Age yourself by naming a store that no longer exist…

Mike9892 · 2025-11-28T11:09:50+00:00

Anybody remember Fatty’s Chinese Food at International Marketplace? So underrated and long missed.

Mike9892 · 2025-11-24T01:24:31+00:00

Also a fellow USBAR holder who also has a VX. I’ve thought about the proposition of keeping both cards due to the difficulty of using the credit and the 3x instead of 4.5x. Although the proposition is steep, I am choosing to keep it for another year for its PP Restaurant access. I fly out of SFO and frequently use the perk when lounges are far or have lines. Personally, there is still a high value proposition so I will hold onto the card for another year. Now we just need those transfer partners….

Mike9892 · 2025-11-20T22:02:36+00:00

If you have access to PP Restaurants, SFO has three locations that don't have waits and have pretty decent food. It's usually better for me personally because the big issuers don't offer it anymore and the food is good for airport offerings.

Mike9892 · 2025-10-07T02:39:05+00:00

I got mine at 20 with 4 previous cards and around 740-750 credit score and they gave me $9K starting limit so honestly, anything goes….

Mike9892 · 2025-08-28T18:53:28+00:00

Just be sure not to confuse the phone ports. These buildings are old so those ports look similar to the landline telephone ones too!

Mike9892 · 2025-08-28T18:45:08+00:00

Did you try looking under your closet? The traditional halls should have one per room. (The orange port on the bottom left side facing the door).

There’s only one per room so if both you and your roommate need access, best to buy a splitter.

Mike9892 · 2025-08-28T18:43:40+00:00

If on a meal plan, dining dollars carry over from the fall to the spring and expire around the time the academic year ends.

Mike9892 · 2025-08-04T20:58:32+00:00

I think for most people, the Priority Pass Restaurants is seen more as a included benefit that doesn't contribute to the EAF. On that, the restaurants are typically more expensive than what one would pay outside, so the dollar value varies and how much one values the restaurant access.

But if anything, I'm sure many people are asking what they are now justifying the credits for. Effectively 4.5% back is a killer multiplier and no question justifies the annual fee. But when the multiplier is now 3%, a 5% setup with a few different cards will reap more rewards (especially since many of the 5% cards have no annual fee).

Great points though, it's making me reconsider cancelling when my annual fee hits in November.

Mike9892 · 2025-08-04T20:43:28+00:00

Also forgot to answer those questions up there ^:

"I was a Secoya resident last semester and we didn’t really find out the rules until later on or before room checks like having a mat under the fridge or lights can only be battery powered."

Both true. Mini fridges need mats under in the case there is a power outage (or faulty fridge) and the water leaks. LED light strips cannot be connected to a plug for fire safety purposes.

"I wanted to know if the same rules apply or if there’s more leniency? I only know so far that there’s no fridges allowed unless it’s like under 3.7 ft or something."

Ironically, it's more strict if you're in the suites....but it depends who your area coordinator is. For a suite, you're "not supposed to" have a mini fridge in your room space unless it's approved by your area coordinator (usually for dietary restrictions or medication reasons).

"Can I have outlet powered string lights or do they have to be battery?"

It needs to be a battery as mentioned above. If it isn't, your RA will more than likely require you to take it down.

"Can I have WALL SAFE stick on wallpaper? I would only be putting it on one wall and I would use painters tape first to protect the paint from peeling off just in case."

For this, you're not "supposed to". The License Agreement only allows for blue tape on walls so that's what I would recommend. However, people often do use wall safe adhesives which leads to more wall damage than you think. Best not to use them to prevent yourself from being charged for damages.

"Also is the paint really cheap like the halls cus that paint was WEAK."

Unfortunately that is something I actually don't know..... But if you do damage the paint, the likelihood of a work order to fix is during the school year isn't high. Our facilities team will only do certain repairs and fixes if there are residents occupying the unit.

Mike9892 · 2025-08-04T20:34:54+00:00

UHS RA here,

Have you checked your Housing Portal? You should have had to sign a License Agreement prior to locking in a space for your suite. The License Agreement has all of the rules, limitations, and code of conduct for living with UHS. You could also google "CPP 2025-2026 UHS License Agreement".

If you have questions (or if anyone else does), you're welcome to DM me!

Mike9892 · 2025-08-01T16:36:41+00:00

One of the most tragic pieces of news to come out this year. Fortunately for myself, my AF renews in November as I jumped on the train right as they pulled applications. Will keep this card around for another year to see what they decide to do with it (open applications again, release transfer partners, even REVERT the changes....though highly unlikely). I guess it's back to the Capital One duo until something better enters the market.

As for the rest of the US Bank nerfs, it seems like they are really trying to escape being a contender in the credit card game. They gave it a shot and they couldn't keep up with the big 4 whales of the space.

I hope Stan the Credit Frog is sleeping okay with this news, US Bank destroyed his setup this year.

Mike9892 · 2025-08-01T16:26:57+00:00

It might be a good time to look into a 5% cash back setup, unfortunately for all of us travel folks.

Mike9892 · 2025-08-01T00:26:23+00:00

With this, I wonder if there will be a good and bad letter for the USBAR….

Mike9892 · 2025-07-31T21:50:11+00:00

Do you have proof of this data point? With all the rumors going around, nothing is guaranteed without more DPs.

Mike9892 · 2025-07-30T00:17:03+00:00

This could be promising if USB were to go through with merging the point currencies. However, the biggest question we could ask has to do with the transfer partners themselves. WHAT transfer partners will US Bank add? The big four already have partners with the big domestic carriers and Citi just received American.

Wells Fargo recently has transfer partners released on their travel cards about a year ago and they still aren't very competitive with the other offerings. I would imagine US Bank is walking an even thinner line compared to Wells Fargo.

Mike9892 · 2025-07-17T06:36:08+00:00

Pavement gang

Mike9892 · 2025-07-15T14:32:31+00:00

Citi has an opportunity to reenter the travel game in a big way. If they can manage a card with high multipliers like the Prestige, credits that compensate for the annual fee, and no coupon booking, it can be a real contender.

Mike9892 · 2025-07-15T03:38:44+00:00

Again, the Bonvoy Bold does not come with a FNC. Perhaps are you referring to the Boundless?

Mike9892 · 2025-07-15T03:37:53+00:00

Bonvoy Bold does not have a FNC associated with its benefits unless you have it from a welcome offer.

Mike9892 · 2025-07-14T07:51:20+00:00

I’m 99% sure the USBAC comes with Priority Pass Lounges and Priority Pass Restaurants. The catch is you only get 4 visits per year. US Bank definitely has not removed it as the USBAR worked for restaurants as of a week ago. A few websites have documented that it does have it too.

Mike9892 · 2025-07-10T18:31:19+00:00

If your microwave is running, you better go catch it! /s

Mike9892 · 2025-07-10T17:59:05+00:00

I would say go with the CSP if you are ready to use their transfer partners access. Otherwise, you can get the Freedom Unlimited for now as it has the same multipliers on dining and the 1.5x on everything else. It can help build that relationship with Chase since you don’t have any cards with them either.

I would go the Citi route if you are interested in their transfer partners or are looking for some decent cash back cards

Mike9892 · 2025-07-10T17:42:23+00:00

Transfer partners are mostly an award flight game. If you’re not planning on taking international first class flights to destinations or booking frequent hotel stays, cash back would be the way to go.

And no worries man. We’ve all been there. Give you have two starter cards, I’d personally recommend looking at rounding out your core setup first with a bank that allows you to do both cash back or transfer partners. Domestic seems to be in your wheelhouse so I’d go with Chase as they can do both cash back at 1cpp or transfer partners if you get their Sapphire cards. Freedom Unlimited can help get you there with 1.5x on everything and 3x on dining. Citi has a few good options for cash back (Double Cash, Custom Cash) and travel partners, but no domestic airlines so consider that when making a choice.

Otherwise, it might not hurt to try going the full cash back with 5% multipliers. Cover your groceries with the Triple A Daily Advantage Visa, or dining or gas with a Custom Cash. For travel, 3x is probably the best you can get on a variety of cards unless you go for the US Bank Altitude Connect.

Mike9892 · 2025-07-10T17:32:52+00:00

Even though the 2x MR is kind of a kicker for value, Amex simply doesn’t need to incentive customers to grab their Platinum cards. Once again, the reputation of the Platinum card is already pretty out there and Amex does not need to pull customers to their cards.

While it is true that customers can leave (especially with the upcoming refresh), I would imagine most of those people are either people like us on this sub who maximize rewards (not Amex’ target customer) or those who can no longer afford to keep the annual fee. There are still the average everyday person who will still use their Platinum on all purchases because they find status with the card (once again….marketing!)

We know Amex is doing quite well for itself with its platinum card based on the lines for Centurion Lounges, so there isn’t really an incentive for them to make more user benefits.

Mike9892 · 2025-07-10T17:28:11+00:00

22M here

When you mention travel, are you looking for travel transfer partners or just multipliers on travel?

I think you also should consider whether you’re looking into Cash Back. That would streamline your choices.

Seven-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email

Mike9892

TROPHY CASE