Greetings Reader,

This CNN story about a the scam industry in Myanmar changed my thinking about scams. In the past, I thought the scammers were the ones getting the money. In many cases, they are forced to work (both economic and physical) for criminal gangs.

I used to think it was funny that you had people baiting these scammers but I'm not so sure anymore... just something to think about.

So often, the ones who deserve the blame are not the "front line" workers that face people... seems to be as true in the scam industry as it is in others!

​(View this email as a webpage)​

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💳 Get a retention offer!

If you pay an annual fee on a credit card, chances are you can do something to negotiate a fee waiver, reduction, or a simple "get X points for spending money."

I just did it with my Marriot Bonvoy card from American Express, you can listen in to see how simple it was. (I trimmed the audio of the call but it only took about ten minutes)

​👉 How to get a retention offer​

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👲👲 Beware memetic desire

Memetic desire is a theory of human behavior - that we don't know what we want, so we look to others to find out.

Here's a longer explanation as well as what I do to try to avoid it:

​👉 How to avoid memetic desire​

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⏱️ Time affluence

When you're young, you have to trade your time for money. Then, if you spend within your means, you can invest the difference.

As you get older, the plan is that those investments will be able to fund your retirement. Then, your decisions are largely governed by how you wish to spend your time.

Sometimes, even if we're not fully there yet, it's important to frame decisions in those same ways today.

​👉 ‘Time Affluence’ Is a Different Way to Think About Wealth​
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What did you think of today's email?​
✅ I Loved It! 🟨 It Was Okay ❌ Not My Favorite​

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Talk to you soon!

Jim

PS. Can I interest you in 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000? See the card.​

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​(see our archive of previous emails)​