Do you have a credit card that you just don’t use anymore? Maybe a hasty in-store sign-up or a too-good-to-be-true introduction offer led you astray? Logically, canceling any unused credit cards makes sense — but pause just a moment. According to financial experts, canceling a card can often do more harm than good. However, there are ways to mitigate any damage, and knowing what steps to take before canceling — and alternatives to canceling — can help keep your finances in check. Read on for tips on what to do before you hit “cancel.”

How to Save Your Credit Score

One of the biggest concerns when canceling a credit card is your credit score — no one wants to take the hit. If you must cancel a credit card, there is a way to do it that won’t negatively impact your score. Reduce the damage by paying down all your credit card balances — not just the one you plan to close. Why do other credit cards matter if you’re only canceling one? It comes down to credit utilization, which measures how much available credit you use based on your credit reports. The more credit available (including combined credit card limits), the more significant the decrease in credit score. 

Say you have two credit cards: one is fully paid off with a $1,000 limit (that you plan on canceling), and the other has $1,000 due with a $1,000 limit. Before you cancel your card, your credit utilization is 50% because you have $2,000 in available credit between both cards but owe $1,000 overall. If you cancel the first card before paying off the second, your credit utilization jumps to 100% because now you only have $1,000 in available credit and owe $1,000.

The Surprising Impact on Credit History

The length of your credit history also impacts your credit score. Canceling a credit card can hurt or help your credit history, depending on what happened before you closed the account. FICO, the most popular consumer credit report, uses open and closed accounts in its calculations. Closed credit cards remain on your credit history for up to 10 years. If you made payments on time and paid off the card before you canceled it, this closed account will continue to help your credit score until it falls off your credit history report after the 10-year mark. If you frequently made late payments on the card, it will have a negative impact until it ages out of your credit history. 

What to do Instead of Canceling

Before canceling your card, call your credit card company and inquire about a retention offer, explaining that you’re considering closing your card. If your account is in good standing, they might offer you perks for not canceling. This can include bonus points or miles, an extension on a 0% APR, statement credits, or a waiver or reduction on the annual fee. It varies by credit card company and type of card, and while there are no guarantees on an offer, it’s worth a shot. 

You might also consider downgrading your card. Often, credit card companies offer different tiers of the same type of card (some with lower fees, better interest rates, etc.), albeit with fewer benefits. Because you are just switching cards and not canceling an account, it will not impact your credit score. Be sure to ask customer service how this will affect the rewards and points you already earned. You might have to use them before you switch your card if they can’t be transferred.

When to Cancel

Many experts advise against canceling credit cards, but occasionally, it’s unavoidable. A significant life change or accumulating too much debt are good reasons to cancel a card. It could also be a good idea to look elsewhere if a high interest rate or annual fee limits your financial freedom. If you’re looking for better benefits, it’s probably worth contacting the credit card company and inquiring about upgrading your card because this doesn’t count as an account cancellation and won’t impact your credit score. 

Remember to redeem your unused points and rewards before canceling, or you’ll probably lose them. Some carriers offer a grace period after canceling to use your rewards, so you must read up on their policy before closing your account. There are occasional exceptions to losing points, including a few cards that partner with specific airlines or hotels, because those rewards are posted to accounts outside the credit card company.

Rachel GreshWriter

Rachel Gresh is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer. When she’s not writing, you can find her wandering a museum, exploring an unfamiliar city, or baking something new in the kitchen.

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No one enjoys sitting in the dark when the power goes out, though it’s bound to happen occasionally. According to the Energy Information Administration, U.S. power customers averaged 5.5 hours of electricity interruptions in 2022. However, power outages aren’t just an inconvenience — they can cause unfortunate problems inside your home, such as a fridge full of spoiled food or burst pipes requiring cleanup and repair. Here’s how to keep your home — and yourself — safe until the lights return.

_{All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. Better Report may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.}

Notify Your Service Provider ASAP

First things first: Notify your service provider when the power goes off. While many electric companies can identify power outages for large groups of customers, it’s often difficult for them to discern each home that’s impacted, especially if the interruption is limited to just a few customers. Reporting an outage ensures your home isn’t left in the dark for longer than it needs to be.

Protect Your Home’s Pipes

Storms can knock out power any time of year, though power outages during cooler months can add extra pressure on pipes. You can protect your home’s pipes from freezing during extended outages by opening the under-sink cabinet drawers to help warm air circulate. Turning faucets to a trickle also helps since moving water won’t freeze.

Unplug Electronics to Prevent Damage

When power is restored, the sudden surge of electricity can damage electronics. During a blackout, it’s best to unplug appliances and disconnect other electronics from wall sockets to protect their delicate sensors and components from damage.

Keep Your Refrigerator and Freezer Closed

A typical full-sized refrigerator can keep food cold for about four hours without power, while freezers can hold their chilly temperatures for up to 48 hours. Keeping both units closed locks in cold temperatures for longer. However, you’ll need to take action if your power remains off for more than four hours — that means moving meat, dairy, and other temperature-sensitive foods to a cooler with ice to prevent spoilage.

Have a Backup Plan for Medical Devices and Supplies

Some health equipment and medications rely on electricity, such as breathing machines that need to be plugged in or insulin, which requires refrigeration. Creating a backup plan for alternative power sources before a power outage can keep medically necessary supplies operational. You may consider contacting your utility company to be added to a “priority reconnection service” list, which keeps service providers aware of homes that need power for life-supporting medical devices.

Heat and Cook Safely

Heating a meal or your home during an electricity outage can be tricky. Space heaters powered by a generator and fireplaces can provide some heat, though safety experts warn against using any fume-producing fuel sources inside. Never use a gas stove or oven to warm up; always use camp stoves and grills outdoors.

Use Candles With Care

Emergency candles can help brighten a room, though they’re not the safest light source during a power outage or weather emergency. If you have to use them, safety experts recommend using candle holders to prevent flames from tipping over and keeping candles away from flammable items such as curtains, furniture, and carpeting. A better option? Flashlights and lanterns that operate on batteries are safe to leave on if you exit the room and are easier to move around.

Take Precautions When Using Generators

A backup generator is great to have on hand for emergencies, though use it with a few safety tips in mind. Always keep a generator dry and never use one in rainy or flooded conditions. When refueling, always turn off a generator and let it cool before adding more gasoline to prevent accidental fires. Safety experts recommend only operating a generator outdoors (not in a garage) at least 20 feet from windows and doors to keep fumes and carbon monoxide from entering your home. 

Invest in an Emergency Radio

Emergency radios aren’t just for campouts or severe weather — they can help during power outages, too. Consider a model that can charge in multiple ways. Many low-cost models include hand crank, solar, battery-powered, and USB charging options. Most emergency radios can tune into the weather, and AM and FM radio stations, which can provide some entertainment while the internet is out. Plus, newer models often include a USB port, which can charge your phone in a pinch.

Nicole Garner MeekerWriter

Nicole Garner Meeker is a freelance writer, research editor, and Optimism contributor. Based in St. Louis, she’s an enthusiastic gardener, fiber artist, and connoisseur of fine snacks

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Bills, bills, bills: They may be ever-present in our daily lives, but they don’t have to be stressful. Between rising costs of living and everything from groceries to gas becoming more expensive, you should know that you have some flexibility in negotiating a lenient, more consumer-friendly payment plan for some of your expenses. Many companies will work with you since they would rather you pay in smaller increments than pay nothing at all — you just need to know which companies and how to approach them. Before you hit “send payment,” take a moment to research and potentially negotiate these six common bills.

Credit: PeopleImages/ iStock

Medical Bills

An estimated 100 million Americans are burdened by medical debt, but you can get help paying off your bills. Ask your healthcare provider or hospital’s billing department about financial assistance. Most nonprofit hospitals are legally required to provide some level of assistance to patients in need. Also, always request an itemized list of your charges. This receipt exposes inflated prices, giving you exactly what you need to negotiate further with the medical provider or your insurance company.

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Internet, Cable, and Cell Phone Bills

Many internet and cable providers offer a discounted rate to new customers for the first year. If your deal is about to expire, call the company to ask if new deals are available. If they say no, suggest canceling your service and switching providers to convince the company to offer you an extended promotional rate. This works exceptionally well in regions where many providers are competing for business.

You can negotiate your cell service down to a much lower rate using the same method. Tell the representative that you’re considering switching to a low-cost alternative and ask if they can reduce the price to a more affordable rate. They often lower your cell phone bill to stay competitive and keep your business.

Credit: andreswd/ iStock

Rent

There are several ways to negotiate a lower rent. When it’s time to renew, you can potentially avoid a raise in rent by agreeing to a longer lease or offering to pay several months upfront at the current rate. You can also offer to perform maintenance and repair duties in exchange for a lower rate. Not all landlords will be receptive to the idea, but if you’ve been a proven and reliable tenant, they may be willing to work with you to keep you in their property.

Credit: Valerii Apetroaiei/ iStock

Gym Memberships

Gyms offer year-round promotional rates to new members, but the lowest prices are often available at the start of each year to attract people trying to fulfill their New Year’s resolutions. Contact your gym’s billing office in early January to renegotiate your rate. Tell them you’re considering switching to another gym that offers lower rates to see if they will adjust your fees to keep you around. You can also try other strategies, such as using friends, family, and corporate referrals or seeing if you can get a discount for attending during off-peak periods.

Credit: hxyume/ iStock

Credit Card Bills

Many credit cards have sky-high interest rates that add up quickly. Fortunately, most providers will work with you if you request a reprieve — they would rather you pay them than declare bankruptcy. If this doesn’t work, there are other ways to negotiate a lower bill, such as paying your original balance in a lump-sum settlement or applying for a hardship program to temporarily suspend interest payments.

Credit: Marcus Lindstrom/ iStock

Parking Tickets

If you want to challenge your parking ticket before going to court, read it carefully for any disqualifying features from the issuer, such as an illegible signature or the wrong make or model of your car. If your car was parked correctly, take photos before moving it. Mail an appeal as soon as possible to prevent further late fees. If your ticket isn’t dismissed, you can avoid paying the total amount if you take it to court. By pleading not guilty, many courts will offer a reduced fine and a lesser charge in exchange for changing the plea to guilty.

Featured Image Credit: andreswd/ iStock

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The world of real estate can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a seller hoping to compete in a crowded market. Some houses can command hefty price tags for their curb appeal and cutting-edge features, and you may feel like your home lacks some of those unique qualities that attract buyers. That’s why it’s so important to spruce up your property before it hits the market, as everything from simple cosmetic upgrades to more complex renovations can produce a significant return on investment.

Energy-Efficient Doors and Windows

If a buyer notices drafty doors or windows, they may be deterred from buying your home, knowing they’ll eventually have to replace those features. While replacing doors and windows is expensive, homeowners can expect around a 70% return on their investment. Plus, installing energy-efficient doors and windows will save money on your energy bill while you still live at the property.

Smart Home Technology

The world is becoming increasingly reliant on smart technology, and buyers will pay a premium for homes that come preinstalled with sleek features such as smart thermostats and security systems. While a smart home system costs several thousand dollars to install, 81% of potential buyers say they’d be more likely to purchase a home with built-in smart technology.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Applying a fresh coat of paint to a home’s walls yields a 107% return on investment. Furthermore, a new coat of exterior paint will generate a 55% return on investment and create major curb appeal. In fact, potential buyers will pay as much as $6,000 for a front door that pops, with black being the most popular option.

Custom Cabinets

Old kitchen cabinets are unattractive and often don’t provide enough storage space for modern kitchen needs. Refitting the kitchen with custom cabinets is a pricey renovation but one that buyers will take note of. This upgrade can lead to a 10% to 15% increase in your home’s value.

A Finished Basement

While some buyers may be attracted to the idea of unfinished spaces as blank canvases, others don’t want the hassle of dealing with future projects. Consider adding some drywall and carpeting to transform your basement into a room worth spending time in. Finished basements can lead to a 70% ROI.

An Open-Floor Concept

Open floor concepts add up to 15% to a home’s overall value, which is a huge payoff considering the comparatively low cost of knocking out a few walls. While some walls are load-bearing and must stay in place, removing unnecessary barriers to connect your living space with your kitchen will be deeply attractive to curious buyers.

A Stovetop Pot Filler

Dedicated pot fillers are an inexpensive way to add value to your home. These features are installed right above the stove and allow you to fill a pot conveniently without having to carry it across the kitchen. Little things like this cost a few hundred dollars to install yet can produce as much as a 3.2% increase in a home’s value.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/ Unsplash+

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It might seem counterintuitive that a dishwasher needs to be cleaned, but it does. Food and grease from your glasses, plates, utensils, pots, and pans can cling to a dishwasher’s racks and interior, creating a mess that a regular cycle can’t adequately scrub. Additionally, the soap cleaning your dishware can leave behind a residue, making your dishwasher look dirty over time. Luckily, cleaning your dishwasher is one of the easiest tasks you’ll ever do, and the only cleanser you need is vinegar.

How to Clean Your Dishwasher With Vinegar

Before you run a vinegar cycle, prep your dishwasher by scrubbing the filter with soap and hot water. If you’ve never done this, check your owner’s manual. Usually, you only need to twist the filter to remove it. While at it, wipe around the filter’s opening to remove any crud — leftover food bits can get trapped in the filter, leading to unpleasant smells. 

Vinegar’s high acidity makes it effective at cleaning. Still, it’s not helpful to just dump vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher — the vinegar should be evenly dispersed throughout the wash cycle. The best way to do this is to pour 1 cup of white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe coffee mug or bowl that is heavy enough to remain upright during the cycle. (You can also use apple cider vinegar in a pinch.) Place the container on the top rack of an empty dishwasher and run on a hot water cycle. The vinegar will gradually be pulled out of the vessel and work its magic. 

Run a Vinegar Cycle Once a Month

However, too much of a good thing can sometimes be bad. With excessive use, vinegar’s high acidity can damage your dishwasher’s rubber gaskets and hoses, so only run a vinegar cycle once a month. Also, never put undiluted vinegar in the detergent or rinse aid compartments, as the vinegar won’t properly distribute in the wash cycle. Finally, only clean your dishwasher when it’s empty of other items. If salt is in the dishwasher during the vinegar cycle, it can tarnish metal utensils, bowls, and pans.

_{Featured Image Credit: DragonImages/ iStock}

Paula Peters ChambersWriter

Paula Peters Chambers writes for general-interest and specialty magazines. She covers everything from people and business profiles to science and medicine to the arts and home design and decor. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she enjoys baking, ringing handbells, and listening to live music.

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There’s no way around it: Having good credit is, well, good. It makes renting a nice apartment easier, buying a big car simpler, and your life less stressful. But it’s easy to slip into less-than-good habits and let your score dip. Luckily, there are some ways to help boost your credit score that don’t require a lot of effort.

Regularly Check Your Credit Score

Checking your credit score doesn’t boost the number, but it will be hard to get into a practice of improving your score if you’re not routinely aware of what’s going on with your credit. You can do a free credit check through sites like Equifax and Credit Karma and some banks and credit card companies. Despite what people say, regularly checking your credit score will not lower it. However, hard inquiries, like when applying for a loan, will impact your score, so be mindful of that.

Keep Balances Low

Experts agree that the easiest way to boost your credit score is to keep your credit balance low, meaning don’t spend more on your credit cards than you have. The average recommended maximum for regular credit use is around 30% of your available credit. 

Ask to Increase Your Credit Limit

This one might sound counterintuitive — if you’re trying to boost your score, isn’t it better to spend less and have lower credit limits? Actually, asking your bank or credit card company to raise your credit limit shows that you can be trusted with having more cash available and still spending wisely.  

Pay Your Monthly Bills in Full

It might be tempting just to pay the minimum amount due on your monthly bills, but doing so will accrue interest fees, and the more your balance accumulates, the harder it will be to pay off, damaging your credit score. If you have outstanding balances, try to pay them off before using any credit cards again

Pay Rent and Utilities On Time

While rent and utility payments don’t factor directly into your credit score, you can always use the documentation of your on-time payments as proof that you are a responsible spender if your score is low. Programs like Experian Boost or VantageScore will help you get credit for bills such as cell phones, utilities, and rent.

Don’t Ignore Billing Mistakes

It’s possible that there’s been a mistake or a missed payment throughout your spending career that never got addressed. While avoiding dealing with that might feel like the easier thing to do, past-due payments can lower your score by hundreds of points. Deal with these difficulties sooner than later to get back on track with your score.

Consolidate Your Debt

If you have overdue debts across multiple credit cards, you might be able to take out a loan to combine all of those debts into one big payment. It’ll be easier to pay off those debts when they’re pooled, and you’ll be able to lower your interest.

Keep Old Accounts Open

Maybe you got your first credit card in high school or college, and maybe you got it with points for a store you no longer shop at — it’s happened to many of us. While it’s tempting to close that card, it’s actually better for your credit score to keep those accounts open and make an odd purchase here and there to keep that line of credit.

Limit How Often You Apply for New Credit Cards

While it might be tempting to cash in on sign-up bonuses and points packages with a new credit card, it’s worse for your credit score in the long term to keep signing up for new accounts. It’s best to maintain your current and older cards rather than jump ship to new ones, which symbolizes a lack of stability.

Talk to a Credit Counselor

If you’re at a loss for dealing with debt or boosting your credit score, talk to a certified credit counselor. They’ll help you get short and long-term goals to get your credit score up and feel more financially on track.

_{Featured Image Credit: Prostock-Studio/ iStock}

Fran HoepfnerWriter

Fran Hoepfner is a writer and teacher living in Brooklyn. She’s an editor at large for the independent film magazine Bright Wall/Dark Room, and her fiction writing has appeared in Joyland, Burrow Press, and Peach Magazine.

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Every decade brings innovations that make life easier, cutting down the time and effort required to complete our daily chores and tasks. You won’t find any argument here for holding on to old tools in favor of newer, better-working — and often time-saving — household gadgets. However, in some cases, newer isn’t always better. On occasion, the tools used by our parents and grandparents get the job done just as well, if not better. Check out these popular household gadgets used by prior generations that are still perfectly useful in your home today.

_{All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. Better Report may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.}

Cake Breaker

Why haphazardly cut into a perfectly baked and iced cake that took hours to complete, when you could instead reach for a cake breaker? These oversized, comblike tools were first patented in 1932 but remain useful today, helping to break light and delicate cakes (such as angel food cake) into slices, without smashing them or creating a crumbly mess.

Potato Ricer

The fluffiest mashed potatoes come not from a handheld masher or a mixer but from a potato ricer. This handheld tool that resembles an upsized garlic press forces boiled potatoes through fine grates to break apart lumps. The result is silky potatoes that aren’t gummy or over-mashed.

Crumb Brushes

Wiping away dinner crumbs with a kitchen towel is easy enough, but it usually requires a dustpan to catch the scraps or a vacuum to collect what’s fallen onto the floor. Crumb brushes (or sweepers) once solved this problem, gliding along tabletops to pick up tiny morsels much like larger floor sweepers, and holding onto them until they could be dumped in the garbage bin. 

Toast Rack

No one likes soggy toast, which is why toast racks have been around for so long. These table-topping stands promote air circulation, keeping toast perfectly crisp. You can still find them today in various styles that feel modern or are reminiscent of grandma’s house.

Carpet Beater

Vacuuming rugs helps to keep them in great shape, but it’s not always effective at freeing deeply embedded dirt particles. Enter the carpet beater, a tool many rug-owning households of the past used to shake out dirt from carpeted floor coverings easily. Carpet beaters began to fall out of fashion in the 1950s thanks to the popularity of vacuums, though using one today can help your rugs get their best cleaning yet.

Butter Mold

Before the days of store-bought butter, farmers and homemakers made their own supply of the dairy spread, sometimes shaping the blocks or stamping them with elaborate designs. Making your own butter gives you control over flavor and freshness — and you can take your churn up a notch with a decorative butter mold or stamp. 

_{Featured Image Credit: Andrej Rutar/ iStock}

Nicole Garner MeekerWriter

Nicole Garner Meeker is a freelance writer, research editor, and Optimism contributor. Based in St. Louis, she’s an enthusiastic gardener, fiber artist, and connoisseur of fine snacks.

96 total views, 4 views today

It’s a universal and irritating cooking experience: your scrambled eggs have stuck to the skillet, leaving the food cemented to the pan. Even with the best non-stick pan, food sometimes just sticks anyway, leaving many home cooks confused about what went wrong. Temperature and oil use are usually at play, though you can do a few things to decrease the chances of your food requiring heavy scraping to be released from the pan. Here’s why food sticks to the pan and how to keep it from happening.

Your Pan’s Surface May Play a Role

There are so many types of frying pans to choose from — nonstick, cast-iron, and ceramic, for example — and not all are created equally or used the same. Each of these pans requires different cooking temperatures and preheating techniques, so knowing your pan type and how to cook on it makes a difference.

• Nonstick pans are typically finished with chemical compounds that create a barrier between the skillet’s metal to prevent sticking. They should be preheated with a small amount of oil or butter added to the cold pan and never used on high heat.

• Cast-iron pans get their stick-free status thanks to a heavily baked-in seasoning that requires little additional oil in the pan, though the surface only remains smooth with careful upkeep.

• Ceramic pans are made from stainless steel or aluminum coated with a thin layer of baked-in clay glazing. This coating makes them smooth cooking surfaces, though these pans require gentle cooking and cleaning (meaning no metal spatulas or rough dish scrubbers) to prevent scrapes and scratches that destroy the pan’s ceramic barrier.

Your Heated Pan Needs Oil or Fat

Oils and fats — like olive oil, butter, or ghee — are important tools in your cooking arsenal. They don’t just provide flavor to your finished dish; using one of these ingredients to coat your warmed pan or skillet creates a chemical barrier between the pan’s surface and your food. All pans have microscopic cracks, crevices, and ridges that are invisible to the naked eye. When pans heat up, the expanding metal traps food in those spaces, where it sticks and burns. Adding oils and fats to the pan lubricates the surface, creating a barrier that keeps food from falling into these tiny traps.

You’re Cooking at the Wrong Temperature

Preheating pans to the proper temperature makes all the difference in stick-free sauteing. In a too-cool pan, oil isn’t hot enough to sear food, and the ingredients soak up the oil, making them stick to the pan and giving them an oily, bogged-down taste. Conversely, too-hot pans burn food before it can cook through.

Your Ingredients Are Too Wet

The amount of moisture in your food plays a role in whether or not it sticks to a hot skillet. The extra water in the pan drops its temperature, cooling the skillet and increasing the odds of food soaking up oil (not to mention causing oil to pop and splatter). Freshly washed ingredients should be blotted or dried in a salad spinner to reduce moisture, and damp meat and other damp proteins should be patted with a paper towel before adding them to a heated pan.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. Better Report may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Featured Image Credit: Tempura/ iStock

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DEBT HELP – DEBT RELIEF

Paying off credit card debt is easier than you think if you have the right plan.

If you want to pay off your credit card debt fast, you’re not alone — over a third of Americans carry a credit card balance month to month.

But here’s the secret:

Getting out of credit card debt might actually be easier than you think. Yes, it may take some time and a little work, but it’s possible as long as you have the right plan.

Read on to find 6 clever ways you wouldn’t normally consider that can help you pay off your credit card debt … potentially faster than you thought possible.

1. Ask this company to pay off your credit card debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief is designed specifically to help you get out of credit card debt faster, without having to make drastic life changes. With National Debt Relief, you could pay off your credit card debt (with potentially way less interest) in one simple monthly payment.

How to get National Debt Relief to pay off your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can immediately assist you in paying off your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

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Imagine getting 18 months with 0% intro APR on a balance transfer. Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with this industry-leading card – the Citi Double Cash® Card (Rates and fees).

If you want to kick high-interest credit card debt to the curb, this is one of the leading get-out-of-debt cards available. Transfer your high interest debt to this card with a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After the intro period for balance transfers, the APR is 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable). Your payments can go directly to paying down your balance without incurring a pile of additional charges. That could save you hundreds of dollars in interest!

It doesn’t stop with balance transfers though. Cardholders can also earn double cash back — 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. The best part – you can redeem your cash back as direct deposit, a statement credit, or even a mailed check! You can turn your everyday purchases into cash back and make a dent in your debt, regular bills, or save for the future.

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3. Stop overpaying when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It’s super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don’t always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it’ll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you’re buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

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4. Cancel your car insurance

We’ve got bad news. You could be wasting $500 every year on overpriced, second-rate car insurance. And you should probably cancel your existing insurance right now, because there’s something much better.

This new tool from FinanceBuzz can tell you if you’re overpaying for your car insurance in just a few clicks. We match drivers with companies that report saving drivers up to $500 or more per year when they save! Each driver’s savings will vary by driving history and how many discounts you’re eligible for. And once you try it out, you’ll never have to look for affordable insurance again because we find you the lowest rates that other companies can’t match.

Oh, and it’s also free. And come on — you can’t tell us you don’t want to save up to $500. To find out if you’re losing up to $500 or more a year, just enter your zip code here, answer a few questions and see if you’re overpaying. It takes less than 2 minutes.

See if you’re overpaying

5. Borrow up to $50k to finally crush your debt

Looking for some cash to pay off credit card debt? A personal loan could help.

Our partner AmONE will match you with loan providers to fit your specific needs. Just fill out one quick application and they’ll show you multiple loan offers. There’s no application fee and no minimum credit score needed to apply.

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Ask this company to help pay off your credit card debt

If you owe over $10,000 in debt tap the link below, answer a few simple questions. It only takes 30 seconds to see if you qualify!

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No one loves going to the doctor, but it’s a necessary part of life — and the older we get, the more doctors we need to see regularly to maintain our health. It can feel overwhelming to track how often you should visit which doctor, so we compiled a list of doctors you should regularly see so you won’t be confused again.

Primary Care Physician — Every Year

You should visit your primary care physician once a year to get a physical and discuss any health concerns. Your doctor will measure your height and weight, listen to your heart, check your blood pressure, and complete a blood panel, among other things. Getting blood drawn is important because it can show underlying health issues such as high cholesterol and vitamin deficiencies. Your primary care physician can also refer you to specialists and other doctors should you need them.

Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OBGYN) — Every Year

Young women should start going to the gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15 and continue to see one annually for a pap smear and pelvic and breast exams. Once you turn 40, you should start getting mammograms to screen for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that women between 40-44 have the option to get an annual mammogram, women between 45 to 54 should get a yearly mammogram, and women 55 and older can switch to bi-annual mammograms as long as they’re in good health.

Optometrist — Varies With Age

Rules on when to visit the optometrist for an eye exam are fuzzy (pun intended). If you don’t have any vision problems, the American Optometric Association recommends going every two years between the ages of 19 and 64 and then annually after that. People who wear glasses or contact lenses or have eye-related health issues, such as cataracts or astigmatism, should visit annually.

Dentist — Every Six Months

It’s been long drilled in our heads to visit the dentist every six months for a cleaning — and that holds. Dental problems aren’t always visible to the naked eye and may not cause pain. It’s important to get checked out for gum disease, cavities, and other dental issues that could cause issues in the long run. Plus, is there a better feeling than freshly cleaned teeth after a dentist visit?

Dermatologist — Every Year

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends visiting the dermatologist once a year for an annual skin check. During this brief, painless exam, the doctor will look for any skin irregularities that may be a sign of skin cancer, such as atypical moles and pigmentation. You may visit more regularly if other issues, such as warts or acne, arise.

Gastroenterologist — Every 10 Years

While prepping for a colonoscopy isn’t the most fun way to spend a day, getting one done is important for the early detection of colorectal cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that people with an average risk of colorectal cancer should start regular colonoscopies at 45, and those in good health should continue to get one every 10 years through age 75. If you have an increased or high risk of colorectal cancer — due to family history or other factors — you may need to start screening earlier and more often per your gastroenterologist’s orders.

Proctologist — Varies With Age

While prostate cancer is slow-growing, precautions should still be taken. The American Cancer Society has several recommendations based on the risk of prostate cancer for when men need to start testing:

• Men at average risk should start at 50.

• Men at high risk — including African Americans and men with a first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer — should start at 45.

• Men at higher risk — those with more than one first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer — should start at 40.

In general, a prostate exam consists of two components: a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam. Your results will determine when you need to get tested next. According to the American Cancer Society, men with a PSA less than 2.5 ng/mL may only need to be retested every two years, and screenings should be done annually for men with a PSA higher than 2.5 ng/mL.

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