We bring you another Delta SkyMiles devaluation, the best camp sites, the 100 top financial advisors, is this GOP suicide? Also, the best Covid-19 you have come to expect, we travel to Papua New Guinea, go see the Gates of Hell, cry with flight attendants, enjoy the latest hotel Covid related extensions, the just released 2021 IRS inflated adjusted income tax brackets and IRA/401(k) contribution amounts, look at damns, preach against drug addiction, movie twists, Jack beards, awesome photography and lots more!
TBB Blog Mission: To Educate. Entertain. Inspire. In That Order!
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This goes out to subscribers via email the day it is posted at 8 am. After that I may add something new and I indicate it like this: Update.
There is a LOT in this post. You all enjoy the weekend and thanks for spending some of it reading my blog. If you are not into the frequent flyer miles/points game please feel free to skip the MILES & POINTS section.
Stay positive, test negative!
TOP PICKS
Top picks are not excerpted at all. I recommend you find time to read every word!
There are many Covid sites out there that keep up with metrics on the pandemic. This is a new one and it is awesome. Compare the countries you want, I have it set to compare USA, Brazil, India, Mexico, UK, Italy. These are the top five in deaths by the way.
Coronavirus Country Comparator
My little blog is more like a crusade. To make the world a better place and stuff like that. Mostly warning you about really awful shit out there, like QAnon and MLM schemes! Why the grandiose promises of multilevel marketing and QAnon conspiracy theories go hand in hand. Can’t read it? Subscribe, it is worth it!
This is long interview of Whitney Phillips On Conspiracy Theories, Social Media, And The Spread Of Misinformation. It is a must read. Stop posting clickbait shit. And also stop spreading the shit okay? Hopefully the paywall stays lifted so you can access it.
Update: Old friend Mile Nerd with his monthly post and I think this is his best as it addresses it to the Republicans who know who Trump is but still plan to vote for him.
MILES & POINTS
HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS: 100k Chase Ink Business Preferred, Citi Premier 60k, 65k CitiBusiness AA, 50k Chase Ink Business Unlimited & Ink Business Cash, 20k Chase Freedom Flex & Chase Freedom Unlimited, 60k AMEX Gold, 50k Chase World of Hyatt, 130k AMEX Hilton Business & Hilton Surpass, $300 AMEX Blue Cash Preferred, $200 AMEX Blue Cash Everyday, 140k IHG Rewards Club Premier, 100k IHG Rewards Club Traveler, 100k AMEX Marriott Business, 125k AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, 100k Capital One Venture Rewards. Please use my Affiliate links.
If you do not see a credit card with my affiliate links, perhaps I could refer you? Contact me please, thank you!
Chase Sapphire Preferred 80,000 Points Signup Bonus with $4,000 Spend. I can now refer you to this card, please use my REFERRAL link, thank you!
The increased offers keep coming! Barclays Bank has jumped in it with Huge New 100k Offers On JetBlue Plus & Business Cards. Interesting twist yet again, getting the first 50,000 after just $1k spend and the next 50,000 after a total of $6k spend in the first 12 months. JetBlue is not what it used to be and its frequent flyer program has been devalued. And Barclays is not easy to get approved. Good luck out there. My sucky credit cards links do not offer them; help bloggers to support their work. We all could be doing other things with our time! Update: The Chase business cards are now available with my links, yes!
We are all suffering in the biggest global pandemic we have ever seen. The travel industry has been severely impacted. Airlines are doing their best to get us to fly again. And then there is Delta Airlines sticking it to their unsuspecting sheep customers who don’t know what is going on, especially now with no published award charts. But we hobbyists live for this shit and we are all barfing at the assholes running this airline. Again. After bloggers have been screaming about the few remaining sweet spots in the Skymiles program while expertly selling Amex Delta credit cards, the same bloggers all came out faking their anger at Delta which dropped the hammer with the horrors of Covid-19 all around us. I mean, this takes some amazing asshole DNA. Can you imagine The Points Guy saying stuff like this? Of course not, come on! Massive SkyMiles Devaluation: Delta Hikes Partner Award Rates by 25%+. No worries, the same bloggers will soon be selling the same Amex cards with cheery posts like “69 Reasons I love the Delta card (I am getting paid to shove into your throats again suckers!)”. If you were saving your Amex Membership Rewards points for transfer to Delta or its partners…LOL.
Hotels are at Covid extension mode again: Hilton Has Great News For Points And Elite Status. And here come Marriott Bonvoy Members & COVID-19 too!
And banks are trying to get more of our spend dollars with, what else, Amazon and groceries! Chase Spending Bonuses (November & December): United, IHG, Southwest. If you are not getting 5x on your grocery spend, something is wrong 🙂 The Chase Sapphire cards added a new benefit for Peloton spend, get out of here woohoo!
Bloggers will not rest until everyone becomes an “entrepreneur”! Setting up a business: easier than you might expect. Hey, making money selling plastic may have something to do with it you may say, cough. Am I doing this? Hell, yes! But our businesses are legit! My wife’s consulting business magically springs to life every time there is a new killer business card signup bonus lol. Just be responsible and don’t get in over your heads, ok?
Stop the presses! I received an email by a hotel company PR person. Me, wow! Am I finally the big shot travel influencer? Or probably a mistake lol. But here it is you guys: IHG Rewards ties the knot with Mr & Mrs Smith, giving loyalty members even more choice for luxury and lifestyle stays. I like how Hyatt keeps doing these partnerships and expanding its footprint.
TRAVEL
RVs have seen an explosion lately as most people do not travel abroad. So, road trips are in. Big time! I have a client who bought one and another who is going to rent one to test it out. I swore I will not buy an RV after seeing the movie RV, no way! But if this is you, here is a good link: The Best Place to Camp in Each of the 50 States.
I really felt sad reading this article: Flight Attendants Face an Uncertain Future. Be prepared, I have warned you.
She has worked for United Airlines for 17 years. “It was my plan to do this job forever,” Ms. Ricumstrict-Zamora, 41, said. “We are there for people in their good times and bad times. We have had people find out a family member passed and they’re on the airplane. We have people going to see their first grandchild. We have little kids and adults going on their very first flight, their eyes full of wonder.”
Really cool short video: How the Soviets accidentally discovered the ‘Gates of Hell’.
Very interesting post about Papua New Guinea, bigtime penisenvy down under. The central highlands of the island of New Guinea was the last place on earth where there were significant numbers of stone age people with no previous contact to the modern world—and this was just 90 years ago.
Egyptian military men and police. In a parade. Topless. WTF and LOL combo! Their leader is named, wait for it, Sisi smh!
Wow, crazy roll cloud over Lake Michigan.
COVID-19
In case you missed it or believed that the virus had magically disappeared like a miracle, here is the reality: The Third Wave of COVID-19 in the U.S. Is Officially Worse Than the First Two. To the bloggers who travel amidst this carnage…please provide photos of your Covid experience as well okay? Preferably not from the hospital in the prone position hooked up to a ventilator…
Oh, we have it under control, how many times were we lied to our faces with this huh? We just passed 9 million cases in the US! And Hospitals Are Reeling Under a 46 Percent Spike in Covid-19 Patients. And you know what comes after that, right? More body bags! 230,000 of them, over 1,000 a day die every day! PREVENTABLE deaths, PREVENTABLE carnage! If you are not angry what is wrong with you? Meanwhile, 200 days have passed in Taiwan without ONE single local Covid-19 case! I just punched the wall in my office, ouch!
Look at this, USA and Canada next to each other. If you are not angry, are you blind?
I posted this before: Covid in the US, Latest Map and Case Count. Zero in to your county! Look at Wisconsin, OMG! If they vote for the ones governing them they must suicidal!
Cancel 2021 🙁
This is really good! A room, a bar and a classroom: how the coronavirus is spread through the air.
I think the US Election really comes down to this sadly. America Is About to Choose How Bad the Pandemic Will Get. If Donald Trump is reelected, he will continue to downplay the threat of the coronavirus, and more Americans will fall ill.
Science values replication—repeated experiments that verify whether the same outcome occurs. But in this case, that work is unnecessary. The U.S. has now clearly seen what happens when a pandemic occurs under Trump. It is an experiment that no one should ever want to rerun.
I think I am the first blogger who started dedicating lot of blog space to this virus. Imagine how much I could have monetized this blog if instead I was doing “69 reasons I love the credit card with the best huge offer ever that pays me the most right now, hurry!” instead hey? But I digress. There is a Greek expression I frequently say out loud to describe this virus: “Kai gamo ta virus”. It means, holy shit…this is a very sneaky resilient virus that spreads like wildfire and if you do not give it the respect it deserves you will soon wonder too “how the hell did I get infected!”. Or something like that. This BBC article explains in more detail how the sneaky virus works: Covid: Why is coronavirus such a threat? A scientist aptly describes it as a “hit and run killer”.
In my post last week I introduced you to these things that are imperative to make vaccines work. They are called adjuvants. Things we learn reading my blog! The strange ingredients found in vaccines. Scientists add some bizarre things to vaccines, such as aluminum and extracts from shark livers. Many vaccines simply don’t work without them – but no one knows why. I lost count how many times I said out loud “wow!” reading this, amazing!
PERSONAL FINANCE
Every year there are a whole bunch of numbers that get adjusted for inflation. The 2021 numbers are out: The IRS Just Released New 2021 Tax Brackets. Here’s What They Mean. And this is more relevant to all:
For individuals and married couples filing separately, the standard deduction for tax year 2021 increased by $150 to $12,550. For married couples filing jointly, the deduction increased by $300 to $25,100.
And since we are doing inflation adjusted numbers, here we go next: These are your 2021 401(k) and IRA contribution limits.
For 2021, 401(k) contribution limits, which are based on cost-of-living adjustments, will remain at $19,500 for individuals, plus an additional $6,500 in catch-up contributions for those 50 or older.
Limits on individual retirement accounts will also stay at the 2020 level, maxing out at $6,000. Those over 50 can contribute an extra $1,000 to traditional and Roth IRAs in 2021.
Great read: Irksome Adversaries. Avoid arguing with these people, life is too short! You are welcome.
I remember bloggers mentioning/promoting Beam Bank. Something did not feel right. Or I am very skeptical by nature. Maybe I am responsible and would never be able to deal with myself if I led just one reader down a harmful path! Of course many bloggers will sell their mothers for an affiliate sales commission and/or a page view click. Not here and that is why my blog never made more than minimum wage, sad lol and #facepalm. Ok, I like making fun of myself, everyone takes themselves so seriously these days, looking at you asshole calling yourself an influencer! Oh, I forgot, here is the article: This start-up promised higher interest rates on savings. Now some customers are struggling to get their money back. Thoughts and prayers and hope you get your money back if you sent them any.
Some over rated financial advisors here you guys 😉 Investopedia Top 100 Financial Advisors of 2020.
CURRENT EVENTS/POLITICS
I have enough water and food. I was thinking to get a gun but I did not…because I am a lover and not a fighter! Ok, I always laugh at this joke but this is not a joking matter. I expect that Donald Trump will not concede and he will not go quietly. If he loses that is. Ignore the polls, remember 2016. If he wins again, well, we deserve it smh. Oh, the article. Here is what happens at election night and forward: Election night marks the end of one phase of campaign 2020 – and the start of another. God help us all!
Assuming this becomes true that is, I guess we will very soon find out: How Trump Sealed the GOP’s Suicide. It didn’t have to go this way—with the GOP becoming a cult of personality suffused with authoritarianism.
I get lots of election related snail mail. And the Republican pieces are all full of the same old FEAR shit. But the most vile are the ones calling Joe Biden and his family corrupt, puuuhlease! The stunning hypocrisy of the Trump family’s attacks on Hunter Biden. If you fall for this shit…well, I really do hope that we can get united again (and I do not mean with a war!). If you think Trump is the one to unite us all….LOL.
I am going to get a lot of crap about this but, please sit down, I have a confession. I am not a fan of Bruce Sprinsteen. The artist. I never liked his voice and I am not crazy about his songs because, cough, his voice. I am weird. I recognize the guy is an American institution. And he deserves it, I just never got into his music, that is all, please don’t shoot me. But you know what? I do LOVE this ad he did. Mostly because he did not sing lol. This will trigger old friend Rams 😉
ODDZ & ENDZ
Some amazing photos of dams! How dams have reshaped our planet.
This is a very sad story of a man in Michigan who died of an overdose. In darkness of pandemic, Wyandotte man’s drug addiction got worse — and then deadly. I have been pounding this theme to my kids since they were born, the only thing I want from them is not to do drugs! I feel the pain of so many other families suffering with this, I lost my little cousin to drugs, he was not even 24. The pain never goes away, this is a disease!
And here is a story of one who made it out of the hell of drugs. Such an uplifting story! A High School Dropout Finds Support On Road From Prison To Law School.
I really enjoyed this! The 50 Best Movie and TV Show Twists of All Time.
Since we are into movie twists, this was cool: M. Night Shyamalan and Haley Joel Osment Reflect on ‘The Sixth Sense’. What a tough debut by a director huh?
Making fun of the now infamous Jack Dorsey beard. Fyi, Jack is Twitter’s CEO and here he is testifying to Congress from some cave somewhere woohoo, hilarious thread!
Just a beautiful picture I found, enjoy!
This just looks amazing, wow! A Surreal New Bookstore Has Just Opened in China.
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Amazing shots here too with Winners of the European Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2020.
BLOG BUZZ
We are now entering BLOG BUZZ, a section for advanced hobbyists and veterans of this fast imploding hobby and also a section where I go on and on about some stuff that happens in my life because it helps me feel better about myself.
I have not been to a Wal Mart in months. So many false alarms in the past. But is it real this time? Is the end…here? Are There Big Issues With Money Orders At Walmart Stores?
Is this the first step towards stepping away from Boarding Area? Frequentmiler.com is ours! Celebrate w/ huge swag giveaway. And holy crap, if you wanted to buy some of these items…the prices are extremely high!
The ghost writer working for View From The Wing and One Mile at a Time is not even trying anymore…does not even wait to post these some time apart smh…
I do this to warn people, I have never had an actual conversion from it. Maybe I should just move on I guess…
I can’t wait for the bloggers to lower their Delta SkyMiles valuations. LOL…yeah right. Wait, they are going to lower the Amex Membership Rewards points valuation for sure. Riiiiiiight. Sometimes all the time this space makes me barf!
I despise pathetic clickbait! But I despise even more blogs that link to blogs full of it. Maybe I need to get away to Maldives…oh wait.
I burned 45,000 AA miles. On a one way First Class trip. Not for me, I don’t want to talk about it…Stay home!
Still grounded. Walking and sciatica related exercises. It blows not being able to run. It is what is is…I’ll be back. Someday. I hope. Never stop believing. And you clicking lol.
I have so much material above that I am totally burned out by the time I get to the end here.
Let’s all pray we can get past this virus phase soon. Take care of your health. Because, nothing else matters. This rings even more true the older you get!
Stay positive, test negative. A lot of change was already underway. The pandemic has accelerated it, welcome to the era of hyper change. Change how you do things! I will just keep on doing what I am doing here almost 8 years. Bringing you the best content I can, now down to once a week and keeping it non profit seeking, just some whining here and there when everything dries up to keep ME going. A normal person would have quit like so many other bloggers did years ago. I am not normal, never have been and likely never will be lol.
Enjoy the weekend everyone! We will get through this. But if Trump wins I am getting the hell outta here!
And I leave you with this…
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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.
Good afternoon from Crete!
If you did not get an upgrade there at this time you’d never get upgraded. Oh, lockdown is imminent too! Be safe.
Resort is 100% full as it is UK school holidays and we just removed Crete from our quarantine list.
And this is exactly why the current Greek government sucks…These guys handled it great at the beginning, their heads became too big from all the praise and then…opened up too fast and…lockdowns again without even requiring negative tests.
Did you get a test? Are you tested when you get back? Quarantine? Anything?
I am staying home….actually, just returned from Kroger and on the way back I picked up a latte at Starbucs…cashed in points, naturally 🙂
I am shocked that Greece is letting you in. Nobody else wants Brits. Wait, are you still part of the EU? Or two more months and you’re finally out?
Are you returning to the lockdown or staying on Crete until December?
Kids are back at school on Monday sadly!
Buzz-It’s me, I got lost when TBB posted at a different time each week. It took so long to chase down the latest post, I was too tired to comment.
Over the last few months, TBB has pivoted (don’t you love how that word is used?) to being the most informative and entertaining blog out there. So much meat in each edition, it’s hard to know where to start. I mean this-please keep your foot on the pedal.
So you don’t like Springsteen because of his voice. That’s like saying you like Trump because of the way Melania dresses. Or undresses. Actually Melania undresses herself, while Bruce undresses America. I’ll leave this analogy there.
The blogger formerly known as Mommy Points has a swell idea-let coach passengers use first class toilets. She’s thinking of the kids who just gotta go. I think she’s onto something-turning first class into a ballpark urinal line. But I’m sure Mom is going to run right in there and clean up the mess. Oh yeah.
I ran a dummy cash booking to compute the value per mile of Delta points with the new award levels. I used a Jan to Feb trip from the US to Europe in business. It came out that each DL mile saves about 1.5 cents of cash. 1.5 cents for what was once an ‘aspirational’ award”. And that does not take into account many/most awards requiring flying on a different day on a cock-eyed itinerary with a long layover, if you can even find them. And no value for the time running to Walmart, keeping track of gift cards, reading blogs and Flyer Talk or getting Covid from some 6 year old waiting 5 minutes next to your seat to use the head up front. As John Lennon wrote, the dream is over. Or as Bruce wrote-well, enough about Melania.
Europe is in deep water on hospital beds. El Paso, Texas is reporting they are just about out too.
Well, that’s enough for now. Time to lock up the house, turn down the lights, and wait to see what we’re really made of.
This was an MVP comment, thank you!
Thank you for the kind words, much appreciated amigo.
Son is back…
Me: Are you virus-free?
Him: Are you?
Can’t wait to have daughter back for Thanksgiving….omg…I am scared.
Of course, this assumes we make it past next week.
I predict Trump will hit a new low Tuesday night….yeah, it is always possible with this guy.
I hope Rams is okay…he probably has enough guns stocked up…and ammo.
Good morning!
Thanks for all the links. We do live in interesting times!
Interesting? These are super crazy times!
You are welcome, enjoy the weekend.
“barfing at the assholes” is a phrase I will be using from now on. Thank you for continuing to post.
It just came out…
Pun intended.
Maybe I open a gift shop with Tshirts and key chains with the logo 😉
Go out and Vote.
Texas’s early vote is now 100.4% of the *total* vote count in 2016….
Meanwhile In PA “ Mail delays even worse across Pa., with 42% of Philly mail taking longer than 5 days”.
Don’t let the Supreme Court decide the election again (2000).
On my way to get some ribs carry out tonight I listened to NPR. Some talk show from Detroit. Few types with their feelings about voting this year. And callers. And yep, that guy again….the Bernie bro who decided not to vote to make a stand against the practices of the Democratic party to stop Bernie….
Phuck me!
Good to see another edition of “How to spend all of Carl’s spare weekend time reading stuff from TBB” come out!
I do not know how you do it. All I know is that I am glad you do! Congrats also on your being on the Investopedia list!! I just recently changed from one company (To Morgan Stanley from Merrill Lynch) to another for my investments, just because my brokers moved. Good advisors are hard to find!
Thanks again, and let’s keep hoping for a good 2021!
I don’t know how I do it either. But if you get any good ideas on how to stop PLEASE let me know asap!
I have had clients come to me from both of these places. I guess if I HAD to pick one of the two, it would be MS over ML. I am biased about this stuff but…brokers are not advisors!
Will we make it to 2021?
Thanks for the comments. I am pretty busy today preparing for a big client meeting tomorrow so I will get to reply to them when I can.
If Trump wins I quit and move back to Greece for 6 months and to Thailand for 6 months. I’ll have you guys visit as we remember the good old days of this dying hobby 🙂
Just Do It!
I used to love your blog. However, as many liberals do,you loose your connection to reality as soon as things touch politics.
As a fun of your travel / finance posts I wish you were sticking to travel and finance only.
However, I recognize that it’s your project and you can do what ever you want and think is right (happy you are enjoying these conservative values) I still can with it out with your posts, all I have to do just to scroll down.
Reality:
First case of Covid on same day January 20, 2020
Since then:
USA: 9.2 Million cases (with HIGHEST number of daily case yesterday at 99.6k!)
South Korea: 26,635 cases (124 new daily cases yesterday)
USA: 230,494 dead
South Korea: 466 dead
USA: 331 Million
South Korea: 51 Million
Deaths if US had responded as well as South Korea: 2,981
Yeah we liberals lose touch with reality…seriously?
These arguments are all valid. We can split our question about performance into two 1. Everything but Covid. 2. Covid.
1. I saw a few very good moves by this government and supported them (as I did with the previous one).
2. Covid was handled … Very bad. However, I don’t blame the federal government alone. They actually we’re taking a few very good steps like loans, flights, funding the vaccine research. A lot of awful things actually happened on the state level. Both Democrats and republican governors run some shit show.
Related your example about Korea… I have only one argument. It’s really hard to execute their strategy on the US scale. Check out what happens in Italy/Germany/Spain/UK/France all together they have a population that close to the US and number of cases per million is very similar.
1. I agree. There have been several good moves that the “fake news” leftist media does not give due credit. Some I can name are the tax cuts (the bulk of which sadly went to the ones who did not need them), some stupid regulations that were canned, some movement finally and baby steps for Middle East peace, the initial Treasury response after Covid hit was brilliant (even with its shortcomings…sadly it was wasted when they declared victory prematurely), hitting China at least (but I am going to stop there before I address what came out of it) and….really, what else?
2. Very bad? As in 3 out of 10 like that DansDeals dude used to rate? It is a global pandemic and the federal government should take the lead in addressing this calamity from the start, not passing the buck to the states and let them bid each other to death to obtain the necessary supplies to fight this war, come on! Funding the vaccine research was a nobrainer of course, what is the alternative? The shit show started at the top and is proceeding to defy all shitshow minimum standards!
Ok, so we are not South Korea. Or Taiwan. Or Vietnam. Or Mongolia. Or New Zealand. Or Japan. Oooookay…so, let’s compare:
Italy: 731,588 cases 39,059 dead 60 Million people
Germany: 570,397 cases 10,820 dead 84 Million people
Spain: 1,313,087 cases 36,257 dead 47 Million people
UK: 1,053,864 cases 46,853 dead 68 Million people
France: 1,466,433 cases 37,435 dead 65 Million people
Please do the math, we are still #1!
Saw this recently, I have not verified it yet:
USA has 4% of population and 20% of the dead. And the phucking moron calls other countries shithole countries?
But here is one that I think it is better to compare to because, well, we are so similar and we are neighbors:
Canada: 241,313 cases 10,222 dead 38 Million
Remember, we are hitting new daily records with over 1,000 of us dying every day so the numbers just get worse.
Excuse me, my point is that the Covid response has been a TRAGIC ONGOING DISASTER! In shithole countries they storm the Presidential residence and hang the one responsible upside down from his preferred balcony 😉
The rest of his shit is just gravy. This guy is unfit PERIOD.
And I still think he has a good chance to win today. Because…the pounding of the same themes you bring up obviously worked on you and, I am guessing, so many others who do not speak to pollsters.
God help us all!
I am not going to reply to this “…as many liberals do,you loose your connection to reality as soon as things touch politics.”
I am just going to smh.
Well, I enjoy politics. Especially geopolitics. So, as this is my project I am just going to do things that I enjoy 🙂
Hopefully there is less craziness coming from the top starting January 2021 so I will likely dial it down here. Developing.
I think there is a word missing in that last paragraph? Not sure I get what you mean. And whazup with conservative values? You mean like protrade and pro immigrants? 😉
I am going to stop here because I need to get to bed.
Thanks for your support. You were cc conversion #5, right? Just kidding, doubt it. So, thanks to #5, enjoy that Boundless card.
To all but especially Pavel:
I updated today’s post to add today’s Mile Nerd post that addresses it to the Republicans who know who Trump really is but still plan to vote for him anyway:
http://www.milenerd.com/november-2020/
Very emotional post.
If anyhow Trump wins I hope this guys won’t loose his mind.
If Trump wins I quit my blog and join Mile Nerd in retirement!
If Trump wins I will start a blog
Lol
good comeback
Wanna buy mine? I am giving on TPG buying it from me woohoo.
giving up
Hold on a bit … I argue that we might see a very ugly November / December as companies move forward with CY21 planning and major layoffs might happen. I was reading how Greg the FrequentMiler started his blog after he was let go.
Thank Zeus it’s November.
I’ve found the PERRRRFECT antidote for ‘Rona Fatigue and believe this would be a GREAT idea for a TBB-Do. Who’s in???
https://us.cnn.com/travel/article/fiji-private-island-private-plane-social-distancing/index.html
Thanks for another week of well-curated content.
#TBBon
That place looks amazing…And then I got to this part:
The cost? A cool $490,000 covers the jet, a minimum seven-night stay, on-island activities, food and drink and airport transfers for up to 20 people. If you don’t live in L.A., though, you’re on your own for getting there.
Not happening here. But I think the TPG dude can do it and then assign some staffer to do 78 blog posts about his trip report and how he managed to do all that with travel rewards credit cards, sigh.
I think you are safer where you are. I expect violence here, unless it is a huge landslide win for Biden. Which I don’t think it is going to happen. I wish polls were banned…
Dual National trying to get back to Europe after 20 years. Currently favoring Portugal.
tRump has killed America. Biden is just not gonna do it.
How do I get my money out?
I’ll take any reply off air.
Thx
Bitcoin 🙂
For Biden to do it…he first must win. Remember 2016. Oh, and this assumes Trump leaves if he loses…
You must maintain US based accounts. And not tell them because if you do…they will close you down, you know. like Amex type shutdowns 🙂 And have a debit card to use in ATMs without fees, maybe that Schwab checking account can be handy.
As far as retirement plan type accounts…oh boy, can get messy.
For real bloggers out there….maybe this is going to be a hot topic if Trump wins?
Yeah, the logistics can be…intriguing…As we were talking about with wife over lunch about moving to Thailand for 6 months and son telling us “you can both wfh, no idea why not!”….But then…Covid.
Thanks for reply!
I opened the Schwab Bank / Brokerage combo yesterday.
That card has been on my radar for years.
Also I opened a Fidelity account.
As a Boglehead VG has been my long term GoTo.
I went significantly to cash a year ago by divesting all marginal and poorly performing Brokerage account funds, but leaving them in VG MM.
I currently only keep stuff like VTSAX some Dividend funds and a ROTH.
I have built up cash holdings in 3 euro countries.
Yes its going to be tricky when RMD times comes around.
I am waiting until Europe lifts 14 day quarantine requirement…then house hunting.
There are many many Americans planning exit strategies at this time, many are even giving up US citizenship. They don’t intend to pay Uncle Sam a $ in tax on their ‘out of country’ earned income.
BTW I love your blog…I forgot to say that!
Disclaimer: IANAL, CFE, CPA, etc. This is freeeeeeeeee advice so keep that in mind!
I am an almost 20 year ex-pat in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Welcome to the world of double/triple taxation and a pile of paperwork.
1. Find an experienced CPA in your new country NOW. This person is CRITICAL to your sanity as well as your financial health. Absolutely must be conversant in US tax law AND local tax law.
2. See number 1 above, again. It’s THAT important.
3. Google FATCA. This is a MAJOR pain in the derriere. Your bank(s) in your new country HATE it. Some banks won’t touch US citizen accounts. Some will charge you “FATCA compliance fees”.
3a. Form 8938 is a PITA if you have multinational anything.
4. Google Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. With good planning this may be your best friend, especially in two-player mode.
5. You REALLY want to live in Floriduh or Texas for US state tax reasons.
6. Don’t forget to consider estate/inheritance taxes — ESPECIALLY in your new country. I’ve heard some of the European death taxes are ghastly.
7. Spend the bucks for a good VPN. You may get locked out of your US accounts by only accessing them from abroad (hello Schwab!).
8. No advice on Social Security or Medicare — haven’t quite reached that age. But something you may need/want to consider.
I’ve never considered renouncing my citizenship. I love my country, warts and all. Have always believed in paying my “fair share” of taxes which should be close to zero now but is NOT.
Good luck to you, Jack. Expect LOTS of headshaking!
USA has a income tax agreement between most (if not all) EU countries that makes life easier
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/international-businesses/united-states-income-tax-treaties-a-to-z
Thanks. Some v. good advice here.
I’ve lived in several EU countries and have an established financial history / presence. I already receive a small pension from one country, paid into my local (european) bank.
By virtue of my EU status I have access to good healthcare for little out of pocket.
My brother is a financial guy, so I have access to his network.
I have gifted my children’s inheritance already.
I don’t intend to leave any significant $ on the table when I die lol.
US citizenship – I value and treasure this – It took me years to attain. I love this country but…currently – well you know the rest.
If I have to renounce, it will be purely a non emotional fiscal decision, however hard.
Thx again.
Wow, this has developed into a very useful thread.
Some great feedback here from GringoLoco!
It will be VERY tough to find that CPA who “Absolutely must be conversant in US tax law AND local tax law.” They are a dime a dozen. And you probably do not want to deal with a Big Four firm because they charge up the wazoo. I know, I worked in one a long time ago dealing with GM expats!
I have heard great things about this site:
https://www.expatforum.com/
but always do your own due diligence.
Renouncing US citizenship has changed…the tax hit is more severe and comes mostly upfront. It’s good to have another door because you just don’t know that the country you move to does not become a shithole country 🙂
Yeah, do not attempt the taxes yourself. Seriously! There is some really weird complex shit. I had enough when I left, I could not take it anymore lol.
Are you a Boglehead when you go “significantly all cash” at once? Jack would not approve 🙂
I am not planning to leave. But if Trump wins or steals the election again I may evolve my blog to Travel Expat Buzz lol.
I am not going anywhere anytime soon…I hope my local Kroger and Panera down the street do not become hotzones though 😉
“Are you a Boglehead when you go “significantly all cash” at once? Jack would not approve ”
Ha! yes he would not approve – but we are in GLOBAL EMERGENCY lol – I still have majority of assets invested.
I was talking to my Bitcoin guru – I have to say I have never been a believer or a fan.. but I will look a little more seriously now.
Thx
Jack
Here’s some advice on Medicare:
It covers nothing outside the USA. You can’t even access the Medicare website from outside the USA. If you have a Medicafre supplement plan, that may have different terms.
All these financial challenges, and potential solutions are issues. But first find a place to go with first class medical services which will be within your geographical and financial reach.
For example-France. If you go through the many hoops to get landed status there, you can then join the French medical system and the premium is 8% of your worldwide income, which may or may not include “retirement income”, however that is defined. Pretty high cost for a big income blogger like Buzz, but it could be a great deal if you sold out too early.
And please don’t tell me how you can get a heart transplant for $125 in El Salvador.
Good info on Medicare.
Thank you!
I replied more fully in response to Sam’s post above.
Thank you all …your information is much appreciated.
May America be kept safe and its citizens enjoy Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Peace
J
Great info on Medicare and France, thanks Sam.
And thanks for the laugh man, love your humor!
” Pretty high cost for a big income blogger like Buzz, but it could be a great deal if you sold out too early. And please don’t tell me how you can get a heart transplant for $125 in El Salvador.”
If Trump wins I expect my traffic site to EXPLODE everyone I turned off…to hit me back!
Received this email today, immediately blocked!
—–
hello.
i need this site for guest posting . this time my budget is low .so i can pay you
10$ each post. so please accept my offer and i will send you an article .
thanks.
Why? Go to wix.com or livejournal and build a web blog in 5 minutes
Hey George,
I presume (as Pavel’s first name suggests) that he comes from the same place I do — sorry if I’m wrong.
Russian Americans are the most passionate trumpists of them all. I’m not being dismissive of anyone, that goes for my friends and family too. By my (unscientific) count, at least 8 out of 10 are pro-Trump, and the other 2 just don’t care one way or another. I’m one lonely exception (or rather deviation) that merely proves the rule.
Loved the MileNerd post!
I think I’m under 5/24 now. Haven’t been active for quite a while, never would’ve believed this day would come. Will use your links when I’m ready.
100K JetBlue points is pure insanity. Huge, huge value! Just a year ago I would’ve done a hell of a happy dance. Now 2+ million miles/points and nowhere to go.
It looks like t’s going to be fun in NYC in the next few days. Hopefully, not on my quiet street. As a small business owner, I think I might’ve qualified for a gun (not a carry permit though). But I’m not a fighter either. My ex- office landlord (and a lawyer) says gun applications are what’s keeping him afloat nowadays.
Anyhow, let’s hope there will be changes. Of a peaceful kind.
You can presume whatever you want but you and I are not coming from the same place and of course nothing to be sorry about. Never been to Russia, period.
8 years ago I watched how Republicans were loosing their mind and calling Obama names: muslim spy, russian agent, socialist/communist and what not. He was nothing close to that. He was playing to get these guys votes as a politician does. The worst thing in Trump is that he speaks ugly. It’s impossible to listen. However, when I turn off the sounds and just see what his administration did … I actuality like a lot.
Now I am happy that today it will be over. If Democrats win at least I will see less propoganda from TBB dude and more of the old good content. If Trump wins … Many people will be upset .
“Turning off the sound” is your privilege. Mute twitter all you want and you’re still praising the guy endorsed by white supremacists. You’re sanitizing your racism, comrade.
Andy, thanks a lot and thanks for taking the time to post. You may have heard from someone I sent your way, hopefully it worked out.
I see the snail mail I get. Painting Biden as Socialist and Communist. This shit works! Hopefully most people who vote know better now….
If JetBlue did not devalue recently I would be all over it too…Now, without much travel happening and plenty of other miles…I am not that interested, sad!
Yeah, let’s pray for a peaceful election. Will I bet on it? Absolutely NOT!
I don’t see how normal people will look around and see what Trump has done and “like a lot” of it, I just don’t. Please stop enabling the natural born asshole, the guy is a special breed that definitely does not belong in the White House. Call my blog whatever you want but…I just added another link in Friday’s post that catalogues all this guy’s horrific shit…It is MASSIVELY long 🙂
I can’t take four more years of the insanity, I am exhausted like so many of us!
Thanks George! Please keep sending whoever you can my way. There have been a few encounters, but they’ve never mentioned you, so I just don’t know. But it’s become really lonely. With all the exodus, I’m surprised I still have some clients in this niche.
Checked a few B6 routes from NYC. Looks like you’re right, but for me it’s a different reason. What concerns me more than Mosaic upgrades (no status anyway), is that they started pricing flights close to 1 rather than 1.3-1.7 cents per point like before. This is anecdotal for now, need to dig deeper.
Yup, mentioned the devaluation here:
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/airlines/jetblue/earn-100k-points-jetblue-consumer-business-cards/
Comes with this devaluation as well:
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/milespoints/ouch-jetblue-massively-increases-points-requirement-even-space-seats-major-mosaic-devaluation/
Sad!
So, not so anecdotal. Sad indeed!
What in the ever living shit is this?
https://thegate.boardingarea.com/i-am-still-running-for-president-of-the-united-states-in-2020-vote-for-me-as-a-write-in-candidate/?utm_source=BoardingArea&utm_medium=BoardingArea
Sometimes bloggers should not blog when they don’t have much to say. Oh wait, just saw View From The Wing posted:
“Despite Elite status, Playboy Playmate Kicked Off Southwest Airlines Over Revealing Outfit”.
So when I compare the two, the second one makes me barf…
And the fan boys like Doctor of Credit, Miles to Memories, One Dozen Credit Cards at a time, Frequent Miler, Live to Let Fly, Point Me to the Plane, Miles for Family….will ALL link to VFTW to lead their readers to blogs that post shit like this…
I need to move on…
https://youtu.be/k4M53xndqiU
Could we please eliminate polling as a profession.
4 years of Trump resulted in ~10M more MAGA votes. His base grew significantly.
I am really overrated.
Yes, I feel polls were even worse this cycle than they were 4 years ago at the presidential level. And I can’t tell you how many ads I saw saying something like: Polls show a dead heat — help us defeat Lindsey Graham, or: Polls show Amy overtaking Mitch, donate now! The KY race wasn’t particularly close at all, and Democrats dumped $100 million into SC to little effect. Not that I’d be inclined to donate for a race out of my state anyway, but there really seems to have been an extra bunch of rotten polls this time around.
Bloomberg dumped $100 million in FL, OH, and TX.
Terrible ROI. Think of all the late term abortions that could buy.
Bloomberg was the best qualified of any Presidential candidates but that Warren jumped on him right from the start on his first debate. But I still got the Michigan Mike Tshirt LOL!
Terrible ROI this election. It’s a long game. The guy will not miss the money.
That Harrison dude going against Lindsey Graham. He was the WORST money asker OMG. Gave him some money and he has been email bombing me every since, relentless. So happy he stopped 🙂
Still can not believe this race is not called yet, wow.
So close and yet so far away…
Polling should be abolished. I no longer look at polls from now on.
Crazy US elections.
I can not believe so many voted for Trump. There IS a message there….Hopefully Joe can begin to unite us all, I am ready for four years of competence and normalcy and real priorities than narcissistic incompetent corrupt assholery!
“There IS a message there”
– Trumpism is alive and well. Some may say stronger than ever. Dear leader may reluctantly be removed, but McConnell et al will be the party of NO and enjoy a glorious win in 2022.
#Sad!
Typing this as Biden just passed Trump in Georgia…
so so so so soooo close
prepare to storm the white house, Trump is not leaving
“Vote early, vote often” (isn’t that the slogan?)
Good to see Michigan came through!
The final margin was way more than we lost in 2016 when over 50,000 in Detroit did not bother to vote (but had voted for Obama in 2012)…which ended with Trump winning with 11k votes!
When you demand to talk to the manager of the election and demand that it’s JC
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=o8u1zXuS23Q
Immaculate dumbphackery! There is a mix of this video with…Eminem music LOL.