Things I cannot currently make up mind about

[jackiemarie90]

1.) Which credit card should I get? Chase unlimited freedom or american express blue cash everyday card or discover it.

I'm looking for a credit card that will make it easier to collect rewards that I can transfer to plane miles for future travel. Also no annual fee. I have credit score in the low 700s. 

2.) Should I buy a $25 face cream from ulta? I've already made 2 purchases from ulta 21 days of beauty sale. There is also a skincare giftset on sale there that I want to buy my partner for christmas because that's what they want. But the also have this face cream on sale for half off! I already bought a lot of beauty stuff recently and I want to save for a solo travel trip in January. Getting the half off face cream would make it free shipping vs 6.95 shipping.  EDIT: I've made up my mind I'm not going to buy anything cause I spent a lot already and want to save for trip.

3.) I think I know I want to go to Peru in January. Roundtrip ticket is current $620ish right now, It may drop within a month but then a lot of the cheaper hotels  and airbnbs will sell out sooner. It's what usually happens. So do I buy now or wait longer?

idk, opinions here are sometimes funny, well given, or straight up weird.. Have at it with your opinions.

Edited September 22, 2018 by jackiemarie90

[KimopoBotar]

I can't help with any of these at all. Not even a little. 

But if you hit up Machu Picchu please share it here. I've always wanted to go and will settle for living vicariously through internet people. 

Edited September 22, 2018 by KimopoBotar

[jackiemarie90]

2 minutes ago, KimopoBotar said:

I can't help with any of these at all. Not even a little. 

But if you hit up Machu Picchu please share it here. I've always wanted up go and will settle for living vicariously through internet people. 

Most definitely will do. The flight down there terrifies me, but being in another country doesn't. I've planned a good deal of what I would do down there just gotta take the plunge and buy the ticket. There is this great book about traveling on a budget if you are interested. It's Vagabonding by Rolf Potts. I found a free pdf version of it online.

[SwimModSponges]

1. No credit card, cash only.

2. No cream. None at all.

3. Fuck peru go to Belize.

[jackiemarie90]

49 minutes ago, SwimModSponges said:

1. No credit card, cash only.

2. No cream. None at all.

3. Fuck peru go to Belize.

Normally this is like my whole beliefs against credit cards. But I want to use one to buy the plane tickets to earn extra rewards for the future for more travel. I wouldn't use it too often but idk.

Honestly probably the best. Usually tjmaxx has a ton of upscale christmas giftsets towards end of November leftover from last year at good discounts.

I have thought about it. I think they have a few Mayan ruins. But Peru kinda would tick some things off a bucket list. I'll get a stamp from South America on my passport and it will be another continent outside North America. Plus you got Machu Picchu one of the worlds sevens wonders. And I've seen an ancient predecessor to Mayans in Mexico. Plus Peru is also connected to the Amazon and I want see the rainforest and river. I think seeing a bunch of alpaca's and llamas in the ruins would be super cool too and alpaca sweaters make a neato souvenir.

Edited September 22, 2018 by jackiemarie90

[JeNewBee]

32 minutes ago, jackiemarie90 said:

1.) Which credit card should I get? Chase unlimited freedom or american express blue cash everyday card or discover it.

I'm looking for a credit card that will make it easier to collect rewards that I can transfer to plane miles for future travel. Also no annual fee. I have credit score in the low 700s. 

2.) Should I buy a $25 face cream from ulta? I've already made 2 purchases from ulta 21 days of beauty sale. There is also a skincare giftset on sale there that I want to buy my partner for christmas because that's what they want. But the also have this face cream on sale for half off! I already bought a lot of beauty stuff recently and I want to save for a solo travel trip in January. Getting the half off face cream would make it free shipping vs 6.95 shipping. But it's still spending and extra 20 dollars. Today is the last day of the sale.

3.) I think I know I want to go to Peru in January. Roundtrip ticket is current $620ish right now, It may drop within a month but then a lot of the cheaper hotels  and airbnbs will sell out sooner. It's what usually happens. So do I buy now or wait longer?

idk, opinions here are sometimes funny, well given, or straight up weird.. Have at it with your opinions.

I forget which card my sister for our trip got but I'll ask and let you know

[discolé monade]

1. american express ~ never leave home without it.

2. yes, treat yo'self. 

3. see #2

[jackiemarie90]

1 minute ago, JeNewBee said:

I forget which card my sister for our trip got but I'll ask and let you know

That would be excellent! Your pics looks great from your travels. Although sucks you didn't get to see the best parts of Italy. Venice and Florence are amazing! I also visited a great beach town in the Cinque terre if you ever go back.

[jackiemarie90]

1 minute ago, discolemonade said:

1. american express ~ never leave home without it.

2. yes, treat yo'self. 

3. see #2

American Express does have a better rewards center with more airlines that go all over the world compared to others. That's my main reason for thinking about it. 

Also I've treated myself so much this month though. >__> I've spent about 75 dollars at ulta within the month. <__< I also dropped 40 on nail decorations too.

I think once I get the credit card then I'll buy the tix. 

[discolé monade]

1 minute ago, jackiemarie90 said:

American Express does have a better rewards center with more airlines that go all over the world compared to others. That's my main reason for thinking about it. 

Also I've treated myself so much this month though. >__> I've spent about 75 dollars at ulta within the month. <__< I also dropped 40 on nail decorations too.

I think once I get the credit card then I'll buy the tix. 

gurrl please. one can NEVER treat their self (is that right?) too much. also...spending less than 200$ to make yourself feel good/pretty/awesome is perfectly ok. 

and very good for being able to get an amex. i think i'm close, but, i'm too skeered to try.

buy. the. tickets.

let me live vicariously through pics that you better post on here of your trip.

[jackiemarie90]

1 hour ago, discolemonade said:

gurrl please. one can NEVER treat their self (is that right?) too much. also...spending less than 200$ to make yourself feel good/pretty/awesome is perfectly ok. 

and very good for being able to get an amex. i think i'm close, but, i'm too skeered to try.

buy. the. tickets.

let me live vicariously through pics that you better post on here of your trip.

This is true. And I know a lot of other girls who do this and it's fine. But I guess if I were to be honest with myself. Traveling outside the continent is the ultimate treat yo self. Especially since I'll be going alone. x D

Credit karma says I have a decent chance of getting accepted. Their services are free but they do constantly recommend which credit cards you should get which is what I suspect where they get their income from.

I will post them. But I was telling someone else, there is a free pdf book online about traveling on budget call vagabonding by Rolf Potts. I think we convince ourselves we can't do something because of intial price but saving for travelling will always be worth it. I kept reading about how people in old age weren't necessarily afraid of their end, but were regretful of all the traveling they didn't do. Idk, I think a lot more people should do it.

Edited September 22, 2018 by jackiemarie90

[Hornshire]

1. We have a Chase Unlimited, and We're not crazy about the reward structure. Never had a problem with service, though.

2. If it's something you might buy in the future, may as well get it now at a reduced cost.

3. Can't you book your hotels and such now, but get flight tickets later, optimizing price for both?

 

Side note:

33 minutes ago, discolemonade said:

 one can NEVER treat their self (is that right?)

Technically, no. But concern about using plural pronouns when referring to singular entities is highly overrated.

[Vamped]

 

[tsar4]

1 hour ago, jackiemarie90 said:

1.) Which credit card should I get? Chase unlimited freedom or american express blue cash everyday card or discover it.

I'm looking for a credit card that will make it easier to collect rewards that I can transfer to plane miles for future travel. Also no annual fee. I have credit score in the low 700s. 

2.) Should I buy a $25 face cream from ulta? I've already made 2 purchases from ulta 21 days of beauty sale. There is also a skincare giftset on sale there that I want to buy my partner for christmas because that's what they want. But the also have this face cream on sale for half off! I already bought a lot of beauty stuff recently and I want to save for a solo travel trip in January. Getting the half off face cream would make it free shipping vs 6.95 shipping. But it's still spending and extra 20 dollars. Today is the last day of the sale.

3.) I think I know I want to go to Peru in January. Roundtrip ticket is current $620ish right now, It may drop within a month but then a lot of the cheaper hotels  and airbnbs will sell out sooner. It's what usually happens. So do I buy now or wait longer?

idk, opinions here are sometimes funny, well given, or straight up weird.. Have at it with your opinions.

I got screwed over by Discover, so even though it's a different company now, never again.

AMEX is a real good card, but a lot of places won't take it because of the fees.

[jackiemarie90]

20 minutes ago, Kweerie said:

1. We have a Chase Unlimited, and We're not crazy about the reward structure. Never had a problem with service, though.

2. If it's something you might buy in the future, may as well get it now at a reduced cost.

3. Can't you book your hotels and such now, but get flight tickets later, optimizing price for both?

 

Side note:

Technically, no. But concern about using plural pronouns when referring to singular entities is highly overrated.

That's two votes for chase, and two for american express. I think I just got to see what I like out of the rewards system. But are really really similar. lol

I was thinking that, but then responsiblity reminded me that the trip is kinda a treat itself.

I could, but the dates of picking a flight can vary on which one would be cheaper. So I'm not sure what dates I'll leave or comeback until I buy the tickets. I just know I want to do it in the month of January when school is out. 

Also I've made a ton of grammar and spelling mistakes throughout this thread.  It ain't a big whoop.

[jackiemarie90]

25 minutes ago, Vamped said:

 

Mostly everyone is saying this.  I will be by travelling.

[jackiemarie90]

17 minutes ago, tsar4 said:

I got screwed over by Discover, so even though it's a different company now, never again.

AMEX is a real good card, but a lot of places won't take it because of the fees.

This is good to know. I don't know much about any of these companies and any past customer experiences are great to know. I once got screwed by Bank of America which made me flee to a credit union but they won't give me a credit card with rewards. >__>

I would be mostly using my credit card for big travel purchases and not at other places really. I guess mostly online.

[tsar4]

4 minutes ago, jackiemarie90 said:

That's two votes for chase, and two for american express. I think I just got to see what I like out of the rewards system. But are really really similar. lol

I was thinking that, but then responsiblity reminded me that the trip is kinda a treat itself.

I could, but the dates of picking a flight can vary on which one would be cheaper. So I'm not sure what dates I'll leave or comeback until I buy the tickets. I just know I want to do it in the month of January when school is out. 

Also I've made a ton of grammar and spelling mistakes throughout this thread.  It ain't a big whoop.

FYI - Amazon will let you pay or lessen your payment by using your Amex membership rewards.

[discolé monade]

52 minutes ago, jackiemarie90 said:

This is true. And I know a lot of other girls who do this and it's fine. But I guess if I were to be honest with myself. Traveling outside the continent is the ultimate treat yo self. Especially since I'll be going alone. x D

Credit karma says I have a descent change of getting accepted. Their services are free but they do constantly recommend which credit cards you should get which is what I suspect where they get their income from.

I will post them. But I was telling someone else, there is a free pdf book online about traveling on budget call vagabonding but Rolf Potts. I think we convince ourselves we can't do something because of intial price but saving for travelling will always be worth it. I kept reading about how people in old age weren't necessarily afraid of their end, but were regretful of all the traveling they didn't do. Idk, I think a lot more people should do it.

yes...traveling is the ultimate TYS. 

ok. see if i go by credit karma, it says i have a good chance. but, i currently don't need that kind of credit. so, i'll just tuck that in the back of my noggin.

i have heard of this 'vagabonding' 

i want to go to japan. russia. and africa. and maybe ireland. oh..amsterdam and tibet. 

 

[tsar4]

7 minutes ago, discolemonade said:

yes...traveling is the ultimate TYS. 

ok. see if i go by credit karma, it says i have a good chance. but, i currently don't need that kind of credit. so, i'll just tuck that in the back of my noggin.

i have heard of this 'vagabonding' 

i want to go to japan. russia. and africa. and maybe ireland. oh..amsterdam and tibet. 

 

My biggest fear about traveling abroad is that it would be my luck that during my stay, anti-Western/anti-American sentiment would grow so strong wherever I was it would become dangerous and difficult to "get out of Dodge".

[Vamped]

27 minutes ago, jackiemarie90 said:

Mostly everyone is saying this.  I will be by travelling.

Treat yo self is always my answer

[jackiemarie90]

3 minutes ago, discolemonade said:

yes...traveling is the ultimate TYS. 

ok. see if i go by credit karma, it says i have a good chance. but, i currently don't need that kind of credit. so, i'll just tuck that in the back of my noggin.

i have heard of this 'vagabonding' 

i want to go to japan. russia. and africa. and maybe ireland. oh..amsterdam and tibet. 

 

Well traditionally vagabonding is the type of travel where you leave with nothing but a carry on bag and kinda hitch hike, couch surf your way through a country. Basically everything possible to make your trip the cheapest. The author does point out the most expensive thing will be your plane ticket. But also cheap travel isn't always about bucket list locations. Flying to africa is expensive, cheapest I've seen is 800. Travelers who have vagabonded their way around the world recommend picking locations that are cheapest to fly. So instead of South Africa maybe Morocco in the North and etc. Google also has a great explore option that does that. You don't have to do everything dirt cheap. 

I do like the just carry on rule and have done it to italy. it Saves money on check in costs and teaches you that you don't really need a ton of things in life to survive. There is also a market that sells a ton of 40L carry on certified back pack for traveling back packers. A lot of young people pretty much everywhere around the world are taught to go visit and see it, but America is so nationalistic that we are always told it's a waste of money and to fear outsiders. Really more Americans need to travel to get out of their indoctrination about our country.

Because there are alot of other backpackers out there there is a lot of hostels around the world that cater to them and provide housing cheap. The European ones are a bit more expensive but I've found many airbnb are way cheaper than hotels and similar to hostel prices. Also eating street or market food instead of going out of restaurants. Uber is in alot of countries too now and makes it easier to not be scammed by taxis. 

[Vamped]

7 minutes ago, tsar4 said:

My biggest fear about traveling abroad is that it would be my luck that during my stay, anti-Western/anti-American sentiment would grow so strong wherever I was it would become dangerous and difficult to "get out of Dodge".

Say you're from Canada like everyone else .... eh?

[tsar4]

4 minutes ago, Vamped said:

Say you're from Canada like everyone else .... eh?

If my Russian/Ukranian was better, I might be able to pass for one.  I think that's why my Russian prof. wanted me to switch to a language major back then.  There are a lot of Ukranian descended Canadians though.

Edited September 22, 2018 by tsar4

[jackiemarie90]

7 minutes ago, tsar4 said:

My biggest fear about traveling abroad is that it would be my luck that during my stay, anti-Western/anti-American sentiment would grow so strong wherever I was it would become dangerous and difficult to "get out of Dodge".

I mean, there are always going to be people like that, but America news likes to push the idea that it is more frequent that it really happens. Honestly I didn't know any Italian going to Italy and acted dumb around a few things but people were always very nice. Remember part of the American political agenda is to convince you to fear the outside world and be hyper nationalistic. There are plenty of safe places in every continent around the world. And if you are nervous about particular places, the government does have a national travel advisory website online. It's rating are 1 being the safest to I assume 5 being the most dangerous and even lists the reasons why for the rating online. Italy is rated 2 and felt overwhelmingly safe. Peru is rated 1.

[jackiemarie90]

5 minutes ago, Vamped said:

Treat yo self is always my answer

Kinda is mine too. But I did so much of it already. If anything I think more people here should treat themselves to traveling.

[tsar4]

1 minute ago, jackiemarie90 said:

I mean, there are always going to be people like that, but America news likes to push the idea that it is more frequent that it really happens. Honestly I didn't know any Italian going to Italy and acted dumb around a few things but people were always very nice. Remember part of the American political agenda is to convince you to fear the outside world and be hyper nationalistic. There are plenty of safe places in every continent around the world. And if you are nervous about particular places, the government does have a national travel advisory website online. It's rating are 1 being the safest to I assume 5 being the most dangerous and even lists the reasons why for the rating online. Italy is rated 2 and felt overwhelmingly safe. Peru is rated 1.

I'm talking Eastern Europe.  Ever since college, I've had this feeling someone is going to come along and convince a lot of people that everything bad in the world is due to the US.

[jackiemarie90]

Just now, tsar4 said:

I'm talking Eastern Europe.  Ever since college, I've had this feeling someone is going to come along and convince a lot of people that everything bad in the world is due to the US.

I mean, we do play a large part in the bad. And everything in life has it's risk. But other people also know that people are not defined by their countries leaders. If you were serious about traveling, just be extremely respectful to their local laws and show them personally that their are good people in the U.S. 

I know of this guy who has a great travel channel on youtube called Wolter's World. He is an American and constantly talks about how much he loves Eastern Europe and always goes back.

 

[DragonSinger]

1 hour ago, tsar4 said:

I'm talking Eastern Europe.  Ever since college, I've had this feeling someone is going to come along and convince a lot of people that everything bad in the world is due to the US.

You're an older white dude. Ain't nobody messing with you about political shit over there. You only have to worry about getting robbed.

[tsar4]

Just now, SorceressPol said:

You're an older white dude. Ain't nobody messing with you about political shit over there. You only have to worry about getting robbed.

I don't think I look crazy/dangerous enough to not be messed with.

[neverkeepchangin11]

i have the amex blue preferred cash card. dunno about airline miles but 6% cash back on groceries is dope

[jackiemarie90]

5 minutes ago, tsar4 said:

I don't think I look crazy/dangerous enough to not be messed with.

I mean robbery will most likely be your problem and you can also get yourself a money belt from amazon less than $10 bucks. You keep it underneath your shirt so no one can grab it.

[jackiemarie90]

6 minutes ago, neverkeepchangin11 said:

i have the amex blue preferred cash card. dunno about airline miles but 6% cash back on groceries is dope

That is great rewards program. Don't think I qualify for those rates yet but it helps to consider which card to start to move up in the future. I know they are open to more airlines than other companies.

[tsar4]

2 minutes ago, jackiemarie90 said:

I mean robbery will most likely be your problem and you can also get yourself a money belt from amazon less than $10 bucks. You keep it underneath your shirt so no one can grab it.

How about a vest for over the shirt?

[jackiemarie90]

5 minutes ago, tsar4 said:

How about a vest for over the shirt?

 

[Swimmod_Luna]

I have Discover It and it's pretty cool. When I signed up they were doing a promotion (pretty sure it's still going on?) where new card members get Cashback Match on all the cashback they earn, so whatever you earn throughout the year they give that same amount back to you after your first year. Can do it as statement credit, direct deposit, or gift card.  Their 5% bonus categories have been pretty good this year. I've had the card since April and already have earned over $250. I use my card a lot though.

[jackiemarie90]

3 minutes ago, Athena 92 said:

I have Discover It and it's pretty cool. When I signed up they were doing a promotion (pretty sure it's still going on?) where new card members get Cashback Match on all the cashback they earn, so whatever you earn throughout the year they give that same amount back to you after your first year. Can do it as statement credit, direct deposit, or gift card.  Their 5% bonus categories have been pretty good this year. I've had the card since April and already have earned over $250. I use my card a lot though.

This is the first positive review I have seen about this. Have you seen it connected to flight rewards before? Or is it mostly cash back focused?

[Swimmod_Luna]

1 minute ago, jackiemarie90 said:

This is the first positive review I have seen about this. Have you seen it connected to flight rewards before? Or is it mostly cash back focused?

No flight rewards as far as I know. They say you can get gift cards for "over 100 popular brands" so for all I know there could be airline gift cards available but I can't see like, a list of all the gift card options or anything.

[jackiemarie90]

5 minutes ago, Athena 92 said:

No flight rewards as far as I know. They say you can get gift cards for "over 100 popular brands" so for all I know there could be airline gift cards available but I can't see like, a list of all the gift card options or anything.

Thanks for the info.

[Vamped]

2 hours ago, jackiemarie90 said:

Kinda is mine too. But I did so much of it already. If anything I think more people here should treat themselves to traveling.

Im always down to travel. Im just not as brave as you to go alone. I get so awkward and shy I would probably clam up and die in the street before stopping someone to ask for directions

 

Im not that bad. I've just never been solo traveling before. Right now im stuck on cruises. I wanna go to France so bad 

[jackiemarie90]

5 minutes ago, Vamped said:

Im always down to travel. Im just not as brave as you to go alone. I get so awkward and shy I would probably clam up and die in the street before stopping someone to ask for directions

 

Im not that bad. I've just never been solo traveling before. Right now im stuck on cruises. I wanna go to France so bad 

Well I know some people have stereotypes of Americans. So I usually just act like the ignorant American than I am and ask people nicely.  Some might try to sell you stuff though. Also I pre download some maps of the area I'm going too on my phone that don't require wifi or signals to help.

I hear Paris can be very pricey but flying to Europe I think is relatively cheap right now. Thank you Brexit.  I've seen a couple of flights in the 370's range on budget airlines I've never heard of, and $550's for the more well known airlines round trip. The Euro also isn't as strong as it used to be, it's still more than a U.S. dollar, but as of today, it's only a 1.18 for every U.S. dollar. But all travel takes a good amount of planning. 

[Vamped]

1 minute ago, jackiemarie90 said:

Well I know some people have stereotypes of Americans. So I usually just act like the ignorant American than I am and ask people nicely.  Some might try to sell you stuff though. Also I pre download some maps of the area I'm going too on my phone that don't require wifi or signals to help.

I hear Paris can be very pricey but flying to Europe I think is relatively cheap right now. Thank you Brexit.  I've seen a couple of flights in the 370's range on budget airlines I've never heard of, and $550's for the more well known airlines round trip. The Euro also isn't as strong as it used to be, it's still more than a U.S. dollar, but as of today, it's only a 1.18 for every U.S. dollar. But all travel takes a good amount of planning. 

Planning is almost as fun as going .... to me anyway. One of my friends and her husband went to Japan earlier this year. I told them Id go with them when they go back in 2 years 

[jackiemarie90]

3 minutes ago, Vamped said:

Planning is almost as fun as going .... to me anyway. One of my friends and her husband went to Japan earlier this year. I told them Id go with them when they go back in 2 years 

I'm trying to make a hail mary of traveling as recent. I'm lucky I don't have kids yet but I really want to have them. I know it's much more difficult for people with children to just take a few weeks off than it is for me. I figure I should do all my 'adventurous travel now, while I don't have any large commitments. I might have kids in 5 years or later, so I want to hit the top destinations while I can, but everyone is on there own schedule.

[Vamped]

38 minutes ago, jackiemarie90 said:

I'm trying to make a hail mary of traveling as recent. I'm lucky I don't have kids yet but I really want to have them. I know it's much more difficult for people with children to just take a few weeks off than it is for me. I figure I should do all my 'adventurous travel now, while I don't have any large commitments. I might have kids in 5 years or later, so I want to hit the top destinations while I can, but everyone is on there own

The farthest ive been is the Bahamas with my kid on a disney cruise ... it was delightful. Disney takes care of everything, luggage, transportation, food ...the only thing i disliked were a few racist guests we encountered. 

[jackiemarie90]

1 minute ago, Vamped said:

The farthest ive been is the Bahamas with my kid on a disney cruise ... it was delightful. Disney takes care of everything, luggage, transportation, food ...the only thing i disliked were a few racist guests we encountered. 

That sounds awesome! Well not the racists, I kinda ran into some of those when I went to disney world a few years ago.  I haven't been on a cruise, was thinking about it for awhile but then I decided to try the adventurous travel because I could always go back to cruises. I know some people take their kids traveling with them overseas, but idk, just trying to think economically what would be best for me. But everyone has got different things they want to do.

[Vamped]

Fucking do it. Best not to regret not having done the things you want when you do start having children