My Money Blog

Amazon Shop With Points Promos (Targeted): Use 1 Point, Save up to 40%

Posted on June 14, 2023 // Leave a Comment

Amazon lets you "Shop with Points" using many different loyalty programs including Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Discover. They also offer targeted promotions from time to time, and they seem to … [Read the rest]

Homebuying Struggles: Low Inventory, High Prices, Highest Ever Mortgage Payments

Posted on June 13, 2023 // 2 Comments

I definitely feel for prospective homebuyers in the current market. My parents are one of them, looking for a place in retirement. According to Redfin and Mortgage News Daily, we currently have low inventory (partially due to people with sub-6% … [Read the rest]

Why I Don’t Use Covered Calls As a Retirement Income Strategy

Posted on June 8, 2023 // 19 Comments

Eventually, you will be presented with the idea of writing covered calls on your portfolio and earning "easy income" from this strategy. I already know intuitively that there must be a cost to this "passive income" and that the net effect is worse … [Read the rest]

Bank of America Premium Rewards Card Review – 60,000 Point Offer, Best with Preferred Rewards

Posted on June 7, 2023 // 24 Comments

The Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card is the mid-tier premium card in the line-up, with added perks in exchange for an $95 annual fee. (Comparable with the Chase Sapphire Preferred and American Express Green cards.) This card also … [Read the rest]

Best Interest Rates on Cash – June 2023

Posted on June 6, 2023 // 3 Comments

Here's my monthly roundup of the best interest rates on cash as of June 2023, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. There are often lesser-known opportunities available to individual investors. Check out my Ultimate Rate-Chaser … [Read the rest]

Andrews FCU 7.5-Month Certificate at 5.75% APY

Posted on June 4, 2023 // 5 Comments

Andrews FCU is celebrating their 75th anniversary with a special 7.5 month certificate at a very competitive 5.75% APY. $1,000 minimum opening deposit, $250,000 maximum. Limit one certificate per membership. Early withdrawal penalty is 90 days … [Read the rest]

Target: Buy $100 in Choice Gift Cards, Get $10 Target Gift Card

Posted on June 4, 2023 // Leave a Comment

Target is running a promotion where if you get a $10 Target GiftCard with $100 "Choice" gift card purchase, in-store or online. Promo ends June 10th. I'm guessing this is related to Father's Day. (The Mother's Day promo was better, what's up?!) … [Read the rest]

The Power (and Limitations) of Buy & Hold “Do Nothing” Portfolios

Posted on June 1, 2023 // 2 Comments

Morningstar has been running an interesting series of articles on "Do Nothing" portfolios where they take the idea of "Buy and Hold" to the extreme. When you buy and hold a traditional index fund, the holdings still change over time. New … [Read the rest]

Why a Your Portfolio Should Contain (At Least Some) International Stocks

Posted on May 31, 2023 // 2 Comments

If you own a target retirement fund, you probably own a decent chunk of international stocks. However, these days it's harder to find people telling you to own international stocks when you build your own portfolio, mostly because of the … [Read the rest]

SaveBetter No-Penalty CD Review: How To Cancel No-Penalty CDs

Posted on May 25, 2023 // Leave a Comment

No-Penalty CDs try to offer the best of both worlds - the liquidity of a savings account, and the higher fixed interest rate of a term CD. If rates go up, you can still move to the new higher rate. If rates drop, you are covered because the … [Read the rest]

AllAmerica and Redneck Bank: 4.40% APY Money Market (up to $100k), 4.65% APY Rewards Checking (up to $15k)

Posted on May 23, 2023 // 6 Comments

Update 10/14/24: Rates dropped to 4.40% APY on up to $100,000 for Mega Money Market and 4.65% APY on up to $15,000 for Rewards Checking (debit card usage and other requirements apply). Details below. Update 7/9/24: Rates dropped to 4.75% APY … [Read the rest]

List of 529 Day (5/29) College Savings Plan Promotions 2023

Posted on May 22, 2023 // 9 Comments

Updated for 2023. 5/29 is "National 529 College Savings Plan Day" and every year a few state plan offer promotions and/or giveaways. Most offers end by May 31st. Some offers require in-state residency, but some don't. 529 plans can now also … [Read the rest]