Category: Fees

Fed Report Shows Record-High Annual Increase in Credit-Card Balances

Americans find themselves increasingly burdened by credit-card debt as the relentless grip of chronic inflation tightens its hold on the cost of essential goods. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit was just released, showing a record high 17 percent year-over-year increase in credit-card balances during the first quarter…


US Credit Card Debt Hits a Record High of Nearly $1 Trillion

Americans find themselves increasingly burdened by credit-card debt as the relentless grip of chronic inflation tightens its hold on the cost of essential goods. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit was just released, showing a record-high 17 percent year-over-year increase in credit-card balances during the first quarter of…


US Credit Card Debt Holds at Record High of Nearly $1 Trillion

U.S. credit card balances failed to decline in the first three months of 2023 as Americans find themselves increasingly burdened by the relentless grip of chronic inflation. Total credit card debt stood at $986 billion in the first quarter, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit…


Why Booking Directly With Airlines Can Be More Expensive

Early in the pandemic, many travelers experienced headaches while trying to rebook air travel purchased through third parties such as Orbitz and Kayak. Overloaded customer service centers and constantly changing airline policies resulted in a big mess at these agencies, prompting many travelers to book directly through the airline to avoid future issues. Yet as…


How to Avoid Airline Fees

By Lisa Gerstner From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Air travel these days is unpleasant enough, but getting charged a surprise airline fee is sure to make passengers even grumpier. Here are a few fees you may encounter and ways to avoid or limit them. Airline Baggage Fees Typical amount: $30 to $35 for the first checked…


Get the Most (or lose the least) in foreign Exchange

With COVID-19 restrictions falling, chances are that many of you are considering a trip to Europe or Asia this summer. That means paying in euros, francs, yen, or whatever when you’re at your destination. Unless you’re a currency speculator, you’ll almost always lose something in exchanging your dollars for whatever, but you can keep those…