Money Management

Don’t spend more than necessary when buying an Apple computer or tablet. Find out how eligible teachers and students can get a discount on purchases. 

Apple is the world’s most valuable company, selling various top-rated products. While the famous brand is known for producing durable, sleek tech products, you can expect to pay a good chunk of money to own one. Before you rush to add a new iPad or iMac to your shopping cart, see if you qualify for a discount so you don’t overpay. Apple offers discounted pricing on select products to qualifying educators and students. Here’s what you need to know.

Don’t overpay when upgrading your laptop or computer

Apple offers discounted pricing to eligible students and educators. If you qualify, you can save money when buying iPads, iMacs, and Mac products. These savings are available online through Apple’s Education Store, in an Apple Retail Store, or an Authorized Campus Reseller.

Discounts vary by product. I compared pricing for the 14-inch MacBook Pro and found discounts ranging from $100 to $150, depending on the model purchased. Before buying, you can research the retail price and discounted price to see how much money you can save.

Here are the qualifications for this special pricing:

Any employee of a public or private K-12 institution in the United States, including homeschool teachers and eligible school board members and PTA or PTA executivesFaculty and staff of Higher Education Institutions in the United States Current students enrolled in a public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States and parents purchasing on their behalfNewly accepted students enrolled in a public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States and their parents

Here’s what else you need to know: The education pricing discount extends to iPads, iMacs, and Mac products, so you won’t get a deal when buying a new iPhone. It’s also worth noting that this discount doesn’t apply to refurbished Apple products. There are also limits on how many discounted products you can buy annually. You can purchase one desktop, one Mac Mini, one Notebook, and two iPads per year at discounted prices.

While saving $100 on a MacBook may not sound like a big deal, every dollar saved adds up and is a win for your wallet. Don’t miss the chance to save money when buying new tech.

Students can get a deal on an Apple Music subscription

If you’re a student who doesn’t need to upgrade their tech anytime soon, Apple offers other ways to save money. You can get discounted pricing on an Apple Music subscription. Instead of paying $10.99 monthly for the Individual plan, you’ll pay only $5.99 monthly for a Student plan.

With this subscription, you can stream unlimited ad-free music. If you’re new to Apple Music, you can sign up for a free one-month trial to try it before paying. This subscription could help make those late-night study sessions less boring. Thanks to the discount, you don’t have to worry about draining all the funds in your checking account.

Look for other ways to save

Life is expensive. If you’re a college student with limited funds, or a teacher who is paid a meager salary, discounts can make a noticeable difference. Apple isn’t the only brand that has educator and student discounts. Keep alert to similar offerings elsewhere. Before checking out, don’t be afraid to ask if a discount is available. Discounts like this are meant to be used. For more ways to save money, check out our personal finance resources.

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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.Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Want to give your savings a boost in the new year? Read on for some tips. 

The more money you’ve got in savings, the more financial protection you buy yourself, whether in the context of emergencies, retirement, or something else. And as such, you may have the goal of boosting your savings nicely in 2024.

Doing so will hopefully be an attainable goal. The good news is that inflation has been cooling. In October, it was only 3.2% on an annual basis, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. So if things hold steady or, better yet, improve, you may find that you’re able to grow your savings by spending less on essential costs.

But it might take more than just a drop in inflation to help you achieve your savings goals. If you’re eager to boost your savings, here are a few tips worth employing.

1. Put the process on autopilot

When you put savings matters into your own hands, you risk falling victim to human error. You might forget to move money into your savings one month. Or, you might give into the temptation to join your friends on a weekend getaway, taking your savings account contribution with you.

If you’re serious about boosting your savings in 2024, put the process on autopilot. Arrange for an automatic transfer each month where a sum you can afford leaves your checking account and lands in your savings account off the bat, before you get a chance to spend it.

Incidentally, the automation factor is one of the things that makes 401(k) plans so valuable. These retirement plans are funded through payroll deductions, so when you sign up for one, you’re following the same advice of putting the process on autopilot. And even if you’ve never participated in a 401(k) before, if you sign up in the new year, you may find that after a few months, you don’t even miss the money being taken out of your paychecks.

2. Steer clear of high-interest debt

Some people carry a credit card balance from time to time and don’t really think much of it. But if you want to boost your savings in 2024, make a point not to take on any high-interest debt like a credit card balance.

If you rack up interest on that debt, you’ll have to pay your credit card issuer even more. If you steer clear of interest, you can add that extra money to your savings instead.

One thing you may want to do is keep steady tabs on your credit card balance during the month to ensure it’s 100% payable by the time it’s due. That could mean logging into your account every four to five days to see what you’ve spent. It’s a task that might eat up a little of your time but allow you to save a lot more money.

3. Take the free money your employer is willing to give you

Many employers that offer 401(k) plans also match worker contributions to some degree. If you want to grow your long-term savings in 2024, figure out what match you’re entitled to and contribute enough to snag it in full.

So, let’s say your employer is willing to match 100% of contributions up to 3% of worker salaries. If you earn $60,000 a year, it means you have $1,800 from your employer coming your way if you put $1,800 of your own earnings into your 401(k).

4. Cut expenses you really won’t miss

You’re no doubt well aware that the less money you spend month after month, the more you have the potential to save. But you also don’t want to sign yourself up for a miserable 2024 that’s devoid of all things fun.

The good news is, you don’t have to. Rather than plan to slash expenses and deny yourself the things you love, go through your recent credit card and bank statements and do a review of your recurring expenses. Chances are, there’s one bill you can eliminate without wrecking your quality of life.

For example, let’s say you’re currently signed up for both Netflix and Hulu, but you use the latter much more so than the former. Try canceling Netflix for a bit and see where that takes you. You may end up not missing it at all, and that way, you can put the money you would’ve spent on it into the bank.

Growing your savings is a great goal for the new year, and hopefully, receding inflation will help make it easier. But either way, these strategies could really set you up for success in 2024, so employ them as soon as January hits, if not sooner.

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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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Tools like Capital One Shopping can help you save money and earn rewards when you shop. Discover how to earn up to $200 for each user you refer to the app. 

When shopping online, it can be helpful to use browser extensions and apps to make sure you get the best deal and don’t overspend. Keeping more money in your wallet as you shop benefits your personal finances.

Capital One Shopping is a popular shopping tool that you can use to earn rewards and get bigger discounts on your purchases. You can now earn up to $200 in rewards with Capital One Shopping for a limited time. Here’s what you need to know.

Introducing Capital One Shopping

You’re missing out if you have yet to try Capital One Shopping. This easy-to-use shopping tool could help you save money as you shop and earn rewards. It’s free to join, and you can use the website, browser extension, or mobile app when shopping. Even better, you don’t have to have one of the best Capital One credit cards in your wallet to use this tool.

How does it work? You can earn shopping credit rewards when activating offers with participating retailers and making eligible purchases. You won’t earn cash like when you use other cash back apps like Rakuten. But you can redeem your shopping rewards for gift cards to top retailers like Gap, Macy’s, Old Navy, Kohl’s, and Nike. That’s a solid way to get rewarded.

Capital One Shopping will also alert you if a coupon code could provide additional savings. Discount opportunities could allow you to keep your next credit card bill reasonable. With valuable features like this, it’s no wonder so many shoppers use it. It could be a great tool to add to your shopping strategy if you want to spend less money and boost your rewards potential.

Refer friends and family and earn up to $200 in rewards

It’s not uncommon for shopping tools and cash back apps to offer referral bonuses. But not every bonus is generous. Capital One Shopping is no different. Capital One recently upped its referral bonus payout to encourage more people to share the news about this shopping app.

For a limited time, you can earn up to $200 in shopping credit rewards when you refer a friend and they make an eligible purchase of $10 or more within 30 days. Plus, when using your referral link, they can earn up to $200 in rewards — making this a win-win solution for everyone.

However, this is a targeted referral bonus offer. That means referral bonus amounts vary. Some users may see lower referral bonus amounts listed in their accounts. Based on data from other users, you can expect to earn $40 to $200 per successful referral. You can review referral bonus payment details by logging into your Capital One Shopping account.

If you’re new to this shopping tool, you may want to consider using a referral bonus link to sign up so you can earn bonus rewards. If you already use this app, you can share your referral link with others to boost your rewards potential. Don’t ignore this timely promotion.

Don’t ignore referral bonuses

Referral bonuses like this offer a simple way to boost your rewards. Don’t miss out on earning more Capital One Shopping Rewards credits. Earning gift cards by doing the shopping you’ve already planned can be advantageous because you can use your gift cards to cover future shopping expenses. With this tool, you can keep more money in the bank.

As you shop during this busy holiday season, consider using a rewards credit card to pay for your purchases. Rewards credit cards offer another way to get rewards (like points or miles) as you shop. If you want to earn cash back specifically, check out our best cash back credit cards list to find out how.

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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.Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Electric vehicles are pretty expensive, but they can save you money over the long term. Here are four ways they can pay you back after your initial purchase. 

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular, but their high price tags are enough to give even some of the most environmentally conscious drivers pause. Add in the cost of financing and auto insurance, and an electric vehicle can feel completely out of reach.

But if you can stomach the initial costs, there are several ways that electric cars can save you money. We’ll look at four of them below.

1. Federal tax credits

The federal government is offering a tax credit of up to $7,500 for those who purchase new, qualifying electric vehicles. There’s also a tax credit of up to $4,000 for the purchase of used electric vehicles. In 2023, you have to wait until you file your tax return to get this credit. But starting in 2024, you’ll be able to deduct it from the purchase price of the vehicle. This could take some of the sting out of that high upfront investment.

Be sure that the electric vehicle you’re interested in will qualify for the tax credit before you buy. You can verify a vehicle’s eligibility by looking it up on FuelEconomy.gov. Note that the list of qualifying vehicles for 2024 isn’t available yet.

2. State tax credits

Currently, 18 states offer tax credits of their own to electric vehicle owners. Some of these are rebates rather than actual tax credits. They vary in amount from $750 to $5,500.

It’s a good idea to check with your state’s department of taxation or a local accountant to learn how purchasing an electric vehicle could affect your tax bill. Keep in mind that laws can change over time. Just because a state does or doesn’t offer a tax break for electric vehicles now doesn’t mean this will be the case in the future.

3. Lower maintenance costs

A comprehensive analysis of electric vehicles versus gas cars by Car and Driver found that electric vehicles have lower maintenance costs than gas-powered vehicles. But it’s important to recognize that this was looking at average maintenance costs over a five-year period.

Electric vehicles may have higher maintenance costs per visit. But they typically need less maintenance than their gas-powered counterparts.

4. Lower fueling costs

The same Car and Driver study found that, over the long term, the cost of fueling an electric vehicle over a three-year period was cheaper than fueling a gas-powered vehicle over the same time.

Exact savings will depend on where you live and average gas and utility prices. Drivers who charge their vehicles overnight at home may be able to take advantage of off-peak electricity rates to save even more.

Things are changing quickly

Electric vehicles will only become more popular as time goes on, and history tells us that new technology typically becomes more affordable over time. So even if you can’t afford an electric vehicle today, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to buy one, maintain it, and insure it in the future.

But it’s also important to note that regulations regarding electric vehicles may change as well, and not always in a favorable way. Some states are now charging electric vehicles higher registration fees or imposing a tax on electric vehicle charging stations to offset lost gas tax revenues. And changing federal tax credit requirements could mean that some electric vehicles now eligible for credits won’t be in the future.

So it’s important to keep up to date on the latest law changes regarding electric vehicles in your state and the nation. Be sure to weigh these factors in addition to the initial purchase price when deciding whether an electric vehicle is the right move for 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.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Shopping at Costco isn’t right for everyone. Check out a few common warning signs that it may be time to cancel your Costco membership. 

Costco is one of the most popular warehouse clubs, with an impressive 127.9 million members. A membership isn’t that expensive, either. A regular Gold Star membership costs $60 per year, and an Executive membership costs $120 (and you can earn 2% back on Costco purchases).

Still, any time you’re paying for a membership fee, it’s important to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. And if any of the following is true, you might want to reconsider your Costco membership in 2024.

1. You’re not shopping there as often

Costco has great deals throughout the year, from summer savings to Christmas gifts for under $30. It’s not hard to save more at Costco every year than the $60 or $120 you spend on a membership.

But that largely depends on how often you shop there. If you shop at Costco every week or two, then it makes sense to renew your membership. On the other hand, if you’ve noticed that you’ve been going to Costco less and less recently, then paying for a membership there could be a waste of money.

2. You’ve moved and don’t have a Costco nearby

It’s every Costco fan’s worst nightmare. You move somewhere new, go to the Costco store locator, and there’s nothing in your area. The days of taking a quick drive to the food court for a $1.50 hot dog and soda are over.

Some people keep their Costco membership even if the nearest warehouse is a bit of a trek. After all, you could make the occasional big shopping trip to stock up your pantry and freezer. Just make sure to think about the drive time and the cost of gas to figure out if it’s really worth it.

3. Your Costco trips are getting more expensive

Costco is famous for its low prices, so you may assume it’s going to help you save money. That can be true, if you’re careful about what you buy.

Costco is designed to get shoppers to spend money. And yes, that’s true with every store in existence. The difference is that Costco is extremely good at it. It’s packed with impulse items, you need to take a journey through the entire warehouse to get to the food, and there are free sample stations to convince you to add a few more treats to your cart.

If you go in with a plan and don’t add too many extra goodies, then you can save money by shopping at Costco. But if you find that you always spend more than you’d like, then those Costco trips could be doing your personal finances more harm than good.

4. Buying in bulk isn’t working for you

Buying in bulk is usually a good way to save money, and no store does bulk like Costco. This works out well for families who can use all the food they buy, and people with enough storage space for bulk items.

It doesn’t work out so well if you end up throwing out food you bought because it expired. Then you’re just spending more on food that ends up in the trash. Lots of people have to throw out some food from time to time, but when it’s happening often, you’re probably buying too much. That may mean you need to change what you buy at Costco, or perhaps Costco isn’t the store for you.

A Costco membership can be an amazing value if you love shopping there and don’t overspend on impulse buys. If you’re not benefiting much from it, it’s probably time to cancel your membership and save your money.

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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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