I love credit cards so much! v3.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[CyndiLouWho]

I've added up our vacation expenditure for the year, estimate our expenses on the 2 trips we have planned and added up our credit card fee. We're on track to spend $13,000 in travel this year. I guess 2020 hasn't been that bad.

I’ve added mine up and it’s 0. Working in healthcare is not fun.

 

[Hoosier John]

I have a completely unrelated question. I am about 10 years out of retirement and I am having a hard time figuring out how much DH and I will need to live "comfortably. " I have tried various calculators and at the end of the day I'm still confused. Some show me doing just fine, others say I should save more. I don't need to be rich (and I won't be), I just want to know the size of nest egg peopke feel they'll need to be "comfortable. "

I'm no expert (and not retired), so take this for what it's worth: I've heard that you should shoot for 80% of current income in retirement to live an equivalent lifestyle, because you won't be contributing to Social Security nor contributing to a 401k. 80% includes Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) on traditional 401k's and traditional IRAs plus Social Security (assuming it remains intact) plus Retirement Pensions (if any).

Additional investments (including Roth 401k's and IRAs), paying off your house, moving into smaller housing (no kids), or moving to a more favorable (tax) location could help things out.

 

[Judique]

I have a completely unrelated question. I am about 10 years out of retirement and I am having a hard time figuring out how much DH and I will need to live "comfortably. " I have tried various calculators and at the end of the day I'm still confused. Some show me doing just fine, others say I should save more. I don't need to be rich (and I won't be), I just want to know the size of nest egg peopke feel they'll need to be "comfortable. "

I think this is going to be different for everyone.

I wrote a somewhat detailed account and realized it was just too much financial info, even though general versus lifestyle focused.

I will say I haven't needed to take anything from my retirement accounts other than a specific account I had targeted to do a roof replacement. And I haven't taken social security yet. That's after a few months short of 3 years of retirement. The SS thing - probably next year. It can fund a house project. Right now, I have a healthy surplus on a month to month basis. I can do whatever I feel like, but I've always been pretty conservative and I drive a hybrid Kia! As apposed to a luxury car - my brothers none of whom live near me all drive luxury cars. I can't do it. Not my (life) style! But my one brother enjoyed riding in my Kia back in February - maybe because he didn't want to drive in Reunion area.

So, I live a simple life. I like simple things like nature, the ocean or a sandy beach. Disney also but I have DVC and credit card points and a collection of non expiry tickets! I like decent hotels and would pay if I didn't have points, but mostly I have points or free nights.

So, if you need to go to Tyson's Galleria and visit the designer purse section at Sak's, my numbers won't take you there. But if you want to drop into Maggiano's right next door, I'm there (after covid). Occasionally I'll walk through Saks entrance to get out of the rain more quickly. But I'll settle for a Dooney. $2 to 3 hundred versus 2-3 thousand.

So, it's really how you spend and want to continue spending whether you need 1-2 million or 10-12 million. I'm not likely to wake up tomorrow and 'want' stuff I didn't want in my working life.

 

[punkin]

I think this is going to be different for everyone.

I wrote a somewhat detailed account and realized it was just too much financial info, even though general versus lifestyle focused.

I will say I haven't needed to take anything from my retirement accounts other than a specific account I had targeted to do a roof replacement. And I haven't taken social security yet. That's after a few months short of 3 years of retirement. The SS thing - probably next year. It can fund a house project. Right now, I have a healthy surplus on a month to month basis. I can do whatever I feel like, but I've always been pretty conservative and I drive a hybrid Kia! As apposed to a luxury car - my brothers none of whom live near me all drive luxury cars. I can't do it. Not my (life) style! But my one brother enjoyed riding in my Kia back in February - maybe because he didn't want to drive in Reunion area.

So, I live a simple life. I like simple things like nature, the ocean or a sandy beach. Disney also but I have DVC and credit card points and a collection of non expiry tickets! I like decent hotels and would pay if I didn't have points, but mostly I have points or free nights.

So, if you need to go to Tyson's Galleria and visit the designer purse section at Sak's, my numbers won't take you there. But if you want to drop into Maggiano's right next door, I'm there (after covid). Occasionally I'll walk through Saks entrance to get out of the rain more quickly. But I'll settle for a Dooney. $2 to 3 hundred versus 2-3 thousand.

So, it's really how you spend and want to continue spending whether you need 1-2 million or 10-12 million. I'm not likely to wake up tomorrow and 'want' stuff I didn't want in my working life.

I'm not that fancy but I do like the occasional splurge. Lol

 

[snugglebug]

How did the 4 digit number rub off on the front of an amex? He knows to use that number and not the 3 digit on the back right?

I need to check with him again. I don't have a NFCU Amex, but the numbers are printed on my Visa and MC. He sent me a partial photo. The last 2 letters of his name are rubbed off. All Amex 4 digit numbers are in the same spot right? I can not see them on the photo he sent me.

 

[Judique]

I'm no expert (and not retired), so take this for what it's worth: I've heard that you should shoot for 80% of current income in retirement to live an equivalent lifestyle, because you won't be contributing to Social Security nor contributing to a 401k. 80% includes Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) on traditional 401k's and traditional IRAs plus Social Security (assuming it remains intact) plus Retirement Pensions (if any).

Additional investments (including Roth 401k's and IRAs), paying off your house, moving into smaller housing (no kids), or moving to a more favorable (tax) location could help things out.

Thanks, Hoosier John. For me, I had to get together my financial plan after divorce and with kids. So in those years, in my 30ties, first thing was a roof over my head that I owned, not rented, and a job that paid the bills. So I got started late with savings and had to learn to live beneath my means in order to get where I am today financially. So, kind of like FIRE, without the 'early' part.

I also always figured I would retire and move. Move somewhere like Florida or whatever. Well, the older I got and the more settled in my family got, the 'moving' after retirement turned into wanting to be where family is and figuring out that I live in an area that has a lot going for it. I've even considered a vacation house such as my niece bought in Reunion, (but much smaller) hers is 9 bedrooms. But, that's not the Disney I enjoy, although I love to stay and visit with them when they are there. I've looked at Celebration town center area and I do like that and there are certainly condos I could afford there in addition to my regular home. Love the lake to walk around and the variety of restaurants within walking distance. But got to reading and learned some things about the management that are not favorable and put me off. I still wouldn't stay full time so that idea comes and goes. It mostly comes when winter arrives around here.

 

[afan]

I need to check with him again. I don't have a NFCU Amex, but the numbers are printed on my Visa and MC. He sent me a partial photo. The last 2 letters of his name are rubbed off. All Amex 4 digit numbers are in the same spot right? I can not see them on the photo he sent me.

Oh so it's an older card too. The numbers should be right, middle of the card, at least that's where they are one mine. But almost all my cards from everyone have my name on the back and nothing but whatever the card is on thr front. Except for biz, they still have stuff on the front.

 

[Judique]

I need to check with him again. I don't have a NFCU Amex, but the numbers are printed on my Visa and MC. He sent me a partial photo. The last 2 letters of his name are rubbed off. All Amex 4 digit numbers are in the same spot right? I can not see them on the photo he sent me.

They should be on the front right side of the card. I don't have the Amex morerewards, but I looked at all my Amex cards and that's where it is.
All my Amex have my name on the front and the card number on the back.

 

[georgina]

I'm no expert (and not retired), so take this for what it's worth: I've heard that you should shoot for 80% of current income in retirement to live an equivalent lifestyle, because you won't be contributing to Social Security nor contributing to a 401k. 80% includes Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) on traditional 401k's and traditional IRAs plus Social Security (assuming it remains intact) plus Retirement Pensions (if any).

Additional investments (including Roth 401k's and IRAs), paying off your house, moving into smaller housing (no kids), or moving to a more favorable (tax) location could help things out.

And then there is us. To be closer to oldest DD and her DH and hopefully soon grandchildren, we are moving from a state that does not tax pensions and traditional IRA withdrawals to one that does! Plus DH took up scuba diving about 12 years ago, and is heavily into underwater photography and related equipment. So that adds up. Our income was not all that high, as I wasn't working, so we decided on 100% of pre-retirement income. Housing costs will be much higher in our new location too, although our current house has been paid off since 1993.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

My friends... it deeply troubles me that I am missing South Fayette games this year.

Live streams have been bad thus far. If you’re willing to take a minute and vote for SOUTH FAYETTE below so that maybe they’d get a professionally produced live stream in a couple of weeks, I’d really appreciate it!

(you don’t have to check any of the boxes to subscribe but make sure to click submit)

https://tribweb.secondstreetapp.com/TribLIVE-HSSN-Game-of-the-Week---Oct-2/gallery/

 

[snugglebug]

Oh so it's an older card too. The numbers should be right, middle of the card, at least that's where they are one mine. But almost all my cards from everyone have my name on the back and nothing but whatever the card is on thr front. Except for biz, they still have stuff on the front.

They should be on the front right side of the card. I don't have the Amex morerewards, but I looked at all my Amex cards and that's where it is.
All my Amex have my name on the front and the card number on the back.

Nothing there.

If they don't message me back sometime tomorrow I'll have dh call about the AU card. I want to make sure he has something that works online.

I have to see if the boy wants to request a new card.

 

[ski_mom]

My friends... it deeply troubles me that I am missing South Fayette games this year.

Live streams have been bad thus far. If you’re willing to take a minute and vote for SOUTH FAYETTE below so that maybe they’d get a professionally produced live stream in a couple of weeks, I’d really appreciate it!

(you don’t have to check any of the boxes to subscribe but make sure to click submit)

https://tribweb.secondstreetapp.com/TribLIVE-HSSN-Game-of-the-Week---Oct-2/gallery/

Done! I hope they get the most votes!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

My friends... it deeply troubles me that I am missing South Fayette games this year.

Live streams have been bad thus far. If you’re willing to take a minute and vote for SOUTH FAYETTE below so that maybe they’d get a professionally produced live stream in a couple of weeks, I’d really appreciate it!

(you don’t have to check any of the boxes to subscribe but make sure to click submit)

https://tribweb.secondstreetapp.com/TribLIVE-HSSN-Game-of-the-Week---Oct-2/gallery/

Done

 

[ten6mom]

OK so DON'T add myself as an AU? Is that what I'm reading???


(this is why I ask here before I do anything)

Thank you all!

And also @SouthFayetteFan I voted for your team!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

OK so DON'T add myself as an AU? Is that what I'm reading???


(this is why I ask here before I do anything)

Thank you all!

And also @SouthFayetteFan I voted for your team!

Yep - Just say NO to AU cards! (Is that how the saying goes??)

You do not want to burn a 5/24 slot on an AU card.

 

[afan]

Yep - Just say NO to AU cards! (Is that how the saying goes??)

You do not want to burn a 5/24 slot on an AU card.

Unless you have an under 18 you're helping build credit on...

 

[ten6mom]

Unless you have an under 18 you're helping build credit on...

Did that for the 16 year old!

 

[Judique]

My friends... it deeply troubles me that I am missing South Fayette games this year.

Live streams have been bad thus far. If you’re willing to take a minute and vote for SOUTH FAYETTE below so that maybe they’d get a professionally produced live stream in a couple of weeks, I’d really appreciate it!

(you don’t have to check any of the boxes to subscribe but make sure to click submit)

https://tribweb.secondstreetapp.com/TribLIVE-HSSN-Game-of-the-Week---Oct-2/gallery/

done......I'll do this for you but don't make me watch the game......

 

[hlhlaw07]

Credit cards driving me crazy today.

Son's CCV rubbed off his Amex so he tried to use my NFCU that he's AU on and it was declined. We just got new cards and all are activated, the card has $0 balance. I did a $1 Amazon charge with no problem on mine (also AU), so that narrows it down to his being deployed being the issue. I had him go in to put travel note on the card and he got an error. SM'd NFCU, but who knows how long that will take. He probably should request a new Amex from them, but that's going to take them sending to me then me forwarding to him.

He tried to use privacy.com to generate a one time use card and he can't get that verified. I'm thinking either his out of country IP or the VPN he uses is flagging it either on the Privacy end or the NFCU end. I generated a number for him from my acct and he can't use it for this purchase because card details must match purchaser details.

Short of buying a virtual Visa/MC debit, any ideas? He's trying to make an online purchase. I think he's out of luck until we get NFCU card sorted.

After typing all of this out, I bet his NFCU issues are VPN use related. So many things he can't access while out of country. I need to pay his toll bill today because he can't access the site.

This is unfortunately one of the joys of being deployed. Sometimes there are things you just can’t get done. On my last deployment I had good luck using my credit card through PayPal. I would also tell him it’s usually easier (and way more advisable/safer) to only make purchases on the government networks. I like to have two factor authentication on anything that will let me have it, but it kept me locked out of some my accounts as I couldn’t receive text messages. That’s when I learned about Authenticator apps which saved me and got me back into amazon and even my own email account.

I will also add that I have never had a credit card decline a purchase while I was deployed. The mailing address for the purchase usually tips off the financial institution that it is a service member in a deployed environment. Not too many other people using APOs.

It might be easiest to just make the purchase for him but have it shipped to him.

 

[calypso726]

It pays to check current reservations periodically. We booked a stay for a long weekend at Baker's Cay in Key Largo next month. Their standard rooms are normally 60,000 points per night. Tonight we discovered that standard rooms for the same dates were going for 42,000 per night. So, we rebooked our room at the lower rate. We just saved 54,000 points! This prompted me to check if the 5 night stay over NYE we got at 60K per night with the 5th night free might be available at a lower rate. No such luck, 456,000 points per night was the lowest they had now Good thing we booked it when we did. I'm feeling pretty happy with having an extra 54K Hilton points!