Shop Talk: Eulogy Edition. Discussing Deals From Beyond the Grave
Welcome to another special edition of Shop Talk where we write out a “podcast on paper”. This is the kind of “Shop Talk” many of you are engaged in on a
Thoughts and Datapoints on Maximizing the Plastiq Masterpass Deal
Bill pay service Plastiq is offering fee-free payments through Masterpass with an associated Mastercard. Direct Link Thoughts This is a great way to rack up credit card rewards..
Swim Upstream: Identify That Which Makes You Unique & Find Your School
Warning: I’m still feeling some residual grumpiness, so humor me a bit today. — There’s a lot of really bad advice out there. Advice on traveling for “Free,” advice on
Let's talk about the Visa Infinite companion discount
In response to yesterday’s post about some new and upcoming credit cards, reader Andy commented:”You are missing two of the bigger benefits of the Ritz Card. First, you get $100 ..
Is there any value in the latest crop of new credit cards?
Several banks have let out a steady trickle of new credit cards and announcements in the last few months, so I thought I’d run through a few of them and
Wrapping my head around variable annuities
I’ve written before about indexed annuities, one of the most expensive, abusive, unnecessary financial products known to man, but I’ve recently had a couple occasions to learn mo..
This Week in Bank Points: [Not] Booking Viator Tours through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal
Thanks to the Rise of Bank Points I’ve been booking a lot of travel with flexible bank points lately. On paper Bank Points are great. Programs with credit cards which
Employers have forgotten how to hire. But they’ll learn
I’ve written before about what I called the high-employment generation, which I use to describe people entering the workforce today who have no memory of the long, grinding reces..
Guest Post: Mother’s Day Traditions in Japan
Today’s post is written by Caleb Parsons of Kids Travel Japan. I follow Caleb on Instagram and enjoy his tales of living as an American with a Japanese family. I thought
Brandon Asks: What is “uplift” and how does it help in the points & miles game?
This week’s Brandon Asks comes from Brad who asks: “You mention uplift several times in this article but I don’t know what that is. What is it, and how
Amazing: “Virgin Alaska” First Class Transcon Upgrades as a Lowly Alaska MVP
Alaska’s acquisition of Virgin America has been an interesting one to interact with. With the exception of the somewhat stingy 1.3:1 transfer ratio they elected for Virgin Americ..
Ebates Birthday 2018 – Staples 15% Cashback today!
My friends, this is one of the best times of the year! Every year, Ebates celebrates their birthday, I’ve covered many of the last few years, but the best day
Which blackout date policy will the new Marriott Rewards program adopt?
Lots of digital ink has already been spilled over what has been announced regarding the upcoming August 1, 2018, merger of the Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest progr..
Pro tip: an easy Amtrak Guest Rewards mistake to make
Amtrak Guest Rewards, the loyalty program for the United States’ national passenger rail system, underwent a dual devaluation in 2015/2016 which made Amtrak Guest Rewards points ..
DIY excursions on a 7 day Caribbean cruise
Researching ports of call and finding the best excursions for you can save quite a bit of money and time in port. However, booking excursions on your own can be
Priority Pass is changing the game for airport lounges
Gary Leff asks the question, is Priority Pass killing airport lounges? Its a reasonable post that highlights over lounge overcrowding, varying levels of quality and amenities. Ho..
Episode 81 – Talking cruising, Germany, and crypto with Cynthia Drescher
Photo Credit | Cynthia Drescher
Episode Description
Cynthia Drescher, who you may know as JetSetCD, is an avid traveler who spends half her time on the road. She writes for Conde..
Grump Talk – Cranky over Chase, Miffed at Marriott, and Grouchy over GCM
Welcome to another the first edition of Shop Talk Grump Talk where we discuss what’s going on in our personal points & miles space and highlight what we think is interesting maki..
Marriott Rewards Members: A Birthday Surprise awaits
Mark this under Speculative, but Marriott is sending out e-mails to Marriott Rewards enticing Marriott Rewards Members to add their birthdays. This is a quick way to possible inc..
Our first flight as a family of five: lessons learned
We took our first roundtrip flight as a family of five a couple of weeks ago, and I’m happy to report that it went off without a hitch. Now that
Two cautionary tales
I’ve been blessed multiple times to unknowingly move to communities that had favorable environments for manufactured spend. Now, that’s not exactly a “coincidence,” since many of..
Announcing a #ResellingDO for Beginners
When we announced NapaDO in March, many asked for a #ResellingDO for Beginners. I have heard your call, and have stepped things up. The next ResellingDO event will return to Jai..
When First Class is Cheaper Than Coach
Next month I’m headed to Disney World to research the next edition of Disney World Hacks. For the return I’m utilizing my favorite hack: the one way car rental. To get to