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Sara Rathner

Sara Rathner is a NerdWallet travel and credit cards expert. She appeared on the “Today” show, Nasdaq and CNBC’s “Nightly Business Report,” and has been quoted in Yahoo Finance, TIME, Reuters, NBC News, Business Insider and MarketWatch. Sara’s held a total of 23 credit cards, using travel rewards points to see the world on a budget. A proud Northwestern University alum, she also has a certificate in financial planning from Boston University. Email: [email protected], Twitter: @SaraKRathner

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Posts by Sara Rathner:

NerdWallet’s Best Metal Credit Cards

Sara Rathner
April 8, 2021

You’re out to dinner with friends when the bill arrives. “Let me get that,” you say as you toss your metal credit card onto the table, where it lands with…

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Chase Launches United Quest Credit Card, Offers Massive Bonus for Limited Time

Sara Rathner
April 8, 2021

United flyers now have one more co-branded credit card to choose from with the launch this month of the . The card, issued by Chase, falls between the existing mass-market  and…

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Aspiration Launches ‘Zero’ Credit Card Aimed at Curbing Carbon Footprint

Sara Rathner
April 1, 2021

The new Aspiration Zero credit card is the latest offering from Aspiration, a financial services provider with products geared toward socially and environmentally conscious consumers. Launched in late March 2021,…

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How to Pick the Right Credit Card for a Major Purchase

Sara Rathner
March 30, 2021

Emergency expenses happen, leaving you little time to pick the optimal credit card to use. But many major purchases can be planned well in advance, giving you a chance to…

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Bust Gender Bias and Rebalance Work at Home

Sara Rathner
March 29, 2021

No matter how modern opposite-sex couples can be in their views on equality, old habits die hard. The COVID-19 pandemic has made this abundantly clear to parents who already struggled…

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Barclays Launches New AARP Credit Cards, Taking Over for Chase

Sara Rathner
March 22, 2021

Barclays is introducing new co-branded AARP credit cards, taking over for Chase as the issuer of that portfolio. The new rewards-earning cards are: The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays.…

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Smart Money Podcast: Procrastination, and Paying Student Loans vs. Investing

Liz Weston & Sara Rathner
March 15, 2021

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. This week’s episode starts with a discussion on how to stop procrastinating on big money tasks. Then…

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What to Do If a Fair Credit Score Cuts Your Credit Card Options

Sara Rathner
March 10, 2021

Credit cards for fair credit aren’t easy to find, but you do have options. You could also consider cards issued by startups or credit unions, or become an authorized user.

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5 Things to Know About the Wells Fargo Secured Credit Card

Sara Rathner
March 10, 2021

If you have bad credit or no credit at all, the Wells Fargo Secured Credit Card is a potential path to building your credit history. However, you’ll need to look…

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Credit Cards With Potentially Confusing Rewards Programs

Sara Rathner
March 17, 2021

There’s no shortage of rewards credit cards that offer enticing perks worth real money — potentially hundreds of dollars each year. But if the rewards program is complicated to navigate, it…

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