Christy's Latest Posts

If you’re carrying credit card debt, you’re not alone. In fact, over 50% of all open credit cards have a balance¹ and among cardholders with these unpaid balances, the average amount of outstanding debt was $6,569.² Obviously, the main goal…

Recently, the Department of Transportation (DOT) overhauled the rules regarding assistance animals on planes. The good news? Both service animals and psychiatric service animals (PSDs for short) are still protected and therefore are allowed to accompany their handlers on the…

Whether you like to plan healthy meals while you’re traveling, you have small children, or you have medical reasons for needing access to food during your flight, questions related to what food you can bring in your carry-on are extremely…

Here at Upgraded Points, we firmly believe in not carrying a balance on your credit cards. Interest charges can easily outweigh rewards, so paying your balance can maximize the benefits you receive. But if you’re like 25% of rewards credit…

For travelers, it can often be confusing which items to pack in your carry-on luggage. For example, are you allowed to bring that jar of jam you just purchased on your travels? Not likely. Unfortunately, unless that jam is less…

When you think of popular credit card networks, Visa and Mastercard probably come to mind first. But are there other major companies that dominate the credit card market? What are the most popular credit card issuers? Are Americans choosing general-purpose…

Credit cards are a valuable tool for many cardholders. Some people use cards as a convenient way to pay for expenses while earning rewards — and pay balances in full each month. Others pay steep interest fees to defer expenses…

You may have heard of both APR and APY, but not been sure what each means. It’s also easy to understand why someone might confuse the terms APR and APY since both are used to calculate interest and both significantly…

Are you planning a trip to Oahu, the Big Island of Hawaii, or Lanai? Or maybe you’re just trying to decide which island is the best choice for your next vacation? Well, you’re in luck because we’ve put together an…

No one wants to get to the airport only to realize you’ve left your driver’s license at home. Well now, depending on what state you live in, you may be able to access your ID from your smartphone thanks to…

If you’re planning on driving in another country, you’ll need to get familiar with International Driving Permits (or IDPs). They’re inexpensive and easy to obtain — and even work as a form of identification in more than 180 countries worldwide….

Trusted Traveler Programs (or TTPs) allow members to use expedited lanes at U.S. airports and when crossing international borders. They are specifically set up to preapprove “low-risk” travelers, and each applicant must meet a set of minimum requirements in order…

Your COVID-19 vaccination record card (or at least a digital version) might soon be something you can’t leave home without! It’s your passport to being allowed to visit many countries around the world, returning to work or school at some…

While COVID-19 meant travel came to a standstill, it also ushered in the golden age of virtual travel! Searches for virtual tours became increasingly popular, which lead to a rise in the quality and availability of some pretty incredible videos….

A credit report is a very important document — it can help you obtain a mortgage, a new car, or a student loan. It can also determine whether or not you get approved for a new travel rewards credit card…

One thing we try to reinforce here at Upgraded Points is that if you pay the full statement balance on your credit card bills each month, you won’t ever have to pay interest! If you are a responsible credit cardholder,…

Both credit cards and personal loans offer a way to borrow funds — and both may even have some of the same standard terms. For example, both credit card and loan agreements will both include the funds offered, interest rate,…

Now that travel restrictions are starting to ease, you might be planning for a trip. Whether you are traveling domestically or internationally, you will possibly be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test in order to travel. Some are free (with…

You probably factor in a number of things when picking your next credit card, including the card’s travel rewards, cash-back potential, interest rates, and more. But looking at a card’s particular processing network? It’s probably not even on your radar! But…

Credit and debit cards are some of the easiest ways to pay for goods and services while traveling internationally. You can avoid carrying large amounts of cash, benefit from your card’s automatic currency conversion, and withdraw cash from ATMs as…

If you’re ready to start paying down your debt, the first step is to create a debt payoff plan. If you only have 1 debt, the strategy is pretty straightforward: just make the biggest monthly debt payment you can afford…