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Nearly free travel is possible with credit card rewardsBefore collecting credit card rewards, identify your travel goals. If you're interested in cash back, you should be using cash-back credit cards instead of travel credit cards. Award travel frequently asked questionsHow can I find the best redemption options for my points and miles? Can I book award travel for someone else using my points or miles? You can also use deal-tracking apps and award search websites to set up alerts when award travel availability opens up.

Persons: We'll, It's, overspend, you've, you'll, Wells, Here's, you'd, there's, availabilities Organizations: Hilton, British Airways, Air, Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines British Airways Cape Air Cathay Pacific Etihad Airways Fiji Airways Finnair, Airlines Iberia Japan Airlines JetBlue Malaysia Airlines Qantas Airways Qatar Airways Royal Air Maroc Royal Jordanian Airlines Silver Airways SriLankan Airlines, American, Hyatt, Citi, Capital, Chase Travel, Citi Travel Portal, United Airlines, Booking Locations: Marriott, Air Canada, Air Tahiti, Chicago, Venice, United, Chevron

A secured credit card is a type of credit card with a line of credit backed by a security deposit. Because it doesn't require a credit history or credit score, secured credit cards are an appealing option for building a credit history. In fact, most credit card companies won't perform credit checks for secured credit card applicants. After a certain amount of time and credit built on the secured credit card, companies may also allow you to convert your secured credit card to a traditional card, at which point your security deposit will also be returned. Unsecured Credit CardsSecured credit cards Unsecured credit cards Secured credit cards often don't require a credit check and will take applicants with low credit scores Credit card companies recommend a good to excellent (670-800+) credit score when applying for a card Credit limit determined by how much money is deposited Credit limit determined internally based on a number of factors Often charges higher APRs Offers APRs based on your application and credit scoresSecured Card TipsCan a secured credit card improve my credit score?

Persons: You'll, you've Organizations: Credit, Quicksilver, Chevron, Gas, Capital, Financial

Mortgage rates are down this week, with 30-year mortgage rates averaging around 6.30%, according to Zillow data. This should remove some of the upward pressure off of mortgage rates and allow them to trend down. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. Now that the Fed has paused hiking rates, mortgage rates have come down a bit. Once the Fed starts cutting rates, which may happen this year, mortgage rates should fall even further.

Persons: Christopher Waller, Waller, Freddie Mac Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Fed, Zillow, Federal Reserve Locations: Chevron

Introduction to credit card interestCredit card interest is a touchy subject. Understanding your credit card payoff timeline is a crucial component of responsible personal finance management,The importance of calculating credit card interestCredit card interest can be more complicated to calculate than it looks on paper. This guide will show you how to calculate credit card interest payments, help you understand how your APR is applied to your balance, and offer some strategies for paying off credit card interest faster so you can minimize the interest you pay. Calculating credit card interest frequently asked questionsCan I calculate the APR for multiple credit cards? This credit card interest calculation formula will work for any card that has an annual percentage rate of interest.

Persons: we're, APRs, you've Organizations: Chevron

How business credit scores differ from personal credit scoresWhile business and personal credit scores share some similarities, such as their impact on your borrowing power, they don't perfectly align. Business credit scores are based on underlying business credit reports that track loans, credit lines, business credit cards, and other business borrowing activity to help lenders and business partners understand how risky the underlying business is when it comes to credit. Just like there are three credit bureaus that track consumer credit scores, there are multiple companies that track business credit scores. Free business credit scoresNav: Nav offers free business credit scores and business credit reports with a paid subscription available that includes additional reports. Keeping business credit card and line of credit balances low is good for your business credit.

Persons: Dun, Bradstreet, Experian, FICO, & Bradstreet, Dun & Bradstreet Organizations: Small Business Administration, SBA, &, Chevron Locations: Dun, Experian, Chevron, Equifax

An income-driven repayment plan may be a good choice if you can't handle your monthly payments. Student loan payments have started up again, and you might not be ready to keep paying the amount you've previously been able to going forward. The SAVE Plan is a simplified income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, which aims to provide more affordable student loan payments for borrowers with low to middle incomes. The loans eligible for the SAVE plan are:Direct Subsidized LoansDirect Unsubsidized LoansDirect PLUS Loans made to graduate or professional studentsDirect Consolidation Loans that didn't repay any PLUS loans made to parentsThose with Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans (from the FFEL Program), Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans (from the FFEL Program), graduate students with FFEL PLUS Loans, FFEL Consolidation Loans, or Federal Perkins Loans, are only eligible for the SAVE plan if consolidating these loans into a direct consolidation loanAs for income requirements, there is no income limit to qualify for the SAVE plan. To apply for the SAVE Plan, the process will likely be through the Student Aid website.

Organizations: SAVE, Federal Stafford Loans, Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, FFEL PLUS, Federal Perkins Loans, Student Locations: forbearance, Unsubsidized, Chevron

Our comprehensive guide explores the best ways to redeem credit card points without traveling. This guide will help you understand why and when to consider doing so, and the most innovative uses for credit card rewards beyond flights and hotels. Our guide to the most popular travel rewards credit cards can help you make sense of each loyalty program and its reward "currency", while our guide to the best credit card rewards apps help you track how many points you have, and when they will expire. Credit card rewards can have somewhat complicated tax implications, especially if you choose cash-back rewards instead of for products, services, or experiences. Use credit card rewards for Amazon purchasesMany major credit card issuers including American Express, Capital One, and Chase let you use your rewards to pay for purchases on Amazon.

Persons: you've, Chase, cardholders, Mags, Miles, Taylor, Swifties, Miles4Migrants, Miles Citi Organizations: Business, Amazon Visa, Schwab, American Express, IRS, Visa, Mastercard, Amazon, American, Capital One Entertainment, Foundation, United, JetBlue, United Airlines MileagePlus Air, Alaska Airlines, Air France – KLM, Blue, Delta, Lufthansa Miles Locations: Olive, Alaska, Delta, United Airlines MileagePlus Air Canada, Chevron

The Q3 2024 bonus categories are gas and EV charging, movies, and ticketed live entertainment events such as concerts and shows. That's why you can think of the Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom® bonus categories as earning you either 5% back or 5x points. Q3 2024: Chase Freedom Flex® and legacy Chase Freedom® cardholders can activate bonus categories online or through their Chase account until September 14, 2024. Points earned on the Chase Freedom Flex® and the Chase Freedom® can be transferred to certain travel credit cards for significantly higher value. In Q3 2024, the bonus categories are gas and EV charging, movies, and live entertainment.

Persons: cardholders, Chase, takeout, you’ve, Cash, you've Organizations: Business, Citi, Citi Strata Premier, Card, Citi Prestige, EV, Walmart, Freedom, Chase, Chase Travel, PayPal, Foods, Gas, Amazon, Target, Wholesale, eBay, Cable, Department, Chase Travel ℠, Sapphire, United, Hyatt, Marriott, Discover, Restaurants, Citi Prestige ®, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Chase Credit, FDIC Locations: United Airlines, drugstores, Chevron

This guide will help you decide what to do when you're ready to upgrade your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card to a Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Introduction to Upgrading Chase Sapphire Credit CardsThe Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card credit cards are so popular — and so hard to choose between — that we've written a full comparison of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. the Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit card. How to Request A Chase Sapphire Card UpgradeIf you're sure that the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is no longer for you, you'll have to get rid of it before you can get the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. There are several ways to do this:Cancel your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card before applying for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®Upgrade your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®Downgrade your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to a no-annual-fee Chase Freedom credit card, then apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to earn a new welcome bonus. Chase Sapphire Upgrade Eligibility RequirementsSome Chase representatives have told cardholders that the Chase Sapphire Reserve® requires a $10,000 credit limit minimum.

Persons: cardholders, Chase, revel, You'll, Sapphire cardholders, it's, you'll, you've Organizations: Business, Chase, Chase Sapphire, Sapphire, Chase Travel, Banking

Read Business Insider's guide to the best travel rewards credit cards. But the smartest award hounds are using these popular tools to maximize their rewardsWhy use a credit card rewards tracking app? But no such tool exists as of today, so many dedicated award hounds use a combination of the apps below to track all of their credit card rewards. Top credit card rewards tracking appsAwardWallet: Best for tracking multiple loyalty programsCardPointers: Best for managing your wallet and maximizing credit card offersTravel Freely: Best for couples earning points togetherMaxRewards: Best for monitoring credit alongside of rewardsAwardWalletCost: Freemium — Free version works for most. However, MaxRewards sets itself apart with a running progress bar of the credit card balance you're carrying, and your credit utilization ratio.

Persons: CardPointers, Chase, Amex, You'll, MaxRewards, Read, it's, you'll, point.me, Roame, Seats.aero Organizations: Read, Citi, Security, Amex, Chase, MaxRewards Gold, Google, American, American Express, Business Locations: Amex, Japan, Aeromexico, Asia, North America, Singapore, Chevron

Unlike credit cards, charge cards typically don't have a preset spending limit, providing greater flexibility in spending. Impact on Credit ScoresWhen it comes to building credit with charge cards versus credit cards, both cards can influence your credit score, but the way they're reported to the credit bureaus differs, especially in terms of credit utilization. How does using a credit card affect my credit score compared to a charge card? Approval for a charge card generally requires a good to excellent credit score, similar to many credit cards. Yes, many charge cards offer credit card rewards programs, including travel benefits and points on purchases, which can be comparable to or even exceed those offered by credit cards.

Introduction to Buying an Engagement RingBuying an engagement ring is a big deal. Instead of taking out a traditional loan, or financing a ring through a credit card offered by the jeweler, you can use one of the best 0% APR credit card offers for a certain amount of time. What credit card features should I look for when buying an engagement ring? Can I finance an engagement ring purchase with a credit card? How can I maximize rewards when buying an engagement ring with a credit card?

Organizations: Business Insider, Tiffany, Chase Travel, Chase, Sapphire, American Express, Citi Locations: Chevron

You can contact your card issuer to receive a postage-paid envelope and mail your metal card back for them to destroy, or you could drop into a local branch for the issuing bank and ask them to destroy the card. Whether your card has expired, you're cutting ties with your credit company, or you simply need to replace a compromised card, knowing how to safely and effectively destroy a metal credit card is crucial. What Makes Metal Credit Cards UniqueThe uniqueness of metal credit cards lies in their core composition. Methods to Destroy Metal Credit CardsWhen it's time to say goodbye to your metal card, you have a few options. How do I ensure all data is destroyed when disposing of my metal credit card?

Persons: it's Organizations: Chase, American

☆ Taylor Swift U.S. tickets cost $1,832. I saw The Eras Tour in Amsterdam for $384. Credit card points covered almost everything else.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Katherine Fan | Sarah Silbert | Senior Editor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Chase Freedom Flex®. I saved over $5,000 with points and milesThis trip was only possible because of my stash of credit card points and miles. Katherine FanMy Sheraton Amsterdam hotel room would have cost $405.48 in cash Katherine FanI booked the room using a free night award I earned from a new customer bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card credit card. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. You can use credit card awards to book luxury vacations, seek out gritty adventures, and do everything else in between.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Taylor, would've, Johan Cruijff Arena, neve, I'm, Katherine Fan, Chase Travel ℠, Chase, redemptions Organizations: Business, Independence, Sheraton, Marriott, Amazon Prime, Visa, KLM, American, Marriott Gold, Google, Chase Sapphire, Chase Travel, Sapphire, TSA, FDIC Locations: Amsterdam, Texas, Europe, Netherlands, North America, U.S, Canada, Austin, Sheraton Amsterdam

Mortgage rates are the lowest they've been since March in response to cooler-than-expected inflation data. This could help mortgage rates fall even further than currently expected, potentially boosting affordability for homebuyers later this year. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowToday's refinance ratesMortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. This is a significant slowdown compared when it peaked at 9.1% in 2022, which means mortgage rates should start trending down soon. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.

Persons: you'll, Fannie Mae Organizations: Federal Reserve, Zillow, Mortgage, Association, Sky Locations: Chevron

This card is the "best travel card for beginners" in our best travel rewards credit cards guide. This is one of the most generous credit card offers we've ever seen, especially for a credit card with such a low annual fee ($95, rates and fees). Other credit cards offer higher rewards in certain categories of spending Insider’s Take If you want an easy, no-fuss travel rewards credit card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great fit. The current Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card bonus, however, comes with an automatic $250 welcome credit as soon as you open your account. Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement creditWelcome bonus aside, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is Business Insider's top-choice travel credit card for beginners for many good reasons.

Persons: hasn't, Here's, Miles, TSA PreCheck, you'll, Taylor, cardholders Organizations: Capital, Travelers, TSA, U.S, TSA PreCheck Locations: Grandma's, U.S

As long as inflation continues to slow, mortgage rates should ease throughout the remainder of 2024, improving affordability for hopeful homebuyers. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates would impact your monthly payments. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Go Down (-0.41%)The average 15-year mortgage rate is 5.66%, 41 basis points lower than last week. Mortgage Refinance Rates30-Year Fixed Refinance Rates Decrease (-0.39%)The average 30-year refinance rate is 7.45%, 39 basis points down from last week. Mortgage rates also rose dramatically in 2023, though they started trending back down toward the end of the year.

Persons: you'll, It's, refinance Organizations: Federal, of Labor Statistics, Zillow, FHA Locations: Chevron

A high-yield savings account has a higher interest rate than a typical bank savings account. A financial planner says they work best for short-term savings goals, like planning for a vacation. Here are three situations where Betts says you should definitely keep your cash in a high-yield savings account. Creating a travel budgetBetts advises his clients to use a high-yield savings account to save up for their travels. Paying down debtExperts recommend only keeping three to six months in a high-yield savings account for emergencies.

Persons: Spencer Betts, Betts, They're

I always said I would give my land to my adult children when we married, and I moved in with him. He is upset that I am giving our marital assets to my adult children, and he says that is not fair to him or his three adult children. If this solution doesn't work for your husband, it's his job to find an alternative, not yours. AdvertisementAnother compromise might be giving your adult children a larger share of your personal assets and one another's children smaller bequests. And you can't have the conversation until your husband is willing to have it.

Persons: it's, we're Organizations: Service

My pet insurance is $25 a month, and I get great care for my cat with affordable co-pays. I pay $25 a month for pet insuranceI have Fetch pet insurance, which costs about $25 a month for one cat (although it started at $22). Get Pet Insurance Quotes Find affordable pet insurance policies with Petted. Rose used to have pet insurance for Mar through her job, which gave her access to Nationwide pet insurance for about $8 a month out of her paycheck. Now, doing research on pet insurance, Rose expects to pay a higher cost than before.

Persons: I've, I'm, She's, It's, Cuddles, Rose Rogers, Rose, Mar, it's Organizations: Sherwood Cat, Mar, Nationwide Locations: I'm, Portland , Oregon, Oregon's, Seattle

Mortgage rates dropped last week and remain low today. This should remove a lot of upward pressure off of mortgage rates and allow them to trend down. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's interest rates will affect your monthly payments. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesAverage 15-year mortgage rates inched down to 6.17% last week, according to Freddie Mac data. Mortgage rates increased dramatically over the last two years, but they're expected to go down at some point this year.

Persons: you'll, Freddie Mac, it's Organizations: Federal Reserve, Zillow Locations: May's, Chevron

Instead, buying gold makes sense if it's a way to diversify my investments — and gold IRAs work well. Before buying gold, he told me to consider all the other costs I might face. Investing in gold can diversify your portfolioSkelhorn did confirm that investing in gold could be a good way to diversify my portfolio. However, he said that before buying gold bars, we should understand there could be added fees depending on how we buy and store it. Whether you're opening a Gold IRA or buying physical gold to diversify your portfolio, Goldco can help you seamlessly navigate the process.

Persons: Jake Skelhorn, —, we're, Skelhorn, it's Organizations: Service, IRA

See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates would impact your monthly payments. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesThe average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.89% last week, according to Freddie Mac. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesLast week, average 15-year mortgage rates were 6.17%, an eight-basis-point decrease from the previous week, according to Freddie Mac data. Mortgage rates started ticking up from historic lows in the second half of 2021 and increased over three percentage points in 2022. Once the Fed cuts rates, mortgage rates should fall even further.

Persons: homebuyers, you'll, Freddie Mac, it's Organizations: Zillow, Federal Reserve Locations: Chevron

Financial planners said real estate is a top source of passive income for their clients. Making passive income isn't always as easy as it sounds — it takes time and money up front, and the benefits don't come overnight. To find out how people are earning passive income, Business Insider asked several financial advisors to share their clients' top passive-income sources. "Passive income sources like podcasts, websites, apps, YouTube channels generating income off of ads — those are really common sources of passive income that I've seen," he told Business Insider. Creating digital products for sale onlineEllis said that digital products are a common way she's seen clients earn passive income recently.

Persons: Brent Weiss, he's, Weiss, Akeiva Ellis, She's, it's, Wealthfront, Read, Andrew Westlin, I've, What's, Ellis, doesn't Organizations: YouTube, Business

☆ I write an advice column about money and relationships. When I get questions about weddings, I always remind readers that they're about two people.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Olivia Christensen | Avril Ayers | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In my advice column, For Love & Money, I get a lot of big questions about paying for weddings. The key to all my advice is that a wedding is about exactly two people — and that's OK.Do you have your own questions about money and relationships? It seemed that what hurt the aunt most was that this niece later married the guy anyway, without a big wedding, inviting the aunt, or repaying her. I encouraged the bride to lean into the universally acknowledged truth that a person's wedding day is their own. Looking for advice on how your savings, debt, or another financial challenge is affecting your relationships?

Persons: —, Big, she'd, doesn't Organizations: Service Locations: United States

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