Harlan Vaughn

Memphis

Personal Finance Writer, Out and Out at Freelance

⚡️dad x3, travel expert, writer @BoardingArea. founder of Points Hub. join us!⚡️✈️💰 Check out my links ↙️:

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Articles

May 2025 Freedom update

1 month ago | outandout.boardingarea.com | Harlan Vaughn

Talk about a recovery. As of today, I’m up $46,000 vs. last month and a hair’s breadth of 75% to my $500,000 goal. Real estate stuff: The cabin isn’t happening. Update 5/16/25: Yes it is!It’s not a “never,” but a “not right now.” Long story short, the zoning office was requiring that I pave a 20-foot road, complete with curb, gutter, and fire hydrant, and were throwing the book at me about it. Update 5/16/25: They dropped this requirement.
Guide To The 2025 Discover Cash Back Calendar | Bankrate

2 months ago | bankrate.com | Harlan Vaughn

This guide explains the Discover cash back rewards calendar, which lists Discover’s rotating categories for 2025.
Getting A Free Night: Here's How Many Points You Need At Hilton, Marriott And More

Mar 14, 2025 | bankrate.com | Benet Wilson |Benét J. Wilson |Harlan Vaughn

Key takeaways Hotel credit cards offer various ways to earn free nights, such as credit card offers, loyalty programs or with a certain number of nights booked. Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt and Wyndham are the top five hotel brands that use different ways to redeem free hotel nights.
Does Using Mobile Payments Keep You From Earning Rewards?

Feb 27, 2025 | bankrate.com | Holly Johnson |Harlan Vaughn

In most cases, digital wallet purchases deliver the same rewards as physical card transactions. Some cards even offer enhanced rewards for digital purchases, as in the case of Apple Pay credit card rewards with the Apple Card. Read your cards’ fine print and to check with each issuer’s customer support team if your rewards don’t post appropriately. There are all kinds of myths about credit card rewards and credit scores, although many of them have been proven false over the years.
Statement Balance vs. Current Balance

Feb 18, 2025 | bankrate.com | Katie Kelton |John Egan |Harlan Vaughn

The statement balance is the amount owed at the end of your billing cycle, while the current balance is the amount you owe at a particular moment. Your statement balance can differ from your current balance due to recent transactions or refunds. You can avoid interest charges by paying the statement balance or the current balance on time. Your balance affects your credit utilization ratio, which is a major factor in your credit score.
February 2025 Freedom update

Feb 10, 2025 | outandout.boardingarea.com | Harlan Vaughn

The comments on last month’s update hit me hard, particularly this one about taking on a Sisyphean task. They got me thinking about money and tools and this whole journey I’m on. And a lot of things snapped:I pulled $40,000 in contributions from my Roth IRA. Paid off one of those pesky credit cards (and all lingering credit card debt!)Bought a house from a tax saleSet up a future inheritance with an attorneyAnd can I just say how much LIGHTER I feel? How much that was needed?
Can You Go To Jail For Credit Card Debt?

Feb 10, 2025 | bankrate.com | Harlan Vaughn |Brooklyn Lowery |Beverly Harzog

Creditors cannot have you arrested for credit card debt, but they can sue you for payment. If sued and you do not respond, a default judgment may award creditors everything they’ve asked for and result in garnishment of your wages or other actions to recover their losses. Options for getting out of credit card debt include developing a debt management plan, consolidating debt, talking to your lender or declaring bankruptcy.
Can you go to jail for credit card debt?

Feb 10, 2025 | katu.com | Harlan Vaughn

Can you go to jail for credit card debt? by Harlan VaughnMon, February 10th 2025 at 7:11 AMWitthaya Prasongsin / Getty Images
Can you go to jail for credit card debt?

Feb 10, 2025 | idahonews.com | Harlan Vaughn

Ericka Smith ended her marriage in 2024 with several credit cards and $25,000 in card debt. “We didn’t really talk to each other about money,” the 30-year-old Navy veteran and Washington state resident said. “It was just kind of like, she wanted it, or I wanted it, and we just did it.”The subject turned into a major stressor and a contributor to health issues Smith found herself dealing with.
Southwest Partners With Icelandair To Offer Europe Flights

Jan 24, 2025 | nerdwallet.com | Harlan Vaughn

Southwest is set to start flying with its first airline partner, Icelandair, in February. Next month, flyers can start booking itineraries that include flights with both carriers, connecting at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to start. In the future, flyers will also be able to fly a mixed Southwest-Icelandair itinerary with a layover in Denver International Airport (DEN) or Nashville International Airport (BNA), though specific dates have yet to be announced.