I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[CyndiLouWho]

I called up Disney to try to payoff my reservation at CSR. I read off the numbers from my CSR to the CSR and finished the payment. So excited to stay at CSR and earn extra points on my CSR! See...that wasn’t so bad, right???

I will add RAT when I get a chance!

Sometimes I start reading and see DL and think they are going to Disneyland! Nope flying on Delta. I know Disneyland is DLR but in my head it’s sometimes DL. And I work in a medical field, deal with abbreviations and acronyms all day. Every year when new residents start, they make up a slew of new abbreviations. Drives me nuts.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I remember the conversation, and I want to say pizzy? I can’t keep up with the characters there.

Yeah - Pizzy and I have come to an understanding since then via some exchanges and PMs. (for real, that happened, lol)...

BUT he has a following of people that like to jump on his bandwagon too.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

This reminds me... we drove past a new senior living place the other night and it finally had a sign up. Bonaventure. All I could think was they must have talked to Marriott.

My HSA is the only reason I have to upgrade. It's like really? For a form that is no more complicated than say, the student loan interest from? (Though this will be my second year not having to file with the student loan interest deduction- yay!)

The Federal "Free" edition really is a joke...I know they say it's for the simplest tax returns but HSA and IRA are the two reasons I need to upgrade...I guess the free edition is only for "college students without a real job" or something because most people I know are going to have something in the HSA/IRA arena...

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Shockingly I’m toying with the idea of getting under 5/24 *gasp* for the first time ever and going back into the Chase playground simply because there is nothing compelling at the moment.

Guys...if I start talking about justifying HUGE Annual Fees...our world will have flipped upside down!

 

[pillow]

The Federal "Free" edition really is a joke...I know they say it's for the simplest tax returns but HSA and IRA are the two reasons I need to upgrade...I guess the free edition is only for "college students without a real job" or something because most people I know are going to have something in the HSA/IRA arena...

I think I read once that you can access all forms on the most basic Turbo Tax version - but that they don't hand hold you through the process with prompts, etc. So, if you know what you're doing, you may be able to simply search for the forms you need. They may have changed that, but its something to check.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Totally off topic, but from previous years...I know others here are TurboTax users but also frustrated with them...

Tonight, I go in, I enter a bunch of info...even though I'm using the standard deduction this year for the first time in forever (I have a strategy to play some games with my deductions every other year) I still need to upgrade to Deluxe due to my HSA and IRA stuff (I guess a simple return isn't actually simple). Oh well, no big deal...

I upgrade for $19.99. My personal tax spreadsheet comes to within $2 of my expected refund so I know everything is right but I'm still waiting on a few forms to verify numbers so I save and exit. I log back in...and it says my price is now $39.99. I try to clear and start over...it's $39.99...

This ALWAYS happens with TurboTax Every year it's some sort of bait and switch on the pricing!! They just drive me crazy (but I'm familiar with the system and it's easy to use so I just pay it and continue to hate them). Sorry - just had to vent...

I’ve never used the online version. I’m all old school and buy the disc. Lol. So they charge you more when you try to log back in? That stinks. I need the Premier since I have rental property and I also do my mom’s taxes, so I kind of justify it that way. I haven’t even gotten any tax forms yet, so not even started. Guess I need a trip to Costco to buy TurboTax tomorrow

 

[GlamMistress]

That's really frustrating, seriously. At least with the pop up you know not to expect anything....
I have to make a judgement call by 1/24 as to what to do about DH's BGR. Pay the $175 AF for a renewal? Upgrade to the Biz Gold and pay $295 for the increased earning structure? Cancel it and hope to get the Schwab in a couple months, or end of the year?

At this point, I'm leaning toward canceling the BGR, Amex Plat and Green this year and keep spending on the remaining Amex cards until end of the year and try to triple dip the Schwab then. Do you think I'm playing with fire? I don't really need to have the Schwab, it would just give me another option with the MRs. But since he's got the BBP (and I expect to keep the Amex Gold too) that will keep the MRs available for transfers which is what I hope to do sometime in our future. SPG Biz is a keeper too. Paying $720 in AFs (BGR, Plat, Green) would be a serious dent in the value of the MRs I have so far...

Don't keep any cards with fees just to placate a big bank. Only keep what you need in your day to day life and for your long term travel goals. Amex will still be around. When the next recession hits (and one is always coming) all these crazy churning rules will relax anyway.

I'm going to be DRASTICALLY cutting my Amex stable over the year as the cards come due. I'll keep my pink gold because my Amex gold has always been my ride or die but beyond that...

Shockingly I’m toying with the idea of getting under 5/24 *gasp* for the first time ever and going back into the Chase playground simply because there is nothing compelling at the moment. We’ve got enough points to cover all upcoming travel plans and room for a number of whims. I’d like the Marriott business card as a keeper even without a bonus. I’m finding great value with FN certs and would like to pick up the Hyatt card too. I don’t know that I will actually do that but I am thinking about it. I have to see where we both are and how long it will take to get under 5/24.

I'm now toying with getting both me and DH back under 5/24 as well. Like you there are no other cards we are interested in and UR are just... easy. It will take us awhile to get under 5/24 so I would have to map things out.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I remember the conversation, and I want to say pizzy? I can’t keep up with the characters there.

What? No spreadsheet?
Kidding, I envy your memory. I feel like my brain is oatmeal most days.

 

[GlamMistress]

I guess I'm the only person on here who goes to H&R Block to have taxes done. Ours our complicated with all my different freelance jobs in addition to full time work.

I did notice there's an H&R Block offer on Amex - it's for software I believe if that helps anyone. Last year there was an offer for actual tax prep.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I’ve never used the online version. I’m all old school and buy the disc. Lol. So they charge you more when you try to log back in? That stinks. I need the Premier since I have rental property and I also do my mom’s taxes, so I kind of justify it that way. I haven’t even gotten any tax forms yet, so not even started. Guess I need a trip to Costco to buy TurboTax tomorrow

I think I clicked on some other link when I came back in and probably lost that price, they're so weird, lol.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I guess I'm the only person on here who goes to H&R Block to have taxes done. Ours our complicated with all my different freelance jobs in addition to full time work.

I did notice there's an H&R Block offer on Amex - it's for software I believe if that helps anyone. Last year there was an offer for actual tax prep.

I really enjoy doing my taxes believe it or not. I used to do them by paper forms and then online fillable forms completely by hand (even in years that we had Self-Employment income and the like). Given my strange and analytical nature, enjoying reading tax laws probably doesn't surprise you guys, LOL

 

[havaneselover]

I’ve done tax hawk the last two years after tax act hiked their prices. I think the federal is free and the state is pretty cheap. I’d highly recommend it if anyone is looking for an alternative.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Huh, I got 1200 more Marriott points too... I’m not even sure I was missing any.

 

[GlamMistress]

I really enjoy doing my taxes believe it or not. I used to do them by paper forms and then online fillable forms completely by hand (even in years that we had Self-Employment income and the like). Given my strange and analytical nature, enjoying reading tax laws probably doesn't surprise you guys, LOL

No I'm not surprised, lol!

Last year our taxes cost $350 to have done. It's outrageous.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

No I'm not surprised, lol!

Last year our taxes cost $350 to have done. It's outrageous.

My new strategy is bundling our deductions. I'm trying to alternate years where we take the standard deduction and then itemize. And put as much of our itemized expenses into the "itemized" year by being strategic with charitable contributions and when we pay property taxes It's so fun to find a way to minimize my tax liability HAHA

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I guess I'm the only person on here who goes to H&R Block to have taxes done. Ours our complicated with all my different freelance jobs in addition to full time work.

I did notice there's an H&R Block offer on Amex - it's for software I believe if that helps anyone. Last year there was an offer for actual tax prep.

I used an accountant once, the first time we bought and sold a house. It seemed complicated. The accountant used TurboTax (albeit Pro edition). I figured I could do it and save money. If mine was more complicated I’d probably pay the accountant

 

[havaneselover]

Huh, I got 1200 more Marriott points too... I’m not even sure I was missing any.

I seemed to have gotten 2000 more and I thought I was missing 900. Who knows?

 

[GlamMistress]

My new strategy is bundling our deductions. I'm trying to alternate years where we take the standard deduction and then itemize. And put as much of our itemized expenses into the "itemized" year by being strategic with charitable contributions and when we pay property taxes It's so fun to find a way to minimize my tax liability HAHA

We're still going to be able to itemize and probably won't need to alternate. We'll see. I'm 99% sure we get to pay more taxes this year after the tax change over last. We're in that weird, super special group I guess.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I really enjoy doing my taxes believe it or not. I used to do them by paper forms and then online fillable forms completely by hand (even in years that we had Self-Employment income and the like). Given my strange and analytical nature, enjoying reading tax laws probably doesn't surprise you guys, LOL

Yeah, definitely not a surprise... lol.

I used the online H&R Block software last year and hated it, so I'm back to Turbo Tax this year. Though I am really looking forward to doing our taxes this year. We set both our withholdings to 0 last year out of concern over the new tax laws. We file separately and it looks like DH is going to get a ton of money back.

 

[Judique]

Thanks! DH was given another 2000 pts when they owed him 1900 (had credited 2 of his 1000 pt wins as only 50) I'll take it. Off to check mine. HATE that Bonvoy name!

I've never used a software program to do my taxes, always just do the free fillable forms and file online that way. My taxes are not too complicated.

Same here.