Katie
@passportsonfire.bsky.social
Gen-X money nerd & travel junkie pursuing FIRE. New interests: co-housing, eco-frugal food gardening, library events, making stew for dogs.
My favorite deal scores in this week of bargains:
- 2 hardcase spinner suitcase sets. My sisters are always "borrowing" mine (and trying to keep them, because that never ends). $228 inc tax, $208 back in Staples rewards. Christmas ✅✅
- 8 packs of Tate's 🍪 chocolate chip cookies from Amazon for $25!
- 2 hardcase spinner suitcase sets. My sisters are always "borrowing" mine (and trying to keep them, because that never ends). $228 inc tax, $208 back in Staples rewards. Christmas ✅✅
- 8 packs of Tate's 🍪 chocolate chip cookies from Amazon for $25!
October 9, 2025 at 4:54 PM
My favorite deal scores in this week of bargains:
- 2 hardcase spinner suitcase sets. My sisters are always "borrowing" mine (and trying to keep them, because that never ends). $228 inc tax, $208 back in Staples rewards. Christmas ✅✅
- 8 packs of Tate's 🍪 chocolate chip cookies from Amazon for $25!
- 2 hardcase spinner suitcase sets. My sisters are always "borrowing" mine (and trying to keep them, because that never ends). $228 inc tax, $208 back in Staples rewards. Christmas ✅✅
- 8 packs of Tate's 🍪 chocolate chip cookies from Amazon for $25!
I've never ever been remotely "political", but I really didn't want to have anything in common with the quiet German citizenry of 1933. Declaring blue cities a "military training ground" was the final straw for me. #HatchActOf1939 act.lwv.org/page/84217/a...
Unite and Rise with League of Women Voters!
I made a commitment today to defend our democracy and work to empower voters. Would you join the movement with me?
act.lwv.org
October 4, 2025 at 7:49 PM
I've never ever been remotely "political", but I really didn't want to have anything in common with the quiet German citizenry of 1933. Declaring blue cities a "military training ground" was the final straw for me. #HatchActOf1939 act.lwv.org/page/84217/a...
WTF, @doordashhelp.bsky.social - I've been getting this message for a month. My phone is a 2024 Revvl 6 (very updated), how is a major app like yours not supported??
September 20, 2025 at 5:05 PM
WTF, @doordashhelp.bsky.social - I've been getting this message for a month. My phone is a 2024 Revvl 6 (very updated), how is a major app like yours not supported??
My youngest nephew turns 9 in a few weeks and wants a 3D printer - "Not the $200 one, I want the $400 one." Aunt Katie just cashed out $400 of CapitalOne Shopping rewards for eBay gift cards. The way his brain works, the outputs will be fascinating!
August 30, 2025 at 8:19 PM
My youngest nephew turns 9 in a few weeks and wants a 3D printer - "Not the $200 one, I want the $400 one." Aunt Katie just cashed out $400 of CapitalOne Shopping rewards for eBay gift cards. The way his brain works, the outputs will be fascinating!
When I went to Japan 2 years ago, I asked my then-6yo nephew if he'd like me to get him something. "A piece of volcanic rock from the last eruption of Mt Fuji." I offered a souvenir and he sent me on a freaking QUEST. I'm on my way to Scotland, he better not want a toenail from Nessie...
August 6, 2025 at 11:45 PM
When I went to Japan 2 years ago, I asked my then-6yo nephew if he'd like me to get him something. "A piece of volcanic rock from the last eruption of Mt Fuji." I offered a souvenir and he sent me on a freaking QUEST. I'm on my way to Scotland, he better not want a toenail from Nessie...
I filed my tax returns 2 months ago. I've been expecting a refund of about $320, direct deposit. No dice yet. Is this "normal" for 2025, or do I need to worry? Just paid my quarterlies, so I'm feeling annoyed at how we have payment deadlines and they don't. A minor peeve, all things considered.
June 17, 2025 at 7:08 AM
I filed my tax returns 2 months ago. I've been expecting a refund of about $320, direct deposit. No dice yet. Is this "normal" for 2025, or do I need to worry? Just paid my quarterlies, so I'm feeling annoyed at how we have payment deadlines and they don't. A minor peeve, all things considered.
I skimmed our Bill of Rights after a #ShowerGods epiphany about my right wing sister. I embrace the first amendment, she embraces the second. Then I looked at the bigger picture, and it looks like the only other one that hasn't been trashed this year is #3, quartering soldiers.
June 15, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I skimmed our Bill of Rights after a #ShowerGods epiphany about my right wing sister. I embrace the first amendment, she embraces the second. Then I looked at the bigger picture, and it looks like the only other one that hasn't been trashed this year is #3, quartering soldiers.
I thought I could hear monks chanting and hitting gongs either quietly in a browser tab or somewhere in the distance. This made absolutely no sense at all, so I had to sleuth it down.
It was a fly caught in an empty soda can. A cool coincidence, or a sign of hearing problems? To be continued...
It was a fly caught in an empty soda can. A cool coincidence, or a sign of hearing problems? To be continued...
June 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I thought I could hear monks chanting and hitting gongs either quietly in a browser tab or somewhere in the distance. This made absolutely no sense at all, so I had to sleuth it down.
It was a fly caught in an empty soda can. A cool coincidence, or a sign of hearing problems? To be continued...
It was a fly caught in an empty soda can. A cool coincidence, or a sign of hearing problems? To be continued...
I ate a little "colorado candy" about 50 mins ago. That means I need to *not* participate in the family group text, so here I am. It's 2am. In 4.5 hours, the 6-8 stray cats who adopted me will start launching themselves (or each other??) at my front door, aka waking my ass up to serve breakfast.
May 26, 2025 at 6:16 AM
I ate a little "colorado candy" about 50 mins ago. That means I need to *not* participate in the family group text, so here I am. It's 2am. In 4.5 hours, the 6-8 stray cats who adopted me will start launching themselves (or each other??) at my front door, aka waking my ass up to serve breakfast.
I just saw an ad for a power-lift recliner for $290, which is extremely useful post-surgery (like, a ton of surgeries - rotator cuff, knee, hysterectomy). But...this one comes with a remote control, so kids of all ages can dump their snoring dad on the floor. Yes, it's the first thing I thought of.
May 8, 2025 at 12:46 PM
I just saw an ad for a power-lift recliner for $290, which is extremely useful post-surgery (like, a ton of surgeries - rotator cuff, knee, hysterectomy). But...this one comes with a remote control, so kids of all ages can dump their snoring dad on the floor. Yes, it's the first thing I thought of.
I moved to a co-housing neighborhood (NOT a commune) in Georgia. There is zip zero nada for public transportation here, and I don't have a car. I don't *want* a car, it really isn't worth it for me. So here's the lowdown on the why and the how. passportsonfire.substack.com/p/experiment...
Experiment: Living Car-free Without Public Transportation
I don't think my transportation needs + wants are worth what a car costs in 2025, so I'm living car-free - with no buses or trains.
passportsonfire.substack.com
April 30, 2025 at 4:03 AM
I moved to a co-housing neighborhood (NOT a commune) in Georgia. There is zip zero nada for public transportation here, and I don't have a car. I don't *want* a car, it really isn't worth it for me. So here's the lowdown on the why and the how. passportsonfire.substack.com/p/experiment...
If you think it's weird that people use snail slime as a face moisturizer, 2025 just told them to hold my beer. Now it's #beeftallow. BEEF TALLOW.
As someone who found out the hard way that a guest put bacon grease in her jar of coconut oil, used both for cooking and skin... NO. #CommonSense
As someone who found out the hard way that a guest put bacon grease in her jar of coconut oil, used both for cooking and skin... NO. #CommonSense
April 25, 2025 at 8:23 PM
If you think it's weird that people use snail slime as a face moisturizer, 2025 just told them to hold my beer. Now it's #beeftallow. BEEF TALLOW.
As someone who found out the hard way that a guest put bacon grease in her jar of coconut oil, used both for cooking and skin... NO. #CommonSense
As someone who found out the hard way that a guest put bacon grease in her jar of coconut oil, used both for cooking and skin... NO. #CommonSense
I'm having a Beavis & Butthead moment. I did a Kohl's pickup order, self-service style. When you open the pass, it takes you to a website, pickuppass.kohls.blahblahblah - an of course my brain reads it as Pick Up Ass. I kinda hope some intern was in charge of picking that URL.
April 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I'm having a Beavis & Butthead moment. I did a Kohl's pickup order, self-service style. When you open the pass, it takes you to a website, pickuppass.kohls.blahblahblah - an of course my brain reads it as Pick Up Ass. I kinda hope some intern was in charge of picking that URL.
Lessons Learned from *My* Money Influencers open.substack.com/pub/passport... (Psst, I've started posting over on Substack!)
Lessons Learned from *My* Money Influencers
Many actually showed me what NOT to do - which is just as valuable.
open.substack.com
April 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Lessons Learned from *My* Money Influencers open.substack.com/pub/passport... (Psst, I've started posting over on Substack!)
Always check your credit card offers and clip them all, you never know!
Chewy + Chase Sapphire Reserve card = $72 of my dog's kibble + fave toys for $35 + tax. Combination of $20 off my first subscription, 4-for-3 deal on toys, and a $15 back on $49 Chase offer!
Chewy + Chase Sapphire Reserve card = $72 of my dog's kibble + fave toys for $35 + tax. Combination of $20 off my first subscription, 4-for-3 deal on toys, and a $15 back on $49 Chase offer!
March 17, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Always check your credit card offers and clip them all, you never know!
Chewy + Chase Sapphire Reserve card = $72 of my dog's kibble + fave toys for $35 + tax. Combination of $20 off my first subscription, 4-for-3 deal on toys, and a $15 back on $49 Chase offer!
Chewy + Chase Sapphire Reserve card = $72 of my dog's kibble + fave toys for $35 + tax. Combination of $20 off my first subscription, 4-for-3 deal on toys, and a $15 back on $49 Chase offer!
In 6 hours, I'll be landing in Atlanta with 2 suitcases and a stoned little doggy in my backpack. About 90 mins later, I will enter my new house as a founding member of a co-housing community for FIRE folks. Excited. Nervous. Guilt-ridden. Exhausted. Car-less.
March 6, 2025 at 12:40 PM
In 6 hours, I'll be landing in Atlanta with 2 suitcases and a stoned little doggy in my backpack. About 90 mins later, I will enter my new house as a founding member of a co-housing community for FIRE folks. Excited. Nervous. Guilt-ridden. Exhausted. Car-less.
I did that thing again, where I find stupid little balances on Visa gift cards. This time it was under $5, which would have been a challenge to donate except we all know @Wikipedia asks for $3. Bonus: they are despised by a billionaire.
February 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I did that thing again, where I find stupid little balances on Visa gift cards. This time it was under $5, which would have been a challenge to donate except we all know @Wikipedia asks for $3. Bonus: they are despised by a billionaire.
I have $350 in CapOne shopping rewards, thinking of cashing it out for a @Lowe bys gift card to buy super high toilets for my new home. I'll happily spend real money on a bidet seat, but prefer to use "found money" on a couple of cra- ...um... commodes.
February 15, 2025 at 12:40 AM
I have $350 in CapOne shopping rewards, thinking of cashing it out for a @Lowe bys gift card to buy super high toilets for my new home. I'll happily spend real money on a bidet seat, but prefer to use "found money" on a couple of cra- ...um... commodes.
Miami airport, D gates @ 1:30 pm on Superbowl Sunday. Priority Pass lounge (Turkish) at capacity, couldn't get in. No bottle fillers. 2 out of my nearest 3 charging stations were dead. Uncushioned seats. Score: 3/10.
February 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Miami airport, D gates @ 1:30 pm on Superbowl Sunday. Priority Pass lounge (Turkish) at capacity, couldn't get in. No bottle fillers. 2 out of my nearest 3 charging stations were dead. Uncushioned seats. Score: 3/10.
Ordered a Lyft from Port Everglades to FLL, price came up as $23 - as it did for everyone. Then surge pricing really hit and everyone's driver canceled and switched apps to do $50+ pickups. My driver didn't cancel on us, so we gave him a $20 cash tip. Fair?
February 8, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Ordered a Lyft from Port Everglades to FLL, price came up as $23 - as it did for everyone. Then surge pricing really hit and everyone's driver canceled and switched apps to do $50+ pickups. My driver didn't cancel on us, so we gave him a $20 cash tip. Fair?
I’m on a cruise with 120 FIRE friends, old and new. I always end up with one big piece of creative, actionable knowledge that makes the cost look cheap. Also, my mom's Pall Malls are $30 a carton instead of $100. Twelve will last her a year. The $840 savings is more than I paid for the cruise, lol.
February 5, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I’m on a cruise with 120 FIRE friends, old and new. I always end up with one big piece of creative, actionable knowledge that makes the cost look cheap. Also, my mom's Pall Malls are $30 a carton instead of $100. Twelve will last her a year. The $840 savings is more than I paid for the cruise, lol.
2 ways to save $18 on passport pics:
1- Members of AAA with an office nearby can get them done free.
2- Take a selfie that meets the guidelines, trim it to a 2"x2" square. In Canva, create a 4"x6" rectangle, make a grid of 6. Print anywhere for 25 cents.
That $18 is better spent on your trip!
1- Members of AAA with an office nearby can get them done free.
2- Take a selfie that meets the guidelines, trim it to a 2"x2" square. In Canva, create a 4"x6" rectangle, make a grid of 6. Print anywhere for 25 cents.
That $18 is better spent on your trip!
January 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM
2 ways to save $18 on passport pics:
1- Members of AAA with an office nearby can get them done free.
2- Take a selfie that meets the guidelines, trim it to a 2"x2" square. In Canva, create a 4"x6" rectangle, make a grid of 6. Print anywhere for 25 cents.
That $18 is better spent on your trip!
1- Members of AAA with an office nearby can get them done free.
2- Take a selfie that meets the guidelines, trim it to a 2"x2" square. In Canva, create a 4"x6" rectangle, make a grid of 6. Print anywhere for 25 cents.
That $18 is better spent on your trip!
Wednesday's Mini Money Moves:
1- Expressed interest in a dog muzzle in my Buy Nothing group on FB
2- Unsubscribed from emails for 4 retailers I only buy from at Christmas
3- Checked on my Worthy bonds ($6933) for withdrawal on Feb 1
1- Expressed interest in a dog muzzle in my Buy Nothing group on FB
2- Unsubscribed from emails for 4 retailers I only buy from at Christmas
3- Checked on my Worthy bonds ($6933) for withdrawal on Feb 1
January 23, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Wednesday's Mini Money Moves:
1- Expressed interest in a dog muzzle in my Buy Nothing group on FB
2- Unsubscribed from emails for 4 retailers I only buy from at Christmas
3- Checked on my Worthy bonds ($6933) for withdrawal on Feb 1
1- Expressed interest in a dog muzzle in my Buy Nothing group on FB
2- Unsubscribed from emails for 4 retailers I only buy from at Christmas
3- Checked on my Worthy bonds ($6933) for withdrawal on Feb 1
Ugh, that better flight I booked at 3:30am? Cancelled because it connects in Dallas (on AA), and Texas doesn't do cold. Rescheduling options were horrid. But then United to the rescue with an excellent flight through Denver for 15,000 miles! #TravelHacking saves me more than just money.
January 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Ugh, that better flight I booked at 3:30am? Cancelled because it connects in Dallas (on AA), and Texas doesn't do cold. Rescheduling options were horrid. But then United to the rescue with an excellent flight through Denver for 15,000 miles! #TravelHacking saves me more than just money.
I never sleep well before I fly. So what did I do at 3:30am? I turned sleep lemons into travel lemonade. I changed my flight from United with 2 stops for 15K miles to American with 1 stop for 9K miles. I leave 30 mins later and arrive 90 mins earlier. #TravelHacking
January 9, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I never sleep well before I fly. So what did I do at 3:30am? I turned sleep lemons into travel lemonade. I changed my flight from United with 2 stops for 15K miles to American with 1 stop for 9K miles. I leave 30 mins later and arrive 90 mins earlier. #TravelHacking