Credit Cards

Category Archives for Credit Cards.

Your Credit Cards are Dirtier than the Bathrooms at New York’s Penn Station

by Gary Leff on May 25, 2019

May 25 2019

A new study looked at germs on different forms of payment mechanisms and how they compare to some of the more disgusting things we can think of. And while little compared to a door handle of a McDonald’s in New York, or to a city parking meter, the credit cards, bills, and coins we use may be more germ-laden even than the bathrooms at New York Penn Station or a New York subway pole.

Testing “40 debit and credit cards, 27 different bill denominations, and 10 coins for germs” each surface “was swabbed with a handheld germ testing device and assigned a ‘germ score’ to rank the item on the disgusting scale.”

What’s the Best Wallet for Someone With Tons of Credit Cards?

by Gary Leff on May 23, 2019

May 23 2019

My wallet has a bunch of credit cards sitting behind credit cards. It has my drivers license, office security access card, and Priority Pass cards. That doesn’t even begin to cover it though because I’ve got my insurance cards, AAA card, and some business cards too.

Overstuffing – and simply using – a wallet wears it out faster. I don’t like investing a ton of money in a wallet because it’s simply not going to last the way I use it.

Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Have Proposed to End Credit Cards as We Know Them

by Gary Leff on May 9, 2019

May 09 2019

Imagine you wanted to develop a policy that would erect the greatest barriers possible between the poor and middle classes and the already wealthy, and prevent income mobility, what would that policy look like? It would probably include limiting access to credit along the lines proposed here.

Secret Citibank Business Card

by Gary Leff on May 9, 2019

May 09 2019

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

One Credit Card is Now Offering a Bucket to New Customers Who Apply

by Gary Leff on May 8, 2019

May 08 2019

Don’t discount the value of a bucket as a signup bonus!

Along with some pvc pipe, gravel, sand and charcoal you could use a bucket to build a water filter. You can grow food inside of a bucket. Or harvest rainwater. You could even attach a couple of straps to the bucket and make it a backpack. With holes near the bottom of the bucket, and placed inside roasting pans, you might be able to use it to feed chickens. Buckets are also super useful if the ALS Foundation gets the ice bucket challenge to go viral again.

Barclays AAdvantage Business Card Bonus Now at a Record 75,000 Miles

by Gary Leff on May 6, 2019

May 06 2019

The AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard has a new best-ever offer with an initial bonus up to 75,000 miles.

What’s cool is that you can also get the American AAdvantage small business card from Citibank, the CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard, and it has a best-ever initial offer too.

30% Bonus on Transfers From American Express to Virgin Atlantic Through July 1

by Gary Leff on May 1, 2019

May 01 2019

American Express is running a 30% bonus on transfers to Virgin Atlantic through July 1. You have to log in to see the bonus.

Virgin’s miles are fantastic for ANA and Delta redemptions. However I’d only make the transfer to redeem a specific award, rather than doing to preemptively or viewing the program as a store of value.

Pay Bills With Mastercard, Earn Miles, for Just a 1.5% Fee

by Gary Leff on April 28, 2019

Apr 28 2019

Plastiq.com is a service that will charge your credit card and mail checks on your behalf. (With some vendors they also make electronic ACH payments.)

Their usual fee for this is 2.5%. It’s worth it to incur that fee if you’re earning a signup bonus with the credit card charges, or you’re meeting a spending threshold for a bonus.

Right now Mastercard payments are costing just 1.5%, and you can even pay a residential mortgage with a Mastercard.

Are the Poor Subsidizing Your Credit Card Rewards?

by Gary Leff on April 23, 2019

Apr 23 2019

A Brookings Institution piece argues that the “poor subsidize wealthier consumers” in financial transactions from checking accounts to credit card rewards. I do not think this is quite right, but let me first lay out the argument.

Chase Introduces its First Points-Transfer Bonus as Competition Heats Up

by Gary Leff on April 22, 2019

Apr 22 2019

Chase’s points normally transfer one-to-one to their airline and hotel partners. However Chase is offering a 30% bonus on transfers to British Airways through June 16. This is significant because I believe it is the first time Chase has run a bonus on transfers to one of its loyalty program partners.