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To improve your chances of getting approved for a new credit card, focus on building your credit score and tackling debt you already have. Monitor your credit score for freeBefore applying for a credit card, it's smart to check your credit score and monitor it for changes as you make moves to improve your credit score. Consider a secured credit cardIf you're worried about being approved for a credit card right now because your credit score isn't in the best shape, you can also consider one of the best secured credit cards. A secured credit card requires a cash deposit as collateral, and this type of card can help you build credit when you can't get approved otherwise. Once you use a secured credit card and make on-time monthly payments for a stretch of time, you may qualify for an upgrade to a regular credit card.

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A typical in-state four-year degree is around $100,000 on average, but there are ways to make it cheaper. Dual enrollment, in-state schools, and community college will all be cheaper than many expensive options. Experts have six tips for paying less in tuition, fees and other higher education expenses this year. Earn college credits in high schoolCollege consultant Chad Dorman of Leonard Andrew Consulting says that, in many cases, high school students can earn college credit via dual enrollment. This is especially true if community colleges in your area have reciprocity agreements with nearby four-year schools.

Rewards Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Intro Offer Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. $95 APR 20.74% - 27.74% Variable Rewards Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. We've cruised with MSC in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Greek Islands, and Norway. See Insider's picks for the best cruise travel insurance companies »Finally, cruising provides entertainment around the clock.

☆ What should you do with your 401(k) when you switch jobs? Experts weigh in
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Millions of people switch jobs every single year, and millions of 401(k) plans and other retirement accounts fall by the wayside as a result. We asked experts what most retirement savers should do if they have multiple old retirement accounts scattered around — here’s what they had to say. Keep track of your old 401(k) accountsTry and keep good records of your 401(k) accounts, including account numbers. Roll over your 401(k) accounts earlyRollover your old 401(k) accounts early to avoid confusion and potentially maximize returns. How to roll over an old 401(k) planYou can often roll over your 401(k) to an IRA online.

Some of the very best Citi credit cards earn ThankYou Rewards, including the popular Citi Premier® Card and no-annual-fee options like the Citi® Double Cash Card, Citi Rewards+® Card , and Citi Custom Cash℠ Card. If you're thinking of applying for one of the best credit cards like the Citi Premier® Card, Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, or Citi® Double Cash Card, keep reading to learn more about how you can put your Citi credit card rewards to work for you. How to earn Citi ThankYou pointsThe easiest way to rack up Citi ThankYou points is with a Citi credit card, which you can easily apply for online. Show more Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 18.74% - 28.74% Variable Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months Editor's Rating 3.65 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.65 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. There's one non-airline Citi ThankYou transfer partner available to all cardholders — you can transfer your Citi ThankYou points to Sears Shop Your Way points at a rate of 1:10.

☆ Just get your tax refund? 7 smart ways to use it
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

If you’re looking for a way to use your tax refund for maximum impact, here are some of the best options to consider in 2023 and beyond. Pay down high-interest debtPutting your tax refund toward paying down credit card debt could save you thousands of dollars in interest charges. If you can’t pay down all of your credit card debt at once, you can use your tax refund to cover a portion of it. Bulk up your emergency fundConsider putting your tax refund toward your emergency fund to prepare for surprise expenses. Invest in yourselfInvest in yourself by using your tax refund to improve your health or further your education.

About a quarter of Americans waited until the last two weeks to file their taxes last year. You can create a plan to file early next year with a schedule and an organization system for your documents. Editor's Rating 4.2/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.5/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.6/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Learn more On TurboTax's website Learn more On H&R Block's website Learn more On Tax Slayer's website1. You'll want to begin gathering documents related to your taxes all in one place throughout the year. "Half the battle when it comes to preparing your taxes is rounding up all your tax documents," said Allec.

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates repeatedly since 2022, and that makes credit card debt expensive. With debt balances at $986 billion, Americans will pay $45 billion more in interest than they would have. Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely to have credit card debt than white Americans. At the beginning of 2022, the average credit card interest rate was 16.17%, according to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. Ways to take control of your credit card debtIf you find yourself with large credit card debt, it's a good idea to pay it off quickly.

☆ A personal-finance blogger quit being a landlord, sold her rental properties, and still plans to retire early. Here's how.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Aj Latrace | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A personal-finance blogger sold two rental properties and reinvested the money into index funds. She plans to retire early and likes that index funds "never call you in the middle of the night." Trading rental properties for index fundsThe Johnsons, who are both in their early 40s, plan to retire in the next few years. Other downsides of landlord lifeA lot of eager real-estate investors may not be fully aware of the downsides of being a landlord, Johnson said. "So many people are getting into rental properties who have no idea what they're getting into and probably shouldn't be at all," she said.

Bad credit could mean paying more than three times as much on a $5,000 loan as someone with good credit. If the 3.5 million Americans taking out loans had bad credit, that difference in interest rate would cost them a cumulative $20 billion. The cost of borrowing money with bad credit adds up fastWe don't know exactly how many borrowers have good and bad credit, so there's no way to be sure how much more Americans with bad credit are paying on the whole. In other words, bad credit could mean Americans would cumulatively pay as much as $20 billion extra this year. A recent Credit Sesame survey of 5,000 adults in the United States also found Black and Hispanic Americans had lower average credit scores than white Americans.

☆ How to get approved for a business credit card
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But, how do you get approved for a business credit card? Know your credit scoreYour personal credit score will often be a factor in being approved for a business credit card. This step is important since card issuers will take your personal credit into account when approving you for a business credit card. Compare business card optionsYou can earn a variety of rewards with your business credit card, including airline miles. Fortunately, you can quickly and easily fill out a business card application just like you would if you were applying for a personal credit card.

The average cost of a financed used car has risen significantly since the pandemic began. Even if the price of a used car comes back down, you might still get hit by high interest rates. Americans' cars are worth $313 billion more than 2020Many of the used vehicles on America's roads are worth considerably more now than they were last year. That means that while many used cars likely haven't appreciated in value, newer cars have risen in value significantly. All the used cars that were financed last year are worth a collective $1.5 trillion — $313 billion more than they were worth in 2020.

Review: Is the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card the Best Credit Card for You? How to Earn Cash Rewards With the Wells Fargo Active Cash CardThe Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers 2% cash rewards on purchases with no rewards category limitations or quarterly activation. How to Redeem Rewards From the Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit CardRewards earned with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card belong in the Wells Fargo Rewards program, which means you can redeem them in several ways. However, you should note that a few of the redemption options available are only for Wells Fargo customers, including payments to Wells Fargo loan products and cash rewards at a Wells Fargo ATM. Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Benefits and FeaturesThe Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card comes with decent benefits for a no-annual-fee card.

I'm giving up my Chase Sapphire Reserve® and replacing it with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a lower annual fee and excellent benefits. Read more: Capital One Venture X vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which premium rewards credit card is best for you? By and large, the $395 annual fee on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card makes it a good value. After all, my husband and I have more credit cards from Chase than any other issuer, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card.

Persons: Read, —, I'm, We're, cardholders, weren't, Hertz, there's Organizations: Chase, Capital, Service, Venture, One, Reserve, Capital One, Dallas, Fort Worth International, Denver International, Washington Dulles International, — Air France, KLM, Blue, British Airways, Air, Hertz, Sapphire, Ink Locations: DFW, Puerto Vallarta, Air France

If the 3.5 million Americans taking out loans had bad credit, that difference in interest rate would cost them a cumulative $93 billion. See Insider's picks for the best personal loans »Insider's Featured Personal Loan Companies LightStream Personal LoanMarcus Personal LoanSoFi Personal Loan Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. The cost of borrowing money with bad credit adds up fastWe don't know exactly how many borrowers have good and bad credit, so there's no way to be sure how much more Americans with bad credit are paying on the whole. In other words, bad credit could mean Americans would cumulatively pay as much as $93 billion extra this year. A recent Credit Sesame survey of 5,000 adults in the United States also found Black and Hispanic Americans had lower average credit scores than white Americans.

☆ 5 reasons to get the Chase Freedom Unlimited
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Exceptional earning rates for the first yearThe Chase Freedom Unlimited isn’t currently offering a traditional sign-up bonus. Combine with a premium Chase travel card for even better redemptionsIf you already have a premium Chase travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, there’s another good reason to pick up the Chase Freedom Unlimited. That means you could get as much as 1.5 cents per point if you combine your Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards with a Chase Sapphire Reserve. If your flight is interrupted or cancelled due to severe weather or other eligible reasons, the Chase Freedom Unlimited can help cover unanticipated expenses. Why you shouldn’t get the Chase Freedom UnlimitedClearly, there are plenty of reasons to sign up for the Chase Freedom Unlimited, but why wouldn’t you want it?

Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card the Best Credit Card for You? Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Benefits and FeaturesThe Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card comes with a host of benefits and travel perks. You're also not eligible if you already have a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy® Premier credit card (not available to new applicants) open, or earned the welcome bonus from one in the past 24 months. Within the past 90 days, you've been approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card. Within the past 24 months, you've earned a welcome bonus/upgrade bonus for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card.

Remember that your tax refund is money you gave the government earlier, so a big refund isn't better. While a smaller tax refund could be nothing more than an inconvenience, owing money on your taxes might seem downright catastrophic. Don't panicFirst off, you should know that receiving a smaller tax refund isn't the end of the world. Also know that you have options with the IRS if you owe money you don't actually have. A lower tax refund could be caused by legitimate issues, but it could also mean the taxpayer missed something important while they were preparing their taxes.

Not only can you have multiple life insurance policies, but you can purchase multiple at once. I talked to some life insurance experts to find out when it makes sense for individuals to have several life insurance policies. Life insurance agent Steven Ogle of Redwood Life Group says it's fairly common for families to invest in a standard, 20-year term life insurance policy when each of their children are born. Multiple policies for multiple needsFinally, financial planner Jaimin Garabedian of Assurance Wealth Management says many people have multiple life insurance policies because each type serves a different purpose. Garabedian adds that there are those who use life insurance for certain "living benefits" such as long-term care or the tax-advantaged growth some life insurance policies offer.

Amex OffersThe Amex Blue Cash Preferred comes with access to the Amex Offers** program. As with most other cards, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred charges fees for late payments, returned payments, and cash advances. Here's our comparison of the Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday to help you decide which is best for your wallet. Is the Amex Blue Cash Preferred a credit card or charge card? You can't transfer cash back (Reward Dollars) from the Amex Blue Cash Preferred to other Amex cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express® Gold Card.

How to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards pointsThe only way to earn rewards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem is by opening and using a Chase credit card that operates within this program. Pay Yourself Back with Chase points (up to 1.5 cents per point)During the pandemic, Chase introduced a compelling new way to redeem points for everyday, non-travel expenses. Redeem points for experiences (point values vary)You can also use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book special experiences, including one-of-a-kind events hosted by Chase. Book hotels through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portalWhile the Chase Ultimate Rewards program partners with IHG Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt, it's important to price shop awards before you transfer Chase points to these programs. For example, you may find that a Marriott stay that costs 50,000 points will only set you back 12,000 Chase points through the portal.

Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. Review: Citi Double Cash card reviewBest credit cards for home improvement frequently asked questions (FAQ)What is the best credit card for home improvement? There really is no "best" credit card for home renovation that covers every situation. You can almost always pay for home renovations with a credit card — however, the above scenarios we've examined are pricey.

For starters, you'll pay credit card interest whenever you carry a balance from month to month, and you'll likely encounter other fees like over-the-limit fees and late fees. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. But some credit cards don't charge any late fees for your first late payment, or, in some cases, any late fees at all. It's best for those with limited credit histories who can't qualify for a traditional unsecured credit card quite yet. Review: Citi Simplicity credit card reviewApple CardLate fee benefit: The Apple Card doesn't charge any penalty fees or late fees.

Welcome to Personal Finance Insider, a biweekly newsletter that connects you with the stories, strategies, and tips you need to be better with money. Here's what: Don't panic over holiday spendingThe holidays are such a fun time of year, but it goes without saying that they can come with a hefty cost. It's so easy to overspend and get off track with your budget and financial goals between dinners and parties, holiday planning and gift-giving. And even if you carefully laid out a holiday budget ahead of time, unexpected costs can add up quickly. The 18 best personal finance books for 2022Ready to get your finances on track in the new year?

There are four main types of cash-back credit cards, and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card falls into the flat-rate rewards category. How to use rewards from the Quicksilver Cash RewardsYou can redeem your rewards from the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card for a check in the mail or a statement credit. Unlike some other cash-back credit cards, there's no minimum redemption amount with the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. What credit score do you need to qualify for the Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card? Most folks who qualify for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card have a good to excellent credit score (FICO score of at least 670).

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