WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE THE FIDELITY AMEX: Milenomics has a great post about a great card. If you know a credit card newbie, send them this link. And an interesting tidbit for those of you who are more advanced:
Free-Quent Flyer reported this last week that this card is now the only Amex card which can be paid at Wal-Mart Money Centers. This opens the Fidelity Amex up to double, triple, or quadruple dipping–charging up this card, and then paying it off to earn even more miles. This is a strategy which doesn’t work for even the big name Amex’s: The Gold PRG, or the Platinum Amex.
AND SPEAKING OF AMEX: Mommy Points has a reminder that Amex apparently does not allow you to transfer MR points between spousal accounts. Did not know that, thanks MP!
GET A FREE $50 GIFT CARD FROM XOOM.COM: Money transfer company Xoom.com is running a promotion where you can get a $50 Amazon gift card for doing a $150 transfer, or a $50 Walmart gift card for doing a $100 transfer. FWF has more details.
FREE TUITION IN TENNESSEE: I’ve occasionally harped on the current overpriced state of higher education in this country, so it’s refreshing to see a serious effort to address the issue like the one in Tennessee:
Tennessee lawmakers recently approved a program that would cover tuition and fees at two-year colleges for any high school graduate. The “Tennessee Promise plan” is the first of its kind in the U.S., although reportedly Florida, Mississippi, and Oregon are considering similar plans… Participants will have to maintain a 2.0 grade point average, attend mandatory meetings, work with a mentor, and perform community service. The program is also “last money in” after other scholarships and grants.
I, FOR ONE, WELCOME OUR NEW CANADIAN OVERLORDS: The U.S. middle class is no longer the world’s richest:
The American middle class, long the most affluent in the world, has lost that distinction.
While the wealthiest Americans are outpacing many of their global peers, a New York Times analysis shows that across the lower- and middle-income tiers, citizens of other advanced countries have received considerably larger raises over the last three decades.
After-tax middle-class incomes in Canada — substantially behind in 2000 — now appear to be higher than in the United States. The poor in much of Europe earn more than poor Americans.
No word on whether those doing the analysis included points and miles in their calculations.
Have a great weekend!
Pet peeve, please stop crediting bloggers for “reporting” information. Credit should go to the original source, period. I realize you are quoting another blogger who credited Free-Quent Flyer for “reporting” the information. At least Free-Quent Flyer credited the original source. Is it really that hard to follow that lead and give credit where credit is due?
I usually do make an effort to credit the original source. How many other blogs have as many links to FWF, SD, and FT as I do?
is this card similar to the blue bird card?
No, the Bluebird is a prepaid. Fido Amex is a CC that pays 2% cash back.
Free-quent Flyer’s claim that Fido being the only Amex branded card you can BP at WM might want to be fact checked…
Agree with Hiker T about crediting blogsters who aren’t original source. That the linked blog also contains misinformation is hardly surprising in this space where so many are desperate to be thought of as “experts”. Sadly, I guess that’s what dreams of 6 figure affiliate income can do to 20/30 Somethings without a real job?
“This opens the Fidelity Amex up to double, triple, or quadruple dipping–charging up this card, and then paying it off to earn even more miles.”
How?
Milenomics explains in his article–follow the link.
Paul you say that as if these hardcore MS have a ‘real job.’
Yes, you are usually pretty good at crediting original sources, which is why I was disappointed to see you quote another blogger who didn’t.
Yes, pretty sure you can can pay the Citi AA AMEX as well at WM.