Am ha'luxury

[EliJelly]

When anyone I know who isn't on DDF trying to save up for a vacation, they're thinking $4-5k minimum.

Still no way to book Airbnb or eating out with points.

[moko]

Still no way to book Airbnb or eating out with points.

ah...back to the days of the UR bonus for Airbnb....I booked a 3 bedroom apartment in RBS via Airbnb to take advantage of the UR bonus. The final rate was very competitive with non Airbnb rentals. July /Aug 2022

[Dan]

ah...back to the days of the UR bonus for Airbnb....I booked a 3 bedroom apartment in RBS via Airbnb to take advantage of the UR bonus. The final rate was very competitive with non Airbnb rentals. July /Aug 2022

Didn't buy Airbnb GCs for half off with AMEX?

[Dan]

Still no way to book Airbnb or eating out with points.

Fairmont Kea Lani Maui 2 connecting oceanview suites for 3 nights: 6 Fairmont Platinum free night certs, 2 suite upgrade certs, $900 spa and dining certs. Retail value: $12,000. Total bill $0.
GH Kauai: Suite+connecting room for 4 nights: 200K Hyatt points+Suite upgrade. Retail value: $12,000. Total bill $0.
Homemade food from CLE warmed up in toaster oven, burner, and hotlogic from home. Total bill: Less than eating at home.

Now let's all kvetch about luxury living

[flyingace]

People I talk to can't believe how in the world it was possible for me to fly with my wife to Vail for 4 days, (one way was in business), stay at the Grand Hyatt, rent a luxury SUV, entire trip with food and attractions for under $700 out of pocket cost. They think I'm in lala land.

When anyone I know who isn't on DDF trying to save up for a vacation, they're thinking $4-5k minimum.

LOL! My MIL was convinced I was blowing money when we took our family of ten to E"Y twice in a year and a half. She did not believe that we did not pay cash for the tickets!

[jye]

People I talk to can't believe how in the world it was possible for me to fly with my wife to Vail for 4 days, (one way was in business), stay at the Grand Hyatt, rent a luxury SUV, entire trip with food and attractions for under $700 out of pocket cost. They think I'm in lala land.

When anyone I know who isn't on DDF trying to save up for a vacation, they're thinking $4-5k minimum.

True. Yet at the same time there is some truth to @chevron point. My trip to Miami at the $1000 a night Conrad in FLL and first class round trip tickets on AA costed close to $0 for hotel and airfare. Yet when you figure in the two (now) $550 Aspire annual fees (minus $120x 2 selling the resort credit and $200 worth of travel bank valued at around $160 for each card) plus two $99 annual fees spent accumulating AA miles, and the $1200 I could have sold those miles for there is a real cost. I’m sure that Vail vacay ended up costing you a good few thousand when you figure it that way.

[aishel]

Still no way to book Airbnb or eating out with points.

An apartment I rented in Israel that was available on Airbnb was also listed in the Chase portal, and while it cost more in points on Chase than it would have by renting through Airbnb, it ultimately didn't "cost" me anything, so I booked it through Chase.

[moko]

Didn't buy Airbnb GCs for half off with AMEX?

I feel like I missed that one.

[tzifanya54]

I don't "have a problem", it's a free country. But assuming that person's financial situation hasn't changed since they acquired that car (and obviously they got that car by paying top dollar, not a gift etc), then yes I do find it strange.
Most people have the things they splurge on, but as long as it's somewhat within the bounds of their general situation, I think it makes sense.

I think Naftali Horowitz formulates some of these thoughts much better than I can. 
Check out this lecture of his, among his many others.

My point is not at all dismissing the concept of people spending beyond their means. I am simply saying that while one may make a conscious decision to upgrade to a luxury car, does that mean that it only makes sense for them to shop in more expensive nicer stores? does it not make sense for them to save 25 cents a gallon because they obviously have no problem splurging $$$$ on a car. Why does one equal the other?

[ExGingi]

save 25 cents a gallon

This is one thing I can't seem to get out of my system. No matter how often DW rightfully points out how minimal the savings are even on a full tank compared to time and mental space spent, I can't resist driving to a station that will save me 25 cents per gallon (or even 45 cents per gallon).

[Dan]

OTOH the bread and butter of the website is literally about saving you a few pennies or dollars here and there.

This is a misunderstanding or misconstrual of the purpose of DD.
The raison d'etre has always been to maximize the power of your spending, not to save a few pennies here and there.

[Yo ssi]

This is a misunderstanding or misconstrual of the purpose of DD.
The raison d'etre has always been to maximize the power of your spending, not to save a few pennies here and there.

So when your anyway going to staples and buying gift cards, use the right card. Aha

[yawn]

So when your anyway going to staples and buying gift cards, use the right card. Aha

You just made his point. Instead of using a credit card with 1.5% back for everyday spending, buy gift cards, and get 5% back.

[ExGingi]

You just made his point. Instead of using a credit card with 1.5% back for everyday spending, buy gift cards, and get 5% back.

So how much will the extra 3.5% benefit you? At what cost (time, effort, frustration, forgoing benefits of shopping directly with CC rather than GC, leftovers, etc. etc.)?

Is it penny smart and pound foolish?

Let's be blunt: unless one has a good MS and/or SUB strategy אין הצר שווה בנזק המלך.

[Dan]

So how much will the extra 3.5% benefit you? At what cost (time, effort, frustration, forgoing benefits of shopping directly with CC rather than GC, leftovers, etc. etc.)?

Ahem. 3.5x1.5++.
It's about the hustle and being educated to know what the options are. If the hustle is not worth your time, then it's not worth your time. Everyone has to evaluate that tradeoff for themselves.

[ExGingi]

Ahem. 3.5x1.5++.
It's all about the hustle. If the hustle is not worth your time, then it's not worth your time.

Can we agree that the ratio of those from whom it's worth the time, vs those for whom it's not worth their time, is more or less equal to the ratio of those individuals who make money of their CC accounts, vs those that end up paying interest and fees for their CC accounts?

[Dan]

See ETA.
There are also certainly cases where a 2% card will make sense and where a debit card will make sense. Education is key.

[aishel]

So how much will the extra 3.5% benefit you? At what cost (time, effort, frustration, forgoing benefits of shopping directly with CC rather than GC, leftovers, etc. etc.)?

Is it penny smart and pound foolish?

Let's be blunt: unless one has a good MS and/or SUB strategy אין הצר שווה בנזק המלך.

I would agree with you only to a point. Everybody is different and everybody has different reasons for wanting points. For me, I have a daughter that will be going to seminary next year IYH and I would like to be able to visit her without the stress of needing to pay for it. So collecting points that I don't necessarily need to use right away is fine by me, because I know I will need them soon. But if I need to do Amazon returns anyways, I can time it so I'm going to Staples when they're having their promotions and getting more bang for my buck with buying gift cards.

With carrying only two or three cards in your wallet, you can really maximize things knowing which card to use in which scenario. I'm planning on buying tickets for Disney, and if I can save 5% just by buying Disney gift cards from Target, that is easy money in my pocket just by being smart about which card I'm using to buy the tickets with. (I recognize the irony of buying Disneyland tickets in this thread)

[Essen est zich]

So how much will the extra 3.5% benefit you? At what cost (time, effort, frustration, forgoing benefits of shopping directly with CC rather than GC, leftovers, etc. etc.)?

Is it penny smart and pound foolish?

Let's be blunt: unless one has a good MS and/or SUB strategy אין הצר שווה בנזק המלך.

For some it has evolved into a hobby.

[Yo ssi]

For some it has evolved into a hobby.

Hobbies are generally where money gets spent, are you agreeing?