Money Management

Want to win free tickets to see The Eras tour? Marriott Bonvoy is offering a free sweepstakes if you join its loyalty program. See what you need to know. [[{“value”:”

Taylor Swift is the biggest pop star in the world, with a global legion of passionate fans known as “Swifties.” Her worldwide tour The Eras is such a huge seller, it’s generating billions of dollars of growth in the global economy. But tickets for Taylor Swift concerts are tough to get. What if you could get free Taylor Swift concert tickets in some of the world’s most exciting cities?

Marriott Bonvoy®, the loyalty program for Marriott hotels, is offering a free contest to win tickets to see Taylor Swift. All you have to do to enter this sweepstakes is sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy program — no purchase required. Or if you are a Marriott Bonvoy member with lots of reward points saved up in your account, you can use points to buy Taylor Swift ticket packages.

Let’s look at the details of how to win free Taylor Swift tickets from Marriott — and whether the Marriott Bonvoy program is worth joining even if you don’t win the sweepstakes.

How to win free Taylor Swift tickets and travel

Marriott Bonvoy is offering a few different packages of free Taylor Swift tickets as part of its sweepstakes. The top two packages include free travel (flights and hotel), along with free concert tickets for The Eras tour.

Grand Prize: Three concerts, three trips, three countries

The biggest prize of Marriott’s Taylor Swift sweepstakes is this once-in-a-lifetime package: three separate four-day, three-night trips for you and a guest. You’ll get to see Taylor Swift at three different concerts in the U.S., Canada, and Europe (the exact cities are Miami, Toronto, and Vienna), with air travel, hotels, and concert tickets all included. There is only one of these packages available, and you know that millions of Swifties worldwide would love to win it.

Note: To be eligible to win this Grand Prize concert experience, you must enter the sweepstakes by June 1, 2024.

The Vancouver Ultimate Concert Experience

This is another concert ticket package that includes free hotels and air travel, but your destination is Vancouver, Canada. You’ll still get a fantastic travel experience in an international city, with four days and three nights of hotel accommodations, plus tickets to Swift’s show in Vancouver. There is only one Vancouver Ultimate Concert Experience package available in the sweepstakes.

Note: To win this prize, you must enter the sweepstakes by Oct. 9, 2024.

Free Taylor Swift tickets — travel not included

Along with those two big prize packages that include travel and hotels, Marriott Bonvoy is also giving away free Taylor Swift tickets as part of the sweepstakes. This level of prize is called the “Where Can We Take You?” concert package, and there are a total of 248 packages being awarded.

Each of these prize packages includes two Taylor Swift concert tickets in select cities ranging from Stockholm to Milan to New Orleans to Indianapolis. The sweepstakes entry has numerous closing dates, starting with March 20, 2024 (for Stockholm) and ending Oct. 9, 2024 (for Vancouver).

How to enter the Taylor Swift sweepstakes

Go to the Marriott website and read the details. You need to be a Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program member to enter the sweepstakes, but you can sign up for Bonvoy on the same day you enter the contest. You don’t have to be a previous Marriott Bonvoy member or buy anything. Even if you’ve never stayed at a Marriott hotel, you can still enter the Taylor Swift concert sweepstakes.

You only have to enter the sweepstakes once, and you’ll be eligible for all the prizes. But remember: the first deadline is March 20, 2024. So if you want a chance to win free tickets for The Eras Tour, don’t delay!

How to buy Taylor Swift tickets with Marriott Bonvoy reward points

Along with the sweepstakes, Marriott is offering a unique opportunity to buy Taylor Swift tickets with Marriott Bonvoy points. This offer lets you trade 500,000 reward points for a package of Taylor Swift tickets from the Marriott Bonvoy MomentsTM website.

Here’s what you get for 500,000 points:

Two tickets to see Taylor SwiftTwo nights of hotel accommodationDinner at a Bonvoy-affiliated restaurantSpa treatmentFree transportation to and from the concert

The first four of these pay-with-points ticket packages will be available on March 13, 2024 at 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time). There will also be additional pay-with-points ticket packages announced throughout the year — no credit card required.

Is it worth joining Marriott Bonvoy for Taylor Swift tickets?

If you’re a well-established Marriott Bonvoy member who already has lots of points saved up, 500,000 points might be a pretty good deal for that Taylor Swift concert package. But if you’re a newly registered Marriott Bonvoy member who signed up just for the sweepstakes, don’t get your hopes up — it’s really hard to earn 500,000 Marriott Bonvoy reward points in time to buy Taylor Swift tickets in 2024.

For example, Marriott’s best hotel credit cards have welcome offers of up to 185,000 bonus points, and you have to spend $6,000 on the card within six months of opening your account. Even if you spent all six thousand dollars at Marriott hotels, you’d still be a long way from 500,000 points.

Marriott Bonvoy could still be worth joining if you love travel and you want some extra perks. But it probably won’t help you get Taylor Swift tickets.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. The Motley Fool recommends Marriott International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Soon, grabbing a quick meal at Costco may be off the table without a membership. Read on to learn more. [[{“value”:”

One of the best aspects of shopping at Costco is getting access to a quick, cheap meal at the food court. Given some of the deals those food courts offer, including the famous $1.50 hot dog and soda combo, you’d be hard pressed to find a less expensive meal even if you were to make it in your own kitchen.

Now generally speaking, Costco’s rules dictate that you must have a membership card, or be the guest of a paying member, to access the store. And that extends to the store’s food court locations.

But many Costco locations have historically been pretty lax in enforcing that rule. And so at some locations, non-members have been enjoying their share of food court specials without having to cough up a membership fee. (To be clear, you can’t just shop at the store without a membership because you need to have your card scanned at checkout. But you don’t need to have your card scanned at the food court register.)

But now, Costco is changing its tune on food court access. And soon, non-members craving their $1.50 hot dog and soda, or some of the food court’s other creations, may be out of luck.

You’ll need a membership to grab that cheap lunch

Costco wasn’t always so strict about non-members using its food courts. And letting non-members eat at the food court had the potential to benefit Costco, since it was an easy way to get potential members in the door.

But one reason Costco may be changing its tune is that its membership base has grown nicely through the years. As of November of 2023, there were 129.5 million Costco cardholders across 72 million households.

Costco has long upheld a business model that’s centered on providing maximum value to its existing membership base. And while the company would no doubt like to continue to grow its membership, changes to food court access may be stemming from a desire to avoid overcrowding during peak meal periods — something that might sour the shopping and dining experience for existing members.

Should you join Costco for food court access alone?

Many people don’t go to Costco for the express purpose of grabbing lunch. Rather, they pick up a quick meal on their way out the door after they’ve already done their shopping.

Beginning April 8, an active Costco membership will be required to purchase food court items. But should you spend the $60 a year on a basic membership or $120 a year on an Executive membership to keep food court meals on the table?

A membership to Costco may not make financial sense if all you’re doing is visiting the food court a few times a month for lunch — especially if you tend to favor items that are more expensive than the $1.50 hot dog deal. But if you think you can benefit from Costco’s deals on household items, groceries, and gas, then a membership could make sense. You might more than recoup your annual membership fee in the form of savings on not just lunch, but groceries, cleaning products, and other supplies you use regularly.

Remember, too, that joining Costco isn’t such a risky prospect, because if you wind up unhappy with your membership, you can cancel at any time and get refunded. So if the idea of losing access to Costco’s food courts is upsetting, you may want to consider getting a membership and seeing where it takes you.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Rewards are one of the main benefits of shopping with a credit card, but the IRS could consider them taxable income. Here’s what you need to know. [[{“value”:”

Everyone knows the IRS taxes the income you make from your job and any side hustles you have. But that’s far from all you’ll owe taxes on. The government also taxes things like savings account interest, forgiven credit card debt, and money obtained from illegal activities. Sorry, criminals. You’re still not off the hook.

Once you go down the rabbit hole of what’s taxable, you start to question everything, like are credit card rewards taxable? Fortunately, the answer is probably not. But there are a few situations where you might have to split your rewards with Uncle Sam.

How the IRS treats credit card rewards

Most credit card rewards programs work the same. You use the card to make purchases and you earn points or miles. When you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them for cash back, gift cards, travel rewards, and more.

The IRS sees these types of rewards as rebates, similar to if you purchase an appliance and mail in a form to get a portion of your purchase price back from the manufacturer. It’s considered an adjustment to the original purchase price, not a gift that you received. So it’s not considered taxable income.

Welcome bonuses are generally not considered taxable income either because there is a spending requirement new customers must meet to obtain the bonus. But if a credit card issuer gives you a bonus simply for opening the card with no other criteria, this would likely be considered taxable income.

The same goes for credit card bonuses you get from referring friends and family to the program. Since there’s no spending requirement, it can’t be treated as an adjustment to a purchase price, and so the IRS wants a piece of it.

Business owners may be an exception

Business owners also have to be careful about credit card rewards when tracking their deductible business expenses. You’re allowed to write off the cost of goods and services you need to run your business, but if you paid for those items with credit card points, you may only write off the amount after the price adjustment. For example, if the item is $100 originally but you use credit card rewards worth $25, you could only write off the remaining $75 as a deductible business expense for the year.

What to do if you owe taxes on your credit card rewards

It’s rare to owe taxes on your credit card rewards, but if you do, you’ll need to report it on your taxes. If the reward was worth $600 or more, the card issuer will mail you a 1099-MISC form outlining how much you received. You won’t get one of these forms if the reward was less than $600, but that doesn’t mean you can forget about it. You’ll just have to keep track of the amount yourself and self-report it.

Your tax-filing software should give you a place to enter information about other sources of income. If you’re still not sure how to handle this, a tax professional may be able to assist you.

Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a lengthy 0% intro APR period, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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There are a lot of myths circulating about Costco, and some do have grains of truth. Take a look at the real story. [[{“value”:”

With millions of members chatting about Costco, it makes sense some myths and rumors would circulate. But when those myths start affecting your personal finances and costing you money, they need to be set straight. I’ll tackle some of the worst offenders.

Myth: Everything is a bargain!

Costco fans are always raving about the great deals they get from Costco, so everything must be a great deal, right?

The real story

You will very often get a great deal on items you buy from Costco. The prices are definitely competitive on the majority of items. This is especially true if you’re comparing the Kirkland Signature house brand with name brand products. The deals on gift cards can also be great bargains.

That said, as someone who regularly researches prices for various articles, Costco does not always have the best price on some items, particularly for brand-name electronics and small appliances (tablets, speakers, kitchen gear, etc. While it’s rarely significantly more expensive, you may see the same price as you’d get from another retailer without a membership.

What works

Always comparison shop before making a large purchase, even if you think you’ve found a Costco deal. (I automatically shop around for anything over $50, but set your own limit.)

You should also annually make sure you’re getting back the cost of your Costco membership in savings. It can take a lot of $0.50 deals to add up to a $60 membership fee.

Myth: You can only buy in bulk

If you watch one of those pervasive “Costco Haul” videos, you’ll see a lot of things that come in gallons — things you might not normally buy by the gallon, like mustard or icing. Then, you get to the store and see aisle after aisle full of pallets. It’s easy to see why this myth is so believable.

The real story

While it’s true that a lot of what you buy at Costco is sold in bulk, it’s definitely not everything. Even then, “bulk” doesn’t always mean “giant tubs.”

Many items in Costco actually come in smaller containers, you’ll just get a lot of them. For example, you can buy snack-sized bags of chips from Costco — you’ll just need to buy a box of 25.

At the same time, there are also plenty of items at Costco that come in whatever size and quantity you’d find it anywhere else. Looking for a new vacuum? Costco is happy to sell you a perfectly regular-sized vacuum, and you only need to buy one at a time.

What works

Buy bulk for what makes sense. Stuff that doesn’t expire, such as toilet paper or maple syrup, can be great to stock up on. (If we took away nothing else from 2020, it’s that you should always have some toilet paper tucked away.) Buying it in bulk is what makes the per-unit cost so great.

For everything else, be selective. Only buy bulk what you’ll actually use up.

Not sure if you’ll like something enough to buy 12 of it? Take advantage of samples to try items you’re unfamiliar with. Alternatively, pick up a smaller quantity at the grocery store to try first. (If you really need to, you can also return something you really hated, but try not to make a habit of it.)

Myth: The return policy has no limits

If some of the Costco mythos is to be believed, you can return anything, at any time, for a full refund — no questions asked.

The real story

This myth is actually almost true, but not quite. Costco’s return policy is very, very generous. And yes, most items sold at Costco can be returned more or less indefinitely as a part of their satisfaction guarantee. You don’t even need a receipt in most cases.

However, not everything qualifies.

There are exceptions to the return policy that includes major electronics, appliances, jewelry, and tires. Most of these can only be returned within a certain window. And some things can’t be returned at all, including alcohol, tobacco, event tickets, gold bullion, special orders, and Shop Cards.

What works

Be familiar with Costco’s return policy when making any major purchases. Otherwise, simply be reasonable about how often you take advantage of the policy.

There’s no hard limit on how often you can make returns. However, Costco has been known to crack down on people it sees as abusing the policy. Excessive returns could get your membership revoked.

Bonus myth: It’s always packed

If social media is to be believed, every Costco is swarming with people and carts around the clock.

The real story

If you’re going during the most popular times — weekends in the late morning and early afternoon — you will definitely be in the swarm. (However, you’ll also have the best variety and density of samples. Folks with sharp elbows may enjoy this time.)

That said, as with any store, there are definitely less-popular times you can shop to avoid the crowds. If you’re not too bothered about getting a lunch’s worth of samples, this is certainly an option.

What works

The best time to avoid crowds at Costco is generally in the evening during the middle of the week. The later, the better; the fewest crowds will be right before closing. Always be sure to leave yourself enough time to actually shop, though — you don’t want to be only halfway through when you get that 10-minute warning.

One neat way to gauge how busy a Costco location is going to be is to look it up on Google Maps. The listings generally include a “Popular times” chart that you can scroll through to see when the store is busiest (and when it’s not).

While these myths may be loosely based on the truth, they’re greatly exaggerated. Use these tips to avoid the traps and maximize your Costco savings.

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Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Investors are euphoric about Bitcoin again. Read on to find out why and what you can do to protect yourself from Bitcoin’s inevitable volatility. [[{“value”:”

Just two years ago, Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies plummeted after the very public collapse of the crypto exchange FTX and soaring interest rates that triggered pessimism in the market. But in 2023, investors started returning to Bitcoin, and their optimism has caused its price to surge 174% over the past year.

A combination of optimism about the recent launch of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and an upcoming halving of Bitcoin — making it more difficult to mine the crypto — are driving its price higher.

Here’s why these two things are exciting crypto investors and a few things to keep in mind if you’re considering investing in Bitcoin.

Bitcoin ETF euphoria

For most of Bitcoin’s existence, the only way to benefit from the cryptocurrency’s price increases was to own the coin directly. For some investors, navigating buying a digital asset and figuring out how to store it safely was a big hurdle.

Some brokerages, like Robinhood, made it easier to buy Bitcoin, but casual investors were still somewhat confused about owning digital assets. But a lot of that changed when the first Bitcoin ETF launched in January, which directly tracks the price of Bitcoin. Now, any investor can easily buy an ETF that follows the price of Bitcoin in the same way popular ETFs track the S&P 500.

Here are the benefits of Bitcoin ETFs:

You can buy it like any other stock in your brokerage account.You can liquidate it easily, selling the shares when you no longer want them.ETF tax rules are already in place, while crypto tax rules are still confusing.

This simplicity makes it easier for everyday investors to dip their toes in crypto investing, opening up Bitcoin to many more investors and driving the price higher.

The result is Bitcoin’s price surging nearly 38% since Bitcoin ETFs launched.

Bitcoin’s halving is about to happen

Bitcoin’s price is also climbing because the rate at which Bitcoin is mined will be cut in half next month. This event happens about every four years, making Bitcoin twice as difficult to mine as before.

There is a theoretical maximum supply of 21 million Bitcoins, which won’t be reached until around 2140. With Bitcoin becoming more difficult to mine as time goes on, it potentially makes current coins more valuable.

This is adding to the current Bitcoin optimism and likely driving the cryptocurrency higher.

There’s probably more volatility ahead

Like many other cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin is already prone to significant price swings. Since its inception, the cryptocurrency has seen multiple pullbacks of 75% or more of its value from peak prices.

And the upcoming halving could trigger the next significant drop. JPMorgan analysts said recently that Bitcoin’s price could fall to $42,000 — a decrease of 37% from today’s current price — after the hype surrounding the halving subsides.

If you’re thinking about buying a Bitcoin ETF anytime soon, here are a few things you should keep in mind:

It’s best to keep crypto to 5% or less of your portfolio: Many experts recommend limiting crypto to no more than 5% of your portfolio. A smaller percentage is even better if you’re new to cryptocurrencies.Don’t invest money you can’t afford to lose: This is a general rule for any investment, but it’s especially applicable to Bitcoin because of its volatility. Can you handle a 20% drop in Bitcoin’s value? If not, you shouldn’t invest that money.Keep track of crypto tax rules: If you buy a Bitcoin ETF, the tax rules will be the same as any other ETF you own. But if you decide to own Bitcoin or any other crypto outright, you’ll need to declare that when doing your taxes.

Owning Bitcoin directly or through an ETF will take part of your portfolio on a wild ride. That’s not necessarily bad, but you should be prepared for the volatility and understand what you’re getting into before you begin.

Our picks for the best credit cards

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Chris Neiger has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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