Another TBB post featuring the most eclectic links around the web such as 24 rules for 2024, million dollar homes, crime in the USA, Michelin secrets, recap of 2023 in the investment markets, how mortgages differ around the world, more ponzi crypto scams, pandemic death tolls in history, a resource for transgender families, the greatest sci-fi movies of all time, we travel to Jupiter and to Afghanistan, the end of the 90k Chase Ink card offers is finally coming, another recap of the crazy miles and points world and a lot more. See you Tuesday, enjoy the weekend.
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Welcome to my quirky original authentic blog. It all started back in 2012 focusing on my crazy hobby addiction of frequent flyer miles, hotel and bank points. It has since evolved to a curated weekly post of the best web content I find along with my commentary. Here to Educate primarily, sometimes Entertain and if I get to Inspire you, well, that is a bonus.
This blog publishes on Fridays. This is a one man labor of love operation, enjoy it white it lasts. I may post on a Tuesday going forward whenever I get to it. Update: Next Tuesday I will post the fourth and final edition of 2023 Annual Best of lists, something I have been doing over the years around Christmas/New Year’s holidays.
PERSONAL FINANCE
This year the stock market started out going way down. But 2023: It Was a Good Year. Indeed it was. I don’t do market predictions. But if I was forced to do so , I would go with “It will fluctuate”. And I will be correct every time. And absolutely no media will want to talk to me about my “shocking” prediction lol. So, diversify 🙂
These are great: 24 Rules for 2024.
1. Ask why
2. Ponder the risks you’re taking
3. Be skeptical
4. Don’t run with the herd
5. Doubt yourself
6. Control what you can
7. Be patient
8. Embrace optimism
9. Pause before acting
10. Take a time inventory
11. Question your habits
12. Simplify your life
13. Keep striving
14. Anticipate good times
15. Give thanks
16. Be kind
17. Give generously
18. Seek new friends
19. Lose the losers
20. Don’t dwell
21. Exercise, preferably outside
22. Get at least seven hours of sleep
23. Talk honestly about money
24. Use those savings
We are lucky in the United States that we have 30 year fixed interest rate mortgages. This does not happen around the world. How do mortgages in other countries work? From Germany, to France, Russia and the US, how home buying compares to the UK.
- In France, school fees are excluded when an applicant’s outgoings are examinedÂ
- Around 50% of the property’s value is needed for a deposit in South AfricaÂ
- Russian buyers can choose to pay their mortgage in one of three currencies
Interesting table showing the consecutive years that are up in the US stock market. This means absolutely nothing for the future, I just found it interesting. No one has a crystal ball. If you listen to someone who knows what the markets will do short term, run away. Fast!
Also, another graph from the TBB vault that is interesting. I expected Miami to be way higher actually.
I really enjoy reading the monthly roundup of the Ponzi Scheme Blog. Mainly because it just boggles the mind how many still fall for scams like this:
They misrepresented that funds would be invested in a “Multi Currency Investment Fund” backed by a proprietary currency exchange. They claimed that the investment had never lost money and generated up to 10% compounded interest for a five-year investment. [Investments will always lose money at times. And run when you see the word “proprietary”!]
…she was running a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme. Fernandez is a self-described “entrepreneur” and promised guaranteed returns as high as 63% from what she represented were investments in cryptocurrency, private and publicly traded companies, and luxury real estate. [Another word to watch out for is “guaranteed”.]
…claimed to make “cryptocurrency mining and trading accessible to the average retail investor through its online platform.” The scheme promised 140% returns over 140 days. [1% per day, come on, don’t be stupid.]
The defendants promised returns of 15% to 32% from raising cattle and raised at least $191 million for more than 2,100 investors. On its website, Agridime states the company “is an online cattle and agricultural products brokerage company that utilizes a proprietary trading platform to connect buyers and sellers.” [When you get ‘online cattle’ and “proprietary’ together pitched to you, the only come back is “Moooooooo”.]
…guaranteed returns of 2% to 3% monthly as well as annual returns of 30% to 102%.
When Piercey’s fraud first came to light, he unsuccessfully attempted to evade the FBI in an underwater submersible. [In a what? Unbelievable!]
More than $25 million was invested and investors were promised profits from trading programs that supposedly used an artificial intelligence automated trading bot. [When the crypto bros grift to AI…]
Ajeet Maurya, 41, a social influencer, was arrested on allegations that he was running a Ponzi scheme. Maurya is reported to have 2 wives, 9 children and 6 girlfriends. [Influencer, 2 wives, 9 children, 6 girlriends. Legend woohoo!]
…a bank manager of a Denisbank AS branch, was accused of orchestrating a $44 million Ponzi scheme. Erzan promised returns of 250%, and authorities alleged that bags of cash were changing hands at candy shops. [bags of cash at candy shops, you gotta be kidding me.]
I have seen wild crypto scams before and nothing really shocks me. And then there was this: Chief executive of collapsed crypto fund HyperVerse does not appear to exist. I am reading this and keep shaking my head, uncontrollably, wow.
A man named Steven Reece Lewis was introduced as the chief executive officer of HyperVerse at an online global launch event in December 2021, with video messages of support from a clutch of celebrities released on Twitter the following month, including from the Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and actor Chuck Norris. [Chuck Norris? Stab me!]
Investors in HyperVerse were able to buy “memberships” with minimum returns of 0.5% a day, with a 300% return over 600 days. Incentives were also offered for recruiting new members. [Dead giveaway!]
A May 2022 launch event video for HyperNation broadcast on YouTube featured masked promoters called “Mr H” and “Miss N”… “Mr H” described himself in the video as an “evangelist in the new world order” and he and “Miss N” were presented as the “official ambassadors of HyperNation”. [The article just gets even wilder. Amazing this shit has not been banned yet and instead we may get a Bitcoin ETF smh.]
GEOPOLITICS
This was good: Visualizing 2024: Trends to Watch. I think two of the most important and worrying trends are the digital threats to the 2024 elections and the rise of the Right in Europe.
The pandemic changed everything as I have been saying for a while. This is a relevant link: What Were the Death Tolls from Pandemics in History?
ODDZ & ENDZ
I love movies. And especially sci-fi. So I am all over this: The 150 Greatest Science Fiction Movies of All Time.
This is fantastic, a deep dive in Crime in the USA. Some of the findings surprised me.
A fantastic resource: The Transgender Family Handbook. 144 specific suggestions, from trans young people and their loved ones, that parents may find helpful.
I am not a gamer. Last time I played a video game was in the 1980s when I was a legend in Pac-Man lol. 50 Years of Video Game Industry Revenues, by Platform.
TRAVEL
Low cost airlines keep coming. To the US to fly us to Europe. And they keep expanding. 4 Cheap European Airlines That U.S. Travelers Should Know About. And Norse Atlantic Airways is attempting to corner the Greek American community market in New York to fly them non stop to Athens, Greece.
Michelin stars are coming for hotels next. I learned a lot in this article about how Michelin does the star thingie: Secrets of the Michelin Man.
…sheds a little light on the lives of his inspectors. He won’t say how many there are, but “our team is 25 nationalities, and they are all full-time employees, not freelancers. On average, inspectors are eating out at restaurants 300 times a year. They sleep away from home 100 to 150 nights a year. The inspectors come to us from the food, beverage, and hotel industries, and they only tell their nearest and dearest what they do. They need to retain their anonymity. We have chefs, restaurant managers, hotel managers, sommeliers, different profiles from across the industry.” [Wow, eat like this and get paid. And, naturally, they keep all the miles and points too? ]
Let’s go to Jupiter next! Take a look at these astonishing new images of Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io.
A trip report from Afghanistan Under Fluttering Taliban Flags. Fascinating and…nope, not going there anytime soon. Fantastic pics over at Instagram.
Ok, one more, what an amazing picture this is!
BUZZING
A section where I go on and on about some stuff that happens in my life and anything else that just does not fit in another section above
Super busy first two weeks of the year for my job that pays the bills. Which is not this one blogging here thank God as blog revenues were down 30% in 2023 vs 2022, sad lol. I am going to join Mile Nerd in retirement one of these days you guys, he posts just once a month. And it’s still great writing: Wheels Up.
I made the last tuition payment to the University of Michigan for my daughter who is on track to graduate in May 2024. Got a bit emotional, two kids college graduates with zero debt. Mission accomplished mom and dad #payitforward. Hopefully all this tuition goes to the school celebrating a national football championship next Monday. I am going to try to stay up to watch the game but it starts at 7.30 pm so I would not bet on succeeding lol.
My mother in Greece got Covid. For the first time. And showing very few symptoms, thank God.
I am trying to eat less and healthier in 2024. Five days into the new year, so far so good. I would not bet on a long streak here due to prior experience over the years lol. I am also trying to devote one hour a day in taking care of my body, like walking and/or going to the gym, including the swimming pool. MRI on my left foot on January 14. I forgot what running feels like and I sure miss all the sweat and calories burned!
It will be amazing if the Detroit Lions play the Los Angeles Rams in the first NFL playoff game in Detroit. Playing against former Lion QB Matt Stafford after these two teams swapped quarterbacks!
This blog started with a focus on miles and points and travel. It has evolved since then. Everything below deals with the hobby of collecting frequent flyer miles and points and maximizing your travel experiences. If you are not interested, you can stop here, thank you.
MILES & POINTS NEWS/PROMOS/MY ACTION
I am going to try separating this Section this way:
GENERAL NEWS/PROMOS/ETC.
Good post on Shortcuts to Hyatt Elite Status.
And there goes the minibar: IHG Removes InterContinental Royal Ambassador Minibar Benefit.
I had forgotten that Chase was not allowing this. Until now. Chase Now Allows Family Referrals Between Sapphire Reserve & Sapphire Preferred Cards.
MY ACTION
My own Chase Ink Business Unlimited 90k signup bonus points posted. And another 40k points referral posted as well.
Still waiting on Chase to mail my wife’s new Chase Ink Business Cash card to go for another 90k Signup Bonus. And Chase has been repeatedly emailing my daughter to get a Chase Ink Business Unlimited card (three emails in less than 24 hours!) when she already has the Chase Ink Business Cash card, which is not being used much. The rampant approvals by Chase of these Ink cards have appeared to slow down. And we now have the ending of these amazingly lucrative 90k Signup Bonus offers as mentioned above. Maybe some manager in the bank hit the quota for a juicy bonus?
I have cut way down on my hobby activities. I mean, I don’t need more miles and points at this point, I am just collecting the low hanging fruit nowadays. Which shows you how far your travel can be enhanced if you devote a little bit of time in this. I am not like others in this hobby who have numerous Amex Platinum cards shuffling 50 plus credit cards. It can be done of course but when you see bloggers posting about that you need to remember that this is their job! To me, this has always been a hobby.
If this turned into a job my blogging would be entirely different. You would be seeing posts like “The best cards for dining/groceries/restaurants/gas/etc” and “My top 69 reasons to get this credit card” and “Best Ever Offer for xx card, it won’t last, click it to fly for free like me, look at me in First Class sipping champagne and eating caviar” and I could go on and on. So, the few clicks of support keep this blog going I guess waiting for that that one day this blog will be discovered lol. If I needed the money I would not be here since 2012! It is what it is…
My reduced hobby activities also have to do with the much different landscape after Covid entered our lives. I had plans for another trip to Asia this year to see more places in Thailand, maybe hit Vietnam and Bali. But my wife’s three sisters are visiting from Singapore mid October to mid November so there goes the Asia trip. And because of that my wife is not going to Malaysia for her school reunion. So I do have Hyatt Globalist and the confirmed suite upgrades and in danger of wasting them. Having second thoughts now that requalifying for Hyatt Globalist elite status was not the smartest idea. Other than a trip to Greece to see my mother and treating family friend a trip to the US, at this point, my travel goals are kind of non existent. Developing…
I need to keep simplifying my life which includes dealing with US banks. After an inane back and forth with Barclay Bank’s “customer service” maybe it is time to say goodbye to the two Barclay American Airlines Aviator cards and just take this bank out of my life. I guess at some point I will circle back to Citi AA cards but no rush until Citi gets its act together and decides to compete again in this space. In the meantime, they are busy with layoffs.
I guess we are back to starting at $0 working on the $15k minimum spend on the World of Hyatt Visa and Amex Hilton Surpass cards to earn them free nights. I have 4 Free Night certs in my Hyatt account and 1 Free Night cert in my Hilton account already as of today. First wold problem.
ADVANCED
Very funny: 2023 Travel Hacking as told by GIFs.
MILES & POINTS
This section is about my hobby addiction of collecting frequent flyer miles and hotel points since the early 1990’s! SKIP if you are not into it!
As of today, I have burned 0 miles/points year to date (1,148,286 in 2023) and have 4,494,301 miles/points in the bank. Some do drugs, I do miles lol!
Thanks to US banks, very lucrative travel rewards credit card offers come and go all the time. This section will act as a reference point on the best CURRENT offers. I will designate new material preceded by NEW.
Remember, you are NOT allowed to ever carry a credit card balance if you ever get a credit card here!
Let me leave you with this:
Some of the links are behind a paywall. You can try to read them using Archive.is.
Thank you for reading my blog. If you enjoy it please pass it on to a family member or friend. Or Buy Me a Coffee, thank you!
TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com
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Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Happy NY George!
Back from Italy and was able to use the Venture X provided Priority Pass at MIA, CDG and MXP. Pretty good value to bring family of 5 in for free. CDG “lounge” was terrible though.
I’m impressed with the Italian part of the Alps. Feels like Switzerland or Austria and felt less overrun by tourists. Prices were reasonable and weather is great. They have the highest ratio of sunny days in winter for the Alps (8 out of 10). Also very close to Como and Di Garda lakes and from Venice. Unbeatable.
Very interesting, good to know, thanks. Any great hotels? Like, Hyatts? 🙂
Pac-Man?
You too?
Legends, what can I say? Lol.
You posted before DML and Carl…who have not posted yet as of 1.30 pm EST. Hope they are ok!
Back from the conference in San Antonio. What an interesting city.
Used hotel points and a companion ticket on Delta. And the session I organized was good!
How frequently can you get a chase card?
Barclay has the Wyndham card……Vacasa.
Citi hasn’t done anything exciting on the CC side since the days of churning AA cards (and getting axed by AAdvantage).
Returning to a previous discussion about the many don’t feel the positive effects of Bidenomics net salaries have not increased since 2021
“earnings continue rising fast, but adjusted for inflation are still way down from Jan ’21“
https://x.com/realejantoni/status/1743304599975473432?s=46
With the exception of healthcare, government and service/hospitality, the job situation is tough.
https://x.com/realejantoni/status/1743304575405240614?s=46
A lot more frequently than other banks. Maybe not Amex but they are sure working on it to fix that (family rules, etc.).
Keep hearing hideous stories with Vacasa just canceling reservations without notice whatsoever close to the stay date. Because they can apparently, no thanks.
EJ Antoni works at Heritage Foundation. Per Google:
The Heritage Foundation is a non-profit public policy research institute based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1973, Heritage’s mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values and a strong …
So, not falling for his shit.
Nothing wrong about the data. The plots is from the bureau of labor statistics and Cleveland Fed.
Bottom line is if you look reeeeeeeally hard you can always find data to interpret to your agenda.
Bottom line, in general, after a ridiculous steep interest rate rise and bank failures, we are where we are at in early 2024 and this guy is still looking for a recession? Or proof that this is not a soft landing?
Job market was sizzling hot. It then turned to great. It is now good. 🙂 Maybe he will be proved right later this year.
Like I said, it is what it is. Just wait until everyone looks at their 4th Quarter 401k statements 🙂
Hey George,
Happy New Year! someone please tell me the “secret” of getting The Capital One Venture X. I got turned down even with a 845 credit score. There has to be an angle (Brooklyn Term) somewhere but I cannot find it anywhere 🙂
Capital One bank is just weird. In its own league. Just like US Bank. Or Barclays…
You may want to ask Frequent Miler. For a long time he was also always denied. I think he just kept applying until he defeated the bank’s algorithms.
Me and wife have had Capital One card approvals. Maybe it is because we both had CO 360 Savings accounts? I have no idea! And I am just content with my own Capital One Venture X card and I am keeping it and using it. Maybe one day I am going to venture (pun intended) to do more. But I am afraid these guys will just pummell me and I don’t want to be shut down. Ever. By any bank.
Happy New Year Giovanni!
If I was a slick pumper I would say that the reason you were denied is because it was not my affiliate/referral link. But you know better 🙂
Had the same problem and than tried “Pre approval” and it worked. whatever you are pre-approved for.
Can you elaborate on this? Where do you find the “Pre approval”?
BREAKING: “Demon Days”, the best Gorillaz album, has been added to Rolling Stone’s “500 greatest albums of all time” list. About time!
https://twitter.com/RollingStone/status/1743298811391512640
What number is it?
I am stuck at 488, The Stooges, the one and only Iggy Pop…who went to the same Middle school as my kids!
Not sure what #, I’m too busy keeping up with Bill Ackman’s campaign against academia. This is hilarious:
https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1743407502312505795
Lol, amazing. Is it me or is it that most billionaires are just mega assholes? Maybe we should support Biden to tax the hell out of them? 🙂
I’m with Ackman in this case. Academia is morally and intellectually bankrupt.
We have many issues and THIS is what this phucking asshole chooses to launch a crusade for, seriously?
And his own wife is guilty of the same thing LOL.
Him and Musk and Thiel can go Chuck themselves…will this comment be allowed at TPG? Oh, never mind, no comments allowed there.
Chuck—–>Phuck Lol
lol, anybody paying attention the past few decades knows academia is rotten to the core. Whatever one’s opinion of Ackman, this is a good fight for him to pick. Josh Barro has a pretty good summary of the current state of things:
https://www.joshbarro.com/p/universities-are-not-on-the-level
As for Ackman’s wife… maybe. TBD. If you’re jumping to the conclusion that she’s guilty you might want to reconsider your choice of echo chambers.
It seems the world is all about over exaggerating and sensationalizing, and your statements seem to echo this. The world always has bad actors, certainly not the majority and in my experience only a small proportion.
I know I am late today but been One Of Those Days. Great stuff as always, George! Thanks so much! Not much else to say today. Gonna postpone trying again for another card for a little while. Trying to decide what to do now that Chase says I am full up on cards with them. Have a great weekend!
Good, we were worried.
Yeah, keep probing them US banks. Those markeitng budgets somehow need to be spent and we are there for it 🙂
Fell of my chair, the first two cc conversions this month are in! Both Ink cards dated 1/5/24.
Thank you to the two readers who got them, you have a choice where to give your clicks to support bloggers. This blog lives for sure through January 2024!
2 cards and 10 coffees (by two readers) and it is only the 6th of the month. Is this finally the month this blog breaks out? Should I place an ad for the first hire here? Or call investment bankers to help prep for the bigly IPO? Ok, I am laughing and hope you are too.
Gotta run, oh scratch that, walk I mean. In the gym because it is a bit cold outside.
About 48 hours before the National Championship game, GO BLUE!
You all enjoy the weekend, don’t be like Bill Ackman and his plagiarist wife….woohoo.
Replying to Nick PFD above:
I disagree with “Whatever one’s opinion of Ackman, this is a good fight for him to pick.”
This guy asked this on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FiSurgi/status/1743804652330623173
—-
Bill Ackman was born with a silver spoon and then as a young adult won the game and became a billionaire. Yet he’s on this app carrying out an all out war on higher education and plagiarism. And I have one day question… Why?
—–
and I enjoyed reading the responses.
Also, Molly White rips him and is awesome:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_jM6aoTDK0
Now, on to his wife, who is probably so pissed at him for raising this issue by now. You said:
“As for Ackman’s wife… maybe. TBD. If you’re jumping to the conclusion that she’s guilty you might want to reconsider your choice of echo chambers.”
First, she has admitted plagiarism and has apologized.
https://www.businessinsider.com/neri-oxman-admits-plagiarism-business-insider-article-apology-2024-1
I also do not agree with this: “academia is rotten to the core”.
Does it have issues? Of course! But that is another whole level of debate. For Ackman to start the crusade against college Presidents and take them out on this plagiarizing thing…and then have blowback against his own wife is just hilarious.
US higher education is still great imho. In general.
A few more things about Ackman: He went to Harvard. 2nd marriage. One kid is a Marxist lol. Lost his ass on Herbalife. Spends way too much time on Twitter like Musk. WSJ today has an expose on Musk and his drugs habit, maybe Bill does too?
Anyway, enjoy the weekend everyone.