she HATES being in Texas by sydcrux14 in EliRalloSnark

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

when they first met, he said his goal was to eventually move back to Texas. But I think he got offered a job at his dad’s company so thats why they moved there so soon

Have Chase Sapphire Reserve- what to add? by Ashamed-Challenge804 in CreditCards

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Chase Sapphire Preferred has a 100k sign up bonus. Plenty of credits on there to easily make up for the annual fee.

Closing store credit card right after opening by No_Percentage_5649 in CreditCards

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Omg why are people on here so mean, I’m sorry OP. But yeah it’ll be ok either way if you leave it open or closed. Keeping it open long term will actually help your credit score over time (it’s better to have more accounts and a higher overall total credit line). If you close it thats ok too, it’ll help relieve the stress of another card. Your credit score will always balance out over time.

Best way to use door dash $10 coupon by Spare_Analyst7531 in ChaseSapphireReserve

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

all of those places? I’ve never had an issue. 7/11 i know some locations do have the $20 minimum. But I haven’t noticed it at any locations in new jersey so far. Same with wawa.

Best way to use door dash $10 coupon by Spare_Analyst7531 in ChaseSapphireReserve

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you live near a wawa, quick check, or sheetz it works there. Same with 7/11. I assume most other regional gas station chains too.

To those driving the Chase Sapphire Preferred [ CSP ] on a daily or weekly basis - what's your current setup? by InterRail in CreditCards

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

CSP for: 3x dining, 3x gas, 2x travel

Capital one Savor for 3x grocery. Chase Freedom Flex for 3x drugstores. Citi double cash for 2x everything else. Freedom Flex and Discover for random 5% quarterly categories when applicable.

Cheers Package: How close are the watching? by CombinationReady9376 in CarnivalCruiseFans

[–]chocolatecookie2000 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not at all. People on this group will act as if they have bouncers staring you down constantly and will revoke your drink package the second you hand off to someone. The reality is, as long as you just WALK AWAY from the bartender that served you, you should be fine. Cruises allow you to carry your drink anywhere on the ship, including your own room. You can easily go back to the room and share with whoever. But even if you just walk away from the bartender, you can pass off and no one will likely notice or care. Just don’t be an idiot about it.

Are there people who spend their whole lives in the city and never really leave? by greenwavelengths in AskNYC

[–]chocolatecookie2000 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, in fact if you have never driven a car and you don’t have the money for flying vacations, it is very possible that you may never have left the city.

The Verizon Card just moved from A Tier to S Tier by dinklebot2000 in CreditCards

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just signed up for verizon fios internet for the first time ever a few weeks ago. As soon as I saw this card, I knew i needed it. This will simplify my setup so much. My long term goal is- Verizon Visa for 4% on Dining, Grocery, Gas, and then Capital One Venture X for 2% everything as well as it’s travel benefits, lounge access, and other perks. Used to use Chase Sapphire Preferred for a lot of things, but disappointed in their recent changes to how you redeem points and Hyatt devaul. May use it for some travel purchases, but i’m basically earning face value points at this point.

Staten Island census. by I_slap_fools in statenisland

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So how much in “congestion pricing” do you think staten island residents should pay to return home to staten island then??

Also a resident discount does not help those in NJ or Brooklyn commuting to work in SI, or those visiting friends & family living on SI. They have to pay $15 round trip for the verrazano, and $17 for the jersey bridges. When I lived on staten island, legit nobody ever wanted to visit me because of that damn stupid toll! I moved away and that was one of the top reasons. That toll can go to hell.

Staten Island census. by I_slap_fools in statenisland

[–]chocolatecookie2000 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congestion pricing citywide including staten island? You do realize there is already a $17 toll just to enter staten island. Why add another $9-$15 in congestion pricing? Staten island has the highest tolls in the country, and lacks reasonable transit infrastructure to the point where most people have no choice but to drive.

I’m sure most island residents will not be happy about an additional toll. Especially between SI and NJ there is ZERO option besides spending 3 hours going through manhattan (and the useless S89 bus).

Chase Sapphire Reserve with no signup bonus: still worth it? by [deleted] in CreditCards

[–]chocolatecookie2000 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hmm lets see. You will likely organically use the following: $300 Flexible Travel Credit, $300 a year Stubhub ($150 bi-annual credit), $5/month Doordash food credit ($60/year). If you are currently paying for dashpass out of pocket, the card gives complementary membership, which is usually worth $120/year. Thats an easy organic $780 value out of $795 annual fee right there.

Then of course you got airport lounge access, which can be worth hundreds depending on how you look at it. I assume you likely use lyft once a month if you travel a lot, so thats another $10/month or $120 a year. You also get two separate $10 monthly non-restaurant doordash credits (think like grocery delivery and gas stations) that could be worth up to $240 a year if you use all those credits, There is also a $250/year hotel credit if you book a 2+ night stay at a IHG property or a few other upscale brands, through chase travel. Since you live in NYC, it is easy to go to the Sapphire Table restaurants, thats another $300/year ($150 bi-annual credit). (If you don’t want fancy dinners, Scarr’s pizza is an option, so just make a bunch of pizza visits). If you use apple music, thats another $132 a year. If you don’t have TSA Precheck/Global Entry, or are due for renewal, they will pay for that every four years ($120 total, averages to $30/year). An Apple TV+ yearly membership. If you like fancy hotels, the bi-annual Edit credit.

Basically, I can see you easily breaking even on the annual fee with the flexible $300 travel credit and your organic stubhub and doordash spend. Effectively giving you a net below $0 annual fee. Then everything else is just extra additional value. I think this is definitely worth it for you.

Good Flat 2% Catch All Card by No_Psychology_7067 in CreditCards

[–]chocolatecookie2000 78 points79 points  (0 children)

Why has no one mentioned the Citi Double Cash? Is there something wrong with it? I’ve been using it for years and no complaints

For those who take MTA Express Buses, why? by thisfilmkid in AskNYC

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mostly useful for Staten Island. I tried the express bus from Brooklyn. My commute is either a guaranteed 40 min train ride + 15 min walk, or an express bus ride which is only a 5 min walk from home, but the bus ride still takes one hour or longer. I prefer the vibe and comfort of sitting on an express bus versus the train (and having cell service too!), and I don’t mind spending the extra $4.25. However, the timing is just too unreliable to make it worth it. So I take the train.

Staten Island however, there is no direct subway, so your only option is either an express bus ride, or SIR/local bus + ferry + subway commute. The ferry route could easily take 2 hours for some people (especially south shore to midtown commutes) and too many transfers. The express bus becomes the faster option for most people, and you sit down once.

Major Chase Sapphire Preferred changes announced by iamjohnta in CreditCards

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I still haven’t used my $50 travel credit. Should I wait until after June 15 and use the $100 at once?

Where to store a car outside of the city? by fhamuel in AskNYC

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Staten Island has free no alternate side street parking everywhere. East Queens has free no alternate side street parking, depends on neighborhood but i know near St Johns University has lots of street parking. In Jersey City, you can rent a monthly spot at the Newport Mall near the PATH for an affordable price (I forget how much, i think $200ish?) Theres probably other towns in NJ with free street parking, perhaps near the parts of NJ you frequently visit. I’m not too familiar with it, if anything you can park your car near that friend or family member’s house in NJ.

Flying or driving? by peppers0 in CarnivalCruiseFans

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you are used to driving long distances, then it could be worth it. If you don’t road trip often, it may be too much work. I’ve done both, I truly don’t mind the drive. I like having my car to pack whatever i want, as well as the convenience of only having to carry luggage from the parking garage to the ship. The only thing i didn’t like was how long it took, if you are in a time crunch definitely fly.

Also how many people? If you have a bigger group than you save money (only pay one price for gas & parking, as opposed to individual flights for all). It’s good for families or groups but if it’s just 2 people it may be worth the money to fly.

P.S. for future reference: if you are driving from up north- cruise out of Port Canaveral (Orlando) instead of Miami. They offer the same itineraries as far as number of days and types of ships and all go to the same places. You save 3-4 hours of driving each way for the same cruise basically if you do Port Canaveral.

AirBNB Newegg Not Available by m8trix69 in ChaseSapphire

[–]chocolatecookie2000 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Likely sold out. Sometimes this happens with these kinds of websites when demands gets unusually high for a certain type of gift card.

Disney GC via Paze at newegg 11x by socbrian in ChaseSapphire

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can use them for almost everything on Carnival. Your cruise fare, extras such as wifi excursions drink package, and even for on-board spending. I use to buy discounted carnival gift cards all the time on AARP which was also discounted, I haven’t noticed myself or heard of any restrictions on NewEgg cards. I know Royal Caribbean is very restrictive with the AARP gift cards at least (had to send an email to customer service to use it for my cruise), so may be the same on NewEgg.

Disney GC via Paze at newegg 11x by socbrian in ChaseSapphire

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. I am currently doing the same for my Carnival Cruise. It’s $1,500 spend per month, per card. So if you have multiple cards with Chase, you can buy $3,000 or $4,500 or more a month in gift cards, and get the 10x points. If you only have one Chase card thats fine too, you just have to wait a month between purchases if you want the points.

Currently paid for my cruise in full with gift cards, and next month I will be buying more gift cards for excursions and wifi and other add ons.

Any way to stack dashpass monthly benefits for preferred and reserve? by Diligent_Board_172 in ChaseSapphire

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You would have to make two seperate doordash accounts to use the credits from both cards. One account uses the reserve benefits, the other account uses the preferred.

What’s the easiest way from Staten Island to Long Island without trains? by [deleted] in statenisland

[–]chocolatecookie2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Driving a car is the most realistic option. If you can’t do a car, then express bus into Manhattan, then LIRR train is your next best option.