What’s on my Mind? Bluebird and Walmart, Credit Card Sign Up / Spending Bonuses, Mercedes Benz Key Rings, Panda Express, Panera Bread, AMEX Statement Credits, BA Avios, and the Grand Canyon

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2014 New Years

What’s on my Mind? Bluebird and Walmart, Credit Card Sign Up / Spending Bonuses, Mercedes Benz Key Rings, Panda Express, Panera Bread, AMEX Statement Credits, BA Avios, and the Grand Canyon

Instead of posting several small blog posts, I decided to post everything here in 1 giant post.

1 – Which gift cards work at Walmart to reload a Bluebird Card?

Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post and shared their recent successes and failures of loading gift cards to Bluebird.  I compiled the results below. From looking at the list, it looks like every Visa gift card that you guys tried worked, so I am going to switch from buying $200 MasterCard gift cards issued by US Bank to buying $200 Visa gift cards issued by Metabank (Gift Card Mall).

WM BB Successes

I went to Walmart today (January 6) and loaded 2 $200 and a $500 Visa gift card successfully.
20140106-075543.jpg

 

2 – Credit card sign up bonuses post to account

American Express Hilton HHonors Surpass credit card – 50,000 Hilton HHonors points after spending $3,000 in 3 months (credit card statement has not closed yet).

50000 HH Points AMEX Surpass Bonus

US Bank Club Carlson credit card – 100,000 Club Carlson points after spending $3,000 in 3 months.  I need to see if I can find any good deals for my trip to Europe in a few weeks.

Club Carlson Bonus Club Carlson Bonus Posted

Chase IHG (Intercontinental Hotel Group) credit card – 80,000 IHG points post after spending $1,000 in 3 months.  I will probably save these points for Point Break hotels (5,000 IHG points per night), which equals 16 free nights.

IHG Points Post IHG Points Post Posted

Conversion from Chase Sapphire to Chase Freedom credit card points post.  I usually combine these points with my Chase Ink Bold Ultimate Reward Points balance.

Chase Freedom Bonus Points

 

3 – $100 in free Mercedes Benz merchandise and accessories

As an American Express Platinum Mercedes Benz credit card holder, I received this certificate:

AMEX MB Merchandise Front

Back of the certificate:

AMEX MB Merchandise Back

Receipt from the dealership, spent $103.36 on merchandise, used $100 certificate, and paid the rest with my American Express Mercedes Benz Platinum credit card, earning 5x Membership Reward Points.

Mercedes Benz Receipt

I bought 6 key rings/chains for $103 $3 and am currently selling them on Ebay (I will offer a good deal if anyone is interested, I already sold 1 heart-shaped key ring).

Mercedes Benz Key Rings Chains

 

4 – Plinking Panda Express

If you like Panda Express, make sure to add them to your Plink account.  I have a detailed tutorial (still in progress) here. Best deal is to buy $15 Panda Express gift cards when you go and then use your gift card on your meal.

Plinking Panda Express

 

5 – $200 American Express airline reimbursements post for Southwest Airlines

I purchased 2 $100 Southwest Airline gift cards on January 1 and received the statement credits on January 4.

SWA MR Statement Credit

AMEX SWA Credits

 

6 – Old Navy and Chico’s American Express statement credits

I bought gift cards to these places a few weeks ago and the statement credits have not posted yet.  I have called American Express twice and the reps say that it can take up to 8 weeks to post.  I don’t like waiting that long considering other statement credits post in less than 1 week.  I guess I will try to be patient…

Chicos Old Navy

 

7 – $5 off $15+ Panera Bread Purchase

I bought 2 $15 gift cards with my SPG and Blue Cash Preferred credit cards this morning, thanks to the current American Express Offers For You.

Panera Offer Panera Gift Cards

 

8 – Targeted offer for US Airways credit card holders

Earn up to 2,500 bonus US Airways miles after spending $500 at grocery stores, movie theaters, and utility payments. Who am I kidding, I just bought a $500 Visa gift card at Ralphs this morning.

US Airways CC 5x

 

9 – Horde or burn British Airways Avios?

Assuming you lived by LAX and wanted to fly to Dusseldorf, Germany, which Avios + Cash option would you select?  I guess it really depends how many Avios you have.

LAX DUS AB

If you value Avios at 1 cent, then you would select the 30,000 Avios option, but on the other hand, you could get a lot more value redeeming 9,000 Avios and $243 each way.  The last column is read as: buying 6,000 Avios for $80, … buying 21,000 Avios for $240.  The more Avios you buy, the cheaper they are.

Avios Conundrum

 

10 – Grand Canyon here I come!

When I was younger, maybe 4 or 5 years old, my parents took my younger brother and I on a road trip to the Grand Canyon.  Unfortunately, neither my brother nor I remember the trip at all and I’ve always wanted to go back.  So I got a pretty good deal for $222 from my home to Flagstaff, AZ.

SNA-FLG-SNA 222 RT

Got a pretty sweet deal on a hotel room at the Holiday Inn Express Grand Canyon.

Holiday Inn Express Grand Canyon

 

That’s it for now, what’s on your mind this weekend?


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16 thoughts on “What’s on my Mind? Bluebird and Walmart, Credit Card Sign Up / Spending Bonuses, Mercedes Benz Key Rings, Panda Express, Panera Bread, AMEX Statement Credits, BA Avios, and the Grand Canyon

  1. Jocelyn

    How about buying a $500 visa off giftcard website and loading to bb? Will that work? I only mentioned $200. Also those visa gc say u can use last 4 didgits for pin..is this correct?

    Reply
    1. Grant

      I usually set the PIN online or by phone before going to Walmart. I don’t want to go and try the last 4 numbers and have the transaction not go through.

      Reply
    1. Grant

      Gift card mall has the same fees as other gift card issuers. I’ve had great success with ebates and a lot of other cashback portals. I try to go with the one that has the highest cashback percentage and who hasn’t screwed me lately.

      Reply
  2. David

    Where in Europe are you visiting? I’ll be there the last week in Jan. Using miles and points for the air and hotel.

    Reply
      1. David

        Have a great time. I’ll be flying into Frankfurt, then visiting Zermatt (skiing), Zurich, Vienna, Berlin, then flying to Phuket before returning to the US

        Reply
  3. Ian

    I flew to Grand Canyon (FLG) a few years ago from LAX to FLG non-stop with Alaska / Horizon. As I recall the fare was about the same or less than what you are showing with US. It was a turbo-prop plane but very comfortable and no need to stop in PHX. I also remember renting a car in FLG for dirt cheap and the rental company didn’t have the economy car that I reserved so they gave me some Cadillac style car for the same price. It was a sweet deal. I think I stayed in the same HIE hotel when I was there, quite nice. Have fun.

    Reply
    1. Grant

      Wow you did everything I’m doing. I didn’t see any nonstop flights from LAX or SNA, they all go through PHX on US Airways now. Did you have a good time when you were there?

      Reply

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