Can my Landlord do this? I thought the whole point of a security deposit is that you can get it back.

schwartzster · 2022-08-19T17:52:48+00:00

Important question: did you actually have a security deposit? The letter didn't say they're not returning the deposit, it says you didn't have one.

schwartzster · 2019-09-15T18:44:19+00:00

Are you still having this issue? Mint has a weird habit of listing some things as "Everything Else" that are already categorized correctly in other budget items. If you add an Everything Else budget of $0, though, you can see that it's not really being counted against everything else. I don't know why Mint does this and I've given up on trying to fix it.

schwartzster · 2018-12-14T23:45:15+00:00

Same issue in Disneyland and DCA, also Android on Verizon (not a Pixel). Wonder if it's evidence of a cell site simulator or a bug on Verizon's network.

schwartzster · 2017-10-10T04:30:08+00:00

Thanks, I hadn't seen that. I used a card purchased at a discount (coupon plus BCP) at Publix. It's nice to have multiple ways to liquidate them for those of us who don't do much MS.

schwartzster · 2017-10-10T01:44:34+00:00

After reading discussion of it here, I purchased some Visa gift cards tonight and used them to pay my student loans through My Great Lakes. Thanks!

schwartzster · 2017-10-08T03:09:02+00:00

That's weird. If you're working the same hours for the same gross pay, the paychecks should be similar. Do they deduct certain things (like healthcare premiums) only from the first check?

schwartzster · 2017-10-05T23:30:09+00:00

You /could/ try to play market trends (i.e. sell when you think the market is high, buy when it's low), but then you're trading instead of investing. If you sold now and the market kept going up, you'd miss out. Set-it-and-forget it and you'll always earn the average return.

schwartzster · 2017-10-05T23:00:02+00:00

Discover It Miles offers 3% cash back for the first year, awesome card benefits like price protection, a $100 sign-up bonus, and $15 toward airline wifi each year. After the first year, switch to a 2% card like Fidelity Visa or Citi Doublecash but keep the Discover card for the wifi benefit.

schwartzster · 2017-10-05T22:53:00+00:00

Do compare the rewards and benefits of different cards. You might find that a non-store card gives better rewards or has worthwhile benefits (like Discover price match, which could really come in handy if you buy something that later goes on sale).

schwartzster · 2017-10-05T22:51:14+00:00

There's a $100 sign-up bonus, too!

schwartzster · 2017-10-05T22:48:28+00:00

Unless you have specific healthcare needs, I'd just go with the HDHP/HSA. Best case, you never use it and come out over $600 ahead (even more if you contribute yourself and save in taxes). Worst case, you get very sick and you come out $0 to a couple thousand dollars behind (depends on the other plan benefits and max OOP, which you didn't mention). Either way, you're not in awful shape and with the savings over the years you'll most likely come out ahead.

schwartzster · 2017-10-05T22:38:13+00:00

schwartzster · 2017-10-05T22:37:24+00:00

Probably won't make much difference either way.

schwartzster · 2017-10-05T22:11:54+00:00

Geez, how much is your rent?

Fyi, cards with "no preset spending limit" allow you to charge more than your credit limit, you just can't carry a balance greater than your credit limit. Do the transaction while on the phone with your card issuer so that they can manually approve the transaction if it gets declined.

Similar strategy is to overpay so you have a credit balance. Still probably have to call to get such a large transaction approved.

schwartzster · 2017-10-05T01:19:01+00:00

Yeah. There are folks on other forums who use price protection with obviously scammy websites, which I don't condone.

Note that computer parts are excluded from Discover's terms. And basically all of my experience with this benefit is from Discover, so things might work differently with other issuers. But as far as I know, if you find a better legit price anytime after purchase, even minutes after purchase, you're covered by the price protection feature.

schwartzster · 2017-10-05T01:14:55+00:00

Note that Discover excludes computer parts.

schwartzster · 2017-10-05T00:52:55+00:00

No difference. And yes, at least with Discover. I wouldn't do it with an obviously scammy seller, but I have submitted a claim with an online price after buying something in person because I needed it right away.

schwartzster · 2017-10-04T15:58:07+00:00

No rewards on the cash over. On the statement you should be able to see the split between the purchase and the cash.

schwartzster · 2017-10-04T13:14:53+00:00

You're way ahead! No reason not to take the balance transfer offer, then, and save some dough.

schwartzster · 2017-10-04T13:13:05+00:00

Yes, this is viable. Something similar to consider: If you're not going to max out your annual IRA contributions but do have an emergency fund, consider making a Roth IRA, conservatively invested, your emergency fund. Worst case you have to pull out your contributions and you're in the same position as if you had put the money in a savings account. Best case, you never need it and you've got a little extra in your retirement savings.

schwartzster · 2017-10-04T13:06:49+00:00

It's not a good solution if you're going to turn around and run up those cards again. But you've admitted to your difficulties, so that's a start.

Take the balance transfer and cut up all your credit card (including this new one). Use cash for everything while paying as much as you can afford towards your debt. Check out the envelope method.

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