not forget that…
That's definitely true! Hence why I covered that topic in that section. For some, it makes sense to stockpile points for one big trip here and there while for others who play the game more like I do (getting a new SUB every few months), you can afford to take lower CPP rates. Thanks for the comment!
I only have 2 credit card and both of them set up for auto pay for the whole balance in full
That's awesome! Keeping those smart financial habits is key.
@SpencerJohnsonOfficial I have the Verizon credit card and the Capital One savor card
I don't have a problem with anything you said, but that shirt is a problem 😆
Hahah HOOK EM!! 😉
I feel like all of these "negative" Amex changes are meant to stop folks like you from applying.
Correct! That's kinda my whole thesis lol. They hate people who take value from them without giving them much in return.
Amex gold can have an annual fee of 1000, and its fanboy will still be able to 'justify' the annual fee.
Hahah that definitely seems to be the case. We’ll see how people’s mindset shifts on them this year with the updates they’ll make to their cards. Thanks for watching as always man!
I get 100% of all the credits minus the Duncan credit, so the $325 fee doesn’t feel nearly as heavy to me tbh, considering all the other benefits of the card.
That being said I can see why a lot of folks wouldn’t be into it. If you don’t live in areas where you can use them easily or have to alter your behavior it def probably wouldn’t make sense. It’s the same with the platinum. If you are the type who wants to maximize use to offset AF and can’t do it, it won’t be a good card for you.
I gave up my platinum am ex. 5ere new lounge policy sucks, and the fact that they are still way over crowded. And increasing the yearly and making it a coupon book, no way. However, I do have the am ex Hilton aspire. Love it
I completely get where you're coming from! I love certain Amex cards, but others just don't work for my lifestyle which is the case for everyone. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
AMEX HATER!!!!
JK Spencer, love the video and happy new year!
🤣🤣 Thank you so much! Happy New Year to you too!
Quick question I have after watching several of your videos-if I have the AMEX Gold and the Chase Sapphire Reserve, how do I spend each to maximize? They both have offers with groceries/dining, so I'm wondering your thoughts
all points are great. FOR NOW my gold card brings me value. I eat out more then I'm home and I make use of most if not all of the credits. I also feel I can when I start building other eco systems. but.. the second it has no value to me I'll get rid of it.
That's a great way to look at every card in your setup! Especially the high AF ones.
I've learned to be more patient (albeit too late) and that annual fees are not always a bad thing (though with Amex constantly raising fees I'll have to be cautious of that)
Those are great lessons to learn for sure! Super important for a lot of us to hear. Thanks for sharing Peter!
Would you say that Chase travel and Capital One travel are relatively the same in terms of value for points earned?
For the most part, every travel portal is competitive these days. You always need to cross-reference to be sure, but I personally use the Chase portal almost exclusively and that's because of the boost I get paired with the fact that the cash prices are accurate to the company websites.
I will also cancel AMEX. Very tedious experience
It's great to be able to recognize when a card doesn't make sense for you anymore.
I totally agree with you Spence.
I personally have never (in the year of doing points and miles) redeemed points for a hotel, because I don’t travel to see a total, but rather a city, and I just want to travel for free.
With the CSP and Bilt card I’ve booked three free flights for a 1.25 CPP, and I couldn’t care less that the CPP wasn’t higher, the point is the flights were FREE!!!
Someone suggesting “ONLY” 1.5 CPP is kinda funny to me!
This is so great to hear! You're traveling in a manner that suits your natural habits, and that's the best thing you can do. I'm glad that point resonated with you!
I’m moving my spend more towards Citi and the CSR. With Citi trending towards adding American Airlines as a transfer partner, there will be huge value there. I think Hyatt could be added as well, since AA and Hyatt have a partnership. Only things that suck with Citi are customer service and no Visa outside of the Costco card
I completely get where you're coming from! Funny enough, I'm kinda doing the same with my Custom Cash, Strata Premier, and CSR. Excited to see what they come out with this year!
you currently hold 16 CC’s? did i hear that correct?
Correct!
Hey man, I will be working in the US as an international student for the next 6 months and need to open an account in a US bank, as a complete beginner with no credit score, how would you go about it? Thanks
To be honest, I'm not super knowledgeable on this topic, but I bet there are videos dedicated to this exact situation. I'm pretty sure my friend Kevin Yang did this a while back on a visa from Canada, so it may be worth checking out with him!
I agree with you 100% it’s nice to be able to redeem the points for higher values but for a short flight less than 10 hours I don’t care to fly business a lot of travels I pay out of pocket then why would I care about points? Because I might as well get something out of it if I am gone spend the same amount of money. I’ll find a way to use my points at some point. Haha. Til then I’m more than ok paying whatever it cost me out of pocket to do what I wanna do!!
It sounds like we think very alike! I completely resonate with your redemption habits here. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
@ looks like it (: happy new year!
I just can't get over these high annual fee cards.... I'm new to the game but I just can't wrap my head around those fees!!! haha I'm sticking to no annual fee cards for now. haha
I completely get it! Never force yourself into one, just remember that every card has an effective annual fee to be calculated rather than taking the sticker annual fee at face value.
AMEX has always had a specific demographic 😅 that's not new.
I'm just only sticking with them cause they have blue cash everyday and I get credit back on my Disney bundle and it makes for a good Christmas shopping card.
If they switched up this no annual fee card I'm out lol
Why is it a good Christmas shopping card?
@oscargomez7070 because I get 3% online, in addition to their deals they have through their own app. Very similar to Capital Ones shopping portal.
Very true! Their cashback cards are great. It's the high annual fee charge cards to be careful with for the most part.
Do you take economy flights? I personally prefer to take the economy flights through the chase portal if it means I’m using less points overall. I understand people’s desire for luxury and a better cpp value but when I’m traveling with a family of 5, I really just want to redeem the flight for as close to free as possible 😅
Absolutely! I've only ever taken one business-class flight in my entire life and I've traveled quite a bit. I'm more than happy flying economy for much cheaper as long as it's not a super long-haul international flight.
We have very similar travel habits, probably why I follow you. 😅 but I messed up last year and got to 6/24 because I thought I don’t care about Chase and their stupid rule. 😂 Anyway, I started doing business cards to finally get under 5/24 next year. One good option I found is the Biz platinum’s point rebate on flight bookings. It is less flexible but it gives you 1.54 cpp effective value on all bookings for your selected airline (which for domestic flights, you probably have one you frequently use) and all business and first class on any airlines. What do you think of this? I’m waiting for my mailer to get to 250k offer before I get it though.
That's awesome man! I love getting connected with folks who have similar travel habits. Great note on the Biz Platinum btw. I'm hoping to put that benefit to use a ton in 2025, so we'll see how that pans out. I think that's a really smart move as long as you'll use the other benefits on the card to help offset the AF as well.
Yeah I don’t do max value of points. I got the AMEX Charles Schwab and invest all my points. In the long run it will be worth way more than 2 cents per point.
That's awesome. I have plans to make a video about that exact redemption strategy, so hopefully you enjoy that one. If you want to DM me about your experience so far, I'd love to include that in the video! Just hit me up on Instagram if so (@spencerjohnsonofficial).
Sent on IG
Hey, so I have the Amex Plat and the CSP. Do you think having the CSR and downgrading the Plat to the Gold would work about the same?
TIA and appreciate the content 🙏
Depends on how you're using the Amex platinum. If you're using it just for the 5x flights and centurion lounges, then it would not work the same. If you're keeping that card just for the MR ecosystem, you're probably better off getting a free Amex blue business plus, because that card would pair better with the CSR as a catch all card that provides MR pts.
I agree with Tommy below. It all depends on what exact benefits you need from each card. To add to what he said, an example of a benefit you need to compare between the two is their lounge accesses. If that's something you value and you have a Centurion lounge in your home airport, then the CSR wouldn't be advantageous there. However, if you really like that 50% boost on the CSR and don't care for the Platinum cards benefits as much, it could make more sense to focus on that one. Hopefully that helps a bit!
I am in the stage of 💕 American Express,.. Don’t Live Life Without It 🥂
I get it!! If their cards make sense for you, they're great!
Thank you Spencer bae. Welcome to the matrix, the multiverse is open.
Hahah no problem at all.
Couldn't agree more about people misusing their points in the goal of "max value". Seems backwards to me. Primary way I use UR points is transferring to Hyatt and getting ~2cpp for rooms for my family to go to Disney World. Wife and I will get about 180k in SUB UR points this year. That's over 20 nights at the Hyatt Place near Disney World. Max value? Probably not but it makes those 3-4 trips each year attainable for us.
I resonate with your redemption strategy heavily! That's exactly how I think about my redemption strategy as well. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the topic!
I’m in the Amex ecosystem now, ONLY for the SUBs. I’m a frugal spender, they’re not for me and I’m not trying to run around using useless credits either.
That's basically the only reason I'm in their ecosystem right now myself. Their business card SUBs are awesome, plus they have some solid cobranded options as well. Other than that, they aren't for me right now.
What would you say is the annual revenue or credit card spend for someone to have AMEX make sense? I’m sure there’s no magic number, just curious what you think!
Great question. For the Gold card specifically, you’ll see people state that you should be spending at least $25k pre-refresh ($32.5k now) for the card to make sense compared to a free alternative like the Savor that gives 1x less per dollar spent on dining and groceries, but of course that doesn’t take into account the credits and benefits. Everyone’s magic number will be different, but the important thing to realize is that there are so many options out there these days so Amex’s cards aren’t as competitive as they used to be.
@ good point. I’m thinking about Citi SP in 2026 if I don’t get enough out of Amex Gold. The refreshed credits actually work better in our spending habits so going to be interesting to analyze next fall
@@TheJordanRulesforCredit Definitely keep me updated on that!
I have one more day to use my $50 Resy credit!! 😬 why did I wait so long. 😂
Oh no! That's how they get ya unfortunately. Hopefully you put it to use!
I got a 132 miles first/business on AA to the U.K., and 70 miles in economy back to Seattle plus a total of $300. I used 5 Marriott certificates for my stay. It has been a hell of a trip that I would of spend double the miles if needed.
Wow, that's awesome! I bet that trip gave you memories you'll never forget no matter what CPP value you got.
@SpencerJohnsonOfficial EXACTLY 💯
Second!
I appreciate you a ton brotha! 🥈
😊
You’re the man! 👑
Vocal fry.
Comment.
😊
Thanks for being here early! 🥉