Money Management

The top travel cards can have annual fees of $400 or more. If you notice these signs, you may not be getting your money’s worth. 

There are some truly awesome travel rewards cards out there. I have more than one, and I love them all. But just because I have the warm and fuzzies doesn’t mean I wouldn’t get rid of them if they stopped being worth the money.

And as great as travel cards are, I certainly don’t recommend them for everyone. There are a few warning signs that indicate your travel card isn’t the right fit. Are any of these you?

1. You don’t travel

Alright, this one might be a bit on the nose, but it’s true nonetheless. If you don’t travel, chances are very good you aren’t taking full advantage of everything your travel card has to offer.

That’s not to say you can’t get some use out of a travel card even without traveling. There are several ways to redeem travel rewards without actually going anywhere. But all the extras these cards tend to come with, like airport lounge access or hotel status, are going to be of limited utility.

If this is you: If you don’t actually travel, consider a rewards strategy that focuses on cash back cards. You can easily maximize your cash back with a few cards, and you won’t need to worry about trying to redeem any points or miles.

2. You aren’t using the credits

Nearly all of the best travel rewards credit cards offer some type of statement credits for something. It might be $50 back for a hotel booking, or $20 a month on Uber purchases, or even $300 for travel in general.

Whatever the case, these credits are usually a big part of making those huge annual fees worth paying. If you aren’t using enough of your card’s credits, then you may not actually be getting your money’s worth out of that fee.

If this is you: Why pay for something you’re not using? Consider downgrading your card to one with a lower annual fee. Alternatively, cancel your pricey card and go for a travel card with no annual fee.

3. Your home airport doesn’t have lounges

Another big part of covering the cost of those $400 (or more) annual fees is the airport lounge access. This can be a remarkably valuable perk, saving frequent flyers hundreds of dollars a year. But this perk is only as valuable as your access. What if the airports you visit the most don’t have any accessible lounges?

Sure, if your home airport is somewhere like JFK, which sports 19 different lounges across multiple lounge networks — well, yeah, you have options. But what if you’re flying out of a small regional airport? Or, heck, maybe you’re flying through Chicago (ORD), which has 16 lounges — but nothing for most cardholders unless you’re flying Delta or internationally.

If this is you: If you travel a lot and want lounge access, check out other cards with the offering to see if it opens up access for you. Otherwise, consider cards with lower annual fees, then use the money you save to buy day passes when you travel.

You gotta kiss a lot of frogs

A small number of credit cards get a lot of the hype. Sure, they generally deserve it; those cards are all popular for a reason. That doesn’t mean they’re the best card for everyone, however.

Finding the right cards for your wallet isn’t always easy, and you may not get it right every time. Happily, you aren’t stuck with the card when you make a wrong choice. You can always downgrade, product change, or even cancel the card to find a better fit.

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If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.

In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

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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.Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Sam’s Club is rolling out its fall deals in October. Here are four you’re not going to want to miss. 

It’s October, and before you know it, pumpkin spice will be in the air. Even if you’re not a fan of pumpkin spice, chances are, there’s something about fall that you enjoy. As we checked out all that Sam’s Club has to offer this month, we were struck by the number of deep discounts that can leave more cash in your savings. But if you’re interested, you’ll have to hurry. These clearance items are only available online, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

Member’s Mark Kennan 4-Piece Deep Seating

Regular price: $2,500

Sale price: $1,500

Competitor price: Because it’s Member’s Mark, we couldn’t find an apples-to-apples comparison. However, the closest we could find was a similar set on sale at Grand Leisure for $3,500.

It makes sense that Sam’s Club is clearing out some of its patio furniture. It will be a while before it heats up again in some parts of the country. But man, is this a deal. First of all, the cushions are covered in Sunbrella fabric. Sunbrella is resistant to fading, mold, and mildew, and frankly, about the best thing on the planet to cover cushions with (Sunbrella also makes pretty great drapes for covered patios and gazebos).

Included in this set are a wicker sofa, two wicker swivel motion chairs, and an aluminum coffee tile-top table. All metal is rust-free, and the all-weather wicker is both long-lasting and fade-resistant. This isn’t your generic, plain Jane patio set. Even at the original price of $2,500, it looks like a steal — all for a lower credit card tab.

Jetson Journey Electric Beach Cruiser

Regular price: $999

Sale price: $850

Competitor price: $1,500 through the Jetson website

Have you ever been on a long bike ride on a humid summer morning, only to be passed by some (invariably smiling) rider on an electric bike? Your legs felt like rubber, and your arms were too tired from gripping the handlebars on the rough terrain to raise one hand for a…wave? All bitterness aside, the Jetson Journey Electric Beach Cruiser is a cool combination of old-school style and all the features we can imagine an electric bike offering.

There’s a 350-watt motor (that allows the bike to reach speeds of 20 mph). In addition, The Beach Cruiser offers five levels of pedal assist and seven gears that allow the rider to adapt to different riding conditions. And if the rider wants to get off and walk for a while? There’s a Walk Assist mode that propels the bike forward at 3.7 mph.

This bike is recommended for ages 16 and up.

Member’s Mark Halstead 7-Piece Bar Set

Regular price: $1,700

Sale price: $800

Competitor price: The closest match we could find was at Macy’s, currently on sale for $2,033.

Forgive us for lingering on the back porch, but this bar set is too good a deal to be overlooked.

Let’s begin with the bar. The top is made of faux concrete and porcelain tile, and even though there’s a propane fire element right in the middle, there remains a 72″ x 37″ table top for guests to rest their drinks. Surrounded by six quick-drying padded wicker stools, it’s a space-saver that makes a huge impact.

You don’t even have to worry about guests seeing the propane tank because it’s easily hidden away behind a smooth gliding door.

Ecovacs T10 Plus All-In-One Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop

Regular price: $950

Sale price: $600

Competitor price: $1,200 through Ecovacs website

Are you kidding? A vacuum and mop that works while you’re away from home? And here’s what’s so cool about the Ecovacs T10: You don’t even need to tidy up before you leave. The advanced AI processor automatically identifies common household obstacles and furniture. That means those tennis shoes your kid constantly leaves just outside their bedroom door become like a dear old friend to the machine (let’s call him Herbert).

Herbert possesses all kinds of other nerdy features we love. For example, he’s pretty darn quiet and won’t wake the baby. He picks up micro-dust with a trip filtration system and can block 99% of inhaled micro-dust. Herbert’s suction is strong enough to pick up debris, pet hair, and dirt from every corner. And if that weren’t enough, Herbert’s auto-empty station cleans the dustbin automatically after cleaning and holds up to 30 days of dirt and debris in his disposable dust bag.

But we haven’t even touched on his mopping ability. Herbert’s powerful mop pad dissolves stains first; then, his hard rubber strip blows tough stains away.

Honestly, you had us at “dissolves stains first.”

There’s a reason these prices are so discounted. Sam’s Club is making way for other merchandise. As mentioned, if you want to take advantage of one of these deals, you’ll have to act fast.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until nearly 2025

If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.

In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Read our free review

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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Airline cards can be useful for brand loyalists, but they’re not for everyone. Here’s what to consider when evaluating your airline card. 

I’ve had a number of airline credit cards over the years. A couple of those credit cards still have a place in my collection, but others…not so much. It’s not that there was anything wrong with those cards, but they simply weren’t right for me at the time.

Like me, you may have a cobranded airline card or two hanging out in your wallet. But should it be in your wallet? Here are a few warning signs that it may be time to ditch your airline card.

1. You don’t fly very often

There is an argument to be made that some airline cards can be worthwhile even for one or two flights a year. But that isn’t always the case, especially if you have a top-tier airline card with a three-figure annual fee. Even lower-fee cards may not make sense if you’re not flying enough to maximize their perks. And all those airline miles are of limited use when you don’t fly much.

2. You never check bags

The main way mid-tier airline cards — those with fees in the $95 range — make up for their fees is through waived bag fees. You usually get the first bag free for up to eight people in your reservation. With fees starting at $30, this can add up quickly.

At the same time, a lot of frequent flyers are Carry-On Only flyers, meaning they rarely, if ever, check bags. Without this value, it’s a lot harder to justify that $95.

3. You don’t care about priority boarding

Priority boarding is an airline card feature that’s hard to value, but it may be worthwhile for certain people. Specifically, if you tend to buy discount seats that board last, you run the risk of overhead space disappearing. Cards that offer priority boarding can jump you up the line, making it more likely you find space for your carry-on bag.

Folks who are checking bags won’t care as much about overhead space, however. And if you’re a first-class flier, you’ll typically have dedicated space for your carry-on luggage. In either case, you aren’t going to get much value out of this particular card perk.

4. You don’t make on-board purchases

Here’s another peripheral benefit that you may or may not actually get use out of (no matter how much you fly). Basically, some cards offer a discount on food and beverage purchases you make on board the plane.

How often you use this will depend a lot on the way you fly. Lots of finance-minded people will probably pack their own snacks. And people redeeming points for free travel may very well be in first or business class, where food and drinks are provided.

5. You don’t need the lounge access

Several of the major airlines have luxury cobranded cards with an extra special perk: lounge access. Cardholders will get into that airline’s lounges whenever they fly on eligible flights, often with a guest.

As handy as lounges can be, not everyone flies enough to make a pricey card like this worthwhile for lounge access alone. Beyond that, you may already have another credit card with lounge access that makes a dedicated airline card less valuable.

Consider a general travel rewards card instead

Any of the above reasons could be enough to make you rethink your airline card. But you don’t have to forgo the rewards and perks entirely. A more flexible travel rewards credit card may be a much better fit.

Some of the best travel rewards cards have similar perks, such as airport lounge access, that can make them valuable for frequent flyers. You may also find other travel perks, like hotel status or airline fee credits, that give you even more bang for your buck.

Not only do you have more potential for value, but there’s so much more utility, too. Flexible points can often be transferred to multiple airlines, giving you flexibility in which brand you fly. You could even put them toward hotels or rental cars, giving you a way to pay for your entire trip.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until nearly 2025

If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.

In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Read our free review

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.

 Read More