Money Management

Love to play video games but hate spending money on new games? Learn more about a free Amazon Prime member perk that could save you money on gaming costs. 

Many households invest in an Amazon Prime membership to get free shipping and score shopping deals. In addition to online shopping discounts, there are many other valuable Amazon Prime membership perks. There’s one Prime membership perk you may not be using, and if you have any gamers in your house, they’ll want to know about it.

Prime members can enjoy free video games with Amazon Luna

Amazon Luna is a cloud gaming platform available to Amazon users in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany. If you’re a Prime member in one of these countries, you can play free video games through Amazon Luna. A rotating selection of games is available to Prime subscribers.

Prime members can play four different Amazon Luna games per month. Members also have ongoing access to Fortnite. At the time of writing, the following video games are available for free to Prime subscribers:

Hot Wheels UnleashedEndzone: A World ApartMail MoleMetal Slug

You can access Luna games using Windows PC, Mac, Fire TV, Fire tablets, Chromebook, iPhone, iPad, Android phones, and select Samsung Smart TVs. Since Luna is cloud-based, you won’t need to download anything and your progress will be saved across all devices.

Amazon sells an Amazon Luna controller. But you probably don’t have to buy a new controller if you’re already a gamer. The gaming platform supports various Bluetooth controllers, including select Xbox and Playstation controllers. Another option is using a mouse and keyboard or the Luna Controller app to play with touch controls on Android and iOS devices.

Don’t overlook these free video game benefits

Amazon Luna isn’t the only benefit available to gamers. Prime members can also access video game content at no extra cost through Prime Gaming. You can download free games and free in-game content. Members can also get a free channel subscription on Twitch.tv every month. If you’re already paying for a Prime membership and enjoy video games, don’t let this valuable benefit go to waste.

Get the most out of your Prime membership

Gamers young and old with a household Prime membership can enjoy the free video game perks mentioned above. Playing free video games included with your membership could be an excellent way to try a new-to-you game without draining your checking account balance.

If you pay for a Prime membership, ensure you’re using all the benefits. After all, you spend a lot of money to be a member. You can keep more money in your pocket by taking advantage of free offerings and discounts made available to you as a Prime member. Spending less money on everyday essentials and hobbies can allow you to reach your personal finance goals sooner.

Are you hoping to add a newly released video game to your collection? Prime Day 2023 will be held on July 11 and 12. There may be some video game deals available to Prime shoppers on these dates. If you’ve been stashing cash in your high-yield savings account for a new game, check to see if you can pick it up at a discount on Prime Day.

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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.

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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.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon.com. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Getting a personal loan can sometimes happen fast, but it’s important to choose a lender based on many factors. Here’s what you need to keep in mind. 

A personal loan is a flexible option for those who need to borrow money. When you take out a personal loan, you can pretty much use the money for anything since the funds are deposited into your checking account. You’ll most likely get a lower interest rate with a personal loan than with a credit card too, with the average personal loan rate coming in at 11.48% as of February 2023 (compared with 20.09% for credit cards).

If you’re thinking about getting a personal loan, you may be wondering how long the process will take you — especially if you have pressing expenses to pay. Here’s what you should know about the timeline for getting personal loan funding.

You may be able to get a personal loan faster than you think

Before you start to apply for a personal loan, you may assume it will take a long time to submit your application, get approved, and have your money deposited into your bank account. But that is not necessarily the case.

In fact, a number of different lenders will allow you to submit an application online, get approved within a few minutes, and get your borrowed money deposited into your account in as little as 24 hours or even the same day you applied.

This can be faster even than gaining access to credit if you apply for a new credit card, as you may have to wait for the card to come in the mail before you can get the number and begin making charges on it.

It’s important not to shop for a loan based on speed alone

Although it’s good news that you can get a speedy loan if you have pressing expenses to pay and must borrow ASAP, it’s also important to remember that you should not just focus on the timeline for getting your money when you pick a personal loan lender.

There are a lot of lenders out there that know people searching for fast loans are sometimes in desperate need of money — and some of those lenders unscrupulously try to prey upon those who are in dire financial need. As a result, if you search online for fast loans or instant loans, you could find yourself dealing with companies that offer you a pretty bad deal.

This isn’t the case for all lenders that act quickly — some are great, and provide competitive terms. But, you need to make certain you are looking at the big picture to find the right place to borrow from. This means you should check:

The interest rate: If the rate is well above the average at the time you’re applying and you don’t have bad credit, then you should look elsewhere for a different loan. There’s no need to pay a high rate for fast money when some personal loan lenders with competitive rates make loans available quickly. The timeline to pay: If you have a very short time to pay back your loan, you may be unable to do so and forced to borrow again, incurring additional costs. Upfront fees: Try to avoid lenders charging origination fees or imposing any other upfront costs.Prepayment penalties: You don’t want to borrow from a lender who is going to charge you more to pay off your loan sooner.

By considering all of these issues, you stand a better chance of finding a good personal loan that gets you the money you need when you need it.

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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We had a home inspector make a mistake in estimating the cost of repairing a pool. Here’s how much it cost us. 

When I purchased a property a while back, I had a home inspection. I made my offer to buy the house contingent on the outcome of that inspection. That’s because I didn’t want to get a mortgage and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home only to find out there were unexpected problems with it.

Unfortunately, the inspection did not work out as planned and I ended up having a costly issue that I had to tap into my savings account to cover. Here’s what happened.

My inspector made a big mistake

When I got my home inspection done, there was a small crack in the swimming pool on the property. The inspector, and a subsequent pool inspector that we hired, indicated it was a surface crack. The pool would need some relatively minor repairs, which were estimated to cost around $1,000 or less.

The inspector gave us a written opinion showing that the damage was pretty minor and we ended up deciding to move forward with the home purchase without asking the sellers to do the repairs or make any concessions to us, like giving us any additional money off the price of the home.

We relied on the inspectors’ assessments when we moved forward, and we didn’t want to ask the home sellers to do anything because it had been hard to get a deal in the first place — and we didn’t want them to do a shoddy fix when we figured we could move in and spend the little bit of money needed to get things working correctly.

Unfortunately, when we actually hired a swimming pool repair company and they began looking at what needed to be done, they found that the crack that had been dismissed as minor was clearly indicative of a bigger problem with the pool. Not only would we need to resurface the pool, but we would need to bring in extra concrete to rebuild and stabilize that section.

The price would actually be a lot closer to $15,000 than the $1,000 the inspector had told us we should expect to spend. And a second pool repair company confirmed there was a pretty major problem, so we weren’t just getting scammed by the initial repair people. The inspector, including the specialized pool inspector, had made a big mistake. What’s more, the pool repair companies agreed that they should have known the issue was a bigger one based on the nature and location of the crack in the pool.

My recourse was very limited despite the home inspector’s error

Naturally, we were furious to find ourselves facing a huge problem after moving in when we had specifically hired an inspector to ensure this did not happen. But, when we went back to the inspector, they told us to read the fine print — which clearly indicated they were only responsible for losses up to the amount we had paid for the inspection.

In other words, we could get back the $300 we had paid them for the inspection — if we sued — but our contract prevented us from getting any more, despite the fact that we were out a lot of money.

Unfortunately, there was basically nothing we could do and we had to bite the bullet and pay the cash out of our pockets. Ever since then, though, I haven’t had a whole lot of trust in home inspectors and always try to get repair quotes first — or ask for sellers to fix issues — before I finalize a home purchase.

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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Don’t assume Walmart is a great place for you to shop. Read on to see why you may want to steer clear of it. 

Some people love nothing more than roaming the aisles at Walmart. And it’s easy to see why.

Walmart is known for its ultra-low prices and broad selection, so shopping there might result in a huge amount of savings. And there’s something about the convenience of being able to buy grapes, laundry detergent, toys, and underwear all under the same roof. But if these signs apply to you, you may want to steer clear of your local Walmart and do your shopping elsewhere.

1. You tend to give in to impulse buys

Some people have the mentality that because Walmart offers such low price points, it’s okay to load up on unplanned purchases. If you’re someone who tends to give in to impulse buys at Walmart, but you’re also already grappling with credit card debt, then you may want to do your shopping elsewhere.

When you’re dealing with a big-box store, it can be hard to push yourself to stick to a list, because there are so many different aisles loaded with stuff calling your name. So if you know you’re really not capable of visiting Walmart without buying something other than the groceries you came for, it could pay to spend a little more money on food at a regular supermarket, but save yourself money all in by not being tempted to buy clothes or electronics.

2. You get overwhelmed at larger stores

The fact that Walmart tends to be so massive can be a blessing as well as a curse. Some people get overwhelmed at the amount of selection at Walmart, and that, too, can lead to some poor choices when it comes to making purchases. Plus, it can make your shopping experience less pleasant. So if you find that entering Walmart makes your heart race just a bit, consider avoiding it.

3. You have less expensive options for buying groceries and essentials

It’s true that Walmart’s prices tend to be competitive. But that doesn’t mean they’re the most competitive option available to you.

Maybe you pay for a Costco membership. You may find that it’s cheaper to buy household staples or groceries there in bulk compared to Walmart. Case in point: Walmart sells a 12-pack of Bounty Advanced paper towels for $46.95. Costco’s regular price for that item is $29.99. (Note that these are online prices and prices might vary in stores.)

Also, you might have access to a discount grocer in your neighborhood, like Aldi. Your grocery bill might be cheaper if you turn to Aldi to do your food shopping versus Walmart, especially if you’re someone who’s not so picky about the brands you buy.

It’s easy to see why shopping at Walmart might seem like a good idea. But it may not be the best choice for you.

Think about your experience shopping at Walmart and the spending patterns you tend to uphold there. You may want to stay away from Walmart — at least temporarily — and see if shopping at other stores allows you to spend less and save more.

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.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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