One of my long-time favorite credit cards is a grandfathered Fidelity College Rewards MasterCard that gives me 2% flat cash back on all purchases. I'm not sure exactly when I first applied for this card, but it was in the early 2000s. The current … [Read the rest]
Ting GSM SIM Cards: Bring Your Own Phone + Referral Credit
Posted on September 8, 2015 // 35 Comments
Updated August 2016. Here's the current status of things: New Ting customers get a $25 credit with a referral link. Thanks in advance if you use it, you'll be saving my parents some money on their bill, as I set them up with Ting service … [Read the rest]
Verizon Wireless New Plans August 2015: Existing Customers Should Compare Prices
Posted on September 7, 2015 // 7 Comments
In August 2015, Verizon Wireless announced that it was ending 2-year contracts for new customers. Before, you got a ~$450 discount on a new phone but also got locked into a 2-year contract with an inflated monthly plan price. Now, you have to buy … [Read the rest]
Free FICO Score from Chase Credit Cards
Posted on September 3, 2015 // 4 Comments
This post provides updated information and instructions regarding the free FICO score that is available to select Chase credit card holders. Background. Chase started offering free FICO® scores to select US cardholders in March 2015. In … [Read the rest]
Free FICO Score from Barclaycard Credit Cards
Posted on September 3, 2015 // 1 Comment
This post provides updated information and instructions regarding the free FICO score that is available to Barclaycard US credit card holders. Background. Barclaycard started offering free FICO® scores to select US cardholders in late 2013, … [Read the rest]
Retirement Income Risks: Longevity, Sequence of Returns, and Stupidity
Posted on September 3, 2015 // 5 Comments
One of the first things that pops up when doing research on retirement annuities is the "annuity puzzle". Essentially, economists have done their calculations and shown that simple, immediate income annuities are theoretically the best fit for many … [Read the rest]
Amazon Prime: Download Shows and Movies, View Offline For Free
Posted on September 2, 2015 // 7 Comments
Amazon has announced that Amazon Prime members can download select movies and TV episodes for offline viewing, at no additional charge. This works on all Apple iPhones, iPads, and Android-based devices. You may need to update your apps to the … [Read the rest]
Lifetime Income vs. Lump Sum Payouts: You May Live Longer Than You Think
Posted on September 1, 2015 // 10 Comments
My parents are in the midst of planning their retirement payout structure. I don't know about everyone else, but in my mind I tend to plan to live to pretty much exactly age 80. Early death is depressing to think about (even though I have term … [Read the rest]
Free FICO Score from Citi Credit Cards
Posted on August 30, 2015 // 2 Comments
This post provides updated information and instructions regarding the free FICO score that is available to Citibank credit card holders. Background. While their plans were announced in late 2014, Citi started offering free FICO scores to select … [Read the rest]
Free FICO Score from Discover Credit Cards
Posted on August 30, 2015 // 2 Comments
This post provides updated information and instructions regarding the free FICO score that is available to Discover credit card holders. Background. While a pilot program started in late 2013, Discover started offering a free FICO score to all … [Read the rest]
Stock Investing: Taking Your Money Off The Table Until Things Calm Down?
Posted on August 27, 2015 // Leave a Comment
Updated 2020. How many e-mails have you gotten regarding "recent market volatility"? The advice is almost always the same, think long-term. Feeling some fear and uncertainty is normal. During extreme times, a phrase often heard will be "I'm … [Read the rest]
Amazon Underground: 450+ Free Android Apps with Free In-App Purchases
Posted on August 26, 2015 // 3 Comments
If you have an Android smartphone or tablet, Amazon just released Amazon Underground, which adds a collection of 450+ apps which have agreed to be 100% free, including all in-app purchases. Amazon will somehow pay the publishers based on how much … [Read the rest]
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