As I said I don't really have any plans for specifically saving for stuff. I try to take 3-4 vacations a year to tropical destinations but I also play the credit card game and save like $7-$10k/yr on flights due to that, so without that, I definitely wouldn't be going on that many trips.
I prefer the Southwest cards because there is a hub nearby and they fly to the Caribbean. You can get the companion pass which means you get to fly someone with you for free. So basically you use points to get your flight, and then a free flight on top of that. Since you can only get the same card every 24 months, my wife and I take turns each year, so we can have a companion pass for each kid.I'm flying more now-a-days and need to get into the credit card game.
Suggestions on where to start?
Yeah which airport you're near and which airlines fly to it a lot is going to be a pretty big consideration. DTW is better than a smaller airport like Indianapolis or Columbus but absolutely sucks compared to Chicago or even Boston because Delta has 70+% of the traffic at DTW and their points suck.I prefer the Southwest cards because there is a hub nearby and they fly to the Caribbean. You can get the companion pass which means you get to fly someone with you for free. So basically you use points to get your flight, and then a free flight on top of that. Since you can only get the same card every 24 months, my wife and I take turns each year, so we can have a companion pass for each kid.
Aside from that, I try to get United points since I also have a United hub nearby. I either get a United card or one that has Chase Ultimate Rewards points because those transfer 1:1 to United. They also transfer 1:1 to Southwest if need be.
We have a lot of direct flights from BWI to Aruba, Grand Cayman, Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, etc. We did have a layover when we went to Belize but I don't think any airlines go directly to Belize from the DC area.Yeah which airport you're near and which airlines fly to it a lot is going to be a pretty big consideration. DTW is better than a smaller airport like Indianapolis or Columbus but absolutely sucks compared to Chicago or even Boston because Delta has 70+% of the traffic at DTW and their points suck.
Honestly I'm getting close to swearing off Southwest. Personal preference and experience certainly but I'm tired of all their flight management issues. Screwed up another one of my flights as recently as December - in part because they're too cheap to pay for the airport provided deicing so contract it out to a worse option - in Detroit of all places. And we almost always need a connection to get to where we want to go. 2024 might be the first time in close to a decade we won't have a companion pass
Yeah it would probably be a different story if we lived near BWI or MDW since that's where 95% of our SW layovers are from DTWWe have a lot of direct flights from BWI to Aruba, Grand Cayman, Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, etc. We did have a layover when we went to Belize but I don't think any airlines go directly to Belize from the DC area.
I'm basically equidistant from BWI, DCA, and IAD. IAD is where all my United flights go out of. I rarely go to DCA.Yeah it would probably be a different story if we lived near BWI or MDW since that's where 95% of our SW layovers are from DTW
In terms of monthly income and expenses, the recommendation is the 50-30-20 rule. I'm at 20-5-75.
What happened to mint? (I used to use their free stuff pre covid)roughly the same here
looking at 2023 spending as a part of income on mint before it shuts down forever:
- %18 needs
- %5 wants
- %77 savings
What happened to mint? (I used to use their free stuff pre covid)
Intuit bought them a couple years back so likely trying to make everything worse for the consumer while they grab a few more dollarsThey announced recently they are shutting down. Probably just not making enough money...
Groceries are still cheaper than eating out if you know how to cook certain things. Lucky for me, I like rice and potatoes.Most people would be thrilled if their basic was low enough that basic + discretionary came in under half. Hell I spend like 25% just on groceries at this point.
Yeah they are, if you even attempt to vary your diet that shit seems to climb quickly. Grocery bills are ass right now, I'm lucky if I can get below $100/bag right now.Groceries are still cheaper than eating out if you know how to cook certain things. Lucky for me, I like rice and potatoes.
That paraphrases a notable utterance of Volodymyr Zelenskyy a month or two ago. Stuck in my head. It's one of those gems.It is not as easy as you put it. Having three kids costs a lot on the basics expenses, being around my kids and be there for them as much as possible cost very little, but it is what brings me most joy in the life. So my basic expenses >>> discretionary, but I'm still enjoying it.
Basically the most important thing in your life is your time and how you spend it, not the amount of cash you throw at it.
I kept record for a number of years. Around 10-15 years ago I was eating for not much over $4/day on groceries and home cooked meals. I'm shelling out more now in large part because I'm sticking to organic when practically possible. The bulk of it is Costco bought.Yeah they are, if you even attempt to vary your diet that shit seems to climb quickly. Grocery bills are ass right now, I'm lucky if I can get below $100/bag right now.
With what exactly? I can't find a package of meat of any kind outside of neck bones for less than $10/package ($5 maybe for basic bitch ground beef). Veg is nutty, I bought a $6 head of cabbage from Tops the other day. Even cans of soup and beans are up at like $2/can now.^^ I can fill a couple of banana boxes for $50 or 60.
I do not buy cans of soup or beans. I buy dry beans and instant pot them. Soup instant pot too.With what exactly? I can't find a package of meat of any kind outside of neck bones for less than $10/package ($5 maybe for basic bitch ground beef). Veg is nutty, I bought a $6 head of cabbage from Tops the other day. Even cans of soup and beans are up at like $2/can now.
I'm not always in a situation where I can properly predict that I'm going to have beans at x time tomorrow so I can start soaking them today, so cans work fine. Even with the increased cost, the $.50/lb or whatever difference isn't what's breaking the bank, it's everything else.I do not buy cans of soup or beans. I buy dry beans and instant pot them. Soup instant pot too.
I've got to roll my eyes when people talk about buying cans of beans. I used to even buy raw peanuts and make peanut butter from scratch after roasting them in my oven. But I stopped making nut butters. It makes a real mess and I've burned out several blenders doing it. I have better blenders now, I guess, but am not willing to make a mess. I buy Costco organic PNB. I leave he almond butter alone, too pricey. I used to make that, cashew butter too.
I don't eat a lot of beef these days but what I buy is a cheap roast if available or a lean looking package of beef stew meat at Costco at $5.99/lb. My butcher uncle told me that if I knew what they put in ground beef at supermarkets I'd be disgusted. If I want ground beef, I grind that myself in my food processor system (a low budget affair, but it works), then it goes in the freezer.