How to Automatically Track Mail and Packages
Expecting lots of packages during shopping season? Here’s a summary of ways to automatically track USPS, UPS, and FedEx packages. UPS has also added a rewards feature: you can choo...
A Few Things to Do Before Year-End (2019)
As 2019 comes to an end, what else should you do or keep an eye on? In this post, we’ll go over various reimbursements, credit card benefits, upcoming changes, airlines, hotels, an...
Introduction to the Basics of U.S. Stocks
U.S. stocks have been an easy way to make money for quite a while, while bank interest rates have kept falling, so this is a good time to organize some basic investment information...
Very Detailed! My Experience Buying a New Car in the U.S. (2020 Corolla LE) — Rock-Bottom OTD Price of $15,800!
I wanted to share some thoughts on my recent car-buying experience in case it gives readers some useful ideas and practical help. Suggestions are very welcome as well. And if I sho...
Another Chinese International Student Arrested Over Gift Card Scheme: Common Scams in the U.S.
A Chinese student was arrested for allegedly taking part in a nationwide multimillion-dollar Walmart gift card fraud scheme. Here’s a look at the case and how the scam worked, alon...
Alipay Launches Tour Pass to Compete with WeChat Foreign Card Payments
[Update 1: It seems you may need to link a foreign passport to use this... It's unclear whether there is an age limit. You could consider registering an Alipay account using a chil...
eBay Savings Guide [Updated 10/2019: $3 off coupon available to all; 10% eBay Bucks, $5 off, YMMV]
From now through October 30, on eBay, purchases of $25 or more qualify for 10% eBay Bucks in most categories, excluding a few exceptions. You need to activate the offer through the...
How to Register a China Hukou for a Baby Born in the U.S. (2019 Shanghai Edition)
My daughter returned to China this May, and we used that opportunity to apply for her Shanghai hukou. I’m sharing the general process and a few important tips here for parents with...
On the Global Usability of Costco Memberships [May 2020 Update: At Shanghai Costco, Visa purchases code as Grocery]
Costco China has explicitly confirmed that US Visa cards, including the Citi Costco co-branded card, are accepted at Costco locations in mainland China. Our reader DP also shows th...
Use Pretax Income to Commute with Uber
Not everyone knows that federal tax law lets employees pay for monthly commuting by public transit and for parking with pretax dollars, exempting those expenses from personal incom...
What Should You Do After a Car Accident in the U.S.? (With My Personal Experience)
A while ago, LD drove out for lunch around noon and got rear-ended by the car behind while in the left-turn lane. It was a minor accident with no injuries or medical issues involve...
