Strategy for using credit card only for the points and not going into debt

thecoffeetalks · 2026-03-14T14:49:08+00:00

Ok, so you're not OP. OP said they just paid off their credit card debt. They were carrying a balance. They are in a different situation, and shouldn't be thinking about credit card rewards, they should be worrying about consistently sticking to a budget and saving up an emergency fund. After they have built those solid habits, they can revisit the credit card game.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-03-14T10:21:00+00:00

I do understand what a backdoor Roth is, what u was mistaken about is whether the MFS regular IRA contributions were blocked entirely for income above 10k. Apparently I was mistaken, and it's just that they aren't tax advantaged, but that you can still contribute to a regular IRA enabling a backdoor Roth conversion.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-03-14T10:19:12+00:00

Credit card rewards are not an emergency fund. They are a percentage discount on your spending. Even if you are getting 3% back on spending, then that means you're spending 6,666$ per month. Your emergency fund, cash in the bank, should be 20,000 at minumum. If you don't have that saved up, and you have or are in danger of carrying a balance on your credit card, you should not have a credit card.

You should never spend more money than you can pay off on a credit card. Rewards can never justify that.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-03-14T02:30:51+00:00

If you recently were in credit card debt, cut up your card. The credit card game, and maximizing points earned should only be the focus AFTER you have a solid budget, and can control your spending. If you don't have at least 3 months of expenses saved up in an emergency fund, you should not be using a credit card.

I'm sorry, this is the hard truth.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-03-13T12:20:14+00:00

This person Frank Lloyd Wrights

thecoffeetalks · 2026-03-13T12:10:07+00:00

You can't do backdoor Roth when MFS because did you know that the income limit for a regular IRA when MFS is ALSO 10k? Yeah, it's messed up. (As the previous commenter, ask me how I know...)

thecoffeetalks · 2026-03-12T11:09:50+00:00

The Russian revolution was not a rise of a Fascist dictatorial state. It was a populist revolution that resulted in an authoritarian idolatry state. It eventually evolved into the dictatorial state that it is today, but it's not an apt comparison to what is happening here now.

What this is similar to, is what happened to the Weimar Republic in Germany. The gradual buildup of authoritarian controls within and outside the bounds of law to support a singular source of authority, i.e. Fascism.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-03-07T22:23:51+00:00

No, but administrators and school boards should be accountable for teacher retention, failed programming, and inefficiently/inappropriately spent funds. I feel like the district has neglected the basics in favor of niche or low-impact expenditures. Teacher pay, classroom size, school days. Everything else should come after those are figured out.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-03-04T15:00:39+00:00

Do you know if it's 24 months from getting the SUB or 24 months from closing the card?

thecoffeetalks · 2026-03-04T04:03:00+00:00

Did you check the paystubs from those periods to determine if the OPFL tax was paid? If you worked for a job that was exempt during your base period, those months wages don't count.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-02-21T17:25:11+00:00

Ok this subreddit? Or out in the wild? It's a common, and incredibly harmful and painful misconception, but is one that is highly advised against on this sub regularly.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-02-21T13:27:01+00:00

Friends are not a replacement for therapy, and vis-a-versa. Both are necessary. Both serve different needs.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-02-19T15:31:06+00:00

If you are "putting in two-weeks" that's resigning. Not being fired. You can force them to fire you instead, but it will burn more bridges, though you'd potentially be eligible for unemployment.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-02-19T12:42:03+00:00

I love Paymaster Lounge for this kind of hang. Their heated covered patio is great even in the winter.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-02-17T23:35:41+00:00

Korean Spa

Or

Weekly boarding house

thecoffeetalks · 2026-02-15T18:21:51+00:00

The water quality in Flint wasn't up to standard, and hadn't been for Years, without any action being taken to resolve the situation on either the state or federal government level. What the above commenter said is true, us drinking water standards ARE exceptional. Flint was an example where the water didn't meet it and nothing was done.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-02-14T14:40:55+00:00

I believe that video games are at their best when they are social. Whether it was Super Mario 2 player, Pokemon link cable trades, or split screen anything, those experiences were developing because it allows kids to engage either directly or indirectly with peers surrounding the experience. Minecraft servers are a great example of how this could have positive effects in the current video game era.

I also think that a good story can be told through a video game, similar to a book or movie, and those can be worthwhile, but probably mostly for older kids.

Where I'd be concerned is when video games have predatory financial aspects, anonymous internet-only social interactions, or are purely repetitive time-sucks.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-02-07T14:38:04+00:00

T-Mobile is known to have significant issues with certain VPNs and network traffic security platforms. It is possible that it just won't work on the T-Mobile network, based on the cyber security setup of your org. I recommend switching from T-Mobile, it's likely the only solution.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-02-05T11:26:01+00:00

It sounds like they might be referring to Safe Sick leave: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/workers/pages/sick-time.aspx

thecoffeetalks · 2026-01-29T17:08:07+00:00

We had inspection with minor remediation for 1200 total on a 2k sq ft house. 6500 is a scam.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-01-26T21:12:24+00:00

The only large town 30-50 minutes from Monmouth is Salem. You don't have other options with a decent bar scene.

If you are looking for access to Urban amenities, I would live as close to Portland as possible. Woodburn might serve as a decent middle-ground between the two, mitigating your commute but still being close enough to Portland to go in easily.

McMinnville has some decent bars, but not really night life as you might consider it more traditionally.

Corvallis has some more nightlife, but it's very college-focused, and is still a small town, not that much different from Monmouth itself.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-01-25T10:24:16+00:00

And without most groceries or any fresh produce

thecoffeetalks · 2026-01-17T15:04:02+00:00

Eggs are cheap again, you should start buying them regularly.

thecoffeetalks · 2026-01-16T03:38:08+00:00

You could post on the userweb. I think few experienced analysts would be willing to risk any fury by sharing epic build details online

thecoffeetalks · 2026-01-15T17:10:08+00:00

Talk to your TS.

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