Search Results for: budget

My Credit Card Rewards Were Stolen!

April 3, 2023 By MelissaB 1 Comment

I do an excellent job of keeping my credit secure. Over 14 years ago, my husband and I froze our credit; we only thaw it for a day or two when someone needs to make a credit inquiry for a new line of credit. In addition, we use a credit monitoring service, and I check our credit cards at least once a week to record transactions in our budgeting software, You Need a Budget. Yet, despite my best efforts, my credit card rewards were stolen!

How I Discovered the Theft

I thought about traveling internationally and decided to check my rewards balance. I knew I had tens of thousands of points, but I couldn’t remember how many. So imagine my surprise when I looked and saw only 9,000 points!

I looked at my redemption history and saw a 30,000 redemption for $300 worth of gift cards. The redemption took place on March 1^st. I had been in my credit card account at least three times since the redemption, but I didn’t notice the theft because I didn’t check the rewards points. I’m embarrassed to admit that it took me three weeks to realize someone had cleaned my account of $300 in rewards points.

Called the Credit Card Company Immediately

I immediately called the credit card company. While the agent was friendly, she asked me several times if I had redeemed them and didn’t remember or if my husband had redeemed them.

I live in New York, but the redeemed cards were addressed to my name in Houston, Texas. I told the agent that I never redeem my points for gift cards; she could look through my history and see that.

Steps the Credit Card Company Took

In the end, the credit card company took two steps.

First, they put my 30,000 reward points back in my account.

Second, they canceled my current credit card and sent me a new one.

Steps I Took

I also took steps to protect my account further.

First, I went to my other two credit cards, confirmed the correct number of rewards points, and then I cashed them out.

Second, I changed my passwords for all my online credit card accounts.

Third, I am investigating signing up for AwardWallet. This free program helps people manage the points for the many reward programs they signed up for. Best of all, users can set an alert to be notified if the balance changes. This program will help me realize the theft immediately instead of three weeks later.

Final Thoughts

While thieves have compromised my credit card several times, I was shocked to discover they stole my credit card rewards! I never thought of those as ripe for theft, but they are. Hopefully, I can ensure my credit card rewards are not stolen again by taking more protective steps. However, if they are, hopefully, I’ll realize the theft more quickly than I did this time.

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How To Choose the Best Internet Plan For You

April 3, 2023 By Susan Paige Leave a Comment

Are you in the market for an internet plan but feeling overwhelmed by all the choices? With so many providers and plans available, it can be difficult to pick the best one for you. Fortunately, there are a few key things to consider when deciding what internet plan is right for you. Keep reading to learn more about how to choose the best internet plan for you.

Browse different internet plans.

When choosing the best internet plan for you, it’s important to consider your needs and budget. ISelect internet plans offer a range of plans tailored specifically to meet those needs, allowing customers to select the most suitable option depending on their requirements. The plans are based on different speeds, budgets, and data limits so customers can find the right plan that suits them. Internet plans provide a wide selection of internet options that cover everything from basic home use up to large businesses with multiple users who require high-speed connections. For instance, there are basic packages that are ideal for occasional web browsing or streaming video content at an affordable price point; these packages include unlimited data allowances with download speeds of up to 50 Mbps in some areas. On the other hand, if you have more than one person using your connection or need higher download speeds, then you might be better suited with one of their Business Starter packages which feature faster speeds (up to 100 Mbps) and larger monthly data caps (up to 1TB). Other features such as static IPs and Wi-Fi extenders may also be available depending on your location and plan type.

Examine reliability and customer service ratings.

Examining reliability and customer service ratings is an important step in determining which internet plan best suits your needs. Reliability refers to the quality of the service provided, while customer service ratings refer to how well a company meets consumer expectations regarding its services. Reliability can be determined through various metrics such as uptime percentage, latency rate, speed tests, ping times, and jitter scores. Uptime percentage measures how often a connection is available for use; latency rate determines how quickly data is sent between two devices; speed tests measure download/upload speeds over time; ping times inform users of the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another and jitter scores measure packet loss or delay when transferring large amounts of data. By researching these factors you will gain insight into what kind of performance you can expect from each provider and help determine which plans would work best for your individual requirements.

Investigate discounts or promotional offers available.

Investigating the discounts or promotional offers available when choosing an internet plan is a critical step in finding the best one for you. Different providers offer various promotions and deals, so it’s important to research what each provider has to offer in order to make an informed decision. Some of these discounts may include free installation costs, waived activation fees, discounted rates on monthly plans, and equipment bundles that can save money in the long run. Additionally, some providers will give you incentives such as credits on your bill or rewards points if you sign up for their services.

Understand your internet usage habits.

Understanding your internet usage habits is essential when it comes to selecting the best plan for you. To make sure you choose a plan that meets your needs, it’s important to consider how much data you use each month and what types of activities require more bandwidth than others. The first step in understanding your internet usage habits is to calculate how much data you need each month. Generally speaking, it’s recommended that most users have at least 10 Mbps download speeds and 5 Mbps upload speeds, although these numbers may vary depending on what type of activities you do online. For instance, streaming HD video requires higher speed than browsing websites or sending emails. Knowing the amount of data needed can help narrow down which plans are available to fit within your budget and meet your needs.

Overall, having the right internet plan for you can make a world of difference in terms of speed, reliability, and cost. Taking your home’s needs into consideration, and researching your options, can help you make an informed decision on the best plan for you.

4 Meals from the Pantry to Save Money

March 20, 2023 By MelissaB 2 Comments

If you’re like me, you may find it harder and harder to stay within the grocery budget as food costs skyrocket due to inflation. So I try to find nutritious recipes that aren’t expensive. In addition, to save money, I try to have one week where I don’t make a complete grocery shopping trip and instead only buy some fresh fruits and vegetables and make my meals from the pantry to save money. Doing this allows me to use up what I have and stretch my grocery dollars.

Our Favorite Meals from the Pantry to Save Money

These are the pantry meals we make during the weeks I skip grocery shopping:

Spaghetti

My kids don’t mind a pantry meal when the meal is spaghetti. So I buy pasta and pasta sauce when they’re on sale, and I purchase canned mushrooms at Costco. I mix them together for a quick, cheap meal.

We recently upped our spaghetti game by making Pizza in a Bowl (I left out the creamed soup and only used half the cheese.) I was amazed at how this meal stretched—we had it for two meals!

Breakfast for Dinner

Another favorite is breakfast for dinner. We might have omelets with green peppers and cheese and a piece of toast. Or, if we have many bread heels in the freezer, we make French toast and eggs. Sometimes we make a breakfast sandwich with ham, egg, and cheese on toast or an English muffin. Another economical recipe is Ham, Broccoli & Cheddar Frittata. (If money is tight, I leave out the ham, and it still tastes good.)

Broccoli, Potato, & Soup

I recently found this delicious recipe for Broccoli, Cheddar & Potato Soup. I like it because I can use frozen broccoli. (This recipe and the broccoli frittata recipe are the only ways I enjoy eating frozen broccoli.) Like Pizza in a Bowl, this recipe stretches and easily feeds the four of us for two meals. Oh, and while I am talking about soup, another good recipe for meatball soup is here.

Fried Rice

Another frugal yet filling meal is Chicken Fried Rice. We use a rotisserie chicken from Costco and save the bones to make homemade chicken stock. Since rotisserie chicken at Costco is only $4.99, the meat is cheap, and we add rice, frozen vegetables, a few eggs, and seasoning.

How We’re Able to Keep Our Meals Frugal

For years, I’ve stocked up on items when they’re on sale, so I pay the lowest price for groceries. We have a pantry in our basement, two deep freezers, and two refrigerators so we can keep a full supply.

When ground beef is on sale, I may buy 20 or 25 pounds. We have food intolerances and can’t eat dairy, so when our favorite vegan cheese, Daiya, goes on sale, I may buy 20 bags. Then I won’t buy any more until it’s on sale again. If we run out before it goes on sale, we do without until the next sale.

Shopping this way makes having a pantry cooking week easy.

Final Thoughts

Keeping within our allotted grocery budget is getting more challenging every month. One way we rein in expenses is by making meals from the pantry to forego a weekly shopping trip once a month.

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