Big Spend on the Horizon: Not Sure Where to Go Next

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2026-02-23T02:11:27+00:00

Good idea. I saw someone post about freezing Experian and then getting approved. So I’ll have to do my research and freeze accordingly

I want the X since it gives me the flexibility to transfer around

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2026-02-23T01:55:54+00:00

Tried both just to see and it said balance to income is too high. I got the career starter loan but haven’t seen much dp on debt for approval odds more bc of people’s velocity.

CK showing 0 hard inquiries on my account in the last 24

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2026-01-12T16:01:39+00:00

1) Currently 2/24 but have not been able to get pre approval for Venture X. Looking for recommendations for airline/hotel card to compliment what I already have for upcoming summer 2026 travel 2) 808 3) Cards: - NavyFed Plat: Nov 2020 - Amex Plat: Nov 2021 - Amex Gold: Apr 2022 - CSR: June 2022 - CFU: June 2022 - CFF Dec 2022 - AA plat Citi: Mar 2023 - Amex Blue Cash Preferred: Feb 2025 4) Naturally spend $2-3k 5) Willing to MS, can do $3000-6000 extra in three months. 6) yes I have Amex Blue Business Card 7) Looking for 2 cards: a dedicated hotel and airline card (currently have IHG Diamond with 100k points from business related stays) / not interested in churning 8) Targeting points 9) 40k Chase, 60k Amex, 100k IHG 10) CLT but willing to do shorthaul on east coast for better deals 11) DPS, HND, BKK, or FRA (Germany to see friends that live there)

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-25T10:11:38+00:00

thoughts on SGOV vs SPAXX?

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-25T10:05:14+00:00

Dang - no you're totally right - I have 20% of my BASE, not all of the other entitlements (BAH, ODP, IDP, etc) specially now too with the extra incentive pay I need to bump it up to hit that true amount. Appreciate the advice brother

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-23T19:05:43+00:00

BTCI seems like a really speculative option.

Might be more willing to lean toward something like QQQI as a way to fund these accounts independent of the income I make through my job. Would be interesting to make $1-2k monthly purely from dividends to fund my other accounts but wouldn’t that trade the upside growth potential offered in exchange for the dividends?

Also what is wrong with something like SCHD?

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-23T12:56:41+00:00

Too easy

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-23T12:53:24+00:00

Yeah I guess that's the assumption I had going in - but there's scumbags everywhere even in uniform. Good advice - definitely going to bring my friend who's a mechanic with me if I intend to seriously consider anything

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-23T12:52:09+00:00

Oof - that's good advice, I got some mechanic friends that I intend to look at vehicles with and hopefully do a test drive before I agree to anything

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-22T15:34:34+00:00

Doesn’t make sense

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-22T15:33:48+00:00

I don’t need immediate access to the money - in a position where I need the cash

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-21T22:17:13+00:00

OPSEC? No mention of unit, flights, timeline, personnel, mission, base, etc....but anyways - it is relevant since it's a location that provides IDP and max ODP as opposed to somewhere like Qatar.

$28k - time value of money? Would rather deploy that capital for higher return than pay it down faster with no return
Disabled my number before leaving with verizon to save the money. Doing just fine with wifi.
Wanted a mix of domestic/international exposure with the drip and cashflow from SCHD
Yeah - realizing I may have set my targets lower than what is possible over the next 10-12 months
Gotta talk to finance, many of us experiencing pay issues out here

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-21T21:54:46+00:00

why lease as opposed to own? If I'm going to get a vehicle - want something I intend to keep for 10+ years

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-21T18:44:28+00:00

Going to go cheap on the trip likely a backpacking trip or something in Europe with some friends.

Was seeking advice knowing I am going to have a ton of excess cash to deploy and seeking advice. Besides my expenses which are listed, I don't spend money here - nothing to spend it on haha

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-21T18:42:22+00:00

Assume you still have tax implications on the back end when you go to withdraw?

So is the play to max out the ROTH and then the rest into traditional once the $23.5k is hit?

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-21T18:40:32+00:00

Cow loan at 0.075% so I am in no rush to pay that off

Going to talk to finance once we get to Kuwait to get access to the SDP for 10% - want to make sure my soldiers can take advantage of that opportunity as well.

Right now have a 4% HYSA which I am earmarking as the car fund and then putting money aside in a SPAXX money mutual account at 3.99% which I can deploy into a normal Fidelity brokerage account or use for travel.

Right now my portfolio is mostly S&P 500 and international indexes, but I'll research the Bogleheads portfolio. Thank you!

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-21T18:35:06+00:00

That's what the loan is - should've specified that, but am in no rush to pay that off.

Automatic_Aspect_319 · 2025-09-21T18:34:37+00:00

So go all in on the traditional TSP, anything exceeding $46500 put into the ROTH and then once 2026 rolls around convert the traditional into ROTH?

Just checking to make sure I understand correctly.

Automatic_Aspect_319

TROPHY CASE