This looks reduced from what was available even last month: $200/500/1000/1500/2000
Having done one of these in Q3 of last year, at a higher rate (as a %) it was worth it, not sure at these RoRs
At the Gold/Platinum levels, your deposit also earns you other rewards. I earned almost $200 on top of my interest, and it was fairly easy to fund/withdraw/close.
In my fourth time doing the Citi checking bonus, it never paid out, Customer Service and Chats yielded no headway, finally opened a CFPB complaint and the bonus was paid out. While attempting to resolve that issue, I had met the requirements on the Accelerate Savings bonus that also did not pay out. Thankfully the lady that approved the checking bonus was able to research and also approved the Savings bonus. It was a pretty frustrating experience though and certainly will give me pause next time I am eligible for a compelling offer from them.
Get your 
, gonna be crazy fun
All the 
u could ask for
I’m gonna ask a dumb question and I hope I genuinely get roasted to gain knowledge.
Why is everyone so excited for 4% savings returns when inflation is running at least 8% (that’s the number they tell us, but anyone with eyes who’s bought anything from a pencil to house knows it’s running higher than that).
Isn’t your money still shrinking? Is this just to hedge the bleeding? Are assets like rare metals not a better hedge?
Pretty much.
Maximize the risk-free return on cash equivalents / retreat-to-safety / money-at-rest
The buying power of the dollar is shrinking, but it’s also insanely strong relative to all other currencies.
It depends on your overall strategy: some people want cashflow (and build ladders), some want arbitrage (asset: new money), some want to hedge inflation and make up the hedge elsewhere.
because the savings rate had previously been .01 or less at some banks before the Fed started raising the rates the past year. now that the stock market is going in the shitter you can at least make a decent return on your savings vs. letting it sit there earning nothing.
…but…. That’s still a negative return on my savings. They are shrinking from inflation.
What is smart money/the banks doing with the money I have in savings in order to make money?
Lending it to some lucky chap who financed a preowned 3 series at 12.5%. 
Or towards a mortgage at 9% or 10%.
so you’re saying I should become a loan shark in south San Diego
Only if you offer below market rate for hackrs. 
You might as well immediately aim for the crème de la crème - payday loans. 
Lucky Lopez says you need to become a Buy Here Pay Here used car lot owner
Is there an ethical dilemma to starting a used car dealership selling 4th owner BMW’s at 15% interest when people are willingly signing the contracts?
Seriously, is that how most big time dealers start when they’re getting into the game?
What I have asked several friends recently when the subject comes up is: What are you doing to offset inflation?
Most reply that they aren’t doing anything and even the things I suggest they look at me and say that isn’t worth it. Even when I suggest things that all together combined equal thousands of dollars in savings they just shrug their shoulders and complain instead.
Examples include:
Moving cell phone to Visible or Cricket, Mint or any other MVNO for $25-30 month and they say they are sticking with Verizon for $90 / month.
Getting TSA Precheck / Global Entry that I offered to use one of my spots on a credit card I have for them so it would cost them $0 and they would rather have Clear at $16 / month
Scanning your grocery store app for 45 seconds to see if their is any coupons to use on the same 12 things I buy every week.
Chase Freedom Flex with 5% back on groceries this quarter. Either getting fuel at Costco or another discounted outlet.
Pulled in $4,859 last year from bank account bonuses not including interest paid on those accounts. Swagbucks has enough low hanging fruit to pull in another $1000 from relatively little effort. Credit Card sign up bonuses provided another $1750 in value.
Depending on the state you live in and provided a clean driving history and no claims on insurance, see if your insurance will let you sign up for an online defensive driving class, take it, and benefit from the savings. For me on 2 vehicles it was about $160 / year for three years = $480 - $40 cost of class = $440.
Everyone on LH will spend 26 hours to ring out the last $7.50 of an effective monthly payment, then you also have the time to do the basic things I listed above.
This is my experience the majority of the time as well, and it blows my mind. I’ve come to terms for the most part… if people don’t want to grab the life preserver that you’ve tossed, let them drown. I rarely offer advice or try to “help” much anymore. It often only leads to my own frustration. Close family is the one exception - I don’t care if it is a fruitless venture, the lecture is happening. 
Even putting things into a rough perspective - how much do these people earn at their jobs, that they are willing work 40+ hours per week but the tips/tricks aren’t worth it?? Compare that to some of your previous mentions and I guarantee the return is much greater (even at dollars per minute invested) with the hacking vs the paycheck.
I think it’s bc most people have become nihilistic. They don’t care/plan for the future, want instant gratification. You’re watching in real time the decline of western civilization.
Also, many adults are being supported by their adult parents. The parents seem to feel bad for them and prefer to give them money now, instead of when they die. Smart in some instances, but also bad when you have financially irresponsible children. So on top of their 40 hours they’re getting extra, hence the real estate market still where it’s at despite 7% rates.
Friend of mine has been a realtor for 20 years and more people then ever were gifted down payments in the last 3 years.
I think the people like us that are excited about 4% know a breaking point is coming and like someone said, holding on to ammo for when that happens to invest. This time might be different though and a quick rebound is unlikely as the entire monetary system likely will change after the next crash. That’s why you’re seeing the country being looted as were straddled with debt. All the REAL assets were purchased at sub 3% rates.
We are in an environment where it isn’t reasonable to expect that investments and savings will outpace inflation. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but these high rate returns are an easy way to offset borrowed money (particularly for folks who took out dirt cheap loans the last 3 years).
For example, if you have existing loans where you’re borrowing at 2-4% picking up 4% HYSA, 7% I-bonds, 5% CDs, etc allows you to put your money in safe places where you can make greater returns than your cost to borrow.
Inflation is still gonna win for a while, but we can still get excited about ways to try to combat it 
The only way to combat inflation seems to be work 10-20 more hours a week, raise pricing or both. I don’t think I can do 120 hours a week without a divorce. That costs much more then inflation does 
Amen to that. Minimal effort can yield huge payoffs whether it’s finding a car, parking your savings or what plastic you use to spend. This crowd gets that. And the rest of the populace subsidizes us through their lazy decision making.