Credit Card Cashback, Airline Frequent Flyer Miles, Hotel Rewards etc... Programs

[Hashbrowns]

On 12/30/2024 at 8:41 PM, Chile_Ute said:

I did debate an Alaskan Airlines card.  Have had great flights with them.  

I’m not a huge fan but fly them a bit because SW dropped some flights from my city. Perk of Alaska Card is a free checked bag. 

[Chile_Ute]

On 1/1/2025 at 5:31 PM, Hashbrowns said:

I’m not a huge fan but fly them a bit because SW dropped some flights from my city. Perk of Alaska Card is a free checked bag. 

And you can get great deals on 1st class

[CoachKenFTW]

On 12/31/2024 at 1:08 PM, modestobulldog said:

The best reward is cash, but I do use Southwest and Hilton cards only for proprietary purchases.

Is one AMEX membership reward point worth 2 cents? That's pretty good math if true. Say dining earns 4% membership points rewards, that's an equivalent 8% with a standard CB card.

I'm going to steal your spreadsheet screenshot idea. It'll help my better half to know which card to use at different situtations.

[modestobulldog]

On 1/3/2025 at 11:05 AM, CoachKenFTW said:

Is one AMEX membership reward point worth 2 cents? That's pretty good math if true. Say dining earns 4% membership points rewards, that's an equivalent 8% with a standard CB card.

I'm going to steal your spreadsheet screenshot idea. It'll help my better half to know which card to use at different situtations.

As I understand it, Airline rewards are a crappy deal unless you travel frequently, then the non-cash perks may be a game changer.

[modestobulldog]

On 1/3/2025 at 11:05 AM, CoachKenFTW said:

Is one AMEX membership reward point worth 2 cents? That's pretty good math if true. Say dining earns 4% membership points rewards, that's an equivalent 8% with a standard CB card.

I'm going to steal your spreadsheet screenshot idea. It'll help my better half to know which card to use at different situtations.

I think I misrepresented the big kahuna Verizon Visa, the reward has to applied to Verizon bill, so it is more of a cash equivalent, not direct cash like Amazon Visa or Fidelity Rewards Visa. 
 

I prefer cash rewards when possible, then spend as I see fit. 

[CoachKenFTW]

On 1/4/2025 at 9:15 PM, modestobulldog said:

As I understand it, Airline rewards are a crappy deal unless you travel frequently, then the non-cash perks may be a game changer.

Yeah, we're looking into moving within the next couple of years. So for us it made sense to get the AMEX gold, then use to the points traveling around to potential relocation destinations.

[CoachKenFTW]

On 1/4/2025 at 9:19 PM, modestobulldog said:

I think I misrepresented the big kahuna Verizon Visa, the reward has to applied to Verizon bill, so it is more of a cash equivalent, not direct cash like Amazon Visa or Fidelity Rewards Visa. 
 

I prefer cash rewards when possible, then spend as I see fit. 

We use PayPal debit cards for cash back on groceries and dining. It's 5% rewards, and you get the cb as soon as the transaction completes. No waiting 'til statement closing or end of the year. It doesn't work at Costco, unfortunately

[Just_Chris]

On 12/30/2024 at 8:41 PM, Chile_Ute said:

Carry what works for you, I’m down with it.  For us, Southwest gets anywhere in the lower 48 and we hit Costa Rica and Hawaii.  
 

I did debate an Alaskan Airlines card.  Have had great flights with them.  Maybe if Lil Chile ends up in the PNW for college we’ll switch.

Always a bit chilling seeing plane crashes no matter where they are….but when locations are familiar moreso.

I've actually considered Alaksa as well, they partner with JAL and Singapore who both fly nonstop from Tokyo to the US

My son is also looking at schools in the PNW. We toured U Dub and he really liked it, despite having never lived in Washington I actually have Washington residency. I like that the campus is far enough away from Seattle that you don't really feel like you are in Seattle yet close enough to go to games or concerts in the city. 

[Chile_Ute]

On 1/6/2025 at 7:39 PM, Just_Chris said:

I've actually considered Alaksa as well, they partner with JAL and Singapore who both fly nonstop from Tokyo to the US

My son is also looking at schools in the PNW. We toured U Dub and he really liked it, despite having never lived in Washington I actually have Washington residency. I like that the campus is far enough away from Seattle that you don't really feel like you are in Seattle yet close enough to go to games or concerts in the city. 

He’s interested in U Puget Sound….I think he’s really like UW but he is looking smaller like 5-15k student population.

[renoskier]

On 1/6/2025 at 6:39 PM, Just_Chris said:

 ...despite having never lived in Washington I actually have Washington residency. 

Chris, just curious, how does that work?

Is it tied to a company you work for?

[CoachKenFTW]

On 1/7/2025 at 10:45 AM, renoskier said:

Chris, just curious, how does that work?

Is it tied to a company you work for?

U.S. citizens have to report worldwide income to tax authorities. If he lives in Japan, he might as well list a state with no income tax like Washington as his state of residence, maybe?

[Just_Chris]

On 1/7/2025 at 10:45 AM, renoskier said:

Chris, just curious, how does that work?

Is it tied to a company you work for?

No, it's actually an easy state to "move" to. I thought about buying property and renting it out but that was a hassle so I have a friend who owns property in Port Angeles and so I had my name put on the water bill, went in to DMV surrendered my NV one and they issued me a Washington license. I also changed my address and have all my important mail go there. 

On 1/8/2025 at 1:45 PM, CoachKenFTW said:

U.S. citizens have to report worldwide income to tax authorities. If he lives in Japan, he might as well list a state with no income tax like Washington as his state of residence, maybe?

Yup, the no state tax is very nice especially because I make too much money in Japan to not pay taxes in the US. (A perk of being a Yank !) but I lived in Nevada previously so that wasn't the real reason. Getting a drivers license in Japan is very difficult for foreigners in fact I know people who've been here years and cannot pass the driving test but there a few states Washington being one Virginia, Colorado, Oregon and I think Maryland have some sort of agreement with Japan that they can just transfer their drivers license to Japan thus avoiding the test. It's weird but it was one of the things I did since I wanted to be able to drive. I could have gotten an international license for a year but after a year it's worthless and from what I was told if I left Japan it would invalidate it even when I come back. 

[Just_Chris]

On 1/6/2025 at 9:35 PM, Chile_Ute said:

He’s interested in U Puget Sound….I think he’s really like UW but he is looking smaller like 5-15k student population.

Is that in Tacoma or West Seattle ? 

 

[Chile_Ute]

On 1/8/2025 at 8:13 PM, Just_Chris said:

Is that in Tacoma or West Seattle ? 

 

Tacoma I think….we are planning a campus tour late spring.

[Just_Chris]

On 1/8/2025 at 7:14 PM, Chile_Ute said:

Tacoma I think….we are planning a campus tour late spring.

What year is your son ? Mine is a junior so he's got one year left but he's starting to look around now. U of Michigan is his number 1 choice. His cousin went there so she kind of sold him on it. I've tried to bush him to Boston U but I don't think he's particularly sold on it but we loved the campus. It's right in the heart of the city and close to Fenway. Funny thing is I hate all the Boston sports teams except the Bruins. 

[Chile_Ute]

On 1/8/2025 at 8:22 PM, Just_Chris said:

What year is your son ? Mine is a junior so he's got one year left but he's starting to look around now. U of Michigan is his number 1 choice. His cousin went there so she kind of sold him on it. I've tried to bush him to Boston U but I don't think he's particularly sold on it but we loved the campus. It's right in the heart of the city and close to Fenway. Funny thing is I hate all the Boston sports teams except the Bruins. 

Junior.  Most his interests are far above the Mason Dixon line…..Heat+humidity is a hard stop.  He’s interested in a 2-15k undergrad  population.  Weee hitting Boston in the spring to see some smaller schools in the area.

[Just_Chris]

On 1/8/2025 at 10:45 PM, Chile_Ute said:

Junior.  Most his interests are far above the Mason Dixon line…..Heat+humidity is a hard stop.  He’s interested in a 2-15k undergrad  population.  Weee hitting Boston in the spring to see some smaller schools in the area.

There are some really good schools back there, my son loved Brown and Dartmouth but he's probably not gonna make the cut there. He's probably at the cut off for Michigan. He might make it he might not but he is close. 

As far as back there Vermont is actually a cool school, very small for a state school. I grew up outside of Philadelphia so I know a lot of people who stayed back east for uni. There are a ton of schools in upstate NY and PA. Places like Siena, Binghamton, Lehigh, Lafayette, Stony Brook, Marist and St Bonaventure. 

As far as Mass I only know a few like Holy Cross, U Mass and the Boston schools.