Money Management

Buying tires at Costco means you get free maintenance, a road hazard warranty, and more. Here are the best things about buying tires at the big-box store. [[{“value”:”

If you’re a Costco member, you have the option to buy tires for your vehicle at the warehouse club. Of course, there are many different places you could go when your car needs new tires, so does it make sense to hit up Costco to get back on the road?

For many people, the answer is yes. There are five major perks of buying tires at Costco, and you should consider these big advantages when deciding where to buy.

1. Low prices

Costco tires are often cheaper than other major retailers’, including Walmart and major auto shop chains. Best of all, Costco often offers coupons to reduce tire prices further. And the published retail pricing includes all shipping and handling costs, so you don’t need to worry about surprise expenses.

That said, Costco doesn’t have the lowest prices for every tire model. Be sure to check other retailers in your area to make sure you get the best deal.

2. Easy online appointments

If you want to get your tires quickly, an appointment can be faster than a walk-in — and you don’t even have to call to get one. Costco’s tire center easily accepts appointments online. You need to be a Costco member to make an appointment and take advantage of its tire services, though.

The great news is that you can shop for other things at Costco while the tire service department is taking care of your vehicle and getting it ready to drive.

3. Lifetime tire maintenance is included with the installation package

If you opt to have Costco install your tires, you get the added benefit of Lifetime Maintenance Services. These services generally last for as long as you have the tires. The services you are eligible for include:

Tire balancingTire rotationsTire pressure checksFlat tire repair

This can give you added peace of mind as you’ll know that you won’t have to break out your credit card again if something goes wrong with your tires in the future.

4. Costco uses nitrogen rather than compressed air to inflate tires

You may wonder why it matters that Costco fills your tires with nitrogen — especially since regular compressed air is 78% nitrogen anyway. However, nitrogen-filled tires retain their pressure slightly better over time, and while many shops charge extra for this small benefit, Costco members get it for free.

Regardless of what you fill your tires with, remember that it’s important to check your tire pressure at least once per month.

5. Costco offers a road hazard warranty

Finally, Costco’s road hazard warranty is a great reason to get your tires replaced there ASAP. With the road hazard warranty, you are covered for a full five years against tire failure and tread wear damage, so long as it occurs during legal vehicle operation and you care for your tires properly.

If you need to use the warranty, you’ll be given a credit toward the cost of replacement tires, with the amount determined based on a tread analysis.

With all of these different benefits, many drivers will find that getting their new tires at Costco just makes the most sense for them — especially since they can check out all of the other great deals at the warehouse club while they wait for their tires to get installed.

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.Christy Bieber 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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There are lots of ways to make money online by completing surveys and testing websites. Find out why getting paid to play games isn’t as good as it sounds. [[{“value”:”

Getting paid to play games on your phone sounds like a great way to earn some extra cash. Unfortunately, in reality, you’re getting a relatively small amount of money in exchange for a lot of your time, attention, and personal information. In many cases, those are all worth more than these phone games will pay you.

One way to earn money on phone game apps is to take surveys or watch videos. This is similar to the way a couple of cash back apps work, though they mostly reward you for your shopping activity. Phone game apps mostly reward you for downloading and playing certain games.

How to make money playing games on your phone

Look for popular game platforms that will pay you to play. Broadly speaking, you’ll be able to earn cash for testing new games or win money on bingo-style games. You’ll have to spend money to play a lot of the bingo games, which in itself is a reason for caution. Also, check to see if it is legal in your state — some states view them as online gambling and do not allow them.

In terms of testing new games, you can pick the type of game you like. Whether you’re a tower defense fiend or love lining up lines of colored gems, there’s something for everyone. To be clear, people do make money from these games. Even so, be suspicious of anything that promises huge payouts. A reasonable expectation might be to earn $10 to $50 a month.

What to watch out for

The biggest issue to be aware of with any gaming app is spyware. A University of Lille study showed that 87% of free games include at least one tracker — invisible bots that collect valuable data from your phone.

Think about what information you are willing to share, and what permissions the app needs to function. For example, one gaming app I downloaded would only pay rewards if I authorized it to track my activity across other companies’ apps and websites. For me, the chance to boost my bank account balance by even $50 a month isn’t worth the risk.

Many apps will also try to entice you to spend money with them. You shouldn’t have to spend money to make money with these games. It’s also worth finding out how you’ll get paid and how much you need to earn in money or points before you can withdraw your earnings. Some sites will give you gift cards or coupons, while others might make PayPal or even crypto payments.

Three better ways to earn some extra cash

Your time is valuable. And there are some excellent apps — such as budgeting apps — that help to save time and make your life easier. But online gaming apps are designed to eat up huge amounts of your time and energy for very little reward.

If you have some extra hours and want to make some extra cash, consider these online side hustles instead.

Online surveys

If you want to make a bit of cash filling out a survey while you’re waiting at the checkout, use a specific survey app rather than a gaming one. If you pick the app carefully, there’s less risk in the personal information you share.

Test websites

If you enjoy testing games, you could bring in some extra dollars by signing up with ​​a company like Userlytics or UserPeek. You can earn around $10 per test. All you need is an internet connection, a microphone, and a device to connect.

Sign up with a freelance platform

It has never been easier to use your skills to bring in some extra cash. Perhaps you are good at writing or graphic design, you speak another language, or know how to code — there are companies out there that want those talents. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr will help you connect with potential clients.

Bottom line

You can make money by playing games online. But is it worth risking your personal data and allowing random apps to track your activity? Try using established survey and website testing companies to boost your bank balance. Then you can use online gaming as a way to relax — with the added bonus that you only play the games you enjoy.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until nearly 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.Emma Newbery has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends PayPal. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short September 2024 $62.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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It’s gotten less expensive to sign a mortgage. But read on to see if you should refinance now or wait. [[{“value”:”

If you signed your mortgage in 2023 or at some point earlier this year, there’s a good chance you weren’t thrilled with the interest rate you locked in.

Mortgage rates have been elevated these past couple of years on the heels of the Federal Reserve’s string of interest rate hikes to cool inflation. In fact, you may be counting down the days until you’re able to refinance your mortgage to a lower interest rate and lower your monthly payments in the process.

The good news is that mortgage rates just took a serious drop. But that doesn’t mean you should rush to refinance just yet.

Why waiting to refinance pays right now

For the week ending Sept. 12, the average 30-year mortgage rate was 6.2%. Now, that may not seem like a rate to celebrate at first. But it’s the lowest average 30-year mortgage rate recorded since February 2023.

And for context, roughly one year ago, the average 30-year mortgage rate was 7.12%. So if that’s the rate you locked in, 6.2% isn’t a terrible rate to refinance to.

The general advice for refinancing is that it pays to do so when you can shave at least 1 percentage point (1%) off of your mortgage rate. At this point, you’re just about there if you signed your mortgage at a little over 7%. But even so, waiting to refinance could be a smarter move.

The Federal Reserve is expected to move forward with a series of interest rate cuts — namely, to reverse some of the recent federal funds rate increases it implemented in 2022 and 2023. There’s a good chance we’ll see more than one rate cut in 2024, and additional cuts in 2025.

If you lock in a new mortgage now, you might lower your loan’s rate. But if you wait until 2025, you might manage to snag an even lower rate on a new loan. So for that reason, it’s worth sitting tight a bit longer.

You don’t want to refinance twice in short order

You may be wondering if it makes sense to refinance now that rates have fallen, and then try to refinance again in 2025. But the reason this move doesn’t pay off is that each time you refinance a mortgage, you’re charged closing costs.

Closing costs commonly amount to 2% to 5% of your loan. And it can take many months of savings on your mortgage to recoup your closing costs. You don’t want to pay these fees two times over within the same year.

For this reason, your best bet right now is probably to hang onto your current mortgage at least through early 2025, while taking steps to boost your credit score. These include paying bills on time and paying off any credit card balances you’re carrying.

If mortgage rates continue to fall in the new year, you’ll be in a better position to snag a great deal on a new home loan by virtue of not just market conditions, but the fact that your great credit makes you a good refinance candidate in the eyes of lenders.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until nearly 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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Federal Reserve rate cuts will make your credit card interest rates go down. But they might not make much difference for your wallet. Find out why. [[{“value”:”

Credit cards are an expensive form of debt. The average interest rate (APR) on a credit card account that doesn’t have some sort of 0% APR promotional rate is 22.76%, according to the latest Federal Reserve data. This is just shy of an all-time high.

The good news is that the Federal Reserve is expected to reduce benchmark interest rates in September for the first time since 2020, and credit card interest rates are directly tied to the Fed’s moves. Well technically, they’re tied to the prime rate, which depends on the federal funds rate that is set by the Fed.

However, while your credit card’s interest rate is almost certain to go down soon, it’s important to put things into perspective. Here’s how much the Fed’s rate moves could save you on credit card interest, and why you shouldn’t count on too much financial relief.

Expectations for Fed rate cuts

The median expectation right now is a total of 2.5 percentage points of total rate cuts by the Federal Reserve between now and the end of 2025. But it’s important to point out that it’s likely to happen gradually.

Typically, the Fed only cuts rates by 0.25 or 0.5 percentage points at a time, unless an emergency rate cut is needed (this happened at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example). Experts widely expect a quarter-point rate cut in September, and this would cause your credit card’s APR to decline by the same amount almost immediately.

Don’t get too excited

Here’s what this means to you. Let’s say that you have a credit card with a 22.49% APR currently. If the Fed does what is expected and lowers rates by one-fourth of a percentage point in September, your APR will drop to 22.24%.

If you think that doesn’t sound like much of a difference, you’re right.

Let’s say you have $10,000 in credit card debt at a 22.49% APR. As of now, your balance is accumulating interest at a rate of about $187.42 per month. If your APR were to fall to 22.24%, your monthly interest accumulation would be $185.33. That’s really not much of a difference.

With the new rate, you’d avoid about $2 per month in credit card interest. And a 22.24% APR is still a very expensive way to borrow money.

Don’t wait for the Fed to help you

The bottom line is that even after Fed rate cuts, your credit cards will likely still have much higher interest rates than most other ways to borrow. So if you have credit card debt, a smart alternative could be to look into a 0% intro APR balance transfer offer, which ensures that every penny you send to your credit card company will be applied to paying down the principal.

Alternatively, if you need more time (balance transfer offers tend to max out at 18 or 21 months), a personal loan could help you reduce your interest rate. Most personal lenders allow you to check your rate without a hard credit pull, and you might be surprised how much lower a personal loan interest rate can be than a credit card interest rate.

Carrying a credit card balance is expensive. And it will still be expensive after the Fed lowers rates. In fact, credit card debt is expensive even if the Fed were to lower benchmark interest rates to zero. If you owe money on credit cards, it could be a smarter idea to explore some alternatives to pay off your debt.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until nearly 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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Costco offers a number of benefits for home remodeling, including free consultations, cash back, and Costco Shop Cards. Learn more here. [[{“value”:”

As the owner of a century-old home (built in 1917), I’m no stranger to home updates and repairs. Since moving in, we’ve rebuilt our garage, replaced the driveway, and installed new light fixtures. We’re also looking at replacing the sticky windows, installing an ensuite bathroom, and considering a standby generator.

While researching those upcoming updates, I landed on the Costco website and was pretty impressed by its offerings. If you’re planning home updates or remodels, here are a few reasons to consider Costco.

Costco has a ton of home improvement products

Costco offers products for just about any home improvement project on your to-do list. Need a fully updated bathroom? Costco has the sink, toilets, fixtures, shower doors, and more. Want to update your kitchen? Costco has you covered on light fixtures, sinks, appliances, and countertops. Other offers include garage doors, closet organization, cabinets, windows, window treatments, and even solar panels.

To get a full quote, you’ll have to reach out for a free consultation, so it can be difficult to determine if the pricing is cheaper. But Costco does have sales, unlike most contractors who are local to me. For example, right now, Ove shower doors are 40% off — so even if they’re a little more expensive, waiting for a sale could save you quite a bit. (And that’s not including the cash back, which I’ll cover in a minute!)

Costco partners with contractors for installation

If you’ve ever updated or renovated your home, you know how much of a hassle it can be to find a reliable contractor. When I had my garage rebuilt, I spent weeks just trying to find someone who would respond to an email, much less come out and see what we needed.

Costco partners with contractors and designers to make installation easier. If you’re looking to update your entire kitchen, for example, Costco will match you with a designer who will help you design your new kitchen and then send someone to install it. Being able to choose the products and find an installer in one place is a huge time saver.

You’ll get 10% to 20% cash back on a gift card AND earn 2% cash back if you’re an Executive Member

If you’re a loyal Costco member, you might already be excited about all the options and deals. But wait, there’s more (cue Billy Mays). Costco also offers a 10% to 20% Cosco Shop Card on the pre-tax cost of qualifying purchases. Right now, you’ll get 20% back on Graber window treatments and 10% on flooring, water treatments, garage doors, and window replacement.

Those cards add up. In Ohio, the average cost to replace all the windows in a house is $23,424. Costco is currently offering 10% Costco Shop Cards for windows, so you could get over $2,300 to spend at Costco. Keep in mind, you won’t earn the 10% on taxes, additional services, or accessories.

In addition to the Costco Shop Card, Executive Members will also receive that 2% cash back. Keep in mind the cash back is capped at $1,250 for the year. If you’ve already hit the reward max, this might not make a difference.

Stack the Costco rewards with a cash back or travel credit card, and you could save even 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.JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Not sure it makes sense to pay for Costco’s more expensive membership? Read on to see why you should give it a chance. [[{“value”:”

After years of keeping its membership costs steady, Costco raised its fees on Sept. 1. Now it costs $65 a year instead of $60 to have a Gold Star (basic) membership, and it costs $130 instead of $120 for an Executive membership.

In light of these higher fees, you may be thinking you’ll stick with Costco’s basic membership and avoid paying double for the Executive membership. But here are three reasons to upgrade despite the higher cost.

1. You might easily make back your upgrade cost — and then some

Indeed, an Executive membership at Costco will cost you twice as much as a basic one. But it also lets you earn 2% cash back on your purchases. And if you shop at Costco often enough, you can not only make back your extra $65, but pocket cash back beyond that.

It takes $3,250 in Costco spending to earn $65 cash back. But if you shop at Costco 40 times out of the year and spend $125 per visit, that’s $5,000, $100 of which goes back in your pocket from your Executive membership. In that case, you’re ahead by $35 for paying for the upgrade.

2. You can enjoy extra travel perks

As an Executive member, you can earn cash back on your Costco Travel bookings. A single $4,000 vacation package could leave you with $80 cash back, covering your entire upgrade fee and leaving you with a little bit of money left over.

But Executive members at Costco are also eligible for added perks when they book vacations, like free room upgrades, beverage credits at resorts and on cruises, and more. These benefits can make your travels more enjoyable, not to mention save you money on costs you might otherwise incur.

3. Executive members get access to insurance benefits

Insurance is an unavoidable expense if you own a car or home. Costco members can apply for different types of insurance through Costco, and there may be savings involved.

But Executive members may be eligible for added benefits when they buy auto or homeowners insurance. These include roadside assistance, home glass repair, and home lockout assistance.

There’s no risk in upgrading your Costco membership

You may be hesitant to shell out extra money for a Costco Executive membership — especially now that it costs $10 more than it did last month. But remember, Costco stands behind its memberships and guarantees your satisfaction.

If you upgrade to the Executive membership and don’t rack up enough cash back to make it worthwhile financially, you can downgrade to a basic one. And when you do, Costco will pay you the difference. So if you only earn $50 through your Executive membership and decide to downgrade, Costco will reimburse you $15 (just visit the customer service desk).

For this reason, it’s worth giving the Executive membership a try if you shop at Costco fairly often. Even if you don’t, a single large purchase like a vacation could make it so the Executive membership is worth paying for. Keep that in mind, too, when making your choice.

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.JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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