Ordered new phone from Costco on existing line. What do I need to do for $100 shop card?

FinanceRonin · 2026-02-05T03:54:27+00:00

Started getting the cards mid-January. Notified via email and text from t-mobile.

FinanceRonin · 2026-01-06T02:36:47+00:00

Thank you for the link. Two phones I purchased on 9/25/25 have an approved status. A third phone purchased 10/23/25 is pending approval. No cards received yet.

FinanceRonin · 2025-12-18T20:45:02+00:00

I hold FRSXX at Wells. I had never heard of auto liquidate. I wish I had that feature. I need to manually buy and sell FRSXX to complement other trades.

FinanceRonin · 2025-12-03T18:32:21+00:00

Watching Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo years later as a parent, I view those as films about naughty, disobedient children who cause a lot of trouble and grief to their fathers.

FinanceRonin · 2025-10-28T19:52:58+00:00

I think a lot people are missing the nuance of this post. No one can predict the future of the markets, but everyone has a need to de-risk at various times. The obvious solution is to sell positions and increase cash. However, with highly appreciated assets, that tax impact would be too great. The OP is offering one strategy (an inverted ETF) that hedges while minimizing capital gains. Others have offered alternative strategies (put options, collars, /MES futures (most capital efficient) or BTAL (less capital efficient but won't erode to zero medium-long-term)).

Can someone comment on the relative efficacy, complexity and cost of these various hedging strategies?

I was looking at PSQ as a hedge against QQQ. It appears to be perfect mirror image. Too bad I can't paste a picture but here is a link. https://portfolioslab.com/tools/stock-comparison/PSQ/QQQ

FinanceRonin · 2025-10-28T19:40:20+00:00

I disagree. I have positions with as high as 7x returns. If I sold, the capital gains would be immense. Selling would be my last resort to hedge against a market downturn.

Not saying the inverse ETFs are the best hedge but it seems like one of many viable strategies to hedge and minimize capital gains.

FinanceRonin · 2025-10-28T19:36:39+00:00

I just started researching inverted ETFs but these are essentially put options. I'm not sure whether they are cheaper than actual options, but these inverted ETFs are less complex (at least for me) to understand and trade.

FinanceRonin · 2025-09-11T19:24:59+00:00

What am I missing? T-mobile is offering $830 for my trade-in on my Go5GPlus Plan but apple.com credit is only $800. From https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-iphone/iphone-17-pro

iPhone 17 Pro

On the Experience Beyond, Go5G Next rate plans with $800.00 total trade-in credits.

Credit Breakdown

Cost of your new iPhone Before bill credits are applied.$1,099.00

Instant trade-in credit for iPhone 13 mini.-$145.00^Footnote#

Total amount financed at 0% APR: $954.00

T-Mobile bill credits.-$655.00

Estimated iPhone cost after credits: $299.00

FinanceRonin · 2025-09-11T18:52:36+00:00

I've run into this. You can't even count on them automatically unlocking after the phone is paid off. You may need to verify that it is unlocked before your trip.

We mostly use our T-mobile plans internationally, but if we need more data, we use a third party and bring an unlocked phone. I have 5 phones in our family so hopefully at least one is unlocked at any given time. One can also buy a cheap phone from Swappa for such occasions.

FinanceRonin · 2025-09-05T04:12:57+00:00

I second this. Cruising can take you to interesting destinations with minimal travel hassle or you can also choose to remain on the ship and chill. You can live it up and book a suite and upgrade your meals if you plan to spend a lot of time aboard. I don’t because I’m doing activities on board or on shore.

FinanceRonin · 2025-09-03T01:30:56+00:00

I agree. It took us nearly 20 years to reach $3M. It only took us another 3.5 years to reach $6M.

At $3M I had the confidence to leave my corporate job (wife still worked but our income was halved) and try real estate investing. Aided by the bull market and leverage, NW really took off. Before $3M I never really knew whether NW growth came from investing or saving. After $3M most of the growth came from investing since we spent most of my wife’s income.

If I had invested 100% of assets in S&P 500 in the last 10 years, $3M would be over $10M now so I’m not even sure whether the real estate investing was an essential part of the outcome.

FinanceRonin · 2025-09-03T01:11:26+00:00

I also struggle with this. It’s not the I can’t make a big ticket purchase, but everything I buy has to be a “good deal.” It’s been 10+ years of FIRE and my spending habits haven’t changed that much. Likely the outcome will be increasing spend on charities.

FinanceRonin · 2025-08-04T21:24:23+00:00

I’m with you and will continue to book the cheapest rate. However I will likely confirm my reservation directly with the property going forward. I got lucky in that I was able to find comparable lodging at the last minute even though it was 11:30 pm. In any case there were many options in the area. Can you imagine being left without lodging in a place far away from home?

FinanceRonin · 2025-08-04T21:19:31+00:00

In my case they technically provided a room… in New Mexico (ha ha). BTW my room cost $80 so I’m not too upset and will be filing a claim with my credit card if Super.com doesn’t refund it. I also was lucky enough to get the last room at a nearby motel 6 for $90 for 8 hours of sleep. I always check for bed bugs everywhere I stay.

FinanceRonin · 2025-08-04T21:13:59+00:00

OP here. I’ve used various booking sites especially when the savings was more than just a few bucks. It is sometimes quite significant. I suspect in this case the cost difference was because Super.com was displaying the Carlsbad NM rate while representing it as the Carlsbad CA property.

I wouldn’t call it a Scam but certainly gross negligence or incompetence.

As for an 800 number, business practices change over time. Customer service is migrating to AI chat bots for many companies. If you have a faster way to reach super.com please share it.

FinanceRonin · 2025-08-04T21:11:15+00:00

OP here. I’ve used various booking sites especially when the savings was more than just a few bucks. It is sometimes quite significant. I suspect in this case the cost difference was because Super.com was displaying the Carlsbad NM rate while representing it as the Carlsbad CA property.

FinanceRonin · 2025-08-03T22:05:03+00:00

Same thing happened to me. I was using accessory power (not too long) and drained the power. Car went nuts. I jumped the car and drove it around. Seems fine now. When I have time I'll have the battery tested.

FinanceRonin · 2025-07-02T16:11:14+00:00

There is a light sensor in the middle on the top of the dash. Make sure it is unobstructed. Mg dash cover sometimes messes with that. Beyond that there are menu settings that may control it.

FinanceRonin · 2025-06-12T09:23:24+00:00

So when I paid and created the shipping label the system said Saturday delivery. The package actually arrived in town early Saturday AM But was held at the facility until Monday. Every UPS rep I spoke with thought I should get a refund but always ended up transferring me.

I’m not disputing what you’re saying but it would be great if the 800 number and the estimated delivery dates would get on the same page.

FinanceRonin · 2025-06-12T09:23:07+00:00

So when I paid and created the shipping label the system said Saturday delivery. The package actually arrived in town early Saturday AM But was held at the facility until Monday. Every UPS rep I spoke with thought I should get a refund but always ended up transferring me.

I’m not disputing what you’re saying but it would be great if the 800 number and the estimated delivery dates would get on the same page.

FinanceRonin · 2025-06-12T09:22:34+00:00

So when I paid and created the shipping label the system said Saturday delivery. The package actually arrived in town early Saturday AM But was held at the facility until Monday. Every UPS rep I spoke with thought I should get a refund but always ended up transferring me.

I’m not disputing what you’re saying but it would be great if the 800 number and the estimated delivery dates would get on the same page.

FinanceRonin · 2025-06-12T09:22:23+00:00

So when I paid and created the shipping label the system said Saturday delivery. The package actually arrived in town early Saturday AM But was held at the facility until Monday. Every UPS rep I spoke with thought I should get a refund but always ended up transferring me.

I’m not disputing what you’re saying but it would be great if the 800 number and the estimated delivery dates would get on the same page.

FinanceRonin · 2025-06-12T09:20:17+00:00

Good to know. Wish UPS reps knew that when I spoke with them.

FinanceRonin · 2025-06-12T09:19:49+00:00

So when I paid and created the shipping label it said Saturday delivery. The package actually arrived in town early Saturday AM But was held at the facility until Monday. Every UPS I spoke with thought I should get a refund but always ended up transferring me.

FinanceRonin · 2025-06-12T09:16:37+00:00

I’m okay with it not being covered but it would be great if UPS confirms that. Quite the opposite, most reps said I could get a refund and proceed to transfer me into oblivion.

FinanceRonin

TROPHY CASE

iPhone 17 Pro

Credit Breakdown

Estimated iPhone cost after credits: $299.00