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Travel + Finance Update – March/April 2012

Posted on by Nathan — 2 Comments ↓

 

 

TRAVEL

  • Trip costs: $314.34
    • DC Metro: $18.75
    • Atlanta Metro (MARTA): $6
    • Amtrak: $126.30
      • DC-Charlottesville, VA
      • Richmond, VA to Charlotte, NC (business class)
    • Greyhound: $73.08
      • Charlotte, NC to Greenville, SC
      • Greenville, NC to Atlanta, GA
    • Enterprise Rent-a-Car: $80.21
    • Car rides: $10
      • Charlottesville to Richmond, VA
      • Columbia to Charleston, SC
  • Hacking Actions
    • Closed my British Airways credit card, as the annual fee ($95) was coming due
  • Current Points (selected accounts)
    • American Airlines: 22,928
    • Amtrak: 37,917
    • British Airways: 107,464
    • Chase Ultimate Rewards: 1414
    • Club Carlson: 54,125
    • Starwood: 26,801
    • United (Continental): 26,191
    • TOTAL: 276,210
      • Last month: 248,467
      • Difference: +27,743
  • Open Credit Cards
    • Starwood Preferred Guest AmEx (Personal)
    • Chase Sapphire Preferred
    • Continental OnePass (no longer available)
    • REI Visa
  • Credit Score
    • These scores are reported by two separate credit agencies. A credit union I use provides the Equifax score as an included service, and I signed up with Credit Karma (free) to obtain the TransUnion score. Since the numbers are so similar, you really only need information from one agency.
    • Equifax: 765, as of 3/30/12 
      • Last month: 793
      • Difference: -28 points (-4%)
    • TransUnion: 758, as of 4/25/12 
      • Last month: 772
      • Difference: -14 point (-2%)
    • Context: between 700 and 850 – very good or excellent credit score

 

EXPENSES IN MARCH

  • Food: $394.81
    • Groceries: $205.49
    • Dining Out: $189.32
    • Average cost/day: $12.74
    • Last Month: $330.70
    • Difference: +$64.11
  • Travel: $314.34
    • (see above)
    • Last Month: $95.05
    • Difference: +$219.29
  • Lodging: $0
    • Last Month: $0
    • Difference: $0
  • Nomad Life: $13.60
    • Last Month: $0
    • Difference: +$13.60
  • Cell Phone: $82.71
    • Verizon Wireless and unlimited Skype
    • Last Month: $59.26
    • Difference: +$23.45
  • Entertainment: $13
    • Last Month: $10
    • Difference: +$3
  • Health: $156.00
    • Last Month: $55.00
    • Difference: +$101.00
  • Technology: $2.99
  • Other: $0


  •  Total Expenses: $977.45

    • Last Month: $553.00
    • Difference: +$424.45
    • Financial Freedom (Ideal/Goal: income > expenses): YES!

About

Former life: actor/office worker/virtual assistant; lived in Los Angeles for 11 years. Since then: sold nearly everything, took a $5 flight to Hawaii, lived there for 3 months, wrote an eGuide about all of it, and still traveling. Currently: digital nomad - looking to improve myself, have fun and serve others.