Money Management

There’s still time to make impactful money moves before 2025. Discover how opening a credit card could help you get ahead financially. [[{“value”:”

We’re just a couple of months away from 2025, and no, I can’t believe it either. Even though people often save their financial changes for after New Year’s, there’s no reason you need to wait until then.

If you’re searching for a way to improve your finances, don’t overlook getting a new credit card. The best credit cards are more than just a way to pay — they have valuable benefits that could help you save money.

Here are three good reasons to open a new card before year’s end.

1. Refinancing debt with a balance transfer

High-interest debt makes it hard to get ahead. When you’re spending $500 a month on credit card balances with a 20% APR, that might not leave you much left over to save or invest.

If you’re in credit card debt, there’s a good chance you’re paying an even higher interest rate than that. The average APR on credit cards that are assessed interest is 22.76%, according to recent Federal Reserve data. On a $10,000 balance, that’s $2,276 in interest per year.

With a new credit card, you could potentially lower that to $0 in interest. All you need is a card that offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers. You can then transfer over your debt and pay it down interest free during the intro period. Check out our list of balance transfer cards for the top options, with 0% intro APRs for as long as 21 months!

2. Earning more rewards

If you don’t have any credit card debt, then you can skip the balance transfer cards and start looking at rewards cards. These cards earn cash back, points, or airline miles on your purchases.

For example, you could apply for a card that earns 2% back everywhere you use it. If you spend $30,000 per year on your credit card, you’d earn $600, just because you paid with that cash back card.

Plus, many rewards cards also have sign-up bonuses. As a new cardholder, you can earn a large amount of bonus cash back or points after meeting a spending requirement. If you’re interested in seeing some of the biggest bonus opportunities, take a look at our favorite credit card sign-up bonuses.

Even if you already have a rewards card, it’s still a good idea to see what else is available from time to time. You might find one that you like more or that has a sign-up bonus you want to earn. Or, you could use multiple rewards cards. That’s a common strategy to earn more back.

3. Avoiding fees

You might also want to make a change if your current credit card has fees you don’t like. The most common example is an annual fee. Now, annual fees aren’t always bad. Cards with annual fees tend to have more perks, so you can get more value out of them.

But if you don’t feel like an annual fee is worth it anymore, there’s no reason to keep paying it. There are plenty of great no annual fee cards.

Another example is a foreign transaction fee. You’ll definitely want to watch out for this if you’re planning to go abroad over the holidays. If your current card has a foreign transaction fee, you’ll pay extra on each international purchase. With most cards, it’s an extra 3%. Instead of doing that, get a card with no foreign transaction fees so you can save money.

With all the benefits they offer, credit cards are a useful tool to work toward your money goals. Before the end of the year, you could refinance expensive debt, earn more rewards, or stop paying costly fees, just by opening a new card.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

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.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Interest is one of the ways credit card companies make money. See if falling interest rates could cause card issuers to cut back on their rewards programs. [[{“value”:”

Last month, the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by half a percentage point. It’s also expected to cut rates again in November. That’s welcome news for anyone who’s house hunting and planning to apply for a mortgage in the near future.

But rate changes have a widespread financial impact, including on your credit cards. After all, interest charges help card issuers pay for perks, such as those lucrative rewards programs they offer. Let’s take a look at how interest rates tie into these rewards programs and the effect that lower rates could have.

How credit card companies fund their rewards programs

You can make a lot of money from credit card rewards. For a simple example with what’s currently available, you could get a cash back card with no annual fee, a $200 sign-up bonus, and 2% back on purchases. That’s hundreds of dollars in cash back per year, without needing to pay the card issuer anything for an annual fee. How is it possible?

Card issuers fund these programs through the fees they charge. Here’s a quick summary of how it works:

Merchants pay interchange fees on transactions. It’s normally 1% to 3% per transaction. U.S. credit card companies made $126.4 billion on interchange fees in 2022, according to Nilson Report.Cardholders pay interest charges and other credit card fees. Card issuers charged over $130 billion in fees to consumers in 2022, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

In total, credit card issuers made over $250 billion from those fees in 2022. They paid an estimated $41.1 billion in rewards, according to the CFPB. Even after paying out all those rewards, they’re still coming out ahead.

But rewards are still a pretty amazing deal for consumers who pay their credit card bills in full to avoid interest charges. If you’d like to get in on the action and start earning money back on your spending, click here to see our list of the best cash back cards and apply for one today.

Will falling interest rates affect credit card rewards?

It’d be reasonable to assume that lower interest rates mean smaller rewards opportunities. If credit card companies are making less money from interest, they might pay out less in rewards to make up for that.

Luckily, this is unlikely to happen. Most credit cards have variable interest rates, which aren’t directly tied to the federal funds rate.

Card issuers have flexibility with what they charge, so they may wait before lowering their rates. And even if they do lower rates, credit cards will still have high interest rates overall. The current average is 22.76% on credit cards that are assessed interest, according to Federal Reserve data. A half-a-percentage-point decrease certainly wouldn’t wipe out the profits that card issuers are making.

Interest rate changes also haven’t had a noticeable effect on rewards programs in the past. There have been excellent cash back and travel rewards cards available for over a decade. During that time, rewards didn’t get worse when interest rates were low or better when they were high.

Don’t let rewards opportunities go to waste

At the moment, you can save quite a bit of money with rewards credit cards. That probably won’t change because interest rates are dropping, but you never know what can happen in the future. Rewards programs aren’t guaranteed, so it’s wise to take advantage of these opportunities while you can.

If you have good credit and no credit card debt, it makes sense to get a rewards card. Pay the bill in full every month so you don’t get charged any interest, and you’ll come out ahead.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

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.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Halloween is upon us once again and it’s time to decorate for the big night. Check out this selection of hot animatronics from Costco. [[{“value”:”

It’s spooky season, and although the 12-foot Home Depot skeletons steal the spotlight year after year, they’re not the only Halloween decoration that’ll turn heads. Oh, no. If you want some serious bang for your buck, go check out your local Costco. It has an assortment of all the best (and worst) things about Halloween, with a terrifying oversized decoration to fit every person and every budget.

Forget those skellies and check out these four picks.

1. 10′ Animated Alien: $199.97

Animatronics are getting increasingly popular with Halloween enthusiasts, and why not? So, if your Halloween display is going to include any flying saucers or abducted cows, why not add an animated alien?

At 10 feet tall, your neighbors will see your pre-lit alien from blocks away, and trick-or-treaters will delight in the alien voices and phrases that are activated by the motion sensor. Although alien invasions can be terrifying, this one is meant to be more tongue-in-cheek. Reviewers say it’s easy to assemble, and fun for the kids.

2. 7′ Animated Werewolf with LCD Eyes: $249.97

If you’re looking for something a little more terrifying for your Costco Halloween dollar, Costco’s seven-foot-tall animated werewolf promises to deliver. With animated head, mouth, and arms, and werewolf sound effects, all motion sensor activated, he’ll give revelers a trick to remember.

Reviewers say the werewolf howl is the crescendo of the animatronic, and the details are lifelike. Assembly is required, and stock may be limited, so be sure to check your local Costco if you can’t get it online.

Although this werewolf is more expensive than other animatronics at Costco this year, you may be eligible to earn cash back on him with one of our recommended Costco credit cards. Apply today for one of our recommended best credit cards to use at Costco to stretch your Halloween budget.

3. 7′ Animated Pumpkin Scarecrow: $159.97

Werewolves and aliens can be pretty scary, but if you’re looking for something a bit more fun for your Halloween centerpiece, check out the seven-foot animated pumpkin scarecrow. Not only is he big enough to make an impact, he’s loaded with some pretty hilarious phrases, including jokes like “Do you know what a scarecrow’s favorite candy is? Candy corn!”

Great for all ages, the motion-sensor-activated haunt has a glowing LED that lights up his pumpkin head and is beloved by reviewers for both its terrifying appearance and horrifying groan-worthy dad jokes. If your Costco offers delivery by Instacart, you may be able to have this fellow delivered in just a few hours.

4. Pumpkin Luminary Set by Desert Steel: $86.99

If animatronics aren’t your thing, and you’re looking for more traditional decor, check out the pumpkin luminary sets by Desert Steel. These large powder-coated steel pumpkins make great stand-ins for the traditional gourds, without the clean-up or risk of accidental pumpkin patches next spring.

You provide the light source, and your pumpkin luminary will do the rest. Available in orange, white, or as a black and antique white pair, they’re great for lighting paths, sitting on the porch, or even using indoors to add a little something to your Halloween party.

Shop your local Costco for more Halloween haunts

Costco Online has a lot to offer members in the way of savings and when it comes to Halloween decorations and terrifying haunts, but that’s not where it ends. Your local Costco often has its own selection of goodies, with different inventories from store to store. If you’re shopping for the perfect details for your night of fright, it’s worth it to take a trip to the store to see what’s in stock today.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

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.Kristi Waterworth 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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Costco and Sam’s Club both offer great deals on gift card bundles. Find out which warehouse club has the best offering for you. [[{“value”:”

Joining Costco and Sam’s Club isn’t just about bulk shopping. It’s not about the free samples either. Sure, the gas prices are legendary, but very few of either club’s products can offer such clear-cut savings as their gift card packages.

Call me optimistic, but buying gift cards at either club can save you as much as (or more) than your membership costs. Often these cards offer you 10% to 30% of value for free. In numbers, that means a $100 gift card would cost you between $70 and $90.

However, as you might have guessed from the title, neither Sam’s Club or Costco sell gift cards in exactly the same way, nor do they have gift card offerings for the same places. While they both can save you money, one might actually have better deals for you than the other. If you’re on the fence about which club to join, or you’re a member of both, let’s look at which might have better gift card offerings.

Buy gift cards at Costco to save more money

As we’ll see below, Costco doesn’t offer as many gift card choices as Sam’s Club. However, when the two clubs offer the same gift card, more often than not Costco’s prices will save you the most money.

For example, Sam’s Club sells $250 Southwest Airline gift cards for $235. That offers you 6% of value ($15) for free. If you were to buy two of these gift cards, you’d spend $470 for $500 of gift card value.

Why would you buy two? Well, because Costco sells a $500 Southwest Airlines gift card for $449.99. Although you have to buy double the value of the Sam’s Club gift card, you also get more value. On this product, you would save $50, which offers you 10% of value for free.

What’s more, a good credit card for Costco, one that earns at least 2% to 3% in cash back, will add more value to your purchase. In fact, if you’re earning 1% back (or nothing at all), you’re leaving money on the table. Learn which Visa credit card will earn you up to 3% back on your Costco purchases for the card’s first year.

Buy gift cards at Sam’s Club if you want more choices and more control over your denominations

If you want a wide selection of gift cards, Sam’s Club takes the cake.

A quick glance at Sam’s Club’s gift card selection online shows that it not only has more to choose from (more than 405) than Costco (139), but it also has more big-name brands that could appeal to a wider audience. For example, Sam’s Club offers discounted gift cards to PetSmart, H&M, Wayfair, HP Instant Ink, Starbucks, Google Play, and Taco Bell, among others. Costco does not currently have gift cards to any of these places.

What’s more, Sam’s Club also lets you buy gift cards in smaller denominations. For instance, instead of buying gift cards in values of $100, you can buy some gift cards in denominations of $10 to $25. Meanwhile, Costco’s lowest value gift card is $50.

The lower denominations at Sam’s Club could come in handy if you’re giving these to your kids’ teachers or friends and don’t want to spend more than $50 to $100. However, as discussed above, these lower denominations could also mean getting less value than a higher-valued card sold at Costco.

Sam’s Club makes it easier to pay

The good thing about Sam’s Club is that it accepts all major credit cards. This can open the door to maxing out cash back on all your purchases. Like Costco, Sam’s Club even has its own credit card that earns cash back.

Ultimately, Costco offers more chances to save on gift cards, while Sam’s Club has more selection and lower denominations. Even if Costco offers more value, Sam’s Club’s greater selection may mean buying gift cards you actually want, which could save you more money over time. And if you’re a member of both, then hey — you could mix and match to your liking and save more.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

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. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Costco Wholesale, Starbucks, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Southwest Airlines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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