Bogleheads.org

Another loss is you don't get the pretty easy $200 bonus if you convert, rather than sign up for a new Flex. Usually doesn’t make sense to sign up for Freedom Flex at all. You’re better off getting the Sapphire Preferred with an 80/90/100k bonus then downgrade to the freedom after a year. Because of 5/24 you shouldn’t be signing up for cards with under $500 SUBs until you’re over 5/24, then go haywire. If you already have Freedom, you can keep it, add Freedom Flex, get the bonus and also be able to get 100% more 5% category spending by registering both cards each quarter (assuming you are under 5/24) If you have a Sapphire card you can transfer your points from Freedom to Sapphire for higher travel benefits. I get what you’re suggesting, I...

I know lots of folks like the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred for 6% on groceries. I’d suggest everyone check out the AAA Daily Rewards Visa. It is a no annual fee card that offers 5% back on grocery spend up to $10k/yr. Comes with a small $100 sign up bonus, but IMO is strictly better than the Blue Cash Preferred. It also offers 3% back on gas, streaming, club stores (Costco). The gas and club store spend also rolls up to that $10k limit. There’s also the AAA Travel Rewards Visa that has 5% cashback on gas and EV charging up to $7k/yr and 3% on grocery, gas, restaurants, and travel. You can only have one or the other so each spouse could sign up for either or you could grab 2 of the daily cards if you are a heavy grocery/Costco shopper. No FTFs o...

Thanks for the help on my shop your way question ! Another one now...I'm looking for a card with a cell phone insurance ...when reading a points blog I read that chase freedom flex has it ...I already have this card in my sock drawer..... although mine does not say flex....is chase freedom the same as the flex? Thanks! Freedom Flex is different than Freedom. Freedom does not have cell phone insurance. You can call and have your converted. If your Freedom card is a Visa, you will be converted to Mastercard. Only loss is you can’t use it at Costco. Another loss is you don't get the pretty easy $200 bonus if you convert, rather than sign up for a new Flex. Usually doesn’t make sense to sign up for Freedom Flex at all. You’re better off gettin...

She should raise her deductible high enough that this isn’t a question. If she’s willing to pay $3k OOP she should have at least a $3k deductible. Otherwise she’s paying for unwanted coverage.

The most important part of the burger is the bun. I’m partial to a buttered and toasted potato roll. I prefer my patties on the smaller side 3-4 ounce. If you want more meat use 2 patties or have 2 burgers. For the best burger you want USDA Prime ground chuck. This will almost always be in the 75/25-80/20 range. Get it ground, don’t bother doing it yourself. You can also buy fresh premade usda prime ground chuck patties if you prefer. I like my meat cooked on a flat top. Liberally salt, hot grill - but not too hot or else you’ll burn the meat before cooking internally, ball of meat, smash the patty down while raw. You want a crust. Flip once, don’t smash. No more than 2-3 minutes a side with a 4 ounce patty. Cheese should be put on burger, ...

You can frequently buy IHG points for $0.005/pt so I wouldn’t value them more than that.

This card IMO is worth holding for the free night and 4th night free benefit. IHG has good resorts so there is opportunity to get outsized value.

gavinsiu wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 2:51 pm The 4% rule is often cited for estimating how much to save for retirement. However, it’s based on backtesting the us stock market which has higher historical return than the uk return. What would you use to estimate how much to save?

Not sure why it would be different for a UK resident vs a US resident. You can invest in the US from the UK if that’s what you choose to do.

I’d be more concerned about differing tax regimes.

This is really a myth. Debit cards have the same de jure protections as credit cards when run as credit. The difference is practical. When someone does a fraudulent debit purchase you’re at the mercy of dealing with the bank to put the money back while it’s all settled. With a credit card you just don’t pay. And even if the credit card company sides against you, you always have the option to never pay. Why You Should Never Use a Debit Card To Pay for Anything Debit Cards vs. Credit Cards: Consumer Protections A debit card doesn’t have the same legal protections that a credit card does. Here’s a look at the basic protections and consequences of what happens in cases of debit card fraud versus credit card fraud, courtesy of the Federal Trade...

I’ve seen a number of articles stating that millennials and Gen Z’ers vastly prefer debit cards to credit cards. As an older millennial this was really surprising to me. This forum likely skews towards people who use credit cards for rewards/cash back, and not people who will carry balances, etc. but I’m curious if there are any millennials or younger people on here who do in fact prefer debit, and if so, why? I am not a millenial, but credit cards have superior consumer protections. I never use a debit card for purchases. This is really a myth. Debit cards have the same de jure protections as credit cards when run as credit. The difference is practical. When someone does a fraudulent debit purchase you’re at the mercy of dealing with the ...

Wanderlust2022 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:15 pm

Cecelio wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2023 11:07 am Will you receive pay for mileage? A $0.60 business mileage deduction does not equate to receiving $0.60 in pay for every mile drive. It is probably closer to $0.20.

I would not. It is a commission job. They state that they will reimburse $0.25 per mile up to $500 per month.

That’s probably the net same. Let’s say you are in a combined state and local marginal tax bracket of 30%. A $0.60 deduction would equate to saving $0.18 in taxes. Your company is giving you $0.25.

For what it’s worth, that’s pretty chintzy. I don’t drive that much for work anymore but we get reimbursed at the IRS deduction rate roundabout $0.60/mi.

The kids getting the parents get $100k renovation and to take care of the parents. I wouldn’t contribute financially as a separate sibling to the housing siblings because the parents will still have $300k, 2x social security checks, and a pension. They should be paying their own way. Usually in situations where siblings are pitching in are when the parents have already exhausted their funds.

I recently signed up for Curve Card. This is a card that allows you to link Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit & Credit, and Discover Devit & Credit cards. ... This is interesting but where are the card-type restrictions described? I can't find that on their web site. As someone else commented, the majority of our accounts are Visa credit, making the Curve card just another credit card for me to decide whether I want to use it for a particular purchase. So obviously not perfect. But for my use case at the moment it’s pretty good. I have 2x Chase Freedom Flex linked, 2x Citi Custom Cash linked, 2x Shop Your Way MCs linked, Discover IT, and Citi Double Cash. I don’t need to carry around all these 5x rotating category cards anymore. I have ...

Thanks for the help on my shop your way question ! Another one now...I'm looking for a card with a cell phone insurance ...when reading a points blog I read that chase freedom flex has it ...I already have this card in my sock drawer..... although mine does not say flex....is chase freedom the same as the flex? Thanks! Freedom Flex is different than Freedom. Freedom does not have cell phone insurance. You can call and have your converted. If your Freedom card is a Visa, you will be converted to Mastercard. Only loss is you can’t use it at Costco. Another loss is you don't get the pretty easy $200 bonus if you convert, rather than sign up for a new Flex. Usually doesn’t make sense to sign up for Freedom Flex at all. You’re better off gettin...

BashDash wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:05 pm Thanks for the help on my shop your way question ! Another one now...I'm looking for a card with a cell phone insurance ...when reading a points blog I read that chase freedom flex has it ...I already have this card in my sock drawer..... although mine does not say flex....is chase freedom the same as the flex? Thanks!

Freedom Flex is different than Freedom. Freedom does not have cell phone insurance. You can call and have your converted. If your Freedom card is a Visa, you will be converted to Mastercard. Only loss is you can’t use it at Costco.

The way I understand it is that Curve pays for the charge then charges your card. Curve passes through the MCC of the original purchase. Let’s say you buy a coffee at Starbucks. It posts to your credit card as CRV STARBUCKS. I assume Curve makes money from selling transaction data. I wouldn’t rely on Curve for a large purchase like an appliance that you want say credit card extended warranty. But for restaurants, groceries, gas, regular purchases it’s not a bad deal for someone with card rotation fatigue. What about paying taxes at eg pay1040.com? Is it a debit card fee but you get the points/miles on your mastercard CC!? eta: oh I'm reading in the US it's a CC, but in the UK it's a debit card Correct it acts as credit. In fact they give y...

I recently signed up for Curve Card. This is a card that allows you to link Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit & Credit, and Discover Devit & Credit cards. You then use the Curve card and can have charges routed to whichever card you want via its app to maximize rewards without carrying a million cards. A really cool feature is that for up to 30 days after a transaction you can change which card a charge went on. Also, since you can load it to mobile wallet, it allows you to get cards that are still not mobile wallet compatible into Apple Pay (ahem, Shop Your Way Mastercard). For 6 months, you will also get an additional 1% cashback on all purchases and for each person you refer you get an extra 30 days of 1% cashback. Hopefully they wil...

I recently signed up for Curve Card. This is a card that allows you to link Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit & Credit, and Discover Devit & Credit cards. You then use the Curve card and can have charges routed to whichever card you want via its app to maximize rewards without carrying a million cards. A really cool feature is that for up to 30 days after a transaction you can change which card a charge went on. Also, since you can load it to mobile wallet, it allows you to get cards that are still not mobile wallet compatible into Apple Pay (ahem, Shop Your Way Mastercard). For 6 months, you will also get an additional 1% cashback on all purchases and for each person you refer you get an extra 30 days of 1% cashback. Hopefully they wil...

I recently signed up for Curve Card. This is a card that allows you to link Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit & Credit, and Discover Devit & Credit cards. You then use the Curve card and can have charges routed to whichever card you want via its app to maximize rewards without carrying a million cards. A really cool feature is that for up to 30 days after a transaction you can change which card a charge went on. Also, since you can load it to mobile wallet, it allows you to get cards that are still not mobile wallet compatible into Apple Pay (ahem, Shop Your Way Mastercard). For 6 months, you will also get an additional 1% cashback on all purchases and for each person you refer you get an extra 30 days of 1% cashback. Hopefully they will...

TomatoTomahto wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 11:15 am

Jags4186 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:54 am Guy has nearly $5mm net worth and over $1mm annual income at age 34. I think you can buy a $90k car and not worry much about it. This thread is ridiculous.

Unless I missed it, OP’s gender has not been established. I do, fwiw, often miss a lot.

Not sure if you missed it, but you seem to have missed the part where “guy” can refer to a person of unknown gender, a group of multiple genders, or a single gender. You’ve never said “that guy cut me off” without knowing the gender of the person doing the cutting off? You’ve never referred to a group of people as “guys”, even if the group had women, or was exclusively female? Perhaps you haven’t, but doesn’t mean others don’t.

I’m in CPG. Grocery is definitely soft as folks shift from higher priced items which my company sells to lower cost alternatives. Foodservice sales are strong in tonnage but definitely a shift from high cost items to lower cost items. Promo spending is through the roof to maintain volume. We haven’t had layoffs, have tons of openings in manufacturing. Corporate hiring is tightly controlled right now.

Guy has nearly $5mm net worth and over $1mm annual income at age 34. I think you can buy a $90k car and not worry much about it. This thread is ridiculous.

Your annual expenses are huge compared to your housing payment. Go ahead and upgrade house and cut your expenses $30k/yr.

I'm all about saving a buck, but personally I'm not spending upwards of an entire day of a vacation listening to someone try to sell me something I don't want in order to save a few $100. If I didn't have the money to go on the trip, I wouldn't go. And we aren't pinching pennies when we go away. I mean, if you think about it, if you earn $100,000/yr and work 225 days a year, you make $444/day. If you waste one of your PTO days listening to someone while on vacation it's costing you $444 of compensation. If your spouse also makes $100k it's costing you $888 to waste that day. With the way you calculate the opportunity cost of attending a TS presentation, you might qualify as a TS salesman. I’ve attended a few, but never bought a week at one...

That being said, I really don’t agree with people going to a time share presentation without any intention of considering purchasing something. You saving a little money does not justify taking up somebody’s time. I respect your position here, but I do not agree with it. The last time I attended a timeshare presentation was over 10 years ago (even before I was a boglehead) in Hawaii in exchange for chopper ride tickets. When we went to the desk to purchase the tickets at retail we were offered to attend the timeshare presentation in exchange for free tickets. Having read about the scam that it was (atleast most of the times), I told the lady at the desk that I decline the offer because I have no intention to purchase a timeshare, and feel ...

I'm going to start putting my Venmo QR code in my signature incase anyone wants to tip me for my postings here.

If I order and pick up my food at a counter, I don't tip.

The 1% rule of thumb doesn't seem to work in areas where real estate costs 3x to 10x the rest of the country. Cost of labor is not vastly different though. So in these areas, would you simply take 1% of a comparable house in an averagely priced area? Maybe it's not 1:1 but you should consider that everything costs more when you live in an area where real estate is inflated. No one pays $2mm for a 2000 sqft house and puts in white Maytag appliances and off the shelf Home Depot countertops. You have a Sub Zero refrigerator. You have a Wolf stove/oven. You have marble countertops. These things cost astronomical amounts of money. I have a $999 refrigerator in my house. My sister's family has a $14,000 Sub Zero refrigerator in their Manhattan a...

Too good to be true for the buyer.

Not much different than other Amex platinum except you can transfer the points to cash at Schwab at 1.25 cents per point. Also they decrease the cost of the card by $100 if you have $250k at Schwab and $200 if you have $1million. There are also a few minor other differences. The transfer rate was reduced to 1.1 cents per MR point in September 2021. Doh! Still a decent way to use up the last few points left over in the account when canceling the card. Unless, you have a better option. I mean if you can get the bonus and all that jazz fine, but you can backdoor your way into cashing out at $0.01 per point with really any AMEX card if you just want to get rid of the rest of your points balance. Personally, I wouldn't open a Schwab Platinum *j...

Not much different than other Amex platinum except you can transfer the points to cash at Schwab at 1.25 cents per point. Also they decrease the cost of the card by $100 if you have $250k at Schwab and $200 if you have $1million. There are also a few minor other differences. The transfer rate was reduced to 1.1 cents per MR point in September 2021. Doh! Still a decent way to use up the last few points left over in the account when canceling the card. Unless, you have a better option. I mean if you can get the bonus and all that jazz fine, but you can backdoor your way into cashing out at $0.01 per point with really any AMEX card if you just want to get rid of the rest of your points balance. Personally, I wouldn't open a Schwab Platinum *j...

EnjoyIt wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:02 pm Question about Schwab Amex Platinum. I see they offer a discount based on assets at Schwab. I am curious, once I get the discount can I move those Schwab assets out the next day or is there some holding period? Which then leads me to ask, when its time to renew, can I send the assets back to Schwab, get a transfer bonus and the discount.

To be honest, it makes little sense to do this. You can get much more than $100 for transferring $250k or $200 for transferring $1mm by pursuing a brokerage transfer bonus.

kchico wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:08 pm

8301 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:59 pm

kchico wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:10 pm My company eliminated 10 people in a team 12 and I now have a crazy work load and I am being forced to go back to the office which I am not a fun off after really enjoying working from home for a few years after Covid.

Your company is smarting up. Party is over.

The other guy that they kept on my team doesn't live in the state so he gets to work from home.



Any suggestions on question #1

Around here you’ll get suggestions of 3 fund portfolio - US Total Stock Market, Total international, and total bond. Some might prefer not to invest internationally. Best to look at your portfolio as a whole and not in buckets.

Just look for a new job?

My son gets admissions from U. Minnesota (Twin Cities), SUNY Stony Brook and Arizona State, all in Computer Science. Cost aside, which one is the best to attend? Has your son every been through a Minnesota winter? Going from memory (30 years ago) one of the features that the University of Minnesota brochures advertised was their extensive tunnel system so that one could avoid the weather during winter. SUNY looks to have easy access to New York City (and thus to Manhattan). For some folks this won't matter. For others this is a huge plus. ASU is, well, warmer than either of the first two. Which one fits your child best? I feel cold is better tolerated than hot weather. Except it won’t really be hot during the school year. It’ll be lovely a...

We use Schwab as our primary checking account but I should actually look into switching to Wells Fargo since it is ubiquitous around us. I've been using Schwab primarily because ACH transfers from the linked brokerage account typically trigger direct deposit requirements for most accounts that need DD for signup bonuses. It's really not very convenient.

dukeblue219 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 6:52 pm I would. Others wouldn't.

But I also don't see how your $200k income supports spending $106k and saving $72k?

72k includes 7k employer match.

200 - 65 - 106 = 29k in taxes. If he lives in a no or low state income tax state, maxes out 2 401ks and say an HSA or FSA that sounds about right.

Most long haul flights have power outlets at the seat. Get an extra long cable. The 3 foot long ones that come with the iPad are no where near long enough.

ScubaHogg wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:19 pm

flarf wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:43 pm
Note that running a 2-year old around on the beach all day usually means they sleep like the dead that night. Use that to your advantage; set up a baby monitor app on your phone and your wife's phone, leave one in the room and take the other down to the hotel bar for a nightcap.

I literally laughed out loud imagining the look I’d get from my wife if I suggested we leave our 2 year old alone in the hotel room. Even if we are just downstairs.

I remember being in Aruba with my parents say, 30 years ago, and my parents swapping out who would go down to play on the tables at night lol.

Lately I've been feeling like I want to indulge myself and upgrade from my perfectly adequate iPhone SE to one of the 14-series models. Quite un-Bogleheadish of me! This is a want, not a need. Don't do it. Waste of time and money. The thrill of a shiny new toy will wear off quickly. The iPhone 15 is only 6 months away. The max version will be lighter than the 14 pro max (important) and more comfortable to hold, with rounded edges rather than the square stainless steel. And the 16 is only 12 months away from then. Friend of mine has the 14 pro max. My pictures from the 8 Plus look as good to both of us. Maybe we're looking at them wrong? The quality of the photographer goes a long way, I'd say. A good book on the art and science of photogra...

cbox wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:07 am

catdude wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:55 am Lately I've been feeling like I want to indulge myself and upgrade from my perfectly adequate iPhone SE to one of the 14-series models. Quite un-Bogleheadish of me! This is a want, not a need.

Don't do it. Waste of time and money. The thrill of a shiny new toy will wear off quickly.

The iPhone 15 is only 6 months away. The max version will be lighter than the 14 pro max (important) and more comfortable to hold, with rounded edges rather than the square stainless steel.

And the 16 is only 12 months away from then.

IMO these are regional schools. Where does he intend to live after graduating? If he wants to be in the northeast he should consider SUNY, if he wants to be in the Midwest he should consider UMN, if he wants to be on the west coast he should consider ASU. Take myself as an example: I studied in midwest, first job in east coast, company went down, moved to west coast. Personally I feel ppl may not stick to where they study and move around, esp when they are young and less concerned about moving (sell home etc). I'm not suggesting it can't be done or isn't done. I'm just suggesting that there are likely to be more alumni in each respective region. Alumni like to hire from their own IME. After the first job it doesn't really matter.

OP if you're considering Hyatt HURRY UP AND BOOK! They are jacking up all inclusive rates on 3/28. Like a big increase. Ziva Cancun & Cap Cana going from 25k/nt up to 40k! Ziva Rose Hall from 25k to 30k. RE Ziva Rose Hall: AMAZING beach for kids. Sheltered by jetties so it's basically a large natural ~4' deep kiddie pool. Also flights cheap to Montego Bay lately. My rec is go there. Don't underestimate how much of a benefit that ocean beach dynamic is, can greatly contribute to your relaxation with the relative safety and predictability of the space with calm waters. +1 Get moving on Hyatt. Personally, I have been to Hyatt Ziva Cancun, with two young kids. We enjoyed it a lot. Grand Hyatt Playa Del Carmen was also great, but the pool w...

I wanted to review my monthly budget for myself and my fiance to see if anyone may have some input on any areas we could potentially save on. I really want to hone in on tracking not just budget but actual monthly spend against budget to see if I am on track: Rent: $1000 Cell Phones: $100 Food/Supplements/Vitamins: $800 Cleaning/Household Items: $100 Utilities: $300 High Speed Internet: $60 Car Insurance: $200 Toll Pass: $25 Gas: $250 Car Maint/Registration/Renewal: $100 Gym+Maint. Fee: $60 Home Repair/Maint.: $200 Wedding Ring Ins.: $20 Haircuts: $50 Clothes: $50 Dates and fun: $200 Tithe: $20 Total: $3,535/Month I know budgets are unique to everyone and their circumstances, but for 2 engaged people age 29 and 30, this is around where we ...

Split the difference and get the 14 Pro. I had a Max phone and it was too big/heavy. Even the 14 Pro with its steel body is pretty heavy.

A recent job offer put me in a position where I took a trip out to where I'll be moving, I found a house that was absolutely perfect, and now I'm under contract with a closing date of 4/17. I worked with a local lender because I needed to make an offer quickly since the sellers already had another offer. If it matters, the financing contingency period ends on 3/23. Anyhow, I'm hoping that it's not too late to shop around for better loan terms without risking things falling through. Does anyone have any advice? (Note that I'm planning for a conventional 30-year loan w/ 20% down.) Thanks so much in advance. Try rocket and better (.com) I don’t know about today, but rocket was completely uncompetitive compared to other lenders when we looked....

IMO these are regional schools. Where does he intend to live after graduating? If he wants to be in the northeast he should consider SUNY, if he wants to be in the Midwest he should consider UMN, if he wants to be on the west coast he should consider ASU.

livesoft wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 2:07 pm

Jags4186 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 1:35 pmI have a sister with a 3 and 7 year old, but they are how shall we say, in a different tax bracket than we are. Our vacations would never align with what they do.

That works both ways and I cannot tell what you mean. My relatives are "private-jet wealthy" and have always been happy to host us. OTOH, we are happy to reciprocate despite our meager income.

What it means is that they go on vacations nicer than we could afford, but they are not private jet/treat us for the fun of it rich.

livesoft wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 1:31 pm

Jags4186 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 1:28 pmYes, we use my mother’s beach house quite a bit. But my wife’s idea of a vacation is not being around her MIL. To me its, great. She’ll take him and we’ll get to go out to eat on our own time line. But you can’t fight city hall.

Send your mom away on her own vacation away from her beach house when you go there.

Do either you or your spouse have siblings with toddlers?

I have a sister with a 3 and 7 year old, but they are how shall we say, in a different tax bracket than we are. Our vacations would never align with what they do.

Regarding meal plans, unless your child is of a special breed they will never go to the dining hall for breakfast just because they won’t be getting up early enough. Keep that in mind when choosing the number of plans — 14 meals a week is probably more than enough. You could even go down to 12 with the idea that they would go out on weekends for 2 of their meals.

Since your kid is going to a state school I would highly encourage them to get involved in something. You have to shrink a school of 15k+ kids down to a few hundred in order to make relationships.

As someone else said, don’t rely on a roommate friendship. I would wager I slept in the room with my roommate less than 15 total nights my 1st year. No idea where he was.

I didn't read the other responses, but if they don't have Beach Relatives then they should be at the top of the possibilities. In particular, relatives with toddlers who own a beach house is the way to go. :twisted: In a pinch, substitute "Friends" for "Relatives." Yes, we use my mother’s beach house quite a bit. But my wife’s idea of a vacation is not being around her MIL. To me its, great. She’ll take him and we’ll get to go out to eat on our own time line. But you can’t fight city hall. I’m looking into the Hyatt Ziva Cancun and I’ll push it until the fall. That will give him a little time to get older and more interested in a tablet for the plane, and us time to get him a passport, etc. We can do the beach house thi...

MrBobcat wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 1:20 pm

ScubaHogg wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 12:39 pm

MrBobcat wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 10:28 am Go camping in a national forest.

I’m curious if you’ve done this with a two year old…?

I've done it with a 4yo, 2yo and 1yo at the same time, in a tent. Good times.

Trust me, camping won’t be on the menu. But thank you for the suggestion.