I love credit cards so much!

[pillow]

Sorry I got everyone off track with the groceries, but wow, these grocery numbers befuddle me. lol I think I am pretty frugal, i shop sales and coupon, though not excessively. I will say my numbers are going by the end of the year statements for my CCs so include Grocery and drug stores. So my walmart spending is in there (household products) but no food I bought from Sams or Target is included. I would have no idea what food alone is taking out household products. We really do not go out to eat often, I really dislike going out to eat, but we are averaging $6500/year for that. At least $1600 of last years was during our 2 main vacations ($1200 for 2 weeks out west and $400 for 3 days at Universal) so I can't imagine how you could spend less than $700 and still vacation? Plus having kids in sports, that average 2 hours away, one way, we just have to eat out on those days. I think the number will go down this year as I am down to 1 kid in sports.

I count vacation food in my vacation budget - not in my yearly household food budget. Some places are easier to eat cheap than others. When we went out west, we stayed in places where we could cook our own food. But at Disney, we don't want to go that route, so we just budget for expensive food. For me, part of the Disney experience is eating at some great restaurants. Going out west for us is all about the outdoors, scenery hiking, etc. I care less about food on that type of trip.

I've started keeping a spreadsheet for every penny I spend, which helps me parse out the food and other household stuff. I know many others use free budgeting software, but for me a spreadsheet works fine.

I sometimes packed sandwiches and took them to away meets when my DD ran cross country. More work but much cheaper. Anyway, I'm not helping this thread get back on track am I? Maybe we should start a new thread . . .

 

[gottalovepluto]

Per Frequent Miler, the following are allowed categories for AMEX on Plastiq:

For Recipients in the United States, the use of American Express cards is permitted for the following industries: Government, Utilities, Education, Residential Rent and Club Fees and Memberships.

I never considered using Plastiq for "education". I have some left on a federal student loan and this might be a good way of making some payments towards that when I need to meet a spend, so I checked it out for that. (Gift of College is cheaper I know but it scares the living daylights of me, I'm terrified something will go wrong and I'll be stuck with one of those cards and nothing to spend it on. Absolutely not practical I know I'm just not comfortable with it.) As far as my loan provider goes I guess they don't classify as "Education" though, I can use my Visa but not an Amex. But... I've got a WF Business Visa coming with a healthy spend on it so maybe it's time I dole out some "employee benefits" with regards to my student loan...

 

[gottalovepluto]

...On another note I saw on dr of credit and asksebby there was a $200 bonus for a personal account through the end of March, but when I go to Wells Fargo's site I don't see it?? Strange...perhaps it's gone already.

Yep, it's gone. No one knows why.

 

[DisneyMandC]

General rule is DON’T call in for business card applications unless you’re prepared to discuss your business. 30 days is typical for business cards. It means Chase hasn’t had time to process your application yet. Just let it ride and check the automated status line at 1-800-432-3117 to check for approval or any changes to the status of your application.

@DisneyMandC To add, Questions they may ask if it comes down to that...
and flow chart.

Thank you! I'll just let it ride. Just called the automated line and it still says 30 days. I called and spoke to someone when it was the Freedom and they said I just needed identity verification. Chase Identity actually called me on a Sunday morning to verify and then told me I was approved. I have no problem discussing the business, since it actually is a legit benefit, but to save myself some time and for the collective benefit of churners, I'll just wait

I thought I was the only Disney and FIRE fan... they are not usually synonymous.

I am as well! Though, admittedly, I am in the very beginning stages and focusing on paying down student loans right now. I mainly lurk on the MMM forum, but like to read a lot of the tips on frugality.

 

[Alexle2007]

DH applied and was approved for Marriott personal last evening using my referral link and added DS10 as AU. Now I just need to wait for the card to arrive before the orthodontist treatment. That should take care of the spend with the cost of braces but at least we will get reimbursed from our HSA.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I count vacation food in my vacation budget - not in my yearly household food budget. Some places are easier to eat cheap than others. When we went out west, we stayed in places where we could cook our own food. But at Disney, we don't want to go that route, so we just budget for expensive food. For me, part of the Disney experience is eating at some great restaurants. Going out west for us is all about the outdoors, scenery hiking, etc. I care less about food on that type of trip.

I've started keeping a spreadsheet for every penny I spend, which helps me parse out the food and other household stuff. I know many others use free budgeting software, but for me a spreadsheet works fine.

I sometimes packed sandwiches and took them to away meets when my DD ran cross country. More work but much cheaper. Anyway, I'm not helping this thread get back on track am I? Maybe we should start a new thread . . .

Thank you! I'll just let it ride. Just called the automated line and it still says 30 days. I called and spoke to someone when it was the Freedom and they said I just needed identity verification. Chase Identity actually called me on a Sunday morning to verify and then told me I was approved. I have no problem discussing the business, since it actually is a legit benefit, but to save myself some time and for the collective benefit of churners, I'll just wait



I am as well! Though, admittedly, I am in the very beginning stages and focusing on paying down student loans right now. I mainly lurk on the MMM forum, but like to read a lot of the tips on frugality.

I'm a big fan of the spreadsheet. I take every receipt and parse things out into the correct category. Grocery isn't always grocery. And like you said - any expenses on vacation are vaca expenses. I love my spreadsheet - can tell you every dollar we've spent for the past 11 years, LOL!

I love me some MMM too! I read every single article from start to finish back in 2015. I'm not as crazy as him for sure, don't ride a bike everywhere and certainly am not all rah rah rah save the environment...but I enjoy saving money and we're well on the path to work being optional by 45.

 

[GlamMistress]

I thought I was the only Disney and FIRE fan... they are not usually synonymous.

Nope. I'm one too.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

I thought I was the only Disney and FIRE fan... they are not usually synonymous.

Right there with you with the FIRE. Would work better without cows or horses but I’ll get there

 

[DisneyMandC]

Right there with you with the FIRE. Would work better without cows or horses but I’ll get there

TRUE THAT! But what can I say... they're a lifestyle, not just a hobby.

 

[amalone1013]

I love when my forums all blend together... the Dis... Reddit... MMM...

I like how you put it, @SouthFayetteFan , as work optional. I like to send things to DH, to show him the idea of FI. Sometimes he says, but what if I like my job? That's great but the point (I'm trying to get across right now) is not having to continue to work when you're ready to retire... whether that is around traditional retirement age or (hopefully) earlier.

 

[CoP Luv]

but I enjoy saving money and we're well on the path to work being optional by 45.

Wow! That's pretty impressive! I am just slowly working on paying off our mortgage early and love logging in the decreased balance every month to my spreadsheet!

 

[run.minnie.miles]

I love me some MMM too! I read every single article from start to finish back in 2015. I'm not as crazy as him for sure, don't ride a bike everywhere and certainly am not all rah rah rah save the environment...but I enjoy saving money and we're well on the path to work being optional by 45.

Ha! I totally feel you on the crazy environment stuff... I also commute to work, but completely understand his philosophy on it. I will need to give my DH all of the credit for getting us interested in "FIRE." We are scarily close to being able to ER (it's oddly nerve wracking although it should be the exact opposite), but now I'm in the boat of... "Do we work for a year or 2 more and build a new house before then?" (Which we don't need when our paid house is fine... and is counter intuitive to the movement). So much to think about.

 

[SBWB48]

Does anyone know how soon you can PC a new Chase card? Coworker asked me this question when we were discussing this hobby. Found the CSR to be a card she may want, but looks like her DH has taken her eligibility away by adding her as an AU to all his cards in the last 24m and she just opened a Freedom herself back in October (her last slot). Have seen plenty of DPs on how you have to PC a less than year old CSP to the normal Sapphire before downgrading to a CF/FU, but haven't seen much on vice versa (i.e. upgrading/going from less than a year old CF to CSR).

 

[WVMomof3]

Ok, the FIRE talk has me intrigued. I have looked at it before, but only briefly. I will look into some of the forums more. I am just starting to use Mint to track our expenses better, i am not sure I have the discipline to go line by line with each receipt to get a more accurate picture. The past 5 years I have been tracking with year end CC statements only. We did do Quicken briefly about 10 years ago, but it was a hassle because our Credit Union did not automatically sync in and I eventually gave up on it. Though, I have been dreaming about retirement lately, which is kind of funny, since I have been a SAHM for almost 14 years. I would like to work part time for a few years, then retire earlish. Though my thinking was 60 as that is when we have access to our 401K. I think we could do it earlier if we put the money elsewhere? We just haven't looked into it, my husband already thinks I am crazy for saying 60 as he does not want to sit around and do nothing, he says. I don't plan on sitting at home, I want to travel more! Which means we need more Credit Card points!

 

[WVMomof3]

Does anyone know how soon you can PC a new Chase card? Coworker asked me this question when we were discussing this hobby. Found the CSR to be a card she may want, but looks like her DH has taken her eligibility away by adding her as an AU to all his cards in the last 24m and she just opened a Freedom herself back in October (her last slot). Have seen plenty of DPs on how you have to PC a less than year old CSP to the normal Sapphire before downgrading to a CF/FU, but haven't seen much on vice versa (i.e. upgrading/going from less than a year old CF to CSR).

If her slots are only taken up by AUs, I would think she would be better off getting herself removed as AU by Chase and on Credit report then applying for a new CSR.

 

[SBWB48]

If her slots are only taken up by AUs, I would think she would be better off getting herself removed as AU by Chase and on Credit report then applying for a new CSR.

If only...she's insisting her husband is the roadblock. He doesn't want to call in and do the work and quite frankly, she's not looking to get into this hobby, but just wants the card.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I know O/T but in my area even at Aldi a loaf of the 'good' bread is about 1.50-3.00 depending on the type I buy.(the sprouted grain one is pricier) they can't be beat for OG grass fed burger tho- less than $5 a pound! I think it's area dependent.

Same here. Can pick up WW bread at dollar store for a buck but Aldi is $1.50-2 so I make my own. I also shop at Aldi a lot but still need some packaged goods i.e. flour for above mentioned bread, and more produce than they carry.

 

[pillow]

I love me some MMM too! I read every single article from start to finish back in 2015. I'm not as crazy as him for sure, don't ride a bike everywhere and certainly am not all rah rah rah save the environment...but I enjoy saving money and we're well on the path to work being optional by 45.

Love him! I appreciate his analytical style of thinking. And I would totally do the bike thing if I didn't live in the middle of nowhere.

I think I might enjoy the Frugalwoods.com blog more though. Check it out if you haven't already.

 

[speedyfishy]

Though my thinking was 60 as that is when we have access to our 401K. I think we could do it earlier if we put the money elsewhere?

You can access your 401k before 60. I don’t know exactly how to do it since I’m early in my FIRE journey, but here is an article explaining it.

https://www.madfientist.com/how-to-access-retirement-funds-early/

 

[calypso726]

I'm a big fan of the spreadsheet. I take every receipt and parse things out into the correct category. Grocery isn't always grocery. And like you said - any expenses on vacation are vaca expenses. I love my spreadsheet - can tell you every dollar we've spent for the past 11 years, LOL!

I love me some MMM too! I read every single article from start to finish back in 2015. I'm not as crazy as him for sure, don't ride a bike everywhere and certainly am not all rah rah rah save the environment...but I enjoy saving money and we're well on the path to work being optional by 45.

OMG! You might be DH's long lost twin! He has a spreadsheet for everything and knows every penny spent going back years. I'm more, post it notes that get lost and illegible writing that I am unable to decipher after a few days. Total. Disorganized. Hot. Mess.

I have been meaning to look more into the FIRE stuff. Our mortgage is paid off and we are on track for retirement when DH is 55. I wouldn't say we are militant about our environmental footprint but we do recycle and I have committed to no longer purchasing K-cups unless they are recyclable/compostable.

I love when my forums all blend together... the Dis... Reddit... MMM...

I like how you put it, @SouthFayetteFan , as work optional. I like to send things to DH, to show him the idea of FI. Sometimes he says, but what if I like my job? That's great but the point (I'm trying to get across right now) is not having to continue to work when you're ready to retire... whether that is around traditional retirement age or (hopefully) earlier.

Exaclty. I like to say, we want to be able to afford to work at WDW when we retire.