Apache is functioning normally

As you begin your search for a new apartment, your wish list is probably full of features and amenities that you just can’t live without. Great location, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances – the works.

But have you given any thought to where your particular unit will be located? Does it matter if it’s on the bottom floor, the top or somewhere in between? If you’re not sure, it’s time to start thinking about it.  Each level has its perks and some apartment communities let you choose your own unit. If you are ever granted that luxury, we’ve got some great reasons you should indulge in top floor living!

  1. It’s toasty. Did you pay attention in science class? If so, then you already know that heat rises. So all those units below you with their heat cranked up will only make your place warmer. Keep your heat down low and let your neighbors keep you comfortable throughout the winter. Additionally, top floor units usually also get more sunlight, which is yet another source of free heat for you. Now that’s hot! This also means it will be hotter in the summer months, so consider investing in good curtains, fans, and other ways to keep cool.
  2. It’s peaceful. One of the downsides of apartment living is having noisy neighbors above you and hearing a lot of street noise.  People outside and your upstairs neighbors must get paid to make as much noise as they possibly can, right? But if you’re already on the top floor, problem solved! Cars honking, traffic noises, foot stomping, running kids, pets and creaky floors are not your concern. It also means any noise you make is less likely to bother people, just don’t push it too much. Enjoy it! 
  3. It’s private. Lower floors experience lots of foot traffic. People are constantly passing by to access the stairs, elevator, lobby, management office and to enter and exit the building. Up top, you’re more isolated.
  4. It’s beautiful. Now this totally depends on the apartment community, but many of them offer great views of the city, often on a balcony patio, – skyscrapers, parks, water and snow-capped mountains – a perk you cannot experience down on lower floors. We’re looking at you NYC, San Francisco and Chicago.
  5. It’s healthier (for your neighbors). Do you happen to smoke cigarettes? If so, there’s no neighbors above you to deal with your second-hand smoke. Just like heat, smoke travels upward as well. It’s sure to bother anyone who lives above you. As such, living on the top floor allows you to be a good, considerate neighbor.

Have you ever lived on the top floor? What was it like?

Photo by Emily Baruffaldi on Unsplash

Apache is functioning normally

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Apache is functioning normally

This weekend, I turn 27. I’m excited for 27, and I think it will be a great year.

This year, I’ve decided to sit down and reflect on the past year, and my whole life. Many things have changed over the years, especially over the past few. Usually I just let my birthday fly by, but doing some self-reflection is always a good idea.

I’ve made mistakes over the years, and I’ve also made good decisions. I’ve learned a lot of valuable life lessons, and now I am happier than ever.

While I am not perfect and don’t have a perfect life, life is good and I am very fortunate. I have great friends, a great family, a happy marriage, wonderful dogs, a business that I love, a life of travel, and more.

Here are 27 life lessons I’ve learned in the first 27 years of my life. While some may seem obvious, others may not, but everything below is what made me who I am today. Plus, you may learn something new or something may just “click” after reading my list. Enjoy!

1. Value your time.

When I was younger, a year seemed like an extremely long time. Now, it seems like years go by very quickly.

Time is important, and you should value it. Instead of spending your time doing something you dislike, you should make a goal to change the negative things in your life to something you enjoy instead of waiting decades.

2. Never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.

Comparing yourself to others can sometimes give you motivation to work harder, but you also don’t want to be unrealistic or get frustrated.

You should always give yourself time with a new task, and don’t think of yourself as a complete failure just because you’re not at the same point as someone else.

Everything takes time, and practice makes perfect.

One of the great temptations for us as leaders and dreamers is to compare the start of our new adventures to the middle of someone else’s. You work on your first book and pick up Max Lucado’s 14th book and say, ‘Mine isn’t as good.’ You post your first blog post and look at Michael Hyatt’s 100th and think, ‘Mine is nowhere near as great as that.’ You give your first speech and watch Ken Robinson’s 1,000th at TED and think, ‘I’m not great like that.’ – Jon Acuff

3. Create a plan to reach your dreams and goals.

You aren’t going to magically reach your dreams and goals unless you create a plan to reach them.

What do you often dream of? Maybe you want a certain career, you want to travel, or something else.

Whatever you want to do, why not create a plan so you can reach your goal? You might live in regret until that happens! You only live once, so a good first step is creating a plan to achieve your dream.

4. Be positive.

I say this in many of my posts, but I truly believe in it. It’s also something that I think more people need to work on.

Being positive can completely change your life. This means you should laugh more, smile more, be happy with yourself (this is very important!), quit being jealous, complain less, have a better outlook on life, and more.

The power of positive thinking may help you:

  • Find another option or route
  • Feel motivated, so you can keep on pushing
  • Move on from your past mistakes
  • Convince yourself that you can improve your situation (career, financial, family, etc.)
  • Reach for your goals
  • Be happier

Related article: Why I Believe Being Positive Can Change Your Financial Situation And Your Life.

5. Learn something new as often as you can.

Back when I was in school, I hated learning new things. Yes, that’s how most children and students are. However, I still remember one day in college when I was a freshman, a man in his 60’s was in one of my philosophy classes. We all asked him why he was there, because, as young 18 year olds, we all thought school was such a drag. He proceeded to tell us how learning and school were the best things in life and that one day, while maybe not right now, we would realize that.

Well, now I know.

I enjoy learning new things more than ever. I’m constantly reading and learning about new things, whereas before I probably would have laughed at myself.

There is so much to learn in the world, and it is so easy to do so. There are classes, articles, great books, and many more things that are so easily accessible in this day and age.

6. Stop living in regret.

You can’t change the past, so there is no point in dwelling on regret and letting it negatively impact you. Instead, you should learn from your mistakes and move on.

7. Don’t care about what anyone else thinks.

This is one that took me awhile to realize, but thankfully I truly believe it now. You should do things for you and not let other people’s opinion’s rule your life.

Do what is right for you!

8. Live life to the fullest.

No matter who a person is, what they are currently doing, how much money they have in the bank, and so on, everyone can start living life to the fullest.

You just never know what may happen in the future, so taking advantage of the time you have now is very important. No one ever wants their life to flash before their eyes and wonder whether their life was meaningful or not, whether they had a good time, or whether they regret past decisions.

And, yes, you can live a great life on a realistic budget.

9. Cherish moments with loved ones.

Now that we travel full-time, we don’t see family and friends as often as we used to. In fact, we haven’t been “home” in over 6 months.

I’ve always cherished the moments with those that I love, but now I make sure to make each trip even more special.

You should never take a moment for granted with those that you love. This will sound very doom and gloom, but you just never know what may happen to you or them. Plus, spending time with your loved ones is always a great time, so why not just do it more?!

10. Make time for fun.

All work and no play is never good for anyone.

You should always make time for the things that you love, even if it’s just a few hours each week. This can help lift your mood, increase your motivation, and more.

11. Excuses are just that – excuses.

Many people make excuses for why things aren’t going their way. Yes, sometimes you may find yourself in a bad situation, but it doesn’t mean that you’re not in control of your own destiny.

Don’t let excuses hold you back. Instead, take action in your life and overcome the obstacles in your path.

12. Do what YOU want to do.

What makes you happy, excited, joyful, and motivated? That’s what you should be doing with your life (as long as it’s legal)!

If you want to live a life of adventure – Go for it.

If you want to start a family – Start planning one.

If you want a better job – Get one.

If you want to change the world – Do it.

13. Less is more.

The idea that less is more is something I think about nearly every day.

When we recently got rid of the majority of our belongings to move into our RV full-time, I truly realized how less is more. We had so much junk that we had never touched, and it wasn’t contributing to the improvement of our lives in any way.

Having less stuff is great for many reasons:

  • Less clutter
  • We can give more attention to what truly matters
  • Less money spent on things that don’t matter

14. Laughter is the best form of medicine.

Laughter and happiness can pretty much cure anything. Next time you’re feeling down, try to find a way to laugh. It will help!

15. Help others as much as you can.

Helping others can completely change your life and change other lives as well. Whether you do something big or small, do something! The smallest gesture can make someone’s day and completely change how they feel.

Here are a few ways to help others:

  • Smile and say hello to everyone you cross paths with
  • Donate items from your home
  • Donate blood
  • Encourage someone who is struggling
  • Foster an animal
  • Become a Big Brother or a Big Sister
  • Volunteer

Read more at 58 Random Acts Of Kindness.

16. Sometimes you just have to go for it.

You’ll never know what the outcome is if you don’t just go for it. Instead of constantly thinking “what if,” you may just want to take the leap and finally try it out.

17. Dogs are awesome.

Here’s proof.

27 Money And Life Lessons I've Learned

27 Money And Life Lessons I've Learned

18. Gain control of your financial situation.

Money is not everything, but being in a good financial situation may make your life easier.

You should pay off your debt, earn more money than you spend, stop keeping up with the Joneses, save for retirement, and so on.

Gaining control of your financial situation is important because you won’t feel as stuck when it comes to money. And then, you may be able to do more because you won’t be held back by monetary problems.

This may help you to reach your dreams, such as traveling more, following your passion, be less stressed, and more.

19. You can say no.

You don’t have to say yes to every single request. Saying yes can be great if you have the time, but saying yes to everything can also cause a lot of stress and lead to people taking advantage of you.

Sometimes you have to evaluate your options and possibly say no.

20. Gossip stinks.

Gossipping doesn’t help anyone.

If you don’t like someone or you don’t like what they’re doing, why should you spend your time thinking about them or talking about them to others? That is just a waste of time!

21. Don’t let life pass you by.

It can be really easy to let life pass you by. Before you know it, years or even decades may be gone.

Too many people have the mindset of “Oh, in 10 years life will be so much better because of this and that.” And then they just let their lives go by without ever thinking about the present.

Well, what about now?! 10 years is a long time! Reaching a goal is great, but during the present you should try to fit in some happiness as well (on a budget, of course).

22. See the beauty in everything.

There are beautiful things all around us. Instead of seeing the bad in things, try to see the good.

23. Kill them with kindness.

Being kind to others is always important, even when a person is being negative, hurtful, or difficult.

Whenever someone is being difficult in my life, I almost always attempt to kill them with kindness.

And, I’ve found that it works 99% of the time.

24. Be open to new things and tackle your fears.

When was the last time you did something new? So many people live inside their comfort zone when they actually need to branch out every now and then.

Yes, stepping outside of your box can be tough, but what if it completely opened your eyes and changed your whole outlook on life? Wouldn’t that be amazing?

Related: 10 Daily Challenges To Improve Your Life

25. Balance is important.

You can’t do everything 24/7. You need some sort of balance to stay sane.

26. Be confident.

Being confident can help you succeed in life. If you don’t believe in yourself, then who will?

27. Money is just money.

Too many people let money take over their life in ways that don’t bring them any joy. Yes, you need money in order to pay bills and to survive, but it is just money.

Instead of letting money take over your life, you should use it as a tool to help improve your life. Instead of thinking about money in a negative way, think about it in a positive way and take actions to improve your financial situation.

What life lessons do you think are important?

Related Posts

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Source: makingsenseofcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

Do you feel like you are stuck in the debt cycle? Learn exactly how to finally escape the debt cycle so that you can live the life you want.

Do you feel like you are stuck in the debt cycle? Learn exactly how to finally escape the debt cycle so that you can live the life you want.Do you feel like you are stuck in a never-ending debt cycle?

Perhaps you keep getting out of debt, only to fall back into it shortly after. That is what a debt cycle is, and many people fall into this cycle and can’t seem to get out.

Falling into debt over and over again can lead to insane amounts of stress, unhappiness, sadness, and feelings of hopelessness. No one wants to experience these feelings.

But, I want to tell you that it IS possible to get out of the debt cycle.

Today, I will help you finally escape the debt cycle so that you can live the life you want.

Face your problem

Before we continue, you need to realize why you keep falling into a debt cycle. You should think about the answers to the questions below:

  • Do you feel like you deserve everything you buy?
  • Are you trying to keep up with the Joneses?
  • Do you have an emotional spending problem?
  • Are you afraid to face how much debt you have?
  • Do you feel like debt makes things seem more affordable?
  • Are you unprepared for emergencies?
  • Do you truly understand how debt and interest rates work?
  • Are you living paycheck to paycheck?
  • Do you live beyond your means?
  • Do you have credit card spending problems?

To get out of a debt cycle, you need to realize why you keep falling into debt. By understanding why you are falling into debt, you can begin to prevent yourself from falling back into a debt cycle.

However, until you dig deep and realize this, the debt cycle will never end.

Side note: I highly recommend that you check out Personal Capital if you are interested in gaining control of your financial situation. Personal Capital is very similar to Mint.com but 100 times better. Personal Capital allows you to aggregate your financial accounts so that you can easily see your financial situation. You can connect accounts such as your mortgage, bank accounts, credit card accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, and more. And, it is FREE.

Add up your total debt

This is related to facing your problem, as adding up your total amount of debt will help you realize how to gain control of your debt. This will help you to truly understand how much debt you are dealing with.

Plus, most people have no idea how much debt they have. By adding it up, you will have a more realistic view of your debt problem.

Create a budget

Most people have student loans, credit card debt, a mortgage, car loans, and sometimes many other forms of debt. However, not many people have a budget.

According to a survey done by Gallup, 68% of households in the U.S. do not have a budget.

Budgeting can help you take control of your financial situation so that you can stop the revolving debt cycle.

Read more at The Complete Budgeting Guide: How To Create A Budget That Works.

Pay off debt

In order to get out of the debt cycle, you’ll have to pay off your debt!

No surprise there.

Paying off your debt can lessen your stress levels, allow you to have more money to put towards something else (such as retirement), stop paying interest fees, and more.

Read more at How To Eliminate Your Debt.

Create a vision board

Having your financial goal displayed in front of you can make it that much more real, plus it’s nice to have a constant reminder of what you’re working towards.

Various ways to make your financial goal visual include:

  • Create a graphic that demonstrates your financial goal. I did some research and found a blog post on A Cultivated Nest about many creative ways to do this.
  • Keep a picture of your goal on hand. You could even go all out and create a vision board on Pinterest, or you can create a poster board of all of the things that debt freedom will allow you to do.
  • Write down what debt free life will be like for you.

Start an emergency fund

An emergency fund is something that everyone should have. However, according to a report by Bankrate.com, 26% of Americans have no emergency fund whatsoever. This same report found that only 40% of families have enough in savings to cover three months of expenses, with an even lower percentage having the recommended six months worth of savings.

This is scary to me, as having an emergency fund can greatly help you get through hard and unexpected situations that may arise.

An emergency fund can help if you:

  • Lose your job
  • Have your hours cut back
  • When your car breaks down
  • If you have a medical expense, and so on.

Plus, an emergency fund can help you get out of the revolving debt cycle. This is because if an emergency does arise, you won’t be forced to rely on debt in order to solve your situation. Instead, you’ll have your emergency fund to bail you out!

Read more at Everything You Need To Know About Emergency Funds.

Spend less than you earn

Too many people live paycheck to paycheck. This can lead to credit card debt, high interest rates, and more.

You should always be spending less than you earn. If you aren’t, then you need to find ways to cut your budget and/or increase the amount of money you earn.

Save more money

Finding ways to save more money may allow you to pay off your debt a little faster, improve your financial habits, help you reach your dream sooner, and more.

Read more at 30+ Ways To Save Money Each Month.

Make extra money

I believe that earning extra income can completely change your life in a positive way. You can stop living paycheck to paycheck, pay off your debt, and more, all by earning extra money.

In fact, because of extra income and my blog, I was able to pay off $38,000 in student loans within 7 months, leave my day job in order to pursue my passion, travel full-time, and more!

Making extra money can do something similar for you as well. It can help you break out of the debt cycle as you’ll be able to put more money towards your debt, and you will be able to spend less than you earn.

Related articles:

Try using just cash

If your problem with debt is that you don’t know how to correctly use credit cards, or credit cards or too tempting for you, then you may want to get rid of your credit cards and try using cash.

A cash budget is when you pay for the majority of your purchases in cash. Of course, there are certain expenses, like a mortgage payment, that you may not be able to do that for or that you may not want to do that for. For the most part, any and almost all spending is done with cash when a person is taking part in a cash budget.

A cash budget can help because:

  • It forces you to think about where your money is going
  • It can prevent impulse shopping and clutter
  • Spending actual cash “hurts” more than spending money with a credit card

Don’t keep up with the Joneses

Whether you are a young child and want that new toy everyone is playing with, or if you are a parent and are feeling the need to upgrade your house, car, etc., everyone has experienced wanting to keep up with someone else.

The problem with this is that keeping up with the Joneses can make you broke and fall into a revolving debt cycle.

When trying to keep up with the Joneses, you might spend money you do not have. You might put expenses on credit cards to, in a pretend world, “afford” things. You might even buy things you don’t really care about. The problems can go on and on.

This can then lead to a lot of debt and potentially set your financial goals back years, if not decades.

You should stop caring about what other people are buying, and, instead, only do what makes you happy.

Are you stuck in the revolving debt cycle? What are you doing so that you can get out?

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Source: makingsenseofcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

When it comes to retirement planning, the term “pension” is becoming almost archaic.  According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) only 35% of workers in the private sector paid into a company pension fund last year.  Most employers have adopted 401k plans and put the responsibility on the employee’s shoulders to take care of funding their own retirement.  While having control can be a blessing, it can also be a double-edged sword.  Especially, for those that don’t take the time to fully understand all of their investment options.  For those people, there just might be a solution.  It’s called the DB(k) pension plan and here are the rules on how it works.

401(k) Match + Pension Plan = DB(k)

What exactly is a DB(k) pension plan?   Essentially, it combines the benefits of an income stream of a pension with the matching of a 401(k) plan. Many boomers that still have pensions, love them because they know they have an income stream that they can depend on.  The DB(k) offers the luxury of that stable income with a matching contribution to boot.  Might be the closest example of having your cake and eating it too when it comes to retirement planning.

DB(k)s  Could Be Popular to Employees

Many small businesses will bypass a Simple IRA or a SEP IRA and go straight to the 401(k) plan purely because of name recognition.  Employees like perks and a potential employer with a 401(k) plan with a match sounds much more attractive that a SEP IRA.  The DB(k) has the potential to be the next household name of retirement plans.  Most workers that I come across that have 401(k)’s don’t really understand them.   Having a  pension-style income like the one Mom and Dad had, may be a safer and less complicated solution.

Are DB(k) Plans Expensive for Employers?

It’s tough to say.  With the recent adoption of these plans, it doesn’t seem that employers are rushing off to get these started.   I’m sure the slumping economy is the largest barrier.  For those companies that do start these, they most likely have a very good cash reserve.  However, it isn’t as if a business is funding two retirement plans at once. In fact, any businesses that offer both defined benefit plans and 401(k) plans may unite them in this new option.

Less Paperwork Makes Everybody a Happy Camper

Companies with 2-500 employees are eligible to have DB(k)s pension plans.  Where 401(k) plans must meet certain “testing requirements” for top-heavy rules, the DB(k) is exempt and with a plan document and one simple form 5500, your business is ready to rock and roll DB(k) style.

These plans are exempt from “top-heavy” rules, and a company can put one in place with just one Form 5500 and one plan document.  The cost of the overall plan is the question.  Being new plans, it’s hard to say, but based on most reports I’ve read the cost should be cheaper compared to having both a 401(k) and a pension plan.

Employee Benefits from DB(k) Plans

An income stream, an employer match and a really neat tool to save for retirement. In brief, the DB(k) has four compelling attributes:

  • Monthly Paycheck for Life. The income stream won’t replace an employee’s end salary, but it certainly will help. Employees that have worked for the company for a longer period of time are rewarded: the pension income equals either

a) 1% of final average pay times the number of years of service, or

b) 20% of that worker’s average salary during his or her five consecutive highest-earning years.

  • Automatic Enrollment for 401k. That employees save for the future by default. (They can choose to opt out.)
  • The company automatically directs 4% of a worker’s salary into his or her 401(k) account. The company also has to match 50% of that amount, which is vested upon the match. (Employees do have the choice to alter the contribution level up or down from 4%.)
  • It only takes three years for an employee to become fully vested in a DB(k) pension plan. So even if they leave the company, the money is theirs.

Is the DB(k) the Retirement Savior?

For now, it’s too tough to say.  The strongest benefits I see is the ability to offer more to your key employees.  If you’re able to offer a sweet retirement package, it may help retain and gather more productive and easier to manage staff.

pension plan rules

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

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How This Couple Retired In Their 30s and Now Travel Around The World: An Interview With Go Curry Cracker

How This Couple Retired In Their 30s and Now Travel Around The World: An Interview With Go Curry CrackerMy monthly Extraordinary Lives series is something that I really enjoying doing. First up was JP Livingston, who retired with a net worth over $2,000,000 at the age of 28. Today’s interview is with Jeremy, Winnie, and Julian, also known as the family behind Go Curry Cracker.

With the goal of traveling around the world, Jeremy and Winnie were in their 30s when they retired around six years ago. Their 3-year-old son travels with them and has already been to 29 countries as well!

They were able to do this by saving intensively – over 70% of their after-tax income.

In this interview, you’ll learn:

  • How they retired in their 30s.
  • What made them want to retire early.
  • How they live comfortably, rent houses with private pools, fly business class, and travel a ton – as opposed to the myth that early retirees are boring and just eat beans and rice to survive.
  • How they decided on the amount they needed to retire.
  • What they do about health insurance in early retirement.

And more! This interview is jam packed full of great information!

I asked you, my readers, what questions I should ask them, so below are your questions (and some of mine) about their story and how they accomplished so much. Make sure you’re following me on Facebook so you have the opportunity to submit your own questions for the next interview.

Related content:

 

1. Tell me your story. When did you retire and HOW?!

We are Jeremy, Winnie, and Julian, also known as the family behind Go Curry Cracker!

Winnie and I retired about six years ago with the goal of traveling the world. Traveling more in retirement is a pretty common goal, so I suppose the interesting bits are that we were still in our 30s and our 3-year-old son has now been to 29 countries.

What made our location and financially independent lifestyle possible was a decade of intensive saving – we were literally saving 70%+ of our after-tax income. Instead of buying stuff or experiences, we were investing in our future freedom.

Alas, we had already succumbed to some lifestyle inflation so we sold the house and moved into a small apartment, sold the car and started walking and riding bicycles, and turned our home kitchen into the best restaurant in town.

Unwinding lifestyle inflation is a huge mental challenge, but we both grew up on the edge of poverty so we had some experience with prioritizing purchases and finding solutions that didn’t require money. Nowadays, our investments pay all of our bills, and we could buy a house, buy a car, live a typical life… we just happen to not want those things.

Instead, for the past many years, we’ve basically spent the summer in Europe, autumn in the US, and winter in Asia. It’s not quite a perpetual summer vacation, but close.

2. Was early retirement always something you were striving for? What made you want to retire early?

Prior to 2002, we were both essentially following the normal life script – go to school, get good grades, get a job, etc… Maybe the only unconventional thing is I had student loan payoff as the #1 priority. Every story I heard about debt while growing up had a tragic ending, so I wanted to be debt free ASAP. I even cashed out all of my vacation time for five years or so to get extra pay. We also did crazy things like using 0% interest credit card offers to accelerate student loan payoff. Literally every extra penny went to the student loans.

When I finally got my head above water, I took a vacation, my first as an adult. After three weeks of scuba diving, fresh seafood, and tropical drinks, I looked back at where life in the real world was headed and thought, “This is it? This is the American Dream?”

Within six months the house and car were gone and the early retirement plan was underway.

3. Would you say that you live comfortably?

If by comfortably you mean do we rent houses with private pools, fly business class, and enjoy an occasional Michelin Star restaurant, then yeah, that sounds about right. Combined with 52 weeks of vacation per year and full autonomy, we are probably at an above average comfort level.

That may sound a little smug, for which I apologize, but I think it is important to truly understand the power of deferred consumption. We can only live as we do today because we didn’t live like this yesterday.

By living well beneath our means for just a small part of our total lifetimes (10 years +/-), something many would consider “uncomfortable”, we are now able to live well above the standards of even high-income households – just without the need to consume all of our waking hours with a high-income job.

In summary – yeah, life is good.

4. What career did you have before you retired? Did that career help you to retire earlier?

Winnie was a Program Manager for a large PC company, and I was an Engineer at a large software company.

I do wish we had those insane technology salaries that I sometimes hear about in the news, but our average combined income over our hardcore saving years was only about $135k. I guess I should have studied harder.

I think more than the job, my degree helped us retire early. I basically applied engineering principles to our finances and our lifestyle, trying to optimize for quality of life and low expenses. I then used that same mentality in designing our investment portfolio (100% index funds) and minimizing our taxes ($100k income with $0 income tax.) If I had studied art history or interior design, I probably would have thought about these things from an entirely different perspective, perhaps one that required more expensive furnishings.

5. What advice do you have for the average person that doesn’t make six figures a year who wants to retire early? 

The core principle to follow is living well beneath your means, aiming for at least 50% savings rates. Or in 1950s parlance, live off one income and save the other. This recipe for financial success has worked for much of recorded history.

Of course, this is easier when making $100k than it is when making $10k, all else being equal.

For many average income households, it helps to change perspective:
It isn’t that we can’t afford to save 50%, it is that we can’t afford our current lifestyle.

This is where we were when we got started, and some tough choices are ahead… it is necessary to either earn more, spend less, or wait (much) longer. Or all 3.

For households with incomes well below average, such as our families when we were growing up, it is absolutely necessary to grow income. Public assistance can help for a while (I’ve eaten a fair amount of government cheese), but ultimately skill development and probably even relocation to a job center are necessary.

6. Do you still earn an income in retirement?

We do. With all of this free time, it is fairly difficult to NOT do something that brings in some extra cash.

Last year Winnie published her first book (in Mandarin / Chinese) which was on the bestseller list in Taiwan for a while. About three years ago, Go Curry Cracker accidentally started to earn some affiliate income. I now actually try to run the site as a business, but limit myself to just a few hours per week.

I also employ a pretty aggressive long-term tax minimization strategy, which saves us thousands of dollars every year in taxes. I suppose that can also be thought of as extra income. We’ve actually reported about $100k annual income each of the last five years with income tax bills of $0.

For anybody who is interested, I do publish our full income statements and tax returns (business and personal) every year (linked to above). A lot of people have found those helpful to optimize their own finances.

7. How did you decide how much you needed to retire?

We set a target to have an investment portfolio worth 25x our desired cost of living in Seattle, where we were living at the time, although we were spending much less to turbocharge our savings.

25x is just the standard 4% Rule, which (in oversimplified terms) says you can annually spend an inflation adjusted 4% of your portfolio, probably forever. So, say if you wanted to spend $40k/year, you would need $1 million. That was our minimum.

When we hit that target, Winnie stopped working, and I continued on for about three more years, during which we were just living off dividends, so we were essentially investing 100% of my paycheck.

We also wanted the portfolio to continue to grow so we could leave a bit of a legacy, so even after we stopped working, we wanted to continue living beneath our means. We did this by living large in Mexico and Guatemala rather than Paris or Tokyo. And as luck would have it, the stock market performance over the past five years has been pretty good, so our portfolio just continues to grow, and we can’t spend it fast enough.

8. What sacrifices or hard decisions did you have to make?

This may sound cliché, but I don’t think of anything we did as a sacrifice – we just employed a suggestion my grandmother used to make all the time, “Hey there, you hold onto your britches now young man!” Roughly translated from the original Minnesotan, I think that means “slow down.” In other words, hold off on the lifestyle inflation for a while.

When people rush out to buy their dream house (with rented money) or a new car or a big vacation, they are sacrificing their future for immediate consumption. We just waited a little longer, and along the way we discovered that none of those trappings of success have any real meaning to us.

But of course, when society and advertisers are screaming at you that you need to consume and upgrade, it can be difficult to pause and reconsider. We avoided a lot of that by not owning a television and using the great outdoors for entertainment.

9. What do you do about health insurance in early retirement?

For many years, we were self-insured and just paid cash for any medical needs. We paid $3 for a doctor visit in Mexico, $20 for some dental care in Thailand, $50 for a chest X-ray in Taiwan, and $90 for a visit to the emergency room in Portugal. Medical tourism is your friend. What we weren’t spending on health insurance, we invested in more index funds, building our own healthcare fund.

If we were in the US, we would buy health insurance on the State or Federal Health Exchanges. The US health system is all kinds of messed up, so without insurance you are only one minor incident from total financial devastation.

As of about six months ago, we are now all covered by the Taiwan national health system, which is a single payer universal healthcare provider. We pay about $25/person/month for great coverage, which includes dental. (Hot tip: marry somebody from a country with a good health system.)

10. Will you be planning a place for your child to make long term friendships and connections? Do you plan to continue travel when your child is school age?

We like the idea of homeschooling up to age 10 or 12 or so, but we are still figuring it out. Even so, it probably won’t be all or nothing (Julian is enrolled part time in a Montessori pre-school now.)

The pros/cons of life-in-place vs nomadic living is such an interesting discussion for us, because we are inherently a global family (our nuclear families are spread across 2 countries, 3 States, and 6 cities) and despite our very different backgrounds, we independently concluded that the idea of “home” for us isn’t really a place.

Our thinking comes from our existing communities – Winnie grew up in a big city (Taipei), and she has friends from back in the 3rd grade who all have kids around the same age as Julian. When we are in Taiwan, we all get together and it is like they never missed a beat. It’s a beautiful thing.

I grew up in a small town in Minnesota, and 99% of my childhood / high-school friends and family moved away for college and career. There is literally no one place I can go where all long-term friendships and connections exist, and yet I have them, just spread around the world. It’s also a beautiful thing.

We try to get quality time with all of our family every year, which is much easier now that we don’t have jobs. 2 years ago, we had 4 generations together for a week on a lake, with Grandma, my parents, my sister and 2 brothers and spouses, and their 9 kids. This year we took my Mom and Grandma on an Alaska Cruise, and also spent a couple weeks with all of Julian’s cousins. Next year will be something special again, and we all stay in touch via Skype. We also plan on having more kids, which means sibling connections.

What we do will change and evolve as we learn more and figure things out, but overall, we’ll listen to our kids, make sure we have regular quality time with family, and stay connected with friends and family via Skype. And everywhere we go, we build community with friends, family, and other adventurers. I think it will be the same for the next generation.

11. What hardships come up when traveling with a child and what do you do about it?

The hardships of traveling with a child are largely the same as the hardships of parenting. Kids have needs and wants, and if they aren’t addressed in a timely fashion then chaos ensues. As with most things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – and even then, things go awry.

Where most families have to balance child rearing with a career and fixed schedules, we have a great deal of flexibility. Seldom are we schedule driven, and when we are (e.g. a flight departure time) we avoid other commitments. We also aren’t doing the quick 1 week vacation thing, with a lot of time getting from A to B and a whirlwind of tours and activities; that’s much too intense and exhausting. We are more so living our normal lives, just in different locations. We play at the park daily, take naps, explore by foot, and enjoy the local delicacies. If we are having too much fun at the park, we can always see the museum tomorrow. Somehow, we usually manage to see the highlights.

Since we aren’t always in one location with a regular schedule, we focus on having routine in the absence of routine. We have regular toys, regular nap time, and a bedtime ritual which involves a bath, songs, and books. Plus we all co-sleep, so we are together 24/7. It’s hard to provide a stronger sense of security than parental presence.

It all seems to be going well; Julian is a happy, healthy, normal kid. He loves being outside exploring, enjoys meeting new people, and is always ready for the next plane, train, or automobile.

12. If you were starting back in the beginning, what would you do differently from the beginning?

We made a lot of mistakes… buying a house, buying a car, spending money without a long-term plan, but I don’t know if I would change any of them. Those mistakes helped us grow and appreciate where we are today. For example, we are Renters for Life, but we probably wouldn’t really appreciate the total joy and financial advantages that come with not owning a deteriorating wooden box.

If I could go back in time and tell my younger self, “Hey, read this Go Curry Cracker blog, you’ll learn a lot!” we could probably have become Financially Independent 3 to 5 years earlier. That’s a lot, considering my entire career was only 16 years, but it’s not that that much in an 80 – 100 year life span.

But, what I would do differently:

  • invest only in index funds from the beginning
  • not waste my time dabbling in rental properties
  • always live within biking distance of work and prioritize biking and walking
  • always rent
  • learn to cook well sooner
  • start travel hacking sooner instead of paying for vacations

13. Lastly, what is your very best tip (or two) that you have for someone who wants to reach the same success as you?

Design your life so that saving a high percentage of income is the natural and ordinary outcome.

Aim for saving 50%+ of after-tax income, and minimize taxes

Do you have goals of retiring early?

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Source: makingsenseofcents.com

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Editor’s note: TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor. This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Good news for Bilt Rewards members: The program is back with several Rent Day promotions for June. On June 1, you can solve a puzzle to win a prize, play trivia to earn Bilt points, enjoy double points on non-rent purchases and more.

Bilt holds Rent Day on the first day of each month. The Bilt Rewards program is free to join, and you don’t have to have a Bilt credit card to participate in many Rent Day offers. Now, here’s what you need to know about the June Rent Day.

Solve a puzzle to win a prize

ALEXANDR DUBYNIN/GETTY IMAGES

This month is Bilt’s birthday. To celebrate, the program is offering a gift to every member who solves the Rent Day puzzle June 1.

Open the Bilt app June 1, click the Rent Day tab and try to solve the Rent Day Challenge puzzle. If you fail to complete the puzzle, you’ll earn a “participation prize” of 50 Bilt Rewards points. But if you complete the puzzle, you’ll win one of the following prizes:

  • Bilt points: You could win 25, 50, 10,000 or 100,000 Bilt points as your prize. Bilt will deposit these points into winning accounts within 24 hours.
  • Points to use toward the Bilt Collection: You could win 5,000 or 25,000 points toward a purchase from the Bilt Collection. Bilt will deposit these points into winning accounts within 24 hours.
  • Lyft ride credit: You could win a $100 ride credit provided as a Lyft Pass valid for a year. This Lyft Pass will be automatically applied as you take rides. If you don’t have a Lyft account, sign up with the same number you’ve used for your Bilt account.
  • Free rent: You could win a month of free rent. If you win this prize, Bilt will contact you by email within 24 hours.
  • Virgin Atlantic Upper Class round-trip for two to London: One Bilt member could win enough Bilt points to book two round-trip Virgin Upper Class tickets from the U.S. gateway of their choice to London. If you win this prize, Bilt will contact you by email within 24 hours, help you book the tickets and cover the taxes and fees.
  • Emirates business class round-trip for two to Dubai: One Bilt member could win enough Bilt points to book two round-trip Emirates business-class tickets from the U.S. gateway of their choice to Dubai. If you win this prize, Bilt will contact you by email within 24 hours, help you book the tickets and cover the taxes and fees.

It’s worth opening the Bilt app June 1 to solve the word puzzle. The most likely outcome is that you’ll win 50 Bilt points, but there’s always the chance you could win something worth a lot more.

Related: How long do Bilt Rewards points take to transfer?

Earn free Bilt points through trivia

HINTERHAUS PRODUCTIONS/GETTY IMAGES

If you’re good at trivia, you can boost your Bilt Rewards balance for free June 1.

Bilt Rewards will give its members five trivia questions through its app. The questions increase incrementally in difficulty and value. But if you get all five questions correct, you’ll earn 150 points and Bilt will unlock a sixth question worth an extra 100 points.

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This means you could earn 250 Bilt points through trivia June 1 if you get all six questions correct.

Related: 6 of the best ways to redeem Bilt Rewards points for maximum value

Double Bilt points on non-rent purchases

JUSTIN PAGET/GETTY IMAGES

As on previous Bilt Rent Days, you’ll earn double points when you use your Bilt Mastercard® to make non-rent purchases between midnight EDT and 11:59 p.m. PDT on June 1 (see rates and fees). You’ll earn as follows for purchases you make on Rent Day:

  • Dining: 6 points per dollar spent.
  • Travel: 4 points per dollar spent.
  • Other purchases (excluding rent): 2 points per dollar spent.
  • Rent: 1 point per dollar spent.

You can earn up to 10,000 bonus points during the June 1 Rent Day. However, you must use your Bilt Mastercard at least five times each statement period to earn points.

Plus, if you dine at a Bilt Dining restaurant June 1 and use your Bilt Mastercard to pay, you can earn up to 11 points per dollar spent.

Related: Should you use the Bilt Mastercard? Why it’s a game changer for renters

Rent Day SoulCycle rides

ARI PERILSTEIN/GETTY IMAGES/AMERICAN EXPRESS

Finally, Bilt will offer its monthly Rent Day SoulCycle rides June 1. To participate, buy a SoulCycle class series and book a bike in a Rent Day Ride-themed class at your choice of more than 50 participating locations. Once you do so, you can bring a companion on your June 1 ride for no additional cost.

One lucky rider and their guest who attend a June 1 Rent Day Ride will each get a month of rent paid by Bilt.

Related: Bilt Mastercard review: Zero-fee rent payments

Bottom line

If you’re a Bilt Rewards member, you can celebrate the start of June with new Bilt Rent Day promotions. Whether you earn extra rewards through trivia, spending or both, Bilt Rewards’ June Rent Day allows you to boost your points balance. You can also solve the Rent Day Challenge puzzle to win a prize this Rent Day.

See Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here.
See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.

Source: thepointsguy.com

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A $25 face mask may be cheap enough to make it onto a magazine’s “bargain” beauty buys list, but there are less expensive and more effective head-to-toe pampering products to be had in your fridge and pantry.

Even professional aestheticians and stylists turn to household staples like lemons, baking soda or yogurt when it’s time to clear skin of acne, soften rough patches or keep teeth sparkling. “What better way to achieve a natural glow, then from natural products?” asks Lily Morgan, the founder of Lily Organics Fresh Skin Care.

Post your own tips below, and try these beauty uses for common household goods:

Avocado

* Scott-Vincent Borba, the author of “Skintervention: The Personalized Solution for Healthier, Younger and Flawless Looking Skin,” suggests mashing an avocado with the oil from one vitamin E soft gel, a dash of cayenne pepper and a tablespoon of honey. Apply the anti-aging mask in a thick coat all over face and neck for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse with damp washcloth.

* Gently rub the inside of an avocado peel on your face, says Morgan. Leave the residue on for about 20 minutes for a moisturizing mask.

Baking soda

* Pour a quarter-cup of baking soda in a cold bath to relieve sunburn, Morgan says.

* Jan Patterson, a nurse in Cotati, Calif., makes homemade toothpaste with the contents of two Myrrh capsules, a quarter-cup baking soda, two lid-fuls of hydrogen peroxide and mint or another flavor extract to taste. Mix until fluffy, and then store in a covered container.

* Make a firming mask from a beaten egg and a tablespoon of baking soda, Borba says. Brush mixture onto face and let dry for eight minutes, and then gently wash off with warm water. “Egg yolks are high in skin-nourishing vitamins A, D, and E as well as firming protein,” he says. “Baking soda will tighten and kill bacteria.”

* Mix a tablespoon each of baking soda and raw sugar for a pore-opening scrub, Borba says. Rub gently onto your face, and leave until your skin begins to tingle, at least 30 seconds but no longer than five minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Coffee

Brunettes can give their hair color a lift with coffee, says Sheri D. of Sé Mō Hair. Make a strong pot of black coffee, then let cool. Shampoo your hair, and then pour the warm coffee on. Work it through and leave in for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water, condition and style as usual.

Cucumbers

A true DIY spa treatment: place slices on eyes to de-puff and lighten dark circles, says Sucheta Rawal of “Go, Eat, Give.”

Eggs

To remove hard-water deposits from hair and add shine, Sheri D. uses an egg-oil mix. Separate one egg, and pour an ounce of olive oil over the yolk. Mix. Shampoo your hair, and then pour the egg mixture into your hair, using a large-tooth comb to help distribute it. Leave on for five to 10 minutes. Shampoo your hair again, condition, rinse and style as usual.

Honey

Use a mix of honey and milk as a cleanser to ease acne-prone skin, Morgan says.

Lemons

* Applying diluted lemon juice to acne-prone skin can help. Morgan says it can act as an antiseptic.

* “Cut a lemon in half and rub the open part on your heels to remove stains,” says Judy Woodward Bates, The Bargainomics Lady.

* To add oomph to light-colored hair, Sheri D. suggests making a strong pitcher of lemonade – water and lemon only, no sugar or honey. Shampoo your hair, and then pour the lemonade on. Work it through and leave in for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water, condition and style as usual.

Oatmeal

* Fill a mesh bag full of dry oatmeal, Morgan says. Rub your face with the bag for a gentle exfoliation.

* For Borba’s clarifying mask, stir together a cup of lukewarm water, a tablespoon of honey, a tablespoon of chocolate syrup and a cup of oatmeal. Apply the mix to face for 15 minutes. “Lightly scrub the mask off is circular motion to ‘buff’ away dead surface skin cells,” he says.

* To ease sunburn, Morgan recommends applying a compress of cold skim milk mixed with oatmeal.

Olive oil

* Actress Vida Ghaffari says she uses olive oil as a conditioner. “I have to often get my hair styled and it’s the only thing that conditions my hair in the LA elements,” she says. “I put it in my hair a couple of hours before I wash my hair as sort of a pre-conditioner. It’s a bit oily, so I wear comfy clothes I don’t worry about.”

* Mix a quarter-cup with a cup of vanilla sugar for a body scrub, says Megan Moriarty of Savor: The Food Agency.

Shortening

“Many people don’t know that a very common baking ingredient, Crisco solid, can be used as a moisturizer on very dry heels, elbows, knees, as well as around dry, cuticles,” says Risi-Leanne Baranja of “Palacinka Beauty Blog.” In a thin layer, it can also work well as an overnight facial moisturizer.

Yogurt

* Mix a half cup of plain yogurt with a half-cup cornmeal and a quarter-cup grapefruit juice, says Joanna Vargas, the founder of Joanna Vargas Salon, Skin Care Sanctuary in Manhattan. Cool in the fridge to thicken, and then use as a face scrub.

* For a hydrating mask, Vargas mixes a half-cup of plain yogurt with half an avocado and a quarter-cup honey. Apply with a sea sponge.

Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie.

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card overview

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the most rewarding of Southwest Airlines’ personal credit cards, offering a $75 annual Southwest credit and 7,500 anniversary bonus points. With a healthy sign-up bonus and the most benefits of any of the airline’s offerings, this is the card to get if you’re a Southwest loyalist. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Southwest Airlines has a legion of fans — largely due to its flexible change/cancellation policies and offering two free checked bags for all passengers. Unlike other airlines, Southwest doesn’t offer lounges, premium cabins or even seating with extra legroom. But it does offer a full suite of cobranded credit cards to help frequent flyers fulfill their Southwest travel goals.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the most premium personal credit card in the Southwest lineup. It offers hundreds of dollars in value with Southwest each year, and its current sign-up bonus offers a healthy point bonus.

But are its benefits valuable enough to warrant the $149 annual fee? And is now the right time for you to apply? Let’s find out.

OWEN CL/UNSPLASH

Southwest Priority Card Welcome offer

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. TPG values Rapid Rewards points at 1.5 cents each, meaning 60,000 points are worth $900.

This is the first time Southwest has offered a promo code as part of a sign-up bonus on a credit card. The code will appear directly in your Southwest.com account within eight weeks of meeting the spending requirement. It can be used — only once — on a single one-way or round-trip Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime and Business Select fare, and is available for use until October 31, 2024.

Given it is a single-use promo code, it would be best to save this for a more expensive ticket. You’ll get the biggest savings when using the code for round-trip travel and/or during peak travel periods like the summer or the holidays.

Note that the welcome bonus will count toward earning the carrier’s venerated Companion Pass, which typically requires 135,000 points in a calendar year.

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Related: 13 lessons from 13 years’ worth of Southwest Companion Passes

All Southwest cards are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. This means if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months (from all banks, not just Chase), you may not be approved. Also, you can’t open a new personal Southwest card if you currently have one open or if you earned a sign-up bonus in the past 24 months on any personal Southwest card.

WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY

Earning points with the Southwest Priority Card

Here’s what you’ll earn with the Southwest Priority card:

  • 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases.
  • 2 points per dollar spent with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners.
  • 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshare apps.
  • 2 points per dollar on internet, cable and phone services; select streaming.
  • 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

This is a wide variety of bonus categories compared to other airline credit cards, though top travel cards are typically even more lucrative.

Related: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category

Redeeming points with the Southwest Priority Card

Redeeming points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is very straightforward. Southwest award prices are directly tied to the cash value of the ticket, meaning the number of points you need for a flight will fluctuate, but you’ll rarely encounter times when you can’t use your points. Plus, if your plans change, you can redeposit your award without penalty.

While Southwest’s Rapid Rewards points won’t help you fly in first-class suites, they can provide great value. For instance, you can fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago-Midway (MDW) for just 8,091 points one-way, depending on the time of year. Meanwhile, other airlines often charge 10,000 miles or even more (assuming you can find availability).

SOUTHWEST.COM

If you book during one of Southwest’s flash sales, you could score awards for less than 2,500 points one-way. You can even fly to fun faraway destinations like Hawaii, Costa Rica and Mexico with your Southwest points.

Southwest Rapid Rapid Rewards Priority benefits

The Southwest Priority card offers the following benefits:

  • Anniversary bonus: Each year on your card-opening anniversary, you’ll receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points, worth about $112, based on TPG’s valuations.
  • Annual Southwest travel credit: During each cardmember year, you’ll receive a $75 travel credit that can be used on most Southwest purchases, including tickets (but excluding upgraded boardings and inflight purchases), dropping the card’s actual cost to $74.
  • 25% inflight savings: Receive 25% back (as a statement credit) after you use your card to purchase inflight drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging and movies.
  • Tier qualifying points boost: Earn 1,500 TQPs that count toward A-List and A-List Preferred status for each $10,000 you spend in a calendar year.

In addition to the Southwest-specific benefits, the card comes with lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty coverage and purchase protection. The card has no foreign transaction fees, and the annual fee is $149.

Which cards compete with the Southwest Priority Card?

Southwest Airlines currently offers three personal cards — all with the same sign-up bonus. Thus, it can be difficult to choose the right one.

  • If you want Southwest benefits with a more modest fee: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has the same welcome bonus but extra perks to justify its $99 annual fee. These include 6,000 anniversary bonus points, 2 EarlyBird check-ins per year, 25% back on inflight purchases and 1,500 TQPs towards A-List status for each $10,000 spent on the card. For more details, read our full review of the Southwest Premier card.
  • If you want a Southwest card with an even lower annual fee: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus has a $69 annual fee and an anniversary bonus of 3,000 points. You’ll also receive 2 EarlyBird check-ins every card anniversary. For more information, read our full review of the Southwest Plus card.
  • If you want points you can use with Southwest and other airlines: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer 1:1 to Southwest — as well as a wide range of airlines — for making flight redemptions. You’ll get numerous travel protections, a $50 annual hotel credit and robust earning categories, and the card has a $95 annual fee. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.

For more options, check out our full list of travel credit cards.

Related: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier, and Plus Credit Cards

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card worth it?

If you fly Southwest at least a few times each year, you will come out ahead with the Southwest Priority Credit Card. The card’s everyday earning rates aren’t the most lucrative out there, but impressive built-in perks like upgraded boardings, a $75 annual travel credit and a 7,500-point anniversary bonus easily make up for it.

Bottom line

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is the most rewarding of Southwest Airlines’ personal credit cards, with a solid sign-up bonus and the most benefits of any of the airline’s offerings. If you fly Southwest often, it’s the card for you.

Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Benét J. Wilson, Jennifer Yellin, Joseph Hostetler, Christina Ly and Ryan Smith.

Source: thepointsguy.com