Not too long ago, Discover launched a second major credit card in it’s “it” series, the Discover it Miles card. It joined the existing Discover it Cash Back card that was the first come along. And now that there are two, I figured it’d be prudent to compare the two to assess the pros and… Continue reading Discover it Miles vs. Discover it Cash Back: The Differences Discussed
A Cautionary Tale: Using the Schwab Visa Platinum Debit Card Abroad
I recently came back from a nice little trip to Europe, relying on my handy Charles Schwab Visa Platinum Debit Card to get me through my vacation ATM-fee free. After all, none of the banks I do business with here in the United States have ATMs in far out places like Greece, Turkey, Italy, or… Continue reading A Cautionary Tale: Using the Schwab Visa Platinum Debit Card Abroad
Good, Bad, and Ugly Credit Cards for Gift Card Redemptions
There are a variety of ways to cash in credit card points and miles. One of the most common methods is to redeem for a statement credit, which is essentially a rebate for all your purchases (this is why they aren’t taxable). Nothing beats cash, right? Well, not always. In some cases, it might actually… Continue reading Good, Bad, and Ugly Credit Cards for Gift Card Redemptions
Sign Up for That Frequent Flyer Program for Free Seat Upgrades
So you’ve accrued your credit card points and now plan to transfer them to a certain airline to get a free trip. Sounds great! Though maybe you don’t want to use ALL your miles to book a first or business class flight, but still want the possibility of getting upgraded. This is a pretty common… Continue reading Sign Up for That Frequent Flyer Program for Free Seat Upgrades
Downgrade Your Credit Card to Avoid the Annual Fee
It’s no secret that some of the best credit card sign-up bonuses happen to be the very same credit cards that come with hefty annual fees. Hello Citi Premier and Prestige. While this can certainly be worth the cost, there are times when it simply doesn’t make any sense to keep paying the annual fee,… Continue reading Downgrade Your Credit Card to Avoid the Annual Fee
Should You Opt Back In to Receive Targeted Credit Card Offers?
In an earlier post, I spoke about a targeted offer for 70,000 United miles via the MileagePlus Explorer Business card. Normally that offer is only 50,000 miles, but the individual who received it was targeted and sent a mailer because they’re opted in to offers via postal mail from Chase. Or perhaps they didn’t opt… Continue reading Should You Opt Back In to Receive Targeted Credit Card Offers?
The Crystal Visa Infinite Card Lands In the U.S.: $1,000 Gift Card Sign-Up Bonus
The benefits of Visa Infinite have finally made it to American soil with the launch of the Crystal Visa Infinite Card issued by City National Bank. Interestingly, if you go to the Visa Infinite website the United States isn’t even listed as a country or region from the pull-down menu. Perhaps this will be updated… Continue reading The Crystal Visa Infinite Card Lands In the U.S.: $1,000 Gift Card Sign-Up Bonus
Keep Your Credit When You Close a Card
You’ve probably heard that closing a credit card is the worst offense you can commit. While that’s certainly not true, despite the powers that be instilling fear into our lives on a daily basis, your credit score can be impacted by the closure of a credit account. If you wondering why it can hurt your… Continue reading Keep Your Credit When You Close a Card
The Citi Prestige Card Review 400 Gets You What Exactly
Citi just recently revamped its “Prestige Card,” which as the name suggests, is only reserved for the company’s wealthiest clients. Well, if you’ve got $450 to spare on an annual basis, it’s for you as well, whether you’re rich or not. So what makes this credit card so prestigious anyway? Let’s dig into the details… Continue reading The Citi Prestige Card Review 400 Gets You What Exactly
Why You Won’t Be Able to Use American Express at Costco Anymore
A month ago, I wrote about how Citi and Visa partnered with Costco, thereby kicking American Express out in the process. That new arrangement will begin on April 1st, 2016, at which point Amex credit cards won’t be accepted by the super warehouse store. And the Costco Amex credit card will cease to exist. But… Continue reading Why You Won’t Be Able to Use American Express at Costco Anymore