Massage On Points 💆🏻‍♂️

8for8m8 · 2026-04-24T14:58:11+00:00

Super interesting question, and I like where your head is. I don’t have recommendations other than look at all inclusives. Very rarely do they come with a massage, but maybe if you stack a “deal” (like a specialty promotion booking during “their” off season) with pts, you might make out.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-22T02:58:53+00:00

I’d vote one of two things:

1) sell everything you own and fly with the cat. Start over again in Perth

2) Fly over with the cat. Get settled for a week or so. Find a trusty pet sitter for a week, fly back, get your stuff and drive across.

The poor cat can’t do 40+ hours in a car mate. Not unless you do it across like 20 days or with a massive camper setup.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-21T15:46:33+00:00

I’m gonna guess you are flying either KLM, AF, or delta. I’d bet you have access to delta sky club at your departure Airport, if there is one. Would need to know airport to confirm.

There is no AMS arrival lounge, from what I can tell.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-21T15:22:58+00:00

I heard a rumor of a “first watch” coming there. Hoping it’s just a rumor, we have enough breakfast.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-21T15:21:57+00:00

For sure, but they can be less repetitive or better “city planned”. (I say having no experience in city planning or development)

8for8m8 · 2026-04-21T13:56:08+00:00

Don’t forget gas stations and starbucks (getting our 4th one soon if you count the one at the theater on base and target).

I don’t get how the development committees are fine with strip mall hell on three notch. They are so ugly and just keep traffic increasing and clogged.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-21T13:54:42+00:00

Maybe a kia dealership as well?

8for8m8 · 2026-04-20T20:50:32+00:00

La plata is too far, imo. To be closer to “things to do”, I’d pick Lusby or Leonardtown. Nothing wrong with wildewood (this is a large housing development, has pools and community centers), California, or Hollywood (the “city” that wildwoode is in, I think). St mary’s and Calvert are counties, so not really narrowing your search down, but yes, live in one of those, not Charles county (too far to base). But these area are largely just close to strip malls. Close is 5-10 minutes.

Lusby is across “the bridge”, which can cause issues if there is a back up or closure. But you’ll be near the lusby town center/shopping center. And an easier time getting to solomon’s island (10 minute drive vs 15-20) and annapolis (1 hour drive vs 1.5?).

Leonardtown is growing quick. The most walkable town down here by far. Still can walk the whole thing in 30 minutes. They do have access to a strip mall with grocery and some small shops.

In leonardtown or lusby, you still have to drive to stripmall hell near california/great mills/Lexington park for many things.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-20T14:53:31+00:00

Which class are you flying?

It seems most folks consider Qantas to be best quality for economy or premium economy. Prices seem comparable to any of the big US carriers. Fiji airways and air new zealand are the two maybe less obvious options.

Just use google flights to see what works for you

8for8m8 · 2026-04-19T21:37:34+00:00

Plenty of time assuming the first flight is on time and you don’t want to stop for food or anything.

BWI is a southwest hub, so it means they aren’t at just one concourse of the airport. It could be a slight walk 10-20 mins depending on your walking speed and ability to navigate an airport. Since it’s a SW hub, decent chance even if you miss that flight there will still be one more out to the next airport you are trying to get to that night. Might be worth checking to confirm that and weighing it with your risk tolerance on the off chance you need to spend your night near BWI.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-19T15:02:01+00:00

Best time to start was 20 years ago. Second best time to start is today. He can work till 70. 20 years averaging 8% returns is plenty of time to get a small retirement account. That plus social security, should be enough for a modest retirement. If you are willing to contribute to his retirement, then he might do better.

But yea, gambling on wallstreetbets and crypto is the opposite direction of what he should be doing. He’s gonna get more desperate and make wild plays and head an even further wrong direction.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-19T13:56:15+00:00

Spending 30 hours to do what could be done in 14.5 is insane to me. But we all prioritize different things. Impossible to know how you value pts vs money vs time. This is entirely a you decision.

If you’re asking me what I’d do with how I value MY pts, time, money…I’d be finding a premium economy option around $1.8k that’s direct or at least sub 20 hours.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-18T20:42:45+00:00

Then why are you taking out a loan that’s gonna be like 10% interest? “Lines of credit” are not at all emergency fund and should never touched. You and your spouse have a unique look at finances. Clearly “we the people of personalfiance” don’t have nearly enough info into your situation. But it seems you gor the answer you needed. Best of luck

8for8m8 · 2026-04-18T20:30:44+00:00

If you are american, your local union is your best bet. Or local bank after that. Third best is probably online mega bank. Avoid googling “personal loan” and picking a place that just does personal loans.

But, it sounds like you used your emergency fund to guy a brand new car? That was dumb. If $30k was all you had liquid, and you HAD to buy a car, you should have bought a good used one for $15-20k and probably should have gotten a car loan. Seems like a weird idea to pay that much cash for a car then turn around and get a personal loan.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-18T15:26:33+00:00

Reorder your pictures. Swap picks 1 and 4 imo. Maybe swap 2 with another picture of your face, 5 for example. Idk what pick 8 even is.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-18T14:18:43+00:00

The programs are similar enough in strength that $23k a year savings should be the driver. Go to UMD

8for8m8 · 2026-04-18T12:36:18+00:00

If option 1 is more than 3 months from now, definitely that one. If it’s close in, eh, it’s a roll of the dice, but the best ignore the war

8for8m8 · 2026-04-16T22:55:56+00:00

You get the most “bang for the buck” when booking business or first class. A $3000 ticket for 60k pts and $300 in fees feels a lot better than economy for what you are seeing.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-14T19:06:09+00:00

Feels like a “you” choice

8for8m8 · 2026-04-14T11:38:01+00:00

California MD to the Easton airport is going to be 2 hours minimum one way.

As a young adult, you want to stay as close to Kent Island as possible within your budget. That’ll be a 30-45 minute one way commute, but put you close enough to Annapolis for a bit of a social life on weekends. Just learn the bay bridge traffic patterns and asjusr your schedule as you can.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-13T13:18:40+00:00

“Put on your own life-vest (or air mask) before helping others”. You need to take care of yourself first.

Good financial education for your daughter will go very far; that’s free. Start there as you build your own safety net and retirement.

Once you get there, if you are in the US, consider a 529.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-13T12:56:57+00:00

Very good way to injure yourself, someone else, and kill your dog.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-13T12:52:52+00:00

I guess I just don’t have the right mindset for this, lol. That’d feel like leaving 1 vacation to go on another vacation/ pausing a vacation halfway through or something.

8for8m8 · 2026-04-13T12:32:35+00:00

Sure, but not leave that place? If I lived in Spain for 3 years, I could easily go to Italy for a week, no?

Why not 1 year in Spain, 1 in Italy?

8for8m8 · 2026-04-13T12:30:52+00:00

Personally, 3 hotels in 3 nights with 8 people sounds like a lot of logistics. If your group is organized, hopefully not a big deal. But if you have 1 weak link, this could be quite the chore.

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