The Dark Side of Credit Card Rewards đ
The game of earning credit card rewards, if managed well, can lead to some pretty sweet travel perks. For the unprepared, however, it could be a house of cards.
Read why here: The Dark Side of Credit Card Rewards
Tl;dr lucrative rewards are built on mountains of credit card debt. I talk about how fragile this game is, and examples of why average consumers donât reap the full value of their rewards. (Itâs not all depressing, I end with some tips).
Iâm considering putting a guide on how to maximize credit card rewards while avoiding the main pitfalls. If youâre interested a short and sweet guide, hit âreplyâ or Tweet at me.
How do we go against the crowdâŚif we donât know where we stand in the crowd? đ¤ˇđ˝ââď¸
Recently, Iâve built conviction that retail investors stand a chance against Wall Street. With focus and enough research, individual investors like you and I can stand to beat the market over the long term.
But one idea has been keeping me up at night. Warren Buffett famously said:
âBe Fearful When Others Are Greedy and Greedy When Others Are Fearfulâ
The advice is to go against the herd mentality.
My concern: how does one know how big the crowd is, and where one stands in the crowd?

For exampleâââIâm already bullish about Beyond Meat. Most of my friends around me believe in the company too. Itâs quite possible that Iâm in an echo chamber of people who share my worldview. I read some articles for and against investing in the company, and still donât have a sense of where the âcrowdâ stands.
Itâs not like thereâs a global meter that reads âother investors are fearfulâŚbuy now!â And vice versa. If such a thing existed, knowledge of it would immediately negate its utility.
How can we accurately âgaugeâ where the crowd stands? How do we zig while others zag?
Iâm formulating some ideas for a new article, and would love to learn from YOU how to identifyâââand avoidâââthe herd mentality.
Got an answer? You can reply in this Twitter thread here
đ Stock Iâm following: Square (SQ)
When you buy stuff in person from a small business, thereâs a fair chance youâve used a Square chip reader. Not only does Square have a vast business, but it owns Cash App, which is one of the fastest growing digital wallets in the U.S.
On top of that, I think the CEO Jack Dorsey (whoâs also the CEO of Twitter) is a true long term visionary.
âPick a movement, pick a revolution and join it.ââââJack Dorsey
Listen to Jack Dorsey break down the future of tech on Andrew Yangâs podcast.
đ° Money tip of the week: Credit Line Hack
If youâve had a credit card for a while, itâs like that you can just call the number on the back of your card and ask for a raise on your credit limit.
This can help boost credit scores because of one equation: the credit utilization rate, which is how much credit you use divided by the amount of credit you have (your credit line).
So long as your spending stays about the same, a higher credit limit means a lower credit utilization rate, which boosts credit scores. This is because youâre seen as lower risk, compared to someone else whoâs maxing out their credit cards.
đ Book highlight of the week: Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits
âFrom a business perspective, there are only three valid reasons to sell a stock.
One, you misjudged the companyâs growth potential.
Two, your judgment was sound, but the company conditions changed.
Three, youâve invested in a middling stock in the near-term to keep you busy while you search for an amazing investment.â
This comes from legendary Philip Fisher, who first wrote Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits 1958 (updated 2003). In a Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, Warren Buffett called it âone of the great books on investing.â
End Note
If youâre enjoying the newsletter, Iâd love it if you shared it with a friend or two. You can send them here to sign up. I try to make it one of the best emails you get each week, and I hope youâre enjoying it.
Should you find anything interesting this week, send it my way! I love finding new things to read through my online community.
Until next time,
Oz
Iâm just a guy on the internet with an opinion, so please just treat my content as entertainment. My content is may contain referral links to products I use or love. My content is for informational purposes only, and you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.