Today’s mortgage rates are quite a bit higher than the rates that hovered near 3% in late 2020 and early 2021. But they’re also quite a bit lower than the 8% (or higher) interest rates from October 2023. So, depending on when you purchased your home, you may be wondering if now is a good time to refinance.
After all, if you purchased your home when mortgage rates were at their peak last year, refinancing now could lead to meaningful savings. On the other hand, there are costs involved with a mortgage refinance related to the appraisal, application, loan origination and more. Considering these costs, how much do mortgage rates need to drop to make refinancing worth it?
Compare your mortgage refinancing options now.
How much does mortgage interest need to drop to make refinancing worth it?
“This is the million dollar question, and it’s not the same for everyone,” says Earl Dell, SVP of national retail sales and acquisitions at Mutual of Omaha Mortgage. “A lot of this goes into what your current mortgage balance is at this time, and how long you plan to stay in your home.”
For example, let’s say you owe $250,000 on your home with a 30-year mortgage at 8.35%. You could refinance your home with a new 30-year mortgage with a lower interest rate of 7.25%, but doing so comes with fees that range, on average, from 3% to 5%. If we’re assuming 3%, that would equal about $7,500 in fees.
At the current rate of 8.35%, you would pay $433,433 in interest in total over the life of your mortgage loan. However, if you refinance your home with a 30-year loan at a 7.25% interest, you would pay a total of $364,365 in interest over the life of the loan. And, after accounting for the $7,500 in fees, refinancing would result in a total savings of $61,568 in interest over the life of your mortgage.
If you have a mortgage with a higher balance and rate, a drop of 0.5% interest could be worth refinancing, according to Dell. “For a lower balance, rate and term refinance, it may be at least 1% or more to be worth your time and money,” Dell says.
It’s also important to consider how long you plan on living in the home, according to Dell.
“If you plan on moving in the next two years, I would hold off from refinancing,” he says.
Find out how much you could save by refinancing your mortgage today.
Is refinancing worth it at a higher interest rate?
If your current mortgage rate is lower than today’s rates, there may be no long-term interest savings when you refinance. However, mortgage refinancing may still be worth considering in certain cases. For example, you could refinance from a 30-year loan term to a 15-year loan term at a slightly higher rate to pay off your mortgage loan quickly. Or, you could use cash-out refinance at a slightly higher rate to pay off high-interest debt if a home equity loan isn’t an option.
Tap into your home equity with a cash-out refinance now.
The bottom line
There are numerous factors to consider before refinancing your loan — but your new mortgage rate plays a large part in whether or not it makes sense to do so. And, while a 1% drop in mortgage rates nearly always makes sense to consider, in certain cases, even a slight drop in mortgage rates could make refinancing worth it — especially if you plan to stay in your home for the long term. Before you make any decisions, though, just make sure to understand the short- and long-term implications of refinancing your mortgage loan to ensure that it’s the right move for you.
Joshua Rodriguez
Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, three dogs and 10 ducks.
Update 1/22/24: AmEx made the following comment to Dans Deals:
We are committed to making sure there is significant, well-rounded value on our Business Platinum Card. You are seeing this expiration date because we are uncertain if these statement credit benefits with these merchant partners will be available after this date, as we continually evaluate our offerings. If or when any of these benefits change, we will notify Card Members in advance.
Original post: Some American Express Business Platinum benefits are now showing an end date of 12/31/24. These benefits include: Dell, Adobe & Indeed. It’s unclear if these will be extended or replaced with another benefit.
Working with a recruiter can speed up a sluggish job search and help you find roles that aren’t listed publicly.
Here we’ll discuss, with templates, how to reach out to a recruiter on LinkedIn. We’ll also cover how to find a promising recruiter on LinkedIn and in other ways.
1. Prepare to pitch a recruiter
Before contacting a recruiter, update your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile. Also practice articulating your accomplishments and certifications, suggests Jauné Little, director of recruiting services at Insperity, which sells human resources services to companies.
Track all the money you make
See the ins and outs of your cash, cards, and bank accounts at a glance.
Depending on their industry, recruiters are often managing dozens of candidates and open positions, and sifting through hundreds of job applications. So Little also suggests identifying skills or experience you have that other candidates don’t. That might look like experience at a massive company in your industry, a unique degree or an unconventional work history.
Practice spelling out that distinction, and think about how you’d talk about those attributes to a recruiter.
“You really have one shot at making a lasting impression,” Little says. “So make it a good one.”
2. Find a recruiter on LinkedIn
To find recruiters on LinkedIn, search “recruiter” alongside your desired industry or job in the search bar. If you can, get specific; a search for “medical devices sales recruiter” will offer better results than “sales recruiter.”
You can also search for recruiters by city and company; for example “Dell recruiter” or “Oklahoma City recruiter.”
To filter your search results to only people’s profiles, click the “People” button at the top of the search results. Scan the results carefully; if you search “Lyft recruiter,” for example, some of the profiles in your search results will belong to former employees who list Lyft on their profiles.
3. Reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn
Once you find a recruiter, request to connect. LinkedIn doesn’t allow users to directly message people they aren’t connected with, but you can include a message in your connection request.
Keep your message short and simple. Recruiters are busy people; if your message is too long, they’ll often skip it entirely.
“Iheard a recruiter from Google say that the worst thing he sees on a resume is a text brick,” says Lisa Severy, a career advisor at University of Phoenix.
Here’s an example of what you could include in a LinkedIn connection request:
Hi, [name]. I hope this finds you well. I’m a [position] with [X years] experience in the industry, and am based in [city]. I’m searching for opportunities to [get specific; list what jobs you’re interested in, or what industry you’d like to work in]. I’d love to connect and discuss this further with you. Thank you!
4. Follow up with your resume and another message
If the recruiter accepts your connection, you’re then able to directly message the recruiter. If you included a message in your LinkedIn connection request, wait a day before sending them a direct message.
Attach your resume to your message. Keep your message straightforward and to the point. It should look something like this:
Hi [name],
Good to connect with you! My name is [name], and I’m a [position] in [city] looking for new opportunities [in industry or at a specific company].
I have [X] years of experience in [your industry]. [Include 1-2 sentences listing your accomplishments, certifications or unique job responsibilities that distinguish you from other candidates.]
I’d love to chat with you about any open positions for which I may be a good fit. Are you available on [date] for a phone call?
Thank you,
[your name]
Once you’ve sent your message, give the recruiter a few days before following up with another message. If your second message goes unanswered, it’s probably best not to follow up again.
There’s a good chance that’ll happen to you, and it’s not personal — Severy warns candidates that a lot of messages to recruiters will go unread. That’s why it’s a good idea to reach out to several recruiters. It’s a numbers game. Eventually, you’ll find your match.
Other ways to reach out to recruiters
Experts agree that, in most cases, the easiest way to find a recruiter is on LinkedIn. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, get one, and use these tips to make a compelling page.
Not having a LinkedIn profile these days is “questionable,” Little says.
If you don’t want to use LinkedIn, search online for recruiting agencies that focus on your industry. It may be harder to find an individual recruiter’s contact information that way, though.
Additionally, check a company’s job listings to see if a recruiter’s contact information is listed on the postings.
Do you want to learn how to find data entry jobs from home? Here’s how you can make money doing data entry at home. If you’re looking for a data entry position, I have all the details for you here. Whether you want to be a full-time or part-time employee, work remotely, or become a freelancer,…
Do you want to learn how to find data entry jobs from home? Here’s how you can make money doing data entry at home.
If you’re looking for a data entry position, I have all the details for you here. Whether you want to be a full-time or part-time employee, work remotely, or become a freelancer, there are many different kinds of data entry jobs that you may be interested in.
In this article, you’ll learn:
What are data entry jobs
How much a data entry clerk makes
Where to find data entry jobs
And more!
Recommended reading: 21 Best Entry Level Work From Home Jobs
What Are Data Entry Jobs?
Data entry jobs are run by data entry clerks, who have many tasks including typing and data transcription. You can find these types of jobs in many different fields, including healthcare, finance, research, and administration.
Data entry is exactly what you’ll be doing – you will be entering data on a computer system.
Data entry jobs include work tasks such as:
Typing data into computer systems
Updating data into databases
Managing data
These jobs require accuracy and being able to handle all kinds of information involving text and numbers.
Other tasks for data entry freelance jobs may include:
Typing
Listening to audio files and transcribing them into written documents
Data transcription
Legal transcription
Data validation (for example, you may be comparing the data to what you have to make sure it was input correctly)
Data organization
Customer service
Your tasks will mainly depend on the job description, as they can vary from company to company.
Recommended reading: 18 Best Online Transcription Jobs For Beginners To Make $2,000 Monthly
Who is a good fit for this job?
Being a data entry clerk requires:
Attention to detail and data management
Fast typing speed
Communication skills
Ability to work efficiently
Accurate with data
Proficiency with certain data entry software (such as spreadsheets, Google Sheets, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or Microsoft Office)
The ability to handle sensitive information
Basic computer skills are extremely helpful with data entry work, as everything will be done with a computer (or laptop).
Many people who work in online data entry jobs like how this field typically works alone from home and remote data entry jobs are a possibility as well.
Plus, you can typically get started in this career field not needing many years of experience, as there are many entry level data entry jobs that you can start with no experience. Data entry jobs usually require a high school diploma or equivalent.
How Much Money Can You Make From Data Entry?
The amount of money you make depends on many things including your location, experience, the industry you work in, and how hard the data entry tasks you are being paid to do. Your pay can also depend on your shift (are you working Monday through Friday at a company, or in your spare time at home?), your work location (companies in certain places tend to pay more), your typing speed (the faster you can type, the more you can get done!), and more.
The average data entry salary in the United States is between $25,000-$45,000 per year, with the average hourly rate being about $18 per hour. Some data entry positions pay less and some pay more, of course.
There are benefits of working this type of job as well, such as being able to find flexible jobs where you can work from home, or even while traveling.
15 Best Places To Find Data Entry Jobs From Home
Here are the 15 best places to find data entry jobs from home.
1. FlexJobs
FlexJobs is an online job search platform that lists remote and flexible job opportunities. Every job listed on FlexJobs has been found and checked to make sure it’s not junk, an ad, or a scam. This is why FlexJobs requires people to pay for a subscription to use their site too.
Listings on FlexJobs include positions for remote work, flexible schedules, part-time work, and even freelance opportunities.
To use FlexJobs, you need a paid account to apply for jobs. In the FlexJobs search bar, search for “data entry” and many positions will come up in this field showing you what qualifications are needed, if it’s 100% remote, and what the tasks include.
I did a quick search on FlexJobs, and I found remote data entry jobs, part-time data entry jobs, freelance data entry jobs, and entry-level data entry jobs. There were many companies that were looking to hire for this position within just the last few days, and from many different fields.
Note: Even though there is a cost to use FlexJobs, if you don’t successfully find a job on FlexJobs, you can ask for a refund.
2. Upwork
UpWork is one of the largest freelancing platforms that connects freelancers with clients who need various types of services, such as data entry. UpWork has thousands of jobs available at any time and makes it very easy to search for data entry jobs.
As a freelancer on UpWork, a 10% fee is taken out of any earnings made from UpWork jobs. This is an important thing to think about before finding jobs on UpWork as this fee can add up quickly.
When I searched on Upwork, I found 2,197 Data Entry Specialist jobs posted. Some of the companies hiring for data entry positions on Upwork included Microsoft, Airbnb, Nasdaq, and more.
3. Amazon MTurk
Amazon MTurk is a platform operated by Amazon that connects people and businesses who need help with tasks like data entry. It is a crowdsourcing marketplace where companies can outsource their jobs.
MTurk has jobs not only in data entry, but image or video tagging, content moderation, transcription, and more.
This is how MTurk works:
Search for jobs through Amazon Mturk and click on a job that interests you.
Accept the tasks and follow the instructions for the job.
Submit your work once the job is completed.
Once the company or individual approves your work, your earnings are available.
4. Microworkers
Microworkers is an online platform that connects people to businesses to do small and quick tasks, referred to as “micro-jobs”. These tasks can range from data entry, data validation, website testing, and more.
Freelancers using Microworkers to find jobs so that they can work as little or as much as they want. Your potential for earning is whatever you want it to be, because you can accept as many jobs as you’re able to complete.
To find jobs on Microworkers, click on the “jobs” tab and browse through hundreds of listed tasks. Each task will show different instructions and the time you have to complete the job. The job will also show how much you will earn for finishing the tasks.
5. Clickworker
Clickworker connects businesses with freelancers who are in charge of completing small, quick assignments.
Besides data entry, you can also earn money with Clickworker by answering surveys, doing research, translating, and more.
As a Clickworker, you will get a list of available assignments that you can choose from. The tasks available to you will depend on your skills, education, past work assignments, and any qualification tests you pass.
6. SigTrack
SigTrack is a site dedicated to data entry jobs. Jobs on SigTrack primarily focus on collecting and verifying voter signatures for political campaigns, initiatives, and petitions.
There is plenty of work available on SigTrack with the average hourly rate going from $11-$12 per hour.
You cannot reside in California or Massachusetts to work for SigTrack.
7. Fiverr
Fiverr is an online job marketplace that allows freelancers to list their digital services, including data entry, graphic design, writing, web development, and a lot more.
Companies or small businesses looking for freelancers search Fiverr for help on their projects.
It’s important to note that Fiverr does take a 20% cut of your earnings, so keep that in mind if you search for a job here.
I found 69,727 jobs related to data entry on this site, so competition can be pretty tough. You will have to find a way to stand out if you want to post a listing on Fiverr.
8. Axion Data Entry Services
Axion Data Entry Services is a company that does data entry and data processing for businesses, such as for managing and digitizing their data.
As an employee of the Axion Data Entry Services team, you’ll be evaluated for accuracy and your attention to detail, and you are paid at a flat rate per entry or for each document you enter.
The more skills and qualifications you have, the more you will earn at Axion Data Entry Services.
9. DionData Solutions
DionData Solutions connects data entry specialists to businesses and organizations. DionData Solutions works for clients who need help in managing and digitizing large volumes of data accurately and efficiently.
At DionDate Solutions, data entry specialists work on:
Medical claims
Mailing lists
Surveys
Subscription fulfillments
Enrollment forms
Warranty cards
Product registration cards
Inventories
And more.
10. Capital Typing
Capital Typing is a company that sells services such as data entry, transcription, virtual assistance services, and other admin support roles.
Capital Typing specializes in on-demand and long-term outsourcing solutions to help companies streamline their operations.
Due to the type of business they run, they are in need of data entry workers.
11. We Work Remotely
We Work Remotely is a job board that focuses primarily on remote jobs. This platform is home to the largest remote work opportunity in the world with over 4.5 million visitors.
Many companies hire workers from this site, such as Google, Amazon, and more. So, there are many big companies that list jobs here.
This online platform allows companies to hire remote workers for all kinds of jobs including data entry. Jobs posted include information such as what the company is looking for, what the ideal candidate has as far as qualifications go, salary and benefits, and the steps to apply.
12. Virtual Vocations
Virtual Vocations is a job platform that lists remote and telecommute job opportunities.
This platform is designed to help remote workers find legit online jobs, making it as easy as possible to get started working from home.
Jobs listed on Virtual Vocations list key responsibilities for the job, and required qualifications.
When I looked, Virtual Vocations currently has 7 jobs related to data entry listed.
13. Scribie
Scribie is a transcription and audio captioning service that provides services to businesses and individuals. Scribie specializes in converting audio and video files into written text.
To apply as a Scribie transcriptionist you need to:
Sign up as a Transcriber
Connect your PayPal account
Take a transcription test
Scribie pays $5-$20 per audio hour (Scribie claims that a person can make around $800 a month by working 8 hours each day.). The pay is a little on the lower end, but Scribie does give you automated transcripts, which can save you around 60% of the typing effort.
You’ll simply listen to the audio clips that they give you, compare them to the automated transcription (such as applying context, identifying mistakes, and correcting the automated transcript that they give you). Then, you can get paid.
14. GoTranscript
GoTranscript is a platform that connects businesses with professional data entry specialists. Data entry specialists on GoTranscript work on documents related to the medical, legal, and academic fields.
With a 98% customer satisfaction rate, GoTranscript relies on hiring the best data entry specialists.
They pay up to $0.60 per audio or video minute, with an average earnings of around $150 per month.
15. Working Solutions
Working Solutions is a site that works with independent contractors on jobs related to industries like health and insurance, senior living, fitness, hospitality, and education.
Working Solutions independent contractors’ tasks include things like handling customer care calls, emails, and video chats.
You can often find data entry jobs on this site.
Frequently Asked Questions About Data Entry Jobs
Below are answers to common questions about data entry jobs from home.
Is work-at-home data entry legitimate? Can you really make money doing data entry at home?
Work at home data-entry jobs are legit and can be found quite easily online.
Here are some tips to help you find a legit work at home data entry job.
Use FlexJobs – Since FlexJobs job listings are all curated and checked for accuracy, you’ll have more peace of mind. Companies listing jobs on FlexJobs include Apple, Salesforce, United Healthcare, Dell, Capital One, and many more.
Be cautious – If a job posting makes exaggerated claims about high earnings with little to no effort, it’s likely a red flag. Legit data entry jobs give fair compensation (above minimum wage) for the data entry tasks performed. But, a legitimate company won’t ever pay $10,000 a week or something high like that.
Research the company – You should look for an official website for the company, a physical address, any information you can find on the Better Business Bureau, and even a contact phone number. Scammers generally use generic email addresses and websites that lack information.
Don’t pay thousands to become a data entry clerk – Some companies may ask you to have a data entry certificate. If they ask for this, make sure they aren’t charging you an arm and a leg for it.
Unfortunately, with many work from home careers, there are a lot of scams. But, that doesn’t mean that data entry isn’t real.
There are many places to find the best data entry jobs. But, you still have to be smart!
Which site is best for data entry jobs?
The best sites for data entry freelance jobs include:
FlexJobs
UpWork
Fiverr
We Work Remotely
Job listing sites like the platforms above often are great places to start if you are looking for entry level data entry jobs from home.
Is data entry a hard job to do? Can a beginner do data entry?
Data entry is often an entry-level job and is relatively easy to get started with. If you don’t have trouble with typing accurately and inputting data, then you most likely won’t have a problem with finding work at home data entry jobs.
For most new jobs in data entry, you will want to make sure you include a relevant cover letter and resume. Even if you are brand new to work-from-home data entry jobs, you can still tailor these documents to the company and position so that you can get the job.
Can I do data entry with my phone?
Okay, so I hear this question all the time. And, I get it – being able to work from your phone would be great.
Depending on the job, you can possibly do data entry from your smartphone, but it won’t be nearly as efficient and easy as doing this kind of work on a computer.
The small screen size on your phone makes data entry more challenging, and your typing will be much slower compared to working on a laptop. Plus, some software may not be available on your phone.
If you want to make the most money with stay at home data entry jobs, then it’s probably best to get a laptop or a computer.
Data Entry Jobs From Home – Summary
I hope you enjoyed today’s article on how to find online data entry jobs from home.
Data entry jobs are great for people completely new to this field as you don’t need prior experience to become a data entry specialist.
Plus, with the average salary from $25,000-$45,000, finding a data entry position is a good career path to get started with if you want to work from home and possibly have a flexible schedule.
What’s your best place to find work from home data entry jobs?
As we near the end of year, it’s a good time to take stock of our credit cards and review which ones have benefits, requirements, or limits that reset at year-end. We’ll also examine which cards give you a quick double-dip credit when applying at year-end, and take a look at which cards to apply for now.
I’ve been doing this write-up with updates each year for the past number of years (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015). This year again there were many changes. I updated what came to mind, and there are probably some we missed. Please drop a comment below if you notice any changes or inaccuracies changes and we’ll update accordingly.
Calendar Year Spend Limits
Blue Business Plus and Blue Business Cash cards earn 2x/2% everywhere on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year. (A report indicates this resets on January 1st, not the December statement close.)
Amex Gold card earns 4x points at US grocery stores up to $25,000 per calendar year. (Resets with December statement or December 31?)
Amex SimplyCash Plus earns 5% at office/wireless and 3% on your chosen category, up to $50,000 per calendar year for each of those. This resets on January 1st each year.
Amex Everyday Preferred $6,000 limit on the 3x grocery store category per calendar year. (Resets with December statement or December 31?)
Amex Everyday $6,000 limit on the 2x grocery store category per calendar year. (Resets with December statement or December 31?)
Blue Cash Preferred $6,000 limit on the 6% grocery store category per calendar year. This resets January 1 each year, not on the December close date.
Blue Cash Everyday $6,000 limit on the 3% grocery store category per calendar year. This resets January 1 each year, not on the December close date.
The Old Blue Cash card does not reset with the calendar year, it goes with your card anniversary.
The INK Plus/Cash and the INK Preferred years do not reset with the calendar year, it goes with the card anniversary.
Also, remember that the annual limits on points earned for credit card referrals by Chase (50,000-100,000 points, depending on the card) and AmEx (55,000 points/$550) will reset on January 1st. If you’re someone who does a lot of referrals, be sure to max out what you can before December 31 and then start referring again on January 1st.
Q4 Categories: Chase Freedom, Discover, Citi Dividend, and U.S. Bank Cash+ and a few other cards have quarterly categories. The current categories for Q4 will end on December 31. More details here. Likewise, the quarterly $2,500 limit on the Bank of America Cash Rewards card will renew on January 1. There are also some spend offers from Chase, notably the 10x Gas offer, which ends on December 31st.
You have until December 31st to max out your I Bonds purchases which are limited to $10,000 each calendar year.
List of all deals ending on December 31st can be found on our Deals Calendar.
Calendar Year Spend Requirements
Amex Hilton Surpass gets a free weekend night with $15,000 in spend within the calendar year, and gets Diamond status with $40,000 in spend within the calendar year.
Amex Hilton Honors business card gets a free weekend night with $15,000 in spend within the calendar year, it gets a second weekend night with a total of $60,000 in spend within the calendar year. It also gets Diamond status with $40,000 in spend within the calendar year.
Amex Hilton Honors gets Gold status with $20,000 in spend within the calendar year.
Amex Hilton Aspire gets a second free weekend night with $60,000 in spend within the calendar year. (First weekend night comes as a card benefit, and is based on card anniversary, not calendar year.
Amex Delta Reserve – both personal and business versions – earn 15,000 MQMs (18,750 MGMs for 2021 due to temporary bonus) and 15,000 bonus miles $30,000 in spend within the calendar year, and an additional 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 bonus miles if you spend a total of $60,000 within the calendar year.
Amex Delta Platinum – both personal and business versions- earn 10,000 MQMs and 10,000 bonus miles when you spent $25,000 in a calendar year, and an additional 10,000 MQMs and 10,000 bonus miles if you spend a total of $50,000 within the calendar year.
Amex Platinum consumer and business cards – spend $75,000 or more during a calendar year and receive complimentary Centurion lounge access for up to two guests per visit.
Barclay Jetblue Plus card earns Mosaic status with $50,000 in spend per calendar year.
Chase British Airways card gets the Travel Together Ticket benefit when spending $30,000 in a calendar year.
Chase Hyatt card gets an additional night if you spend $15,000 in the past year. This one has now changed to go based on the calendar year. Finish up your spending now if you’re trying to get the additional night and begin your spending for next year on January 1st.
Chase Hyatt cards offer elite nights with spend: the Hyatt consumer card gets 2 nights for every $5,000 spent; this does not reset at all. The Hyatt business card gets 5 nights for every $10,000 spent; this resets with the calendar year.
Citi American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Select card gets $125 flight discount certificate after spending $20,000 or more – this goes with the cardmember year (based on 12 billing statements), not based on calendar year.
American Express Cards
Airline Credit
Amex Platinum personal, Platinum business, and Hilton Aspire cards have an airline incidental credit each year: $250 for the Hilton Aspire and $200 for the Platinum cards (see what counts here). Unfortunately, gift cards no longer trigger the airline incidental credits.
With these cards, the airline credit is based on the calendar year, not on the statement closing. You can put the airline incidental charges anytime until December 31 and have it count toward the current year. It might have to actually post before year’s end, though; give a few days for that to happen.
The Amex airline credit is different than the others in this list in that you only get reimbursed for incidental spend on your designated airline. Be sure to designate that before putting the charge on the card.
If you’re looking to apply, there is still time to do so and get the airline credit for the current year. The annual fee usually hits around a month after card approval – useful to keep in mind for maximizing the travel credits without annual fees and for triple-dipping. (For those applying in the final few days of the year, see this tip.)
Related: Opening a Schwab Brokerage, Checking, and Amex Platinum Credit Card before Year’s End
Platinum Hotel Credit
The Platinum personal card comes with a $200 annual hotel credit on select prepaid bookings with American Express Travel. Be sure to book before December 31st. You don’t need to complete your travel by that date.
Platinum Uber Credit
The Platinum personal card also comes with a monthly $15 credit, remember that it gets increased to $35 during the month of December.
Platinum Saks Credit
The Platinum personal card also comes with a $50 Saks Fifth Avenue credit twice per year: one from January to June and one from July to December. Be sure to use that up before the end of December. They only charge you after the item ships, so give some leeway here.
Platinum Business Dell Credit
The business Platinum card comes with a $200 Dell credit twice per year: one from January to June and one from July to December. Be sure to use that up before the end of December (along with the Amex Offer at Dell which expires then). Give some leeway for the charge to post by December 31.
Hilton Aspire
The Hilton Aspire card also comes with a $250 Hilton Resort Credit and a free weekend night. Those are based on the cardmember year, not calendar year.
2024 Changes:
The Hilton Aspire $250 resort credit is changing on 1/1/24 to become a $200 resort credit twice per year. This goes based on the calendar year – once for January through June and once for July through December.
The $200 airline incidental credit is also changing to become a $50 airline flight credit each quarter – this goes by the calendar quarter.
The Hilton Surpass card also now has a quarterly $50 credit purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton this goes based on the calendar quarter.
Amex Green
The Green personal card comes with an annual $189 CLEAR credit and annual $100 LoungeBuddy credit. These reset each calendar year, so you should be able to use the credit for this year anytime until December 31.
Other Credits
Bank of America
Premium Rewards
TheBank of America Premium Rewards card comes with $100 airline incidental credit (see what counts here). This resets based on the calendar year. Finish up your statement credit with this one by December 31 (buying AA gift card or United Travel Bank credit is easiest), and start using your new credit on January 1. I’ll buy a gift card right away in case they close that loophole. (Note, the airline incidental meter seems to take a few days/weeks until it shows the reset. While it should be internally reset on January 1st, you might want to wait until you see it reset to zero for the avoidance of doubt.)
Premium Rewards Elite
The Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Visa card comes with an annual $300 airline incidental credit and $150 lifestyle convenience credit (including streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and rideshare services). These reset with the calendar year.
Be sure to use up your credits from this year now, and begin using next year’s credits after the new year begins. It can also make sense to apply now and try for a triple dip on the card benefits.
Barclay JetBlue
The Barclay JetBlue Plus card gets $100 calendar year credit for JetBlue Vacations bookings.
Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X personal card offers a $300 credit for bookings made on Capital One Travel. This renews each cardmember year, it’s not based on the calendar year. Same on the Venture X Business card.
Chase Cards
Southwest
Earning 135,000 Southwest points earns you the Southwest Companion Pass. Credit cardholders only need to earn 125,000 miles. The best way to time yourself is to earn the miles at the beginning of the calendar year since Companion Pass continues for the next entire calendar year. For example, if you earn 125,000 Southwest miles during January 2024, you’ll have the Companion Pass for the rest of 2024 and the entire 2025.
The easiest strategy to earn the Companion Pass has always been by getting a credit card signup bonus on the Southwest credit card. In our case, you’ll want to apply sometime in the next couple of months, taking care to ensure NOT to meet the spend requirement until after January 1st. (Technically, you can meet the spend requirement during December, so long as the statement won’t close until after the 1st.) The signup bonus points on the two cards will post after you complete the spend in early 2024, and you’ll have a Companion Pass for nearly two years.
Southwest is currently offering a signup bonus of 75,000 points with $3,000 spend. You can also signup for a Chase Southwest business card and get 80,000 points after $5,000 spend. Or you can earn points by referring friends to the Southwest card, doing category spend, shopping portal spend, or an actual flight. Again, be careful with the timing on ALL points earned.
Many of us are not eligible for any of the Southwest cards at all due to the 5/24 rule, or because you’re a current Southwest cardholder of any version or because you got a bonus within the past 24 months.
$75 Southwest Priority Credit
The new Southwest Priority card comes with a $75 annual Southwest travel credit which runs on the cardmember year, not the calendar year. No need to use it up now, specifically.
Sapphire Reserve
TheChase Sapphire Reserve card comes with a $300 travel credit (see what counts here). This used to be based on the calendar year, but now it’s based on the cardmember year – no specific need to use this now.
And if you’re applying for a new CSR card, there’s no special reason to apply before year’s end. Whenever you apply, you’ll get just one travel credit during the first year (maybe you can squeeze a second credit in right after the year renews).
Those who got the CSR before May 21, 2017, are grandfathered into the old system where the travel credit renewal goes with the calendar year. (It’s based on the December statement closing, not December 31.) Be sure you’ve already used up your credit for this year, and remember that you’ll soon be able to begin using 2020’s credit.
The Chase PYB 1.25 redemption categories ends on December 31, though they are likely to get extended.
Also, remember each quarter to use up your $15 in DoorDash credits.
Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card comes with a $50 annual hotel credit via the Chase travel portal. This resets based on the cardmember year, not the calendar year.
Ritz-Carlton
The Chase Ritz-Carlton card offers up to $300 reimbursements for airline incidental charges (see what counts here). Chase counts the benefit based on the calendar year, not cardmember year. (It goes based on the actual calendar year, not based on your statements.) Use the credits before December 31 and begin using next year’s credit on January 1.
IHG Cards
The Chase IHG card gets a free night each year. This does not reset with the calendar year, it goes with your card anniversary.
IHG cards also have spending thresholds of $10,000, $20,000, or $40,000 to earn Gold/Diamond status for the following year and to earn 10,000 bonus points (and on the Premier $100 credit). These spend requirements go by the calendar year.
The IHG Premier personal and business cards get $25 in United TravelBank credit twice per year: one $25 United TravelBank gets deposited around January 5, and another $25 around July 5. Requires registration first.
Hyatt
The Chase Hyatt cards get a free night each year. These do not reset with the calendar year, it goes with your card anniversary.
The Hyatt Business card gets $100 in Hyatt credits each year. This is based on card anniversary.
United Quest
The United Quest card gets up to $125 in statement credits as reimbursement for United purchases. This goes based on the card anniversary year, not calendar year. The card also offers up to 10,000 miles back for award flight bookings. Again, this goes with the cardmember year, not calendar year.
Citi
Prestige
The Citi Prestige card comes with a $250 travel credit (see what counts here). The year resets on January 1st. Be sure to give a few days leeway for the charges to go from pending to settled.
If you have a Prestige card, use up the credit now, there’s only a few weeks remaining. The Prestige card is not available for new cardmember signups at this time.
Rewards+
The Citi Rewards+ card comes with a 10% rebate on redemptions, up to 10,000 points bonus per year. This is based on your December statement close. Be sure to max out your 100,000 points redemption before your December statement closes so as to get the full 10k bonus. Redemptions that post on your January statement will count toward next year’s allotment.
Expedia+ Voyager
Those who have the Citi Expedia+ Voyager card get $100 annual credit toward airline incidentals on qualified airlines, Wi-Fi carriers, or for the Global Entry application fee. This credit resets each calendar year; be sure to use it up before your December statement closes as any purchases on your January statement will count toward next year’s benefit.
AAdvantage Platinum Select
The Citi American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Select card gets $125 American Airlines Flight Discount certificate after spending $20,000 or more during your credit cardmembership year (every 12 months from the billing cycle after your anniversary month through the billing cycle of your next anniversary month).
Citigold
Those with Citigold relationship status with Citibank get an annual credit of either $200 or $400 toward subscriptions for Amazon prime, Spotify, Hulu, TSApre/GE, and Costco membership. This credit renews at the end of the calendar year. Be sure to use up your allotment before December 30th.
US Bank Altitude Reserve
The US Bank Altitude Reserve card comes with a $325 annual travel and dining credit. In this case, the travel credit goes based on the cardmember year, not the calendar year. No specific reason to use this now.
Wells Fargo Propel World
The Wells Fargo Propel World card has a $100 airline incidental credit (see what counts here).This credit goes based on the cardmember year, not the calendar year. Check when you applied and be sure to use it up by your anniversary date.
Smaller Banks
CNB Crystal
The CNB Crystal card offers a $350 annual incidental charges (see what counts here). CNB counts this based on the calendar year. Any spend until December 31 will count as part of the current year, and January 1 begins the next year. Be sure to complete your spend before December 31. Give a few days for the charge to settle before year’s end (though it reportedly works on the last day too).
HSBC Premier
The HSBC Premier World Elite comes with $120 annual Lyft credit which is based on the calendar year. Be sure to use these up before December 31.
PenFed Pathfinder
The PenFed Pathfinder comes with $100 annual air travel ancillary credit (see what counts here). The credit is based on the calendar year, be sure to use yours before the year is up.
A long-vacant retail storefront is coming back to life.
Christi Petersen is opening Seasoned Style at 824 W. 10th St., filling a first-floor space that years ago was The Willow Tree boutique and more recently was a tattoo shop.
“I really love the vintage vibe” of the building, she said. “That is my true love, and I want to show people how to use vintage pieces in a modern way.”
She has been running her business for a decade, supporting it through vendor events and as a co-owner of The Shoppe in Dell Rapids. The Sioux Falls store is a solo venture.
The plan is to be open the third Thursday, Friday and Saturday each month.
“Every month will be like a new shopping experience because I’ll have all new pieces, and it will be restyled every month so it will look different,” she said.
“Every month, I’ll have 20 pieces of furniture and tons of home decor, focusing on handmade items.”
She hand-pours soy candles and makes laser glow forge art “and just all sorts of crafty things,” she said.
Her first sales will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 17 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 18-19.
She estimates there will be cabinets, buffets, dressers, nightstands and other furniture available. She upcycles many of the pieces herself after sourcing items at estate sales, rummage sales, flea markets and online.
She occasionally will purchase pieces from individuals but doesn’t plan to offer consignment at the 1,100-square-foot store.
While an apartment upstairs is leased, the main floor has been vacant for at least five years, Petersen estimates.
She has repainted and made other improvements to the space in preparation for opening and said she’s excited about nearby improvements, including The Perch restaurant and home restorations.
“I used to live in that neighborhood about 15 years ago. I used to live a block away (from the store),” she said. “So I’m familiar with the neighborhood, and there are a lot of hidden gems in here.”
Shop it while you can: A new store opening three days each month debuts today in a long-vacant retail space.
Christi Petersen is opening Seasoned Style at 824 W. 10th St., filling a first-floor space that years ago was The Willow Tree boutique and more recently was a tattoo shop.
“It’s a unique shopping experience each month,” said Petersen, who has a background in education and child care and is a partner in a similar shop in Dell Rapids.
“There’s lots of stores that do this around the country. It’s usually hand-collected, handcrafted.”
That’s the case with Seasoned Style, which this month offers a variety of fall-themed merchandise arranged throughout multiple rooms of the first floor. The upstairs is rented by a tenant.
Other than a few display pieces, “pretty much everything is for sale,” she said.
“I’m concentrating a lot on my brand color, the green (this month), and the golds and neutrals and really all the colors of fall.”
About 90 percent of the merchandise is vintage or upcycled, while Petersen hand-pours soy candles herself.
“It’s all things I find at a thrift store,” she said “I do very little wholesale, and I try to find as much handmade as I can.”
All sales are final.
Hours will be the third week of each month: 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
One of our favorite online shopping portals is back with its annual Big Stack promotion. From July 10 to 12, Rakuten is offering up to 10 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar (or 10% cash back) at participating retailers.
If you want to get the best deal for your online shopping, click through Rakuten first (yes, that same company with the very fun “Clueless”-themed Super Bowl commercial.).
To use the portal, begin your online shopping trip on the Rakuten website, and search for your desired store. You’ll be redirected to the retailer’s website. After you make your purchase, Rakuten will track your transaction and add bonus rewards to your account — generally within just a day or two.
Better yet, if you’re a new Rakuten shopper, you can also earn a $30 cash bonus when you spend at least $30 on a qualifying purchase within the first 90 days.
Here’s what you need to know about this deal.
Increased cash back with Rakuten
Earning up to 10% (or more) cash back is newsworthy. However, earning up to 10 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar can be even better for those looking to earn transferable points.
TPG values Amex points at 2 cents each when used toward travel. That means you’ll effectively get up to a 20% return on spending when making purchases during this promotion. So if you’re getting your credit cards ready for the upcoming summer holidays, this is the deal for you.
Related: How to use Rakuten to earn bonus cash back or Amex points on your purchases
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Just note that you must update your earning preference from cash back to Amex points in your Rakuten account before completing your purchase. Also, be aware that switching from Amex points back to cash back is permanent, so think carefully before making that change.
Here are some of the stores participating in this promotion:
Bloomingdale’s
Dermstore
Finish Line
Glossier
Indochino
Macy’s
PetSmart
Ray-Ban
ULTA
Viator
At most merchants, you’ll want to pay with a credit card that earns bonus points and miles on everyday purchases. Some good options include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees), which earns 2 Capital One miles per dollar on all purchases, and the Citi® Double Cash Card (see rates and fees), which earns 2% back on all purchases — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill. These rewards can be converted to full Citi ThankYou points if you have a higher-end card like the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees).
However, on Viator purchases, consider using a card that earns well on general travel purchases, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve, which earn 2 and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel purchases, respectively.
And remember that the 10% back (or 10 Amex points) will be in addition to any earnings on the credit card you swipe.
Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value
Stack with credit card offers
Historically, Dell.com has offered bonus points via Rakuten, and it’s one of the participating merchants in the Big Stack promotion. This means now could be a great time to spend your Dell credit from The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
As a reminder, the card provides cardholders up to $400 in annual statement credits per year toward U.S. purchases with Dell in the form of $200 back in January-June and the second $200 from July-December. Enrollment is required in advance.
In addition to computers, Dell sells projectors, laptop bags, headphones, monitors, video games and more.
Alternatively, if you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ll enjoy up to $100 in annual statement credits for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 from January-June and another $50 from July-December). Enrollment is required in advance. While Saks isn’t participating in this promotion, you can still earn more on your purchase by going through Rakuten.
Related: 11 things you can buy with the Amex Platinum $50 Saks credit
Finally, be sure to see if any of the participating merchants also have offers through your favorite credit cards. You may be eligible for discounts or bonus points through Amex Offers, Chase Offers or Citi Merchant Offers, so it’s worth checking those platforms before making an online purchase.
Bottom line
This week, you can earn up to 10% cash back — or even better, up to 10 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at Rakuten.
Between this excellent earning rate and the $30 new customer bonus, now’s a great time to earn a bunch of points toward free flights to your next vacation spot with surprisingly little effort.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh, Ehsan Haque, Summer Hull, Kyle Olsen and Ryan Smith.
As you’re shopping for car insurance quotes, you’ll notice that most providers will offer you roadside assistance.
It’s a simple question that’s hard to answer because what they’re really asking is:
Hey, do you think you’ll find yourself stranded a lot this year?
Roadside assistance is a tricky form of insurance that may be absolutely worth it for some and passable for others. To help you decide which camp you fall into, let’s investigate roadside assistance.
What’s Ahead:
What is roadside assistance?
As the name implies, roadside assistance is an optional program that lets you call a 911-like hotline for your stranded car. Here’s how it works:
You purchase a year of roadside assistance (typically between $70 and $150).
You receive a Member ID and a hotline phone number.
When your car is immobilized for some reason (breakdown, locked out), you call the number on the card, give your Member ID, and describe your issue.
Dispatch sends the nearest participating mobile mechanic to your location within the hour (sometimes).
You’re back on the road, and your roadside assistance provider comps the mechanic.
Breakdowns, getting stuck in mud or snow, running out of fuel, and simply locking yourself out are all common reasons why you might call for roadside assistance. If the mobile mechanic can’t fix your issue onsite, they’ll tow it to the nearest participating service station.
While roadside assistance is designed to get you back on the road, not every service is included. I’ll go into more detail below, but I wanted to set that expectation early on; folks are often surprised when they call for roadside assistance and still receive a bill later on.
To avoid such unpleasant surprises, let’s cover in detail what roadside assistance does and doesn’t cover.
What does roadside assistance include?
Again, roadside assistance will perform pretty much any necessary service to get your car back on the road, whether onsite or at a local garage. However, not all of it is free.
Here’s a list of services that are typically included in a roadside assistance program at no extra charge:
Tire changes. Hey, no shame in calling for a tire change if you’re stuck on the side of the road; especially if your car is at an unsafe angle to the road. Note that the mobile mechanic will typically use your spare tire, which you should never drive on longer than 50 miles.
Battery jump-start.Car batteries typically die within two and a half months of a car not being driven. Luckily, most roadside assistance programs cover jump starts for free.
Fuel delivery.If you’re like my dad and think that the Low Fuel Light “really means there’s plenty left,” you’ve probably run out of gas at some point. Thankfully, roadside assistance will deliver enough fuel to get to the next gas station at no charge (you just have to cover the cost of the fuel).
Lockout services.Lock yourself out? Roadside assistance will dispatch a locksmith to get you right back into your car in no time. Don’t be distressed if they bend your window back in lieu of picking the lock Mission Impossible-style – auto glass is surprisingly flexible, so that’s just the easiest way to do it.
Extrication and towing (up to a few miles).Roadside assistance programs typically include free extrication (i.e. wenching you out of a ditch) and limited towing, often three to five miles per call. Sometimes your annual membership will include a pool of towing miles, like 25 for the year. Anything beyond that and you foot the bill.
That covers the services that are included in your roadside assistance program. Now, let’s talk about some that aren’t.
What does roadside assistance not include?
Sadly, roadside assistance isn’t “get your car up and running again at any cost” insurance. It’s really just a subscription to a dispatch service that won’t charge you for the quick and easy stuff, like tire changes or fuel delivery.
Roadside assistance will always show up, but you’ll have to pay extra if they need to perform services like these:
Tire repair. If you don’t have a spare tire in the trunk, roadside assistance will have to repair or change out your existing tire – both of which usually involve towing it to a tire shop.
Roadside diagnosis.If you have a Check Engine Light (CEL), your roadside assistance will have to use an OBD-II Scanner to read and translate your engine error codes. Most mechanics charge at least $50 for OBD-II scans, which is why I recommend all drivers buy their own scanner for $50 or less.
Dents, dings, and scratches. Did you know that you can fix a dent in your car in about 15 seconds using only hot water and a plunger? I wish roadside assistance programs would capitalize on this for some easy brownie points with customers, but sadly, none that I know of do any sort of aesthetic repair.
Long-distance towing.It’s worth mentioning again that most roadside assistance programs only include a few miles of towing, either per call or per year. Plus, there may be a rule stating that they can only tow you to a shop approved by your roadside assistance program, which may be on the other side of town.
Any necessary repairs.Typically, by the time your car reaches the shop for repairs, you’re totally on your own for the cost of repairs. AAA and State Farm are the exception to this rule: AAA will cover 10% of the final bill and State Farm will cover the first hour of labor – that’s around $100 if you drive a Toyota and $200 if you’re in a Porsche.
Should you buy roadside assistance from your auto insurance provider, AAA, or someone else?
Most people think “AAA” when they hear “roadside assistance” and for good reason. The American Automobile Association has been around since 1902, six years before the Ford Model T even began production.
With over a century of experience protecting American motorists, AAA is hard to beat. That said, others are certainly trying; in recent years, most of the major auto insurance providers have stepped in to chip away at AAA’s market dominance.
So what does one have to offer over the other?
Roadside assistance from AAA
AAA is the Toyota Camry of roadside assistance: affordable, dependable, and well-equipped. The AAA Basic Membership costs around $60 – $100 annually depending on your region, and includes the following roadside benefits.
Four free service calls per member per year.
Three to five free towing miles per call (depends on your region).
Free fuel delivery.
Free extrication.
Up to $50 per year in locksmithing services.
Now, you might be thinking that’s not a whole lot of coverage. Honestly, I agree with you; $50 of locksmithing services can dry up in a single call, and three miles of towing isn’t particularly far, especially if you live in a rural area. These are certainly the two weakest points in AAA’s armor, and the ones competitors are targeting.
However, AAA still has the competition walloped in two key areas:
Perks and benefits. 119 years of networking has certainly paid off; AAA offers huge discounts with a bevy of retailers, many of whom aren’t even auto-related. Included in your AAA membership is up to 30% off at Samsung, The UPS Store, HP, rental car agencies, and more. You’ll also get 10% off at Dell, which if you’re buying a $1,500 laptop, pays for two years of AAA itself.
Free Associate Membership.Included in your AAA membership is one free Associate Membership for a member of your household. Associate AAA members enjoy the same benefits as you either for free or at a steeply discounted rate, so it’s like a roadside BOGO.
Like a Camry, AAA membership is popular for a reason – but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best option for you. It’s entirely possible that your provider has them beat.
Roadside assistance from your auto insurance provider
Don’t assume that the roadside assistance program your provider offers will directly mimic AAA’s like a generic brand cereal. Providers can’t possibly match AAA’s affiliate perks and benefits, so they compete on roadside coverage instead.
Even still, most providers can’t offer increased coverage across the board – they generally offer a little more here and a little less there.
For example, Allstate can’t offer 30% off a new fridge at Samsung.com, but they do include $1,500 in complimentary Trip Interruption coverage with their roadside assistance program. That means if you miss your expensive trip due to illness or tragedy, your Allstate roadside assistance coverage will comp you up to $1,500, even if driving wasn’t involved.
Allstate also includes $100 in Roadside Hazard coverage, which helps to cover the cost of a tire repair (~$15) or a new tire ($80 – $200) after you hit a road hazard. If you live in a pothole moonscape like LA or Boston, free tire replacement could be a seriously useful perk.
Allstate’s roadside assistance program isn’t a holistic upgrade from AAA’s, however – you lose those affiliate discounts, the associate membership, and you’re only given three calls per year compared to AAA’s four.
The subtle differences between Allstate and AAA’s coverage serve to highlight why you should read the terms of your own provider’s roadside assistance program extremely carefully. Providers tend to bury the areas where they can’t beat AAA, so bring a magnifying glass.
Are there any alternatives?
AAA and your provider aren’t the only two players vying for roadside dominance.
Better World Club is a direct response to AAA and they’re certainly not shy about why they’re trying to topple the industry stalwart. In stark contrast to AAA, they say, BWC is 100% carbon-neutral, supports environmental causes, and advocates for sustainable transportation.
Although they price-match AAA on membership and coverage, they’re short on perks, discounts, and that extra associate membership. Still, if you’d prefer roadside assistance from a more eco-conscious, forward-thinking company than AAA, consider Better World Club.
Is paying for roadside assistance worth it?
Whether or not roadside assistance is worth it depends on a few factors. To keep things simple, I’ll break it down into two categories:
You might consider paying for roadside assistance if:
If you meet one or more of the following criteria, it might be worth ponying up for roadside assistance.
You find yourself stranded at least once a year. Emergency roadside assistance calls typically cost $99 a pop, so if you sense that you might be stranded at some point in the next year, a membership could pay for itself very quickly.
You drive in a city with inclement weather.AAA membership is typically more expensive in cities up north and for good reason; the likelihood that you’ll need to be winched out of a snowbank is much higher above the Mason-Dixon Line. Plus, getting stranded in cold weather can be life-threatening, so roadside assistance is practically a no-brainer.
Your car is prone to breakdowns.Is your car old? Unreliable? Behind on maintenance? Roadside assistance providers don’t charge extra for cars that are more likely to break down, so if you don’t always trust your ride to start up, it’s probably worth the extra insurance.
You drive more than 20,000 miles a year.Simply put, the more miles you drive, the higher the likelihood you’ll need roadside assistance at some point.
You want peace of mind.Even when they don’t use it, folks seldom regret having roadside assistance coverage. For the average motorist, just having a AAA card in their glove compartment can be a huge stress-reliever.
If you identified with one or more of the above qualifiers, it’s probably worth the $100 or so for roadside assistance coverage. That said, you might still be fine without it.
You can probably pass on roadside assistance if:
If you really want to save the $100, you can probably safely pass on roadside assistance if:
You drive a reliable car. If you drive a historically reliable car that’s unlikely to leave you stranded due to a mechanical issue, that’s one less reason to buy roadside assistance.
You rarely drive in inclement weather. Similarly, if Mother Nature is unlikely to leave you stranded on your usual commute, you’re way less likely to need an emergency extrication.
You rarely drive at all.If you barely drive your car, you’re significantly less likely to get stranded and thus probably don’t need roadside assistance. If you’re worried about your battery dying, don’t pay $100 for roadside – just spend $30 on a battery maintainer that charges your car from a standard wall socket.
Summary
Roadside assistance can lend convenience, peace of mind, even safety to your daily driving experience. $100 or less isn’t much to pay for free towing, jump starts, and lockouts, and the extra bonuses like trip insurance and hazard protection often make it totally worth it.
Even still, if you don’t foresee yourself being stranded anytime soon, you’re probably OK without it. Invest $80 or so bucks in an OBD-II scanner and battery maintainer and you’ll be much more self-sufficient at staying on the road.
Memorial Day is known as a great time to score deals on big-ticket items or to make any smaller purchases that you may have been putting off.
Many retailers will start discounting items the Friday before Memorial Day, so you’ll have a whole weekend to shop. Here are the best deals this year!
What’s Ahead:
Best all-around Memorial Day deals
Walmart – Save up to $1,000 on Samsung TVs; get discounts on patio and garden, toys, clothing, home improvement, pets, beauty, and more.
Amazon – The Memorial Day sale features summer savings deals from outdoor living, cooking, and barware to electronics and beauty.
Macy’s – Get 20%-60% off furniture, rugs, and mattresses, plus a free box spring or adjustable base with a qualifying purchase. Save 20% to 50% off select clothing styles, plus get an extra 20% off kids’ and baby clothes with the offer code CUTE.
JCPenney – The sale features up to 50% off mattresses, 40% off furniture, and up to 50% off home items, plus additional coupons on clothing, jewelry, and portraits.
Target – Save up to 25% on furniture, lighting, and home decor; save up to 20% on bedding and up to 15% on patio furniture, plus get free same-day shipping on orders over $75 through May 31.
Appliances
Find fantastic deals on large and small appliances, from refrigerators and washing machines to Roombas and coffee makers.
Lowe’s – Save up to $500 on qualifying appliances, plusfind Memorial Day deals on everything from small appliances and patio furniture to grills, tools, and home improvement. Get free local delivery on appliances when you spend a minimum of $299.
Best Buy – Save big on major appliances during the Memorial Day sale. Don’t forget to take advantage of the Price Match Guarantee.
Home Depot – Snag appliances up to 30% off, and find discounts on lawn equipment, power tools, home improvement items, and more during theMemorial Day savings event.
Mattresses
May is the best time to buy a new mattress. New models come out in the Spring which makes Memorial Day weekend sales the prime time for a mattress upgrade.
Avocado Green Mattress – Save $100 on green and vegan hybrid mattresses with the code HONOR through June 7.
Birch – Get $200 off, two free Eco-rest pillows, and free delivery with code MEMORIALDAY200.
Casper – Get 15% off mattresses, 10% off everything else, and 50% off final sale items.
Cocoon by Sealy – Save 35% off mattresses, plus free pillows and sheets during its biggest sale ever; the sale ends May 31.
DreamCloud – Get $200 off mattresses, plus $399 worth of accessories included; the sale ends May 30.
Haven – All mattresses are 50% off storewide, plus 30% off accessories.
Helix – Take up to $200 off mattresses, plus receive two free Dream pillows.
Mattress Firm – Take up to $500 off mattresses and receive a free adjustable base on a queen mattress purchase of $699 or more by using the code ELEVATE.
Nectar – Receive free pillows, sheets, and a mattress protector —a $399 value— with a mattress purchase.
Purple – Receiveup to $400 off a mattress, pillow, sheet, and mattress protector bundle.
Puffy – Get $300 off plus two free pillows with every purchase.
Serta – Save up to $1,000 off a mattress and base through June 7.
Tempur Pedic – Save up to $500 off select adjustable mattress sets.
Tuft & Needle – Save up to 20% sitewide through May 31.
Electronics and gaming
Aside from Black Friday, Memorial Day is one of the best times of the year to snag discounts on televisions, computers, smartwatches, games, and other electronic devices.
Dell – Get deals on PCs, laptops, monitors, and more during its summer sale event.
HP – Save up to 47% on select products, plus get limited-time deals daily.
Xbox – Get three months of an Xbox Game Pass subscription for $1.
Best Buy – Snag big-screen 4K TVs starting at $279; save up to $200 on Windows laptops.
Microsoft – Score a variety of discounts on a Surface, save up to $500 on select PCs, or cash in discounts on Xbox accessories.
Furniture, home decor, and improvement
If you’re looking to freshen up your home, now is the time to stock up on home goods, tools, and any remodeling supplies.
Overstock – Overstock’s Memorial Day Blowout Sale features up to 70% off thousands of items, plus free shipping on everything.
Pier 1 – Pier 1’s Memorial Day sale includes up to 50% off rugs, lighting, indoor and outdoor furniture, and home decor. Plus you can bundle a variety of candle fragrances for 15% off.
Wayfair – Snag deals up to 70% off during the Memorial Day clearance.
American Signature Furniture – Up to 20% off and 48 months of promotional financing.
Society6 – Their Memorial Day sale features 40% off wall art, 30% off home decor, and more.
Bed Bath & Beyond –Save up to 25% on outdoor furniture, decor, and kitchen appliances.
Ace Hardware –Discounts on lawn care and equipment, grills, patio furniture, and power tools through May 31.
Costco – Member-only savings include deals on patio furniture, mattresses, appliances, and electronics through June 13. Save an additional $150 when you buy two qualifying items for your home.
Clothing
Spring and summer clothing sales are upon us, and it’s the perfect time to give your closet a refresh. Find winter apparel on clearance and save on spring and summer fashions.
ModCloth –30% off sitewide, plus an extra 50% off sale items.
Nike – Get up to 40% off on markdown items.
Victoria’s Secret – Save 30% to 70% off more than 1,800 styles.
Old Navy –Save up to 50% off storewide with styles as low as $5.
Men’s Wearhouse – Get up to 85% off original prices.
Zappos – Save up to 30% off footwear, clothes, bags, and accessories.
Banana Republic – Receive an additional 50% off sale styles and 30% off regularly priced items.
Bloomingdale’s –Save 60%-70% off some clearance items plus save 30-50% off select clothing styles.
Outdoor
Prepare for a summer of fun by loading up on any outdoor equipment you might need.
Bass Pro Shops – Its outdoor sale runs from May 20 to June 2 and features discounts on tents, fishing gear, yard games, clothing, and camp furniture.
REI – Memorial Day coincides with its big anniversary sale. The deals include 30% off clothing, 50% off Nalgene water bottles, and 25% off select outdoor gear.
How to save more on Memorial Day
According to Consumer Reports, May is the best month to buy air conditioners, freezers, grills, mattresses, strollers, smartwatches, lawn equipment, and other home improvement and decor items.
The deals don’t stop at the Memorial Day sale. Many retailers will offer additional discounts on top of sale prices if you sign up for a rewards program, email updates, or a store credit card. You may also snag a promo if you’re a student or if it’s your first order.
Poke around to see if you can find any promotional offers and pay attention to any pop-up ads so you don’t miss an opportunity to save money on your purchase. Usually, a sales representative will ask you to sign up if you’re physically in a store, but you can ask during checkout if not. Some businesses may not let you combine coupons while others do. Either way, it’s worth a try to rack up savings.
Furthermore, big-name retailers like Best Buy offer a price match guarantee, so shop around to see if you can find a product cheaper elsewhere before you buy it. That way you know you’re getting the best deal around.
Summary
Memorial Day weekend is one of the best times of the year to go shopping. Just about every retailer will offer promotions, and you’ll score the deepest discounts on appliances, mattresses, and seasonal goods. Add more savings to your purchases by signing up for a rewards program or by taking advantage of price match guarantee promotions.