Tag Archives: Amazon

green text on a white background

AMEX Cash Back & Membership Rewards Changes: SPG Transfers, Extended Warranties & More

Good morning everyone, I hope you all had a great weekend.  Over the weekend, I reviewed my recent American Express credit card statements and spotted some major and minor changes to the terms.  A few months ago, I wrote about other changes: AMEX Membership Rewards Changes: No Points for Cash Equivalents (Gift Cards) & Person-to-Person Payments (Venmo).  Usually, whenever American Express makes a change to their program, it usually benefits American Express more than their cardholders.

In this month’s updates, there are some major and minor changes.  I reviewed the changes to my American Express Blue Cash Everyday Credit Card and there are some changes that affect cash back credit cards.  I also reviewed the changes to my American Express EveryDay Credit Card that earns Membership Rewards Points, and there are some changes there too.  Lastly, some changes affect all types of credit cards.  There is a lot to cover, so I will try to bold the most important stuff.

  • American Express will look at your credit report and may use the info for marketing purposes, to evaluate your account, and more.
  • American Express (and their affiliates and partners) may contact you at any phone number or email address to service your account or collect past due amounts.
  • American Express will specify when and how frequent you can use the Plan It feature.

a close-up of a document

Continue reading

a close up of a logo

Amazon Prime: Keep or Cancel? Help Me Decide!

A while ago Amazon announced an increase to their Amazon Prime fees. And even though there are ways to keep the fees at the $99 yearly for a bit longer, it still seemed to me I should take a closer look at whether or not I was getting value from having Amazon Prime even at the $99 rate.

I always say, “Let math be your friend” and in fact, I enjoy math. And I enjoy using spreadsheets, too. I’m not exactly Don in The Rosie Project, but I can come awfully close to his obsession with tracking things.

So let’s take a look at what I actually DO use Amazon Prime for, because I think a lot of people see all the potential uses of Amazon Prime but don’t really use them. Continue reading

a group of colorful circles with white letters

Happy Mother’s Day! Let’s Celebrate with an Amazon Gift Card Giveaway [10 Winners Announced]

Updated 6am PT on 5/15: 10 winners announced, please scroll down to see the winning comments.


Good morning everyone and happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there – especially my mom!  I might be a bit biased, but I think know I have the best mom in the world!  My parents got me hooked on travel at a very young age and my love for travel has only grown larger as I have gotten older (and the ability to earn thousands of miles and points from credit card sign up bonuses has helped too).  There are so many family trips around Europe, to various tropical Caribbean Islands, and long road trips around California, picking a favorite family vacation would be impossible.  Every trip is special in one way or another.

To celebrate Mother’s Day and to give you all a chance to brag about your mother’s, I decided to set up an Amazon Gift Card Giveaway.  Read on to find the details of the giveaway…

a group of people holding drinks

My family in St. Kitts (my dad is taking the photo).  Cheer’s to all the moms out there!

Continue reading

a credit card with a blue and silver design

My Barclays Credit Card Targeted / Spending Offers for May 2018 [Letters Now Attached]

Updated 10:20am PT on 5/15: I received letters from Barclays with the complete terms for all 3 targeted spending offers.


Good morning everyone, happy Friday.  A few days ago, I called Barclays to request a downgrade from my Barclays Arrival Plus Credit Card to the no annual fee Barclays Arrival Credit Card.  After the downgrade was completed, I asked the rep (I believe he was a customer relationship manager, or some similar title) if there were any targeted / spending offers available.  To my surprise, there was an offer.  To say I don’t put much spend on my Barclays credit cards would be an understatement – all 4 of my credit cards have $0 balances and haven’t had charges on them for a few months.

The rep said that my new Barclays Arrival Credit Card had the following offer: earn a $50 statement credit after spending $1,000 each month for the next 3 months.  Since that was the only offer available, I accepted the offer, even though I have no intention on spending $3,000+ over 3 months to get a $50 statement credit ($50 / $3,000 = 1.67% bonus).  I then asked if he could check my 3 other Barclays credit cards and see if there were any offers available.  Who knows, if you don’t ask, they will never proactively tell you about your offers.

a screenshot of a credit card

Continue reading

a black and orange logo

Would You Let Amazon Deliver Your Packages Like This?

The digital world never ceases to amaze me! You might feel the same way when you read this article. Calling all digital nomads with certain cars OR those of you who drive a Volvo or GM vehicle! We’ve all seen those Amazon packages on people’s doorsteps. Amazon’s newest delivery trial to the trunks of people’s cars just struck me as so funny! Your trunk…..the new home delivery place! Enjoy the article and let me know if you’ve tried this or if you’ll use it when it comes to your ‘hood………or actually your trunk :)

a man loading a box into a car

Image source: https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/24/17261744/amazon-package-delivery-car-trunk-gm-volvo