Brooklyn Lowery

1 week ago | bankrate.com | Katie Kelton |Brooklyn Lowery

If your travel taste leans toward “all-inclusive island resort” but your budget demands “overcrowded seaside motel,” there might be a middle ground. Destination dupes are affordable alternatives to those Instagrammable, yet often overpriced, locales. Many welcoming vacation spots fly under the radar, overshadowed by flashy images from the same scenic overlook that has tourists lining up for a photo. But what if you didn’t have to knock elbows for a view?

2 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Ted Rossman |Brooklyn Lowery

Airlines are notorious for nickel-and-diming their passengers. It wasn’t too long ago that you could check bags for free. But in 2008, American Airlines became the first major U.S. carrier to implement checked bag fees. Others quickly followed, and the fees haven’t stopped there. Many airlines now impose fees for carry-on luggage, seat selection and more. It’s not uncommon to be charged for sodas on some flights, as my family was on a recent Frontier Airlines flight.

3 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Ted Rossman |Brooklyn Lowery

You’ve likely heard that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. Or that April showers bring May flowers. Here’s another truism to add to that list: Credit card balances don’t rise in the first quarter of the year. That was once again true in 2025, as balances fell to $1.18 trillion in Q1, down $29 billion (2.4 percent) from Q4 2024, according to the New York Fed. Over the past 22 years, credit card balances fell from Q4 to Q1 on 21 occasions, and they were flat once (in 2023).

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Ted Rossman |Brooklyn Lowery

Almost two-thirds of Americans with credit card debt (64 percent) have delayed or avoided other financial decisions because of that debt, according to Bankrate’s 2025 Dealing With Debt Survey. Emergency savings (34 percent), health and wellness (26 percent) and investing (23 percent) were the most-cited categories that credit card debtors put off or avoided entirely. In many respects, credit card debt and emergency savings represent two sides of the same coin.

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Katie Kelton |Brooklyn Lowery

Thrifting is a way to save money while spending on discretionary items like clothes and furniture. In light of recession worries, more Americans are opting for secondhand shopping and cheaper brands. Certain credit cards offer cash back or travel rewards when you shop at thrift stores, online resellers and more. Many of us enjoy the feeling of retail therapy. Whether it’s designer bags or backpacking gear, we love buying that shiny object in the store or receiving it on our front porch.