If you travel abroad frequently, either for business or pleasure, a credit card deal which offers you Air Miles on your purchases could be perfect for you!
Many credit cards offer some sort of incentive, but some credit cards which offer air miles also have decent typical APRs, inviting balance transfer offers and 0% on purchases, so as well as getting a good deal on the card, you could also be earning air miles every time you use it. Some credit card providers even offer special deals for new customers, so you can start building up your miles more quickly.
Some people may be wary of air miles credit cards, but providers are joining forces with reliable companies and banks, all over the world. The credit cards associated with banks, rather than airlines themselves, are often a lot more flexible about which airlines you can redeem your miles on, so that is something to remember when choosing a deal.
So when you spend, you receive air miles which can then be used for free air travel. As well as the flight itself, many providers offer other related rewards, such as travel insurance. And if you would prefer to travel in style, you can use air miles to upgrade yourself from economy. There is also the option of ‘topping-up’ your air miles by paying the extra it would cost to reach your preferred destination, if you find you do not have enough miles to get where you want to go.
Of course, even if you do not travel frequently it is still worth saving up air miles, as they will accumulate and you may find one day that you have saved up enough for your dream holiday abroad!
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taberandrew/Flickr
Got a credit card you love? Sharon is looking for one with a high cash back rebate to use for a trip to Disney in 2012. She writes:
I need a credit card that is best for flyer miles, no black out dates, no fees and good %. Which one do you recommend? We will go to Disney in 2012. I’m so confused reading all the cards and can’t decide! Thanks so much ~ Sharon
I would recommend comparing credit cards at three sites before making up your mind. I like NerdWallet, (more…)
seishin17/Flickr
Shawna shared a valuable tip in response to Bobbi’s post on her son getting inundated with credit card offers. Her tip is on how to opt out of credit card offers. She commented:
You may want to have him opt-out at the website for all 3 credit bureaus – http://www.optoutprescreen.com It’s risky for anyone to receive that many credit card offers. If they fall into the wrong hands or accidentally get delivered to the wrong house, you can have someone stealing your credit.
I checked out the site and it is legit. The site has a detailed FAQs page, privacy policy, a phone number and mailing address, and answers many questions about the process of opting out of credit card and insurance offers. Its homepage says it “is the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website to accept and process requests from consumers to Opt-In or Opt-Out of firm offers of credit or insurance.”
Thanks for the great tip, Shawna! Got a tip to share? Email me or if it is related to opting out of credit cards, leave a comment so others can benefit.
bfishadow/Flickr
What is Ebates? Shortcuts? ShopatHome? Linda asked for an explanation of cash back shopping sites after reading my post on how to order the right size when shopping online. Here is everything you need to know – and watch out for – to get cash back online.
Q. Are cash back sites for real? Because they sound like a scam.
The ones I use – Ebates, Shortcuts, and ShopAtHome – are real. There may be fake cash back sites out there, but I haven’t run into any. Extrabucks and Cashbaq are two more legit cash back sites. I know these sites are real because I have used them and earned cash back from most of them.
Q. How much cash back to I get? (more…)
Not sure if it fits? Credit: Raelene G/Flickr
I am shopping online more and more often and have accumulated 10 tips, below, to make sure I get the right size. Don’t get me wrong, there are many things I still refuse to purchase online – like jeans – because I’m not going to leave it to chance that the cut will make my butt look bigger (a good thing). Here’s how I dramatically increase the odds that what I buy online will fit.
1. I don’t take risks with clothes. I shop for colors I have in my closet and cuts that I know flatter me. Yes, that V-neck cross over looks cute on the model, but I never wear the one that I already own. I stay away from material I know I don’t like (silk always feels dirty to me) and make sure the item fits into outfits I already wear. If I can’t picture what I’ll wear with it, it’s a goner.
2. I take a mental check. Was this item already on my to buy list, or am I acting impulsively? How much do I need this item and how much do I want it? (more…)
Chuck works at "Buy More" electronics store. Coincidence? I think not!
UPDATE! Your tips pointed out an additional three ways retailers trick us to spend more (listed first).
I teamed up with BargainBabe.com writers Bobbi and Yazmin and readers to create this list of 19 tricks retailers pull to get you to spend more. The sad thing is, we all independently thought of five and there was not one duplicate! Watch out for these tricks because they are everywhere.
- Final temptation. Racks with cheap goodies that are by no means necessary but a lot of fun test your resolve one last time as you wait in line to check out. Need batteries? Craving candy? Ron, who contributed this tip, says he falls for this trick at the electronic store Frys!
- 2-for-1 coupons. Discounts that can be had only when you buy multiples sucks in shoppers (read: me), but Ellie says this stipulation actually turns her off. She rarely buys more than one of an item at a time.
- Moving parts. Shari has noticed stores move merchandise. “I believe they go through this labor expense to keep us from getting too familiar with the way things are laid out and getting in and out quicker.”
- You can’t just have one. Once you put one thing in your cart, you are more likely to put in more. Yesterday I was at Staples and actually purchased something that was $2 that I knew was only $1 at the 99 Cent Only store next door. I chose to spend $2 instead of going to the 99 Cent Only store because I KNEW that I would buy more than that one item.
- Big carts. Stew Leonard’s (the Disneyland of dairy stores) in Danbury, Connecticut was the first store I ever saw that had HUGE carts. They were so big, that even when you put lots of stuff in them, it didn’t seem like a lot… until you (more…)
Discover
This is a guest post from NerdWallet, a site that compares rewards credit card offers.
The piece missing from almost all credit card comparisons are the online rewards shopping portals. To help customers save money, numerous credit card companies have loyalty programs such as hotel rewards or frequent flier miles with their own online malls. With these online shopping portals, consumers can make all kinds of purchases at discount prices, or they can earn bonus rewards that can be exchanged for cash, gift cards or credits on their statement.
A lot of these programs boast their 2% cash back and 5% rewards on everyday purchases, but say little about their online malls. It’s really a shame because their customers could be saving (more…)
Identity Photogr@phy / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Coming up with resolutions for the new year was difficult. I easily added the No. 1 resolution to lose weight onto my list, but when it came time to think of my financial future, I was paralyzed. While I’ve always saved my pennies, this year is different. In the spring I’ll be graduating into a less than idea economy and assuming the adult reality of earning, managing, and spending money wisely. I would be lying if I said I was not anxious about my future.
My three financial goals, which may be similar to yours, are simple so I can stick to them.
3. Save more money – I’ve been putting aside 20 percent of all my earnings and will start putting away (more…)
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
Thms.nl/Flickr
It’s the beginning of a new year and a great time to assess my financial actions and make new budgetary policy. Here are my top five financial New Year’s resolutions:
1. Make a separate gasoline fund for each car. As gas prices go up and the number of drivers and cars in my family also rises, the money I am spending on gasoline is getting out of control. Personally, I am very good at looking at my errands and piggybacking them for the most efficient route. However, the rest of the family (especially the teenagers) are not as driven to do this as I am. I am going to get them more motivated by giving them a certain amount of gas money per week to get to classes and run errands. After that cash is gone, they will have to pay for the gas with their own money, take the bus, or stay home. This resolution has the most complexities to it, but I really want to get the gas expenses under control.
2. Make weekly menu plans and only (more…)
Are store credit cards savvy? Credit: shawnzrossi/Flickr
This is a guest post from Philip Taylor of PT Money: Personal Finance, a site dedicated to helping you make more money, save more money, and spend your money wisely.
It’s that time of year again. Everyone is struggling to come up with Christmas gift ideas, and some may be wondering how to pay for it all. A tempting solution is to put your good credit to work for you and use a collection of retail store credit cards to pay for all your gifts.
On the surface, it looks like a smart move: retail store cards often come with a huge upfront discount and promises of future discounts; plus, you don’t have to pay for Christmas until the end of January. But there is more to it than that.
Here are 4 reasons why it’s a good idea to skip the retail store card. (more…)
Random expired bras. Credit: How can I recycle this/Flickr
I skipped a post on what I regretted about my August credit card bill, but I can’t do the same for September. I am annoyed by a $18.17 Target charge because it is proof that I gave into boredom buying.
Part of the purchase – a gift for a friend going through a rough period – I don’t regret. What aggravates me is the $12.99 I spent on a beige bra.
I avoid bra shopping as long as possible. But when I found myself with hours to kill after a friend’s plane was delayed, I headed to Target. Not my first choice; I had already eaten dinner, the movie theater was in a dead hour, and if I played another game of Fruit Ninja on my iPricey iPhone, it would leave me directionless to get back to the airport. Target it was. (more…)
The question is generic or brand? Credit: kalleboo/Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
The ever passionate Donna from Surviving and Thriving rants about people who think they are broke – but aren’t.
This is a post I’ve been meaning to write forever. The coupon policies of Target, Walgreens, Walmart, Kmart, and CVS. Luckily, PennyPinchinMom has it covered!
Melissa at Saving Cents with Sense has a stalwart policy against buying generic. It may change your mind about my recent post on the value of generic food stuffs.
The Digerati Life shares how she cut spending on television and Internet service by $100 per month.
Consumer Reports names the two worst credit cards on the market. One has an interest rate of 59.9%! If anyone has such poor credit that this is all they qualify for, you are better off dealing with cash.
Stay on top of the latest strategies, coupons, and inspiration to save money everyday with BargainBabe.com’s email list.
Beppie K / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Credit card use is decreasing, while debit card use is on the rise. The culprit may be the hard economic times, but that is not the only factor.
“People are being extraordinarily cautious because of concerns about a double-dip recession, and jobs not being returned,” says a recent USA Today story. “Consumers are opting for debit cards, because they’re ‘one of those mechanisms that allows you to spend what you have.’”
A Federal Reserve Board report states that credit card borrowing fell (more…)
alancleaver_2000/Flickr
This list intrigued me because I continually ask myself if I am spending and saving responsibly. If many of these behaviors ring true it is time to consider changing your ways. How many of these habits are you guilty of? See my answer below.
The following list comes from Billshrink, a site that compares plans for cell, cable, and other services to see if you are getting the lowest price.
1. You charge group dinners on your card and keep your friends’ cash to spend.
2. You spend more than 40% of your total income on rent.
3. You’re constantly transferring your balance to get 0% interest on your credit card debt. (more…)
My $37.89 credit card regret.
My credit card bill is due in a few days and while reviewing my charges from the past month I found one that I really wish I could take back. While stopping at California winery for a tasting in July, I bought a handmade vintage mini-quilt to hang in my office. The cloth, folded so a fourth of it shows above, can also be used as a table covering.
Purchase price? $37.89.
The cloth has picket fence edges and the material is very sturdy and soft. I like thinking that a woman used her creativity to sew a beautiful work of art that is entirely practical.
When I inspected the cloth more closely at home, however, I found a small stain and realized four circular embellishments were added to cover an inch-long rip. You can see one of the embellishments in the top right corner of the photo. I still adore the vintage cloth, but I think I could have found something similar at a thrift store or flea market for less than $10.
So if there is one credit card purchase I regret this past month, it is this mini-quilt. I was a bit tipsy when I made the purchase, and saw so many cute things in the shop (like cherry earrings for $10) I wanted to take home something. The earrings were only worth $5 to me, but maybe if I had bought those I would have passed on the cloth. At least I didn’t splurge for the vintage $25 waist apron. It was so adorable I never would have worn it!
What do you regret buying this month?
