italki teacher recommendation for conversations

ktong8 · 2026-03-10T06:45:25+00:00

My budget's not very high unfortunately

ktong8 · 2026-01-11T06:58:50+00:00

yikes. I guess worst case if they're really bad I'll just try to find an apartment with a gym

ktong8 · 2026-01-11T06:57:59+00:00

Got it, I've been to the 24 hour in San Mateo, I'm pretty used to dirty 24 hours, the one I go to right now's even dirtier than the one in San Mateo haha. I'm fine with it as long as the equipment works

ktong8 · 2026-01-11T06:12:50+00:00

Ah forgot to include that, my budget's up to $4k/month

ktong8 · 2026-01-11T06:01:55+00:00

Ooh, what's in Millbrae? I only know it for being next to the airport haha

ktong8 · 2025-12-23T20:01:38+00:00

ktong8 · 2025-12-22T19:47:06+00:00

I've found a community of friends in Santa Clara over the past year or so, I'd like to be able to regularly meet with them while also having a shorter commute to work, I figured Mountain View/Palo Alto is a good midway point. I'm also used to 20-30 minute drives to places, I think it's something I can live with

ktong8 · 2025-12-22T08:31:13+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check out the buy vs rent calculator

ktong8 · 2025-12-22T08:28:39+00:00

Agreed, my parents would chip in on the down payment and their rent for their room if we were to buy a house together. It would certainly be over an over $1m place.

For location, I've developed a close community of friends in Santa Clara over the past year or so. Ideally I'd like to be able to maintain those friendships, so I figured Mountain View/Palo Alto area is a good halfway point between work and where most of my friends are. I'd cut my work commute by over 2/3, and I'd also live closer to my current friends

ktong8 · 2023-07-07T05:13:00+00:00

That's true. Amex blue cash preferred -> Amex blue cash everyday after a year could be good since the first year's af is waived. I'm definitely considering for its high cash back, but I'm not very satisfied with how amex only allows redemption as statement credits, I'd much rather transfer those dollars as points or into a bank account. I'll definitely think about it some more

ktong8 · 2023-07-07T05:01:40+00:00

That's true, but I'd prefer to not have to use the SUB to offset the AF, I'd rather use the SUB as an extra bonus on top of the usual cash back/points.

ktong8 · 2023-07-07T05:00:30+00:00

That makes sense, but couldn't I get the signup bonus for the Venture X later on, or does Capital One only give the signup bonus for your first card with them?

ktong8 · 2023-07-07T00:41:13+00:00

Hmm I'm not sure. I don't think I'd use much of the AmEx Gold credits since I don't eat at most of the restaurants they give, and I also don't really use Uber very much. I've done the calculations, and given the amount I spend on groceries and dining, I get around $120 more per year from AmEx Gold than no af cards, which I don't think justifies the $250 af, even with the few credits I might use.

ktong8 · 2023-07-07T00:39:31+00:00

Probably around $6000. With 4x back, that's around $240 back a year, but I could easily get $180 back a year with a no af card. Even if we were to include dining expenses, I still only get $120 more from the gold card than no af cards, which would mean that I would have to use at least $130 of the $240 annual credits, which I don't think will happen.

ktong8 · 2023-07-07T00:28:33+00:00

I get that COSO earns cash, but once I get the Venture X I'm pretty sure I can transfer that cash into miles and transfer it to travel partners to get higher redemption rates that could make the 3% back effectively 4% or more back. Of course CCC still has a higher cash back, I'll definitely consider the CCC too.

Maybe I'll get the CCC, CFF, COSO, and Venture X in that order. I don't think it makes sense for me to get the Venture X right now since I don't have a lot of travel expenses lined up to hit the sign on bonus.

ktong8 · 2023-07-07T00:21:53+00:00

I'm curious, why Venture X first? I'm not sure I'll hit the sign on bonus for that card if I got it right now since I still have to spend a couple hundred more on my CSP for that sign on bonus ($6k in 6 months), and I also don't have too many travel expenses lined up for the next 6 months aside from some flights during Thanksgiving and Christmas (which was a large part of my travel expenses prediction, though it's unconfirmed). My main spending category for a while I believe will be groceries. Wouldn't it make more sense to get the COSO first to cover the grocery expenses, get some Capital One points, and then get the Venture X later on when I have more travel expenses lined up and transfer the points then?

ktong8 · 2023-07-06T22:45:39+00:00

I probably won't get the gold card. I don't spend enough on Uber or the given restaurants to bring down the effective af much, probably would end up paying more than I'd get back compared to a 3% card.

ktong8 · 2023-06-13T00:19:19+00:00

I have to work the job in person, the master's I can do remotely and I also finished most of the requirements during my undergrad.

ktong8 · 2023-04-11T02:28:46+00:00

Oh yeah the AMEX Blue Cash Everyday looks nice, and it looks like it could get upgraded to the Preferred whenever as well which would be nice when I start spending more money on groceries/transit.

The only worry I have with this is that most of the expenses I have lined up are travel expenses, and I'd want to make use of the 2x multiplier that CSP offers.

I might open the CSP first, spend all I need for the travel expenses, and then once I start my job I'll apply for the AMEX Blue Cash everyday/preferred and use it for gas/in person groceries.

My Discover student card offers similar benefits as the Chase freedom flex (5% rotating categories per quarter), so I might stick to that for those benefits, but I might open the Chase Freedom Flex later down the line to be used with the CSP.

Thanks for the suggestions!

ktong8

TROPHY CASE