I’m currently planning a trip to Malaysia this summer. One of the primary purposes of this trip is to spend a couple of days on a durian farm where I’ll just gorge myself on durian. I’m excited. (I’ve also got flights booked on Qatar’s and Etihad’s A380s in first class, so those reviews will eventually…
Whenever I’m trying to understand why things are the way they are, I often find it useful to try to follow the money, so to speak. By following where money goes and to whom, it often becomes clear why people/companies act the way they do. A prime example in the points/miles blogosphere is why there…
As per this NYTimes article, Green Dot will stop selling MoneyPak reload cards, and the cards are expected to be out of stores by the end of March. While these cards haven’t often been used in MS schemes given the stringent cash-only requirements for loading, I think this is a good reminder that there are many forces…
This morning, I got an email detailing changes coming to Ultimate Rewards for people with Chase Checking and Chase Freedom accounts. I have both: the Chase Freedom was my second rewards credit card ever, and I got a Chase checking account last year to get a sign-up bonus. Essentially, there will no longer be a…
Here’s another post based on reader request. I’ll be upfront and say that I don’t know nearly as much about banks as I do about credit cards, but I figure that it might be useful to start with what I have for myself. I currently have three bank accounts: one credit union, one online bank,…
…or why you should never exchange your money at a exchange bureau (unless you need a lot of cash immediately). I’m rather shocked that exchange bureaus exist since they provide horrid exchange rates for minimal convenience. And yet many people make an exchange counter the first place they stop after landing in a new destination….
…or how to get someone to do your bidding for free. I love credit cards (see my post on using trip delay insurance). One perk of credit cards that I take advantage of frequently is their concierge services. Any card with the Visa Signature logo comes with a free concierge service, as do Amex Platinum…
This is my wallet: I love my binder clip wallet. It’s frugal, and it forces me to carry as few things as is reasonable. My wallet contains the following: Clipper card Driver’s license Credit card Work badge Gym membership That’s it. Occasionally, I’ll carry $20 clipped to the back if I know I’m going somewhere…
I hate haggling. It makes me anxious, and I often feel like I get ripped off. But I have a new strategy that I effectively used on my last trip abroad: figure out how much I’m willing to pay before I even ask for a price, and then stay firm to that price. Why does this…
…or why you should read the terms and conditions of your credit cards. I love credit cards. One reason why I love credit cards is because they often come with tons of benefits that most people don’t know about. On my way back to SFO from a recent trip to Austin, my flight was delayed…
