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14 Hacks to Save Money on Amazon

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Shopping on Amazon can be a great approach to saving money in the most convenient way possible. Before you click that order button, read our tips below to find out how to save on your next Amazon purchase.

save money on amazon

If you’re like 80 million other Americans, you shop on Amazon at least a few times a year. In fact, if you belong to one of the roughly ⅔ of all households in the country, you’re likely to even be an Amazon Prime member.

The popular website–known for its two-day shipping, and now same-day delivery, options–offers everything from toilet paper and diapers to big screen TVs, food, clothing, and more. If you want it, chances are high that you can buy it on Amazon. With the website giant making it easy to purchase everything you need in one place, often with one click, it begs the question: Are there ways that you can save money when shopping on Amazon?

You’re in luck, because there certainly are. Below, we’ve laid out our favorite 14 Amazon hacks, all of which can save you a pretty penny every time you shop online. Let’s take a look.

1. Get a Prime Membership

If you already shop on Amazon but don’t have a Prime membership, it’s worth looking into. Yes, you’ll pay $99 annually (or $12.99 a month, if you’d rather go that route), but the savings can be substantial.

On shipping alone, you can expect to save approximately $5-$12 per order. Members receive complimentary two-day shipping on most items sold from Amazon, with some items even being offered with Prime one-day or same-day delivery (also for free). If you want expedited shipping, a Prime membership can save you even more, giving you options like $2.99 one-day delivery.

Prime members also enjoy a number of other perks, outside of just saving on shipping. For instance, you can access a large library of movies, shows, and music through the website, your phone, or even your smart TV. Instead of getting a movie on-demand or at Redbox, I often browse Amazon Prime’s library through my Firestick. I always find interesting shows, new releases, and movies worth watching, without paying a penny.

2. Save on a Prime Membership

If $99 a year sounds too pricey, don’t fret. There are plenty of ways to save money on your Prime membership.

If someone else in your home already has a Prime membership (or is considering one), ask if they’d want to go halvsies. Prime members can share their membership with another adult in their household, free of charge.

If you’re a student (or anyone with a .edu email address), you can get a free six-month Prime membership. Once that trial is up, you’ll get a 50% discount on a Prime membership, which will give you access to discounted textbooks, school supplies, and anything else that is sold on Amazon.com.

3. Discounted Gift Cards

Ok, now that you have your Prime membership and can get free shipping, it’s time to save on the things you actually buy. The first way to do so is by utilizing discount Amazon gift cards.

You can snag discounted gift cards to sites like Amazon through websites such as GiftCardGranny.com. Since Amazon is a popular option, you won’t save as much as you would buying gift cards from other stores; however, you can easily trim anywhere from 1-5% off of your total spending price by buying a discounted gift card to start.

Another way to get discounted gift cards is through your credit card rewards program. Some cards will allow you to redeem your cash back earnings for gift cards, often offering a bonus redemption. For instance, you can occasionally get a $25 gift card for only $20 worth of rewards.

Since your rewards are technically free money anyway, this is like a double bonus!

4. Use a Cash-Back Site

If you shop online (through Amazon or any other store), you can use cashback websites to net you even more on the things you’re already buying. Companies like Ebates and Swagbucks will offer you as much as 10% back on your Amazon purchases, just for clicking through from their site.

This is a great way to save money on your Amazon purchases, as well as everything else you buy online. The cash back can add up quickly!

5. Use the Amazon Credit Card

If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, you may want to consider applying for the Amazon Rewards Signature Visa. This nifty card will not only snag you a $50 Amazon gift card just for signing up, but you’ll earn cash back on every single thing you buy through the site.

For purchases made at Amazon.com or Whole Foods, you’ll get 3% back. Restaurants, gas stations, and drug stores earn 2% back on every dollar spent, and you’ll earn 1% back on everything else. If you upgrade to the Amazon Prime Rewards Signature Visa, you’ll bump that up further and earn 5% back on your Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.

Want to redeem your earnings? Easily apply them at checkout the next time you buy something on Amazon.com, or even cash them in for a statement credit.

6. Use a Card With Price Protection

Not to be confused with purchase protection, some cards offer a great perk called Price Protection. This feature allows you to file a claim if an item you purchase with the card drops in price during a certain time frame (30-90 days, depending on the product).

Amazon product prices change all the time. If you utilize a card with price protection every time you shop on the site, you can easily take advantage of the lower prices that may come around after you buy.

Want to make the process easier? Use an app like Sift to track your purchases and the listed price, alerting you to eligible price drops. The app will even facilitate the claims process for you!

7. Track Prices With Sites

Don’t have a card offering price protection? Then use a site like CamelCamelCamel to track your planned purchases and alert you to price drops.

Simply enter the product name or URL in the search bar and set up a price alert. Say you want to buy a certain DVD player but refuse to pay more than $60 for it. You can set up a $60 alert on CamelCamelCamel, and they will email you as soon as Amazon drops the price to $60 or below.

The website can be used to track all of your repeat or planned purchases, ensuring that you pay exactly what you want to pay for each item.

8. Be Flexible

If you’re willing to be a little flexible in your purchases, you can easily save some dough on Amazon.

Many products on the site are posted with various options. Whether this means opting for a different pattern, another color, or even an alternate size, you can usually find a cheaper price (by at least a few dollars) if you’re willing to be a bit flexible.

9. Sneaky Shipping

Even if you’re a Prime member, overnight shipping often comes at a premium. Ranging anywhere from $2.99 to $10.99 per item, expedited shipping options on Prime products can get your order to you in a snap, but they’ll do it for a price. Oh, and if you want your entire order to arrive ASAP? You’ll pay the upgraded shipping fee for each and every item in the order. Or will you?

Some Amazon shoppers have reported a potential shipping hack, where you can upgrade only one of the items in your cart to overnight shipping, leaving the rest with default shipping. When Amazon packs your shipment, there’s the chance that they save themselves the effort (and cost) of a second box/postage by sending everything to you expedited.

Now, this isn’t a guaranteed method, but it is worth a shot. If you would like for your order to arrive a bit sooner, you can give this a try. Who knows… for only $2.99 more, you might see your entire order arrive the next morning.

10. Get Credits for Slower Shipping

Not in a huge rush for your item? Going out of town and won’t get to open the box for a few days anyway? Then consider the no-rush shipping option that’s often offered to Amazon buyers.

When checking out on a Prime item, you’ll often have a few options: standard Prime shipping, expedited shipping, and a no-rush option. If choosing the latter, you can expect your item to arrive later than the usual Prime two-day service. However, in exchange for the slower speed, you’ll see your account credited with a dollar amount.

This credit can usually be applied to Amazon Pantry purchases or even media downloads. It’s easy to save quite a bit of cash on your next order by building up some of these no-rush credits.

11. Take Advantage of Lightning/Daily Deals

Every single day, Amazon offers special deals on select items. Whether you’re looking for toys, electronics, household goods, clothing, craft supplies, or anything else, you can find a daily deal to match.

These deals, offered on the Amazon Daily Deals page, are available for a limited period of time each. There’s often a limited number available at the promotional pricing, so once they sell out, you’ll have to pay the “normal” price.

Some deals, called Lightning Deals, are offered for even less time. Luckily, you’ll usually be able to preview these deals before they go live so you can plan your purchase.

12. Take Advantage of Amazon Prime Day

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can take advantage of Amazon Prime Day. This exciting sale day, often held in the summer, means flash sale after flash sale of exciting deals and discounts.

Members can preview the deals before they go live, snagging incredible bargains like 33% off a Roomba or $0.99 magazine subscriptions (and everything in between).

13. Use Coupons

Did you know that Amazon offers coupons? Simply visit the Amazon coupon page to see which offers are currently available. You can search by product, by category, or just browse the newest discounts available. You can then “clip” the coupons, and they’ll be applied to your cart when you go to purchase the item.

This is an easy way to save dollars by buying online, in addition to the money you’re saving in gas by not trekking out to the store.

14. Subscribe & Save

There are some things that we buy on repeat. Diapers, paper towels, vitamins, contact lens solution, and even ketchup–all of these are consumables that we buy time and time again. Well, if you’re willing to subscribe to those items (saving yourself the time and energy of remembering them at the store when you run out), Amazon will reward you in price.

Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program can save you as much as 15% per item, simply for scheduling future shipments in advance. You can set the frequency of the shipments and cancel at any time. The more items you subscribe to, though, the more money you’ll save on the shipment as a whole.

Considering the number of people who shop on Amazon.com every single day, it’s no wonder that folks are always looking for ways to save money. While some of these Amazon shopping hacks can take a bit of effort and finesse, they also grant you a great way to get the things you need (fast!) while also trimming the final bill down a bit.

What’s your favorite way to save money when shopping on Amazon? Sound off below!

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20 Things to Do With $1,000 Right Now

This article was written by in Saving. 19 comments.

Suddenly have a slew of extra spending money? Before you head out on a spontaneous shopping spree, consider these 20 things you can do with it instead.

20 things to do with $1000

It’s not often you come across an extra $1,000. But it could happen. What if you’re part of a settlement process and get an unexpected check? Or maybe you receive a small inheritance from a long-lost relative. Or possibly, you get an unexpected bump in your year-end bonus.

Whatever the case, it’s always a good idea to at least think about the possibilities of what you’ll do if you get an extra $1,000. Or even if you save up money and have an extra $1,000 just sitting in your savings account.

No idea what you’d do with that kind of “spare” money? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Pay off high-interest debt

If you’ve got a credit card balance sitting around costing you absurd amounts of interest, get it paid off as quickly as you can. Even if your balance is well over $1,000, putting that first $1,000 in gets you started on the journey towards debt freedom. Once you knock out some of the balance, you can keep paying your old monthly payment so that you’ll chip away at that debt little by little.

2. Put it towards your emergency plan

Already have your debts paid off? Or don’t have an emergency fund that can cover at least three to six months’ expenses? The next best place for that money is in your emergency plan. Read more about how to set up a fully-fledged emergency plan (that’s more than just a savings account) here.

3. Save for a specific goal

Do you have something in mind that you’re saving for? Consider adding your $1,000 to the goal, whether it’s buying a new car or putting a down payment on your next home. Even if that money is only a small percentage of your goal, it moves you forward, which is always a good thing.

4. Invest for retirement

If you aren’t already maxing out a 401(k) and an IRA, add the $1,000 to your retirement investments. Over the course of the next 20 or 30 years, that original $1,000 could grow to be worth quite a lot, especially when invested in low-cost mutual funds or the like.

5. Put it in your kid’s 529 account

What if you’re already maxing out your retirement accounts or saving as much as you feel like you should? In this case, consider adding that $1,000 to a 529 college savings account for your kid. These accounts act like an IRA for education spending, so they’re a valuable way to save up now for those hefty college expenses you’ll see in the future.

6. Buy a life insurance policy

If you don’t already have a term life insurance policy, you probably need one. Even single people with no kids sometimes need life insurance coverage. If you do need a policy but have been putting off getting one because you can’t afford the premium, now is the time. Secure a low-premium term life insurance policy, and pay your first year’s premiums with this extra cash. That buys you time to fit the premium into your normal budget within a year.

7. Pay a lawyer to draw up your will

Don’t have a will yet? Many people put off having these documents drawn up because they’re expensive. If that’s you, investing your $1,000 in a meeting with a lawyer to have a will, living will, power of attorney, and other documents drawn up is worth your while. You’ll get peace of mind and ensure your loved ones are cared for if something should happen to you.

8. Upgrade your office space

Struggling with back pain because your office chair is terrible? Or considering upgrading your work-from-home desk to a healthier sit-stand model? Investing in your health by upgrading the space where you spend most of your waking hours is a great option. Upgrades like these can help you work more productively and ergonomically, so you’re both happier and healthier.

9. Take a class to further your career

Have you been thinking about changing careers or developing skills to take your current career further? Using $1,000 to invest in classes to boost or change your career can be a great option. Plus, if it leads you to a higher-paying job, you could get a great return on investment from that money.

10. Take a class just for fun

Acquiring new skills doesn’t just have to be about furthering your career. You can also take classes just to increase your health and happiness in your personal life, too. Learning for the sake of learning is great for personal development and brain health. So if you’ve always wanted to learn to weld or sculpt or play an instrument, use this windfall to invest in the materials and classes you need to get it done.

11. Start a side business

If you’d like to earn extra money on the side, consider investing this cash into a side business. Many side gigs would only require you to spend a small part of this $1,000. But if you need to set up a nice-looking website, you could invest some of the money in some professional help for design and website management.

12. Get a tune-up on your car or a major appliance

Preventative care for your car and major appliances is a great way to spend extra money. Spending a little now can keep you from having to spend a whole lot of money down the road. So consider taking your car for an official tune-up. Or if you’ve been putting off having regular service on your furnace, fridge, or washer and dryer set, that would also be a good way to spend this money.

13. Upgrade a major appliance

Do you have an appliance that’s always causing headaches in your home? Or maybe one that’s making your life more difficult instead of easier? You might consider using this money to upgrade it. Perhaps a nicer dishwasher that would actually clean your dishes would save you loads of time you otherwise spend scraping and hand-cleaning. Or maybe a larger washing machine would save you two or three loads a week with your growing family.

14. Put it into protecting your home

Preventative maintenance for your appliances is great, but don’t forget your home itself, either. You can protect your home by getting your gutters cleaned, jacking up the basement in your older home, or upgrading your sump pump. And if you’re all good on the maintenance side, you could put some money into upgrading a room with a coat of paint and new fixtures.

15. Take a vacation

Taking a vacation doesn’t have to be a waste of money. In some cases, a good, affordable vacation lets you come back to your everyday life more refreshed and energized. And that can have a huge ROI for both your personal and professional life. If you have some paid time off banked, make it a game to get your whole vacation done for a $1,000. It can be a fun exercise that also leads to great memories.

16. Buy a museum or zoo membership for your family

If your family is constantly looking for fun things to do on weekends and school breaks, consider spending part of your windfall on a membership. Most museums, zoos, and other local attractions offer family memberships. If you go just two times in a year, you’ll save money with a membership. And having one means you can check out the latest attractions at your local museum every weekend, without spending a dime of extra money.

17. Look into other experiences

The jury is in on what makes people happier: experiences over more stuff. So if you’re struggling to find a way to spend that $1,000, don’t buy more stuff. Instead, look into buying experiences. That could be a class or vacation that we’ve talked about above. Or you might take your spouse, a friend, or each of your children on a special night out to build some memories. Those are truly the gifts that keep on giving.

18. Buy some health and fitness equipment

Considering investing in your health? That’s a great option. One way to do it is to buy some high-quality fitness equipment for your home. Just be sure you have room to store and use it, and that you know what you’re doing before you dive in.

19. Pay for a year’s worth of gym memberships or classes

Don’t have room at home? Or prefer to work out with others for accountability? In this case, consider splurging on a year’s worth of gym membership fees or exercise classes. Pre-paying may make you more likely to actually go and participate. And you won’t regret putting some money into improving your health and well-being.

20. Donate it

Giving to a charity is always a worthy option with extra money. Pick a charity locally or internationally whose mission you can really get behind. Then spend your money with that charity. With a larger donation, you can probably even earmark the money for a specific project you really want to invest in.

Any of these options are a great choice so don’t stress too much about your spending decision. Choose the one you’re drawn to the most. Saving is always a wise choice but as long as you’re not wasting $1,000 on stuff you don’t need you’ll consider this expenditure a good buy.

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What to do With Gift Cards From a Store That May Go Bankrupt

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You’ve just learned that a retailer is having financial trouble and you have their gift cards. Here’s what to do with those gift cards from a store that may go bankrupt.

gift cards from a store that may go bankrupt

If you’re anything like me, you may let gift cards sit around for a while. Even if you get a gift card to a retailer you like, you wait to use it until you really want something. And, generally, that’s not a bad thing. Retailers are generally pretty good about honoring gift cards even years after they were first issued. (Though you definitely want to check the fine print on the card before you hold onto it that long!)

But what if you find out the company whose gift card you have is about to file for bankruptcy or has filed already? This happened to loads of consumers in 2015 when RadioShack filed for bankruptcy.

If you hear that a store is filing bankruptcy and you have their gift cards lying around, one thing is for sure. You should use them quickly.

That’s because it’s hard to tell exactly what will happen after the company files bankruptcy. In some cases, the courts will resolve the bankruptcy with the business still intact and honoring outstanding gift cards. In other cases, the company will shut down as part of the bankruptcy.

In the case of RadioShack, consumers wound up with just a few weeks to use their gift cards before the company would no longer honor them.

Typically, the courts get to decide how long outstanding gift cards will be honored when a retailer files for bankruptcy. Gift cards are considered unsecured outstanding debt. So they may or may not be usable once a retailer files bankruptcy. Often times, though, the courts will give consumers a limited time frame in which to spend the gift cards.

So whenever you hear a popular retailer has filed for bankruptcy, check your wallet, your sock drawer, and under your bed. See if you have any gift cards with a balance. And then take these steps:

1. Check out how long gift cards will be honored

First thing’s first. Figure out how long you have to spend that gift card. Again, the courts will generally decide how long the company is able to honor gift cards. Generally, you’ll want to spend the money sooner than later just to be safe. But you might be able to wait a week or two to see if you can get a better deal on products the company is marking down as part of its liquidation process.

Just be sure you spend that money well ahead of the actual deadline. That way you’re sure the money will be available. And you won’t get stuck spending it on the dregs of what’s left over after the liquidation sales begin in earnest.

2. Buy things you need anyway

I tend to hold on to gift cards to purchase things that I want but wouldn’t necessarily buy for myself. Or I might use a gift card to upgrade a purchase I need anyway but wouldn’t pay extra for a premium product. If I need new sheets, I might use a gift card to upgrade them from the basic level to the premium quality, for instance.

This strategy means I end up holding on to gift cards for a while. And that’s not a good thing when dealing with a company that’s filed for bankruptcy.

In this case, try to look for things you need, anyway, and just spend that money on those things. Even if the item doesn’t count as a “need” right now, consider purchasing it if you know you’ll need it within the next six months. Then you can spend the gift card without actually wasting the money on something you’ll never use.

3. Stock up on things you’ll eventually use

In a similar vein, you can use a gift card to stock up on things you’ll use eventually. For instance, old RadioShack customers may have used their gift cards to stock up on electronic essentials like phone chargers and protective cases. Maybe all your chargers are working now, but you know you buy replacements every few months, anyway.

4. Purchase gifts ahead of time

Expiring gift cards are a great way to purchase gifts well ahead of time. If you can’t find anything you want or need from the store in question, consider upcoming holidays and birthdays. Maybe you can purchase gifts for your kids or loved ones for the holidays.

Or maybe you already have some money set aside for a specific gift purchase, but not enough to buy it in full. Add the gift card to your total, and go ahead and purchase that gift while the card is still usable.

5. Purchase items to donate or resell

If you truly can’t find something you want or need, will eventually need, or want to give as a gift, you can at least buy items to donate or resell.

If your plan is to donate, ask your favorite non-profit what they might use from the store in question. Use your gift card to buy it, and then hand it over to the non-profit. You can at least take a tax write off!

If the plan is to resell, look into the market for items from that store. Check eBay and Craigslist to see what people want from a store like the one in question. Then you can buy items that you neither want nor need, but you can at least get some cash back when you sell them to someone else. This is an even better deal if you can buy the item in question at a lower liquidation price and then even resell for a profit.

When you hear a store is filing for bankruptcy and you have gift cards from there, don’t panic. But do follow these steps to use those gift cards well before you run out of time.

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Best Websites For Finding Cheap Flights Online

This article was written by in Travel. Add a comment.

As we near the summer travel season, finding cheap flights has never been more important. We’ve reviewed the best websites for cheap airfare, including tools to track flight costs and alert you to the best deals.

best websites for cheap airfare

Whether you’re planning a trip for one or for ten, there’s no reason to pay more for airfare than you have to. Luckily, we live in the technological age and can easily access flight deals and discounted airfare. We can even set alerts to let us know when the perfect price pops up.

There are a few excellent websites that can help you locate the cheapest flights online. Here’s a look at some of our favorite sites and how they work.

Airfare Watchdog

A versatile fare-finder and price alert site, Airfare Watchdog helps you find exactly what you need. Whether you want to travel next week or “anytime this summer,” AW is able to search available seats, find the lowest prices, and even alert you when fares drop.

I use this site myself, and it’s my first go-to whenever I’m looking for cheap flights. Beyond that, though, I have Fare Alerts set up for upcoming trips that I might want to take (but have some flexibility).

For instance, I know that I want to take my kids somewhere fun in September. As a freelancer, I’m not really constricted to a specific itinerary. So, I have an Airfare Watchdog alert set up that will let me know when the right price is available from Washington, DC to a fun city–then, I can plan our trip around it.

My mom also uses Airfare Watchdog for planning her grandbaby-visiting trips. She has her SAT>DCA route established. Anytime cheap fares come up, she buys and comes to see me and my kids. This is a great option for leisure travel, when you’re not confined to a specific itinerary.

Hipmunk

Whether you’re looking to create an entire vacation package or simply book a long flight, Hipmunk can make the process easier and cheaper than ever.

As expected, you can use Hipmunk to scour available airlines for the best available airfare. Unlike many other aggregate flight sites, you can use Hipmunk to compare Southwest Airlines flights, too. Typically, Southwest is excluded from these discount search engines, so you have to go to the airline’s site separately to compare fares. With Hipmunk, however, you only have to enter your search info once to see everything that’s available (including Southwest!).

Beyond that, though, you can also use the Price Graph feature, if you have flexible travel plans. Price Graph allows you to see the lowest fares for a specific route over the next 90 days.

Momondo

Looking for a colorful, fun site that will search high and low to find you cheap airfare? Then look no further than Momondo.

The site looks through airlines’ direct fares to find you great seats at even better prices. That may very well mean taking a different airline coming versus going, and Momondo will help you book it if that’s the case. If you want, you can even see how Momondo’s search measures up to other engines, like CheapOair and Travelocity.

Once you have your route set, Momondo will then show you exactly how fares compare from one day to the next. You might be able to save yourself hundreds of dollars just by shifting your trip down a day or two, if plans allow. Simply hover over the bar on each day to see just how much you could save.

If you know that you want to get away but don’t know exactly where or when, the Momondo Trip Finder can act as inspiration. Just enter your location and how much you want to spend to see various travel options. You can also choose the type of vacation you seek–such as a beach getaway–and enter your budget to see available options.

No matter your preferences or restrictions, this can help you create travel plans that work with your schedule, budget, and desires.

FlightFox

If you want to find a cheap flight with a more concierge-like service, FlightFox might be just the answer.

This consultant-based website is different than your average online search engine. With FlightFox, you will enter your itinerary and traveler info, as well as the maximum amount you wish to spend. FlightFox’s industry experts will then get to work finding the perfect flight deal for you.

The catch is that you will pay for the FlightFox service. Fees start at $50 (of which the “winning” consultant will receive 75%), but the company also guarantees to save you more than that fee in discounted fare. If they can’t, their services are free.

You can use FlightFox for corporate or personal travel, and they will help you create the itinerary that is perfect for you and your wallet, guaranteeing a discount on your fare.

Adioso

This travel site will help you find cheap flights whether you’re looking for a specific trip at a specific time, or just feel a sense of wanderlust coming on in the near future. You can create a flight search that is as broad or defined as you want–even going “anywhere” at “anytime”–which is perfect for flexible travelers.

If you know that you want to go on a specific route soon but aren’t restricted to certain dates, you can see fares for anytime in the future, the next month, a date range, or specific dates.

Then, you can also see how much you could save by shifting your travels in either direction. For instance, I want to take my kids to Disney and I’m flexible on dates. Thanks to Adioso, I know that I can save almost $70 each way per ticket, just by moving our departure date from Friday to Tuesday.

Credit Card Portals

The downside to using online flight search engines is that you have to pay for the flights in full. What if you have miles or points saved up, and want to utilize them for your next trip?

Thankfully, there are a number of credit card portals that will allow you to do just that. Portals like Chase Ultimate Rewards will allow you to redeem your earned points (from everyday cash back purchases) toward hotels, rental cars, and yes, even flights. You will often snag a discounted fare, too, by going through the portal.

If you carry a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’ll get an added bonus. Each point that you use through Ultimate Rewards will receive an extra percentage in redemption. With the Sapphire Preferred, each point is worth 25% more (meaning 1 point is actually worth 1.25 points). With the Sapphire Reserve, each point will earn 50% more (or 1.5 points per).

As you can see, through the portal I’m offered a flight for $370.10 with American. However, if I use my points, I can get this same ticket for only 29,608 points–which have a cash value of $296.08. This saves me $74 per ticket!

Credit card portals are often the best possible way to stretch your credit card rewards and get great deals at the same time.

Buy With Points

Another way to use your accrued points for cheap flights is to transfer them to the airline of choice in the form of miles. This is a great way to boost your miles balance in order to qualify for award travel, save your miles balance from expiring, and use earned miles toward completely free flights.

Optimizing this process will depend on the airlines you’ve earned miles through, their award partners, your itinerary, and the credit card you use to earn points. However, it’s worth considering if you have a number of accrued points/miles anywhere or with a particular airline.

By putting a little bit of time and energy into searching for your next flight, you can easily find the cheapest fares out there. If you are flexible–either in your travel dates, destination, or even the airports you utilize–you can save even more.

What’s your best way to find cheap flights? How much have you saved in the past using one of these sites or a credit card portal?

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10 Cash Back Credit Card Traps You Need to Know About

by Abby Hayes

Reward cards can offer us cash bonuses and free travel. They can also mire us in debt. To avoid the pitfalls, here are some cash back credit card traps to avoid. For my own finances, I’ve been a fan of credit cards with cash back programs. Some financial experts advise avoiding credit cards completely, even […]

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The Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Sites

by Kevin Mercadante

A technological tool at your fingertips is opening new doors for real estate investors. Real estate crowdfunding sites are changing the game. We’ll tell you about the top 5 best real estate crowdfunding sites that stand out from the crowd. Commercial real estate investments are essential for a well-rounded real estate portfolio. Investors aim to […]

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Chase Credit Cards and Blueprint Review

by Michael Pruser

Chase credit cards offers some of the best cash back and travel rewards. And Chase offers one of the few 0 percent balance transfer cards with no transfer fee. Here are the details. Chase is offering a number of popular credit cards, notably the Chase Freedom, Chase Sapphire and Chase, which now include a set of […]

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The Best Current and Historical Bank Interest Rates — May 2018

by Rob Berger

We’ve tracked bank rates since 2008. The latest list shows the best bank interest rates available nationwide as of May 2018 (with daily updates). Since many banks are constantly updating their interest rates offered on savings, money market and checking accounts, this chart should come in handy. On the 1st of every month, this page […]

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7 Alternatives to High-Yield Savings Accounts

by Kevin Mercadante

With banks paying historically low rates, savers have other options. Here are 7 alternatives to high yield savings accounts. Let’s be honest, yields on totally safe savings accounts are pathetically low. Typical savings accounts and money markets pay no more than a fraction of 1 percent. Even so-called high yield savings accounts rarely pay much more […]

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Best Home Phone Service Options by Price

by Stephanie Colestock

Find the best home phone service plans based on price and service. We cover both traditional land line companies and internet phone services that offer extremely low prices. These days, it seems like everyone has forgone the home phone. Landlines have been on the steady decline for many years as the prevalence (and price) of […]

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