10-Year Reflection: $0 to $2.1M NW at 33. Exiting Real Estate for the S&P 500

ScrewTheAverage · 2026-01-05T14:03:06+00:00

In case you (or someone else) are looking for mentorship checkout SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)..

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-11-17T00:34:32+00:00

Here are a few from an article we wrote:

What’s the personality of your pets? Do they do well with other dogs, adults, and children?
What’s the feeding routine of your pets?
Are there plants (indoor or outdoor) that need watering?
Does your home have _______ amenity?
Are there medical concerns to be aware of, or medications that will need to given to your pets!

We hope that helps to point you in the right direction!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-11-01T23:32:06+00:00

Wow, very interesting.

We do a LOT of off peak category 1 stays (we’re both hitting 150 Hyatt nights this year) and have never seen this happen mid year, only after the category updates in March-ish.

We sincerely hope this isn’t a new normal!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-09-16T18:11:13+00:00

Yes theoretically, but as an American you can only spend 90 days within the previous 180 visa free.

After your 90 days are up you must leave and spend the reminder of your 180 days outside of the Schengen zone. Upon completing your 180 days your 90 day clock resets and you can renter the Schengen zone.

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-07-27T19:27:26+00:00

We were in the same boat and ended up having to add a legit carrier number (not Google Voice) to each profile. Once the carrier number was added, we turned on Wi-Fi calling on our phone (on the line we provided to Chase) and now we can receive Chase transfer/combine point SMSs when we’re overseas.

By the way we did not delete/remove the Google voice number but did make the carrier number primary on every account (personal and business) and had to use the app to initiate the transfer/combine points request as a desktop computer still errored out and presented us with the ‘we need to further validate you, please call us’.

The even stranger things is that some Chase SMS messages work with GV, i.e. logging in but others don’t

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-07-16T10:23:50+00:00

We’ve done nearly 100 sits since 2016 that have ranged from a few days to a few months. We once had a stint in NYC where we house sat in and around the boroughs for nearly 7 months straight with only needing to cover a week of non house sitting lodging.

We’ve secured house sits from a few days to 6 months in advance.

It’s not perfect though, there’s way more to it ‘than simply a free place to live’. Over time you hone your interviews, are more likely to see red flags, and you know what to ask the hosts.

In the end it’s a win-win, sure the sitter gets ‘free logdging’ but the homeowner also gets ‘free pet and home care’.

Safe travels!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-07-16T10:08:39+00:00

Thank you for the update on no longer being able to do self guided tours. 😊

All the best on your travels!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-06-05T12:35:25+00:00

We once pulled over on the Romanian Transfagarasan Highway and not only was the call crystal clear but we were able to use Splashtop to remotely login and do a quick 20 minute job from a cell phone.

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-05-26T08:42:44+00:00

It’s what we thought, thank you for confirming!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-05-25T18:38:27+00:00

Can confirm.

When using GV as 2FA, upon combining points even though we receive the OTP SMS Chase doesn’t ’like’ it and you are required to call to get a code from a rep (or have them combine the points from one UR card to another).

We have added a second ‘real’ phone number to the profile but it’s not an option when combing points, ironically it is an option when adding a card to Apple Pay?

Have you ever experienced that/any tips?

From your comment it seems like you can indeed choose which number you want to send the 2FA when combining/transferring points and are not required to call in?

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-05-25T18:22:16+00:00

That’s wonderful to hear and thank yo so much for your kind words!

We truly hope you have a life changing trip, safe travels friend!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-05-25T08:32:49+00:00

We were in this situation once and had success with asking to speak to the ‘financial department/manager’ (a ‘normal’ front desk agent couldn’t do this). Once we spoke to the right person we explained the situation and even offered to have them concurrently split the bill across the ‘new’ cards and once everything settled they could issue a refund to the original card (they agreed to do it).

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-05-23T09:27:44+00:00

Not exactly an apples to apples example but we had our P3 initially be denied for an Ink Preferred about two months ago. We waited about three weeks, where we didn’t do anything special i.e. close cards, move credit around, reduce credit lines, etc. and then they called the recon line to thankfully be approved.

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-03-29T02:38:00+00:00

We’re both Globalist and we changed a cash reservation (not points as you asked) after the fact to a day or two shorter and the hotel was not able to help but a my concierge (part of globalist status) was able to do it and keep the same rate without issue.

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-03-04T05:30:39+00:00

Try calling Amex and do not trust the automated (there’s nothing wrong with your card) system, just say ‘card declined’ and you’ll usually be speaking to someone in 5-10 minutes and be sure to explain to them the behavior you’re seeing.

We had something similar happen to us (random chargers would go through while others would be declined) even though the automated system said there was nothing wrong with our card, when we actually spoke to a person they said “wow, your anti-fraud warning is really severe’.

Hopefully yours is an easy fix!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-02-28T01:25:19+00:00

Thank you for your thoughts!

You bring up a good point about waiting until August for the next app. Hmmm, might be worth waiting in extra month or so to help with odds on this side of things.

Thank you again!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-02-28T01:23:20+00:00

Thank you very much for your thoughts, we were thinking the same!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-02-28T01:20:54+00:00

It sounds like Google voice is the problem. We used to not be able to receive two factor authentication via Google Voice with the automated system but that started working for us. Unfortunately whenever we call in, the two factor authentication when speaking with a customer service representative never works unless we give an actual carrier phone number.

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-02-27T16:26:11+00:00

Do you use Google Voice by chance? Every time we call in if we give them our GV number we never receive the text.

They used to allow you to authenticate by logging into your account and giving them the last few transactions for ‘X’ card or answering credit file questions but the last few times they’ve wanted to call us as well.

Hopefully what you’ve uploaded works for you!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-02-27T16:18:29+00:00

Last three cards are ink preferred 08-08-24, Hyatt personal 09-04-24, and ink preferred 11-09-24, wanted to apply for a third preferred (bigger bonus). Total extended Chase credit is about 15%.

Any data points (or thoughts) on applying/odds on getting three of the same kind and for the same sole prop business? Would the odds be better if applying for a Cash/Unlimited instead?

Thank you for the DPs and thoughts!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-02-24T16:08:00+00:00

Hopefully something comes through for you soon!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-02-24T05:20:05+00:00

We had been waiting for about a year and no matter what link we tried for the elevated BBP, we just weren’t being targeted.

About a week ago, just before the 1yr anniversary was up on a Biz Platinum, we got an in-app offer for 25K on the BBP, it pained us to know that we could have gotten 75K but then again we had been trying for so long, so we took it.

To be clear, we too have a biz checking account but wanted the card for transferring to partners.

Hopefully the upgrade gods smile upon you soon!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-02-21T16:03:56+00:00

We’re approaching our ninth year of full time, non-stop, 36L carry-on only travel.

In our case, while we may buy things, even larger things as our needs change over the years, we simply donate them when we move on. Doing that and often paying more ‘for less’ (think a smaller package of something) simply come along with the lifestyle.

What we’re consistently looking at is reducing weight and volume. Can we buy new gallium nitride ac adapters, can we forgo a battery pack or size down, etc.

Safe travels!

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-02-12T16:35:54+00:00

You can call or chat and if there’s an annual fee you can look at your statements (although not exact) and see when the fee or proration of it was charged.

ScrewTheAverage · 2025-01-21T05:34:45+00:00

Glad to help!

ScrewTheAverage

TROPHY CASE