WHOSE PARENTS ARE RICHER?: Here’s a fascinating graph from NPR. They crunched the data from a government study which has tracked several thousand people for decades to learn something about the backgrounds of people who pursue various occupations. If you’re looking to get a leg up (or avoid moving down a rung), or if you’re just generally curious about cool graphs, take a look. Here are the results:
So it would seem that artists come from the same socioeconomic background as accountants, but do not end up doing as well, financially speaking.
FREE STARBUCKS STARS: See Dan and Gary for details.
150,000 IS THE NEW 100,000: If I remember correctly, British Airways was the first to offer a six figure sign-up bonus a few years back with its 100,000-mile offer, which is still around to this day, albeit with a higher minimum spend. I’m not aware of anybody who’s broken that mark until now, as Points, Miles, and Martinis has been targeted for a 150,000-point offer for the Amex Platinum:
This one has a pretty hefty spend requirement: $10,000 to earn the first 100,000 and then $10,000 more to get the next 50,000. If only there were some quick way to knock that out…
CVS TO HALT VANILLA RELOAD SALES: Oh, you haven’t heard about this? If so, this is the only points-n-miles blog you read, because every single other blogger has already mentioned it. The last day was supposed to be yesterday, but Gary says the Apocalypse may arrive chainwide on April 4.
UNITED STINKS: Boooo! United’s legal goon squad has cracked down on the Wandering Aramean’s award search tool. Folks, getting free trips from United isn’t just a luxury, it’s a moral imperative. Go forth, be fruitful, and multiply your miles! And as a show of support, how about a quick visit to the Wandering Aramean’s blog? Having lots of people click on one’s link is a good way to lift the spirits of bloggers getting hassled by The Man.
REAL ESATE: Never in my life would I have guessed there’s a dating service for people who like tiny houses. I first learned about this on March 31, so I don’t think it’s an April Fool’s joke, but I’m still not 100% sure. If it is a joke, it’s a pretty good one since they also built a tiny house lending site.
TOP 5 US CURRENCY DENOMINATIONS: This is a repost from January, but a reader reminded me of it yesterday and it’s still hilarious.
I am waiting patiently for our American Express insider to develop attractive sign up offers…
Or comp us some MR points?
Not sure if anyone has picked up on this yet, but I know you would be interested because you blogged about the economics of the cards. One of the CVS memos says “Due to significant increases in credit card fees for reloadable debit cards…” which seems to suggest that our favorite drugstore was sticking it to the card companies until a swipe fee price increase for reload products. Or does it mean the significant increase came from them finally noticing it?
It could be that, or it could just be CVS blaming it on somebody else so that customers don’t get pissed at them. Or maybe the “significant increase in credit card fees” was due to CC processors seeing high fraud for CC prepaid purchases and passing those costs along?
Yet another reason not to pay to send my daughter to Art School.