Credit card rewards can be a nice perk on your everyday spending, but some Americans may be losing them to credit card interest charges. According to a new NerdWallet survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults, conducted online by The Harris Poll, 21% of Americans have used a credit card to earn rewards in the past 12 months despite having credit card debt.But here’s the thing: Credit card debt is expensive, and you’re likely spending more on interest than you’re earning on rewards if you’re carrying a balance.Interest outweighs credit card rewards within monthsLet’s say you get a new rewards…

A new credit card from financial technology company Mesa is promising a long-sought-after feature: the ability to earn credit card rewards on your mortgage payments, without incurring processing fees. Image courtesy of MesaThe $0-annual-fee Mesa Homeowners Card, issued by Celtic Bank, will add another layer of incentives to Mesa’s homeownership platform, which currently rewards you for getting a mortgage or refinancing through a lender or broker in their marketplace. Typically, it’s not advisable — and often impossible — to use a credit card to pay a home loan installment. Many mortgage lenders, credit cards issuers and/or card payment networks don’t…

For a limited time, all three Southwest consumer credit cards are altering their welcome offers for new cardholders. NerdWallet values Southwest miles at 1.5 cents, which means this new bonus is worth around $1,000, including the $400 statement credit, which can help holders reduce the balance they owe. Overall, this limited-time offer is worth more than what each card generally offers, although it does require a higher spending threshold. Previously, for example, new holders of each card could earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months.Apart from this new sign-up bonus, all other benefits…

The Healthcare Spending Visa Card — offered by financial technology company Lane Health and issued by Lead Bank — can be useful for those who need to finance a medical-related expense not covered by insurance. The $0-annual-fee card allows holders to link their Healthcare Savings Account (HSA) to pay for medical expenses over time and doesn’t charge interest on hospital and health care-related spending.However, holders can potentially incur hefty fees if they don’t meet repayment time frames. Plus, the card can only be used for health care-related spending and doesn’t earn rewards. If you don’t have a pending medical bill…

Consumers broke up with cash during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it doesn’t appear that they’re rushing to reconcile. Before the pandemic, Steffen Kaplan, a social media and visual consultant in the New York area, preferred using cash to credit cards. When we spoke in September 2020, he said cash helped him avoid overspending, but the coronavirus changed his spending habits.“I don’t carry cash around with me anymore,” Kaplan said at the time. “Given that we have to remember to wear a mask, not touch anything, and go home and wash our hands every two minutes, it just seems easier to…

The Holiday Inn Club Vacations timeshare program offers access to more than two-dozen resorts in the U.S. and Mexico if you participate in its “points-based vacation ownership.” That basically means you pay for a real estate interest and in return, you get points you can spend on vacation rentals.The Holiday Inn Club Vacations World Mastercard — issued by First Electronic Bank and managed by financial technology company Imprint — is a co-branded credit card for the Holiday Inn Club Vacations timeshare program. It earns rewards on vacation bookings and other costs associated with timeshare ownership and use. And while there’s…

» This page is out of date Offers described in this article are no longer available, so this page is out of date. For current information, see NerdWallet’s review of the World of Hyatt Credit Card.The World of Hyatt Credit Card has a limited-time welcome offer for new cardholders that could help with travel goals in the next year.Those who apply and are approved for the card through Oct. 31, 2024, get this sign-up bonus: Earn five category 1-4 Free Night Awards to use at Hyatt hotels after spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening the account. This…

For a limited time, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has increased its sign-up bonus, its biggest offer since June 2021. If the card has been on your wish list, now may be an opportune time to apply.Starting Oct. 3, 2024, new Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders can earn the following two-part welcome offer:A one-time $300 credit that can be used to book travel through Chase’s travel portal. The credit expires 12 months after account opening.60,000 bonus points worth $750 in travel after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.If you hit the $4,000 spending requirement for the…

High feesThe Imagine® Visa® Credit Card charges not just an annual fee, but it also charges a monthly account maintenance fee after the first year. Fee amounts differ depending on the credit limit you qualify for.Account maintenance fee (billed after the first year)$175 for the first year, then $49 per year.$180 annually, billed at $15 per month.$175 for the first year, then $49 per year.$180 annually, billed at $15 per month.$125 for the first year, then $49 per year.$180 annually, billed at $15 per month.$99 for the first year, then $49 per year.$180 annually, billed at $15 per month.Let’s say…

Smart Spending Tips on how to lower your credit utilization ratio. A credit card is an easy way to buy almost anything at any time. Impulse purchases, going out to dinner with friends, an extra drink at the bar, airline tickets and many other things that you must repay when you receive your credit card bill. Maxing out your credit cards and carrying high balances can affect your credit score. Why? Because using too much of the credit available to you, called credit utilization, is a big factor in setting credit scores. Too high of a utilization rate and your…