Credit Cards I just turned 18. How do I get a credit card? Upgraded to Economy, November 24, 2022November 28, 2022 If you just turned 18, congratulations! Now that you can legally get a credit card under your name, it’s time to consider getting your first credit card. While it’s not as simple as going online and finding whatever credit card you want and getting approved for it, here’s a simple,… Continue Reading
Why I applied for the Bilt Rewards Card Upgraded to Economy, November 24, 2022 I just dipped below 5/24 this month. Two years ago, in October 2020, I had applied for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa and the Apple Card (a Mastercard). I was looking forward to potentially applying for another Chase card, like the Chase Ink or maybe a cobranded card such as… Continue Reading
Want to use Mastercard at Costco instead of Visa? Upgraded to Economy, November 10, 2022 Fun fact: Yes, it is possible to use Mastercards at some Costcos. What’s the catch? It has to be at a Costco in Canada. Did you know that your Costco membership, no matter where it is purchased, gets you access to any Costco in the entire world? In Canada, only… Continue Reading
Credit Cards Why you should never cancel a credit card Upgraded to Economy, November 10, 2022November 28, 2022 Ever think a credit card has no more use for you? While it may seem like canceling or closing that credit card is a great way to close that chapter of your life, it actually causes more harm than good. In short, credit cards should never be canceled because the… Continue Reading
Pre-booking flights for weekend trips Upgraded to Economy, October 19, 2022November 28, 2022 After a recent long weekend trip to San Francisco, I’ve become quite amenable to taking more trips on weekends. As I live in Seattle, Alaska Airlines has become my primary go-to airline, since this is their primary hub. Combined with my AAdvantage Platinum status, which is oneworld Sapphire, I get… Continue Reading
Discover it® Cash Back Card finally becomes useful again for 3 months Upgraded to Economy, October 19, 2022November 10, 2022 For the last 3 months of 2022, those of you with the Discover it® Cash Back Card that gives 5% back on rotating quarterly categories will find the cash back category finally widely applicable and generally useful. From October to December 2022, in addition to 5% back on Amazon purchases,… Continue Reading
Why you should apply for a new credit card every six months if you’re building credit Upgraded to Economy, July 19, 2022 Want to build credit? The best way is probably going to be by applying for one new card every six months (give or take a few months—it doesn’t need to be precisely this long). While this may seem excessive, it actually is a great rule of thumb to live by… Continue Reading
Credit Cards Why you should never use a debit card ever again Upgraded to Economy, July 18, 2022November 28, 2022 After I got my first credit card, I started saving money on my transactions because I got at least 1% cash back on each purchase. Once you get your first rewards credit card, in general, you should never use a debit card ever again. Why? By using a debit card,… Continue Reading
My most useful credit cards Upgraded to Economy, July 18, 2022July 29, 2022 While I have 7 credit cards as of June 2022, I only use 4 credit cards on a day-to-day basis. The 4 cards I consider to be most useful for me (and the 4 I use the most) are, in no particular order: Chase Sapphire Preferred Chase Freedom Unlimited Chase… Continue Reading
How I’m earning 9% cash back on gas from July-September 2022 Upgraded to Economy, July 18, 2022July 18, 2022 In June, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to apply for the Capital One Venture X card. Since I would hit Chase’s 5/24 rule by getting approved for this card, I decided to go ahead and hit 5/24 by completing the Chase trifecta: Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Freedom Unlimited, and… Continue Reading
Credit Cards How I got my credit score above 800 before I turned 22 (Part 2) Upgraded to Economy, July 16, 2022July 16, 2022 This is part 2 of a two-part post. For part 1, see: How I got a credit score above 800 before I turned 22 (Part 1). I wasn’t planning on applying to a new credit anytime soon, as I was content on the credit cards I already had: Discover it®… Continue Reading
Credit Cards The best personal finance mistake I ever made Upgraded to Economy, July 16, 2022July 17, 2022 I had been drooling about the American Express Platinum Card card for a while, since it came with so many benefits and, to be honest, is quite a status symbol. However, the $695 annual fee was steep and I was doubtful I would make use of its benefits. One night… Continue Reading