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1 week ago | 
upgradedpoints.com | Alex Miller
Key Takeaways In 2025, the typical U.S. buyer would need a 41% down payment to afford the payments on a median-priced home. It would take nearly 13 years to save the approximately $148,000 required. A buyer could afford the monthly payments with 20% down or less in just 4 of America’s 54 largest cities. Over the past 4 years, home affordability in the U.S. has rapidly deteriorated.
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3 weeks ago | 
upgradedpoints.com | Alex Miller
There’s a fine line between arriving early enough for your flight and spending unnecessary time waiting at the gate. While most travelers follow the general rule of getting to the airport 2 hours before takeoff, that buffer might not cut it at every airport. From packed terminals and long security lines to sprawling layouts and unpredictable traffic, some airports make getting to your gate more of a challenge.
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1 month ago | 
upgradedpoints.com | Alex Miller
The dream of whisking away to a storybook honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast or in Bali sounds great — but for many newlyweds, budget realities bring things closer to home. Fortunately, a romantic and memorable honeymoon doesn’t have to require a passport or a 5-figure budget. In this post-wedding study, we analyzed 75+ of the most vacation-worthy towns and cities in the U.S. to uncover the very best domestic honeymoon destinations.
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1 month ago | 
upgradedpoints.com | Alex Miller
Key Takeaways Most Americans receive refunds: Roughly three-quarters of all tax filers receive refunds, averaging nearly $3,300 annually. Refunds vary by income: Average refunds increase with household income; however, high-income taxpayers are the least likely to receive refunds.
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1 month ago | 
upgradedpoints.com | Alex Miller |Keri Stooksbury
Waiting until the last minute to book a flight? That could be a budget-friendly move … or an expensive mistake. Conventional wisdom says booking early is the best way to save on airfare, but last-minute fares don’t always follow the rules. When booking with some airlines, delaying your purchase might actually land you a cheaper ticket, while on others, prices climb the closer you get to departure. So, how much does timing really matter when booking a flight?
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1 month ago | 
upgradedpoints.com | Alex Miller |Keri Stooksbury
For frequent travelers, navigating airport security can feel like a gamble. Some days, you fly through the line without a problem, and on other days, you’re caught snaking through the terminal, having your patience tested before the trip even begins. That’s where TSA PreCheck comes in. The program is designed to speed up the security process and make travel less stressful. But does it actually deliver on that promise?
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1 month ago | 
flipboard.com | Alex Miller
5 hours agoOhio’s double-cross on marijuana tax money betrays the deal voters approved: Leila AtassiLAKEWOOD, Ohio – Spend five minutes in Lakewood and you get it. This is one of Ohio’s most vibrant, progressive cities—an eclectic west side hub, …4 hours agoHe calls himself LA’s rags-to-riches pot billionaire.
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1 month ago | 
upgradedpoints.com | Alex Miller |Keri Stooksbury
Dreaming of a cannabis-friendly getaway? Your travel options are greener than ever — and so is the industry. With the U.S. cannabis market expected to hit nearly $45 billion in revenue in 2025, more cities than ever are catering to weed tourism. Back in 2022, we crunched the numbers to find the best U.S. cities for a cannabis vacation, but with more states legalizing recreational marijuana (welcome to the party, Delaware, Minnesota, Ohio, and others!), it was time for an update.
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2 months ago | 
upgradedpoints.com | Alex Miller |Keri Stooksbury
Key Takeaways National Purchasing Power Decline: Real wages declined 3.2% between December 2020 and December 2024 as prices (+21.2%) outpaced nominal wages (+17.3%). Regional Differences: Baltimore (-14.0%), Dallas (-12.1%), and Boston (-11.2%) experienced the steepest declines in real wages. Positive Outliers: Tampa, Florida (+3.5%) and Houston (+6.3%) were the only major metros where wage growth outpaced inflation.
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2 months ago | 
upgradedpoints.com | Alex Miller |Keri Stooksbury
As travelers gear up for spring break or begin making early summer vacation plans, many find that rising costs make getaways feel out of reach. However, despite elevated airline prices in recent years, budget-conscious travelers still have options for long-distance domestic travel. Some flight routes spanning over 1,800 miles continue to offer surprisingly affordable fares, providing opportunities to explore more distant destinations without breaking the bank.
