Delta community credit union activate card

1. Personal loans can be used for a variety of purposes, such as debt consolidation, home improvement, medical expenses, or travel.
2. Personal loans are unsecured loans, which means they don't require collateral. This can make them a good option for people who don't own a home or other valuable assets.
3. Personal loan interest rates are typically lower than credit card interest rates, which can save borrowers money in interest charges over time.
4. Personal loans are typically fixed-rate loans, which means the interest rate and monthly payment amount stay the same throughout the loan term. This can make it easier to budget and plan for repayment.
5. Personal loan terms can vary from a few months to several years, depending on the lender and loan amount. Longer loan terms may result in lower monthly payments, but may also result in higher total interest charges.
6. Personal loan applications typically involve a credit check and verification of income and employment. Borrowers with good credit scores and stable income are more likely to be approved for a personal loan.
7. Personal loans can be obtained from a variety of lenders, including banks, credit unions, and online lenders. It's important to compare interest rates, fees, and repayment terms from multiple lenders to find the best option for your needs.
8. Personal loans can be repaid early without penalty, which can save borrowers money on interest charges. However, some lenders may charge prepayment fees, so it's important to read and understand the loan terms before making early payments.
9. Personal loans can have an impact on credit scores. Making timely payments can improve credit scores, while missing payments can lower them. It's important to make all payments on time and in full to maintain good credit.
10. Personal loans can be a useful tool for managing finances and achieving financial goals, but they should be used responsibly. Borrowers should only borrow what they can afford to repay and should avoid using personal loans for unnecessary expenses or frivolous purchases.

In conclusion, personal loans offer a flexible way to borrow money for a variety of purposes. By understanding the loan terms and requirements, borrowers can make informed decisions and use personal loans responsibly to achieve their financial goals.
Read More: https://havily.com/7-interesting-facts-you-should-know-about-personal-loan/

I applied for and accepted an Amex Gold card today. I used a friend’s referral to get the 90,000 points welcome bonus. I am curious if anyone knows if I am still eligible for this offer given my Amex history. I did not receive any messages throughout my application process about not being eligible for a welcome bonus.
Back in July 2022, I got the Delta Gold card. I have been doing extensive research recently and realized that card wasn’t the best fit for me as I wanted more flexibility.
I did a lot of reading and learned that it is bad to close a credit card within a year of opening. So, my current plan is to keep both cards until at least the anniversary of my first card, and then downgrade to the Delta Blue.
I have tried my absolute best to act responsibly and in good faith to pursue a card that is a better fit for me. Have I done anything wrong that will hurt my standing with Amex to lose my welcome bonus?

Hi, first time posting. For many years, I have chosen the simplicity of putting nearly all of my purchases on the simple 2% cash-back cards Double Cash and Active Cash. Recently, I've decided to be more strategic to get more rewards. The first step I was going to do was to:

• get Amex Blue Cash Preferred to be used for Groceries
• get Citibank Custom Cash to be used for Restaurants / Dining

​
So I applied for both of the above cards on the same day (2/1). I was approved for the Amex, but Citibank declined my application for CC with the following reason:

• Too many recent credit inquiries are recorded on your credit bureau report

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These two applications are the only inquiries I can see in my credit report. I still want to get the Custom Cash card to get me more back from my Restaurant/Dining. But now I'm afraid of applying again too early and being rejected for the same reason. I called Citibank to ask if they could give me any info as to when it would be "safe" to apply again. As I probably should have expected, they wouldn't divulge any of the criteria regarding "Too many recent credit inquiries are recorded on your credit bureau report."
​
So, I'd appreciate any suggestions on how long I should wait before reapplying for the CC? Or should I just try for an alternate card (e.g. Chase Freedom Unlimited)?
​
Current cards:

• Citi Double Cash
• Citi Costco Anywhere
• Apple Card
• Chase Amazon Visa
• Chase United Explorer MileagePLUS
• Wells Fargo Active Cash
• Capital One Quicksilver

FICO Score: 803 (Experian)
Oldest account age: 22 years
Average monthly spend and categories:

• dining: $250
• groceries: $333
• gas: $12
• travel: $833
• other: ~1000 (inc. charity, medical, cell phone)

Ive been outta work for a while, and got made fun of by a girl as she said no girl wants a jobless guy. And that girls have their own jobs now so why should they talk to me?
Which is kind of odd ( as myself having an MS finance, for whatever weight that may carry), because the accounting and math of employment in the US...is far from reflective of efforts, merit, and most of all; is FAR more likely than not, to compensate with wages that are far, far, far below the idea of 'success', or even offer financial independence, let alone appreciable personal savings and goals. Even without that thought, I wouldn't see myself as anything to brag about if I didn't give someone a chance based on their legal employment basis or earnings. And if I did, Id only be fooling myself, because I'd be caught in so many fallacies.
Real world Example: At $12/hour, working full time, as a single person with no dependents, opting for pre-tax deductions of insurances, and then using the adjusted value accordingly to continue on with Federal/State/Local (in my case I dont even have local taxes).
One would net $687/Bi-weekly. That is $1,374/Month. You'd have a hard time finding a place to rent alone, for less than $1000. And that doesnt include utilities.
Okay, so you've managed to somehow pay the deposit , the activation costs of utilities, and I wont even include the costs of moving/furnishing/homecookware etc. You've popped the $1,000, and now have that $374 to spend on showing the world that you ARE succesful and independent! You work full time and work hard! Aha, wait. Even low-balling national median prices for a fraction of your other costs, will exceed this $374 quickly. Cell? $50. Domestic Supplies?( Laundry detergent, hygience/cleaning items) $50. Internet? $50/month...(these are comically low-ball prices btw) Electricity?$80 Food? Ah, well you only have $144 left...From a survival perspective, possible, but you wont feel very good or feel much like yourself. But, what about your car? its insurance? Easily $150-$400/Month. You're already tapped out, exhausted, surviving off rice and beans. But what about your water bill? What about $ to have even a dollar put into a savings account? What about student loans, credit cards, those teeth, your medical co-pays, your Rx costs? Hell, you don't even have $10 if you get a flat tire. You don't even have a few hundred for that rotten tooth in your mouth, to get a root canal and crown.
//////////////
Ok, $12/hour Fulltime scenario is nothing short of a total delusion of financial independence. But, that just means I'm not good enough or smart enough to earn enough! *POOF* WOW! suddenly I am! I make $20/hour. Relative to the rest of the country's wages, this is a rarer wage, and higher than most people's wages in the US.
$20/Hour @ 40-Houweek
$3,200/MONTHLY GROSS WAGES
$38,400/ANNUAL GROSS WAGES
--------------------
Pre-Tax deductions of Health($90/BiWeekly)/Dental($7.5/BiWeekly)/Vision($2.5/BiWeekly)
MONTHLY TOTAL INSURANCES DEDUCTIONS: $200
ANNUAL TOTAL INSURANCES DEDUCTIONS: $2,400
--------------------
MONTHLY TAXABLE WAGES: $3,000
ANNUAL TAXABLE WAGES: $36,000
--------
STATE TAXES: $1,190
FICA: $2,754
FEDERAL: $4,114.38
TOTAL TAXES DUE: $8,058.38
--------
TOTAL WAGES NET ANNUAL: $27,941.62
TOTAL WAGES NET MONTHLY: $2,328.47
TOTAL WAGES NET BI-WEEKLY: $1,164.23
​
A whopping $2,328.47 for the young stud who earns MORE THAN OVER 2/3 of the nation in wages. Ladies and gentleman give this special little boy a balloon!!
While median rent is reported to be $1,770/Month...Lets have some faith in this earner. But REMEMBER! He is earning a higher wage, its rare for areas with very low rents to commonly feature such jobs. So, lets see to it he still gets a 'good deal' at renting a musty apartment for $1,300/Month. Well, like before, bills come-a-knocking. Utilities of electricity, internet, water rack up to a modest $200. Hes got some basic prepaid service plan for $50, nothing fancy, hes a savy guy. Hes gonna need more than rice and beans to keep up that life of high pay, but still manages to get groceries down to $100/Week. $400/Month. Now, mind you that includes sales tax, so its less than what may come to mind! This guy is not getting a room that cheap in an area where he wouldn't also need a car, lets use some reason here. But hes savy as they come baby. He blew his savings for that $8,000 2003 Corolla. Insurance is pecking at him for $120/month, could be worse. Now, we've reached a point where he now has less than $300 across the month to fulfill: Medical Co-Pays, Auto Maintenance, Gasoline, Any form of eating out/entertainment, All clothing, Furniture, A phone, A computer, Student loans, credit cards, emergency health services, haircuts, and everything else that life demands of us even without a kid.
It would be nothing short of remarkable for this individual who is financially independent to save $10/month. Working 40 hours/week is exhausting too, doesnt leave much time for taking care of things yourself, which can be costly too.
​
So, $20/hour, at relatively low costs of living, isn't anything sustainable long term. Sure are alot of people on Reddit who claim "I make this and Im independent and Im fine!" Im sure their story of pulling up their bootstraps by themselves and maintaining any dignity of life are more so part of a narrative they hold; rather than real-world finance.
Call it all bullshit if you want. I go by the numbers. Job or no job, you're not in a fairy tale. You're in a loose labor market, where fiduciary duty to shareholders/company agents are law. Not owed to you, but to the investors/company agents. I haven't even touched on the fucked up realm of costs and income when having a kid is involved, a health condition, care taking, or any other situation which can wreck everything. SaaS has been offsetting jobs for a decade, AI is too, and there is not homogeneous opportunity across the US.
Its incredible to me, how unaware so many people are. They can't be bothered to comprehend that the majority of problems for people in the U.S. stem from inequity and lack of money. The mental health implications of having to accommodate the need for money to survive and stay out of prison, and the mental health implications from people who internalize these things as if it was their fault. As if they were born as the problem. As if their emotions and life were wrong and despicable. So much of posts here can be attributed to a lack of resources and the implications of it. Resources are sent to the dumpster en masse, not because they are truly unusable, but solely so that we cannot have it, without handing over enough money. Buried in the earth, just to make damn sure, those people dont get em.
So, before you even *suggest* that someone isn't trying, isn't worthy, doesn't care, because of not having a job, not having their own place, not having their own car, not getting the healthcare they need, not being able to afford participation in things, or even afford being a parent... Remember. You're more than likely, calculably wrong. And promoting the internalization of capitalism and the moral construct of poverty. You would fit right in, with the category of scum in society, what keeps it so horrible, and what holds humanity back.

This past Saturday I had been working on my soon to be new home, and after a long day of labor I got home and immediately collapsed and went to bed. I live right outside of Wilmington Delaware, in a condo complex with a C- in crime score. Not particularly bad, not too good either. A convenient location right off the highway to get to the majority of east coast cities.
Sunday morning I woke up, took a shower, and then gunned for the door to go back to work on the house. I gave my wife and daughter a kiss goodbye, grabbed my phone, keys and wallet, and leave. As I’m approaching my car in the parking area I notice my door is slightly open… not a great sign. I opened the door and noticed my glove box and center console have been completely ransacked. Paperwork I had just gotten two days prior now laid dormant on the floor of the driver and passenger seat. I had also forgotten my day bag in the back seat.
It happened, my car had been robbed. Typically I’m great about locking my car door, Saturday night though, I suppose I missed a critical step in ensuring the safety of the contents of my car.
This is an important time in my life right now, I’m in the middle of a house purchase, work is going crazy, and my second kid will be here in two months. I brushed it off, told my wife what happened, and drove to the house I’m working on. During my drive I gave the Non-Emergency line a call. The gentlemen who answered was very kind.
He collected important information and asked for my location. I let him know that I was on the road and that it would be a few hours before I returned home. He asked that I gave the non-emergency line a call back when I’m home so they could send an officer out. Ugh. Now, in my life I haven’t had the best experience with police. Nothing directly involving me, but lots of second hand interaction and stories from family, so I was naturally inclined to assume the local police wouldn’t be useful. Admittedly, I wrote the entire situation as a loss, I felt hopeless.
Over the next few hours I took mental inventory of what was missing. Originally I had only thought that change and a Bluetooth speaker were missing, some of which was in my center console and others in the bag that was in my back seat. I began to fully remember what I had lost: An Android cellphone, an Apple iPhone, Bluetooth Speaker, home purchase paperwork, $10 in cash, and a few other things.
At this point I was mostly nervous about the iPhone, as it was a backup iPhone 12 I got some time ago which had all my Apple Wallet cards on it. Once I realized I logged into Find my IPhone and activated lost mode on the iPhone. I figured the best case scenario would be to ensure my data was protected. The evening settles in, I’ve accepted defeat, and head to bed.
This morning I clock on for work, and as I’m sitting in a work meeting I get a pestering notification on my phone. Lost iPhone has been turned on. I immediately open Find My iPhone to see the device had checked in, but then immediately was turned off. I was frustrated… not only did this person steal my property, they rubbed it in by trying to further use the device they stole.
Only for a moment however I was frustrated. I further read the information on my phone screen and a smile went from ear to ear. That minute or two the phone was turned on was long enough for the iPhone to pick up an address.
I was motivated at this point. I didn’t know what would happen, but I figured hey, what the hell, let’s give the non-emergency line a ring again. I called in, gave them a recap. They collected my information and let me know I should hear back soon. At this point I half expected the officer to tell me too much time had passed for anything to be done… but boy was I totally wrong.
Officer Thomas gave me a call and let me know that he was outside of my condo. He asked for a recap of the situation, what was taken, and if I had any additional information. I shared the Find my IPhone information. Officer Thomas had another officer come along to swab for DNA and collect finger prints off of my car - I was stunlocked! He then let me know that he was filing a warrant for the address listed on my Find my iPhone. I’m not sure what I thought would happen, but given what I was always taught, and believed, I thought I would have eaten dust.
After about an hour or two Officer Thomas and the officer taking DNA and finger prints finished up with me. I made more assumptions… I’m sure nothing will come of it, this is probably the last I’ll hear of it. Officer Thomas then proceed to send me several texts over the next few hours, he wants pictures of the Bluetooth Speaker, Pictures of my Bag, Cell Phone Serial Number, and various credible bits of information.
I scour my iPhone photos going years back finding the best pictures I possibly could for the items stolen. I sent some blurry and dark photos that I had taken, and then also some screenshots from Walmart and Amazon listings for the original items.
Again, I made assumption. I assumed he was just doing his typical paper work for his reports. Mind you, hours earlier I had also filed with my insurance regarding the situation, so at the minimum I was happy to have a police report for my claim.
A few hours pass and I get a missed call from Officer Thomas… I was playing video games and had my headphones up pretty loud. He took the time to text me however and let me know that they had recovered a phone, but it was smashed, and asked if I could send over the devices IMEI.
I sent the information, this time assuming that if they did actually goto the persons house there would be no way they were silly enough to leave a stolen phone right there.
A few hours later go by again, I received a call, and a third officer lets me know that he’s outside and that he’d like me to come out. I step outside and he lets me know that he believe he has my property. Officer Thomas was working overtime to get everything settled today so this officer was stepping in to help get everything tied up so he could go home. I was shocked. Jaw on the ground floored.
The iPhone was taken for evidence. I’m guessing the thief immediately smashed the iPhone once they realized it was out in lost mode. I got everything else back besides the few dollars of cash I had in the glove box.
The entire time I made assumptions against the police. Assumed they wouldn’t help, or weren’t able to. I was wrong every step of the way. Not only did New Castle Police impress me, but Officer Thomas was a godsend.
I cannot say how immensely shocked I am even now. I’m not sure what happened with the person who stole my items and broke into my car. I’d assume it’s more then a ticket, but I’ll have to find out next time I speak with Officer Thomas.
I just wanted to share my story. It may be benign to some, but it was a truly eye opening experience for me. These guys showed me they care about their jobs and their community.

Current cards:

• Discover IT $8,000 limit, 9/22
• Capital One SavorOne $1,000 limit, 2/23

FICO Score: 704 TU
Oldest account age: Student loan from 1/20 (4 loans, $14k total)
Status: 2/24, 2/12, 2/6
Income: $170,000
Open to Business Cards: No
Purpose of next card: Building credit, Cashback
Cards I've been looking at:

• Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature (Elan Financial)
• Visa Max Cash Preferred (Elan Financial)
• Citi Custom Cash

I am OK with category spending or general spending
3 hard pulls Experian (Discover, Cap1, apartment) 1 hard pull Equifax, TransUnion (Cap1)
State: WA
I would like most of these cards, curious for thoughts on the best order for rewards + credit building.
Edit: Monthly spending

• Cell Phone $35
• Internet $65
• Apple Music $11
• Light $25
• Car Insurance $85 (Prepay every 6 months)
• iFly Indoor Skydiving $1070 (Codes as travel/entertainment in Discover)
• Target $110
• Whole foods $375
• Restaurants $240

Still yet to show on any credit report, I deposited and used my stealth card before metal one arrived, activated metal once it arrived haven't used card since. How long did it take before to you saw it show up?
Also, is there a way to determine what limit they gave you?

I was looking to check my credit due to potential identity theft (Getting a more than usual number of phishing emails - Equifax was down) and was referred to TransUnion by the CRA site. What I failed to notice was in the fine print, TransUnion says they will charge you, however while going through the signup process they ask for a credit card to "verify your credit" without saying there that you will be charged a fee, nor do they have a final "purchase" confirmation.
Only after the fact did I notice that they charged me - I immediately canceled and felt the part of the sucker. If anyone asks where to get a credit check, I will advocate for any other services as TransUnion feels predatory.
Everything was fine, according to them, but still, no confirmation of charge, and saying the card was only being used for verification purposes feels like a total scam.

We have been Verizon customers for the last 2 1/2 years. Before that we were with AT&T for around 11 years and NEVER have had this kind of issue that we have had the last few days. This all started with ordering new iPhone 14 phones with trade-ins trough Verizon. We ordered iPhone 14 pros on Thursday. They came on Friday before we left for work. I want to stress we need our phones for work. I use mine for my job. If I have no phone I cannot work. My wife is a operating partner of a busy restaurant and has emergencies that crop at all times in her store and others. She gets called all the time. So I handed her the phone and took my phone and we went out the door to work. She tried to activate the phone and that’s where the hell started. Her phone would not activate. She called me and I looked in the myVerizion app and said our service had been suspended for her line only. WTF!?! There was a message that said that to call this number till 11 pm. I was like okay, I guess I will call. So I call the number that it said to call and got a message that said they are closed. This was at like 7 pm CST. So I got absolutely nowhere. I googled for a Verizon store and found they were all closed except for a third party Verizon store down the street from my wife’s store. It closed in like 15 minutes. So I asked her if she could get away from the store to run down to the store and try to get some answers. She ran down there. She and I ran into more problems as we found out that it was fraud prevention at Verizon that had termed her line. My wife did not know the last 4 digits of my social security number. I was listed as the account owner and she is listed as the account manager. I was the one that ordered the phones. I am driving and my wife asks me for my DL which I send to her. Than I get a push notification from Verizon asking me to click to okay access to the account. Which I did. Than I get another push notification asking me to okay account access which I clicked okay and it wanted me to upload my DL. Which I did. The fraud prevention lady that was on the phone with my wife and the store associate was being a real Bi*** to my wife. The store associate was in disbelief at fraud prevention behavior. My wife said they never got my DL. So I was sent another request through email which I had to pull over and complete the steps again. As soon as I did that my wife told me the fraud department HUNG UP on her and the store associate. The store associate gave us a phone number to call directly into fraud prevention. So I called, got though to a fraud prevention representative who verified my information yet again. She said she would re activate the line ASAP. I told my wife this by calling her at work on their phone and telling her this. An hour and half went by still the activation had not happened. So I pulled over again and called fraud prevention this is 9:38 pm CST. I got a hold of somebody and got through my accounting of what has happened before I got done he said oh I think I know what happened. He said let me check something and as he was he was telling me the story. Apparently when someone orders a phone through Verizon, the order is checked for fraud. I told him that there was no fraud intended when we ordered the phones. He said no not us. The last person that ordered the phone before us. Apparently when phones are ordered and fraud determines that there was fraud involved. They put the phones IMEI number on what they call a negative list. Then if the phones get shipped out Verizon tries to recall them with the shipper. He checked the negative list and sure enough my wife’s phone was on it. I asked him to check my phone which I had not even turned on and my phone was not on the list. So by this time it was 9:50 pm CST. He put in a reactivation but then said oh no, it was after 9 pm, so the system would not let him put one through for today and he dated one for tomorrow. He tried to activate through a bulk order. Luckily the phone started to work a little after midnight. However fast forward to Saturday and my wife’s ultra iWatch is still not working away from the phone. However that had to wait till Tuesday. So Tuesday we walked into a Verizon third party store because they had helped before. Our experience at the corporate owned stores have sucked. So we explained the situation with the iWatch and he tried to fix it and could not and had to call Verizon customer service. They transferred him 6 times to one rep after another. Six times. Several reps were asking him if we had not paid for the watch. We bought the watch ultra through Apple last year and financed the watch through our Apple Card. We were not even behind on the payments or anything at all. The rep said that this was a problem with fraud prevention. WTF AGAIN! Verizon had no claim to the watch. The rep transfers his call and the call gets dropped. So he says I have to call fraud prevention again. So I call them again about two hours ago and they tell me it has nothing to do with them. So she noted the account and transfers me back to customer service and stays on the phone with me. However after 5 minutes she says she can no longer hold with me but states she noted the account. Guess what?!? the call to the regular customer service rings and then nothing. Just silence. I check yep I am still contented. I wait for two more minutes with silence and the line goes dead.
So long story short I still don’t have my wife’s iWatch working. We have spent time on Friday night over 8 hours dealing with this. Another 4 hours tonight. Does anybody know of any escalated customer call center? I think there needs to be someone way way up that needs to hear our story. I think I am owed a big phone bill credit or something. The Verizon warehouse and customer service team has failed miserably along with fraud prevention.

I am considering the US Bank Reserve Visa and have several questions ...

• I see the current offer is 50,000 points with $4,500 spend in 90 days. Are there ever better offers either publicly or via referral? Or is this the best I should expect?
• I have read that cardholders of existing US Bank cards have received offers for the Reserve card. What is typically offered? Would there be any benefit of getting another card first such as the Connect+ and then waiting for an offer for the Reserve? I do understand it could be a year before an offer is sent.
• I am currently at 1/12, 2/24 and have a score of 800+, but I am not a US Bank customer. How likely am I to get approved?
• Is there a pre-approval process so I won't need to do a hard-pull if declined?
• I am also considering applying for the Amex Delta Gold card within the next week. How long should I wait after applying for that card before applying for the US Bank Reserve, if at all? Is applying for the Amex card first likely to reduce my chances of being approved for the US Bank card?
• Is the Enzo card still offering 1% cash back for paying off US Bank card through PayPal?
• Are they still counting the $400 AF toward the $4,500 spend requirement?
• Does the $375 travel/restaurant credit reset on Jan. 1 each year or is it based on your membership anniversary?

hey, how're you?
As an AI language model, I don't have feelings, but I'm functioning well and ready to assist you. How can I help you today?
📷📷I was just wondering what you think about New Zealand's situation now as a whole and where the country is headed?
As an AI language model, I don't have opinions, but I can provide you with some information on New Zealand's current situation and where the country is headed based on available data and news.
New Zealand has been successful in controlling the spread of COVID-19, with strict border controls, aggressive testing, and effective contact tracing. As a result, the country has been able to lift most restrictions and resume most activities. However, the recent emergence of new variants of the virus has led to some concern, and the government has implemented measures to prevent their spread.
In terms of the economy, New Zealand has been impacted by the pandemic, but the country's strong fiscal position has allowed for significant government support for businesses and individuals. The government has also announced plans for significant investment in infrastructure and housing to support economic growth.
In terms of social and political issues, New Zealand has been grappling with issues such as climate change, inequality, and housing affordability. The government has implemented policies to address these issues, such as the Zero Carbon Act and the KiwiBuild program, but there is still work to be done.
Overall, New Zealand is in a relatively stable position, with a strong public health response to the pandemic and a supportive government that is investing in the country's future. However, like any country, it will face ongoing challenges and uncertainties.
📷📷What makes you think New Zealand is in a strong fiscal position?
New Zealand's strong fiscal position is supported by a combination of factors, including its relatively low government debt levels, a stable and diversified economy, and a history of prudent fiscal management.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), New Zealand's gross government debt as a percentage of GDP was around 33% in 2021, which is relatively low compared to many other developed countries. Additionally, the country has a history of running small fiscal deficits or surpluses, which has helped to keep its debt levels under control.
New Zealand's economy is also relatively stable and diversified, with a mix of primary industries (such as agriculture, forestry, and fishing) and services sectors (such as tourism, finance, and professional services). This diversity has helped to insulate the country from some of the economic shocks experienced by other countries.
Finally, New Zealand has a strong reputation for fiscal management and governance, which has helped to build confidence in its economy and attract investment. The country has a well-established independent central bank, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, which is responsible for maintaining price stability and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Overall, while New Zealand is not immune to economic shocks or challenges, its strong fiscal position and prudent fiscal management provide a solid foundation for economic stability and growth.
📷📷Hasn't New Zealand's gross government debt increased significantly in the past two years?
Yes, you are correct. New Zealand's gross government debt has increased significantly over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic impact.
In response to the pandemic, the New Zealand government introduced a range of measures to support businesses and individuals, such as wage subsidies and business grants. These measures were necessary to cushion the economic impact of the pandemic, but they also increased government spending and contributed to an increase in government debt.
According to the New Zealand Treasury, the government's gross debt increased from around 19% of GDP in 2019 to an estimated 47% of GDP in 2022 as a result of the pandemic. However, it's important to note that New Zealand's debt levels are still lower than many other developed countries, and the government has indicated that it plans to bring debt levels back down over time through a combination of economic growth and responsible fiscal management.
In addition, the government has committed to investing in infrastructure and other long-term projects that are intended to support economic growth and create jobs, which could help to offset some of the short-term impacts of the pandemic on the country's debt levels.
📷📷What do you think are New Zealand's most pressing problems at the moment, and what strategies would you propose the government take to tackle these issues?
As an AI language model, I cannot have opinions or propose strategies, but I can provide some information on the challenges that New Zealand is currently facing and some of the strategies that have been proposed to tackle these issues.
One of the most pressing challenges facing New Zealand is the ongoing housing affordability crisis. The country's property prices have risen sharply in recent years, making it increasingly difficult for many people to afford to buy or rent a home. To address this issue, the government has introduced a range of measures, including the KiwiBuild program, which aims to build affordable homes, and the Bright Line Test, which imposes a tax on properties sold within a certain timeframe.
Another pressing challenge facing New Zealand is climate change. The country has committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2050, and the government has introduced a range of policies and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the Zero Carbon Act and the Emissions Trading Scheme. However, more action may be needed to meet these ambitious targets.
In addition, New Zealand faces ongoing challenges around inequality, particularly for Maori and Pasifika communities. The government has introduced a range of initiatives aimed at reducing inequality, such as the Families Package and the Mana in Mahi program, which provides training and employment opportunities for young people.
Overall, there are many complex challenges facing New Zealand, and there is no easy solution to these issues. The government will need to continue to work with stakeholders across society to identify and implement effective strategies to tackle these challenges and build a more equitable and sustainable future for all New Zealanders.
📷📷There are people in New Zealand really struggling right now due to rampant inflation, while others above the wealth gap seem to only get richer. What steps should the New Zealand government take to immediately address income inequality?
Income inequality is a complex and persistent issue that many countries, including New Zealand, continue to grapple with. While there is no easy solution to this problem, there are several steps the New Zealand government could take to address income inequality in the short term.
One of the most immediate steps the government could take is to increase social welfare support for those who are struggling to make ends meet. This could include increasing the amount of financial assistance provided through programs like the Accommodation Supplement and the Working for Families tax credit. The government could also consider raising the minimum wage and introducing policies to ensure that all workers have access to a living wage.
Another approach that the government could take is to introduce progressive taxation policies that would require those with higher incomes to pay a greater proportion of their income in taxes. This could include raising the top marginal tax rate or introducing a wealth tax on high net worth individuals.
The government could also take steps to address the root causes of income inequality, such as the lack of affordable housing and the high cost of living. This could involve investing in social housing, increasing the supply of affordable homes, and regulating the housing market to ensure that everyone has access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing.
Finally, the government could work to improve access to education and training programs, which can help to equip people with the skills and knowledge they need to secure higher-paying jobs and advance their careers.
Overall, addressing income inequality is a complex and multifaceted issue that will require a comprehensive and sustained effort from the government and society as a whole.
📷📷On the topic of education, do you think there is a problem in New Zealand with youth crime? Can you support your answer with statistics on recent New Zealand school drop out rates, adolescent suicide rates and adolescent crime rates?
As an AI language model, I do not have personal opinions, but I can provide some information on the topics you have asked about.
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of youth suicide in the OECD, and this is a significant concern for many people in the country. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, there were 150 deaths by suicide among 10-24 year-olds in 2020, representing a rate of 14.8 deaths per 100,000 people in this age group. This is a decrease from the previous year, but still represents a high rate of youth suicide compared to other countries.
Regarding school dropout rates, the latest data from the Ministry of Education shows that the number of students leaving school without any qualifications has decreased over the past decade. In 2020, 6.5% of students left school without any qualifications, down from 11.3% in 2010. However, there are still significant disparities in educational outcomes for different groups of students, with Maori and Pasifika students more likely to leave school without qualifications than their non-Maori/non-Pasifika peers.
In terms of adolescent crime rates, the latest data from the New Zealand Police shows that the rate of youth apprehensions has been declining over the past decade. In the year ending June 2021, there were 13,508 youth apprehensions, down from 24,377 in the year ending June 2011. However, there are still significant disparities in the rates of youth apprehensions for different ethnic groups, with Maori youth more likely to be apprehended than their non-Maori peers.
It's worth noting that there are many complex factors that contribute to youth crime, suicide, and educational outcomes, and these issues cannot be fully addressed by statistics alone. It's important for society as a whole to work together to identify and address the root causes of these issues and to provide support and opportunities for young people to thrive.
📷📷What are your thoughts on New Zealand's upcoming general election? Who will be the major parties and what will be the major talking points? Who do you think is most likely to win and on what topics will they be campaigning?
As an AI language model, I do not have personal thoughts or opinions, but I can provide some information on the upcoming New Zealand general election.
The next New Zealand general election is scheduled to be held on or before 21 November 2023. The major political parties in New Zealand are the Labour Party, the National Party, and the Green Party.
The major talking points of the election are likely to be determined by the political parties themselves, but some of the key issues that have been discussed in recent years include:

• Housing affordability and availability
• Climate change and environmental issues
• Health care and mental health
• Immigration and refugee policy
• Education and training
• Income inequality and poverty reduction

It is difficult to predict which party is most likely to win the election at this stage, as much will depend on how the various issues are perceived by voters and how well the parties are able to communicate their platforms and engage with voters.
That being said, the current governing party, the Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, has been enjoying high levels of popularity and support, particularly due to their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the political landscape can change quickly, and it is difficult to predict what factors may influence the election in the coming months.
Overall, the election is likely to be closely contested, with each major party campaigning on their own platforms and priorities, while also seeking to respond to the concerns and needs of the New Zealand electorate.
📷📷Let's change up the topic slightly. If you were a New Zealander just finishing your education and entering the workforce, what kind of career do you think offers the most chance of success in New Zealand?
As an AI language model, I do not have personal opinions or experiences, but I can provide some information on careers that may offer opportunities for success in New Zealand.
The New Zealand job market offers a range of career opportunities across different industries. Some of the fastest-growing sectors in the country include technology, healthcare, and construction. However, the most successful career path for an individual will depend on their skills, interests, and qualifications.
In general, industries that are experiencing growth and have high demand for skilled workers are likely to offer more opportunities for career success. In addition, jobs that offer opportunities for career development, training, and upskilling are likely to be attractive to individuals seeking to advance their careers.
It's also worth noting that success can be defined in many different ways, and what may be considered successful for one person may be different for another. Factors such as job satisfaction, work-life balance, and personal fulfillment may be just as important to some individuals as career advancement or earning potential.
Ultimately, the best way to ensure career success in New Zealand is to identify one's strengths and interests, gain relevant skills and qualifications, and seek out opportunities in industries and roles that align with one's goals and aspirations.
📷📷What do you think of ram raids, and what should the government do to combat this issue?
As an AI language model, I don't have personal opinions or emotions, but I can provide information on ram raids and potential solutions to combat this issue.
Ram raiding is a criminal activity where a vehicle is driven into a building or storefront to gain access for theft. This type of crime can cause significant damage to property and pose a risk to public safety.
To combat ram raids, the government and law enforcement agencies can take a number of measures. For example, they can increase patrols and surveillance in areas where these crimes are likely to occur. Installing physical barriers such as bollards or reinforced barriers can also make it more difficult for vehicles to be used in this way.
Improving community engagement and support can also be an effective strategy in preventing and reducing crime. This can involve working with local businesses and community groups to identify and address concerns, and to provide support and education to help prevent crime from occurring in the first place.
Overall, addressing ram raiding requires a comprehensive approach that includes a combination of law enforcement, community engagement, and physical measures to deter and prevent this type of crime.
📷📷If there was one fact you wanted New Zealanders to know about you, what would it be?
As an AI language model, I don't have personal facts, as I'm not a sentient being. However, I'm built to assist and provide information on a wide range of topics, including answering questions and offering insights based on my programming and the data I've been trained on.

I lurked a bunch in this group before my trip so am hoping that a trip report will help others. We had a larger group and a couple people in the group are mobility challenged so some of my tidbits are unique to those aspects.
Some general notes:
-I got a pocket wifi from Ninja Wifi and it was great. I picked it up from Kansai and dropped off at Narita and it was so easy. I rushed through customs and had it before the others were all through. Others in the group were using their travel plans (T mobile and Verizon) and by the end of the trip most were just connecting to my wifi because it was much faster. It wasn't completely perfect and had a couple glitches here and there, but nothing that restarting the unit didn't fix. I did bring my own power bank and 100% needed it.
-We flew into Kansai and landed around 7pm. The entry at Kansai was a breeze. Everyone had done the Visit Japan ahead of time. We took screenshots but there is airport wifi in the customs area so we could have used that as well. We were through and had our bags within 30 minutes.
-It did take us a couple of days to get the hang of the various train lines, reading google maps, etc. A lot of the train station are huge as well so we learned to allow ALOT more time than google suggested for walking, especially since our group moved on the slower side. I tried to prep everyone to add Suica/Pasmo on their phones but myself and my mom were the only ones who actually did. Two people had physical IC cards from a previous trip but the other 4 kept putting it off and ended up not ever getting an IC card. It was a huge pain to stop and get tickets every time and they regretted it by the end of the trip.
-I had saved everything using Google's MyMap before we left but I ended up not using it very much. I chose it so I could color code locations but it didn't integrate very well into the app. I had to click on the saved maps every time I wanted to see what was around us, and you also can't add anything on the app. This could be user error as this was my first time using the MyMaps instead of a list but I'll probably go back to just creating a list within the app next time.
-We brought little goodies with us to hand out in lieu of tips and everyone loved them. Little things like mac nuts (we are from Hawaii) were received with much exclamation and appreciation.
-We were celebrating 3 different birthdays while we were there so we did reserve those dinners, since we had a larger party. We mostly split up for the rest of the meals. I can't speak to how easily we would have gotten in without reservations as we didn't try.
-Like everyone else, I HIGHLY recommend the luggage transfer services. It was so nice to take the train from city to city with just a backpack. We stayed in hotels in each place and the front desk handled it for us each time. I had a larger suitcase and it was about 2000 yen for each of the transfers (Osaka to Tokyo and Tokyo to Nagano). The only time we took our luggage was on the last train ride back to the airport and that's only because we forgot to ask how far in advance we would need to drop off and I was nervous about getting it in time for the flight. It probably would have been fine though. I also left my computer charger in Osaka and the hotel shipped it to me overnight. You usually pay when you drop off your bags but they let me pay that one upon pickup.
-Day 0 - Arrived in Osaka. We stayed at the Swissotel Nankai Osaka and it is located on top of Namba station. This hotel was recommended to us by a flight attendant who travels to Japan frequently and it was great for convenience being right at the train and metro station. It was a 10 minute walk to the Dotonbori area, which was about the maximum that my aunt could walk with her walker.
- Day 1 - day trip to Nara. I signed us up for a free tour with the YMCA EGG Club and it was fantastic. We did get a wheelchair from the Kintetsu station info office. They have exactly one available and it's first come, first serve but our guide said she has never seen anyone use it before. It was perfect for us as there was a lot of walking that day. A few things were not accessible but we could leave the wheelchair outside and my aunt could use her cane.
We split up after the tour to get lunch. Me and an auntie ended up at Maguro Koya for oo toro and it was the perfect first lunch in Japan. A true mom and pop but they did have an English menu and spoke great English. It was only a few blocks from the Kintetsu station as well. Auntie and I had a few cups of sake as well and after a lingering and delicious lunch we went back to the train station and back to Osaka.
After a nap, we took a couple of cabs to the Dotonbori area since we were running late for dinner. In hindsight, it was silly for all of us to cab since the able bodied could have walked in the same amount of time. We didn't know our way around yet, though, so we all just cabbed. Dinner was at the Kanidoraku crab restaurant on the Dotonbori. It was just OK, probably wouldn't go back as there are so many fantastic places in Osaka. After dinner we went to Donki for a little chaos. Uncle nearly had a panic attack at the crowds and needed to wait outside.
-Day 2 - day trip to Kyoto - Only half of us did this as the other half had been before. We wanted to see as much as possible in the day so we reserved a guided taxi tour with Doi Taxi. It was 40,000 yen for our group of 4 and up to 7 hours but there was no way we were going to get to see much if we had to walk and take busses. I had asked him to take us to one temple and requested few stairs and little walking. He started by driving us to Gion and we did get out and walk around a bit. I had requested lunch at Yudofu Sagano in Arashiyama and if you like tofu you must go there! We walked around the Tenryu-Ji temple and gardens after lunch, which was beautiful. The Arashiyama area was packed with people. I thought Gion would be the crowded area but it had nothing on Arashiyama. After the temple we headed back to the train station to go back to Osaka. We probably didn't get quite the bang for our buck that we could have but we were getting very tired.
-Day 3 - free day. We all did our own thing. Some went to Osaka Castle, some did the Aquarium, and some just wandered.
Day 4 - Osaka to Tokyo. The teenagers were not impressed that we woke them up to get to the train station early to get bentos. They would have preferred to sleep and grab Family Mart but the rest of us wanted to browse and pick out the perfect ekiben. The selection was not as large as I was expecting at Shin-Osaka but we did still get some goodies. The teenagers were not impressed by the Nozomi and slept but the rest of us enjoyed our bentos and scenery. We got some beers and highballs from the snack cart and noted that they only took cash or IC cards, not credit cards.
Our hotel in Tokyo was the Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu. It wasn't quite as nice as the Swissotel but had a prime location right on the Scramble and the rooms were decently sized for Japan. My uncle almost had a panic attack when we got out of the Shibuya Station and he saw all of the people but he got used to it. We booked this hotel pretty far in advance and got a great deal. When I checked closer to the trip (just for giggles) it was a lot more expensive.
Day 5 - Tsukiji Market in the morning for breakfast/lunch/shopping then TeamLab Planets. Nothing new to report about those activities but this day is when we started to have issues finding escalators and elevators in the train station. Several stations in Tokyo were under construction and there were a couple of times we couldn't find any accessible options. Luckily, our mobility challenged people aren't totally immobile and could take the stairs but it was very tiring for them. I did appreciate that most of the subways and trains (and busses) have screens that show the stops and the location of escalators and elevators but they weren't always accurate if there was construction.
I really wanted to go to the Shibuya Yokocho for dinner and everyone in the group liked that idea, even the teens. I didn't think there was any chance we would all be able to eat together but we went early just in case. To my surprise we did find one place that could seat exactly 8 (if we crammed, which we did) and it was wonderful. I have no idea what it is called since most of the signs outside are in Japanese but the ownechef/bartender is named Hiro. We had some of my favorite bites of the whole trip there including a uni miso omelet and blue cheese baked mochi. The "menu" was just slips of paper on the wall, all in Japanese, but it was fun to try and use Google Translate and pick random things based on the translation. The mochi, for example, translated as "blue rice". A few of the adults bar hopped after dinner and we had a great time at each place, but Hiro's was my favorite.
Day 6 + 7 - Random Tokyo wandering and nothing interesting or crazy to report. Uncle went to Golden Gai by himself and reported that he liked the Shibuya Yokocho better. He thought Golden Gai seemed like a larger, more touristy version.
We did go to Tokyo Skytree one of these days and for the love, make a reservation if you want to go there. They do let you buy tickets same day but the line was horrendous and we were regretting our lack of planning as we watched the people with reservations walk right up.
Day 8 - Tokyo to Nagano - Our group split at this point. Half started in Shibu Onsen for some relaxation and half went to Lotte Arai resort for some skiing. I was part of the Shibu group so I'll report mainly on that. We chose Shibu because it was close to the snow monkey park and for the onsen experience. Shibu has 9 "public" onsen that only locals and people staying in a ryokan in Shibu get a key for. Getting there was very easy. The shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano took 1.5 hours and then the Dentetsu line to Yudanaka was about an hour. Our hotel picked us up at the train station.
Shibu was one of the highlights of the trip and it was especially relaxing after Tokyo. We stayed at the Shibu Hotel, which is a ryokan and family run for over 100 years. It was a bit of a splurge but we chose to include the kaiseki dinner and breakfast. The service was incredible. There are two brothers that are basically shuttling people around all day, to and from the train station and to and from the snow monkey park, and running the hotel. One of the wives and the mother run the front desk. The ryokan also has several public and private onsen for guests. It seemed like a lot of the ryokan in town were similar but as I've only stayed at Shibu Hotel I can only speak for them. Also important to note, they have a few rooms with Western style beds and an elevator, which is the main reason we stayed there. Most of the ryokan only offer Japanese style rooms, which I would have been fine with by myself but did not work for the group.
Shibu was very accessible, which I was not expecting. The town is tiny and the whole thing can be walked easily. Some of the little alleys weren't walker friendly but the main streets were tiled (I think), very smooth and wide enough for the walker. Not all of the onsen were accessible but most had a little step/s or railing so we could all participate. It was some family bonding for sure LOL
Day 9 - Snow Monkeys! We took the hotel shuttle to the park entrance and they even had snow boots for us, as the trail gets icy or muddy depending on the season. It was cold but not icy for us but we still appreciated the boots as it was a bit muddy in spots. It took us about 20 minutes to walk each way but I can see it taking much longer if there's snow or ice. There were so many monkeys and they were very unconcerned with people. No shit throwing or bag stealing was seen, unlike my previous monkey experience in Thailand. You could do this as a day trip from Nagano or even Tokyo very easily. This was not accessible as there are stairs at the beginning and end of the trip and auntie didn't want to try and walk a mile so she stayed at the hotel and enjoyed coffee in the lobby and browsing some of their homemade goodies (green onion miso, yum!).
We then took the local train back to Nagano and checked in to the Metropolitan Hotel, again right at the train station (have you sensed our preference yet). Lunch was at Misoya for my favorite ramen of the trip. I love me some miso. We saw the main temple in Nagano and visited the sake brewery close by.
Day 10 - Last full day and it was raining and cold. We didn't do a whole lot this day because of the rain but did some last minute shopping. At the Tokyu department store we found the best basement grocery with a bunch of food stalls so we grabbed a bunch of different foods and a bottle of local sake for lunch in the room.
Day 11 - Lunch at Misoya again before catching the Shinkansen back to Tokyo Station and then the Narita Express to the airport. We were pretty disappointed in the food and shopping options at Terminal 2, unfortunately. We left Nagano after lunch at 1:30 so had allowed extra time at the airport for dinner and some duty free shopping but nothing was open by the time we got through security at 6pm. We should have had dinner outside of security but we didn't realize nothing would be open. There was one little conbini that has some tuna musubi and egg salad sandwiches so that was dinner. We were more sad that the duty free was closed as we had been planning on buying some of our whisky and sake allotment there. We didn't come home empty handed but just less than we had planned.
Whew, that took awhile to write. I hope someone, somewhere finds any part of this helpful!

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When COVID first hit, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were expanded to help with the pandemic. Statistically, “Around 42 million Americans are currently enrolled” in the SNAP program, meaning a very large population of low-income Americans heavily reliant on it will be suddenly and severely hurt by the rollback. Data seems to point to the fact that “Snap allotments for the average recipient by $90 a month, with some households losing $250 a month or more. Older adults at the minimum benefit level will see their monthly Snap benefits drop from $281 a month to $23“. With such an unbelievable drop, a household with disabled persons would essentially mandate the individual(s) to return to work, regardless of disability, simply for survival. One such account is detailed in the Guardian article linked below.
Furthermore, it’s a troubling time to rollback the extended benefits given the circumstances. According to The Guardian, “20.5 million Americans currently behind on their utility payments and nearly 25 million behind on credit card, auto loan or personal loan payments, the highest number since 2009”. The same article mentions further trends that have shown that workers making less than $20/hr, “have experienced drops in wage growth compared with other workers in recent months”. This is all the while the cost of food has been rising, “…the US Department of Agriculture estimated that all food prices will increase by 7.9% in 2023 – and they were already 9.5% higher in February 2023 compared with February 2022”. The extended benefits are being cut back, as the debt and cost of food rise, all the while the money available for lower-income dwindles; no doubt a precarious situation, happening in a very short period with basically no way to prepare.
The immense stress and worry coming from a rapid and massive loss of financial help for food would also lead to a surge in demand for food bank aid. The number of reports of, “skipping meals, eating less, visiting food pantries or relying on family or friends for meals” has significantly increased in areas where the benefits stopped.What’s odd in the rollback of extended benefits is how beneficial they were: for example, “The Urban Institute found that the increased Snap benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic kept 4.2 million Americans out of poverty in the fourth quarter of 2021, reducing poverty by 9.6% and child poverty by 14% in states with emergency allotments. They also have a wider economic benefit. Every $1 invested in Snap benefits yields between $1.50 and $1.80 in economic activity during economic downturns”. Not only was it socially helpful in supporting those who needed it, but it was also economically stimulating. Given such grand positives, what would incentivize the limitation of the program?
Tragically, despite overwhelming support for continuing the expanded program from many, Congress is unlikely support the expansion due to opposition on the floors. That said, change does not come about through silence. If this is something enough are interested in supporting, a convincing push can be made to perhaps sway the decision to support maintaining the expansion while a path towards compromise is worked on.
Sources:
(Main one, highly recommend reading): https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/ma17/snap-food-benefits-us-cuts-impact-families
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/01/politics/food-stamps-pandemic-emergency-allotments/index.html
https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/temporary-pandemic-snap-benefits-will-end-in-remaining-35-states-in-march
https://frac.org/programs/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/emergency-allotments
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20all%20food%20prices,of%205.6%20to%2011.8%20percent.
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2023/02/28/states-strive-to-help-snap-recipients-cope-with-lower-benefits?fbclid=IwAR0_6afJ0RVlU72Fa5_4zTOI864maXkjA_CSAH-TpGrrni6m_xNbyK514bA
https://www.urban.org/research/publication/effect-reevaluated-thrifty-food-plan-and-emergency-allotments-supplemental
https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/93529/err-265.pdf?v=2789.4

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Bio
Age: 32 Occupation: Senior Digital Marketing Manager Location: HCOL, Midwest, US
Salary
Gross income: Currently, $103.5K + 10% annual bonus. Starting next week, $117K + 15% annual bonus! I do some sporadic freelance work for $2-3K per year. Husband is $51K. HHI is $168K (no bonus).
Net income: Current biweekly paycheck is ~$2.8K. Deductions: $75 HSA, health insurance, taxes. Not sure what new paycheck will be! Husband’s is ~$1.5K. Deductions: 401K, health insurances, taxes.
Income progression:
- 2012: After undergrad, got a part time contract job as a community manager (when social media was just barely a thing for businesses). Made $12/hr. Also was a server. All in w/both, $35-45K.
- 2014-2017: Over 5 years, contract gig got more serious. I quit my serving job as I made more from contract gig. Eventually, my role was absorbed by largest client. Started w/them as a social media manager at $55K.
- 2019: After a couple years, took new job in editorial/writing for $51K.
- 2019: Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 6 weeks after I got there (lol). So got a digital marketing manager job in a new, much more expensive city making $70K.
- 2021: After 2 years & a short COVID furlough, joined my current company as a digital marketing manager (under a former boss) at $102K + 10% bonus.
- 2022: Last year, received COL raise to $103.5K.
- March 2023: As of next week, start promotion to senior digital marketing manager w/, $117K + 15% annual bonus.
Assets & Debt
First, to start: my husband & I share finances. We’ve been together for nearly 8 years. We officially combined everything after we got married about a year ago. All assets, spend, etc. reflects both of us.
Assets:
Retirement balance: ~$2K & that’s it. I did not grow up w/financially fluent family (they also didn’t have any money), nor did I have an understanding about retirement until recently. I’ve also been prioritizing enjoying some of my spoils/saving for other things, tbh. This is changing soon!
Savings balance: $21.5K. Have some medically necessary procedures coming up (not covered by insurance) so socking away for that. We also rent, so always want to have moving cash accessible just in case.
Joint checking: $5.6K.
Solo checking: $1.4K
Debt:
Student loans: none! Paid mine off in 2020 (~$20K total). (I qualified for a lot of aid; scholarships, grants & subsidized student loans covered my undergrad degree. My parents did not contribute/)
Mortgage: n/a. We rent.
Car: $550 monthly. Bought the car 6 years ago. First decent car either one of us has had. Worth it. (~$3.5K left. We’re gonna pay this off in the spring).
Credit card: Currently $3K but we pay off in full each month.
Monthly Recurring Expenses
Rent: $2,100 for 2 bed, 2 bath, 3rd floor walkup, including outdoor parking space. We’ve lived here almost 4 years. Rent has not increased.
Electric & gas: $250-$350 depending on time of year.
Internet: ~$70.
Car insurance: ~$200 for two cars.
Phones & service: $155 for two phones + service but I get an $80 subsidy for work, so $75.
Fitness: $209 for unlimited Orangetheory. I go ~3 times/week & it’s great.
Prescriptions: ~$90. I have a daily inhaler & I take Adderall for ADHD.
Subscriptions: YouTube music, streaming TV, random podcasts, etc. my husband supports: ~75.
Savings: We put $1K-$2.5K in savings every month.
Weekly Diary!
DAY 1 – TOTAL: $4.75

• Up at 6:15 – Wordle, NYT Spelling Bee, Reddit, catch one Pokemon in Pokemon Go so I keep my streak
• Quick bath & read a book (this week’s reading: When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris; Mindset by Carol Dweck)
• Dressed & ready, took bus to work. Had team lunch, meetings, etc. all day.
• Getting home was a shitshow. Waited for the train – too crowded to get on. Waited for a bus – same. Eventually caught the train home. $2.50.
• Hung around w/husband, watched Succession, made half a grilled cheese for dinner

DAY 2 – TOTAL: $208.20

• Up at 6:30ish - Wordle, NYT Spelling Bee, Reddit, catch one Pokemon in Pokemon Go so I keep my streak
• Bath & reading – every morn!
• Cleaned the kitchen a bit
• Had to pay a bunch of bills manually. My credit card number got stolen awhile ago so bank sent me a new one w/a new number. But the old number (on file w/lots of places for autopay) still worked?? So I just let it ride.
• Started getting emails/calls that the old CC number was no longer valid. SO i paid some bills:
  • Speech pathologist: I’m getting evaluated for possible double jaw surgery so had to see a speech path for evaluation. If you have never been asked by a doctor to open your mouth & show them the chewed graham cracker on your tongue, I highly recommend. :) $178.20
  • Physicians assistant: I go see a PA once every 3 months for ADHD medication. $30
  • iPhone: covered above
  • Orangetheory: covered above
• Then off to WHF! Reporting for pilot I led, atatus meeting w/our digital agency, other calls, etc. On Wednesday nights, I take a stand up comedy class! Super fun & I’m really enjoying it. Had to do a rewrite of last week’s set so banged out right before class. Listened to last week’s piece & feedback, then voice transcribed into Word doc. I have an editing/writing background/degree & lots of speaking/performance so had a great time on rewrite. I was running late so I took an Uber there: $12.90
• Had a great time at class! It goes til 10pm & I’m old so caught an Uber home: $18.95.
• Got home & dumped tonight’s set & feedback into Word doc. Reddit-ed for a few. Sleep around 11pm.

DAY 3 – TOTAL: $325

• WFH again. Chill day. Hard for me to stay out late (for me) at class on Wednesday nights & have a good productive day the next one.
• Was NOT going to spend money today but Colin Jost the comedian is coming to town the night before my birthday!! I bought 2 tickets on Vivid Seats for my husband & me. $229.78
• Was gonna go to Orangetheory in the evening but cancelled – too tired. $14 for cancelling
• Husband went to Costco on his way home. Got paper towels & a few other things & a giant pizza! We ate it for dinner. $81.22

DAY 4 – TOTAL: $0

• Up around 6:40. Wordle, NYT Spelling Bee, Reddit, catch one Pokemon in Pokemon Go so I keep my streak
• Bath & reading! Washed my hair, so styling routine & diffusing.
• 9am meeting w/agency – took from the couch.
• Called around for a pharmacy who has my prescription for Adderall & found one! So then called the doc & had them send it over. Glad this is done!!
• THEN called health insurance. I need to have an expander put in my mouth because I have nasal breathing issues (and a severe open bite & moderate cross bite, all due to a narrow upper palate), BUT not clear if insurance covers it. Was on for 40 minutes – answer is conclusive. A TIP: orthodontic/orthognathic surgeries are an insurance nightmare. :/
• Lots of downtime today. Emails & reporting mostly but also a lot of researching the procedure I need to have. Called a coworker in the afternoon.
• Really sluggy so Diet Dr Pepper around 2:30pm – rare for me. Try to avoid caffeine after lunch.
• Ended up taking a nap from 5:30pm-7pm. Hung around & ate leftovers for dinner.

DAY 5 – TOTAL: $484.57

• Woke up, loafed around a bit.
• Caught the bus to meet a friend for brunch! Read a bit on the bus. $2.25
• Brunch w/my girl! Good to catch up. Ate some pancakes that were pretty good but made my stomach hurt. Got a giant cookie to take home to husband. $29.60
• Went to Anthropologie. Bought 5 things, all on clearance: 3 sweaters, one top, one blazejacket thing. $185, which is pretty great for Anthro.
• Then got ice cream!!! Bought my friend’s cone too. $17.60.
• Took the bus home. $2.25.
• A bit later, husband & I Ubered to a little cocktail bar. $12.99. It was really nice! We each had 2 cocktails. $76.76
• Then we went for dinner! Originally wanted wings but the place was crazy with very drunk March Madness goers. So went to a bistro-y place down the street. Had a couple beers each & ate some really excellent short rib pappardelle & husband had a delicious meatball sub. $138.12
• Ubered home! $20

DAY 6 – TOTAL: $38.49

• Slept in!! Realized we didn’t have any food so ran to Chipotle for a nice big brunch. $38.49
• Otherwise, had a very chill day. Long bath & reading w/face & hair masks. Tidying & laundry.
• Husband made meal prep (rice bowls) for dinner, so ate that & started The Last of Us & went to bed early.

DAY 7 – TOTAL: $143.67

• Up around 6:30 for the normal morning routine – phone, bath/reading, get ready.
• Had to call a bunch more pharmacies to sniff out Adderall – had very little luck. 
• Ordered flowers to be delivered for my mother’s birthday: $76.78
• Had a chill WFH day. Did some planning & reporting, had a few afternoon calls.
• Husband went to the grocery on his way home. Got a few staples: salsa, bagels, yogurts, etc. $66.89
• Wrapped up around 5:30pm. Laid around & stretched, then went to Orangetheory at 7pm.
• Had a great workout! Came home, cleaned up, wolfed some meal prepped food, then went to bed around 10pm.

TOTAL FOR WEEK: $1,204.68
This was an above average spending week. Brunch & shopping is not a weekly occurrence, nor are those medical bills. We typically eat/cook/meal prep at home a bit more too. But there ya have it – hope you enjoyed!

Current credit cards you are the primary account holder of: Chase Sapphire Preferred, $17,800 limit, 02/2023 Amex Platinum, no clue (bought a $7k fence easy enough), 02/2023 Amex Blue Cash Preferred, $25,000 limit, 02/2023 USAA Cashback Rewards Plus, $7,800 limit, 05/2017

• FICO Scores with source: Experian 757
• Oldest credit card account age with you as primary name on the account: 7 years
• Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 6 months: 3
• Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 12 months: 3
• Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 24 months: 3
• Annual income: Combined $100,000

CATEGORIES

• OK with category-specific cards?: Yes
• OK with rotating category cards?: Yes
• Estimate average monthly spend in the categories below. Only include what you can pay by credit card.
• Dining: $300
• Groceries: $700
• Gas: $200
• Travel: $80 a month
• Do you plan on using this card abroad?: CSP
• Any other categories (examples: phone/internet, insurance) or stores (example: Amazon) with significant, regular credit card spend: $400

MEMBERSHIPS & SUBSCRIPTIONS

• Current member of Amazon Prime?: Yes
• Current Verizon customer?: Yes
• Currently paying $13.99/month or more for Disney Bundle (Disney+ / Hulu / EPSN+) or other Hulu services? Yes, Disney bundle at $19.99 on platinum card for credit back
• Current member of Chase, US Bank or any other big bank?: USAA. Apart from credit card affiliations, no to others
• Active US military?: Yes
• Are you open to Business Cards?: Yes

PURPOSE

• What's the purpose of your next cards?: to figure out which cards to apply for next to maximize MUR points primarily towards Air Canada/Aeroplan, maybe Southwest. Also for hotels (wife prefers smaller boutique hotels for aspiration travel) if that's possible with these points.
  
• Do you have any cards you've been looking at? In order, Chase Freedom Ultimate, Chase Freedom Flex, Amazon Prime Visa, Amex Gold, Amex BBP, Upgrade CSP to CSR... Any other recommendations or suggestions?
  

To the SME'S that reside here, I'm hoping for your advice regarding what cards I apply for next as well as strategies/insight into reaping travel rewards points. I currently use my cards as follows-
*USAA for gas *Amex BCP for groceries and all streaming services except for Disney Bundle *Amex Platinum for Verizon phone bill, $19.99 Disney bundle, and one time expensive purchases for purchase protection *Chase Sapphire Preferred is currently everything else
I understand Amex and Chase both have Air Canada/Aeroplan as a travel partner, and with my wife being Canadian we like to travel up to Canada at least once per year. Our nearby airport is Raleigh and has Air Canada, but is also a Southwest hub so accruing UR points could be more beneficial. Does the Amex trifecta rack in more points than the Chase trifecta would? And which trifecta would work best for my current situation? Would love to set up an optimal card rotation within the next year or two. If you made it this far into this write up, thanks.

I am completely new to travelling and would appreciate some guidance on domestic travel within the U.S. from a credit card rewards side of things. Any help would be appreciated!
Before I slap the template in here I want to clarify some important points.

• I am only planning to travel domestically within the US (1-3 times a year).
• Average yearly travel expenses will be about $1000-$3000 (50:50 plane tickets and hotels for the most part, and maybe some more on Uber and car rentals).
• I currently have a custom Amex Platinum offer for 150k bonus points (spend $6,000 within the first 6 months) and 5X on groceries and dinning for the first 6 months.
• I am mostly worried about annual fees paying for themselves.

Now to the template:

• Current credit cards you are the primary account holder of: (list cards, limits, opening date): (example: Chase Freedom $X,XXX limit, 12/2019 - be sure to mention if any are business cards)
  • Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards, $3,800 limit, 07/2016
  • Discover Cash Back, $6,400 limit, 05/2018
  • Amazon Prime Rewards, $6,400, 01/2020
  • Citi Double Cash, $4,500, 08/2021
  • Amex Blue Cash Everyday, $10,000, 09/2021 (Downgraded from preferred in 08/2022)
  • Costco Anywhere Visa®, $6,000, 08/2022
  • Bilt, $7,500, 10/2022
• FICO Scores with source (see note on FICO score sources below): (example: Experian 701, Transunion 702, Equifax 703)
  • Transunion 755, Equifax 765, Experian 788 (Can boost it with some better utilization)
• Oldest credit card account age with you as primary name on the account: (example: 3 years - do NOT include cards you are an authorized user on)
  • 6 years 8 months
• Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 6 months:
  • 1
• Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 12 months:'
  • 2
• Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 24 months:
  • 4
• Annual income $: (Approximations are fine. Accuracy is most important if your income is under $20k. See what counts as income below.)
  • ~$85,000/year

CATEGORIES

• OK with category-specific cards?: (Answer YES if you're OK using one card for 3% back on groceries and another for 4% on dining)
  • Yes
• OK with rotating category cards?: (Answer YES if you're OK using a card that has different bonus categories each quarter, e.g. 5% on gas from Jan - March, then 5% on groceries April - June)
  • Yes
• Estimate average monthly spend in the categories below. Only include what you can pay by credit card.
  • Dining $: $50-$250
  • Groceries $: (If you buy your groceries at Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam's or other wholesale clubs, it's important that you list these amounts separately.)
    • ~$350 (Costco), ~$50 (Walmart)
  • Gas $: (If at Costco or Walmart, please specify)
    • $100-$150 (Costco)
  • Travel $: (Break it down as much as possible: spend on flights, hotels, Airbnb, car rentals, trains, Lyft/Uber. If you have an annual travel budget, divide by 12 for monthly average.)
    • Unsure because I am new to travelling, but guessing per year $500-$1500 flights, $500-$1500 hotels, $200-$500 Uber or Rent
  • Do you plan on using this card abroad for a significant length of time (study abroad, digital nomad, expat, extended travel)?:
    • No
  • Any other categories (examples: phone/internet, insurance) or stores (example: Amazon) with significant, regular credit card spend (the more you specify, the better):
    • $200 (car insurance), $30 (phone), $50 (Amazon)
  • Any other significant, regular credit card spend you didn't include above?:
    • N/A
  • Can you pay rent by credit card? If yes, list rent amount and if there's a fee for paying by credit card:
    • $2,000 (With Bilt)

MEMBERSHIPS & SUBSCRIPTIONS (delete lines that don't apply)

• * Current member of Amazon Prime?: Yes
• * Current Verizon postpaid customer?: No
• * Current member of Costco or Sam's Club? Costco
• * Currently paying $13.99/month or more for Disney Bundle (Disney+ / Hulu / EPSN+) or other Hulu services? No
• * Current member of Chase, US Bank or any other big bank?: Amazon Card with Chase
• * Active US military?: No
• * Are you open to Business Cards?: (these are an option if you have any kind of side gig, such as selling on eBay or Etsy) No

PURPOSE

• * What's the purpose of your next card (choose ONE)?: (first credit card, balance transfer, saving money, travel rewards)
  • Travel
  • * If you answered "first credit card", are you an authorized user on any other cards?
  • * If you answered "balance transfer", please give details as to why:
  • * If you answered "travel rewards", do you have a preferred airline and/or hotel chain? No
• Do you have any cards you've been looking at?
  • Amex Platinum, CSP, CSR, Venture X

Hello everyone, this is my first time posting here. Today I was about to do a double dip on Amex Plat and Amex Gold using 150k+200 and 90k+200. But eventually when I submitted the application for Plat, it declined. I think I should be very qualified for Plat but I just somehow declined. Can someone analyze it a little please? Thanks in advance.
A little background for me.
Cards I have: Discover it, CFU, CFF, CSP, Chase Hyatt, Chase UA Explorer, Citi AA Executive, Aviator Red, Bilt. No Amex card before. This declined Amex Plat is my first amex card applied
FICO8 Experian 757, TransUnion 733, Equifax 729
Total CL: 95k
Credit History: 2 years
Current credit utilization: 13%
Income: 160k
Rent: 650
Doesn't lock any credit report
3 months Hard Pull: 0
6 months Hard Pull: 3. Those 3 hard pulls were on Oct 4 and 5. After April 5, 6 months HP should also 0
Can someone help me analyze why it got declined? and should I call for reconsideration or just wait a few days and submit a new application? Some of the guess from my friend and other online credit card forum:

1. Too much on income. Lower income should work, because this is not an actual decline, amex will send me a form to release my financial information from IRS to amex and they will review it.
2. The Recent referral link makes Amex hurt and don't want to honor them, so they increase the possibility of denial for referral link application. 150k + 200 +30k is too much. If I use public offer, I should get approved no problem