The increasing "virtualization" of reality

[bedraggled]

PS,

Thanks.

In the last year, we have flown 4 times internationally and will continue flying internationally twice per year.  That would be 2 people for each of the next 5 years.  I figure the average ticket cost might be $750 per.  If we throw in 4 round trip domestic tickets each year, does this help the thinking re cash back vs. miles?

[Pointedstick]

Ah but how much money do you have to spend on other things to take to get those free flights, though?

Regardless, if it works for you, hats off! Airline miles… cash back… it's all better than the big fat nothing that you get when you spend money via physical cash or check.

[bedraggled]

We get 1 mile per dollar spent.

We think it might be better to go the Capital One 2x miles credit card.  Have you heard about the 2x card?

[Libertarian666]

PS,

Thanks.

In the last year, we have flown 4 times internationally and will continue flying internationally twice per year.  That would be 2 people for each of the next 5 years.  I figure the average ticket cost might be $750 per.  If we throw in 4 round trip domestic tickets each year, does this help the thinking re cash back vs. miles?

International flights, especially in premium classes, generally give a lot more bang per frequent flyer mile than domestic flights.

[dualstow]

I've always looked to accumulate airline miles.
Everyone here goes after the cash, 2%!
Am I missing something?

Most of my friends prefer miles to cash back. I'd say I don't like the way airlines play fast and loose with how much their points are worth, while a dollar is still a dollar in cash back. Closer to the truth, though, is that my friends aren't as lazy as I am.
If you like miles, you'd probably like thepointsguy.com.

[Greg]

Ten years younger than ochotona here.

I do the same as curlew. 2% back on the Fidelity Amex is a sweet deal. I use a Capital One 1.5% Visa for everywhere Amex isn't taken.  Both cards give you the cash back on all purchases, not just drugstore/ gas/ grocery.

I used to avoid autopay for a few items, but I decided I'd rather take the risk than spend time writing paper checks. I only to that for taxes and birthday gifts now. (I would totally join the Borg).

But, gosh I hate smartphones. I'm tired of all the friggin phone zombies crossing intersections with their face in a screen. Last time we lived in an apartment, they were entering the elevator without looking. So annoying. And 20 minutes ago, we waited our turn for a car at a stop sign, and the driver was busy reading her phone, not caring that she was holding up traffic for everyone.

I'm the same age as PS and love doing everything online regarding finances and I use a credit card to pretty much pay for everything and monitor everything with Mint. I will say though that I was using the 2% Fidelity Card but I switched mainly over to the Citi Double Cash Mastercard. Both are 2% but not everywhere takes the Fidelity Amex card versus everyone takes the Citi Mastercard.

[dualstow]

But back to the virtualization of reality, Greg,
would you or would you not join the Borg?

[Greg]

But back to the virtualization of reality, Greg,
would you or would you not join the Borg?

Benevolent Borg perhaps but that could turn nasty quite quickly if people disagreed with them about their methods (kinda like freedom of religion, etc.). I myself would prefer the Vulcans due to their logicalness and no nonsense haircuts. Also Unity from Rick and Morty for a more humorous take on "Borg-life" (see below).

[img width=400]http://www.ew.com/sites/default/files/s ... k=opieZCtg[/img]

And here's me after knowing there will be at least up to a season 3 for Rick and Morty

[img width=400]http://austin.charityowl.com/wp-content ... ityowl.gif[/img]

[Greg]

Also, if you don't mind a little hassle, Discover It and Chase Freedom Visa offer quarterly rotating categories that pay 5% cash back. For instance, this quarter Discover has 5% back on restaurants.

Personally, I would always take the cash and buy the airline ticket myself. Using points carries just too many restrictions for my taste, Even if the value per point is slightly higher, it's not worth it IMHO.

Thanks for the info regarding the Fidelity card. I'll have to think more about that. As for the 5% cards, I do use them even with the hassle. The fun part is writing with masking tape on them what they are used for so that my wife (since she shops more for groceries, etc. than I do), knows what she is doing with them.

[Greg]

I have an Amex Card that gives 6% back on groceries, 3% on select stores, 2% on gas, and 1% on everything else.  I think I heard about it here from WiseOne.

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/cred ... -preferred. May be worthwhile if you spend enough on groceries to offset the $75 annual fee (also making sure that the places you purchase from count, Walmart superstores and some Targets don't count as "grocery" stores). The $0 annual free card is https://www.americanexpress.com/us/cred ... -everyday/.

If you want 3% (or 3.3% depending on putting into a BoA checking account for your cash back) on gas all the time (like in the preferred card above), you can get this card https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-ca ... 3225&po=UC