• Home
  • Small-Business Marketing Statistics and Trends
  • What Is Mobile Banking?
  • How Student Loans Affect Credit Score?
  • Refinancing an Inherited House
  • How to Build a Kitchen?

Hanover Mortgages

The Refined Mortgage Lending Company & Home Loan Lenders

Travel

Apache is functioning normally

June 7, 2023 by Brett Tams

If Memorial Day 2023 was any indication, travelers should brace for big Fourth of July crowds at airports. On the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened roughly 2.7 million people at U.S. airports, the highest checkpoint volume thus far in 2023.

And summer travel is only just getting started. In 2019, the Friday before Memorial Day was the third-busiest day at U.S. airports for the entire year, losing only to the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the Sunday after July Fourth. This may indicate that airports could be even busier around Independence Day than Memorial Day weekend.

Making Fourth of July travel predictions is tricky this year because the holiday falls midweek, on a Tuesday. Some folks may take Monday off to enjoy a long weekend, while others may save their vacation time for a different holiday.

With that in mind, here’s some guidance around booking July Fourth weekend air travel and how you might be able to avoid the crowds (and potentially save money on airfare).

The best and worst days to fly July Fourth weekend

TSA collects data daily to capture the number of passengers screened at its U.S. checkpoints. NerdWallet analyzed the past four years of this data for the seven days before and after July Fourth.

In each of the past four years, the Friday before July Fourth was the busiest travel day ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. If that trend continues this year, travelers should expect U.S. airports to be especially full on Friday, June 30.

Are airports busy on July Fourth? The data shows the holiday is the least busy day to fly, with airport crowds averaging just 81% of what they are relative to the busiest travel day.

Based on an average of the past four years, here are the worst days to travel around July Fourth weekend, ranked from most to least crowded.

Pre-holiday:

  1. Friday before.

  2. Thursday before.

  3. Monday before.

Post-holiday:

  1. Sunday after.

  2. Monday after.

  3. Thursday after.

Instead, consider these options. Here’s what the data showed as the best days to travel over July Fourth, ranked from least to most crowded:

Pre-holiday:

  1. Saturday before.

  2. Tuesday before.

  3. Sunday before.

Post-holiday:

  1. Saturday after.

  2. Friday after.

  3. Wednesday after.

The smarter, cheaper Fourth of July travel itinerary

Based on recent historical trends, most people will kick off their Fourth of July weekend as early as possible, jetting off on Friday, June 30 — or even ducking out of the workweek early by departing on Thursday, June 29. Most travelers will likely maximize their weekends, waiting until Sunday, July 9, to fly home.

But following typical July Fourth holiday travel patterns could mean costs in terms of airfare and time spent waiting in line at the airport. Deviate from that schedule to find lighter crowds and perhaps better July Fourth flight deals, too.

Try these travel days instead:

Embrace Saturday travel: Rather than rush out from work on Friday afternoon to jump on a flight, relax at home that evening and depart Saturday morning instead. Simply shifting your trip by one day could likely result in going from one of the busiest to lightest travel days of the July Fourth travel period.

The same goes for traveling back home. While it can be tempting to extend your trip as long as possible before work starts on Monday, skip the Sunday flight and fly home on Saturday instead. Bonus: You’ll give yourself a day at home to rest and recover before you hit the next workweek (how responsible of you).

Fly on July Fourth: If you don’t mind traveling on the holiday, you’re looking at the single emptiest air travel day of the period.

Do one better by flying out early on the holiday. Travel booking app Hopper’s spring 2023 Flight Disruption Outlook found that flights that depart from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. are half as likely to be delayed versus flights with scheduled departure times after 9 a.m.

Plus, a morning flight improves your odds of catching the fireworks at your final destination.

Fly on Wednesday, July 5: Will July 5 be a busy travel day in 2023? Likely no. This year, July 5 falls on a Wednesday, one of the cheapest days to fly year-round. Plus, according to TSA’s data, July 5 has been a consistently light travel day. In 2019, July 5 was the lightest travel day for the week after the holiday (July 5 fell on a Friday that year).

Moreover, for U.S. domestic economy tickets in 2022, Wednesdays were about 22% lower than peak prices on Sundays, according to a NerdWallet analysis of Hopper data.

July Fourth travelers in 2023 can feel confident that a July 5 flight itinerary will afford them cheaper airfare plus less congested airport queues.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Posted in: Moving Guide, Travel Tagged: 2, 2022, 2023, About, Administration, air, air travel, airfare, airports, analysis, app, at home, average, before, before and after, best, best travel, big, bonus, Credit, credit card, credit cards, crowds, data, Deals, Economy, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, fireworks, flight, flights, fourth of july, Getting Started, historical, holiday, holiday travel, home, hopper, How To, in, independence day, jump, LOWER, making, memorial day, money, nerdwallet, one day, or, patterns, predictions, Prices, save, Save Money, security, single, Spring, summer, thanksgiving, time, Transportation, Travel, Travel Credit Cards, trend, trends, vacation, Vacations & Trip Planning, versus, volume, will, work

Apache is functioning normally

June 7, 2023 by Brett Tams

Imagine for a moment that it’s morning and you’re about to wake up: Your alarm rings and you grab your smartphone from the bedside table. You’re still disoriented, but you decide to check your emails and something you see on the screen jolts you wide awake.

It’s a cheap flight alert to Japan from a subscription service you’d signed up for ages ago.

The deal looks too good to pass up, but there’s one problem: You don’t have a passport. So you wonder, “Can I book an international flight without a passport?”

Whether someone has never held a passport or they’re still waiting on a passport renewal, not everyone has a passport on them at all times.

So, can you book an international flight without a passport? Let’s take a closer look.

Do you need a passport to book an international flight?

Thankfully for daydreaming travelers, the answer is no.

In most cases, U.S. citizens don’t need a passport to book an international flight. However, you do need one to check in for your flight and get on a plane, and the document has to be valid. For instance, European countries that are in the Schengen area require at least six months of passport validity. Otherwise, you won’t be able to board a plane to countries in the region.

Other countries have different rules. For example, Mexico only requires your passport to be valid at the time of travel, so make sure to check the U.S. Department of State website for your destination’s requirements before traveling abroad.

Domestic trips within the United States don’t require a passport as long as you have a state ID or are enrolled in Clear.

How much does a U.S. passport cost?

The cost of a U.S. passport depends on whether you’re applying for the first time or renewing an expired passport.

First-time adult applicants will pay the following to get a new U.S. passport:

  • Passport book: $130.

  • Passport card: $30.

  • Passport book and card: $160.

  • Execution (acceptance) fee: $35.

The execution/acceptance fee must be paid for first-time applications, so all in: First-time passport book applicants can expect to pay around $165 total.

Applicants requesting to renew their passport will pay less because the acceptance fee doesn’t apply, so they’ll just pay the passport book or passport card cost listed above.

If you need a fast turnaround, expedited service costs an additional $60, and two-day delivery is listed for another $19.53.

How to apply for a U.S. passport

If you’re applying for a passport as a first-time applicant, follow the steps for an in-person application at a passport acceptance facility.

  • Fill out a form (new passport, renewal, data corrections, name changes).

  • Provide evidence of U.S. citizenship (with a photocopy).

  • Present ID (with a photocopy).

  • Provide a photo.

  • Calculate fees and provide a check or a money order payable to the U.S. Department of State (debit or credit cards aren’t accepted).

  • Submit all the documents to a passport acceptance facility.

  • Track your application status online.

Note that the acceptance fee will be charged separately. To locate a passport acceptance facility in your area, enter your ZIP code on this page.

In most cases, it’ll be a public library, a post office or a local government office.

Some states have passport agencies that can process your passport application within 14 days of international travel or within 28 days if you need to apply for a visa, but they’re open by appointment only.

How to renew a U.S. passport

Renewing a U.S. passport requires sending an application by mail. In fact, it’s not possible to renew a U.S. passport at a passport acceptance facility unless you don’t qualify for a mail-in renewal.

To be eligible for a renewal by mail, the following must be true:

  • You can submit your old passport with your application.

  • The passport isn’t damaged.

  • It’s never been reported lost or stolen.

  • It was issued in the last 15 years.

  • It was issued when you were 16 or older.

  • It was issued in your current name (unless you have a marriage certificate or a divorce decree to support a name change).

  • It wasn’t limited to fewer than 10 years because of multiple issues with passport theft, loss or damage.

Note that once you renew your passport, you’ll get a new passport number, so if you saved your passport number in a frequent flyer account, you’ll have to update the number and the expiration date before you can check in for an international flight.

The U.S. Department of State also has tested online renewals, but the service has been put on hold for now.

How long will you wait for a U.S. passport?

In 2023, the U.S. Department of State is on track to set the record for the number of passports processed. The department estimates 10 to 13 weeks for routine passport service and seven to nine weeks for expedited service.

It’s worth noting that mailing times aren’t included in the estimate, so you’ll have to account for that as well.

In short, you will need plenty of lead time to receive it before the travel date.

The bottom line

You don’t need a passport number to book an international flight. However, make sure to leave enough time for a passport renewal or a new application because it can take a while to process.

If you think you’re going to travel internationally, we recommend applying as soon as possible to have a passport ready. You don’t want to miss out on a great flight deal to Japan — or anywhere else — simply because you don’t have the required documents for international travel.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Posted in: Moving Guide, Travel Tagged: 2023, About, All, Applications, before, best, best travel, book, clear, cost, Credit, credit card, credit cards, data, divorce, Fees, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, flight, good, government, great, hold, How To, id, in, international, international travel, library, Local, Make, marriage, money, money order, nerdwallet, new, office, or, Other, present, ready, routine, short, states, theft, time, Travel, Travel Credit Cards, traveling abroad, united, united states, update, Vacations & Trip Planning, visa, will

Apache is functioning normally

June 6, 2023 by Brett Tams

Have you come across a Craigslist rental scam lately? Here are my tips to avoid Craigslist scams and real estate scams so that you can stay safe.

Over the past few weeks, we have been searching for the perfect rental home for us to move into, but sadly we have come across many Craigslist rental scams. We found many great homes, and actually signed a lease the other day on one (more information on that to come soon).Craigslist rental scams

Craigslist rental scams

Even though we found a rental home, we came across many Craigslist scams and Craigslist rental scams firsthand. It led to us wondering “How do I avoid Craigslist rental scams?”

I only received around 10 emails back from potential landlords and three of those I knew were definitely scammers. There might have been others as well. 

Due to this, I knew I had to create a post on the topic of rental scams.

You can find rental scams everywhere (Craigslist, Zillow, and more), and many people are duped every single day out of hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars.

P.S. If you are looking for a rental, your credit score can be extremely important. You can check your credit score with Credit Sesame for free here.

Interesting articles on Making Sense of Cents that you may want to read:

How do Craigslist rental scams work?

There are cases where the person might not actually be a scammer, but you should be on high alert if you decide to continue through with a potential rental that you are unsure about. 

Hopefully with my advice on renting on Craigslist tips below, you’ll be able to find a REAL rental.

Some scams that you may come across include:

  • Craigslist rental scams
  • Craigslist apartment scams
  • Craigslist housing scams
  • Craigslist vacation rental scams
  • Fake house ads on Craigslist
  • Rent to own scams on craigslist

If you’re wondering if Craigslist rentals are legit – yes, they are! But, you need to be careful.

Below, you’ll learn how to spot a scammer on Craigslist.

Related: What You Need To Know About Renting A Room In Your House

What happens if you get scammed on Craigslist?

If you get scammed on Craigslist, they may be taking your rent money, security deposit, or even your personal information. Plus, they may waste your valuable time, and you may even be thinking that you are truly moving into the rental property.

This can be heartbreaking, and you definitely do not want this to happen to you.

How can you tell if someone is scamming you on Craigslist?

1. They are showing you the home, but do they actually own it?

One of the many Craigslist rental scams I have been hearing about a lot lately is when a scammer seems legitimate and even shows you around the rental. You might believe they are the landlord since they somehow got into the rental, but that isn’t always the case.

Sometimes scammers will break into a back window or even steal the key from the actual landlord so they can show the rental to unsuspecting potential tenants. This can be a huge disaster, as many people will believe the scammer since they are pretending to be the landlord.

Another Craigslist scam I have heard about that is related to this is when a renter moves into a home, pays the deposit, rent, etc., only to find out weeks or months later that the actual owner is at their door. The owner might have been on a long vacation or they might have just let the home sit vacant while trying to sell it, and thieves noticed their absence only to take advantage of the situation. This can be bad as you will have to vacate immediately and you will be out of money, such as the refundable deposit you may have given to the scammer.

My rental search tip: Always make sure the person renting out the home is the owner or the property manager.  There are many fake house ads on Craigslist. You can usually do a simple search on who owns the property by looking up city records. You also may be able to call the building’s manager (if there is one) and ask if the apartment is for rent and who is renting it.

2. A rental that seems too good to be true is often one of the many Craigslist rental scams.

This is how some rental scammers try to lure you in and an easy way to know how to spot a scammer on Craigslist. They will create a listing, make the rental sound amazing, offer it at a very low price, not require money upfront, and so on.

This is a clue that you might be the victim of a Craigslist scam. If the landlord makes it too easy for you to live in their rental, then you need to be very careful. Scammers are often hoping that someone will be caught up in a “great deal” and come running to them with cash.

My rental search tip: Always do your research before you give anyone money. You should check other listings in the area to see if the rental is comparable and you should also see if the place is actually for rent. In most cases, it is not.

Here’s one Craigslist scam email I received (I actually received this response for two different rentals I inquired about):

How can you tell a scam on Craigslist? fake house ads on craigslist

How can you tell a scam on Craigslist? fake house ads on craigslist

3. A scammer wants your information or money before you view the home.

If you are asked to fill out a rental application before you view a home, then you might be in the middle of one of the many Craigslist rental scams. The scammer is hoping that you will give them personal information, such as your bank account number, social security number, or something else. They will then disappear once they receive all of this information. This is a bad situation because you basically just gave your identity away.

Also, if you are asked to give money before you are allowed to view a home, then something is not right. This is most definitely a scam and you should avoid it. You should never have to pay loads of money in order to just view a home.

My rental search tip: You should always do your research, view the home, and more before you give out any extremely personal information. Occasionally, you may have to give your ID to the landlord, but other than that they should not need anything from you just to show you the rental house or apartment.

Here’s another Craigslist rental scam e-mail I received. This person sent me two e-mails so I just copied and pasted both e-mails into one so that you can easily read them both:

Craigslist houses for rent

Craigslist houses for rent

4. The landlord’s email has been compromised – Big Craigslist housing scams!

One scary Craigslist rental scam I recently heard about is when all of the information in a rental listing is correct. The home is actually for rent, the e-mail and phone number are real, and more.

However, when you e-mail the landlord you believe you are actually talking to them. It turns out that you are actually talking to someone who hacked into their e-mail. This can be a scary Craigslist scam as it can be hard to detect.

My rental search tip: Even though this Craigslist rental scam seems difficult, it can be easy to overcome. You should contact the landlord via the phone number that is listed on the real listing and talk to a real person. Then, you should verify everything that was discussed in the e-mails. Most of the time, landlords have no idea that their e-mail address was even hacked.

Related: Phone Scams: The Best Tips To Avoid Becoming A Victim

5. They give you a sob story.

Some rental scammers will give you a sob story in order to make you feel bad for them. But, think about it: why would a landlord need to tell you this at all in the first place?

It’s a business for them.

If they give you some sort of sad story, then it is most likely a scam. Lots of Craigslist rental scammers will give you a sob story such as having to move to take care of family, being forced to move due to the military, or something else.

Don’t believe it.

How do I verify a rental on Craigslist? How can you tell a scam on Craigslist?

You may be wondering “How do you know if a rental is legit?” or “How do I make sure a Craigslist rental is real?”

There are many different things to be aware of when looking for a rental online. Here are my general tips before falling for Craigslist housing scams or Craigslist apartment scams:

  • Always make sure the person showing the home is the landlord or property manager.
  • If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
  • If the landlord is trying to push a lot of urgency your way, then I would be wary. For example, if they say that they need someone to move in tomorrow because they are flying overseas, and that’s why they have such a good deal, then they may be a con artist.
  • Be careful with your personal information, so that you are not the victim of identity theft.
  • If anyone ever asks you to wire money, you should not. Most scammers will ask for money to be wired and this should be your first red flag that something is not right. Keep in mind that if you wire money, you CANNOT get it back. Too many people think you can get wired money back.
  • Does the listing and/or e-mail communication with the “landlord” have many misspellings? Does the e-mail refer to you as Sir or Madam? Do they say they are out of the country and cannot show you the home until you pay? Do they claim to be a missionary or a reverend? If any of these are true, then this is usually the sign of a scammer.
  • Does the person never want to meet in person? If you never meet the landlord, then it is most likely a Craigslist rental listing scam. The landlord or their property manager will want to meet you, not avoid you.
  • Do they only want you to peak through the windows in order to view the rental? This is a huge red flag if they never want to meet you and instead want you to only look through the windows. Legitimate landlords will want to meet you and rental ads that state otherwise are most likely fake.
  • Does the Craigslist home for rent seem like a really great deal? If so, you may want to ask yourself why they are offering such a great deal. Real owners don’t think you are doing them a favor. Instead, they see it as a way to make money.
  • Do they mention Western Union or receiving funds via money order? If so, then it may be a scam as scammers love to mention Western Union. You simply want to be careful if they ask for either of these.
  • Are they letting you skip any type of background check? Sometimes there are credit checks, background checks, and so on. If it is too easy to get the rental, then it is probably a scam.
  • Always trust your gut instinct as there are always other places to rent in the world.

As you can see, there are many ways to learn how to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist. There are many fake house ads on Craigslist, so you want to be careful.

Are Craigslist rentals legit? How do I know if a rental is legitimate?

Yes, Craigslist rentals cans be legitimate. I have personally found Craigslist houses to rent (and lived in it) through Craigslist.

Below, you will see how to tell if a Craigslist rental is legitimate or if it is a fake Craigslist ad, and how to spot red flags.

Are Craigslist rentals safe? Is renting from Craigslist safe?

Yes, Craigslist rentals can be safe. You simply need to follow the tips in this article so that you can stay away from Craigslist rental scams and find legitimate home rentals.

Why do people post fake rentals on Craigslist?

People post fake rental ads on Craigslist because they are scammers and are looking for easy money. Plus, some potential renters who may be looking for a new home may be a little desperate as well, because everyone needs a place to live in, of course.

Is it safe to rent a room from Craigslist?

Yes, it can be safe to rent a room from Craigslist. Follow the tips here, and make sure you get along with your potential future roommates.

You also want to be safe on Facebook Marketplace, and anywhere else where you may be looking at potential homes to rent.

Someone posted my house for rent on Craigslist, what do I do?

If you have a realtor or real estate agent and your house or condo are currently for sale, I highly recommend contacting them and seeing what you can do. This is because many times homes that are for sale will be listed for rent on Craigslist through a fake ad.

You should also report the fraudulent Craigslist ad to Craigslist. Doing this will help to curb Craigslist rental frauds and help anyone who may fall for the Craigslist rental scam.

You also will want to go to your local police department and attorney general to see what they can do for you as well.

How do I protect myself from Craigslist rental scams? How do I avoid getting scammed on Craigslist?

Don’t give money or any of your personal information (such as your bank account number, social security number, and so on) until you are 100% sure that it is a real rental on Craigslist.

Also, if the person requests money or your personal info from you before you even view the rental property, then I would be careful as well.

You will want to make sure you do your research before you give the person cashier’s checks, a PayPal account, or even Venmoing or sending a Zelle payment to them. Whatever way that they ask for payment, you simply want to be careful and spend your time to make sure that you are not dealing with a Craigslist scammer.

Unfortunately, there are many Craigslist rental scams on the internet which are scamming potential renters.

P.S. There are over 200 comments below (you may have to click “« Older Comments” to see all of them), and many of you have been sharing your Craigslist rental scam stories and screenshots of exact emails. This is a great way to learn how to catch a rental scammer on Craigslist. Let’s continue to help one another out, thank you!

How to spot Craigslist housing scams? How to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist? 

I hope you enjoyed today’s article on how to find Craigslist rental scams. There are definitely many fake ads out there, but do not let a Craigslist scammer deter you. There are ways to learn how to avoid rental scams on Craigslist so that you don’t get scammed.

Instead, I recommend doing your research and being careful before you hand over money or start a wire transfer. You may want to ask locals about a specific rental property, search anything you can on Google to see if the rental pops up for you (such as if you can see any complaints for that specific address), reaching out to a property management company, and more. This is so that you can make sure you are talking to the true owner of the property or whoever works for them.

After all, you don’t want to give scam artists a security deposit, Moneygram, first month’s rent, application fee, cashier’s checks, or whatever else they want without some verification that it is all real.

And, if a landlord asks you to send over gift cards as a form of payment, it is most likely fake and you are dealing with a Craigslist scammer. I have never, never heard of a landlord asking for a gift card as payment. It can be easy to fall for a rental scam, especially in today’s rental market where there is no rental inventory, which can lead to a lot of desperation.

Also, please be careful and watch out for Craigslist sublet scams. You can use many of the same Craigslist rental scam tips above to avoid Craigslist sublet scams.

But, there are legitimate rentals on Craigslist, you simply need to be careful. This may mean making sure to meet the property owner face-to-face, doing some research on the contact information that you are given, and more before you give a personal check and last month’s rent.

I, personally, have found a home rental on Craigslist and it was a great home. You can find Craigslist apartment rentals, Craigslist house rentals, and more that are legitimate – you just have to be careful.

What Craigslist rental scams and Craigslist apartment scams have you seen or heard about? Have you wondered how Craigslist rental scams work? Have you ever been the victim of any type of scam?

Related Posts

<!–

–>

Source: makingsenseofcents.com

Posted in: Debt, Money Management, Real Estate, Spending Money Wisely, Travel Tagged: 2, About, actual, ad, advice, agent, All, apartment, artists, ask, Bank, bank account, before, best, big, Budget, building, business, cents, city, communication, company, condo, country, craigslist, Credit, credit score, Debt, deposit, disaster, E-Mail, estate, facebook, Fall, Family, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, Free, funds, future, General, General Tips, gift, Gift Cards, good, Google, great, home, home rentals, homes, house, Housing, How To, id, identity theft, in, internet, inventory, landlord, landlords, Learn, lease, Life, Listings, Live, Local, low, Make, Make Money, making, market, military, money, Money Management, money order, More, Move, Moving, needs, new, new home, offer, or, Other, paypal, Personal, personal information, place, price, property, property management, protect, Real Estate, real estate agent, real estate scams, realtor, Rent, rental, rental market, rental property, Rentals, renter, renters, renting, Research, right, room, roommates, running, safe, sale, scam, Scammed, scams, search, searching, security, security deposit, Sell, simple, single, social, social security, stories, story, theft, time, tips, Travel, trust, vacation, wants, will, windows, work, Zillow

Apache is functioning normally

June 5, 2023 by Brett Tams

I’ve been traveling for more than a month now. While much of this travel has been for pleasure — I spent three weeks in Turkey with my cousin — there’s been plenty of work involved too. While I’ve been traveling, I’ve also been writing — and networking with other bloggers. Over the past month, I’ve attended two conferences, and spent three days meeting with folks in New York.

Note: Some of you have been craving more of my voice around Get Rich Slowly. That’s not going to happen. But if you’re really wanting to read what I write, check out More Than Money, where I’m writing about travel, blogging, and anything else that tickles my pickle.

FinCon 2012
In early September at FinCon 2012 (the financial blogger conference), I spoke about the future of financial blogging. While there, I reconnected with many of my colleagues, including Jim from Bargaineering, Flexo from Consumerism Commentary, Adam from Man vs. Debt, Ramit from I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Neal Frankle (the Wealth Pilgrim), and Kylie Ofiu (an Australian personal finance blogger).

At FinCon, I also met two new people who really impressed me.

First up was Pete, whom many of you know as Mr. Money Mustache. He has a hot early retirement blog, and for good reason. He offers solid advice in a strong personal voice. I loved his presentation at FinCon; his blogging philosophy and mine are closely aligned.

Second was Paula Pant, who writes at Afford Anything. Paula is remarkable for two reasons. First, she’s one of only a few female bloggers in a niche dominated by men. Second, Paula focuses almost exclusively on making money instead of saving it. Her blog is about building wealth, with a particular focus on rental properties. She’s sharp, and she now has me as a subscriber.

New York
After FinCon, I flew to Turkey to spend three weeks touring the country with my cousin. On my way home, I stopped in New York for business. I met with several colleagues, a few GRS readers, and my editor at Moneyland.

Also in New York, I practiced what I preach regarding conscious spending. You see, I’m a huge fan of musical theater. But good tickets to good shows on Broadway can be expensive. Very expensive. In order to be able to indulge my passion, I cut back in other areas.

For instance, I rented a cheap ($70/night) apartment on Airbnb and then walked everywhere in Manhattan. This saved me about $200 a day, money that I put into theater tickets. On Sunday, I joined Flexo (from Consumerism Commentary) and Ramit (from I Will Teach You to Be Rich) for a performance of The Book of Mormon, which was hilarious. I also saw Chicago (completely disappointing) and the achingly beautiful Once.

Sure, I had to stay in a tiny, tiny room (with barely room for a bed), but who cares? All I did was sleep there. With the money I saved, I had a great time in one of my favorite cities.

Note: On my last night, I had a beer with my hostess, a precocious young (26?) woman who’s found a clever way to reduce her cost of living. Rose’s apartment has three rooms. She lives in one and rents the other two out on Airbnb. “Are you able to keep the rooms rented?” I asked. She smiled and said, “My rent here is $3,600/month. Airbnb pays the rent for me.” Rock on!

Savvy Blogging Summit 2012
FinCon was fun, but I have to admit: My favorite blogging conference is always the Savvy Blogging Summit. Mostly, it’s attended by a group of remarkable women: stay-at-home moms who, in their spare time, blog about coupons, shopping, and other domestic concerns. They call themselves “dealbloggers”.

This topic may sound mundane, but more than any group I know, these savvy bloggers live the ideals I espouse everyday at Get Rich Slowly. Meeting these women is like seeing the Get Rich Slowly philosophy in action.

  • They actively work to keep their household expenses low.
  • They’ve found creative ways to boost their income. Most make money — sometimes a lot of money — from blogging. But I also talked to folks who earn income as spokeswomen, radio broadcasters, brand representatives, graphic designers, mobile app creators, and more.

And they do this all while raising families. In some cases, large families. These are stay-at-home moms who do a whole lot more. They aren’t just savvy bloggers; they’re also savvy entrepreneurs. (They’re also a hell of a lot of fun. They taught me to dance Gangnam Style this year!)

Early in the conference, I met John Saddington, an Atlanta-based blogger and entrepreneur. I’d never heard of him before Savvy Blogging Summit, but he and I had a chance to chat about business and blogging. I was intrigued by his vision, so I recruited him to help me present the “Blogging Exit Strategies” panel, which worked out well. I think the attendees got some great advice about building and selling a business.

Some of the other people I spent time with during this conference included:

  • Amy Gross from Vinesleuth, who has a free ebook called Dinner and Wine for $20 or Less.
  • Amber Bustanoby from Coupon Connections. Amber’s not just a coupon blogger; she can also bust a move on the dance floor.
  • Jennie Sanford from Bargain Blessings. I’d seen Jennie at three previous conferences but never talked with her before now, which is a shame. I want to chat with her more in the future.
  • Kimberlee, The Peaceful Mom, who taught me about Pinterest. (Sometimes I’m slow on the uptake.)
  • And on the plane from Atlanta to San Francisco, I spent five hours talking with Melissa Earl from Living a Frugal Life.

As always, I learned a lot at Savvy Blogging Summit, and did my best to impart some of my knowledge to others. I’ve already committed to speaking at SBS IV, which will be held next June in Cincinnati. I wouldn’t miss it.

Note: While in Atlanta, I reconnected with Paula from Afford Anything. I’d met her at FinCon at the start of the trip, and she was generous enough to offer me a ride. After picking me up from the airport, she showed me around Piedmont Park and told me all about her adventures in real estate. As I say, she’s sharp. If you’re interested in rental properties, you should read her blog.

Now I’m in San Francisco. Today, I’ll meet with the owners of GRS, have lunch at Twitter HQ, and stop by to meet the folks at Lending Club. Tomorrow, I get to meet my girlfriend’s family and friends.

I’m nearing the end of this marathon month-long trip, and thank goodness. I’m too old for all this travel!

Source: getrichslowly.org

Posted in: Travel, VA Loans Tagged: About, action, advice, airbnb, All, apartment, app, atlanta, bed, beer, before, best, Blog, Blogging, book, building, building wealth, business, chance, chicago, Cities, Commentary, Conferences, conscious spending, Consumerism, cost, Cost of Living, country, coupons, Dance Floor, Debt, Early retirement, Entrepreneurs, estate, expenses, expensive, Family, Finance, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, floor, Free, frugal, fun, future, good, Graphic, great, home, hot, hours, household, in, Income, learned, lending, Life, Live, Living, low, Make, Make Money, making, Making Money, man, Manhattan, men, mobile, Mobile App, money, More, Move, networking, new, new york, offer, offers, or, Other, park, Personal, personal finance, pinterest, present, Real Estate, Rent, rental, rental properties, retirement, rich, room, rose, san francisco, Saving, second, selling, september, shopping, sleep, Spending, Strategies, Style, summer, time, Travel, turkey, Twitter, vacation, wealth, will, woman, women, work, young

Apache is functioning normally

June 5, 2023 by Brett Tams

My travel mantra holds that travel should be free — or as close to free as you can get! Budget travel tips usually focus on ways to find cheaper airfare or hotels, and these are a great start. But thinking outside the box can yield some extraordinary vacations that are surprisingly affordable. Here are the different ways I travel to save (and sometimes earn!) money:

Rent a House or Apartment
If you want to stay somewhere nicer than a hostel, but aren’t eager to pay hotel prices, consider renting a house or apartment. You’ll be able to cook for yourself and avoid the $5 bottles of water. You’re also more likely to get an authentic local experience, as vacation rentals are often located in neighborhoods, rather than in tourist areas.

Vacation rentals are a great proposition if you’ve got kids, since they can run around and eat Mac ‘n Cheese — the epicenter of childhood, by my memory — without disturbing hotel or restaurant staff.

VRBO is the most popular source for vacation rental listings, but the large number and inconsistent quality of listings can be disorienting. As much as possible, I recommend using local vacation rental sites operated by people in the region you’re visiting (Google is your friend). These sites are run by people passionate about their properties, whether it’s one house or 50 properties, and can offer local tips and personal attention.

Travel in Groups
One way to really maximize the value of vacation rentals is to rent them as a group. While it might sound crazy to pay $800/night for a fancy 6-bedroom home, the number to pay attention to is the cost per room (in this case, $133 per room). If you have six couples staying together, that’s only $67 per person. And often, the larger homes have amenities like hot tubs, pool tables, docks, fireplaces, or large acreage.

Last year, my aunt, boyfriend and I rented a gorgeous two-bedroom flat in Paris’ Left Bank, across from the Louvre. We shopped at the famous Parisian markets and cooked many of our own meals. Our flat cost $80/night each, so we splurged and stayed 10 nights. We leisurely toured the museums, took day trips out of town, and wandered the streets of Paris, pretending to be locals.

Visit People
If you know anyone who lives in a place you’d like to visit — heck, if you know anyone who knows anyone who lives in such a place — contact them. I’ve never regretted reaching out to someone in a foreign land I’m visiting, no matter how tenuous the connection. This generally works best for international travel, though even with domestic travel, you’re sure to get some restaurant and activity recommendations.

Most people are thrilled to show you around their town, and they can point you towards the cool, local spots off the tourist track (read: you won’t have to pay tourist prices). Making connections with others is what travel is all about, so don’t be shy!

Trade
There are people all over the world who want you stay in their place for free. All you have to do is reciprocate. Browse sites like INTERVac and HomeExchange.com, and search for people who want to visit your region. When I was a kid, every summer my family exchanged our home with a European family’s. We were able to explore new countries like France and Italy at a leisurely pace, rent-free.

Monetize Your Space
This tip is a bit more complicated and requires a bigger leap of faith. Whenever I know I’ll be out of town, I make my boyfriend’s and my San Francisco apartment available for rent. So while my boyfriend and I are off traveling, someone is nearly always paying to stay in our apartment. For example, we recently took a two-week trip to Boston and managed to find someone to rent our place the entire time we were gone.

Last summer, I generated enough money this way to fund all our major travel expenses. We traveled to New York City, Boulder, Sonoma, and Boston. After totaling the air, lodging and car rental costs, I was delighted to find we broke even. By hanging with locals and cooking our own meals, our entertainment and food costs were about the same as they would’ve been had we stayed home. We rented apartments, used hotel points or stayed with local friends to save money on lodging. We purchased in advance to save on airfare and car rentals.

Note: For that last tip, be sure to get your guests’ contact information (including where they’re from and what brings them to town), create a contract, collect a deposit, and trust your gut — if you have a bad feeling about someone, don’t rent to them. Also, in some parts of the country, short-term rentals are starting to be regulated. Ensure you’re aware of local laws and tax requirements.

Budget travel is often about hostels and last-minute airfare. But with some advance planning and a creative approach, it’s also possible to travel inexpensively, connect with friends, and experience local culture all at once.

J.D.’s note: One weekend every year, Kris and I rent a home in an Oregon resort community. We split the cost with five other couples. It’s a fun tradition that doesn’t break the bank. And when we were in Europe last fall, we spoke with many couples who were renting (or planning to rent) a flat in Rome or Paris for a week or more. Costs were lower than a hotel, and the situation was more convenient.

Source: getrichslowly.org

Posted in: Personal Finance, Travel Tagged: About, affordable, air, airfare, All, Amenities, apartment, apartments, Bank, bedroom, best, boston, boyfriend, Budget, budget travel, car, city, cooking, cost, country, couples, day trips, deposit, Entertainment, Europe, expenses, experience, faith, Fall, Family, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, fireplaces, food, Free, Frugality, fun, fund, Google, great, guests, home, homes, hot, hotels, house, in, international, international travel, italy, kids, Land, Listings, Local, LOWER, Make, making, markets, money, More, most popular, neighborhoods, new, new york, new york city, offer, or, Oregon, Other, Personal, place, Planning, points, pool, Popular, Prices, quality, Rent, rental, rental costs, Rentals, renting, renting a house, restaurant, room, san francisco, save, Save Money, search, short, short-term rentals, Sites, summer, tax, time, tips, town, Travel, Travel Tips, trust, vacation, vacation rentals, vacations, value

Apache is functioning normally

June 2, 2023 by Brett Tams

Choosing your cabin on a cruise can present a dizzying array of choices. Interior, ocean view or balcony? Low or high cabin? Forward or aft? What service level do you want? And each option comes with its own price point.

One of these decisions is whether to book a stateroom on the port side versus starboard side of the cruise ship.

If you have an interior room, this won’t matter much, but even in ocean-view rooms with only a window view, your choice can make a huge difference in your experience.

Here’s how to understand what is port side versus starboard side of a cruise ship and decide which is the right cabin for you.

What is port vs. starboard side?

For avid cruisers, port and starboard may be as natural as saying “left” and “right.”

But if port sounds like an after-dinner drink and starboard is what you feel after you’ve had too much port, here’s a quick primer.

Port and starboard are terms for direction relative to the front of the ship. When facing the front of the ship, the port side is on your left and the starboard side is on the right.

The terms come from Old English and how boats were configured in the early days of boating. Port and starboard are on the same sides of the ship, regardless of your orientation. If you face the rear (aft) of the ship, port is on your right and starboard is on your left.

When does the choice matter?

Your choice of the starboard or the port side of a cruise ship may not matter if you select an interior room or have a lower stateroom with only a small window. Typically, your choice of ship side will start to matter if you opt for a higher room offering a balcony.

Some cruises offer an equal experience for those on the port side and travelers on the starboard side. If your cruise is a closed-loop or a round-trip beginning and ending at the same port, your cruise is likely to be equally scenic on the port or starboard side. You may just see different things at different parts of your journey.

The same is true if you are cruising across the open ocean. Your view of the ocean will be similar on both sides.

Ensuring spectacular coastal views

If it’s majestic coastal scenery you are after, consider booking the side that will face the direction of the coast for the majority of your trip.

Some captains will turn the ship around in particularly scenic locations like Glacier Bay in Alaska or Napali Coast in Hawaii so that all passengers can enjoy some views. But if you are cruising along the coast, one side of the ship will likely offer better views.

Whether the starboard versus port side of your cruise ship is more desirable depends on the travel direction and route.

For example, cruising from Vancouver, B.C., to Whittier, Alaska, northbound, you might prefer a starboard side room to get majestic views of the Canadian and Alaskan coastlines. Southbound cruisers will want to opt for a port-side room for the same views.

Here comes the sun

You may also prefer the port versus the starboard side of your cruise ship based on where the sun is.

If soaking up every warm ray of sunshine is your priority, a room facing the equator on an east-west cruise will provide the best sunshine all day long. In the Northern Hemisphere, book the starboard side of an eastbound cruise and the port side of a westbound cruise.

On the other hand, if you are sensitive to the sun, or want to ensure that your cabin remains cool, consider booking on the side of the ship that is likely to face the nearest pole.

On an east-west cruise in the Northern Hemisphere, you will get the most protection from the sun if you book the port side of an eastbound cruise or the starboard side of a westbound cruise.

If you’re cruising in the Southern Hemisphere, the north-facing rooms will enjoy the most sun, so take the recommendations above and swap the sides. Eastbound cruises get the most sun on the port side; westbound on the starboard side.

Watching a sunset over the ocean or seeing the sun slip behind distant islands can also be a reason for a side preference.

To catch sunsets, you’ll want to be on the port side on northbound cruises and starboard on southbound cruises.

If seeing the sunset from your cruise is a priority, ensure that your dinner time doesn’t conflict with the sunset. Cruise operators will often publish the sunrise and sunset times along your route. And dining in your stateroom is an option if you want to take advantage of the view.

Embarking and disembarking

Another consideration is the view you get when your ship is in port. But which side offers a better view is relatively unpredictable because cruise ships can dock on either side of the ship.

The direction a ship docks depends on port configuration, direction of travel, regulations and captain discretion. Even if you painstakingly research which ports you will visit, basing your cabin selection solely on this is unlikely to pay off with a great view.

The views from most ports aren’t typically spectacular and you’re probably going to spend most of the time in port on shore exploring. And at a larger busy port, any view is likely to be blocked by other cruise ships.

The bottom line

There is no one side of a cruise ship that is always “the best.” Whether a cruise ship’s port versus starboard side is better for you on a given itinerary will be a personal calculation based on preferences, route and what you want to see.

The best way to determine the best side to book is to examine the planned route, consider your preferences for scenery and sunshine, and book the side likely to give you the experience you value most.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Posted in: Moving Guide, Travel Tagged: 2023, All, best, best travel, boats, book, cabin, choice, Choices, Credit, credit card, credit cards, decisions, dining, experience, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, front, great, hawaii, How To, in, journey, low, LOWER, Make, making, More, natural, nerdwallet, offer, offers, or, Other, Personal, present, price, protection, Research, right, room, Side, time, tips, Travel, Travel Credit Cards, Vacations & Trip Planning, value, versus, will

Apache is functioning normally

June 1, 2023 by Brett Tams

Airbnb is a vacation rental website that changed the travel industry in many ways by building a home-sharing community.

With Airbnb, you can book an entire place or reserve a room in someone else’s home for family getaways, workaways and group travel. Whether you’re looking for a boutique hotel, a forest cabin or a UFO-shaped home, Airbnb has got you covered with its more than 6 million listings.

Does Airbnb offer discounts?

For years, Airbnb offered cash bonuses through its referral program to both the referee and a first-time Airbnb user. Unfortunately, the referral program is no longer active, and you can’t share referral codes with your friends anymore.

Now that the Airbnb referral program is done, you might wonder, “How can I get a discount on Airbnb?” Luckily, you can take advantage of several money-saving methods.

How to get discounts on Airbnb

Reserve a longer stay

Many hosts offer discounts when you reserve their place for a week or a month, so if you’re wondering how to get discounts on Airbnb, one of the answers is to book a longer stay.

If you have a lot of time off or work remotely, we recommend booking an Airbnb for at least seven days to get a weekly discount or at least 28 days to get a monthly discount.

The discount isn’t a fixed percentage and varies. Some hosts don’t offer it at all, so the only way to find out how much a long-term discount will be is to start your search on Airbnb.com.

The discount is applied automatically, so you won’t see it reflected until you click on the listing. Under price details, you should see the nightly price multiplied by the number of nights, a weekly or monthly stay discount, a cleaning fee (if one is charged) and an Airbnb service fee.

The monthly discount is typically much higher than the weekly discount, so you can save a lot of money by booking a longer stay.

Extend your trip by a few nights

Use the trick above to your advantage and extend your stay by several days even if you don’t need that many nights. Sometimes, broadening a booking window can decrease your total price if you fall into the sweet weekly or monthly discount spot.

Let’s take a look at an example. We found a 24-night stay at an Airbnb property that costs $1,127.

However, by extending the stay to 31 nights instead, the price drops to $612, which makes a huge difference for your budget.

You can apply the same thinking to shorter stays (around a week). Extending your stay by a day can either yield savings or get you another night for the same price as before.

We found an example of a six-night stay and a seven-night stay charging roughly the same amount of money after the weekly discount was applied to the seven-night stay.

Book recently added properties

If booking an Airbnb with no reviews terrifies you, the platform offers a way to offset the fears by offering a special discount.

You can get a special offer by booking a stay for a recently added Airbnb listing. The first three bookings made on a new listing receive a discount. You can stack the weekly or monthly discounts with special offers, as well.

However, it might be risky, especially when you don’t know what to expect from the vacation rental or the host.

Scroll down to the host to see if they have other listings and read the reviews left for those properties. Seeing positive reviews for the host and their other listings can put your mind at ease.

Take advantage of an early bird discount

Some hosts attach an early bird discount to their listings. Each host sets their own timeline for how far in advance you have to book to get the early bird discount, but it can be as few as 60 days, so you don’t have to plan your next vacation a year in advance.

If you are booking far in advance — a year out or so — familiarize yourself with the property’s cancellation policy to avoid surprises in case you need to cancel.

Even if the discount is small, anything helps with getting a more afforable Airbnb.

Purchase discounted Airbnb gift cards

Another way to get a more affordable Airbnb is to buy discounted Airbnb gift cards.

Although this method won’t save you a ton of money, you can still save a few bucks, especially when you take advantage of the previously mentioned discounts too.

You can purchase discounted Airbnb gift cards on websites like Sam’s Club or Raise and save a little cash. For example, a $200 Airbnb gift card is going for $193.92 from Sam’s Club and for $188.69 from Raise.

Use a rewards card to pay for Airbnb

It won’t get you an immediate discount, but you’ll earn the rewards toward a future points redemption.

Another suggestion is to use specific credit cards to purchase Airbnb gift cards at stores and earn a rewards multiplier. For example, buying digital Airbnb gift cards from Staples will earn 5% back — on the first $25,000 spent — with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card.

Book through an airline portal

This isn’t a direct way to save cash per se, but several airlines offer ways to earn frequent-flyer miles on Airbnb stays. Earning airline rewards is akin to getting a small discount on an Airbnb booking.

You’ll earn airline miles by making Airbnb reservations through the following airline programs.

Airline loyalty program

First-time Airbnb user bonus

Ongoing earning rate

ANA Mileage Club

A discount coupon for 3,000 Japanese yen ($22.70) and 2 miles per 200 yen ($1.50) spent with Airbnb.

1 mile per 200 yen ($1.50).

British Airways Executive Club

3 Avios per £1/€1/$1.

Delta SkyMiles

1 SkyMile per $1.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

500 bonus points on the first Airbnb booking.

1 Qantas point per 1 Australian dollar (67 cents).

Keep in mind that to earn airline miles, you must go through the airline’s respective portal they have in partnership with Airbnb. Make sure to enter your frequent-flyer number at the time of booking or no miles will be awarded.

Message the host

This is by no means a guaranteed method of receiving a discount on your Airbnb stay, but in the words of the great Wayne Gretzky, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” It’s possible to contact an Airbnb host before you make a booking through their listing.

So, if you’re on Airbnb wondering how to get a discount, message a host and ask whether they’d come down on the price before you reserve a stay. If they agree, they’ll send you an offer via a special link, and you can see the new rate before you lock down the reservation.

This approach might not work with every host, but it’s worth a shot, especially on short-notice bookings.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Be polite and respectful to the host when requesting an Airbnb discount, even if they decline your request.

The bottom line

The cost of travel has increased significantly over the past year, according to NerdWallet’s Travel Price Index, so we don’t blame you if you’re looking to save money. If you’re looking for an Airbnb discount, you can get one by:

  • Booking an extended stay.

  • Adding some days to your booking.

  • Booking new-host listings.

  • Taking advantage of early bird pricing.

  • Purchasing discounted Airbnb gift cards.

  • Using a rewards card to pay for your Airbnb.

  • Booking an Airbnb through an airline portal.

  • Messaging the host.

At least one of these options, or multiple, will let you score an Airbnb property for less.

(Top photo courtesy of Airbnb)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Posted in: Moving Guide, Travel Tagged: 2, 2023, active, affordable, airbnb, Airline Rewards, airlines, All, Amount Of Money, ask, before, best, best travel, bonus, bonuses, book, british airways, Budget, building, Building a Home, business, Buy, Buying, cabin, cents, cleaning, codes, cost, Credit, credit card, credit cards, Digital, Discounts, earning, Fall, Family, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, fixed, forest, future, gift, Gift Cards, great, home, How To, in, index, industry, japanese, Listings, luck, Make, making, miles, money, More, nerdwallet, new, offer, offers, or, Other, place, plan, points, price, programs, property, Purchase, Raise, rate, rental, Reviews, rewards, room, save, Save Money, Saving, savings, search, short, staples, time, timeline, Travel, Travel Credit Cards, Travel Deals, under, vacation, Vacations & Trip Planning, Ways to Save, Websites, will, work

Apache is functioning normally

May 31, 2023 by Brett Tams

Elite airline status can deliver frequent flyers a lot of perks, including free checked baggage, priority boarding access and even complimentary upgrades.

United Airlines has four published elite status levels. Of these, Premier Platinum is the second-highest tier. Here’s a look at United Platinum benefits, how to earn this status and how much it’s worth.

United Premier Platinum perks

United’s MileagePlus program provides those with elite status a variety of benefits intended to make flying simpler and more lucrative. Here’s what you get once you reach Premier Platinum status:

  • 9x miles on flights. For every eligible dollar spent on airfare, members will earn 9 United miles.

  • Free checked bags. Premier Platinum members get three complimentary checked bags weighing up to 70 pounds each.

  • Priority check-in. Take advantage of the Premier Access check-in desk, where it’s available. 

  • Priority boarding. Members and their companions receive Group 1 boarding. 

  • Priority security. In airports with priority screening, Premier Platinum members have access to faster security. 

  • Free same-day changes. Free confirmed changes to other eligible flights within 24 hours of boarding. 

  • Better seating. Complimentary access to Economy Plus or preferred seating for the member and up to eight companions when booking. 

  • Unlimited, space-available complimentary upgrades. Upgrades to first class begin clearing at 72 hours before your flight. 

  • Instant upgrades on eligible fares. Those purchasing a Y or B fare class will receive an instant upgrade to first class if space is available. 

  • United Club membership discount. A $50 discount off the regular annual cost of a United Club membership.

  • Access to sold-out flights. Ability to purchase Y-fare-class flights up to two hours before departure. 

  • PlusPoints. Platinum members receive 40 PlusPoints per year, which can be used to confirm upgrades to premium cabins starting when you book. 

  • More award availability. Those with Platinum status and above have access to better award availability for premium cabins. 

  • Waived fees. Fees charged for booking by phone are waived. 

  • Star Alliance Gold status. Includes benefits such as free checked bags, lounge access, priority check-in and more on eligible partner alliance bookings. 

  • Avis elite status. Complimentary Avis President’s Club elite status. 

How to earn Premier Platinum elite status

To earn Premier Platinum status with United, you’ll need to complete the following requirements within a calendar year:

  • Fly at least four segments with United or United Express.

  • Complete 36 premier qualifying flights (PQFs) and earn 12,000 premier qualifying points (PQPs). If you don’t meet the PQF threshold, you can qualify by earning 15,000 PQPs instead.

A PQF is determined by the number of flights you’ve taken with United or a partner airline. Each segment within an itinerary counts as a flight, so if you have a layover on a one-way trip you’ll receive two PQFs, whereas a nonstop flight would earn you one PQF.

The amount of PQPs you’ll earn is determined by the cost of your ticket (base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges), along with certain eligible upgrades you can purchase.

Award flights are eligible to earn PQFs and PQPs. Each flight segment is worth one PQF, and you’ll earn one PQP per 100 miles redeemed for your itinerary.

How much is United Premier Platinum status worth?

How much is United status worth? In general, airline elite status relies pretty heavily on luxury benefits such as priority check-in and faster access to phone agents that don’t have a price tag attached to them.

However, there are quite a few included perks you would otherwise generally have to pay for, such as checked bags, an upgraded seat and lounge access.

In our analysis of major U.S. airlines, NerdWallet ranks United Platinum second among similar high-tier statuses. It trails behind Alaska’s MVP Gold 75K, which provides a 63% return on spend in our calculations.

Premier Platinum status, meanwhile, provides a 49% return on your investment.

According to our analysis, it costs an estimated $12,658 to earn Platinum status. For that investment, you’ll receive perks worth roughly 49% of that amount, or $6,235.

What else you need to know

PlusPoints upgrades can be incredibly valuable. Upon earning status, Platinum members receive 40 PlusPoints, which can be used to confirm upgrades on flights ahead of time.

Although it’s possible to use those 40 PlusPoints to upgrade two domestic flights to first class (they cost 20 PlusPoints apiece), it’s generally a far better value to use these for a long-haul international flight.

It costs as few as 40 PlusPoints to upgrade from an economy class long-haul flight to United’s Polaris business class, which features a lie-flat bed, superior food and drink options, and even pajamas.

Even better, there’s no limit to which flights are eligible, which means those 40 PlusPoints could be used on the longest, most expensive flights, where the price difference between economy and business class can be thousands of dollars.

United Platinum status is valuable

Although it takes work to earn elite status with an airline, it can often be worth it, especially if you travel often. This is the case with United’s Premier Platinum status, which provides a bevy of benefits to those who invest.

Along with perks such as free checked bags, better seating and complimentary elite status with other partners, Platinum members receive 40 PlusPoints, which can be used for incredibly valuable international business class upgrades.

(Top photo courtesy of United Airlines)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Posted in: Moving Guide, Travel Tagged: 2023, agents, airfare, airlines, airports, analysis, bed, before, Benefits, best, best travel, book, business, cabins, cost, Credit, credit card, credit cards, desk, earning, Economy, expensive, Features, Fees, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, flight, flights, food, Free, General, gold, hours, How To, in, international, Invest, investment, lounge access, Loyalty Programs, Luxury, Make, market, member, miles, More, Most Expensive, nerdwallet, or, Other, platinum, points, premium, president, pretty, price, Purchase, reach, return, seating, second, security, space, time, Travel, Travel Credit Cards, united, united airlines, upgrade, upgrades, value, weighing, will, work

Apache is functioning normally

May 31, 2023 by Brett Tams

A cruise can satisfy the greatest wanderlust, satisfy your favorite (and newfound) food cravings and open new horizons and interests you never thought possible. But you can also fall for tourist traps or miss the authentic culture of the places you visit.

🤓Nerdy Tip

If you’ve never cruised, talk to others who have more firsthand insights. Their perspective can shed even more light on the experience you can expect.

Going on a cruise has pros and cons, and it may be worth reviewing them before your next sailing. Let’s look at the pros and cons of cruises.

Pros

A good deal

Cruises can be costly, but you get more than just a great view of the ocean. Cruise bookings often include your:

  • Accommodations.

  • Some drinks.

  • Entertainment.

  • Recreational amenities like pools and waterslides.

  • Other onboard activities.

You can step aboard the ship and not spend a penny if you play your cards right.

There are plenty of ways for cruises to pull more money out of your pocket on board (think: spa, specialty restaurants, upgraded drink packages, shore excursions, shops and casino), but you can still have plenty of fun without spending an additional dime.

Cruise lines are reinventing their onboard options, and specialty restaurants tap in to the talents of well-known chefs and restaurateurs. This can take some of the boredom away from the same dining rooms, but it comes at a cost.

For the most part, however, if you find a good price on the cabin, the number of inclusions that come with it can quickly drive down the cost of an overall vacation. Of course, the more you spend on the cabin (some of those luxury suites, for example), the lower the bargain you’ll get.

Entertainment and education galore

You read that right — you can learn something educational on a cruise.

Many cruises have port talks, destination immersion lectures covering the history and culture of a place, art galleries and trivia games. You can learn something on board, and then when you’re ashore, you can explore the destinations you visit.

Cruises are a great way to learn more about the world, meet new people and learn from them, too.

And there is more entertainment than you can shake a stick at on board and ashore. From musical performances to game shows and cinemas, you can easily fill up your schedule.

Every ship is different, so it is important to review what is available on your sailing if staying busy is your goal. Otherwise, bring a book and watch the world float by from the deck.

On sea days (when the ship is traveling between ports), it’s like having your own resort with pools and activities included in the overall cost of your vacation.

Maximize your time

A cruise can introduce you to many places at once without your worrying about unpacking and repacking between destinations or paying for transportation between cities.

You unpack once and then are on your way, with all of the details handled for you — from immigration protocols to where to go and when.

The cost of a cruise includes a preplanned journey to some of the most popular points within a region and your transportation between them.

For example, your itinerary may have multiple Mediterranean cities or several European capitals.

There’s something quite relaxing about waking up each morning in a new city. And when you return after a day of exploring, housekeeping has cleaned your room.

A cruise may be a great option for less-frequent travelers because the cruise line is essentially “holding your hand” along the way.

Even better, some stops may be hard to reach by land — like many Alaskan ports — or expensive to reach independently, like some Greek islands or pricy ports in the Caribbean like St. Barts.

Family and group travel come easy

Cruises are an easy option for groups traveling together. Unlike on land, where it can be hard to find restaurant reservations for large groups or find one activity that suits every interest, cruises have something for everyone.

People can branch off to do what they like on the ship and then meet back up an hour later without worrying about traffic or safety issues for kids.

Cons

Lots of people

While this varies by ship — some enormous ships have so much space that there are plenty of areas where you’ll be one of only a few people — crowds may flood popular areas.

For example, people vying for their moment in the sun may swarm the pool deck and families may descend on the water park area simultaneously.

Lines can form at popular buffets or restaurants at meal times, and when it’s time to go ashore (or disembark after the cruise), you’ll be one of many waiting in line.

Repetition

If you’re not willing to pay for specialty venues or you’re on a smaller ship that doesn’t have many free dining options, you may find that the dining rooms become repetitive. Menus change daily, but the setting does not. The window views at dinner will vary by destination, though, adding a bit of pizzazz.

If you make an effort, it is possible to find different things to do each day on almost all larger ships. River cruises, on the other hand, are much smaller and tend to feel more repetitive.

The same premise appears with the destinations for repeat cruisers. Because the cruise line plans itineraries, you may visit places you have been to multiple times if you sail often enough. It becomes harder to exclusively visit “new-to-you” places.

If it’s the latter you’re after, planning your own trip may be a better option.

One price is not always just one price

If you loosen your purse strings easily, spending more than you realize aboard a ship is possible.

A few cocktails by the pool each day, an extra tour or specialty restaurant dinner another, and before you know it, you’ve paid twice as much as you thought. It’s wise to board a ship with a budget in mind and plan your sailing accordingly so you don’t overspend without realizing it.

Tourist traps

Cruise lines are often important economic engines for destinations. You may find yourself dealing with tourist traps, such as shops by the port, and beginner tours organized by the cruise line.

If you want the most authentic experience, it might be worth studying local guides and tour options online in advance to find something more authentic without falling for what’s waiting for you right at the port.

If you’re going on a shore excursion through the cruise line, you can count on being carted to places designed for large groups rather than hidden gems. Many tours often include a stop at a local shop or business that may be presented as authentic, but locals will tell you it is not.

This trend is amplified because travelers usually have only one day at each destination. As a result, time is of the essence to visit the most important sights without wasting it at tourist traps.

Frequent cruisers, however, will tell you that you should use a cruise to determine places you want to return to by using it as a sampler to explore many destinations. They also suggest planning what you want to do so you can hit the ground running.

Exploring independently or with a local guide (not booked through the ship) can often be your best bet. It also has the added benefit of directly supporting a local business or guide rather than funneling that cash through the cruise line.

The pros and cons of cruises, recapped

It’s unfair to decide how you feel about a cruise without trying one. Even those who insist they wouldn’t like one may end up having a good time.

Perception is not always reality, and you can be better prepared by considering all of the pros and cons of a cruise in advance. Talk with people on either side to get answers to your questions.

Not every type of travel is for everyone, but the ever-expanding cruise industry keeps adding amenities, perks and destinations. That alone speaks for itself.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

Posted in: Moving Guide, Travel Tagged: 2023, About, accommodations, Activities, All, Amenities, art, before, beginner, best, best travel, book, Budget, business, cabin, casino, Cities, city, cocktails, cons, cost, Credit, credit card, credit cards, crowds, deck, dining, education, Entertainment, expensive, experience, Fall, Family, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, flood, food, Free, fun, games, Giving, goal, good, great, guide, Guides, history, How To, in, industry, Insights, interest, journey, kids, Land, Learn, Local, LOWER, Luxury, Make, money, More, more money, most popular, nerdwallet, new, one day, or, Other, park, penny, perception, place, plan, Planning, plans, play, points, pool, Popular, price, pros, Pros and Cons, questions, reach, restaurant, restaurants, return, Review, right, river, room, running, safety, sailing, Side, spa, space, specialty, Spending, studying, Style, time, tour, Transportation, Travel, Travel Credit Cards, trend, vacation, Vacations & Trip Planning, wanderlust, will

Apache is functioning normally

May 31, 2023 by Brett Tams

Okay – your flight’s booked, you’ve requested time off from work, and your family knows you’re going. The bare essentials for going on your trip are done. 

Even so, you have this nagging feeling like there’s some more… adulting to do before you leave. 

Indeed, there are definitely a few additional steps you’ll want to take before your big trip to ensure your personal finances stay taught and tidy while you’re adventuring abroad. 

(P.S. I traveled to 41 countries in my 20s, so please enjoy learning from my mistakes!) 

What’s Ahead:

1. Let your bank and credit card company know that you’re traveling

Setting a “travel notice” with your bank is a quick win and can be done in a single phone call. Some banks will even let you do it from your online dashboard. 

When you set a travel notice, you’re essentially telling your bank: “hey, I’ll be in Bolivia in August – so if you see a charge from a hostel in La Paz, that’s not fraud – that’s just me.” 

Without a travel notice, your bank will typically block your account until they hear confirmation that it’s just you. This could leave you in a sticky situation – you may be unable to withdraw cash, buy food, or check into your accommodations until you call your bank. 

So, be sure to set a travel notice so your bank doesn’t flip out when you try to buy your first cuñape. 

2. Download banking and payment apps

After visiting 41 countries, I’ve learned one universal truth about group travel: money changes hands between you like the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. 

Restaurant tabs and outdoor market negotiations quickly devolve into a humbling frenzy of open wallets, wads of cash, and grown adults counting on their fingers. 

“Oh, shoot – can anyone spot me twenty Euros?” 

“I’ve got plenty of pesos if anyone needs any.” 

“Does anyone have an extra 5,000 Yen for the tip?” 

At the end of the day, sipping Sopporo at the hostel, you’ll need to settle your tab with your cohorts – and that’s when having your banking and payment apps pre-installed is a godsend. Not only do Zelle and PayPal automatically convert to the recipient’s currency, but they also save you a nighttime trip to the ATM – which can be expensive and dangerous. 

Read more: Make Paying Easier With The 10 Best Payment Apps

3. Get a budgeting app to help you stay on track 

In addition to a payment app, it’s helpful to have a budgeting app while you travel so you can stay on track with your financial goals. 

On a more personal note, establishing a budget before your trip and sticking to it takes a ton of the stress and guilt out of travel. Take it from me, when you’re traveling on a budget, without a budget, every nonessential expense can come with a heaping side of guilt. 

  • Another five euro beer in Bavaria? I probably shouldn’t. 
  • This beautiful painting of Ha Long Bay that’s only $30? Ehhh…. not when I’m between jobs. 

Not knowing how much you’re allowed to spend when you’re traveling can be a huge buzzkill. But conversely, once you set a budget, your mindset shifts and you feel much more confident and relaxed in your spending:

  • I can safely afford three craft beers tonight. 
  • Even if I buy this beautiful painting, I’ll still have $220 left in my art budget!

So I passionately suggest establishing a budget before you head overseas – it’s low-key the #1 stress reliever before a big journey!

Read more: 9 Best Budgeting Apps To Take Control Of Your Finances

4. See what travel perks and insurance you already get with your rewards card

Sure, 2% cash back rewards are great – but did you know that your credit card might also include up to $25,000 worth of trip insurance? 

It’s a lesser-known perk of many rewards cards, but yes – many credit cards these days include travel-related insurance and coverage including:

  • Trip Delay Reimbursement. Delay coverage would reimburse you for extra expenses due to a delay, like hotels/meals after a canceled flight.
  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption. This is the big one; if you or even just someone in your family misses a trip due to sickness, a death in the family, severe weather, or even jury duty, your card could cover your trip for up to $25,000.
  • Baggage Delay. If your bag is delayed by at least 12 hours, your credit card company will actually reimburse you for typically around $150 of clothes and toiletries to get through the day.
  • Lost Luggage Reimbursement. If your bag never arrives, your card company could cover the replacement cost of your luggage plus contents, usually up to $500 or $1,000. You should know, however, that by law airlines are required to reimburse you for up to $3,500 for lost, damaged, or delayed luggage.
  • Travel and Emergency Assistance Services. Stuck in a foreign country with a canceled flight? It may not be your first impulse, but calling your card issuer can actually save the day. Many credit card companies have 24/7 travel concierges that can help you make emergency travel plans.
  • Emergency Evacuation and Transportation Coverage. Finally, and this one became more common during the pandemic, if you incur hotel/transportation costs during an emergency evacuation, your credit card may cover it. 

Head online and read your credit card’s cardholder agreement, top to bottom. That’ll give you an idea of the perks included, which could save you tens of thousands of dollars under the right (unfortunate) circumstances. 

5. Get traveler’s insurance

Whether or not your card includes some trip insurance, you’ll still want to consider plugging any sensitive gaps. Travel insurance is cheap, relieves a ton of stress, and some consider it to be essential. 

There are three types of travel insurance:

  • Financial travel insurance covers your trip itself, and may already be covered by your credit card. It includes trip cancellation/interruption coverage, baggage delay reimbursement, and more.
  • Medical travel insurance covers you during your trip and includes your medical bills for emergency evacuation, basic healthcare, etc. Even if you’re traveling to a country with affordable out-of-pocket healthcare, the U.S. State Department reminds us that medical transportation costs can reach $100,000 alone.
  • Comprehensive travel insurance quite simply includes both Financial and Medical travel insurance. 

I know, when you’re budgeting for a trip, purchasing $50 to $300 or so worth of insurance that you might not even use feels like a frustrating tax. 

But think of it this way – even if you never end up using it, travel insurance still has a tangible benefit – every day, it removes stress from your trip. For a couple of hundred bucks, it prevents any interruption in your goal to achieve financial freedom. 

6. Bring a travel rewards card

Depending on where you’re going and for how long, you might consider applying for a travel rewards card to bring with you. 

Now, the credit card companies would have you believe that getting a new credit card is as simple and straightforward as ordering a burrito. 

It’s not, and there are some hidden caveats/drawbacks for you to seriously consider before applying: 

  • Credit card applications hurt your credit score. When you apply for a new credit card, the company will make a hard pull of your credit, causing an immediate drop of five to seven points.
  • Travel rewards cards typically require excellent credit. Because travel cards are “lifestyle cards” that encourage high spending, the card companies want to know that they can trust you to pay your bill when you’re back home. Therefore, they typically require a credit score of 750 or higher
  • The best travel cards charge an annual fee. The best travel cards almost always charge a $95 annual fee (or higher). Granted, they also tend to have generous signup bonuses ($500+) if you spend enough within your first three months. 

The best time to get a travel rewards card is before you book your trip. That way, you can put your trip on your new card for extra cash back and to make progress on earning your signup bonus. 

Aside from getting trip insurance, better cash back on travel expenses, and a signup bonus, the final perk to bring a travel rewards card is zero foreign transaction fees. Most non-travel cards will charge a 3% fee on every purchase you make overseas, making your cash back rewards null and void. 

If you plan to go shopping abroad, a travel card (or at least one with no foreign transaction fees) is an excellent companion.

Read more: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

7. Turn on notifications for every single transaction

Circling back to my very first point, you definitely should still give your bank a travel notice so they don’t immediately freeze your account as soon as you try to make a purchase overseas. 

That being said, I recommend you still set up alerts for every single transaction made on your card while you’re traveling. 

What if you’re in Bolivia, but that charge at the hostel in La Paz wasn’t you? Now, the roles have reversed – your bank probably thinks it’s OK, but you obviously don’t. 

That’s why it’s a good idea to have your bank ping a notification to your phone every time there’s a transaction on your account. Yes, you may get eleven pings a day, but I promise – it’s all worth it for that one ping that makes you go: hol’ up.

8. Prepare to use card lock 

Let’s say you do get an alert for a fraudulent charge. Or maybe, you’ve simply lost your credit card and want to prevent any bad guys from using it. 

What now? Do you call up Chase and cancel your card? 

Hold the phone, because canceling a credit card could have seriously negative consequences on your personal finances. To start, every merchant you have on autopay will experience a missed payment, which could lead to a disruption in subscription services and even a dip in your credit score. 

Plus, and I’m pulling from personal experience here, canceling a credit card abroad means that card is donezo. Six feet under. In most circumstances, your card issuer won’t be able to get you another physical card until you’re back home. 

Besides, what if you find your card behind the hostel bar right after you cancel it? 

That’s why card lock is such an essential feature for travelers. Card lock is a simple toggle in your banking app that lets you block any new transactions on your card. Pre-authorized transactions are allowed, but the bad guys won’t be able to charge anything new. They’ll probably assume you already canceled it and toss it in the trash. 

Card lock is also a no-brainer if you’re searching for a lost card, or you do know where it is and just need a few hours to retrieve it. 

9. Automate your bills

Speaking of pre-authorized transactions, another key step in ensuring a smooth trip (financially speaking) is to ensure that you won’t come home to any delinquent bills. 

You’ll be glad you set up autopay for your rent, utilities, etc. if you haven’t already. It’s not just decidedly unfun to return from Bali to a pile of bills – it can also be expensive and hurt your credit score. 

Some less patient merchants (notably utility providers) keep their fingers on the trigger, and as soon as you miss a payment they’ll ambush you with late fees and report your delinquent payment to the credit bureaus. 

So, be sure that all of your bills, rent, etc. are set on autopay so you don’t get in trouble while you’re gone. And TBH, just keep everything on autopay so you don’t miss any payments in the future!

Read more: Automatic Payments Explained – Everything You Need To Know About AutoPay

10. Suspend your paid subscriptions

Conversely, if you’ll be gone for more than a month, you might even consider canceling some of your subscriptions until you’re back. This is a frugal life hack that I’ve used to save hundreds during my overseas adventures. 

For example, you may want to consider canceling the following services (and more) if you won’t be using them while overseas:

  • Hulu.
  • Disney+.
  • Peloton.
  • HBO Max.
  • Spotify.
  • Netflix.

After all, these services let you reactivate on a whim, so you might as well suspend your subscription and save $20, $40, even $100 during each month you’re gone. 

Not only is it effortless to re-subscribe – they’ll often give you promos for it (e.g. reactivate now to save 20% off your next three months). 

Now, if it’s a subscription to a small business, like a local gym or a life coach, I’d encourage you to continue supporting them even while you’re overseas. 

But Disney? They’ll be fine. 

11. Remember to skip your meal deliveries

I’m giving this one its own header because it caused me a surprising amount of stress on my recent jaunt to the Bahamas. 

While I was checking my email in Nassau, I got a notification that my Freshly box was out for delivery. 

Oops. 

Now, if it were just a regular package I could’ve rolled the dice and let it sit on my porch. If I were feeling paranoid, I probably could’ve gotten a pal to swing by within a few days and hide it. 

But fresh meals? They had hours before they expired and I lost $100 worth of meal prep (and created tons of food waste). 

For an undisclosed amount of bribery, I finally got my up-the-street neighbor to rescue my meals and keep them in her fridge for five days, but lesson learned – skip any fresh meal deliveries while you’re overseas. 

12. Have a plan for your mail and packages

On a similar note, it pays (literally) to have your mail and packages taken care of while you’re gone. 

If you go online, you can typically redirect UPS and FedEx packages for delivery to the nearest brick-and-mortar store for complimentary safe-keeping – even if the package is already in transit. 

USPS offers a service called USPS Hold Mail® that, as the name subtly implies, will hold your mail at the nearest post office for up to 30 days. You can set it up online by creating a USPS account. 

(Fun fact – you can also opt-out of junk mail for $2). 

13. Freeze your credit report

This is a newer travel tip that some would consider extreme, while others consider it 100% necessary. I’ll let you be the judge. 

Remember card lock, which prevents your credit card from being used? Well, there’s a more intense version of that where you can actually prevent your entire credit report from being used. 

When you travel abroad and use your credit card in more places, the threat of identity theft naturally rises. Then, the usual first step in identity theft is that the bad guy will start applying for loans in your name. 

At this stage, the lender sends a request to the credit bureaus to release your credit report, and when they see you have good credit, they give the bad guy whatever he wants. 

But if you freeze your credit report, it stops the bad guy right in his tracks. 

To freeze your credit report, you have to call up each of the three credit bureaus: 

  • Equifax (1-800-349-9960).
  • TransUnion (1-888-909-8872).
  • Experian (1-888-397-3742).

They’ll ask you for a password to release it again – be sure to get it tattooed on your arm (or your friend’s arm) because you won’t want to lose it. Then, all you have to do is unfreeze it again when you apply for your next loan or line of credit. 

14. Sublet your apartment

If your lease allows it, subletting your apartment while you’re gone could cover the cost of your trip!

When you sublet, you’re essentially letting a renter stay in your space while you’re gone. You’re effectively a landlord for a few weeks/months during your trip, and you’ll have to issue a lease of your own and collect rent. 

You’ll likely want to collect a security deposit, too, to cover any potential theft or damages to your property. 

Subletting makes the most sense if your renter is someone you trust – a friend, colleague, family member, etc. A total stranger might squat in your space, refuse to pay rent, and simply disappear before you return (with your stuff). 

For that reason, subletting isn’t for everyone; but if you have a renter in mind and could get a lot for your space, it’s definitely worth investigating!

Read more: How to Sublet Your Apartment Safely

15. Make sure you don’t pay for data roaming

There’s a scene from An Idiot Abroad where Ricky Gervais knows Karl gets charged 70 pence every time he receives a text message in Egypt so he keeps texting him this: 

16 Smart Money Moves To Make Before You Travel - 70p text

Even if your data carrier says they include data roaming in your monthly bill, don’t believe them. T-Mobile claims they include unlimited data roaming and a “low rate ceiling” for global travelers, and yet felt justified charged a family $13,470.19 while they traveled – $1 per megabyte. 

Here’s the crazy thing – the family’s phones were on airplane mode the entire time – but apparently, certain apps these days can shrug off airplane mode and vampire data regardless. 

So, the key to avoiding roaming charges is to either:

  1. Go into Airplane Mode Settings and ensure that Cellular Data is disabled.
  2. Prepay for roaming data, if it’s essential.

Only then will you ensure that you never pay 70p for a text from Ricky Gervais again (actually, that might be worth it). 

Read more: Should You Buy An International SIM Card For Your Next Trip?

16. Download a VPN

My final travel tip for safeguarding your finances is to download and start using a virtual private network, or VPN. 

VPNs are essential travel tools because, among other things, they scramble your data while you browse the web. You’re going to be using a lot of public WiFi while you’re traveling, especially in airports, and that’s precisely when you’re the most vulnerable to having your data stolen (ID, bank passcodes, etc.)

Thankfully, even the cheapest VPN (~$3 a month) can protect you and ensure your sensitive financial data stays invisible. 

Plus, VPNs can also help you circumvent national firewalls and download region-locked content. Want to download a movie only available on Netflix Canada? Want to visit Western social media while you’re in China? VPN. 

Even if you’re unfamiliar with VPNs, they’re super easy to download and use – so be sure to pick one and tinker with it before you depart!

Summary

Money is a serious consideration for every big trip, but if you plan it well and implement a few key travel hacks, I guarantee you’ll have a less stressful (and more lucrative) adventure overseas. 

Read more:

Source: moneyunder30.com

Posted in: Personal Finance, Saving And Spending, Travel Tagged: 2, About, accommodations, adventure, affordable, airlines, airports, All, apartment, app, Applications, Apps, ARM, art, ask, ATM, Automate, Bank, Banking, banks, bar, basic, beer, before, best, best travel, big, bills, bonus, bonuses, book, brick, Budget, Budgeting, budgeting apps, business, Buy, cash back, Cash Back Rewards, chase, Clothes, companies, company, cost, country, couple, Credit, Credit Bureaus, credit card, credit card company, credit cards, Credit Report, credit score, currency, data, death, deliveries, deposit, disney, earning, Emergency, Equifax, Essentials, evacuation, expense, expenses, expensive, experian, experience, Family, Fees, finances, Financial Freedom, Financial Goals, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, flight, floor, food, food waste, fraud, Free, freedom, frugal, fun, future, Giving, goal, goals, good, good credit, great, gym, hacks, healthcare, helpful, hold, home, hotels, hours, How To, Hulu, id, identity theft, in, Insurance, international, jobs, journey, LA, landlord, late fees, Law, learned, lease, Life, Lifestyle, line of credit, loan, Loans, Local, low, Make, making, market, meal prep, Media, Medical, medical bills, member, mindset, Mistakes, mobile, money, money moves, More, needs, negotiations, netflix, new, new york, offers, office, oh, ok, or, Other, outdoor, painting, pandemic, password, patient, Payment apps, payments, paypal, peloton, Personal, personal finance, personal finances, plan, plans, points, porch, prep, Promos, property, protect, Purchase, rate, reach, Rent, renter, restaurant, return, rewards, Rewards Cards, rewards credit cards, right, safe, save, searching, security, security deposit, shopping, Side, signup bonus, simple, single, Small Business, smart, Smart Money, social, Social Media, space, Spending, stage, stock, stock exchange, stress, subletting, subscription services, subscriptions, take control of your finances, tax, theft, time, tools, trading, Transaction, transaction fees, Transportation, TransUnion, Travel, travel card, Travel Cards, travel hacks, travel insurance, travel rewards credit cards, trust, under, utilities, virtual, VPN, wants, weather, WiFi, will, work
1 2 … 24 Next »

Archives

  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • October 2020

Categories

  • Account Management
  • Airlines
  • Apartment Communities
  • Apartment Decorating
  • Apartment Hunting
  • Apartment Life
  • Apartment Safety
  • Auto
  • Auto Insurance
  • Auto Loans
  • Bank Accounts
  • Banking
  • Borrowing Money
  • Breaking News
  • Budgeting
  • Building Credit
  • Building Wealth
  • Business
  • Car Insurance
  • Car Loans
  • Careers
  • Cash Back
  • Celebrity Homes
  • Checking Account
  • Cleaning And Maintenance
  • College
  • Commercial Real Estate
  • Credit 101
  • Credit Card Guide
  • Credit Card News
  • Credit Cards
  • Credit Repair
  • Debt
  • DIY
  • Early Career
  • Education
  • Estate Planning
  • Extra Income
  • Family Finance
  • FHA Loans
  • Financial Advisor
  • Financial Clarity
  • Financial Freedom
  • Financial Planning
  • Financing A Home
  • Find An Apartment
  • Finishing Your Degree
  • First Time Home Buyers
  • Fix And Flip
  • Flood Insurance
  • Food Budgets
  • Frugal Living
  • Growing Wealth
  • Health Insurance
  • Home
  • Home Buying
  • Home Buying Tips
  • Home Decor
  • Home Design
  • Home Improvement
  • Home Loans
  • Home Loans Guide
  • Home Ownership
  • Home Repair
  • House Architecture
  • Identity Theft
  • Insurance
  • Investing
  • Investment Properties
  • Liefstyle
  • Life Hacks
  • Life Insurance
  • Loans
  • Luxury Homes
  • Making Money
  • Managing Debts
  • Market News
  • Minimalist LIfestyle
  • Money
  • Money Basics
  • Money Etiquette
  • Money Management
  • Money Tips
  • Mortgage
  • Mortgage News
  • Mortgage Rates
  • Mortgage Refinance
  • Mortgage Tips
  • Moving Guide
  • Paying Off Debts
  • Personal Finance
  • Personal Loans
  • Pets
  • Podcasts
  • Quick Cash
  • Real Estate
  • Real Estate News
  • Refinance
  • Renting
  • Retirement
  • Roommate Tips
  • Saving And Spending
  • Saving Energy
  • Savings Account
  • Side Gigs
  • Small Business
  • Spending Money Wisely
  • Starting A Business
  • Starting A Family
  • Student Finances
  • Student Loans
  • Taxes
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Unemployment
  • Unique Homes
  • VA Loans
  • Work From Home
hanovermortgages.com
Home | Contact | Site Map

Copyright © 2023 Hanover Mortgages.

Omega WordPress Theme by ThemeHall