Money Management

It takes a lot for the perfect game day party. Here’s how Sam’s Club can help. [[{“value”:”

You can find good deals at Sam’s Club on all sorts of stuff, including all the things you need to celebrate the big game right. Because who says you have to blow your finances to have a blow-out party? These are just a few of the game day essentials you can pick up for a good price at Sam’s Club.

1. Member’s Mark 22″ Tabletop Griddle

This propane-powered griddle from Sam’s Club’s house brand can hold enough burgers to feed a whole party at once, but you’re hardly limited to burgers. You can cook pretty much anything on a griddle top, from steaks to tortillas to fried eggs, giving you full culinary freedom for your party spread.

If you’re more of a traditionalist and want an old-fashioned grill, Sam’s Club has you covered there, too. You can get a variety of other Member’s Mark grills, from gas to charcoal to pellet, all well-reviewed by shoppers.

Even better, all of the grills and griddles are covered by Sam’s Club’s fantastic return policy that offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee on most items.

2. Ninja Foodi 6-in-1, 8-qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer

If you’re more into chicken wings than burgers — or simply need somewhere to crispy up all those fries — an air fryer can be a great addition to the kitchen. The Ninja Foodi 6-in-1, 8-qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer can not only air fry, but also bake, roast, and even dehydrate.

This particular model isn’t for the faint of frying, however; with two giant baskets totaling eight quarts of capacity, this is a large appliance. Make sure you actually need the extra space before you drop big bucks on such a big machine. On the plus side, Sam’s Club’s price is a solid $20 cheaper than other retailers.

3. All the meats

Whether you’re looking for burgers, ribs, or chicken wings, you can find them at Sam’s Club — in large quantities and at great prices. (If you like grass-fed beef for your burgers, the Member’s Mark three-pack is the best per-pound price I’ve seen.)

However, you don’t have to choose quantity over quality here. I’ve anecdotally heard many shoppers praise the quality of Sam’s Club’s meat counter. And the website supports the in-person reviews I’ve heard, with most products rating at least 4.5 stars from online reviewers.

4. Chips, dips, and condiments

Your proteins aren’t the only parts of the party spread you can get at Sam’s Club. In fact, a big game day party is the perfect time to shop at Sam’s Club, since you’re far more likely to use up those bulk-sized bargains on chips, dips, and condiments.

If you’re shopping in the store, be sure to use Scan & Go. Not only does it save you time — you can scan items as you shop and completely skip the checkout line — but it can actually save you money, too. Sam’s Club has special Scan & Go savings that only kick in when you shop with Scan & Go in store.

5. Member’s Mark trash bags

Napkins, paper plates, wing bones, chip crumbles — throwing a party can be great fun, but once the game is over and the guests are gone, you’ve still got a job to do: clean up. The Member’s Mark brand includes all sorts of trash bags, from 13-gallon tall kitchen bags to 33-gallon Power Flex bags (for those really big party messes!).

What’s more, these bags are inexpensive, but not cheap. While they can cost as little as $0.09 per bag, these bags are durable and reliable. The least popular Member’s Mark trash bags still earn 4.5 stars (out of 5), and the most popular bags have 4.9 stars from thousands of reviewers.

Celebrate the save

While we’re all busy celebrating the big game, tons of Sam’s Club shoppers can also celebrate the great savings they scored on party supplies. Of course, Sam’s Club isn’t always the cheapest place for them, so make sure you also do a bit of comparison shopping if you’re making a big purchase.

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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.
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Want to save money on car insurance by being a safer driver? Telematics car insurance plans make it possible — if you share driving data. See how! [[{“value”:”

Do you ever feel powerless against the ever-rising price of car insurance? Auto insurance prices went up by about 20% in 2023, and higher costs of car repairs and car parts mean that the cost of insuring your vehicle might not slow down anytime soon. One way to counteract the trend of rising car insurance prices is to take the power into your own hands — with telematics car insurance.

Telematics is a special kind of car insurance where you can get rewarded for safe driving. You sign up to share your driving data, and based on your driving habits and behaviors, the insurance company might give you a discount on car insurance. Instead of just helplessly watching as your car insurance rates go up, telematics can help you take control of your premium. Some of the best insurance companies with telematics offer safe driving discounts of up to 30% to 40%.

However, some people are unfamiliar with telematics or are reluctant to share their driving data. Let’s look at a few of the potential upsides and downsides of telematics car insurance and whether this unique way to save could be right for you.

Three reasons why you don’t want telematics car insurance

Even if you’re sick and tired of paying higher prices for car insurance, you might have concerns about signing up to share driving data. Here are a few reasons why you might not want telematics car insurance.

1. “It’s too much hassle to share driving data.”

Most car insurance companies‘ telematics programs require you to sign up via mobile app and use the app to track some of your driving behavior. Other programs might send you a telematics device that plugs into your car or attaches to your windshield and communicates with your mobile app via Bluetooth.

Concerns about data privacy have grown in recent years, as many people wonder if we’ve gone too far in handing over our personal data to corporations. Although the insurance companies say they have made every effort to make the process simple and seamless, you might just not feel like signing up for another data-sharing situation. If telematics feels too intrusive, maybe it’s not the right choice for you.

But if you trust your car insurance company, you’re tech-savvy with mobile apps, and you don’t mind sharing some driving data with your insurer, getting a discount on car insurance could be worth the effort.

2. “I don’t want my insurance company messing with my phone.”

Some telematics programs track a larger variety of data than others. Allstate Drivewise® only measures your driving speed, stopping speeds, and times of day when you drive. But other programs like State Farm Drive Safe & SaveTM track a wider range of data, like watching for signs of distracted driving.

To some people, this just might feel too invasive. Of course, distracted driving is not good; it’s a cause of many car crashes — but you might not want your insurance company tracking your every move behind the wheel. And not every insurance company’s telematics insurance app has been well reviewed. Interestingly, most insurance companies’ iOS apps tend to get higher reviews than Android apps.

Some app users (across multiple insurance companies) have complained about excessive notifications, tracking errors, and battery draining. Read the fine print and check customer reviews to see if telematics car insurance is likely to work well with your phone.

3. “What if my insurance rate goes up?”

Some companies offer a special discount just for signing up for telematics car insurance, but beyond that, there are no guaranteed discounts. Some insurance companies (like Progressive and Allstate) might raise your premium if you have risky driving behaviors.

Five reasons why you should try telematics car insurance

It’s true that telematics car insurance is different from traditional policies, and it can bring a few extra hassles and risks. But here are some good reasons to try it in 2024.

1. Telematics puts you in control of your rates

Car insurance price increases often feel unfair. Even if you’re accident-free, your premium could still go up. Instead of getting punished for everyone else’s car crashes, speeding tickets, and expensive-to-repair cars, telematics car insurance empowers you. If you’re a safe driver, show your insurance company why you deserve car insurance discounts.

2. You could become a better, safer driver

Along with reducing your insurance costs, what if telematics could actually improve your driving? Several insurance companies’ apps offer fun driving insights and safety challenges, where you can turn your everyday commute into more of a game and get rewarded for safer driving habits.

3. Some companies promise not to raise your rate

Nationwide and State Farm are two of the companies that promise not to raise your premium if you use telematics. Your discount might be $0, but your rate won’t go up.

4. Connected vehicles make it easy

If you have a newer model connected vehicle, it’s easy to get telematics insurance. Ford Insure, GM OnStar Insurance, and Tesla Insurance all offer the chance of getting discount car insurance right within your car — no extra effort or devices or apps required!

5. If you don’t like it, you can quit

Telematics car insurance is not a lifetime commitment. If you don’t like the app or you don’t get the discounts you’d hoped for, you can always go back to a traditional policy.

Bottom line

Americans are frustrated by high inflation, high interest rates, and a disappointing “vibecession” economy. Taking control of your car insurance by trying telematics could help you save big money in 2024.

Our best car insurance companies for 2024

Ready to shop for car insurance? Whether you’re focused on price, claims handling, or customer service, we’ve researched insurers nationwide to provide our best-in-class picks for car insurance coverage. Read our free expert review today to get started.

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 positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Progressive. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Costco memberships start at $60 per year. Find out if it’s still worth buying a membership when you don’t live that close to a Costco warehouse. [[{“value”:”

If you like Costco and live near a warehouse, the price of a membership is a bargain. A Gold Star membership only costs $60 per year. An Executive membership costs $120, but you also earn 2% back on Costco purchases (up to a maximum of $1,000 back per 12-month period).

But what if you need to drive 30 minutes or an hour to your nearest Costco? While shopping there won’t be as convenient, a Costco membership could still pay off.

You don’t need to be a frequent shopper at Costco to get your money’s worth

Costco has excellent prices, especially if you buy in bulk. An analysis by CNET found that Costco shoppers would save 33% on a selection of popular products compared to a conventional grocery store. Over a year, they’d save over $1,000. With those kinds of savings, a Costco membership can help with improving your finances.

Even if you aren’t able to visit Costco all the time, it’s still easy to save more than the price of a membership. After all, the Gold Star membership only comes out to $5 a month. You can save much more than that in one grocery trip. Costco also offers deals on prescriptions at Costco Pharmacy and affordable vacation packages with Costco Travel.

It’s not uncommon to have a Costco membership even if you don’t live right next to one. Plenty of members do this and make a monthly or biweekly trek to their nearest warehouse. It’s not just because of the prices — members have also mentioned that they do this because Costco has higher-quality food products than their local grocery stores carry.

By the way, if you have a long drive to your nearest Costco, make sure to bring a cooler. That way, you can keep everything fresh during the drive home.

See if there are comparable options nearby first

Before you buy a Costco membership, check out what options you have closer to home. Costco isn’t right for everyone, especially if it’s a lengthy drive to get there. You’ll spend more on gas, put more wear and tear on your car, and have less free time.

Those aren’t necessarily deal breakers if you enjoy shopping at Costco and you’re saving money overall. But it’s always smart to compare your options. You might find that there’s another grocery store 10 to 15 minutes away that you like just as much.

Remember that you can take a membership for a test run

One of the many benefits of Costco is its generous return policy. That applies to most of the products it sells, and also to the membership fee. As part of Costco’s risk-free satisfaction guarantee, it will cancel and refund your membership fee at any time if you’re dissatisfied.

So, if you’re not sure whether a Costco membership is worth it because of where you live, you could buy a membership and see how you like it. Worst-case scenario, you decide it’s not right for you, cancel it, and Costco will refund your money back to your credit card or bank account. But most members are satisfied customers — Costco has a 92.6% membership renewal rate in the United States and Canada.

If you don’t mind driving to Costco at least once a month, you’ll probably have no trouble getting your money’s worth. Make sure to stock up so you can save as much as possible during each visit.

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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.Lyle Daly 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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Will a rejected loan application hurt your credit score? Read on to find out. [[{“value”:”

There may come a point when you decide to take out a personal loan. Maybe you have a home you desperately need to furnish. Or maybe you’re looking to renovate an outdated kitchen to make it more functional.

The higher your credit score is at the time of your loan application, the more likely you are to get approved. But rest assured that if you aren’t approved for a loan, your credit score shouldn’t take an extra hit.

A rejection won’t worsen your credit score

Any time you apply for a loan or credit card, a hard inquiry is done on your credit report. And that will usually result in a modest drop in your score — somewhere in the ballpark of five points or so.

A hit that small generally won’t have much of an impact. If your credit score is a 640, which Experian says is in the fair range, a five-point drop that brings your score down to 635 may not have much of an effect on your ability to borrow. A lender may decide to deny you whether your score is a 640 versus 635.

Similarly, if your credit score is an 815, which is considered exceptional, having it fall to an 810 shouldn’t really hurt your chances of getting the loan or credit card you want. That’s still a really excellent credit score, and a lender is apt to note that when reviewing your application.

You may also find it comforting to know that being denied a loan won’t hurt your credit for the worse. A loan denial won’t show up on your credit report, says Experian. However, the hard inquiry on your credit as a result of your application will. And your credit score might take a small hit because that’s what happens any time you apply for credit.

But all told, your credit score will generally sustain the same amount of very limited damage whether you put in a loan application that’s approved or denied.

It’s best to apply for a loan you’re likely to qualify for

A loan application denial generally won’t hurt your credit score any more than an approved application. But since there’s a small credit score drop associated with a hard inquiry, it’s best to only have one of those inquiries on your record if your chances of getting approved are reasonably strong to begin with.

Some lenders publish credit score requirements on their websites so you can check out what’s needed to qualify for a loan. And if that information isn’t available in print, you could always call the lender to find out whether your score is likely to suffice.

You may also want to consider holding off on applying for a loan if you know your credit score isn’t so great. Even if you get approved to borrow money in that situation, you might get stuck with a really unfavorable interest rate on your loan. But if you’re able to boost your credit score and then apply for a loan, you may not only get approved, but snag an interest rate that has you paying less.

There are different steps you can take to boost your credit score, such as paying your bills on time and correcting errors on your credit report. Paying down credit card debt could also help your score improve. However, if you’re looking to get a loan, it could indicate that you’re not in a position where you’re able to pay off a chunk of existing debt.

Either way, know that being denied a loan shouldn’t hurt you too badly from a credit score perspective. A rejected application may come as a blow, and you might need to put certain plans on hold. But you can rest assured that there shouldn’t be a black mark on your credit report, and you shouldn’t anticipate a massive plunge in your credit score because a lender said no to your request.

Our picks for the best credit cards

Our experts vetted the most popular offers to land on the select picks that are worthy of a spot in your wallet. These best-in-class cards pack in rich perks, such as big sign-up bonuses, long 0% intro APR offers, and robust rewards. Get started today with our recommended credit cards.

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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Store credit cards have drawbacks you should know about, including the way they handle rewards. Read on to learn more. [[{“value”:”

One of the benefits of using credit cards is racking up rewards on the purchases you make. If you buy $100 worth of clothing and pay with cash or swipe a debit card, you don’t get anything in return. If your credit card offers 1% cash back, that’s an extra $1 in your pocket. And in the course of a year, those various rewards could add up nicely.

Meanwhile, you may have racked up your fair share of reward points on your credit cards during the holiday season. But if you used a store credit card for some of your purchases, there’s an important move you ought to make now.

Check on your rewards’ expiration dates

Credit card rewards are pretty common. But most credit cards that offer rewards don’t impose an expiration date, says Experian. As long as your account remains open and in good standing, you can redeem your rewards when you see fit.

Store credit cards tend to work a bit differently. First of all, these credit cards are generally only accepted at the retailers they’re associated with, whereas with a regular credit card, you can swipe it at the gas pump, supermarket, or just about anywhere. But from a rewards perspective, it’s more common for rewards to have an expiration date if they’re associated with a store credit card account.

That’s why it’s important to look at the store credit card rewards you accumulated during the holidays and see how long you have to use them. If you get a 90-day window, you may be nearing the end of it now, depending on when you made your purchases.

How to make sure your store credit card rewards don’t go to waste

Store credit card rewards often come in the form of store dollars. You might, for example, get $5 in store credit per $100 spent.

So, let’s say you now have $20 in store credit card rewards that expire in early February, only you don’t have a particular item you need to purchase at the store in question. Rather than give up your $20, first, get creative.

Maybe the store sells kids’ clothing and you can’t find anything you think your children would like. If so, stock up on the boring stuff, like socks or underwear — things little ones could always use more of.

Another option? Let’s say you don’t want to give up $20 in rewards. In that case, buy a shirt you don’t want or need, hang onto it for a few weeks, and then take it back on the basis of it not fitting or being comfortable. From there, you may be able to get a store credit of sorts that you have more time to spend. Or you may get those rewards credited back to your credit card account with extra time to use them.

Store credit cards are notorious for charging exorbitant interest rates, which is why consumers are often advised to open them with caution. But another potential drawback you might encounter with a store credit card is having a limited amount of time to use your rewards. So if you did a lot of shopping on a store credit card during the holidays, mark your rewards’ expiration dates on your calendar — and do what you can to avoid giving those rewards up.

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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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