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- 3. Hotel military travel discounts
- 4. Redeem AAdvantage miles for merchandise, other travel and more
- Be mindful of third-party sellers
- 5. Wear easy-to-remove shoes
- Whether it fits with your financial situation
- How much is Hulu?
- 6. Detailed models
- Retirement savings: Room for improvement
- 2. Seek help
- Changes and refunds
- Wheels Up: A premium private jet program
- 6. Add your minor child
- 4. Integrated oil companies
- Conventional loans
- 2. Evaluate the stock
- 1% match
- Make multiple credit card payments per month
- 7. Put the cash from the sale to good use
- 4. Take surveys for money
- Guarda at a glance
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- 8. Worldwide acceptance
- 5. Do your due diligence
- 5. Monitor your total credit utilization
- Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) Rating
- 3. Scrutinize your closing paperwork
- 1099-A
- 7. Get rewards
- The details
- Dr. Paul B. Myrdal Memorial Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Pharmaceutics
- Cheap full coverage car insurance companies by state
- Equifax business credit scores
- Ruby Lane
- Aer Lingus
- 4. Barclays rewards
- 6. Compare mortgage rates and fees
- 6. Find local gigs through Nextdoor
- 4. Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- 1. The person can’t be anyone else’s qualifying child
- Disney World food costs
- Register for the correct Radisson program before making an award booking
- How much does a HELOC cost?
- It can have more earning power
- 8. Be your own boss
- Guarda: 4.6 out of 5 stars
- What else should I know about Roth 401(k) taxes?
- 2. Gifting stock through a Roth IRA
- Best for
- 3. Car Shair
- Use designated accounts for spending and savings
- Build your score and then switch cards
- Lounge access
- 4. Taxpayer identity theft
- CarFax
- But wait, there’s more
- Cheap auto insurance after an accident
- When are taxes due in October?
- 11. Mortgage interest deduction
- Which is better when?
- Hybrid REITs
- HSAs and FSAs
- 4. Explore emerging industries
- 4. Special dividends
- 10. Social media management
- Market orders
- 6. You cannot be subject to expatriate tax
- 7. Make on-time payments to build credit
- 3. Set a target purchase price
- Platinum membership
- Injuries to you
- Download your credit card issuer’s app
- Stock trading fee
- Copays, coinsurance and deductibles
- 2. Promote your business
- Rental car elite status
- Don’t discount membership and store credit card benefits
- 3. Adjust your coverage
- 3. Source your suppliers
- Food and on-board service
- Small bank loans
- Global dining access by Resy
- 7. Content automation
- 5. Purchase the appropriate levels of insurance
- 11. Create a local grocery delivery service
- You want 1:1 transfer partners
- 6. What's your investment philosophy?
- Can my USDA monthly payment go up?
- 3. Subtract variable expenses
- 9. No foreign transaction fees
- Putting it all together
- Buying a put vs. shorting example
- Renovation loans to buy and repair fixer-uppers
- No award chart
- 1099-B
- Check out state income tax rates
- 8. Score free stuff
- Inverse performance
- Herb and Nina Demuth Memorial Award
- 5. Gather your paperwork
- Our pick for: Everyday spending
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- National Association for the Self-Employed Growth Grant
- 4. Fly on holidays for free drinks
- Money market mutual funds = lowest returns, lowest risk
- 4. Capital One Travel
- WomensNet grants
- 7. Freelance
- You are a budget-conscious traveler
- Ages 55 to 64
- 6. Enrichment activities for children
- 2. The person has to be related to you or live with you
- 2. Find the right location for your vending machine
- 4. Products and services
- Potential drawback
- Compare car insurance rates for 35-year-olds
- Make a plan to pay off debt
- Try different ways to avoid overspending
- Earning rates
- Commit 20% of your income to savings and debt paydown
- Make Money
- 5. Master limited partnerships
- Priority Pass lounges
- Carfax Car Care
- What is the Buffett indicator?
- 3. Decide how much stock you want to buy
- Book one to three months in advance
- 12. Gambling loss deduction
- Full details about Guarda's ratings
- 4. Penalty abatement
- First trimester
- Cash management accounts
- Irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs)
- 5. Preferred dividends
- Etsy
- Debt management plan
- Try paying in cash dollars
- 5. Alila Villas Uluwatu
- Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- Additional standard deduction 2023 (taxes due 2024)
- How much is Disney+?
- 7. E-commerce supplier
- 4. Get ahead of the problem
- 3. Gifting stock to friends and family
- Leverage elite status
- Universal life vs. whole life insurance rates for men
- 4. Sell some merch
- 7. Suspend your benefit
- 12. Start a virtual event planning company
- You redeem points to book travel
- Tap into savings to pay down debt
- 4. Get quotes from at least three companies
- 3. Learn the difference between investing in stocks and funds
- 9. Coverage if your trip is canceled or delayed
- 10. Airport lounge access
- 1. Examine your cooling needs
- What do I need for my loan application?
- Publicly-traded REITs
- 6. The United TravelBank doesn't earn interest
- Earned Income tax credit
- Learn about free filing options
- 11. Business planning service
- 9. Leave items in your cart
- 4. Choose your bookkeeping software
- Underrepresented Minority Award
- Experian business credit scores
- Aetna Medicare Part D
- Bizee’s Fresh Start Business Grant
- Safety ratings
- 5. Vestiaire Collective
- Refresh your holiday budget
- Whether it makes sense for your taxes
- If your employer doesn’t offer a 401(k) match
- Book using Points + Cash awards, available for both programs
- It's also the less expensive option (if you don't travel internationally)
- Exodus: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- 2. Digital assets
- 8. Artificial intelligence
- Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®
- 5. Medical identity theft
- 2023 tax rates by state
- U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
- 13. IRA contributions deduction
- Citi Custom Cash® Card
- 1099-C
- 6. Dividend funds
- Cheap full coverage auto insurance for drivers with an accident or DUI
- Emirates Skywards
- Your stolen stuff
- Bankruptcy
- 5. American Express Membership Rewards
- 7. Gather your loan paperwork
- 8. Tutor your peers
- Ages 65 to 74
- Statement credits
- WANT TSA PRECHECK FOR FREE?
- Additional standard deduction 2024 (taxes due 2025)
- How much should I budget for activities and expenses at Disney World?
- Travel
- 5. Research before you buy
- 5. Financial information and projections
- Only book if you’re sure you won’t need to change your flights
- Small online loans
- 6. Invest in the right equipment
- 1. Think long term versus short term
- Universal life vs. whole life insurance rates for women
- 5. Upwork
- Eureka
- Government-backed loans
- 7. What asset allocation will you use?
- 5. Make money from your blog with affiliate links
- 10. Baggage delay insurance
- 2. Time it right
- 1. Review your W-4
- Find tax software that works for your situation
- 12. Tax consulting
- 10. Sign up for the mailing list
- Credit cards for earning American AAdvantage miles
- 4. Borrow from your 401(k)
- 5. Watch for sales (They happen frequently)
- Reliability
- National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) grant
- You are strategic with rewards
- 5. Money market funds
- 7. Mobile apps and entertainment for children
- Send an email requesting reconsideration
- How much is Max?
- 4. Price your product
- Know the key Membership Rewards transfer partners
- Government bonds
- Develop good credit habits
- CarGurus
- 13. Sell zero-waste products
- Recommended portfolios
- Consider a personal loan
- Payday alternative loans
- 4. Set aside a contingency fund for unexpected costs
- 14. 401(k) contributions deduction
- Public non-traded REITs
- Get your finances in order
- 1099-CAP
- 5. Set up your business infrastructure
- 6. Pick your investments
- Swappa, Gazelle
- Etihad Guest
- Debt settlement
- 3. The person’s gross income is below the limit
- 1. Restricting regulations
- 6. Don’t let your insurance lapse
- Obtain ConnectMiles or Star Alliance premier status prior to booking
- 9. Podcasting
- 2. Look into tax-loss harvesting
- 4. Open your account
- Fare flexibility/ticket changes
- 6. Account takeover
- 5. Offer memberships
- 8. Use a do-over
- Pros:
- When dining out
- Is the Buffett indicator high or low right now?
- Cheapest car insurance after a DUI
- Card-to-card points transfers
- 1. Avoid filing your tax return on paper
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 11. Rental car coverage
- 5. Hiring a tax relief company
- 11. Luxury hotel benefits
- 3. Look for equipment rebates and tax credits
- Second trimester
- How to get an extension
- 11. Use referral programs
- Limit orders
- Taxes
- Presidential Scholarships
- Winner for ease of miles: Air Canada
- Mutual fund transaction fee
- Venmo Small Business Grant
- Fleet expense management tools
- Customer satisfaction
- 6. Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya
- 9. Take surveys
- Resident status rules
- Coinbase Wallet: 4.4 out of 5 stars
- Consider paying with miles
- 6. Future plans
- Watch the calendar
- InboxDollars Surveys
- 14. Make products for pets
- Set a price alert
- Chubb: Best for high-value homes
- Shop around for lenders
- 1099-DIV
- Long-term accounts
- 6. You can add different types of authorized users
- Iberia Plus Avios
- 6. Capital One Rewards
- 8. Get a preapproval letter
- FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
- 8. Shared accessories and attire
- 4. You have to provide more than half the person’s total financial support for the year
- How much is Apple TV+?
- 8. Pill production
- Shopping for better savings rates
- Cons:
- 5. Determine your profit
- 2. Get direct deposit
- 15. Saver’s credit
- 12. Travel assistance
- 2. Make sure your bonus is actually taxable
- Dividend per share (DPS)
- 13. PR agency
- 12. Write a review
- J.C. & Rheba Cobb Memorial Scholarship
- 3. Sell your castoffs
- It offers a 0% intro APR period and other perks
- Set cash aside
- Best for
- 10. Streaming service
- 3. Hold the shares inside an IRA, a 401(k) or other tax-advantaged account
- Invest in your financial future
- 7. Criminal identity theft
- Airport lounge membership
- 15. Create custom clothing
- Rebook if you find a cheaper price
- Wash sale rules
- How to have more taxes taken out of your paycheck
- 6. Sell your wares on Etsy
- 12. Cardholder hotline
- Private REITs
- Third trimester
- How quickly could the IRS implement the child tax credit expansion?
- Cigna Medicare Part D
- Qantas Airways
- General cost
- 10. Search for regular jobs for kids
- 9. Medical implants
- 5. Find your customers
- 4. Zipcar
- Baggage and boarding
- Google Opinion Rewards
- Appendix: How the math works in our examples
- Citi Prestige® Card
- 8. What investment benchmarks do you use?
- Chase Dining
- 3. Stay on top of things
- 16. Health savings account contributions deduction
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- 13. Purchase protections
- Home equity loan
- 3. Use tax deductions
- Get prequalified
- Our pick for: Cell phone and internet bill payments
- 1099-G
- How to transfer points from Chase to Southwest
- Dividend yield
- 13. Dispute charges
- The details
- Credit unions
- Willard B. Simmons Memorial Scholarship
- Our pick for: Flat-rate travel rewards
- The Amplifier Grant
- Deductibles
- 5. Kiwi
- America’s Seed Fund
- 6. High-yield savings accounts
- 6. Respect other passengers' space
- Resident status rules
- Upgrading to Main Plus
- Potential drawback
- 7. Don’t neglect your finances
- 6. OfferUp
- Cars.com
- How should investors use the Buffett indicator?
- Can you pay estimated taxes at any time?
- 401(k) hardship withdrawals
- 6. Finalize your business budget
- 5. Buy your home insurance policy and read it closely
- 13. Access to unique, cardmember-only events
- 14. Professional organizing
- Cheap full coverage car insurance for drivers with poor credit
- Resident status rules
- Singapore Airlines
- 7. Citi ThankYou Points
- 7. Hôtel Du Palais Biarritz
- How much is Peacock?
- Part-year resident status rules
- 2. Initial cost
- Trust Wallet: 4.3 out of 5 stars
- 1. Be concise
- Consider using a retirement account
- 11. 3D printing
- 4. Call in a pro
- 16. Sell vintage clothing online
- Cost basis calculations
- How to have less taxes taken out of your paycheck
- 17. Self-employment expenses deduction
- 4. Set a budget for your stock market investment
- 14. Customer service without the wait
- 4. Contribute to a tax-advantaged account
- Hire a builder
- 1099-INT
- The risks and rewards of each
- Partners in Pharmacy
- Expense ratios
- 5. Enter a debt management plan
- 4. Earn badges through Live videos
- Benefits
- Reimbursement amounts
- 9. Choose a real estate agent carefully
- 10. Prosthetics
- Radisson Rewards for Business is available for both programs
- Pack carry-on only or factor the price of checked baggage into the cost of your ticket
- Take advantage of all the other statement credits
- 5. Choose investments that match your tolerance for risk
- Seat selection
- Swagbucks
- Cheapest auto insurance for poor credit
- Be flexible with destination, airport and dates
- Chase Experiences
- 4. One more thing to know about your tax refund
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card*
- Labor and delivery
- 15. Photography
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
- Barclays Small Business Big Wins
- 9. Shared home improvement equipment
- How much is Prime Video?
- Corporate bonds
- American Express Global Lounge Collection
- Past years' state tax rates
- 17. Begin niche blogging
- 9. Who is your custodian?
- What happens if I forget to pay my quarterly taxes?
- 7. Self-publish an e-book
- 18. Home office deduction
- Home equity line of credit
- Get preapproved
- Dollar-cost averaging
- Online lenders
- Neil Pruitt Sr. Memorial Scholarship
- Allianz Global Assistance
- Drawbacks
- Coverage limits
- Head of household filing status
- 7. Have a backup plan ready
- 3. Find your vending machine
- Where is the best place to exchange currency?
- 3. Ongoing investment
- 6. Get the logistics down
- 12. E-commerce
- Gap Good Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card
- Earning rates
- How to use a W-4 to owe nothing on a tax return
- 1099-K
- Dividend payout ratio
- 1. Live in the house for at least two years
- 8. Bank of America® rewards
- Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program
- J.D. Power Ranking
- 10. Narrow down your ideal type of house and neighborhood
- 7. CDs
- Nonresident status rules
- MetaMask: 4.0 out of 5 stars
- 2. Use bullet points
- Book with ConnectMiles
- 19. Educator expenses deduction
- 5. Defer your bonus
- 16. Event space
- 6. Price your services
- Bonzah
- Winner for most fare class options: Air Canada
- Freshen up your merchandise
- Child tax credit
- How much is Sling TV?
- Earning Radisson Rewards Americas points with credit cards
- How do I find a currency exchange near me?
- 3. Precious metals
- Part-year resident status rules
- Best for
- AM Best Financial Strength Rating: A (Excellent)
- Save
- 7. Poshmark
- Upgradeability
- Edmunds
- 18. Become an e-book writer
- 10. What tax hit do I face if I invest with you?
- Country Financial: Best for using an agent
- How can I make paying quarterly taxes easier?
- Get final approval
- 2. See whether you qualify for an exception
- Part-year resident status rules
- AeroMexico
- 5. Build a community
- 11. Monetize your social media accounts
- 11. Rapid prototyping
- 4. Potential for conflict
- 1. Freeze your credit
- Economic events
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Home equity loans and lines of credit
- 20. Solar tax credit
- Cash-out refinance
- 17. Interior decorating
- Preparatory Scholarship
- Rental Cover
- NCQA Score Range: 2.0 to 3.5 out of 5
- 1. Become a World of Hyatt member to earn Hyatt points for your stay
- Schedule time for grant applications
- Property-based passive income ideas
- 10. Vacation rentals
- Child and dependent care tax credit
- Pros
- Where can you exchange currency for free?
- 3. Speak to your audience
- Potential drawback
- 13. Portable charging devices
- 1. Choose a stockbroker
- 8. Get advertising revenue from your blog or YouTube channel
- Other details you should know about Guarda
- 5. Focus on investing for the long-term
- 14. Purchase protection
- 1099-LTC
- 3. Keep the receipts for your home improvements
- Cathay Pacific
- 6. BookWithMatrix
- Take clear photos
- 12. Get paid to stream on Twitch
- How much is Fubo TV?
- 12. Electronic assembly
- Is an import/export business profitable?
- J.D. Power Ranking
- 2. Safeguard your Social Security number
- 19. Start ghostwriting
- Earnings
- 21. Energy efficient home improvement tax credit
- Discover it® Cash Back
- Selling a put example
- 18. Woodworking or furniture building
- Payday lenders
- 7. Find your customers
- Pre-Graduate Scholarship
- Our pick for: Customizable bonus categories
- Sure
- Sales load
- 2. Use a Hyatt credit card during your stay to earn even more points
- Expand your search efforts
- Which one should I take?
- Earned income credit
- Cryptocurrency pros
- Pumpkin vs. Lemonade
- Cons
- 5. Lack of financial privacy
- Electrum: 2.5 out of 5 stars
- Nonresident status rules
- Compare car insurance rates for drivers with a DUI
- Invest
- 15. Return protection
- 1099-MISC
- Nonresident status rules
- Nationwide vs. Allstate home insurance
- 8. Buy a rental property
- 11. Electronics repair
- How do import/export companies make money?
- 4. Collectibles
- NCQA Score Range: 2.5 to 3.5 out of 5
- 8. Establish a marketing plan for growth
- 3. Be alert to phishing and spoofing
- 2. Fund your account
- 20. Become a resume writer
- Pay off debt
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- 22. Electric vehicle tax credit
- Personal loan
- 5. Optimize your stock portfolio
- Health Professions Scholarship
- Choice Hotels
- 11. Stick to your budget
- Write an honest description
- Adoption credit
- 4. Explore your financing options
- 4. Play to your strengths
- 14. Publishing e-books
- Is Guarda right for you?
- Gifting large sums of money to family
- 16. Extended warranty
- Transfer points from Diners Club
- 19. Graphic design
- The details
- High-interest installment lenders
- Weigh grant application fees
- Cryptocurrency cons
- What is an export license?
- 4. Use strong passwords and add an authentication step
- Used Car Search Pro by iSeeCars
- 21. Open a coworking space
- Cheapest car insurance for young drivers
- Discover it® Chrome
- 6. Manage your stock portfolio
- 1099-NEC
- Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Miles
- 9. Rent out your own house
- 13. Sustainable, customized fashion
- California earned income tax credit (CalEITC)
- 1. Access to capital
- 5. Get a test reader
- Pay off debt
- 3. Do your research
- Avoid taking on more debt
- 9. Become an Instagram influencer
- Our pick for: Maximized value
- Buy wine with Laithwaites
- 20. Clothing boutique
- 6. Know when to sell stocks — and when not to
- 8. Understand your funding options
- Keep alternative funding in mind
- Price clothes to sell
- Nationwide vs. Geico home insurance
- Pumpkin vs. Spot
- What documents do I need to import goods?
- 5. Commodities
- 15. Fitness tech
- MyLowe’s Rewards Credit Card
- 5. Use alerts
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Cash advance apps
- 1. Has the W-4 form changed?
- How we review crypto wallets
- Paying for vacations, cars or other stuff
- California young child tax credit (YCTC)
- 4. Buy the stock
- 22. Become an online coach
- Wait to apply
- 17. Rental car coverage
- 1099-OID
- Order gourmet gifts from Harry & David
- 21. Bed and breakfast
- Hilton Honors
- 12. Make the most of walk-throughs and open houses
- 10. Get a roommate
- 12. Academics courses
- 14. Customized glasses frames
- 2. Efficient growth
- 6. Watch your mailbox
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Laid-back loans
- Management or advisory fees
- California child and dependent care tax credit
- 6. Real estate
- 16. Online teaching
- Repeat
- 23. Flip failing websites
- NJM: Best small regional insurer
- 2. What does it mean to be exempt from taxes?
- 18. Trip cancellation or interruption insurance
- 1099-PATR
- Get meal kits delivered from Home Chef
- 22. Food truck
- Alternative investment passive income ideas
- 7. Shred, shred, shred
- 10. Monetize your Twitch channel
- Joint bank accounts
- Our pick for: Bank of America® customers
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- 15. Make your own art
- California adoption cost tax credit
- 3. Minimal employee supervision
- Ledger: 5.0 out of 5 stars
- NYC tax rate schedule
- 17. Mobile application development
- TrueCar
- 24. Become a web developer
- Cheapest auto insurance for senior drivers
- Above-the-line deductions
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- 1099-Q
- Comparing full coverage car insurance quotes
- NYC tax rate schedule
- 13. Language courses
- 8. Use a digital wallet
- 19. Trip delay reimbursement
- 23. Restaurant or cafe
- Marriott Bonvoy
- 13. Don’t skip the home inspections
- 11. Peer-to-peer lending
- California nonrefundable renters tax credit
- Use the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
- 25. Start a podcast
- Buy now, pay later
- 1099-R
- Winner for premium seating classes: Etihad
- 5. Stock your vending machine with inventory
- 4. Increased brand awareness
- 18. Search engine optimization consultant
- 9. Protect your mobile devices
- Chase Freedom Flex℠
- 3. When should I review my W-4?
- Below-the-line deductions
- 20. Lost luggage reimbursement
- Use the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping site
- 24. Craft brewery
- 16. Custom-made tools
- Trezor: 4 out of 5 stars
- 26. Be a social media influencer
- American Express® Gold Card
- 1099-S
- Dividends and preferred stock
- 5. Reduced risk
- 19. Social media consultant
- Compare auto insurance rates for drivers with poor credit
- 10. Check your credit reports regularly
- Pros
- 11. Sell your photography
- 21. Medical emergencies during travel
- The details
- 401(k) fees
- 14. Negotiate with the seller
- 12. Private equity
- 14. Business or marketing courses
- 17. Rare spare parts
- 4. Can I adjust my W-4 multiple times throughout the year?
- 6. Evaluate the price of the business with the earnings, assets or market approach
- Get the Southwest button browser add-on
- 25. Ice cream shop
- TJX Rewards® Platinum Mastercard®
- 11. Monitor financial and medical statements
- 27. Create online courses
- 1099-SA
- Selling bonds
- 6. Make the right investments
- SafePal: 3.8 out of 5 stars
- 20. Drone videography
- USAA: Best for military and veterans
- Our pick for: Prime gaming
- 26. Personal chef
- Our pick for: Paying rent
- 7. Private equity
- Cons
- 28. Become a marketing consultant
- 15. Buy adequate home insurance
- 15. Personal wellness
- 1. Loss of complete brand control
- Book travel to get 5X Membership Rewards points on airfare and hotels
- 21. Cybersecurity or IT consulting
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- 27. Landscape services
- 13. Crypto staking
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card*
- Methodology
- Alternative investment pros
- 29. Develop an app
- Apple Cash: digital card
- 28. Pet grooming
- 2. Increased potential for legal disputes
- 22. Venture capitalist
- 12. Become a dog walker with Rover or Wag
- Look up the insurer’s financial strength
- ASPCA vs. Nationwide pet insurance
- 1. Lost wallet
- 29. Florist
- 16. Courses in hobbies or interests
- 30. Make a smart appliance
- 3. Initial investment
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Cash App debit card
- Product creation passive income ideas
- Alternative investment cons
- 23. Startup incubator
- 2. Mailbox theft
- 31. Tap into virtual reality experiences
- 30. Massage therapist
- Research the insurer’s reputation for customer service
- Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- 13. Sell unused gift cards
- Winner for lowest fees: Tie
- ASPCA vs. Embrace
- 17. Bookkeeping and accounting
- 4. Federal and state regulation
- 1. Look at customer satisfaction scores
- Individual stocks
- 32. Make a niche dating site
- 14. Write content
- Book with the Fine Hotels + Resorts program
- 24. Antivirus developer
- 3. Using public Wi-Fi
- Erie: Most generous coverage
- 2. Consider financial strength
- 33. Develop a chatbot
- 31. Nutritionist
- 25. Domain name broker
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- 7. Secure capital to make the purchase
- Our pick for: Target gaming purchases
- 18. Consulting
- Pros
- 3. Evaluate the policy options
- Compare insurance rates for drivers with an accident
- 4. Data breaches
- 34. Offer matchmaking skills
- 14. List your spare bedroom on Airbnb
- 32. Personal trainer or fitness instructor
- Dividend stocks
- ASPCA vs. Healthy Paws
- Cons
- 35. Be a virtual assistant
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- 4. Get prices from a handful of companies
- 5. SIM card swap
- 33. Beauty services
- 15. Publish a digital course
- 36. Reinvent exercising
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- 34. Life coach
- 19. IT support
- Verizon Visa® Card
- 6. Phishing or spoofing
- Car-related passive income ideas
- Visit the Global Lounge Collection
- 37. Create eco-friendly, health-friendly makeup and beauty products
- Nationwide: Best online experience
- 15. Sell your gently used clothes
- 7. Skimming
- 38. Open a food truck or restaurant pop-up
- United Club℠ Infinite Card
- What is a prepaid debit card?
- 35. Tutor
- 16. Wrap your car with ads
- 20. Graphic design
- 39. Start an organization business
- 36. Daycare provider
- 8. Phone scams
- What is a prepaid credit card?
- 17. Rent out a parking space
- 40. Do interior design for young professionals
- Our pick for: Walmart gaming purchases
- 16. Trade in old phones, electronics for cash
- Where can you get a prepaid card?
- 37. Senior care provider
- 21. Social media management
- 9. Looking over your shoulder
- Openly: Fewest consumer complaints
- How do you add money to a prepaid card?
- Transfer hotel points
- 38. Interpreter or translator
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Leverage the Hilton and Marriott Gold elite status
- Chase Freedom Flex℠
- 10. Malware
- Which prepaid card is best?
- 39. Housecleaning
- 17. Get a babysitting gig
- Earn Southwest points for stays
- 22. Marketing copywriter
- 40. Automotive repair
- 1. Gather your information
- Book accommodations in the Southwest Hotels portal
- 23. Virtual assistant services
- Rent cars with Avis, Hertz and National
- 41. Handyman services
- 18. Rent out your car
- Our pick for: PlayStation purchases
- Prime Visa
- 8. Close the deal with the appropriate documents
- 42. Dry cleaners
- State Farm: Best perks
- Book stays via Rocketmiles
- 2. Choose the right liability car insurance coverage levels
- 43. Hardware store
- Discover it® Cash Back
- 1. Do your research
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Your credit utilization is simply the portion of your available credit you use, expressed as a percentage. It is the total of balances on all your credit cards divided by the total of all your credit limits. (It's also figured on a per-card basis.) This number is a big factor in your credit score — the less available credit you use, the better it is for your score.
Here’s how to keep your utilization low.
Why is having a low credit utilization important?
Paying your balances on time and in full every month is the best way to keep your score intact or build it. On the other hand, using a larger portion of your credit limit could do damage. Credit utilization accounts for around 20% to 30% of your credit scores.
But if a financial crisis means you have to lean on credit cards, take heart: Credit scores can rebound quickly once you're able to lower your utilization.
How to lower your credit utilization
1. Keep your charges on each card to a minimum
The simplest way to avoid losing credit score points for using too much of your limits is to watch how much you charge to each card. Make a habit of patrolling your online accounts to keep tabs on spending. If you are close to using 30% of your credit limit on one card, try to make a payment or switch to using another card.
Simply getting into the habit of paying twice per month instead of once could help you decrease your credit usage. Lower balances can save you interest if you carry a balance — and are good for your credit score regardless.
You can also monitor your per-card and overall credit utilization by viewing your credit score profile from NerdWallet.
2. Ask for higher credit limits
If it’s tough for you to avoid utilizing more than 30% of your available credit, another solution might be to request a credit line increase on your card or cards. Getting a credit limit increase might require you to call your card issuer or make the request online. Sometimes increases are offered automatically if you’ve had your card for a while and have a positive payment history, so be on the lookout for those offers when you log in to your account.
Another option to get a higher overall credit limit is to ask a friend or relative to add you as an authorized user on an established account. The primary user doesn't even have to give you a card or tell you the account number for your credit score to benefit. Do choose carefully: Being on the account of someone who is having problems with credit could affect your score, too. You want to be on an account showing good payment history, preferably with a high credit limit and consistently low credit utilization.
A higher overall credit limit could help you keep your credit utilization lower than it would be otherwise. This could make a big difference in your credit score. You can check your own credit to see the effect (and it won't hurt your score).
3. Set up balance alerts to stay on top of spending
If you find yourself consistently overspending, setting up balance alerts can help keep your spending in check.
Sign up with your credit card issuer to receive alerts via text message or email. You can choose to be alerted when the balance reaches a certain amount or percentage of your credit limit. Your goal is to keep the balance below 30%.
4. Pay your bill before your issuer reports to the credit bureaus
Most credit card issuers report your balance and payment activity to the credit bureaus once every 30 days. However, this doesn’t necessarily coincide nicely with when your bill is due. If your issuer reports a few days before the end of your billing cycle, you’ll consistently look like you’re carrying a high balance — even if you pay it off in full just a few days later.
Place a call to your card issuer’s customer service line to find out when it reports to the credit bureaus. Simply pay off as much of your balance as you can in advance of that date every month, and you might see a jump in your score.
5. Monitor your total credit utilization
If you have multiple credit cards, it might be hard to view the bigger picture of your credit utilization. Using the calculator below, input your credit card balances and limits to check whether you're under the recommended 30% utilization threshold.
If you’re creeping up to that limit, do your best to pay down your balances and explore ways to stop spending money.