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

[pillow]

I had great luck with the Chase portal

I was playing around on the UR portal, but I was hesitant to buy tickets there since you can't choose seats. I didn't want to end up stuck behind a pole or way way over to the side. What were your seats like? I'm chicken to do it.

 

[DaisyDDuck]

IS RIGHT!! $6k??? When your bonus (or a tier of the a bonus) is barely worth Venmoing...that's when you know it's a bad deal!! You could spend about $175 to get 26,000 United miles...I don't know much about them, but I'd guess that is NOT worth it.

Hello everyone! Nice to meet you all.

How can one obtain 26,000 United miles for $175.00?

Thanks in advance for your response.

 

[mmmears]

I just saw the signature for your name. What a great Paris trip report. It was very detailed and thorough.
Going to London in October for a Wedding and will stay a few days in Paris before. I hope that is enough. Was
the train system easy to navigate? I will prob ask you some questions in the Paris forum closer to our date because
France makes me very nervous about going because i speak 0 french lol

Not @afan but I'll chime in and say that it's not a problem. I haven't taken a French class in over 20 years and can't remember anything. It really wasn't hard at all. Paris is such a pretty city. We stayed in the center (at the Park Hyatt, which is IIRC where afan stayed) on points. From there we were able to walk everywhere except Versailles & DLP (we took a local train to both).

I have no MSR I am working on. I feel kind of lost on where to go next. Dh ordered mulch that was delivered today. It was $250'ish. Asked me what card to use. I was like Then, today I picked my dd16 up from school at 1 and everyone was hungry. Went through drive thru and since I PC'ed the CSR to a CFU, I was frantically googling my cards IN THE DRIVE THRU LINE to try to figure out what card to use. Used the Costco citi since it's 3% cb at restaurants. But overall, I was left feeling rather empty and sad. I think I am addicted to having a MSR.

I totally get this. We are going slower this year, and DH is still working on his CIP#2's MSR, but I'm not sure what to apply for next. Too many options, too many pros and cons, etc. but I will feel weird without an MSR.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

You know how people say the cost of college has skyrocketed because the government has made student loans available to everyone? Couldn’t the same argument be made that since access to credit has become more widely accessible the cost of goods has gone up? If less people have access to credit would the cost of goods go down? Not sure what I think of this honestly but I’m interested in hearing your thoughts.

Whew...this one's deep, haha!

I definitely agree with the cost of college thing. It's such an anomaly to how a normal business operates though. Totally unrelated to this discussion, but there has to be a college bubble crash coming, right?? Their continued cost increase model just can't be sustainable. And how is it that when my dad went to college you could graduate in 3 to 4 years; when I went to college it suddenly was up to 4 to 5 years; now it seems undergrad is suddenly 5 years for a lot of programs... They basically figured out that if we make the degree program longer we can just make more revenue out of the same customer...

At any rate...has access to credit caused cost of goods to increase... Hmmmm Tough question... I think our society's addiction to spending money on stupid crap (and borrowing to do it) is probably the bigger issue. I still find that everything I need to buy is insanely affordable. Maybe this overlaps the FIRE thread a bit but I could easily support our family of 4 on < $26k per year (including our mortgage payment). Once that's gone I could get us down to about $20k. The things that I find overpriced are rarely a necessity but more-so a symptom of the entire keep up with the Joneses I see in almost all facets of my life now. (I wish the Joneses would decide to live in a van down by the river, now that would be my kind of competition!!!)

I guess I would agree with your statement (but modify it) to say that prices are increasing commensurate with people's access to capital. Is it a bit of a chicken or the egg question though? As in, are businesses raising the prices because they know we have access to the capital, or are we just sending a message to "please charge us more" because we have no self-control?

Stupid story - I recently ate at some "millennial type hot spot food court thingy" on Pittsburgh's North Shore. It was after a meeting and my co-worker said let's go there. And I bought a chicken sandwich (no fries, no drink...just a fancy-ish fried chicken sandwich) for $14 from a multiple piercing, colorful hair young lady at the register. (I don't point that out to judge, it's just an honest observation - definitely had way too "hip" of a vibe for me). And I'm sitting there saying...What stupid people pay $14 for a chicken sandwich...and then I look around and there's a lot of "stupid" people paying $14 for chicken...and then I think for another minute...I'm "stupid people"!! I bought the Chicken Sandwich... So are businesses charging more because we have access to capital...or are we just willing to borrow to have instagram worthy chicken sandwich experiences?? (Side Note...Arby's has a much better Chicken sandwich than this for like $3...ugh I still hate myself for my lunch choice that day)

I'm not sure I've really said anything here...haha!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Hello everyone! Nice to meet you all.

How can one obtain 26,000 United miles for $175.00?

Thanks in advance for your response.

Wait...you're actually lining up for this offer??? We were making fun of it saying it's a somewhat bad proposition. Are you a credit card churner? Welcome to our thread...we could get you a lot more than 26,000 United Miles without paying a fee (just from your normal spending)

 

[pillow]

Barclay Aviator Red (PERSONAL CARD) - New Bonus:
https://cards.barclaycardus.com/banking/cards/aadvantage-aviator-red-world-elite-mastercard/

I seem to recall the bonus here recently was 60k after 1 purchase...it has now changed to the following:

• Earn 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase in the first 90 days
• Earn an introductory Companion Certificate good for 1 guest at $99 (plus taxes and fees) after making your first purchase in the first 90 days

So you earn both of these items after making 1 Purchase (and paying your $99 annual fee). This is probably a better deal for those chasing AA for flights and a worse deal for those chasing AA for Disney hotels, or just hotels in general.

Either way this is a personal card and I know a lot of us under 5/24 aren't doing personal cards on the train. AND with Barclays sensitivities to accounts and inquiries those over 5/24 may want to pass on this too... So uhhh maybe this card isn't for anybody??? HAHA!

Both DH and I got one since we were (and still are) under 5/24. I just applied for him a few days ago, and I think the offer had just switched to what you quoted. I would have rather had the extra 10k points cause now I'll drive myself crazy trying to figure out how to use the companion pass.

 

[Mopedmom1]

Stupid story - I recently ate at some "millennial type hot spot food court thingy" on Pittsburgh's North Shore. It was after a meeting and my co-worker said let's go there. And I bought a chicken sandwich (no fries, no drink...just a fancy-ish fried chicken sandwich) for $14 from a multiple piercing, colorful hair young lady at the register. (I don't point that out to judge, it's just an honest observation - definitely had way too "hip" of a vibe for me). And I'm sitting there saying...What stupid people pay $14 for a chicken sandwich...and then I look around and there's a lot of "stupid" people paying $14 for chicken...and then I think for another minute...I'm "stupid people"!! I bought the Chicken Sandwich... So are businesses charging more because we have access to capital...or are we just willing to borrow to have instagram worthy chicken sandwich experiences?? (Side Note...Arby's has a much better Chicken sandwich than this for like $3...ugh I still hate myself for my lunch choice that day)

I'm not sure I've really said anything here...haha!

If you live in a major metropolis in the Pacific Northwest that hipster being paid minimum wage would earn the price of the sandwich in a little over an hour. A $14 chicken sandwich is not uncommon here!

 

[wendow]

If you live in a major metropolis in the Pacific Northwest that hipster being paid minimum wage would earn the price of the sandwich in a little over an hour. A $14 chicken sandwich is not uncommon here!

As my dd18 used to work at Chick Fil A, and they have a decent chicken sandwich for $6, I'd be blown away to pay $14. Seems $$$$ to me.

 

[speedyfishy]

Whew...this one's deep, haha!

I definitely agree with the cost of college thing. It's such an anomaly to how a normal business operates though. Totally unrelated to this discussion, but there has to be a college bubble crash coming, right?? Their continued cost increase model just can't be sustainable. And how is it that when my dad went to college you could graduate in 3 to 4 years; when I went to college it suddenly was up to 4 to 5 years; now it seems undergrad is suddenly 5 years for a lot of programs... They basically figured out that if we make the degree program longer we can just make more revenue out of the same customer...

At any rate...has access to credit caused cost of goods to increase... Hmmmm Tough question... I think our society's addiction to spending money on stupid crap (and borrowing to do it) is probably the bigger issue. I still find that everything I need to buy is insanely affordable. Maybe this overlaps the FIRE thread a bit but I could easily support our family of 4 on < $26k per year (including our mortgage payment). Once that's gone I could get us down to about $20k. The things that I find overpriced are rarely a necessity but more-so a symptom of the entire keep up with the Joneses I see in almost all facets of my life now. (I wish the Joneses would decide to live in a van down by the river, now that would be my kind of competition!!!)

I guess I would agree with your statement (but modify it) to say that prices are increasing commensurate with people's access to capital. Is it a bit of a chicken or the egg question though? As in, are businesses raising the prices because they know we have access to the capital, or are we just sending a message to "please charge us more" because we have no self-control?

Stupid story - I recently ate at some "millennial type hot spot food court thingy" on Pittsburgh's North Shore. It was after a meeting and my co-worker said let's go there. And I bought a chicken sandwich (no fries, no drink...just a fancy-ish fried chicken sandwich) for $14 from a multiple piercing, colorful hair young lady at the register. (I don't point that out to judge, it's just an honest observation - definitely had way too "hip" of a vibe for me). And I'm sitting there saying...What stupid people pay $14 for a chicken sandwich...and then I look around and there's a lot of "stupid" people paying $14 for chicken...and then I think for another minute...I'm "stupid people"!! I bought the Chicken Sandwich... So are businesses charging more because we have access to capital...or are we just willing to borrow to have instagram worthy chicken sandwich experiences?? (Side Note...Arby's has a much better Chicken sandwich than this for like $3...ugh I still hate myself for my lunch choice that day)

I'm not sure I've really said anything here...haha!

The college cost thing is a whole other issue and I honestly hope the costs get under control quickly.

I also don’t know with the whole chicken and the egg argument honestly. It’s an interesting question though.

The $14 chicken sandwich thing makes me laugh. Mostly because I eat at those hipster places. I’d much rather support a local business though instead of a chain restaurant. SO and I went out to dinner in DC last weekend. $33 for chicken parm for one person. We spent $130 on apps, entrees and dessert for the two of us no alcohol because I think that’s the biggest waste of money but I will happily drop $$$ for good food lol. Also have spent $5 on a single chocolate chip cookie in NY. Spent $42 on a dozen cupcakes for SO and I. (Idk why I thought we needed a dozen for the two of us but this one particular cupcake place in DC makes the only kind of cupcakes I eat, they don’t have normal icing that I find gross, it’s peanut butter lol) People say NY is expensive but while I ate expensive food in NY occasionally I could find so many cheap eats. I miss my mom and pop shops I’d go to and get lunch specials for $5. I haven't found anything good and cheap like that here in DC lunch is easily $10-15.

While we are on the FIRE path like you I could not live off of 20k a year rent alone went up to $1800 a month for us. Luckily we are in a good financial position because of my SOs salary to splurge but still FIRE.

 

[Mopedmom1]

As my dd18 used to work at Chick Fil A, and they have a decent chicken sandwich for $6, I'd be blown away to pay $14. Seems $$$$ to me.

But when you are paid $12-15 in a minimum wage job that sandwich tends to cost a little more than if your employer is paying $7.25 an hour for your services. I haven't eaten at Chick-fil-a so I don't know what they charge for it here. I do suspect it's not $14 though!

 

[wendow]

But when you are paid $12-15 in a minimum wage job that sandwich tends to cost a little more than if your employer is paying $7.25 an hour for your services. I haven't eaten at Chick-fil-a so I don't know what they charge for it here. I do suspect it's not $14 though!

My dd was paid $12/hr. Their sandwich is about $5.

ETA: I really like the spicy chicken sandwich with pepper jack added. But I love spicy!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

The college cost thing is a whole other issue and I honestly hope the costs get under control quickly.

I also don’t know with the whole chicken and the egg argument honestly. It’s an interesting question though.

The $14 chicken sandwich thing makes me laugh. Mostly because I eat at those hipster places. I’d much rather support a local business though instead of a chain restaurant. SO and I went out to dinner in DC last weekend. $33 for chicken parm for one person. We spend $130 on apps, entrees and dessert for the two of us no alcohol because I think that’s the biggest waste of money but I will happily drop $$$ for good food lol. Also have spent $5 on a single chocolate chip cookie in NY. Spent $42 on a dozen cupcakes for SO and I. (Idk why I thought we needed a dozen for the two of us but this one particular cupcake place in DC makes the only kind of cupcakes I eat, they don’t have normal icing that I find gross, it’s peanut butter lol) People say NY is expensive but while I ate expensive food in NY occasionally I could find so many cheap eats. I miss my mom and pop shops I’d go to and get lunch specials for $5. I haven't found anything good and cheap like that here in DC lunch is easily $10-15.

While we are on the FIRE path like you I could not live off of 20k a year rent alone went up to $1800 a month for us. Luckily we are in a good financial position because of my SOs salary to splurge but still FIRE.

I actually rather enjoy chain restaurants BUT most of the chain restaurants I frequent are owned by local franchisees. I have lent money to a lot of startup franchisees (typically a husband and wife or small ownership group) and have come to realize that many chains are also local businesses (just with a larger supporting organization behind them to help bolster their chances of success).

I'm also a strange bird...I'd rather eat some peanut jelly (that's our term in my household for PB&J lol) than spend $14 on a lunch...pretty much ever! haha! Basically everywhere in Pittsburgh is $10-$20 lunches. Luckily I eat in my basement most days...haha!

 

[speedyfishy]

But when you are paid $12-15 in a minimum wage job that sandwich tends to cost a little more than if your employer is paying $7.25 an hour for your services. I haven't eaten at Chick-fil-a so I don't know what they charge for it here. I do suspect it's not $14 though!

I think if you can’t afford the cost of a chicken sandwich where the worker making your sandwich is making a living wage you can’t afford the chicken sandwich. Just like if you can’t afford to tip 20% of your meal to your server you can’t afford to go out to eat.

 

[speedyfishy]

I'd rather eat some peanut jelly (that's our term in my household for PB&J lol) than spend $14 on a lunch...pretty much ever! haha! Basically everywhere in Pittsburgh is $10-$20 lunches. Luckily I eat in my basement most days...haha!

My waistline and wallet wishes I had this self control lol we don’t eat out everyday but probably eat out 3-4 times a week. I do love my chains tho too. We get chipotle at least once a week lol but I feel like the smaller places have better deals. This one place by us has half off burgers on Mondays so it’s $7 for an awesome burger and fries.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

My waistline and wallet wishes I had this self control lol we don’t eat out everyday but probably eat out 3-4 times a week. I do love my chains tho too. We get chipotle at least once a week lol but I feel like the smaller places have better deals. This one place by us has half off burgers on Mondays so it’s $7 for an awesome burger and fries.

Chipotle = Corporate Owned...way to support big business HAHAHA!! (Kidding...well about the big business dig, not about the corp owned, they basically all are)

 

[wendow]

Luckily I eat in my basement most days...haha!

This is not surprising...I'd also eat at home most days. We rarely eat out, whether it be a sit down or fast food. I am very much in favor of cooking and eating at home.

 

[speedyfishy]

My dd was paid $12/hr. Their sandwich is about $5.

ETA: I really like the spicy chicken sandwich with pepper jack added. But I love spicy!

I have only been to Chick Fil A a few times, the food doesn’t really agree with me but I do have to say when I went there the employees are always “better” than what I find at McDonald’s or Wendy’s and I honestly think that’s because of the higher salary.

 

[Lain]

Oh I think it’s fine lol! This to me isn’t really political - it’s an interesting discussion really.

The possible problem I see with capping interest rates is that banks could just stop approving people they see as too risky and as the author said, with no CC they’ll potentially turn to more dire options. But I can’t very well come up with a better solution (and requiring banks to lend to people with lesser credit probably wouldn’t work very well...)

Also, without getting into the politics of this subject, just the practicalities — there is no majority consensus in Congress, much less the House to move any sort of bill like what is being proposed forward. The Republicans absolutely will not go for this, being a restraint on the free market. And they control the Senate. The Democrats are splintered amongst Progressives like AOC who have the benefit of liberal constituencies, and more moderate Democrats who unseated Republican incumbents in traditionally red or purple districts in a blue wave and can’t be seen as straying too far left. Of course, it’s too early to tell how the 2020 election will shake out, but I doubt either party will come out with much of a mandate to reform the banks. Timing is everything in politics, and the missed opportunity was back in 2009-10.

I also agree that if legislation ever made it into law to cap interest rates, the banks could simply refuse to lend to riskier clients, which would exacerbate the problems for people with bad credit and potentially cause a huge liquidity problem for a large percentage of the population.

The idea of offering banking services at post offices isn’t exactly a new one. When USPS stopped being an MS option, there was a huge (or at least feigned) outcry about how they were shutting down an important service to the financially underserved. So let’s assume people with riskier credit profiles are turned away from traditional banks, then the banks get to select and retain higher quality clients. If the USPS, being a government agency and presumably empowered by new law to act as a bank, can’t deny service to these same risky customers, then it becomes a bank of last resort, and their clientele will be much higher risk than those of traditional banks, and I’m not sure taxpayers or their representatives are willing to bear that risk with a potential bailout.

I could go on, but I need to get some sleep.

P.S. What I will say is that I’m much more concerned about the legal challenges to interchange fees and accept all cards requirements than any pie in the sky proposals coming from Bernie and AOC.

 

[speedyfishy]

Chipotle = Corporate Owned...way to support big business HAHAHA!! (Kidding...well about the big business dig, not about the corp owned, they basically all are)

Hey hey I’m not all anti big business. I love Chipotle just really the mom and pop shops do food better 90% of the time imo. Especially in NY. Go get a $1 slice of pizza and then eat Pizza Hut and tell me what’s better. Or Panera bagels compared to the bagel store down the block. Panda Express or the local Chinese food restaurant?

 

[wendow]

I have only been to Chick Fil A a few times, the food doesn’t really agree with me but I do have to say when I went there the employees are always “better” than what I find at McDonald’s or Wendy’s and I honestly think that’s because of the higher salary.

Our CFA pays less than McD's. Not sure about Wendy's. I know the training at CFA is pretty customer focused. My dd18 applied for the DCP and got a chance to talk with a recruiter for Disney as well as former VP for MK and both stressed her CFA training was a major asset to Disney since they use similar models for training employees.