2020 - A Year to Forget

2020 is a year to forget. COVID-19 has crippled the world. Many countries have locked down and only allow essential business to remain open. 

 United States has the most infected and deaths. Five months after the initial lockdown, US still can't contain the virus. 10K new infected and 1k deaths daily. Some Americans still either don't believe the virus is real and/or not harmful. So they still refuse to wear face coverings. 

Hopefully, an effective vaccine will come out this year or early next year so that we can travel again.

Tried Harry's Free Razor Trial

Out of razor blades, I decided to give Harry's a try. I ordered their Free Razor Trial set, which includes 1 razor, 1 blade and 1 2-oz shaving gel. You'll have to pay the $3 shipping fee. Also you'll need to subscribe to a shave plan that can be cancelled easily after you receive the shaver.

Besides the trial set, I also bought 4 blades ($8) since I found a $5 off coupon (first order only) from RetailMeNot. Overall, I paid $6.53 for 1 razor, 5 blades and 1 shaving gel.

After using the shaver for a week, I like it. No cuts so far even though the blades are sharp. It shaves as well as those Gillette razors (like Mach 3 and ProGlide). I particularly like the smell and foam from the shaving gel.

Applying for Global Entry Membership Process

I haven't been flying quite frequently these past 2 years, and I'm tired waiting in a long line and having to take off my shoes, laptop and belt. Thus, I applied for Global Entry membership. It costs $100, but it's good for 5 years.

1. You'll go to the Global Entry website to create an account.
2. Fill out a lengthy application and submit it. It asks for home address, employments and countries you have visited in the past 5 years. Make sure what you enter are accurate because they are going to do a background check and will you those questions in the in-person interview.
3. Check back to the website about a week later and log into your account. If your background check is clear, your application will be conditional approved.
4. You'll see a button to schedule an interview (must do within 30 days). You'll choose the airport and time. Some airport, like SFO, is busy with many applicants, the first available appointment might be months away. You have a few options.
   • return to the website every couple hours and refresh the page.
   • go to the airport and get on the waitlist. You might be there for a few hours.
   • schedule the interview at a less busy airport and fly there.
5. Before going to the interview, make sure you bring 1) the approval letter 2) passport 3) driver's license or ID (if the address is current). Be there an 30 minutes or an hour early. But don't be later, else they might send you home and you'll have to make another appointment.
6. The interviewing officers are very friendly. They'll ask you some questions (like have you ever be arrested? what countries have you been to in the past 5 years?). Then you have your photo and finger prints taken. The whole process take 10-15 minutes.
7. Your Global Entry membership card will arrive in 5-10 days. Once it arrives, log back into your account to activate the card.

Your membership number is also your known traveler number, which you will enter that in whenever you book your flight from one of these 18 airlines that participate in TSA pre-check program. Your boarding pass will have TSA pre-check on it that allows you go to the much shorter express line.

If flying with other airlines, you'll go to the normal line. You'll have to take off your shoes, belt, jacket and laptop.

Chase Coupons - Up to $500 for New Customers

I have four $500 coupon codes ($300 for checking and $200 for savings). Here are the requirements:

1. For checking bonus, you'll need to open a Total Checking account and set up direct deposit.
2. For savings bonus, you'll need to open a savings account and deposit $15k.

Coupon codes:
NJ69427442XYW7VD
NJ69427442YQ2KCX
NJ69427442Z29K3Q
Offer expires October 24, 2016.

XR7942294KRP39RK
Offer expires November 21, 2016.

These unique codes can only be used once. Please let me know in the comment if you used them. I then can cross them out so others know not to use them.