Credit Card Guides Personal
My Experience With Extended Warranty Coverage on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
Homeschooling through the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge for kids, teachers, parents … and definitely the headphones in my house. The last surviving set of what may have been 10+ headphones purchased throughout my kids’ home learning experience finally just…
Chase World of Hyatt Card Benefits for Active-duty U.S. Military Members [$2,000+]
Our military members make occupational sacrifices while facing unique challenges in their personal lives. Trying to balance the challenges of duty, home life, and commitment can also be supplemented by the financial challenges of military service. The financial challenges have…
My Experience With Return Protection on the Amex Platinum Card [Success!]
We’ve all been there: you want to return an item to the store but barely miss the return window. However, not all hope is lost. Rather than eating the cost altogether, you should check if your credit card comes with…
When Were Credit Cards Invented? A Brief History of Credit Cards
As you swipe your credit card repeatedly throughout your day — at the grocery store, gas station, or to grab a coffee — you might not think much about it. Credit cards offer a secure and quick way to pay…
Chase Freedom Unlimited Card Benefits for Active-duty U.S. Military Members [$1,700+]
The sacrifices made by those who serve in the military are significant. In addition to these sacrifices are the practical challenges of balancing duty, home, and commitment. One of the less-obvious challenges may be the potential financial burden. Years ago,…
What Are Interchange Rates? [And 10 Ways To Reduce Them]
Behind the scenes of every credit card transaction are processes and payment infrastructures that come with costs — and credit card networks charge businesses interchange fees for these costs. Credit card interchange rates affect every credit card payment you accept…
Take Control of Credit Card Debt: Current Balance vs. Available Credit
When you log in to your credit card account, you’ll see your current balance and available credit. If you don’t understand what these numbers mean, you may get confused about what you’ve spent on your credit card — and what…
Do Credit Cards Have PINs? How To Protect Your Money in 2023
When you use your credit card, you generally don’t need a PIN (personal identification number) to make a purchase. But there are a few instances where you might need a PIN for your credit card, such as getting a cash…
The Ultimate Guide to American Express Card Levels [2023]
American Express is well-known for its premium card products and benefits, with many thinking the brand is just for those interested in luxury and travel. But did you know that Amex has many tiers or levels of cards? The bank…
How I Built My Credit Card Collection & Spending Strategy
I recognize that “Points and Miles Expert” wasn’t a job presented at many career fairs, so often when I tell people what I do, they give me a look of bewilderment and then immediately ask: “Well, what cards do you…
The 6 Best Credit Cards for Venmo in 2023 [Why We Like Amex]
Venmo is one of the most popular peer-to-peer payment platforms on the market today. Originally, it was built as an app where you could split bills with friends and family members — nowadays, Venmo is used to send remittances to…
How To Upgrade or Downgrade the Amex Platinum Card [2023]
The Platinum Card® from American Express is, without a doubt, one of the most popular travel cards in the business. Offering superb luxury travel benefits and impressive rewards, it’s almost impossible to beat this card if you’re looking to get…
Amex Premium Protection for Car Rentals — Is It Worth It?
If you commonly rent a vehicle during your travels, chances are you’ve depended on the complimentary car rental insurance on your credit card. Or, perhaps you’ve felt better protected paying the per-day charge for the protection offered by the car…
How To Upgrade a Chase Card: A Complete Guide [2023]
Chase has a number of different credit cards available, and Chase even allows you to change from 1 credit card to another within the same family, as long as you meet certain (easy) criteria. That way, you can easily stay…
How To Upgrade the Freedom Card or Freedom Unlimited Card to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Some of the most popular credit cards from Chase include the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Chase Freedom® card, and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. All of these credit cards offer some of the best rewards in the business, which is why they’re…
The Capital One Venture X Card’s Concierge Service — All You Need To Know
Have you ever struggled to make a dinner reservation at an exclusive restaurant in town? Or perhaps you had difficulty securing tickets to the hottest concert in town? If this describes your situation, you might find the Visa Infinite Concierge…
States Where People Are Using Credit Cards To Cover Living Expenses [2023 Data Study]
The COVID-19 pandemic altered American spending patterns dramatically. In the early days of the pandemic, social distancing and stay-at-home orders resulted in a shift away¹ from transportation, restaurant, and entertainment expenditures. However, consumer spending has since rebounded, and now high…
Is the Amex Green a Good Card for People Who Frequently Travel?
Let’s get right to the point: the American Express® Green Card can be a very valuable card to have in your wallet if you’re a frequent traveler. With a relatively low annual fee (rates & fees) and several key perks that…
How To Upgrade an Amex Card: A Complete Guide [2023]
American Express tends to offer many different tiers of cards. Over time, your needs may evolve, and you might originally opt for a simple cash-back card with little to no benefits but discover that you can enhance your travels or…
Amex Platinum Card: Benefits for National Guard Members & Reservists [2023]
Are you in the National Guard or Reserve and interested in points and miles? Perhaps you’ve heard whispers of card issuers waiving annual fees for those on active duty or capped interest rates on certain credit cards. Although these rules…
Can I Upgrade the Capital One Venture Card to the Capital One Venture X Card? [2023]
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card are often confused with each other — and while the name of the cards only has a difference of 1 letter, they appeal to different…