What Is a Medicare Advantage HMO Plan?

A Medicare Advantage health maintenance organization plan is a health insurance plan that requires members to use providers and medical facilities in the HMO’s network for care — unless it’s an emergency. You may also be able to get out-of-network care if you need urgent care when you’re out of the plan’s service area or if you need out-of-area dialysis. The HMO plan is the most common Medicare Advantage plan, accounting for almost 60% of all Medicare Advantage plans. How Medi

Check your cards: This Amex Offer could take $300 off your next premium cabin flight

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Can You Be a Financial Coach Part-Time?

Do you have a passion for helping people with their money, but you just don’t know how to go about it? Maybe you already have a career, and you’re not ready to do it full-time? Can you be a part-time money coach? A listener to the GFC podcast that is interested in helping people with their money asked my opinion if it makes sense to pursue his passion. I just love answering these types of questions of people that are determined to follow their passion to serve others. Side note: Feel free

Trim Your Budget Strategically to Battle Rising Prices, Rates

Consumers face rising prices almost everywhere they turn, including on basics like gas and food. At the same time, rising interest rates can translate into higher credit card payments for people carrying debt month to month. That double whammy of higher costs for both everyday spending and debt translates into greater financial strain on people’s budgets. While there’s not much consumers can do to change those macroeconomic factors, they can compensate for them by finding new ways to

You don’t have to stay home: Summer travel deals you can still book

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How to Use Travel Funds on United

Like other major U.S. airlines, United provides travel funds for its customers. These can come about as a gift due to a canceled flight or other reasons. However, finding and using these funds isn’t the most intuitive experience. So let’s look at how to apply travel funds on United, where you can find them and the different types of travel funds. How do you get United travel funds? There are three major types of travel funds that you’ll find within your United account. Fut

8 more at-home COVID-19 tests are available from the government, but they can’t be used for travel

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Your Payment Processor Froze Your Account — Now What?

IHG offers status challenge to its two top status tiers — is it worth it?

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Why Marriott’s Protea Hotel Kruger Gate is perfect for an independent South African safari

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How Long Do Hard Inquiries Stay on Your Credit Report?

There are several important things to understand about hard credit inquiries and how they affect your credit. The following topics should help you better understand how credit inquiries work, how they can lower your credit score, and what you can do about inaccurate hard inquiries. What Are Hard Inquiries? There are two types of credit inquiries: Hard Inquiry: Also called a hard pull, this kind of credit check occurs when you apply for a loan. For example, when you apply for a credit card, a

Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Business Credit Card Review (2022.5 Update: 80k+$95 Offer!)

physixfan       2022-05-04     2022-05-04 2022.5 Update: The new offer is 80k+$95! This is the best ever offer on this card. 2022.3 Update: This card is alive again. The current offer is 70k. HT: FM. 2021.11 Update: This card is probably discontinued. Application Link Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Business Benefits 80k+$95 offer: earn 80,000 AAdvantage Miles and $95 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 90 days. This is the best ever offer o

The 15/3 Credit Card Hack Is Nonsense — Here’s What to Do Instead

QR Code Payments: How Small Businesses Can Use Them

A QR code, or quick response code, is a way to convert information into an image, like this: If you point a smartphone camera at one, it can execute a command like opening a webpage in a browser — a simple but useful feature, especially for longer URLs that are too clunky to input manually. Small businesses can use this technology to add to their payment capabilities, turning customer phones into cash registers. How to use QR codes for payments (Screensh

Cruise lines cap ship capacity, close restaurants due to crew shortages

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Hertz Adds New Way to Skip Young Driver Fees This Summer 

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, rental car prices have been on the upswing. Rental prices reached all-time highs in July 2021 and — while they’ve slightly recovered — they’re still higher every month thus far of 2022 than they ever were pre-pandemic. And rental car prices are almost always higher for young adults. That’s because most rental car companies charge underage rental car fees. But now, college graduates under the age of 25 won’t be subject to young driver fees at al

Economy and first-class flights to Austin from $124 round-trip

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How to Stay in the Maldives for Cheap via Citi and Choice

Overwater villas, white sand and strawberry daiquiris — these are the images we conjure up when thinking about the Maldives. One of the most aspirational vacations for every type of traveler, we often spend years saving up for the ability to sleep a few nights above the waves. But these perfect beaches can come at a hefty price. Travelers don’t always have to break the bank to get to paradise. There are plenty of affordable options when it comes time to redeem points for these hotels.

Small and satisfying: Flying premium economy on Scandinavian Airlines’ new A321LR from Washington to Copenhagen

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How to Avoid ‘Rug Pulls,’ the Latest Cryptocurrency Scam

A new type of scam has emerged in the hype-filled world of cryptocurrency: the "rug pull." The scam, which gets its name from the expression “pulling the rug out,” involves a developer attracting investors to a new cryptocurrency project, then pulling out before the project is built, leaving investors with a worthless currency. It’s part of a long history of investment schemes. “This isn’t a crypto-only phenomenon. This is a people phenomenon. Crypto is just the latest way to d

Would you walk across? World’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge opens in Czech Republic

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Rate my redemption: New York to London in British Airways economy, using Avios

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No more $27 beer; Authorities crack down on out-of-control prices at NYC airports

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What Is a White-Label Payment Gateway?

Online businesses need a payment gateway , a portal where customers can securely enter their payment information to process transactions on their websites. White-label payment gateways, unlike traditional gateways, let businesses customize the online checkout process with their own names, logos and brand components without having to create their own systems from scratch. Many payment processors now have white-label checkout tools or open software for developers to fully customize the chec

First look: On board United’s inaugural flight to the Azores

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Bitcoin vs. Ethereum: What’s the Difference?

The main difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum is that Bitcoin was designed as a way to carry out relatively simple digital payments. At the same time, Ethereum can support more complex financial software. Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) have plenty in common. They are both cryptocurrencies, and together, they make up more than half of the overall crypto market. As such, they rely on similar “ blockchain ” technology, and they appeal to many of the same investors. They a

US hotel profits reach highest levels in more than 2 years

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‘Fresh Start’: What Student Loan Borrowers in Default Need to Know

When payments resume on federal student loans, borrowers with loans previously in default will receive a fresh start and be allowed to reenter repayment in good standing. But what does that entail for borrowers in default? And how does the U.S. Department of Education plan to support borrowers to prevent them from defaulting again? Few details are currently available about the program, informally labeled Operation Fresh Start, that was announced on April 6 as part of the federal st

Quick points: Save miles on infant and child award tickets with these 3 programs

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Smart Money Podcast: Travel Diary: Scrimping and Splurging in Japan

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. This episode is dedicated to a Travel Nerd’s story about traveling to Tokyo for a vacation that balanced moments of luxury and cost-saving travel hacks. Check out this episode on any of these platforms: Track your money with NerdWallet Skip the bank apps and see all your accounts in one place. Our take Taking a multi-week vacation using points and miles mean

Lufthansa apologizes for barring Jewish passengers after mask dispute

Business Tax Deadline for LLCs and Sole Proprietors 2022-2023

Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Indiana

Nearly 1.3 million people in Indiana are signed up for Medicare, placing it in the top 20 U.S. states for Medicare beneficiaries . Medicare is the government health care program for people 65 and older. Medicare Advantage is a bundled alternative to Medicare that offers all the same benefits and usually some extras, such as cost savings on dental and vision coverage. Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare, and they can be cheaper than paying for Medica

Everything you need to know about Blacklane global chauffeur service

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Partnership vs. Corporation: Key Differences and How to Choose

A partnership is the default business structure for a company with multiple owners. In a partnership, co-owners report their share of the business’s income and losses on their personal tax returns. A corporation, which is formed by filing articles of incorporation, is a legally separate business entity owned by shareholders. An elected board and board-appointed officers manage the corporation. When deciding on a business entity structure, many small business owners find themselves havi

Don’t want to miss out on earning bonus points? There’s an extension for that

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Is Private Flood Insurance Right for You?

For decades, nearly all flood insurance in the U.S. has been provided through the federally backed National Flood Insurance Program — but these days you may have other options. A growing number of private flood insurance companies offer coverage that may be more affordable or comprehensive than what you’ll get through the NFIP. Here’s what you need to know about private flood insurance, plus a few companies to consider. But first, a note on terminology: NFIP policies are sold throu

The power of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Preferred and Freedom Unlimited

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KPI Explained

The basics of KPIs KPIs, or key performance indicators, use measurable data to track a company’s progress toward a targeted set of goals. From an investor perspective, KPIs are typically related to a company’s financial performance, but they can also be used to measure marketing, management or employee efficiency. KPIs are typically tracked on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Understanding a company’s performance history can help investors determine future performa

5 Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders

There are several reasons to consider refinancing your mortgage. You might be able to get a lower interest rate, which would lead to smaller monthly payments. You might also be able to use your home’s equity for a loan. Irrespective of your reasons for refinancing, the best mortgage refinance companies offer transparent pricing and terms, and have competitive rates. The big factors for how much you might be able to save or get in your loan depend on the condition of the housing market and cur

Best Credit Card Signup Bonus Offers in May 2022

physixfan       2022-04-17     2022-05-01 Earning credit card signup bonuses is one of the best ways to acquire a large amount of miles/points in a short period of time and can lead to a 20% or more return on your spending. By combining great signup bonuses with rewards credit cards that provide the best return on everyday purchases, you will be amazed at how many free flights or hotel stays you can earn. Keep in mind that most credit cards that come with lucrative sign-

West Coast woes: Are COVID-19 numbers rising again on cruise ships?

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SEP IRA vs. Roth IRA: What’s the difference?

There are multiple varieties of individual retirement accounts or IRAs, for short. Two available versions are the SEP-IRA and the Roth IRA. So, what are they? And, can you choose to have one or the other? – or even both? In fact, a reader submitted this exact question: “I have a question about the SEP Roth IRA. If My employer doesn’t offer any kind of retirement benefits. But I do have my own Roth and from Previous employment Rollover IRA. I am regularly contributing to my Roth IRA.A

How to Buy a House for Sale by Owner

Most home sellers work with real estate agents to list and market their properties and negotiate with buyers. But about 7% of sellers skip hiring an agent and list their homes "for sale by owner," or FSBO, according to a National Association of Realtors 2021 survey. Buying a home "for sale by owner" means you, or you and your agent, will deal with the homeowner directly, rather than through a listing agent who represents the property owner. Here's what to know. Working with a buyer's ag

Dark horse for an everyday card: Virgin Atlantic Mastercard credit card review

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Best Small-Business Loans for Minorities of May 2022

Minority business loans are available from many lenders. But getting funding from a traditional financial institution may be tougher for minority business owners due to issues like unconscious bias, insufficient credit and limited banking history. More success may be possible with alternative sources, such as nonprofit organizations and online lenders. In fact, a 2019 report from the Federal Reserve found similar approval rates for white- and Black-owned businesses among online lenders, wh

Should You Pursue Hyatt Elite Status in 2022?

If you're a fan of free things, then Hyatt elite status is for you. Exceedingly generous with its top-tier members, the World of Hyatt program offers benefits that other programs simply don’t. But is it worth the time and money to invest in the program? Should you pursue Hyatt elite status in 2022? Here’s a look at the perks of Hyatt elite status and how the program can be lucrative. Hyatt elite status rises above the rest We already hinted at this in the introduction, but Hyat

Use this Aeroplan points sale to buy business class tickets to Europe for under $1,000

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17 Smart Ways to Invest $10K Dollars

Do you remember the first time you wrote a check for $100? The first $100 check I wrote was for my cell phone waaayyy back in 1997. Whoa…that brings back memories. At that point, it hadn’t even occurred to me to invest the 100 dollars – I was just happy to have my cell phone! What about your first $100 check? Or your first $1,000 check? I bet you weren’t wondering how to invest $1,000 dollars then, were you? Even better, your first $10,000 check? The first time I wrote a check for

6 things you should know before you rent your first RV

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Best Cash Registers for Small Businesses

The best cash registers are simple to set up, are reasonably priced and offer the features your business needs to get the job done. After all, an unnecessarily complicated system can turn checkout into a headache for you and your customers. Standard electronic cash registers often work best for brick-and-mortar businesses that need to take payments only. But if you want additional business management capabilities, consider a point-of-sale, or POS, system with register functionality. He

The very first Park Hyatt – Chicago – is again accepting reservations after major overhaul

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Best Medicare Supplement Plans in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has over 2.8 million Medicare beneficiaries — the fifth highest total of any state . About 1.5 million of those beneficiaries have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Here’s what you need to know about finding the best Medigap policy for you in Pennsylvania. Most popular Medicare Supplement Insurance plan types in Pennsylvania There are 10 standard Medigap plan types available in Pennsylvania (Plan C and Plan F aren’t available for new Medicare members). How

Delta cuts 3 domestic routes as it continues making pandemic-era tweaks

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10 Smart Ways to Invest $1,000

According to a recent Pew Research Center study , more than half of American adults have money invested in the stock market. Although the median holdings (amounts invested) vary based on age, income, and other demographic factors, it’s clear that Americans see the value of investing — even if their exposure is limited to a workplace 401(k). If you have a fully-funded emergency fund and have an extra $1,000 that you don’t immediately need, you have a lot of options. Unfortunately, the she

Varo vs. Chime: Which Is Better for You?

Varo and Chime have comparable offerings with a few key differences. Varo is a bank, and Chime is a neobank — an online-only financial service company that partners with a bank to provide account insurance. Here’s how the two companies compare with each other. Snapshot comparison Checking account No monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance requirement for either Varo or Chime. Varo and Chime both have early direct deposits. Cash deposits at Varo and Chime could b

Round-trip flights to Vancouver starting at $200 from West Coast and New York City

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What Is a Private Party Auto Loan?

Private-party auto loans help you pay for a car you buy from an individual, such as a family member or on Craigslist. When you purchase a car from a private seller, you won’t have a car dealership finance department to set up financing. You can find private-party auto loans at banks, credit unions and online lenders, but not all lenders offer them. So you may have to shop around to find one. But that also allows you to apply to more than one lender and compare rates. Private-party auto

American Express adds new ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage option on flights

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Where to Find Rental Car Discounts

The rental car crunch and rising gas prices have significantly increased the cost of a road trip. As car rental agencies struggle to replenish their inventory, daily rental rates are soaring in popular travel destinations. In some cities, you’re lucky to find a vehicle at all. However, renting a car doesn’t have to feel like highway robbery. Discounts are abundant — you just have to know where to look. Here’s where and how to find rental car discounts. The AAA isn’t just for

Virgin Atlantic plane forced to return to Heathrow midflight as pilot had not completed training

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Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: Which Should I Choose?

When it’s time to sign up for Medicare, one of the first and most substantial decisions you face is whether to choose Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. In 2022, 45% of Medicare beneficiaries have a Medicare Advantage plan, according to data from The Chartis Group. The decision will depend on several factors, including where you live, your current and potential health care needs and your financial situation. Both options provide coverage for your major medical needs. But your out-o

For Summer Travel Deals, Stay Off the Beaten Path

The majority of Americans — 7 out of 10 — plan to travel in the next 12 months for leisure, according to a February NerdWallet survey . Many Americans are looking to travel this summer, and most hope to find a good deal. Air travel has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels . The number of flyers passing through TSA checkpoints was down only 19% in February and January compared to the same period in 2019. Hotels are filling up and vacation rentals are booming. “Demand across

Save on Hawaii Travel Even as Demand Soars

When deciding where to travel this summer, Hawaii checks all the boxes for many tourists. The islands’ lush, tropical landscape provides a contrast from two years of mostly staying at home. It’s a far-off getaway, but it won’t require a negative COVID-19 test to return to the continental U.S. And, there’s no shortage of luxury. Within the first two weeks of Hawaii's announcement to lift travel restrictions, Expedia says it saw a nearly 30% increase in searches for spring and summer

FAA pledges to work with airlines to fix Florida’s air traffic delays

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How Your Credit Score Affects Homeowners Insurance

For people with poor credit, buying a house can be challenging — and expensive. Once you find a lender that’s willing to offer you a mortgage, you’ll probably have a higher interest rate than someone with good credit. And you could also pay significantly more for homeowners insurance. A NerdWallet rate analysis found that a person with good credit would pay $1,784 per year for homeowners insurance, on average. But in most states, someone with poor credit would see an average premium

5 things to love about Azamara Onward, the new cruise ship from upscale line Azamara

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Best Extended Car Warranty for 2022

Shopping for an extended car warranty may not sound very fun, but having this protection can provide considerable peace of mind. After all, the best-extended car warranties can ensure your car gets fixed during a covered breakdown. Best of all, your extended warranty coverage will actually pay for the repairs. But, which extended car warranty company should you purchase coverage from? Because there are quite a few reputable providers in this space, it’s crucial to compare them based on the wa

DIY Credit Repair in 5 Easy Steps

Having bad credit makes life a lot harder. You won’t be able to open a new credit card, close on a mortgage loan, or even get a personal loan with affordable interest rates. In most states, even your car insurance will cost more when you have poor credit. The answer is DIY credit repair. It’ll take some time and effort, but you can improve your credit score, one step at a time. 5 Steps To DIY Credit Repair Repairing your credit can be easier if you follow these five easy steps. I developed

AmEx Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card Review (2022.4 Update: 100k Offer)

physixfan       2022-04-21     2022-04-21 Non-affiliate disclosure: all information about the this card have been collected independently by US Credit Card Guide and has not been reviewed by the issuer. 2022.4 Update: The new offer is 100k. The 125k+2FN offer appeared last year was way better. 2021.11 Update: The big offer has expired. The current offer is only 75k+$150. 2021.9 Update: The card is now offering 125k points and 2 Free Night certificates up to 50k p

5 Ways to Finance a Swimming Pool

On a hot summer day, a dip in a cool pool feels priceless. But installing that swimming pool definitely comes with a price tag. An above-ground pool costs $700 to $3,600, while an in-ground pool costs $36,750 to $66,500, according to home improvement website HomeAdvisor. Cash is the interest-free way to pay for your backyard oasis, but saving that kind of money could take years. To finance the project, you have a handful of options. Some are unsecured and others use your home as collater

Aeroplan cardholders can now transfer Chase points with a 10% bonus

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6 Nerds Share Their 2022 Travel Rewards Strategies

NerdWallet’s travel experts harp on one concept over and over again: The smartest way to plan your trips, redeem points and miles, or select a new travel rewards credit card really depends on your individual travel goals. Turning your travel rewards plans into a smart money move doesn’t have to entail opening 20-plus credit cards. If you need some inspiration for your credit card strategy this year, our Nerds share some of their own approaches for 2022. You’ll find what benefits they

I flew this French low-cost airline from LA to Paris and wouldn’t do it again

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Best Medicare Supplement Plans in Texas

Texas has over 4.4 million Medicare beneficiaries — the third highest total of any state . Of those, about 2.3 million Texans have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Here’s what you need to know about finding the best Medigap policy for you in Texas. Most popular Medicare Supplement Insurance plan types in Texas There are 10 standard Medigap plan types available in Texas (Plan C and Plan F aren’t available for new members), but they’re not all equally popular. In fact

How To Invest And Live Off Dividends

This is a guest post by Josh Arnold for SureDividend.com At Sure Dividend, we are big proponents of investing in high-quality dividend growth stocks, such as the Dividend Aristocrats. This is a group of stocks that have increased their dividends for 25+ consecutive years, making them ideal candidates for investing for passive income. The goal of most investors is to build enough wealth over time that they can stop working and retire. After all, in order to retire, one needs a sizable portfol

Business Insurance Near You: How to Find an Agent

If you’re looking for business insurance near you, you’re probably searching for a local agent you can trust. After all, you might get small-business insurance from this person for years and rely on them for help navigating crises like natural disasters and employee injuries. If your insurance needs are simple and you want coverage right away — for instance, you need general liability insurance before you sign a lease — it might be easiest to buy business insurance online .

Oktoberfest returns to Germany this fall

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Couple gets married on board Southwest Airlines flight

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8 Ways to Save Up the Down Payment for a House

When my wife and I purchased our first home, I was 5 months into a military deployment in Iraq. In a lot of ways, this presented a hardship since I wasn’t physically present to help see the process through. Then again, I trusted my wife’s judgment so much that I was willing to become a first-time homeowner – even from the other side of the world. Even though we didn’t have a huge down payment, we had several factors working in our favor. First, we qualified for a VA home loan, which is

Can You Have 2 American Airlines Credit Cards?

Unlike most airlines, American Airlines offers credit cards through two different card issuers: Citi and Barclays. This dual partnership opens up even more opportunities for travelers to accumulate AAdvantage miles . Combined, these two card issuers currently offer six different American Airlines co-branded credit cards — four consumer cards and two small-businesses cards. All of these options may leave you wondering whether you can have two (or more) American Airlines credit card

How some airlines are getting involved in blockchain, cryptocurrency and NFTs

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Are Older Workers a Solution to the Labor Shortage?

During the ongoing labor shortage, businesses are offering hiring incentives, increased compensation and flexible schedules to attract workers. They may also want to consider whether they’re taking full advantage of an often-marginalized, but willing and able, segment of the U.S. labor force — older workers. Older workers, classified as those age 40 and over by the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act, make up a significant portion of the U.S. labor force. Roughly 43% of the la

Holland America’s Mariner Society loyalty program: Everything you need to know

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How Much Is a $1 Million Life Insurance Policy?

Do you think a million-dollar term life insurance policy sounds like too much insurance? As a Certified Financial Planner, I see underinsured people every day. What do I tell them? A million-dollar term life insurance policy might actually be the minimum coverage needed for the typical middle-class household, but it’s affordable. That might sound like an exaggeration, but if you crunch the numbers – just as we’ll be doing a little bit – you’ll realize that a million-dollar policy

Best Cash Registers for Small Businesses

Many small businesses still work well with an old-fashioned stand-alone cash register, but businesses that sell online or in multiple locations may benefit from a point-of-sale system with a touch-screen terminal instead. If your business only needs to process payments and manage basic inventory, a traditional cash register from Sharp or SAM4 will do the job. But for sales reports, employee management, mobility and more, an industry-specific POS terminal may be worth the investment.

Hilton to open the country’s first net-zero hotel in May

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Rocket Homes Review

What is Rocket Homes? Rocket Homes Real Estate is a sister company of Rocket Mortgage, an online mortgage lender. Through its website and app, Rocket Homes helps buyers shop for and purchase homes, and it assists homeowners with listing and selling their properties. The company matches buyers and sellers with local, vetted agents from a variety of brokerages. It also offers tools for homeowners who want to sell without an agent and avoid paying a listing agent's commission. The company

I just booked a $129 flight to Europe from JFK. Here’s how I did it

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4 Primary Mortgage Types for All Buyers

Discussions on mortgages usually focus on the loans as a single type. But nothing can be further from the truth. Not only are there different types of mortgage loans, but there are also different mortgage programs, not to mention mortgage lenders. We’re going to discuss both the different types of mortgage loans and the various programs that offer them. However, this is a general discussion of the most popular types, since there are more less-popular loan types and even issuers. The Different

How to Avoid Zelle Scams, Plus What to Do If You Can’t

Zelle is a peer-to-peer payment network used by more than 1,000 banking apps. Like other P2P services, Zelle makes it convenient to send money to friends and family using their email address or phone number. But as convenient as it can be for you, it’s also that convenient for scammers who want your money. Recently, Zelle’s been in the news because criminals are taking advantage of the platform to scam people into sending them money. Banks and credit unions are not responsible for

Summer deal alert: Round-trip flights to Vegas from California starting at $78

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Are Plane Tickets Refundable?

Whether you’re heading to a sunny theme park or springing for a romantic Parisian getaway, booking your plane tickets takes time and planning. However, there is always an element of uncertainty when it comes to travel — and these days a variety of factors can disrupt even the best-planned vacations. In such cases, you may be wondering, “Are plane tickets refundable?” The answer to this will depend on how and where you booked your ticket. Let’s take a look. Nonrefundable ticket

Alaska Airlines Visa Business review: Earn 40,000 miles and a Companion Fare

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Airline and Hotel Programs That Allow Status Extensions for Life Events

Life happens. Whether it's the birth of a new child or needing to care for a family member, sometimes you need to take a break from your normal travels to spend some time at home. Airlines and hotel programs understand that, and some are even willing to extend your elite status to let you pick up where you left off before your leave. 10 airlines and hotels that grant life event elite status extensions 1. Delta Reclaim My Status Delta Air Lines offers the broadest elite

Mickey, monorails and massive milkshakes: 9 things Disney fans will love about Las Vegas

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Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Sapphire Outshines

Both the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® have much to offer seasoned travelers seeking high-end perks. They each provide annual travel credits, airport lounge access, credits toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and other valuable benefits — in exchange for sizable annual fees. But the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes in slightly ahead, thanks to more flexibility with that travel credit, plus higher point values when you redeem for travel. Yo

Book the Conrad Bora Bora with wide-open award space in early 2023

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NAV Explained

What is net asset value, or NAV? Net asset value measures how much an investment fund is worth after subtracting its total liabilities from its total assets. For example, if a mutual fund has $200 million in assets and $20 million in liabilities, its NAV is $180 million. NAV helps set the share price for various types of investment funds, including mutual funds . Why NAV matters Mutual funds, which sell shares directly to or redeem them from individual investors rather than trading

Hitting all the right notes: 24 hours at the W Nashville

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Be warned: You may now need advance reservations for Hawaii activities

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American Airlines Flagship First Class Guide

If you're planning to fly with American Airlines on a long-haul journey, you may want to consider booking an American Airlines Flagship First class ticket. This premium travel experience is available on longer transcontinental flights and many international flights. Here's what you can expect as an American Airlines Flagship First passenger. What is American Airlines Flagship First class? American Airlines Flagship First class tickets are available on select transcontinental and intern

Crypto May Be Coming to Your 401(k) — Here’s What to Know Now

The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. Fidelity Investments announced Tuesday that it will offer 401(k) investors access to Bitcoin as an investment choice in their retirement accounts. This is big news because Fidelity is a legacy investment brand, and cryptocurrencies have b

Get up to $50 off your next Alaska flight when you sign up for Mileage Plan

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How to Remove a Repossession From Your Credit Reports

When you stop making payments on an auto loan, the lender will take the vehicle back. In lending terms, this is called repossession. Read on to find out how to remove an invalid repossession from your credit report. A repossession could happen in two ways: You could surrender the vehicle voluntarily and retain some control over the process. The bank could send someone to reclaim the vehicle — often without notifying you in advance. Either kind of repossession hurts your credit score. The ne

Opinion: Business Class Doors Are Actually Revolutionary

DEVGRU       2022-04-23     2022-04-23 Matt at Live and Let’s Fly wrote a piece a few days ago calling doors in business class suites “(a)n n unnecessary gimmick”. His main argument is that such doors are (1) thin and flimsy, (2) not tall enough to provide a meaningful amount of privacy, (3) poor in quality, and finally (4) conducive to a sense of claustrophobia. Instead, it is claimed that all is well with the current generation business class seats, such as Apex Suite

Best Mortgage Lenders for April 2022 – 6 Picks

The best mortgage lenders offer a variety of benefits that help them stand out, from low-interest rates to reasonable closing costs. Most of the top lenders also make it easy to shop around and compare mortgage rates online and from the comfort of your home, and many specialize in mortgage loan products that help first-time buyers ease their way into homeownership.  If you’re shopping for a new home or you need to refinance the mortgage for a property you already own, you should find out whi

SPAC Explained

A special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, is a company set up by investors with one purpose: to help a private company go public . SPACs have helped companies like DraftKings, BuzzFeed and Virgin Orbit Holdings go public. They’ve grown more popular in recent years because they make investing in large, public companies more accessible to all investors. What is a SPAC? A SPAC is a shell company, or a company that doesn't produce any products or offer any services. In most cas

A game of thrones: Flying business class on Scandinavian Airlines’ new A321LR from Copenhagen to Washington

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What Does Superhost Mean On Airbnb?

You’ve probably heard of Airbnb . The vacation rental accommodation giant has rewritten the way guests travel by putting hosting into the hands of the people. While this has greatly expanded places for people to stay, there’s no guarantee that the property you book will be a good one — especially when there are few reviews. The Airbnb Superhost program, along with several other designations, attempts to remedy this so that your stay will be as pleasant as possible. So what does th

Just got the Chase Sapphire Preferred? Do these 6 things next

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How To Read Your Credit Report

When you learn how to read your credit report you can find credit reporting errors quickly — before they hurt your borrowing power. Don’t feel bad if your credit report makes little to no sense. These complex records confuse a lot of people. If one of your credit reports already includes errors — debts that don’t belong to you or past due balances that aren’t even late, for example — you’ll need to get them corrected to restore your good credit. What Kind of Information Appears on

The Heaviest Credit Cards List (2022.4 Update: Bilt Mastercard: 16g)

physixfan       2022-04-24     2022-04-24 29 Comments 2022.4 Update: The new card Bilt Mastercard (0 annual fee) is also a metal card! Its weight is 16g. 2021.11 Update: The new card Capital One Venture X is 17g. 2021.10 Update: The AmEx Centurion card with the new design is 17g (previously it was only 14g). HT: reader erikfeifei. Most credit cards are made of plastic of approximately 5 grams (g) of plastic, but some are made of metal. Not all metal cards have the sam

Investing for Parents: Save for Retirement, Avoid These Mistakes

One of the first times I started to panic about money was when I found out I was pregnant in 2017. I had zero dollars in an emergency fund, no retirement savings , and I wasn’t earning enough to support a baby as an underpaid freelance writer. Elizabeth Ayoola and son. In several articles I read about "easy ways to make money," investing was an option. However, I always skipped past that suggestion because I wasn’t a whiz at math. It also felt like an income stream

Deal alert: Fly to Tenerife from Boston, Miami and Newark from $438 round-trip

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Everything you need to know about the best seats on Southwest Airlines

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28 Passive Income Ideas To Build Real Wealth

“Making money while you sleep”  has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? After all one of the goals of financial independence is to build wealth that doesn’t eat up your time, so you can enjoy life and do the things you choose to do. The truth is that building a passive income stream usually isn’t passive at first. It requires time, money, skills or all three. But where do you start? The first step is to just build a small nest egg savings account that you can use for later. We’ll com

6 Things to Know Before Flying Emirates First Class

Emirates first class offers one of the most luxurious experiences in travel and, depending on the route and plane, can include: An onboard shower. Two bars. A Bulgari amenity kit. Expansive food and drink options. Of course, you also get bragging rights for life. Before hopping on your flight, here are six things you should know about flying Emirates first class. What to know before flying first class on Emirates 1. You can book Emirates first class with points

9 things to consider when choosing to book via a portal vs. booking directly

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How to Go Green(er) With Sustainable Banking

This Earth Day, you may be wondering how you can reduce your negative impact on the planet. Where you spend and keep your money can affect the kinds of sustainability efforts that are funded and the harmful practices that aren’t. The bank that you use may have some surprising effects on the amount of deforestation and fossil fuel use that occurs worldwide. If you want to align your money with your values, there are moves you can make to be more intentional about funding environmentally s

Citibank Bonus for Checking: Up to $1,500

The Citibank bonus could earn you $300, $700 or $1,500 when you sign up for a new Citi checking account and complete the required activities. To earn the bonus, you'll have to deposit at least $15,000 and meet a few other requirements. The deposit and minimum balance requirements are steep, but the bank offers perks for keeping large deposits with it, such as access to wealth management advisors and financial guidance, waived everyday banking fees and higher limits on ATM withdrawals. He

Hong Kong reopens and prepares for first overseas visitors

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Who should (and who shouldn’t) get the Amex Gold?

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Find Out What Big Data Says About You — and Fix It

I thought I knew all about the information that consumer reporting agencies were collecting on me. Then I discovered The Work Number — a database that reports every paycheck I’ve received from my company, with net and gross amounts, going back to my hire date six years ago. Another consumer reporting agency shows the results of a 2016 echocardiogram. (It was normal.) Yet another tracks insurance claims on my home and car. If I’d made too many returns at retail stores or bounced a che

A Guide to United Flights to Hawaii

Whether you’re looking to escape the snow or want a relaxing spring break vacation, Hawaii may be on your list for a sunny getaway. If you prefer to travel with United Airlines, then you may be wondering “Are there United flights to Hawaii?” Happily, for United Airlines loyalists, the airline operates a wide network of routes to the Hawaiian Islands, with departure options from both the West and East coasts. Let’s take a look at the details about United’s flights to Hawaii. Do

I promised myself I would travel differently post-pandemic — it was a lie

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What Does a Real Estate Agent Do?

A real estate agent is a professional who helps people buy and sell properties. But there's more to it than that. Here's a primer on what real estate agents are (and aren't) and the different roles agents can take on in a real estate transaction. What is a real estate agent? Real estate agents are licensed professionals who facilitate real estate transactions between buyers and sellers. In a transaction, the agent representing the buyer is — no surprise here — the buyer's agen

Discover Will Now Monitor Sites That Collect, Sell Your Data

Discover has launched an Online Privacy Protection benefit for debit and credit cardholders that will help remove their personal information from several "people-search" websites that legally gather and sell it. The benefit will be rolling out in stages over the next few weeks to customers who enable it in Discover’s mobile app . How the Online Privacy Protection benefit works People-search websites collect personal data — like your name, age, address, and contact information su

Russian airline S7 suspended from Oneworld alliance

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SumUp Review 2022: Features, Pricing, Top Alternatives

SumUp gives users a simple, low-cost way to accept card payments. Each of its three card readers offer basic functionality for less than $100, and there are no monthly charges or contracts required to use them. The platform also offers a competitive flat-rate payment processing fee of 2.75% per in-person transaction and 2.9% plus 15 cents per invoice paid online. Compared to options that have feature-rich point-of-sale systems, like Clover or Square , SumUp’s offerings are limited

The Home Buying Checklist: Your Guide for 2022

Buying a home is probably the most complicated financial transaction the average person makes. Because the home buying process has so many moving parts, it will help to have a home-buying checklist. A good one—like the one presented below—will let you know what to look for, and in the right order. Let’s start at the top—making the decision to buy a home—then work down to the closing at the very end. 1. Make Sure You’re Ready to Buy! Most people are pretty sure when they’re ready t

Around the world: How to spend 1 million Chase Ultimate Rewards points

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AmEx Points vs. Chase Points: Which Is Right for You?

American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards® are two of the most popular and well-established transferable points programs in the points and miles world. However, when comparing AmEx points versus Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which comes out on top? Whether you're just starting to collect points and miles or are debating a change in strategy, it's worth considering which is the better points program to focus your attention and loyalty. We compare what you need

Is it ethical to fly business class in light of the climate crisis?

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Credit Card Debt Has Dropped, But Inflation May Change That

Over the past few years, credit card balances were paid down and delinquent accounts became less common. But two years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, those trends — spurred by increased savings and relief programs — could evaporate, especially as inflation soars. The pandemic economy unexpectedly changed many households’ finances for the better — personal savings increased and debt decreased. Now, however, inflation is high, inflows like the advanced child tax credits and expan

9 Alternatives to Investing in the Stock Market

I often get asked by people, “What are some good alternatives to investing in the stock market?”  As a former financial derivatives trader who was in the market 24/7 through the “Great Recession”, I uniquely understand the ups and downs of public markets. I’ve also been actively investing in alternative asset classes for over 12 years.  When people ask me about stock market alternatives, they’re usually coming from three main camps: Seeing the ups and downs of the market each day

How To Remove A Bankruptcy From Your Credit Report

Bankruptcy can be scary, but it’s important that you arm yourself with as much information as possible to navigate the process. In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the most commonly asked questions about bankruptcy, how it can affect your credit score, and how to get a bankruptcy removed. Skip to DIY Steps Is it Even Possible to Get a Bankruptcy Removed From Your Credit Report? We want to be upfront and transparent: it’s very hard to get a bankruptcy removed from your credit

Best Credit Card Signup Bonus Offers in Apr 2022

physixfan       2022-04-17     2022-04-17 52 Comments Earning credit card signup bonuses is one of the best ways to acquire a large amount of miles/points in a short period of time and can lead to a 20% or more return on your spending. By combining great signup bonuses with rewards credit cards that provide the best return on everyday purchases, you will be amazed at how many free flights or hotel stays you can earn. Keep in mind that most credit cards that come with

Chase Sapphire Preferred Hikes Bonus, Now Worth $1,000 (Limited Time)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is once again boosting its offer for new applicants by 20,000 points, meaning it’s now worth $1,000 when redeemed for travel through Chase. As of April 14, 2022, new applicants will be eligible for the following offer: Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Points are worth a penny each for cash back, but they get a 25

Alaska dynamic pricing for American awards now live; expect cheaper short-haul awards

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Smart Money Podcast: How We Got to $1.75 Trillion in Student Debt

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. This week’s episode is a Nerdy Deep Dive into the history of student loans. Check out this episode on either of these platforms: Ready to conquer your debt? Track your balances and spending in one place to see your way out of debt. Our take Today more than 43 million Americans hold student loans , which altogether total over $1.75 trillion. This mammoth a

Get to Costa Rica and back for $200 or less this fall

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10 ways to get through airport security faster

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Want to Buy Litecoin (LTC) Cryptocurrency? Read This First

Litecoin , a cryptocurrency adapted from Bitcoin to facilitate digital payments, is one of the most widely available digital assets. Many top crypto exchanges and platforms allow users to buy Litecoin. There are several ways to get Litecoin, including: Buying Litecoin (LTC). This can be done using U.S. dollars or other fiat currencies . Receiving Litecoin as payment for a good or service. Mining Litecoin. This is a complex process with substantial barriers to entry.

The 20 national parks every traveler needs to see at least once

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8 Tactics to Break the Credit Card Debt Cycle

Upon paying off between $12,000 and $15,000 in credit card debt in 2019, Yamiesha Bell, a special education teacher in New York, didn’t break up with her credit cards. With goals to buy a car and a house, Bell hoped to preserve her credit history by keeping her cards open and active. “I needed to sustain my credit in order to get the interest rates I wanted in the future,” she says. While credit cards aren’t ideal for everyone, they can aid your credit journey if used responsib

Jamaica ends COVID-19 testing requirement for visitors

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The NerdWallet Guide on Delta Flights to Hawaii

Delta Air Lines flies to many U.S. states, including the popular destination of the island paradise of Hawaii. If your next vacation has you heading to the Aloha State, Delta may be for you. The Atlanta-based airline operates service to five Hawaiian airports, giving you plenty of options to fly from several cities. Here’s what you need to know about Delta flights to Hawaii. Does Delta fly direct to Hawaii? Hawaii destinations that Delta serves Delta serves the following airp

These 27 credit cards can get you free checked bags

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The Guide to American Airlines Flights to the Caribbean

If you're planning to fly to the Caribbean, chances are American Airlines has a flight for you. American operates an expansive network of flights to the Caribbean of up to over 800 weekly flights to 35 Caribbean destinations. As a result, American has more flights to more destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean than any other airline. While Miami is undoubtedly American's hub for Caribbean flights, you can currently fly American Airlines nonstop flights to the Caribbean from 10 dif

Benét on a budget: Saving on an Orlando family vacation

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How to Search Award Flight Availability, Broken Down by Airline

You've done it! After flying many miles and/or earning miles through a credit card, you finally are ready to redeem your miles for an award flight. You might be familiar with how to find and book revenue flights, but what about how to search award flight availability? Even if you know how to perform a simple award search, you may be looking for tricks, tips or pitfalls to avoid when searching for your ideal award flight. Dig into how to search award flight availability on five of the large

Can You Have 2 Delta AmEx Credit Cards?

As a frequent Delta Air Lines flyer, you might be wondering whether a co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit card from American Express would be a good fit for your travels. Or, if you already hold one of these cards, you might be asking — can you have two Delta AmEx credit cards? The short answer is yes, it’s possible to hold two or even three Delta cards to earn more SkyMiles . However, you have to be aware of specific rules before applying for multiple cards at once. Here’s what

Some US domestic flights now eligible for cash if delayed or canceled

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8 Best Tax Relief Companies of 2022

The best tax relief companies provide valuable services for consumers who find themselves in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or their state tax authority. These firms can help you figure out your best strategy moving forward, including which programs you qualify for to help reduce taxes and any penalties you owe. For the purpose of this guide, we compared dozens of tax relief companies to find the best of the best. Not only did we compare services offered, but we pored over thir

The NerdWallet guide to finding the best car insurance rate

Comparison shopping is crucial if you want to save money on car insurance. Here’s why: Insurers look at similar factors, but they have their own “secret sauce” when it comes to setting rates. So two companies can charge wildly different rates for the same driver. How to compare car insurance quotes First of all, every car insurance rate quote you receive should be free, whether it’s from Geico, Farmers or a small insurer you’ve never heard of. Some auto insurers require a d

New offer: Earn 80,000 bonus points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred

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75% of Americans Have Hesitations Around Buying Life Insurance

Life insurance can be an important financial safety net for many Americans, but 3 out of 4 (75%) have hesitations when it comes to buying coverage, according to a new NerdWallet survey. The online survey conducted by The Harris Poll in February 2022 focuses on consumer sentiment surrounding life insurance. It involved over 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 869 have purchased a policy. We asked why people buy coverage, what features they prioritize, and what concerns they may

Deal alert: Book tickets to Hawaii this fall for 10,000 Amex points with widespread availability

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8 Best VA Loan Lenders of 2022

The mortgage industry is incredibly competitive, with hundreds of lenders looking to get your business. But when it comes to VA loans, you don’t want to go with just any lender. Most lenders don’t do many VA loans, and some do none at all. Since VA loans are a highly specialized mortgage type, it’s best to go with lenders who focus mostly or even entirely on this loan type. To help you with the decision, we’ve prepared this guide listing what we believe to be the best VA home loans of 2

Life Insurance Favors Young Adults, But They Have Hesitations

Young adults have an upper hand when buying life insurance — they typically qualify for low-cost coverage due to their long life expectancies. But despite this advantage, a new survey by NerdWallet shows that younger generations are more likely than their elders to have hesitations about buying coverage. Sarah Fitch, a 23-year-old communication specialist in Ohio, finds the idea of buying life insurance overwhelming. “I’m afraid of getting the wrong policy or not getting enough c

CDC extending mask mandate for another 2 weeks

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Which Rental Car Company Usually Has the Lowest Prices?

Most travelers know that Spirit Airlines is a low-cost airline. They’re likely aware that a Four Seasons is almost always more expensive than a Motel 6. But when it comes to rental car companies, which one usually has the lowest prices? Is Thrifty all that thrifty? Will Budget best help you stick to your budget? A NerdWallet analysis conducted in March tracked 360 rental car prices across eight major U.S. companies to find which had the cheapest car rentals — and which had the most e

Should I File for Bankruptcy?

This is a frequent question of anyone who is carrying an uncomfortable level of debt. Bankruptcy should never be taken lightly since there are consequences. But there are times when it becomes absolutely necessary. For example, if you’re carrying a level of debt you can’t hope to repay, or if the monthly payments are impairing your ability to survive, bankruptcy needs to be a consideration. More than 544,000 people filed for bankruptcy in 2020, which is down significantly from the 750,000+

Business Inspiration: This Bar Lets You Buy Drinks With Wands

At The Cauldron Co., a New York City bar, customers use wands to fill their glasses, make potions that change color and check their tabs on magic mirrors. It’s all part of the immersive fantasy experience created by co-founders Matthew Cortland and David Duckworth. Co-founders David Duckworth and Matthew Cortland. (Photo courtesy of The Cauldron Co.) The idea behind the business is “giving people the illusion that magic is real,” Cortland says. The venue draws in pa

My Miami hotel didn’t open in time: Here’s how IHG handled my reservation

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Flights to Turks and Caicos and Dominican Republic for $300

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Fiona Personal Loan Review

Whether you’re making a big purchase or just refinancing some existing debt, a personal loan could help. But comparing loan options could take days — unless you use an online marketplace like Fiona which lets you compare personal loan offers side by side within minutes. Like all lending marketplaces, Fiona has advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a close look to see whether Fiona should help with your personal loan shopping. What is Fiona? Based in New York City, Fiona is an online le

IHG® Rewards Club Premier Business Credit Card Review (New Card, 140k Offer)

physixfan       2022-03-25     2022-04-05 1 Comment Advertiser Disclosure: This site is part of affiliate sales networks and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. 2022.3 Update: This is a new card. It is essentially the same as the personal Chase IHG Premier card. Application Link

Pie Insurance Review 2022: Pros, Cons, Alternatives

Pie Insurance is a business insurance startup focused on workers’ compensation coverage. Founded in 2017, the company now sells workers’ comp in 36 states plus Washington, D.C. Its policies are underwritten by Sirius America, a global insurer. If you’re shopping for workers’ compensation insurance , consider getting a quote from Pie. Pie offers a variety of payment plans and works with CorVel, an experienced insurance administration company, to handle claims. You can answer

We tried one of Disney World’s least-known hotels and found it’s one of the best

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Use Your Tax Refund to Knock Down Debt, Lift Your Finances

So you’re expecting a tax refund this year. With inflation driving up the price of gas, food and nearly everything else, that extra money can’t come soon enough. The hard part is deciding how to spend it. Should you invest the money? Book a trip? If you really want to do yourself a favor, use your refund to pay off debt. Here’s why. You’ll save on interest “The cost of carrying debt is very expensive,” says AnnaMarie Mock, a certified financial planner with Highland Finan

Deal alert: Fly to Ecuador from Atlanta, LA, Miami, NYC and other cities from $184 RT

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More flights to New Zealand returning this summer

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Can You Negotiate Your COVID-19 Hospital Bills?

Since health insurance companies have rolled back waivers for hospital costs related to COVID-19, a COVID-19 hospitalization could result in a startlingly high bill from health care providers, according to a recent study from the University of Michigan and Boston University. Of people who had private insurance from March 2020 to March 2021 and were billed for a COVID-19 hospitalization, the average out-of-pocket cost  was almost $4,000. Among people with Medicare Advantage , the

Here’s your chance to ride historic train cars out of New York’s Penn Station along the Hudson River

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Deposit Explained

What is a deposit? A deposit is the amount of money you give to a financial institution, such as a bank, to hold for you in an account. Individuals and businesses make deposits every day by transferring their funds — usually via cash or check — into banking accounts. Depending on the account type, depositors can earn interest on their money. Deposits can be made on a one-time or recurring basis. The word "deposit" can also refer to money that you pay upfront to secure receipt of a

Valuable earning rates with a 60,000-point bonus: Citi Premier credit card review

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Guide to Using the American Airlines Shopping Portal

If you’re an American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty member, you may be looking for ways to earn miles. Flying with American Airlines is one way, but that’s not all. If you shop online, you can earn miles through the American Airlines shopping portal. This tool offers an easy and convenient way to accumulate more miles for your next award flight. Here’s what you need to know to earn more AAdvantage miles by shopping online. What is the American Airlines shopping portal? The Amer

Book this, not that: Getting the most from your hotel points in Maui

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What Are Meme Stocks?

Meme stock definition A meme stock is a share of a company that quickly jumps in price due to the attention of a dedicated online following. Meme stocks usually gain popularity through discussion threads on community forum sites such as Reddit and social media platforms. The first successful meme stock was GameStop Corp (GME) . How meme stocks work Without their cult followings, meme stocks are not necessarily valuable assets. These online communities, such as the popular Reddit th

Alaska Airlines to cut 2% of flights through June, apologizes for recent disruptions

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The Best Car Insurance in Florida

Florida has more uninsured drivers than any other state in the nation, with more than 20% of drivers foregoing car insurance, according to a study from the Insurance Research Council. With so many uninsured motorists on the road, you’ll want to make sure you have the best car insurance possible in case you’re in an accident where the other driver can’t pay for the damages they caused. Finding the right insurer isn’t always easy. That’s why NerdWallet has put together a list of th

How to Book an All-Inclusive Resort for as Little as 10K Points Per Night

Bright sunshine, cool water and as many strawberry daiquiris as you can stomach — this is the standard promise you’ll find for all-inclusive resorts. They’re popular for a reason, but the costs of experiencing this idyllic tranquility can quickly add up. Happily, a partnership between Citi ThankYou points and Choice hotels has led to some extremely lucrative deals on these all-inclusive properties. Let’s take a look at how, using these Citi ThankYou points, you can stay at all-incl

The 9 best stand-alone credit cards of 2022

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Citi Diamond Preferred Offering $150 Bonus (Limited Time)

Starting April 5, 2022, the $0 -annual-fee card, which didn’t previously have a sign-up bonus, will feature the following limited-time offer when you apply on sites like NerdWallet: Earn a $150 statement credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. (Note: Offers may differ if you apply elsewhere.) This new offer is in addition to the card’s lengthy interest-free offer, which gives holders a 0% Intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers and 12 m

The ultimate guide to Qatar Qsuite

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Alaska Airlines First Class: What You Need to Know

If you want to fly in style, first class is the way to go. And if you want to pay with miles instead of cash, Alaska Airlines first class offers a comfortable experience you can book using Alaska Mileage Plan miles. Here are the ins and outs of flying in first class on Alaska, from what to expect to how to book. What to expect flying first class with Alaska Airlines Luxury seating, plenty of legroom, priority boarding, and free checked bags are just a few of the perks of flying A

Flight delayed or canceled? Here are the best credit cards with trip delay reimbursement

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4 Things I Learned About Money From Travel

Although I’ve always had a desire to travel, I didn’t have a passport until shortly after I turned 23. Over the last 14 years, I’ve made up for lost time and visited over 55 countries on every continent except Antarctica (which I hope is soon to come). At the same time, I’ve been laser-focused on becoming financially independent as I’m part of the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement . This financial lifestyle aims to save and invest as much as you can so that

Smart Money Podcast: Using Your Tax Refund, and Is Pet Insurance Worth the Cost?

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. This week’s episode starts with a discussion about the best ways to use your tax refund. Then we pivot to this week’s money question from a listener’s text message. Here it is: “Hi NerdWallet friends! Would love to hear your take on whether pet insurance is worth it. Thanks!” Before we get to that, we are running a sweepstakes ahead of our upcoming Book Club series. This

World of Hyatt announces new all-inclusive award chart, adds 6 AMR Collection properties

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Apple Card Review (2022.3 Update: $75 Offer)

physixfan       2022-03-29     2022-03-29 1 Comment 2022.3 Update: There’s a $75 offer via CreditKarma, offer ends on 4.1. HT: DoC. Application Link Apple Card Features $75 offer: earn $75 after spending $75+ in the first 30 days. Earn 3% cashback on Apple, 3% cashback on selected merchants via Apple Pay, earn 2% cashback everywhere via Apple Pay, and earn 1% cashback everywhere else. The list of 3% merchants are: Exxon/Mobil Uber UberEATS Walgreen’

5 Things to Ask Before Opening an Account at a Neobank

Easy account sign-ups, no monthly fees and high savings rates? Neobanks such as Chime and Current offer these features while many traditional banks don’t. Neobanks are financial tech companies that usually partner with banks to offer digital-only accounts. They’ve been around for a little over a decade only, but they’re gaining traction. About 1 in 3 Americans has a relationship with a neobank, according to a 2022 annual report by the banking advisory firm Javelin Strategy Research

Two ‘hidden’ aviation markers to seek out in Seattle

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What Is a Medicare Cost Plan?

Medicare Cost plans are health plans offered by private insurers that contract through the federal government. They’re attractive plans, as beneficiaries maintain their Original Medicare coverage and are able to visit out-of-network health care providers. However, they are being phased out and are available in only a handful of states. Where are Medicare Cost plans available? This might be the most important thing to know about Medicare Cost plans: They are no longer available

Southwest cancels hundreds of flights Saturday amid tech issues, bad weather

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What Are Mortgage Closing Costs?

One of the most mysterious parts of the home buying and refinancing process are mortgage closing costs. Most consumers interested in applying for mortgage financing are aware they exist, but most are unfamiliar with how much they are, and where they come from. In this guide, we’re going to answer the question, what are mortgage closing costs? But we’re going to go beyond closing costs themselves, and also include mortgage escrows. Those are allowances for taxes and insurance that must be pa

Please Don’t Go Broke Attending Weddings

Sure, you want to feel joy and love upon receiving a wedding invitation. But one little postcard or email can also pack loads of pricey pressure. Perhaps you must secure travel and lodging, buy gifts and attire, or call off work. Or maybe you have the honor — and extra expense — of being in the wedding party. This may be your reality soon, as wedding season looms and events that were postponed or rescheduled because of COVID-19 reappear on the calendar. Before stressing about these

Chase updates Pay Yourself Back categories, adds charities for Ukraine relief

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Using a Reverse Transfer May Help You Get an Associate Degree

A reverse transfer is a process that allows you to receive an associate degree from your former community college by applying the credits you’ve earned at a four-year college. For example, say you earn 30 credits at a community college but transfer to a four-year school before receiving an associate degree. At your four-year college, you gain additional credits that fulfill the requirements for an associate degree at your previous community college. You would now be eligible to use the r

United details Airbus A321neo delivery schedule, route strategy

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What Is Airbnb Plus?

The next time you’re searching for a home rental, you may want to look into Airbnb Plus. Whether you’re a newbie to home-sharing services or a frequent, experienced renter, the Airbnb Plus requirements for homeowners mean that their properties are the best of the best. Airbnb Plus is a designation on the Airbnb vacation rental booking platform that highlights some of the top properties in different destinations that the service offers. They are chosen for their high rankings, impressiv

Extended: Earn up to 10 points per dollar on Lyft with Chase through 2025

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Average Daily Balance Credit Card Calculator

The interest you pay on your credit card is calculated based on the APR of the account and your account balance. But the balance your card issuer uses in the interest calculation isn't the balance shown on your statement. Instead, it's the average daily balance for the billing period. The credit card issuer calculates the average daily balance by taking your balance on each day in the period, adding them together, then dividing by the number of days in the period. The issuer has comput

Forget the Fed, Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt

The cost of everything keeps creeping up. And if you happen to have credit card debt, that’s about to get a bit more expensive too, thanks to a series of interest rate increases beginning this month. With inflation at its highest rate since the early 1980s, the Federal Reserve is adjusting interest rates to hopefully restabilize the U.S. economy. In short, the Fed changes the federal funds rate, which alters the prime rate — that’s the rate banks charge customers with high credit

Your ultimate guide to credit card retention offers

Advertiser Disclosure Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are

Top 10 WORST Stock Market Crashes in History

I was a college intern at a local investment firm when I first learned what a “stock market crash” was. It was 2001 and the market was already on the decline. After the tragic events of 9/11, the stock market continued to lose value. Here’s how the SP 500 looked in 2001 (chart courtesy of Koyfin.com): Stock Market Crash of 2001 The chart above may show what the stock market crash “looked” like but I assure you it doesn’t capture what it felt like. The look of defeat on the f

Blue Ribbon Bags Reunites You and Your Bags in 4 Days — Or Pays

There's perhaps no worse way to start a trip than the airline losing your checked bags. In addition to not having your clothes and supplies, you also have to spend precious vacation time filing a lost baggage report with the airline and following up constantly to get your bags back. Thankfully, there's a service you can purchase that will either reunite you with your checked bags within four days of arrival or pay you at least $1,000 per bag: Blue Ribbon Bags. Dig into what Blue Ribbon B

Check your award bookings: Marriott’s switch to dynamic pricing might let you reclaim points

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How Trans and Nonbinary People Can Change Names on Credit Reports

Credit reports are beginning to catch up with transgender or nonbinary consumers who legally change their first or middle name. All three major credit bureaus have recently added webpages to their sites explaining how consumers can make sure that their credit reports accurately reflect their names. Suppressing a previous name can ensure the credit file doesn't contain the original name. Retaining a so-called deadname could disclose information the consumer prefers not to. “A transgende

Pros and Cons of Buying a Vacation Property for Short-term Rental

Have you ever considered buying a vacation property for a short-term rental? I think it’s a pretty common idea. And in a perfect world, it can combine the best of leisure and investing in one property. I recently received a question from a reader who is considering taking the plunge: “My wife and I are in our mid 50’s, debt free and own our home. We would like to have place that our family and kids could use while we explore future retirement areas near the vacation home.  Most t

Why Many New Cars Are Cheaper Than Used

The age-old advice that buying a used car is the thriftiest way to roll has gone the way of chrome bumpers and fins, at least for now. As new cars have become scarce because of supply chain problems and microchip shortages — and now the war in Ukraine, which produces a large part of the wiring harnesses used in every car — shoppers have been forced to find their desired vehicles in the used car market. This has driven up prices to the point that a “lightly used” car is now 1.3%, or

New Oneworld status match opportunity available for 20-plus frequent flyer programs

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The Pros and Cons of Joining Multiple Hotel Loyalty Programs

One of the dilemmas that points and miles collectors may wrestle with is whether to focus on only a couple of loyalty programs or divide their loyalty across many programs. Should you stay exclusively with one hotel program or be a "free agent" across several hotel loyalty programs? There's no one correct answer to this question. In this article, we help you make the right decision for your situation and travel goals. Here are the arguments for and against joining multiple hotel loyalt

The incredibly easy way of redeeming IHG’s 4th-night reward

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USAA Medicare Supplement Insurance 2022 Review

USAA is a financial services company serving current and former U.S. military members, their spouses and children. Its services include banking, investing, retirement and insurance. USAA offers Medicare Supplement Insurance , or Medigap, in 45 states and Washington, D.C. You need to be a USAA member to buy a USAA Medigap policy. Membership is free, but it’s available only to qualifying U.S. military personnel; veterans; cadets and midshipmen at U.S. service academies or other qualifyi

SEC Explained

What is the SEC? The Securities and Exchange Commission is an independent federal agency tasked with regulating U.S. securities markets. Its mission comprises three goals: protecting investors; ensuring the markets remain fair, orderly and efficient; and facilitating capital formation . What does the SEC do? The SEC strives to maintain public trust in the U.S. markets. To carry out its three-part mission, the SEC enforces federal securities laws, addresses wrongdoing in the markets

Cathay Pacific to operate world’s longest flight — with a catch

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How to Become an Electrician

Electricians typically work in various locations such as homes, businesses, factories and construction sites to install, maintain and repair electrical power, communications, lighting and control systems. Electricians need a high school diploma before entering into a paid apprenticeship program that typically lasts four or five years. Electricians will also need to be licensed to work in their state. Employment outlook The following information comes from the most recent nationwide dat

Deal alert: A few hundred dollars could get you to Peru and back

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How to Build Your Credit Score

Your credit score can have a dramatic impact on your life, and that’s true regardless of your age, your gender, and where you live. After all, a good credit score can make it possible to purchase a home or finance a car so you can get to work. Bad credit or poor credit, on the other hand, can make it difficult to qualify for a loan you truly need, and especially not one with the best rates and terms. This is part of the reason it’s smart to care about your credit early on — well before yo

How to Apply for a Credit Card: Questions You’ll Be Asked

Applying for a credit card is usually pretty easy. But it helps to be aware of what information you need to provide. That way, you'll know what to expect and can quickly learn whether you’re approved. If you’ll be applying soon, you’ll have plenty of company. U.S. consumers submitted 140 million credit card applications in the lighter-than-usual pandemic year of 2020 and about 170 million in a normal year, according to a credit card market report by the Consumer Financial Protection

Report: Delta to install lie-flat seats in some new Airbus A321neos

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Bankruptcy: Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13

When you’re facing bankruptcy, it can seem like the end of the world, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, bankruptcy can give you a way out of a bad financial situation. And you’re certainly not alone. According to Debt.org, in 2020, there were 544,463 bankruptcy filings: 70% Chapter 7 and 28% Chapter 13. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are two sections of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code outlining different ways of settling your debts. In this article, we compare them to help you decide which one might

Are Vacation Packages the Best Travel Deals?

Wanting to travel but not sure where to start? Vacation packages may seem like an appealing option, especially since they can bundle together multiple bookings at once. But are travel packages a good deal? Let’s take a look at the costs of booking travel packages, how they compare with separate bookings and how much you could save by redeeming rewards points. Costs of booking vacation packages There are a lot of moving parts when booking a vacation, especially when it comes to yo

The Trump hotel in Washington, DC, to be sold and rebranded as a Waldorf Astoria

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Which Hotels Offer an Extra Free Night on Award Stays?

So you've finally saved up enough hotel points to redeem for an award stay. You're super excited — but not quite sure how to maximize those points. Do you stay one night? Two? Even better: Stay longer, and you might be able to score a free night. Award travelers have plenty of options when it comes to redeeming for hotels, but some choices are better than others. For example, several hotels offer extra nights free for award bookings. Typically, the deal goes: Stay four nights, get one

Avoid spending hundreds of dollars to fly holding your baby, tips for lap infant award travel

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Why the Citi Premier Is a Surprisingly Good Cash Back Card

For years, the $95 -annual-fee Citi Premier® Card has been overshadowed by other mid-tier travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . That's despite the Citi Premier® Card offering 3 points per dollar spent in many categories, including supermarkets, and newer Citi Premier® Card benefits like a $100 hotel credit. However, Citi recently tweaked what you can do with Citi ThankYou Points . Without any fanfare, Citi improved the redemption rate for cashing out Tha

Traveling to Hawaii just got a whole lot easier; TPG was among the first to try it out

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This status match opportunity could get you SkyTeam benefits

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Home Remodeling in 2022 Calls for Patience and Flexibility

The pandemic wreaked a specific kind of havoc on home remodeling. Swelling demand for construction projects collided with material and labor shortages, creating a home improvement traffic jam that has lasted into 2022. “The pandemic threw a very large wrench into everything, but in particular housing,” says Abbe Will, associate project director of the Remodeling Futures Program within Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Renovating could be as expensive and stressful a proce

PSA: Activate Your 5% Bonus Categories for 2022 Q2 Now!

Geo       2022-03-15     2022-03-15 8 Comments 2022.3 Update: 2022 Q2 (Apr., May., Jun.) 5% categories are released! Now it’s the time to activate them. A number of credit cards offer 5% cashback in categories that rotate every quarter (three months).  If you are a Chase Freedom Flex (CFF) (Or Old Chase Freedom), Discover It, Citi Dividend, or US Bank Cash Plus cardholder, use the links provided below to activate your bonus categories indicated below: 1. Ch

How to Become an Airline Pilot

Airline pilots fly and navigate commercial airplanes and helicopters. Openings for airline pilots are expected to grow faster than average through 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To become an airline pilot, you'll typically need a bachelor's degree, flight training, experience as a commercial or military pilot, and specific certificates and ratings from the Federal Aviation Administration. Employment outlook The following information comes from the most recent data (

The 10 best Orlando hotels for large families

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COVID-19 updates: Thailand and Antigua/Barbuda loosen restrictions and CDC relaxes cruise guidelines

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Proposed rule would improve accessibility of airplane bathrooms

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Another $400 in Free College Aid Could Be Coming Your Way

College students could see their Pell Grant award go up by as much as $400 for the coming academic year, thanks to the federal spending bill signed into law March 15. Congress raised the annual Pell Grant limit to $6,895 for the 2022-23 academic year as a part of the 2022 federal budget. That’s the largest increase to the Pell Grant since 2009. “The $400 increase to the maximum Pell Grant — the largest increase in 10 years — is a pivotal and much-needed investment in making c

Historic airports that have stood the test of time

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14 Mortgage Lenders Serving Black Communities

Banks and credit unions that have Black leadership — based on how their executives or board members identify — tend to serve communities that are majority Black. They also make more home loans to Black borrowers, according to data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Because these institutions tend to be smaller and community-focused , to obtain a home loan from one of them, you generally need to live within their state, if not within a more specific metro area. There's currentl

Here’s how to travel to France right now

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The Best Homeowners Insurance Companies for March 2022

Your home is one of your largest and most meaningful investments, so choosing the best homeowners insurance available to you makes sense. Naturally, you’ll want a good price — but you also want the right mix of coverage from a company that can afford to pay your claim if disaster strikes. Reliable customer service is a plus, too. Here’s how to take all those factors into account as you choose the best home insurance company for you. How we ranked the top home insurance companies:

Pros and Cons of Buying a Vacation Property for Short-term Rental

Have you ever considered buying a vacation property for a short-term rental? I think it’s a pretty common idea. And in a perfect world, it can combine the best of leisure and investing in one property. I recently received a question from a reader who is considering taking the plunge: “My wife and I are in our mid 50’s, debt free and own our home. We would like to have place that our family and kids could use while we explore future retirement areas near the vacation home.  Most t

The Cost of Being Unbanked: Hundreds of Dollars a Year, Always One Step Behind

Banks may cause their fair share of headaches, but not having access to one is even worse for your financial health. Without access to a financial institution that offers basic services such as free check cashing and loans with reasonable interest rates, unbanked consumers rely on expensive alternative financial-service providers to cash checks and take out money orders. The accompanying fees cost these households hundreds of dollars per year. On top of the high day-to-day costs, not belon

Rare deal alert: New York City to Belize for less than $250

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How to Save Money Flying on American Airlines

If you’re planning to fly with American Airlines soon, you may be wondering how to save some money. Airfare costs can take up a significant portion of your travel budget, but with the right strategy, you can lessen the cost of your next flight. Here are 10 ways to save money flying on American Airlines. 10 ways to fly American cheaper 1. Join the AAdvantage loyalty program to earn rewards It pays to be loyal to an airline. Whether you fly with American Airlines occasionally or

Act fast: JetBlue sale ends at midnight; flights to Caribbean under $300

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Top 10 WORST Stock Market Crashes in History

I was a college intern at a local investment firm when I first learned what a “stock market crash” was. It was 2001 and the market was already on the decline. After the tragic events of 9/11, the stock market continued to lose value. Here’s how the SP 500 looked in 2001 (chart courtesy of Koyfin.com): Stock Market Crash of 2001 The chart above may show what the stock market crash “looked” like but I assure you it doesn’t capture what it felt like. The look of defeat on the fin

Purchase Order Financing: What It Is and How to Get It

Purchase order financing, also known as PO financing, gives you the ability to pay your suppliers for the goods you need to fulfill outstanding customer orders. This type of financing can make sense for small businesses that receive more sales and orders than they have inventory or cash to complete — and don’t want to turn customers away. Here’s what you need to know about purchase order financing, how it works and where to get it for your business. How Much Do You Need? with

Update: Canada dropping testing requirements for vaccinated travelers as of April 1

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The NerdWallet Guide to Airbnb

Lodging during your vacations or business trips doesn’t necessarily have to be a standard hotel, bed and breakfast or campground. These days, more and more travelers are staying at someone’s house, coordinated through home rental sites like Airbnb. Renting a vacation home via Airbnb can sometimes be the cheapest option. What’s more, on Airbnb you’ll typically have better luck finding more beds in the same unit than you’d find in a hotel room. Airbnbs often tend to include couches

Tricks to avoid being skipped on an American Airlines upgrade list

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How Rising Fed Interest Rates Affect Home Buyers, Homeowners

What the Federal Reserve did and why The Federal Reserve raised a bedrock interest rate on Wednesday. As a result, mortgage interest rates probably will go up, and rates on home equity lines of credit certainly will. The Fed raised its target for the federal funds rate by 0.25%, or one-quarter of a percentage point. Other interest rates are built atop the federal funds rate, most notably the prime rate often charged on corporate loans by large banks. It, too, will rise 0.25%. Fed int

Deal alert: LAX to Hawaii starting at $237

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Travel Is Back, in Case You Missed It

Many people are curious when travel will come back. This is a difficult question to answer, because in many ways it already has — travel is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels and has been for months. The number of passengers who entered Transportation Security Administration checkpoints in January and February of 2022 was down only 19% from the same period in 2019. That's a big recovery from the pandemic lows, when the number of passengers was down 89% in the second quarter of 2020 relat

Bilt Rewards adds two new airline transfer partners

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Best Oil ETFs for Spring 2022

Crude oil prices have risen over $100 a barrel since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the average gas price in the U.S. has shot above $4 a gallon. If you’re curious about investing in oil, oil ETFs are an easy way to do so. What are oil ETFs? Oil ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, are baskets of securities that either track the price of oil as a commodity or contain oil stocks. Oil ETFs give investors easy access to a commodity that’s difficult to own and store. But oil prices can

Ditch Your Bank: 9 Banking Alternatives That Pay More

Did you know the average bank is paying .06% in interest on their savings accounts? That seems crazy enough on its own, but it’s even crazier that my bank is paying even less than that. That’s right; my own bank is paying a fraction of the average savings interest rate….actually .01%. Even worse, my bank (U.S. Bank) has been paying close to the same paltry rate for years. I think my bank hates me.  Can you relate? You can see exactly what I mean in the screenshot below. I have more than

5 Things to Know About Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance

Guaranteed universal life insurance, or GUL, is sometimes referred to as the Goldilocks policy. It strikes a balance between term and permanent life insurance that can be cost-effective for consumers, says John Keddy, senior principal at Aite-Novarica Group, a financial advisory firm. But this type of coverage makes up only 1% of individual life insurance sales in the U.S., according to LIMRA, a life insurance trade group. To compare, term and whole life policies make up 86% of sales.

Want the most choice of ships to book? Nearly 100% of ships will be sailing by July

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Analysis: How Have Hotel Prices Changed During the Pandemic?

So much has changed in the hotel industry during the pandemic, like cleaning protocols and  booking flexibility . Yet one element has been especially volatile and difficult to track — prices. The cost of booking a hotel room plummeted in the early stages of the pandemic when nobody was traveling, then inched back up, and now? We ran the numbers to see how hotel prices, on average, have changed throughout the pandemic. We compared prices at over 200 U.S. hotels across seven major brand

Deal alert: JetBlue flights to San Juan from $172

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Get on Top of Planned Expenses With Sinking Funds

In a given year, you likely have expenses that you know are coming — holiday gifts, the family vacation you take every summer, annual homeowners association fees or maybe membership renewals. But just because these costs are predictable doesn’t mean you’re always prepared. If you are pulling from your emergency fund or using a credit card to cover predictable costs, you might consider using one or more “sinking funds.” A sinking fund is a savings account dedicated to a particular

No sign of US ending testing rules for international travel

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How to Maximize the Venture X Card

Capital One’s premium credit card offering made waves when it launched in late 2021 because of its competitively low annual fee and its best-in-class perks for cardholders — and their authorized users. Ways to get the most value out of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 1. Earn the welcome bonus Sign-up bonuses can play a large role in the value of a credit card, especially when they’re high. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card features one of the la

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card from American Express Review (2022.3 Update: 100k Offer)

colin1898       2022-03-03     2022-03-03 3 Comments Advertiser Disclosure: This site is part of affiliate sales networks and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. 2022.3 Update: The new offer is 100k. Offer ends on 2022.4.13. It’s not as good as the regular 125k offer showing in incog

6 Best Identity Theft Protection Services

The rise of e-commerce and social media has made it nearly impossible to avoid leaving a digital footprint. As a result, it’s essential to safeguard your personal information from identity theft. If you’ve ever been a victim of this crime or are just concerned with protecting your profile, it’s worth considering the services of credible identity theft protection firms. These companies monitor your data, alert you to suspicious activity, and help restore your identity. We’ve research

What to expect from the new Carnival Celebration cruise ship

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Gabi Car Insurance Review

Key Takeaways Gabi is an insurance comparison site that lets consumers compare insurance quotes across more than 40 providers in one place. In addition to auto insurance quotes, Gabi lets you shop for homeowners insurance, renters insurance, umbrella insurance, and more. Gabi also lets you shop for multiple types of coverage at the same time. Gabi says their average customer saves $961 when they use the platform to shop for insurance. They also report they have delivered more than 7 million

Friday was 3rd busiest day at US airports during pandemic

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‘HODL’: A Typo Takes Hold as a Sound Cryptocurrency Strategy

Late in 2013, with Bitcoin prices in the middle of a steep dip, a post appeared in an online forum featuring a misspelling that would become legendary: “I AM HODLING.” The mangling of the word “hold” captured a kind of irreverent blind faith of some early cryptocurrency adopters, and it has since become a part of the lexicon of digital assets. But “HODL” is more than just a meme. According to financial planners and analysts, it’s also a rational response to a market who

How to Apply for a Credit Card: Questions You’ll Be Asked

Applying for a credit card is usually pretty easy. But it helps to be aware of what information you need to provide. That way, you'll know what to expect and can quickly learn whether you’re approved. What questions will I be asked on the application? You’ll have to supply a lot of personal information, so be prepared for that. Why? The card issuer will typically use the information to decide whether it will approve you for a credit card. The most obvious step with most credit ca

Flight and rail options for traveling in Europe

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The Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies for March 2022

You don’t need to sacrifice quality while trying to save money on car insurance. Some of the best auto insurers also offer cheap rates. See what you could save on car insurance Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you. ZIP Code Get started on Insure.com Read on to see how we determined our picks for the best cheap car insurance companies. If you’re looking for other quality car insurance options (that aren’t ne

Deal alert: Avianca flights to Central America from $150

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What Is a Copay?

A copay, or copayment, is a fixed fee you pay for a service covered by your health insurance plan. For instance, you may have a copay of $20 for a medical office visit or $10 for a generic prescription drug. Copay costs vary by plan, and not all plans use copays. Copays are generally lower for using in-network providers and services and higher if you go out of network for care. How does a copay work? A copay is a fixed amount you pay each time you get a specific medical service or se

Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage

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7 Things to Know Before Getting the Venture X Card

With a bevy of benefits and a massive sign-up bonus, there are plenty of reasons to pick up this card. Prior to diving in, however, here are seven things to know before getting the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . What to know before getting the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 1. It offers an annual travel credit The marquee benefit advertised for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is also its most valuable. Each year, cardholders have access

What I’ve learned from multiple car rentals with the Capital One Travel portal

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7 Ways to Improve Your Small-Business Website

Nearly 1 in 2 people who visit your website will look at only one page before leaving, according to the 2021 Digital Experience Benchmark report from Contentsquare, an analytics platform. Making the split-second decision to bounce from one website to another is easy — figuring out how to keep consumers’ attention isn’t so simple. To generate a positive first impression and make your small-business website more customer-friendly, consider these seven tips. 1. Ask for feedback Je

How to Put Your Tax Refund to Work for You

The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. If you’re eagerly anticipating a tax refund in the coming weeks, you have good reason to be optimistic: The IRS reports that about 77% of tax returns filed last year generated a refund, and the average refund was $2,815. Even though what

Major hotel brands are providing rooms to Ukrainian refugees while pausing projects in Russia

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Understanding Copays, Coinsurance and Deductibles

Coinsurance, copays and deductibles are different out-of-pocket costs for health care, and being familiar with these terms can help you better understand your health coverage and costs. Even after you pay monthly premiums for health insurance, out-of-pocket costs can lead to high medical bills if you get sick or injured. Here's how health insurance costs work. Defining some health insurance terms Before understanding how it all works together, let's brush up on some common health ins

SkyWest battles pilot shortage by shifting dozens of nonstop flights into 1-stops

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How to Remove Collections from Your Credit Report

Key Takeaways: No one can legally remove correct information from your credit reports.  If collection activity on your credit reports is incorrect, there is a formal process you can use to dispute it. In many cases, paying off debts in collections can help you have the information removed from your credit reports early. With no action taken, collection activity on your credit reports will “fall off” on its own after seven years have passed. When you default on any type of debt obligation

Could the beleaguered A380 be the key to unlocking fossil fuel-free flying?

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6 Great Hotels For Your 35K-Point Marriott Certificate

The Marriott hotels portfolio is the largest globally, spanning thousands of properties worldwide. This is excellent news for Marriott fans as it means finding a hotel in which to stay has never been easier. However, Marriott made waves in late 2021 when it announced it would be dropping its semi-fixed award chart. But it's not all bad news. To help out travelers, Marriott also stated that those holding free night certificates would be able to top-up with an additional 15,000 points from t

The Guide to American Airlines Flights to Hawaii

Hawaii: The magical chain of volcanic islands in the middle of the Pacific featuring incredible beaches, stunning mountains and wonderful resorts. Best of all, U.S. citizens don't need a passport to visit. And if you have American Airlines miles or elite status, you might consider booking American Airlines flights to Hawaii. However, you'll want to book carefully. That's because American Airlines flights to Hawaii can be a very different experience depending on your routing. So, let's take

Going to Mexico for spring break? The US has this travel warning for you

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How to Become a Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners have one of the most in-demand jobs in the United States. They coordinate patient care and may provide primary and specialized health care such as evaluation, diagnosis and prescription of a treatment plan. To become a nurse practitioner, you’ll need to be a registered nurse with specialized graduate education. Employment outlook The following information comes from the most recent data (May 2020) by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median pay: $111,680 pe

NerdWallet’s Best Credit Card Tips for February 2022

The shortest month of the year packs plenty of eventful opportunities to spend, like Valentine’s Day, Super Bowl Sunday and Presidents Day. Whether you’re passionate about a football team, going big for a special someone or hyped for a three-day weekend, the credit cards in your wallet may offer rewards on planned purchases. They can also help lower the cost of some bills or get you organized for tax time. Here’s how to make the most of your credit cards this month. Earn rewards

Icelandic carrier Niceair launching in June

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Made Green Upgrades in 2021? Don’t Miss These Tax Credits

Many Americans have woven green practices into their everyday lives — from recycling to going paperless and even cutting back on meat consumption. Switching to clean energy or purchasing an electric vehicle are additional ways to go green, but large-scale upgrades also often come with major price tags. Several existing tax credits can help to offset the cost of the commitment — but it pays to know the details. Whether you're looking to make some upgrades this year or are wonderin

LGA’s security system has caused problems for some despite overall upgrade

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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Review (2022.3 Update: 110k Offer!)

physixfan       2022-03-03     2022-03-03 1 Comment Non-affiliate disclosure: all information about the this card have been collected independently by US Credit Card Guide and has not been reviewed by the issuer. 2022.3 Update: The new offer is 110k. This is the best offer in recent years. Offer ends on 2022.4.13. 2021.8 Update: The higher offer is expired. The current offer is only 60k Miles+$100+10k MQM. 2021.6 Update: The new offer is 85k Miles+20k MQM+$200

Deal alert: East coast cities to Austin from $98

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Real Estate or Index Funds – Which is the Better Way to Build Long-term Wealth?

Whether you choose real estate or index funds as your primary investment, each has an outstanding track record of building wealth. But is one better than the other, if maybe only by a little bit? This topic was inspired by this question from a reader: “My question: Real estate or long-term index fund investing? I know the answer is probably both, but I’ve been a person who invests in stocks (mainly ETFs and index funds). However, on my social feed, I’m getting more and more people

DWI vs. DUI: Understanding the Difference

DUI and DWI both refer to driving while impaired, typically by alcohol or drugs. DUI stands for “driving under the influence” while DWI means “driving while intoxicated” or “driving while impaired.” Here's what to know about how DUI and DWI convictions happen, how terms may vary by state, plus the impact a conviction may have on your driving record. See what you could save on car insurance Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance c

New voices at MSP remind you of the rules  

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Can You Get a Bachelor’s Degree at a Community College?

Community colleges typically grant associate degrees, which are two-year programs. But community colleges in many states are increasingly offering bachelor's degrees, which are usually four-year programs. Until the last two decades, the only academic credentials you could earn from a community college were an associate degree or certificate, and if you wanted a bachelor’s degree, you had to enroll at a four-year college. Today nearly half of all states allow their community colleges to o

Does Your Credit Card Cover Car-Sharing Insurance?

Rental car insurance is one of the most underrated perks among many travel credit cards. Most of the best travel credit cards from the major credit card networks, including Visa, Mastercard and American Express, offer rental car coverage as a benefit for booking with that card. Some even provide primary coverage, which pays out before your own auto insurance. The benefit typically applies to most major rental car companies among the credit cards that offer rental car insurance. The problem

Gas price shock: Here are 5 ways to save at the pump

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Do I Need Auto Insurance to Buy a Car?

Technically, you can buy a car without auto insurance, but you probably would not want to. If you don’t have insurance, more than likely, you won’t be able to legally drive away with your new purchase. Most states require proof of liability coverage to register a car, and the registration process typically begins at the dealership. And unless you plan on paying with cash, you'll probably need an  auto loan ; for that, you'll need insurance. Insurance isn't typically required to

Cash and miles deal to Spain, starting at $356 or 32,000 miles round trip

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Geico vs. Progressive: Which Car Insurance Company Should You Choose?

Geico and Progressive are two of the most popular insurance companies in operation today, and they both offer a range of useful insurance products. For example, Geico and Progressive offer auto insurance, homeowners insurance, renters insurance, and umbrella insurance. Both companies also offer a range of discounts that can help you save on premiums, and they both make it possible to get a free quote for car insurance online. Still, there are definitely some instances where one of these compani

NCR Silver Pro Restaurant POS Review: Pros, Cons, Alternatives

NCR Silver Pro is a cloud-based point-of-sale system that runs on an iPad or Android tablet. It’s a product of the NCR Corporation, formerly known as the National Cash Register Company, the oldest cash-register manufacturer. But despite the company’s longtime industry status, its POS options NCR Silver Pro and Aloha POS  are less comprehensive than newer competitors like Square and Clover . Although this POS system has many happy longtime users and various useful features, s

Save on Star Alliance award flights with 20% transfer bonus to LifeMiles

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AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement Insurance 2022 Review

AARP’s Medicare Supplement Insurance plans are insured exclusively by UnitedHealthcare. The AARP and UnitedHealthcare co-branded plans are available in every state and Washington, D.C. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap, and of Medicare Advantage plans [1] . AARP/UnitedHealthcare offers most Medigap plan types — often with multiple options for pricing and extra benefits. Prices are competitive, and complaint rates for the compan

Disney Imagineers reveal how they brought the new ‘Star Wars’ hotel to life

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DWI vs. DUI: Understanding the Difference

DUI and DWI both refer to driving while impaired, typically by alcohol or drugs. DUI stands for “driving under the influence” while DWI means “driving while intoxicated” or “driving while impaired.” Here's what to know about how DUI and DWI convictions happen, how terms may vary by state, plus the impact a conviction may have on your driving record. DWI vs. DUI: Definitions and terms can vary by state Check your state’s laws to know how a DWI or DUI is defined. For exam

Forget tombs and pyramids: This newly renovated Four Seasons will have you planning an Egypt beach vacation

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What Is a Modified Endowment Contract, or MEC?

If you own a permanent life insurance policy such as whole life, you’ll likely be aware of its cash value account. A portion of your insurance premium funds this account, and the investment grows tax-deferred. Although it sounds great, this tax break comes with an asterisk. If you overfund the account by contributing too much money toward its cash value, the policy could be declared a modified endowment contract, or MEC. While your life insurance coverage won’t change, you coul

What Is Extra Expense Coverage for Business Insurance?

Extra expense coverage is a kind of business insurance that pays for the temporarily increased costs of running your business after an accident or disaster. Extra expense coverage can help pay for things like: Renting temporary office space while your building is repaired. Renting specialized equipment while waiting for yours to be replaced. Paying contractors overtime so repairs can be completed faster. Consider getting extra expense coverage if you’d have to conti

Best credit cards that offer roadside assistance in 2022

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9 Financial Moves After a Maxed Out 401k

If you’ve been maxing out your employer-sponsored 401(k) plan, a Solo 401(k), or any other tax-advantaged retirement plan, you’re doing way better than the vast majority of workers. After all, the average retirement savings by age is absolutely paltry with most workers under the age of 35 having barely $6,000 in savings. By contrast, individuals saving for retirement could contribute up to $19,500 to a 401(k) plan in 2021, which was increased to $20,500 for 2022. Meanwhile, self-employed

10 Best Credit Card Machines and Terminals for Small Businesses

Finding the right credit card terminal is a vital part of operating a small business and involves matching key features with your budget. A dynamic credit card machine works with your business to make daily transactions easier for you and your customers. For some businesses, the ideal credit card terminal works without Wi-Fi and can scan bar codes, while for others it might have a customer-facing screen and print receipts. The good news is that there’s a variety of credit card termin