Money Management

There’s one section of Costco where giant savings await. Read on to learn more. [[{“value”:”

Even if you shop at Costco regularly, there are certain sections of the store you might largely pass by. And who could blame you? Those warehouse club stores are huge, so it stands to reason that there are certain areas you won’t get to visit each time, or most of the time.

But in the course of buying your groceries and household essentials, there’s a lesser-known aisle of Costco it pays to visit. Doing so could result in a lot of savings.

Don’t pass up the gift card aisle

You may not have realized that Costco sells gift cards — and not just to the store itself. You can buy a host of gift cards at Costco, from restaurant gift cards to entertainment gift cards. And the best part? You’re guaranteed savings.

Costco prices its gift cards below their face value. At a normal store, when you’re looking for a $100 gift card, it’s going to cost you $100. At Costco, a $100 gift card might only cost you $75 or $80, depending on the deal at hand. So it not only pays to check out Costco’s gift card selection when you need an actual gift, but it also pays to see if you can buy gift cards to use yourself.

For example, right now, you can buy $100 worth of IHOP gift cards from Costco for only $79.99. If your family goes to IHOP every weekend for breakfast, this is a deal worth grabbing.

Similarly, let’s say your child’s birthday is coming up and you want to buy them some Nintendo products. You can purchase $100 worth of Nintendo eShop gift cards through Costco for only $89.99, thereby saving yourself $10 if you expect to spend $100 on Nintendo purchases anyway.

Oh, and here’s another tip. If you can’t find the gift cards you’re looking for at your local Costco store, check Costco.com. The website might have an even wider selection of options for you to choose from.

The one thing you need to know before buying a gift card from Costco

A big benefit of shopping at Costco is getting to return almost any purchase at any time for a full refund. But you should know that gift cards purchased through Costco cannot be returned — period. So if you’re going to buy one, make sure it’s one you’re confident you’ll use yourself or one you’ll be able to give as a gift to someone else.

There are websites that allow you to trade unused gift cards for cash if you make a purchase you regret, but you won’t get all of your money back.

For example, if you have a $50 gift card you no longer want, you might only be able to get $30 for it as a trade-in. Even though Costco sells gift cards below their face value, you might still lose money if you end up with one you don’t use and you have to trade it online. So think through your purchases carefully. As long as you do, though, you’re likely to get a fantastic deal that’s hard to beat.

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.Maurie Backman 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.

“}]] Read More 

The more Delta SkyMiles you earn, the closer you’ll be to being able to make an award flight redemption. Here are some of the many ways to earn Delta miles. [[{“value”:”

If you like to travel and are a fan of Delta Air Lines, you may be looking for ways to maximize the number of miles that you earn. Luckily, there are plentiful ways to earn miles through the Delta SkyMiles loyalty program — including using airline credit cards and taking Delta flights.

It’s a good idea to ensure you’re not missing out on opportunities to earn miles, especially if you’re trying to accumulate enough miles to book an award flight. I’ll outline several ways you can earn Delta miles below.

1. Flying with Delta

You can earn miles when you fly on Delta-operated flights. If you’re a frequent flyer, this is an easy way to accumulate miles. SkyMiles members earn 5 miles per $1 spent when flying on a Main Cabin ticket.

However, you won’t earn miles when flying on a Basic Economy ticket. If you’re an elite member, you can earn even more miles when you fly with Delta.

Here’s a breakdown of how many miles you can earn:

2. Make purchases with Delta cards

You can earn miles when you use Delta cards to make purchases. The number of miles you earn depends on the card you have in your wallet and the purchases you make with your card. But if you’re a Delta loyalist, consider applying for one of the best Delta cards to maximize the Delta SkyMiles you earn.

3. Use Lyft ride-hailing services

Another way you can earn Delta miles is by linking your SkyMiles and Lyft accounts and taking rides with Lyft. Once you link your accounts, you can earn 1 mile per $1 spent on U.S. Lyft rides. You can earn 2 miles per $1 on all U.S. airport rides booked through Lyft. If you use ride-hailing services often, this is a great way to boost your Delta SkyMiles accumulation.

4. Use the Delta SkyMiles shopping portal

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to earn rewards when you shop from the comfort of your home. When you activate offers from your favorite retailers and shop as usual, you’ll be rewarded with bonus SkyMiles.

Participating retailers will display how many miles you can earn for eligible purchases. Some participating retailers include Best Buy, Chewy, Macy’s, Nike, Sephora, and The Home Depot. Here’s how to earn miles when you shop online:

Sign up for the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal program at skymilesshopping.com.Click “Shop Now” to activate offers that interest you.Shop like you usually do and pay with any credit card.After making a purchase, miles will be added to your SkyMiles account.

5. Savor Starbucks drinks and treats

You can also earn Delta miles when you make eligible Starbucks purchases. You must be a Starbucks rewards member and link your Delta SkyMiles and Delta Rewards accounts to earn bonus miles this way. If you regularly make Starbucks purchases, don’t miss out.

Here’s how to earn miles this way:

Visit deltastarbucks.com and link your rewards accounts.Earn a bonus of Delta miles when you reload $25 or more to your Starbucks Rewards account.

Here’s an overview of how many miles you can earn per reload:

Use your miles to fly nearly free

While not an exhaustive list, these are a few ways to earn bonus Delta miles. Unsure what to do with the miles you’ve earned? Many travelers redeem their Delta SkyMiles for award flights.

When you book award flights, you’re responsible for paying the taxes and fees on the airline ticket. But this is an excellent way to fly nearly free, making your next vacation more affordable.

If you’re not a Delta loyalist or prefer a non-airline credit card, consider exploring earning travel rewards another way. You can earn rewards when you book travel purchases using a travel credit card. Check out our list of the best travel rewards credit cards to learn more.

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.Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Best Buy and Starbucks. The Motley Fool recommends Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

“}]] Read More 

There’s a lot of misinformation about Costco out there. Read on to bust some myths. [[{“value”:”

Costco is a truly unique store. Not only does it offer an impressive range of products and services at affordable prices, but it also carries its own Kirkland product line featuring interesting buys you won’t find elsewhere.

But whether you’re a current Costco member or are thinking about joining, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the store’s ins and outs. Here are a few lies you may have been told about Costco that you shouldn’t believe.

1. You can return any item at any time

It’s true that for the most part, Costco allows customers to return any item at any time. But there are limits to that generous return policy.

First, electronics and major appliances only have a 90-day return window. If you go beyond that point with a stove or a laptop, you shouldn’t expect to get your money back.

Second, certain items can’t be returned to Costco after you buy them. These include cigarettes, alcohol, gift cards, event tickets, and gold bars.

Similarly, you may have heard that you can return items to Costco years later when they’re in worn, rotten condition. While you might technically get away with returning a winter coat that’s two years old and splitting apart at the seams, doing so could put you at risk of having your membership revoked, since that’s a pretty clear abuse of the retailer’s return policy. And if your return is truly unreasonable, Costco might just say no.

2. You can order anything you want online without a membership

You don’t need a Costco membership to place orders on Costco.com. However, non-members are charged 5% more on their purchases since they aren’t paying Costco’s annual fee. So you’ll need to run the numbers to make sure those surcharges make sense.

If you normally spend $1,500 a year at Costco.com, 5% of that is $75. In that case, it’s cheaper to buy an annual basic membership for $65 and save some money.

What’s more, some Costco.com items are designated as member-only. This means you won’t be able to purchase them without having a membership ID number to enter at checkout.

3. The Executive membership upgrade isn’t worth it

While a Gold Star membership at Costco costs only $65 a year, an Executive membership costs double. But that higher-priced membership comes with a huge perk — 2% cash back on your Costco purchases. So before you assume that the Executive membership doesn’t make financial sense, crunch the numbers.

If you spend more than $3,250 per year at Costco, including online orders, then the upgrade is your best bet. That’s because 2% of $3,250 is $65, which is the cost of the upgrade. If you spend even a dollar more, you’re looking to benefit financially from the higher-cost membership.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about Costco, so it helps to know the truth about the store’s return policy and online offerings for non-members. It’s also important to do the math behind the Executive membership before writing it off as an option that makes sense for you.

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.

“}]] Read More 

One medical or dental appointment can quickly drain your wallet. Should you pay for your medical bill with a credit card? Find out how a 0% APR card may help. [[{“value”:”

Finding out that you have a costly medical bill coming your way can be stressful and upsetting. Unfortunately, the cost of medical care can add up fast. If you’re unprepared for an added expense like this, it can negatively impact your checking account balance.

Even if you have medical or dental insurance, you may be responsible for paying a large portion of the cost for treatment. That’s because many medical expenses aren’t fully covered by insurance. Do you anticipate getting an expensive dental procedure done soon? Could a 0% APR credit card help make this medical expense more manageable? Let’s find out.

Avoid credit card interest with a 0% APR credit card

If you expect a costly dental bill soon and are worried about how it will impact your finances, consider using a 0% APR card to pay for your care. With these credit cards, you can take advantage of 0% APR throughout the promotional period.

This strategy can help you avoid interest charges for a limited time while you pay off the expense. When looking at 0% APR credit cards to apply for, you’ll want to choose one that provides 0% APR on purchases. Some cards offer 0% APR on balance transfers for those who transfer existing credit card balances — and some offer this for purchases and balance transfers.

You should also ensure you can pay off the entire dental expense before the promotional period ends to avoid paying interest. If you carry a balance beyond the no-interest timeline, you’ll be charged interest fees, so it’s important to have a plan for paying off the debt.

Many of these cards offer no interest for 12 months or more, giving you additional time to make payments without worrying about interest charges. Spreading the total debt over equal monthly payments for a year could make it more manageable than paying it off immediately.

Here’s an example of how to use a 0% APR credit card to make dental care more affordable: Let’s imagine you have a $1,500 dental procedure and pay with a credit card that offers 0% APR on purchases for 12 months. Making $125 payments every month for 12 months will eliminate the debt and avoid interest. This makes the cost of care much more manageable.

A good option for medical care such as dental work

If you have minimal savings and don’t want to rack up credit card debt, this is a great way to pay for medical expenses like dental work. Instead of using one of the existing credit cards in your wallet, a 0% APR credit card can help you avoid interest charges and stay out of debt.

I’ve used this payment strategy myself. I recently found out that I needed a costly dental procedure completed. While I have dental insurance, only about 30% of the cost was covered through my insurer.

That meant I needed to figure out how to cover the rest of the bill. While I’m fortunate to have savings, the last thing I wanted to do was drain my emergency fund. So, before getting the procedure done, I opened a 0% APR credit card.

I’ve been making regular monthly payments and am chipping away at the debt. I’m on track to eliminate the debt entirely before the 0% promotional period ends. This credit card allowed me to prioritize my health, avoid using my emergency savings, and remain debt-free.

If you’re considering financing options for an upcoming medical expense, take a close look at the best 0% APR credit cards.

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.

“}]] Read More 

Dave Ramsey’s advice can be helpful, but it’s not always perfect. Here’s why you should find balance in personal finance. [[{“value”:”

Dave Ramsey is a popular financial guru many people swear by. His tough-love advice has helped countless people get out of debt and take control of their budgets. But while there’s no doubt that his methods can be effective, they aren’t one-size-fits-all.

Ramsey’s approach can be a bit extreme, and in personal finance, balance is key. Here are three reasons why blindly following his advice might not always be the best idea — and what you can do instead.

1. Not all debt is bad debt

Ramsey is famously anti-debt, encouraging people to pay off every penny as quickly as possible. While it’s great to be debt-free, not all debt is inherently bad. High-interest debt like credit cards? Sure, pay that off ASAP. However, certain types of debt can be beneficial if managed wisely.

Take mortgages, for example. A home can be a valuable asset that appreciates over time, and a mortgage allows you to build equity.

Instead of rushing to eliminate every ounce of debt, focus on the high-interest liabilities while allowing yourself to use low-interest debt to build long-term wealth. Finding a balance is essential for financial success.

2. Credit cards aren’t the enemy (when used responsibly)

Ramsey’s war on credit cards is legendary. To him, credit cards are the gateway to financial disaster. But while it’s true that irresponsible use of credit cards can lead to trouble, when managed well, they can actually offer some significant benefits.

Credit cards can help you build credit, earn rewards like cash back or travel points, and even provide fraud protection.

For example, responsible credit card users can score free flights, hotel stays, or even a chunk of cash back just by using their cards for everyday purchases — provided they pay off the balance every month. Ramsey’s advice is to cut up your credit cards and never look back, but that might be an overreaction for people who are disciplined with their spending.

Instead, use credit cards wisely. Set boundaries, never carry a balance, and take advantage of the rewards. It’s all about balance, not elimination.

3. Child care isn’t a “stupid” expense — it’s a necessity

One of Dave Ramsey’s most controversial moments was when he shamed a dad on his show for spending $80,000 a year on child care, calling the expense “stupid.” Ramsey’s advice was to “downgrade” to cheaper child care options, as if affordable, quality care is just waiting around the corner for everyone. This out-of-touch response highlights a major blind spot in his financial advice: the real-world cost of raising a family today.

The truth is, child care in the U.S. is incredibly expensive. According to Care.com, over half of parents spend more than 27% of their household income on child care, and in some areas, like major cities, those costs can skyrocket. For working parents, especially in dual-career households, paying for daycare, nannies, or after-school care is often unavoidable. Ramsey’s advice doesn’t offer any practical solutions for families facing these costs — it just shames them for trying to make it work.

Parents shouldn’t feel guilty for investing in quality child care. Instead of feeling pressured to cut corners, look into tax credits, community resources, or nanny shares to help ease the financial burden. But at the end of the day, child care is an essential expense for many families, and there’s no shame in that.

Ramsey’s advice has helped many people get out of debt and build better financial habits. But it’s important to remember that personal finance is personal, and what works for one person might not work for another. Ramsey’s methods tend to be all-or-nothing, but the key to long-term financial success is finding balance.

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.Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

“}]] Read More