A successful morning manufactured spending run

Now that tourist season is over, its much easier to get about and make good use of my retired time. I’m an early riser and after grabbing coffee, I head to the Internet for email and to see what’s new in the manufactured spending world. Monday, October 1st, turned out to be a profitable one.

I found two Amex Offers that were just what I needed during Staples Fee-Free Visa Week. The first offer was buy $100 and get a $25 statement credit. I found it on both my and Katy’s Amex Business Blue cards. So no fees for the cards other than a money order for $399 and a quick $49 profit.

Next stop was the other Staples about 30 minutes away for a quick $1,000 purchase on each of two 5X Chase Ink Plus cards. Again, fee-free and I value those 10,000 Ultimate Rewards points at about $150, minus the minimal money order cost.

Next stop was a Kroger where Katy liquidated all $2,400 worth of $200 Visa gift cards for me for a total cost of $3.  It has been a while since I’ve had a smoooooth manufactured spending morning. This one is turning out to be just fine.

Sam’s Club manufactured spending deals

Off to Sam’s Club where I get to take advantage of the second Amex Offer that showed up early this morning, an extra 4X Membership Rewards points at Sam’s until December 31.

Using our Amex Business Blue cards, which normally pay 2X, we increased our yield to 6X and YES both the offers sent emails saying: “Great News you’ve used your Amex Offer.” On top of the 6X we also collected our $15 on Dosh. More on that in a minute.

Last two times at Sam’s I had problems. One time, the register would only accept one $250 gift card per credit card transaction. I like getting two with each card.

And the other time, the clerk keyed in the wrong amount the first time ($200 instead of $250) but I ended up getting a gift card loaded with $200 when I had actually paid $250. I eventually got a $50 credit on my Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card but I was clearly frustrated with Sam’s by then.

The final tally

So on this good trip, we did the following:

2x$25 statement credit at first Staples -99 MO fee = $49 profit<

$2,000 at Staples number 2 with INK for a value of $150 – MO = $145

$500 x 2 x 6X = 6000 Membership Rewards points at 1.25 cents each, less 4 x $4.88 fees and $2 MO fees but then add back the $30 Dosh credit =net profit on those four cards of $83.

Two and a half hours later I’m at the gym riding my exercise bike with a net gain of $277.

I know some of you do not have Dosh in your area for stores with easy payouts – I get that. I have two other apps that are worthless to me that may be working for you, PEI and Drop. But these three only represent the apps I originally studied which were “one and done” phone apps.

I have never looked at receipt upload apps where you photograph your receipt and send it in for a rebate. It seems there are lots of them out there.

Have any of you scored BIG with a receipt upload app? We can do this a couple of ways. You can share or hint what is working for you, or I can spend a retirement day or two looking it up, studying it myself to then share with you all. I hope it’s the former as I need a nap after that morning!

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