Tools, tips, and tricks for the tactical consumer.
View from the Wing has a great write-up about the 5,000 and 10,000-point bonuses that some Amex charge card holders can earn by enrolling in Amex's “Pay Over Time” feature. I didn’t qualify for the bonus -- and it’s unclear who does -- but some … [Continue reading]
You’ve probably heard of the “MagsforMiles” program, or at least received one of their letters imploring you to buy magazine subscriptions with your frequent flyer miles. The program partners with most domestic airlines -- Alaska, American, Delta, … [Continue reading]
Most people are well-aware that airport currency-exchange kiosks offer terrible exchange rates. And while it’s easy to avoid those rates when buying foreign currency -- by making a withdrawal from an ATM rather than swapping cash – there’s no great … [Continue reading]
One of the easiest ways to rack up points and miles with almost no effort whatsoever is to enroll your credit cards in airline and hotel dining programs. Simply register your cards with a given program (you can register up to five cards per … [Continue reading]
UPDATE: The 75,000-point offer is no longer available. I'm usually brimming with excitement when a 75,000-point offer comes around, but after last week's shenanigans -- in which American Express accidentally released a 75,000-point offer, then … [Continue reading]
A few months ago, I set forth my case for using Ally Bank as my primary checking account. And while I plan to stick with Ally as my primary checking account for its consumer-friendly features like unlimited ATM-fee reimbursements, free checks, and … [Continue reading]
UPDATE: The 75,000-point offer is no longer available. This is going to spread like wildfire around the points and miles blogosphere: the affiliate links for the Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express are now offering a whopping … [Continue reading]
UPDATE: If you don't qualify for the 50,000-mile offer described below, check your local Chase branch. The standard signup bonus for the United MileagePlus Explorer card is 30,000 miles after spending $1,000 within three months, but targeted … [Continue reading]
Here’s an important reminder: Mother’s Day is May 12 (next weekend!). And if you, like me, find yourself scrolling through endless combinations of indistinguishable floral bouquets on one of the online flower-delivery giants, you might as well take … [Continue reading]