The Mom Weekly Volume 130: February 3, 2025
You can read this, or any other previous Mom Weeklies, by going to the home page here.
Notes:
I decided to pre-empt what I had scheduled this week to share about a useful financial housekeeping activity. This one is topical because it happened to be just a few days ago.
I promise you that you will feel good once you complete this!
It’s especially good to do these kinds of activities during some of the extra-cold days we’ve had recently when it’s hard to get outside.
Remember how much I love you,
Mom
Set Up Alerts for All Your Credit Cards (Mom’s Occasional Money Advice)
Just a few days ago, I was checking the Chase app on a newer credit card to see how close I was to the spending I would need to trigger the sign-up bonus. The sign-up bonus for this particular card is a lot of points, so it was definitely worth checking!
I noticed several small charges from the same merchant, and several from another, and I thought, wait, did I spend money at something called “M Solutions”?
This can be tricky because sometimes charges will occur that appear odd. We have lunch at the excellent Skylight Commons cafe at the Mayo Clinic on the days we are there—but the merchant name is something strange that I know now, but might have thought was sketchy the first time or two I saw the charge.
Anyway, I was heading out for my dentist appointment at that time, so I couldn’t do much until I got home. When I got home, I checked on all the charges, and saw a dozen or so charges, ranging from 99 cents to $27, from four merchants I did not recognize.
The fraud department representative that I spoke to was very nice, and I went over all the charges with her. She could see they were all connected to the same digital wallet (not mine, obviously), and so she cancelled the card and I’ll get a new one in a few days.
I realize that I had not set up text or app alerts for this particular card, because it is relatively new. So I took some time that afternoon to check all of our credit cards and make sure that text/app alerts are enabled. Now, anytime there is a charge on any of our cards, I (or Dad) will get a text message or app alert, or both.
I do have this set up for many cards, so that I can appear to be a mind reader. I told Dad when I was setting all the alerts up that I already get those. I said, “Didn’t you make a purchase using (certain credit card) at Trader Joe’s about an hour ago?” Dad thought that my knowledge of his wherabouts a state away was pretty impressive, and I agree. 🙂
The typical way to do this is on the app or website of your card’s bank, look into “profile & settings.” Usually within there or something similar, there is a “manage alerts” section. Just be sure that you save after you change the alerts. I’m sharing a screen from within Chase so you can see what I mean. Be sure to check all of the categories of alerts, especially any purchases!
For some reason, it was hit or miss with our cards. Some had alerts of all kinds enabled, and some had few or none. It was a good feeling to be able to get all the cards set up that way. You’ll be glad, too, once you complete this task!
Interesting/Notable:
Seeking Beauty — EWTN Studios.
Erica Campbell, the founder and owner of Be a Heart, a Catholic goods shop, shared this show in a recent email (her emails are great, by the way. I find her very sensible and spiritually mature).
I’ve only watched part of the first episode, but it’s got great production value and it’s highly watchable! I was not aware of the actor/producer who narrates it, but he does look familiar. You younger people may recognize him more. 🙂
They Wanted Another Bathroom. So They Built a $1.3 Million Home: WSJ
I read this article because of the headline, but it’s actually about a general contractor and architect with a very interesting personal history that led to him becoming a home builder. Worth a read!