FNBO Amtrak Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred card is offering a signup bonus of 35,000 points when you spend $2,000 within the first three billing cycles.
The no-fee card also bumped the bonus to 12,000.
Card Details
Annual fee of $99 is not waived
Complimentary Companion Coupon, One-Class Upgrade and a single-day
ClubAcela pass for access to ClubAcela, Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge or First class
Card earns at the following rates:
3 points per $1 spent with Amtrak
2 points per $1 spent on all other qualifying travel and dining purchases
1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases No foreign transaction fees
5% Amtrak Guest Rewards point rebate when you book your Amtrak redemption
Our Verdict
Not as good as the 40,000 point bonus that has been offered twice. Hopefully we see an increased offer with a dummy booking, but that hasn’t happened with this FNBO card yet.
JAL has launched a new credit card with two tiers (basic & premium). Details are as follows:
Annual fee (waived first year)
$35 annual fee for basic tier
$85 annual fee for premium tier
Sign up bonus:
5,000 bonus miles after $3,000 in spend (basic & premium)
Additional 5,000 bonus miles when you spend an additional $2,000 within three months (premium only)
Card earns at the following rates:
Spend on JAL airlines (2x for premium)
All other spend (0.5x for basic, 1x for premium)
No foreign transaction fees
5,000 bonus miles when you you book your first JAL flight (one time use only, even if you apply for a second card)
10% sector bonus miles for every flight
5% discount at HND and NRT duty free, 10% discount at JAL in-flight purchase and wifi
5k bonus mile after you use international flight by JAL
no annual fee in the first year, but $35/$85 from the second year respectively
SUB: 5k after spending 3k within 3month for Basic, additional 5k if you spend 2k more for premium within 3 month
Earn 5 JAL life status points every $1,500. (Theoretically, this makes 470k spending on this card gives you JGC status a.k.a. lifetime one world Sapphire as long as you hold this card and pay 2k mile annually). Combination with tier run can reduce the cost of getting this too.
Miles expire after 3 years of earning unless you are in JGC premiere or JAL diamond status holder.
Our Verdict
Doesn’t really look worth it unless you fly JAL a lot, but better than the previous offering.
Capital One is rebranding the SavorOne Cash Rewards Card to Capital One Savor Cash Rewards. This is particularly confusing as Capital One used to offer another card called Capital One Savor Cash Rewards and this legacy card earns 4% on dining. The rebranded SavorOne Cash Rewards Card (now called Savor Cash Rewards Card) will continue to offer no annual fee, 3% on dining and has a limited time $250 sign up bonus.
By trying to simplify the card line up Capital One has actually made things even more confusing.
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice. See Lexington Law’s editorial disclosure for more information.
Many Americans don’t closely track their finances or know what their current credit score is. Being financially literate, especially when it comes to credit usage, can make it much easier to manage your finances and, over time, improve your situation. The good news is that numerous personal finance tools are available today to make things easier than ever.
Keep reading to learn more about the top four personal finance tools you should start using today.
What are financial tools?
Financial tools are apps or services that help you track and manage your financial transactions. These tools can help you stay within your spending limits, meet your financial goals and make informed financial decisions.
Today, you can access many of these tools online through a secure platform or app. For many, these tools are an essential part of financial management. They help simplify the financial tracking process and make it easier to understand your current financial status.
Top 4 types of personal finance tools available
1. Budgeting tools
Financial freedom doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes careful planning and continuous tracking of where you spend every dollar. This is why maintaining a personal budget is so important. Keeping a budget can ensure you’re saving enough to meet your future needs, preventing you from spending more money than you earn and helping you create an emergency fund.
Fortunately, you no longer need to rely on pen and paper to keep a budget and track your spending. Instead, there are a number of online tools you can use to quickly track where you spend every dime. While Mint has been a popular budgeting tool for many consumers, it’s ceasing operations as of January 1, 2024. Whether you’re looking for a Mint replacement or your first budgeting app, here’s a look at the top options available.
You Need A Budget: Commonly referred to as YNAB, this tool uses the zero-based budget system to track every dollar you earn and spend. The easy-to-use finance tool lets you link all your accounts, including bank accounts, credit cards and loan payments, to help you get a clear view of your financial status.
Goodbudget: This online tool uses the popular envelope budgeting system to ensure you’re tracking every dollar you spend. While you can’t link your bank account to Goodbudget, you can import data from your bank to keep everything up to date. The app shows you how much money you have left to spend in each category.
PocketGuard: PocketGuard is a simplified budgeting tool that links to your bank accounts, credit accounts and loans. It automatically tracks your bills to let you know how much you have left to spend. While it doesn’t have all the special features you might find with other budgeting apps, it’s a good choice for those who prefer a straightforward approach to budget tracking.
HoneyDue: This online budgeting tool is ideal for couples who want to sync their accounts. It lets users customize their own settings for what information they want to share with each other and how to split expenses. HoneyDue also offers special features such as bill reminders and goal setting.
2. Online banking tools
Nearly all banks, credit unions and credit card companies offer online services. Chances are, you already use these online tools to track your account balance, deposits and charges. While using these tools for basic services is a good first step, these apps offer so much more. Here’s a look at several other online services most financial institutions offer.
Online bill payment: Most banks and credit unions let you use their online platform to pay bills. This great feature allows you to instantly make payments online so you can avoid late payment fees.
Mobile check deposit: Fortunately, you don’t have to run to the bank every time you want to deposit a check. You can deposit it directly through your mobile device. In many cases, you can see funds from these deposits in your account almost immediately or the next day.
Transfer funds: When that work bonus hits your bank account, you don’t have to risk spending more of it than you planned. Instead, use your online banking platform to transfer the funds from your checking to your savings account instantly.
Credit score: Some banks and credit unions provide their customers with a look at their credit score. This feature can help you track your score over time.
3. Investment tools
According to the latest Gallup poll, 61 percent of adults in the United States own some type of stock. For many, their stock ownership is limited to their 401(k), but your investment options don’t have to stop there. Many online tools are ideal for beginner and long-time investors.
Best of all, you don’t need a lot of money to invest. In fact, you can get started with your spare change. If you’re ready to start building your investment portfolio, check out these online investment tools.
Acorns: Acorns is a good option for those just starting to invest. There are no minimum deposit requirements when you sign up for its Round-Ups program. This program rounds up every transaction you make to the nearest whole dollar. It then uses these funds to automatically invest your money and build your portfolio.
RobinHood: RobinHood is a popular investment app for those who want to take charge of their own investment options. There are no minimum balance requirements or commission fees, which is great for those looking for a low-cost way to start investing in the stock market. RobinHood even lets users buy cryptocurrency.
Fidelity: If you’re looking for an online tool that offers a hands-off approach to investment while also helping you better understand the stock market, Fidelity may be the right option for you. The combination of its robo-advisor services and online resources and tools make it easy to build a customized investment strategy.
Betterment: Through the Betterment app, you can start investing with as little as $10. This app lets you set your financial goals, risk level and starting amount. With these details, it automatically creates an investment plan to help you reach your goals.
4. Credit-related tools
Many people fail to understand the full impact their credit score has on their overall financial health. For instance, you may already know that your credit report and credit score can impact your ability to secure a credit card or obtain a car or home loan. But did you also know your credit score can determine your ability to rent an apartment, land a job or set up utilities in your name without a deposit?
It’s crucial you stay up to date on your credit score and credit report. First, tracking your credit can alert you to drops in your score and give you time to take steps to address any issues. Second, understanding issues on your credit report lets you create a strategy for repairing or rebuilding your credit.
Finally, regularly examining your credit report can help you quickly identify any errors that are wrongfully hurting your credit and take steps to fix them. It can also help you guard against identity theft.
You’re entitled to request one free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three major credit bureaus—Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. But you don’t have to wait until the end of the year to track your credit. Instead, you can use Lexington Law’s free credit assessment and other paid services to get updated information related to your credit. Using a combination of these tools can help you get a better handle on your financial status and set up a strategy to improve your credit.
Note: Articles have only been reviewed by the indicated attorney, not written by them. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. Use of, and access to, this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client or fiduciary relationship between the reader, user, or browser and website owner, authors, reviewers, contributors, contributing firms, or their respective agents or employers.
FoundersCard, a membership community offering exclusive perks and discounts on travel, business expenses, entertainment and shopping, charges $595 per year for a standard membership. It’s marketed as a VIP pass for entrepreneurs and business executives. But to me, it felt less like a VIP pass and more like a coupon book that takes significant effort to use.
Although FoundersCard sounds like a credit card, it isn’t one. It’s a membership program that gives you elite status to certain airline and hotel brands and access to several discounts, plus business perks like members-only networking opportunities. Unlike the premium credit cards it competes with, you won’t earn a sign-up bonus or ongoing rewards with each purchase. And, notably, it doesn’t come with complimentary lounge access, a benefit travelers often use to justify the price of premium cards.
FoundersCard could be worthwhile for business owners wanting to take advantage of the business-specific benefits or loyalists of some of the participating airlines who spend upwards of $3,500 a year on flights. And if you can access membership for free (like I did) or at a discounted price, it might be a good deal. But at full price, it’s not a good value for most travelers.
What FoundersCard costs
FoundersCard has two membership levels:
Standard: $595 a year.
Elite: $995 per year.
It’s relatively easy to find promotions to test out the program before you pay. As of September 2024, you could receive a six-month free trial through the FoundersCard website. I received a free year of the Standard membership through my Clear membership.
Depending on how you sign up, you may have access to a different rate. For example, I was offered a renewal rate of $395 for the standard membership.
My experience
Once I filled out the application form for FoundersCard, I received an email stating that the membership board would look over my application and get back to me in one to three business days if I was approved. I received my approval email a little less than 24 hours later.
If you decide to accept a membership, you’ll need to provide your credit card information, but you won’t be charged until your trial period ends.
You can’t see the program’s full benefits until you’re approved. Once you are, you’re met with a dizzying amount of discounts, perks and elite status benefits. Here are some things you can expect:
Up to 16% off flights through United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Qatar Airways.
Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy (Platinum status), Hilton Honors (Gold status), IHG (Gold status), Omni (Champion status), Sonesta (Gold status), Virgin Atlantic (Silver status), Hertz, Avis and Sixt.
Discounts on select hotels.
Preferred pricing at sporting events, concerts and plays.
Discounts at select retail stores, like Adidas, Mr Porter and COS.
Preferred pricing on gym memberships through Equinox, Crunch Fitness, SoulCycle and CorePower Yoga.
Preferred pricing on electronics through Dell, Apple and Lenovo.
Discounts and credits on business services, like Amazon Web Services, Google Workspace, Stripe, Square and Hubspot.
Discounts on memberships and daily passes at select coworking spaces.
Up to 15% off select phone plans through AT&T.
Some of these benefits can be extremely valuable, especially if you have expenses that match what FoundersCard offers. Others are similar to deals you might get on $0-annual-fee credit cards.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Some of FoundersCard discounts will be automatically applied to your purchase once you click through the link on FoundersCard’s website. But you may need to provide a promo code to receive a discount, which you’ll find once you click on specific benefits.
What I like
As an avid credit card user, I was pleasantly surprised to find perks through FoundersCard that are harder to find on credit cards. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Up to 16% off United Airlines flights
United Airlines is rarely my first choice of airline, but since I live near a United hub, it’s often the best option. So that potential 16% discount on flights would be significant for me. It’s important to note, though, that you’ll only get this discount once you pay for a Standard membership. The trial period I currently have doesn’t come with this offer.
If you pay full price for the Standard membership, you’d need to spend over $3,700 on United flights each year to break even, which is more than most people will spend. But even if it doesn’t cover the entire cost of a membership, it can cover a significant chunk for travelers who often fly United.
Keep in mind the math doesn’t apply to every participating airline with a discount. The discount varies by airline, so you might have to spend even more to break even if you’re a devoted Alaska Airlines flyer (which only has a 5% discount) or British Airways flyer (which only has an up to 10% discount).
Cheaper stays at smaller hotel brands
Don’t get me wrong: I love my hotel rewards. But sometimes it’s nice to stay at a boutique hotel that isn’t connected to a large hotel chain. FoundersCard gives you deep discounts at over 500 hotels, many of them smaller chains. You can often find 20% discounts, and several hotels even waive resort fees.
Up to 15% off Hyatt stays through Hyatt Leverage
FoundersCard gives you automatic Hyatt Leverage, a program designed for small businesses that gives participants up to 15% off qualifying stays. Anyone can sign up for Hyatt Leverage, but if you (or your employees) don’t stay at least 50 nights per year, you could get removed from the program. With FoundersCard, there’s no such requirement. Because of Hyatt’s small footprint, I don’t stay at the brand often. But a 15% discount definitely makes me seek out Hyatt hotels when it’s available.
What I don’t like
Airport lounge access isn’t free
FoundersCard will get you into No1, Plaza Premium and The Club lounges for up to 20% cheaper than the general public pays. That’s not nothing. But considering the price of a membership that touts its premium travel benefits, I’d expect to sip cocktails in a free airport lounge.
Many credit cards — some with significantly lower annual fees — get you into airport lounges at no additional cost. For example, the $395-annual-fee Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes with access to Capital One lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Plaza Premium lounges. Even the United℠ Explorer Card, which has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95, comes with two free day passes to United Clubs.
Low levels of elite status
FoundersCard offers automatic elite status for several hotels and rental car companies. This is a nice perk, but many hotel credit cards also offer an equivalent or higher level of elite status for a much lower price. For example: My $99-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card gives me Platinum Elite status for IHG. FoundersCard only comes with Gold.
Lack of transparency
FoundersCard doesn’t provide any meaningful information to prospective members. Sure, it’s relatively easy to get a free trial, but it would be nice to know what you’re signing up for — before you have to provide your credit card information.
Even with my free membership, I can’t view key information that would influence my decision to renew my membership or upgrade to the Elite level. Up to 16% off United flights is a major perk. But I can’t see what the “up to” entails without paying. If I could guarantee 16% off all United flights, it would definitely influence my decision to renew my membership. But what if this rate only applies to certain routes or certain classes? The actual benefit could be much less valuable than I’d hope for.
Inconsistent entertainment discounts
FoundersCard sometimes offers event tickets at a discounted rate. While a great perk, it wouldn’t be a selling point for me.
In September 2024, I looked at tickets to a Texas Rangers baseball game, several broadway shows and a Taylor Swift concert. The Rangers tickets were roughly half the price through FoundersCard. The Broadway shows were the same price or even more than booking through Broadway.com. And Taylor Swift tickets were selling for a whopping $2,000 more than you could book on SeatGeek.
For people who can justify the cost of FoundersCard, potential savings on entertainment is a nice addition. But for the price, I’d expect more guaranteed savings on this spending.
Calculating your potential value is complicated
Unlike many premium credit cards, FoundersCard doesn’t come with statement credits to help you cover the cost of the annual fee. You could luck out and score a great deal on a hotel room or a couple of first class flights to cover the annual fee. But if not, you’ll likely need to add up small, individual savings throughout the year and hope the value outweighs the cost.
Even the $695 annual fee on The Platinum Card® from American Express is easier for me to justify (see rates and fees). The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with complimentary lounge access, which gets me into Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Plaza Premium lounges, and it offers the same level of Hilton elite status (enrollment required). Terms apply.
On top of that, it’s easy to calculate the value of the other benefits. I recoup $640 each year with expenses I’m already going to make by taking advantage of three main statement credits:
$200 airline incidentals fee credit.
$200 Uber credit.
$240 entertainment credit.
Terms apply.
That leaves just $55 to make up throughout the year — significantly less than the $395 (or $995) I’d need to justify with FoundersCard.
Is FoundersCard worth it?
If you can find a free trial, it’s worth opening an account to try out the benefits. Business owners will probably get the most use out of the membership, but most travelers would probably be better off applying for a credit card with rewards and perks that match their lifestyle.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
Do you want to learn how to get paid to shop? It’s possible! Many companies and apps now give you ways to get paid for shopping that you might already do. You can make extra cash by grocery shopping, buying clothes, or even just browsing stores. These opportunities range from being a personal shopper to…
Do you want to learn how to get paid to shop? It’s possible! Many companies and apps now give you ways to get paid for shopping that you might already do.
You can make extra cash by grocery shopping, buying clothes, or even just browsing stores. These opportunities range from being a personal shopper to taking surveys about products you buy. Some options let you shop for yourself, while others involve shopping for other people. It’s a fun way to earn money doing something you enjoy.
Over the years, I’ve found that there are so many ways to make money while shopping, and it’s been a great side hustle for me. From getting paid to shop for others to earning cash back on my own purchases, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to bring in extra income.
How To Get Paid To Shop
Below are the best ways to get paid to shop.
1. Personal shopper
Personal shoppers help people buy things. They pick out clothes, gifts, and other items for clients, so this can be a fun way to get paid for shopping.
To become a personal shopper, you need good taste and people skills. You should enjoy fashion and keeping up with trends.
Many personal shoppers work in person in retail stores, but you can also get paid to shop online for others. They help customers find outfits and accessories. Some work for wealthy clients, buying everything from groceries to designer clothes.
You can start by getting a job at a department store and looking for positions in personal shopping or styling. Another option is to work for yourself and you can find clients through word-of-mouth or online platforms.
When I was younger, I had a friend who was a personal shopper for a family. My friend mainly did their grocery shopping and ran errands, but would occasionally buy gifts for when the family was attending a birthday party or a wedding.
2. BestMark
I’ve done a lot of mystery shopping over the years, and it’s been a fun way to earn extra money while doing something I already enjoy. Whether it’s evaluating a store’s customer service, trying out new products, or going to a restaurant, it’s pretty easy work.
BestMark is a top mystery shopping company that’s been around since 1986.
As a BestMark shopper, you’ll visit stores, restaurants, and other businesses. You’ll act like a regular customer and evaluate your experience, and this might include checking product quality, service speed, and staff friendliness.
After your visit, you’ll fill out a detailed report online. BestMark gives you a list to help you understand what to look for during your shop.
The pay for BestMark shops varies, but you can tend to earn between $10 and $20 per task. For most assignments, you will get your meal or whatever you buy reimbursed. They usually give you a limit on what you can spend or they specifically tell you what to buy.
Recommended reading: 9 Best Mystery Shopping Companies To Work For
3. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular website that pays you to shop online, and it’s free to join and easy to use.
I’ve been using Swagbucks for almost 10 years now, and I think it’s pretty easy to earn points.
To get paid to shop with Swagbucks, there are two main ways to earn points:
Earn cash back when shopping online. For example, right now you can get up to 8% cash back when shopping at Macy’s, up to 4% when shopping on Amazon, up to 10% when shopping at Best Buy, and more.
Earn points (SB) by submitting your shopping receipts. You can submit any receipt that you have from the last 14 days – both in-store and online receipts. You can then earn points. For example, you can get 50 points for any loaf of bread that you buy, 50 points for any bananas, 900 points for diapers, and more.
When you’ve collected enough SB, you can trade them for gift cards. You can pick from lots of popular stores. If you prefer cash, you can get money sent to your PayPal account instead.
I’ve redeemed over 100 gift cards from Swagbucks over the years, and I love how easy this rewards site is to use.
If you join Swagbucks through my referral link, you will receive a $10 bonus.
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Swagbucks is a site where you can earn points for answering surveys, shopping online, watching videos, using coupons, and more. You can use your points for gift cards and cash.
4. Rakuten
Rakuten is a popular way to earn cash back when you shop online. It’s free to use and super easy to get started.
I have used Rakuten for years and it’s an easy way to get cash back for the online shopping that you already do. In fact, I just used it on a hotel booking, and I received 2% back, which adds up quickly for a hotel!
You just sign up for an account on Rakuten’s website or app. Then when you want to buy something, go through Rakuten first. They’ll send you to the store’s site to shop like normal.
After you make a purchase, Rakuten adds cash back to your account. The amount varies by store, but it’s often 1% to 10% of what you spend. Some stores even pay you 20% or more during special sales.
You can get paid by check or PayPal. Rakuten sends out payments every 3 months and you need at least $5 in your account to get paid.
So, why does Rakuten give you this cash back? Rakuten makes money by getting a commission from stores when you buy stuff. They share part of that commission with you as cash back.
Please click here to sign up for Rakuten. Plus, you can get a $30 bonus when you spend $30 if you join right now (at the time of this writing; please double-check the current offer).
5. Stitch Fix stylist
Want to get paid to shop for others? Becoming a Stitch Fix stylist might be perfect for you. This job lets you work from home and help people look their best.
Stitch Fix hires stylists for women’s, men’s, and kids’ styling. They even train you, so you can start with no experience.
As a Stitch Fix stylist, you’ll pick out clothes for customers based on their likes and needs. You’ll use a computer to see what items are available and choose the best ones for each person.
6. Instacart shopper
Becoming an Instacart shopper is a way to make money grocery shopping on your own schedule.
As an Instacart shopper, you’ll pick up and deliver groceries to customers. Instacart has full-service shoppers, where you shop and deliver groceries, as well as in-store shoppers, where you only shop in-store but don’t deliver (someone else picks up the items and delivers).
To start, you need to be at least 18 years old. You’ll also need a smartphone to use the Instacart app as this app tells you what to buy at the grocery store and where to deliver it.
Instacart gives you a payment card to use at stores. You’ll get this card about a week after signing up. You use it to pay for the groceries you’re buying for customers.
Recommended reading: Instacart Shopper Review: How much do Instacart Shoppers earn?
7. Shopkick
Shopkick is a free app that lets you earn rewards for shopping. You can get points called “kicks” for different activities. These include scanning products in stores and uploading receipts.
You don’t even need to buy anything to earn kicks. Just walking into certain stores can give you points. The app works with many popular retailers like Target and CVS.
As you collect kicks, you can trade them for gift cards.
To start, just download the Shopkick app on your phone. Then link your credit or debit cards to your account, because this lets you earn kicks automatically when you shop at partner stores.
8. Ibotta
Ibotta is a free app where you can earn cash back on your everyday purchases. It works for both online and in-store shopping at many popular retailers.
To get started, download the Ibotta app on your phone. Before you shop, browse the app for “offers” at your favorite stores. You’ll see cash back deals on specific items or entire purchases.
When shopping in stores, buy the items with offers (of course, make sure these are items that you actually want to buy because the item is not free, it is simply more like getting a discount). Then, take a picture of your receipt with the app when you are done. Ibotta will match your purchases to the offers and add cash back to your account.
For online shopping, start your purchase through the Ibotta app or website. Shop as usual, and you’ll automatically earn cash back on qualifying items.
Ibotta works with many big stores like Walmart, Target, and Kroger.
Once you reach $20 in your account, you can cash out via PayPal or choose a gift card. It’s a simple way to make your shopping more rewarding.
This app is available for both Android and iOS (iPhone).
You can sign up for Ibotta here.
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Ibotta is an app where you can get cash back and earn free gift cards. Simply submit your receipts on your everyday purchases with your phone.
9. Ath Power Consulting
Ath Power Consulting is a company where you can get paid to do mystery shopping. They have a huge network of over 600,000 shoppers across North America.
Ath Power does more than 10,000 mystery shops each month. They work with many well-known brands and companies around the world.
Ath Power mystery shoppers shop in person for companies, and then share their thoughts about the products and services they try. Companies can then use this information to improve what they sell to customers.
10. IntelliShop
IntelliShop is a company that hires for mystery shopping jobs. You can sign up to become a secret shopper and get paid to visit stores.
Most tasks pay between $5 and $20. They usually take less than 15 minutes in the store, and then after your visit, you’ll need to fill out a report.
IntelliShop has jobs in stores, online, and over the phone.
As a mystery shopper for any of the mystery shopping companies on this list, please remember to keep any receipts or business cards from your visit. You’ll need these to prove you completed the task and get paid.
Recommended reading: How To Become A Mystery Shopper
11. Care.com
Care.com is a site where you can earn money by helping others with tasks like grocery shopping. You can sign up as a helper on their platform to find local gigs.
The site connects you with people who need assistance, such as parents and seniors. You might help with grocery shopping, cooking, or other errands.
As a helper on Care.com, you can set your own rates. Some helpers charge between $15 and $25 per hour. The amount that you decide you want to get paid may vary based on your experience and the tasks you do.
You may be able to find enough gigs to make this a full-time career, or you can also do this part-time in your spare time.
12. Capital One Shopping
Capital One Shopping is a free tool that can help you save money when you shop online. It’s a browser extension and mobile app that works in the background while you browse.
When you’re ready to check out, Capital One Shopping searches for coupon codes automatically and it tries to apply them to your order to get you the best deal.
The tool also compares prices across different websites. This can help you find the lowest price for items you want to buy.
You can earn rewards called Shopping Credits when you make purchases through Capital One Shopping. These credits can be redeemed for gift cards to popular stores.
While you won’t get paid directly to shop, you can save money and earn rewards. This can add up to significant savings over time and even free gift cards.
I recently received a $71 gift card for simply using the Capital One Shopping browser extension, which was super easy to get.
You can learn more at Capital One Shopping Review: Is It Worth It?
13. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is a free app that lets you earn points for shopping. You can get points by scanning any receipt or shopping online through the app.
I use Fetch Rewards for nearly all of my grocery shopping receipts. What I like about Fetch is that you don’t need to clip coupons or look for special offers. You just buy products and scan your receipts when you are done. It takes less than one minute to scan your receipt and earn points, so it is very easy.
Fetch gives you points for every receipt you upload. You can earn extra points by buying specific brands or products. The app has special offers where you can earn extra points, such as for buying a specific brand of cheese.
You can turn your points into gift cards from many stores and restaurants. Some options include Amazon, Target, and Starbucks.
You can sign up for Fetch Rewards here.
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With this app, you can scan your grocery receipts (from any grocery store or wholesale club, any time) and earn free gift cards. It is free to sign up and easy to use.
14. Uber Eats
With Uber Eats, you can make money by delivering food.
To get started, you’ll need to create an account and fill out some forms. Once approved, you can begin accepting delivery requests through the Uber app.
Uber Eats drivers can earn around $15 to $26 per hour on average. Your earnings can vary based on factors like your location, how busy it is, and the amount that you earn in tips.
You will want a reliable vehicle and a valid driver’s license, of course, for this side gig.
Recommended reading: 14 Ways To Make Money Driving
15. DoorDash
DoorDash is another way to get paid for delivering food.
DoorDash pays Dashers weekly through direct deposit. If you need money faster, DoorDash offers a Fast Pay option. This lets you cash out your earnings right away for a small fee.
Remember, you’re responsible for your own expenses like gas and car maintenance. It’s a good idea to track these costs to see how much you’re really earning.
16. Taskrabbit
Taskrabbit is an app that lets you make money by doing odd jobs for people in your area. You can pick tasks that fit your skills and schedule.
Some popular jobs on Taskrabbit include cleaning houses, assembling furniture, and running errands (such as shopping for others).
Taskrabbit gives you the flexibility to choose when and how much you work, as well as the type of work that you want to do.
17. Walmart personal shopper
You can get paid to shop as a Walmart personal shopper. This job lets you pick out items for customers who order online.
You’ve probably seen Walmart personal shoppers when you’ve been in Walmart. They work for Walmart and typically have a uniform and a very large basket where they collect items for different orders.
Walmart personal shoppers earn about $15 per hour on average.
Most personal shoppers work full-time or nearly full-time, between 32 to 40 hours a week.
As a personal shopper, you’ll walk around the store and find items customers want. You’ll need to be quick and careful to pick the right products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting paid to shop can be a fun way to earn extra money. There are different methods like using apps, shopping for others, and being a mystery shopper. Here are answers to common questions about how to get paid to shop.
How to get paid to go shopping?
You can get paid to shop by using cash back apps, becoming a personal shopper, or doing mystery shopping. Cash back apps give you money back on purchases. Personal shoppers buy things for busy people. Mystery shoppers check stores and fill out shopping assignments on their customer experience.
What are the top apps that pay you for shopping?
Some popular apps that pay you for shopping are:
Rakuten: Gives cash back on online purchases
Ibotta: Pays rebates on groceries and other items
Shopkick: Rewards you for scanning items in stores
Fetch Rewards: Gives points for uploading grocery receipts
These apps are free to use and can help you save money on things you already buy.
How can I earn cash by doing grocery shopping for others?
You can earn cash by grocery shopping for others through apps like Instacart or Shipt. Sign up as a shopper, get orders from customers, and deliver their groceries. You’ll get paid for each order you complete.
How much money do people usually make by delivering groceries?
The amount of money you can make by delivering groceries varies. Most shoppers make between $10 and $25 per hour, and your pay depends on factors like the number of orders you complete, the size of the orders, tips from customers, and time of day and demand.
Is being a secret shopper a good side hustle?
Secret shopping can be a good side hustle. It lets you earn money while shopping and dining out, but it’s not a full-time job. I have done a lot of mystery shopping assignments over the years.
What ways to get paid to shop on Amazon are there?
You can get paid to shop on Amazon in a few ways:
Use cash back sites like Rakuten when shopping on Amazon
Join Amazon’s Vine program to review products
Sell items on Amazon as a third-party seller
Sign up for the Amazon Associates Program to earn from product links
These methods can help you save money or earn extra cash while shopping on Amazon.
Best Ways To Get Paid To Shop – Summary
I hope you enjoyed my article on how to get paid to shop.
Getting paid to shop is a fun and easy way to make extra money while doing things you already like. I have been getting paid to shop for over 10 years now, and I have done almost everything on this list. While I’ve not earned a full-time income doing anything on this list, I have earned side income and plenty of free gift cards over the years.
You can use cash back apps or become a personal shopper to earn cash. You can make money buying groceries, clothes, or even taking surveys about your shopping habits.
Mystery shopping is another way to earn money by pretending to be a regular customer and reporting your feedback on your experience. Companies like BestMark and IntelliShop pay for this. Apps like Swagbucks and Fetch Rewards make it easy to earn by scanning receipts or shopping online.
Whether you want a side hustle or just want to save money, getting paid to shop is a fun way to make more money.
(Update 8/24/24: There’s now a $95; only private banking clients get the annual fee waived.)
HSBC offers their Premier World card for Premier relationship members with no annual fee and a $350 signup bonus. (This is a different card than the Premier World Elite card which has a $395 annual fee.)
Contents
Card Details
Direct Link to HSBC Premier Card
Card comes with 35,000 points signup bonus when spending $3,000 within the first 3 months. These points are worth either $350 as cash or $400 (possibly a little more) toward air travel. Points can also be transferred 1:1 to British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Emirates, Singapore, Turkish, Wyndham, Accor and others. Points can also be used through their travel portal (goes through Priceline) at a value of 1.25cpp.
$0 annual fee for Premier clients (card is only available for signup to Premier clients)
No foreign transaction fees
2x points on travel; 1x on everything else
Enjoy complimentary unlimited premium Wi-Fi at over a million secure hotspots worldwide with Boingo. Get simultaneous access for up to four devices.
Experience expedited airport screening with TSA Precheck. Receive a statement credit of $85 every five years as reimbursement for the application fee.
Standard Mastercard benefits.
Our Verdict
Some people will find the $350/$400 signup bonus worthwhile given the no annual fee; some might also like the points transfer value even more. This could work well for those who signed up for the HSBC checking bonus and are already Premier members.
The most notable change: Beginning in January 2025, you’ll be able to earn elite-qualifying miles (or EQMs, which allow you to earn elite status with Alaska) when you redeem your Mileage Plan miles for flights, even on partner airlines. Currently, most airlines don’t allow you to earn elite miles on award flights, and only Delta lets you earn elite miles on partner award flights (though the cost to use miles on partner flights is usually prohibitive).
This a huge boon for Alaska Airline loyalists — especially because the requirements to qualify for each status tier in the Alaska Mileage Plan remain unchanged, even with more ways to qualify for elite status.
What’s new in 2025
These are the most noteworthy Alaska Mileage Plan changes that will take effect in January 2025:
EQMs on award flights and partner airlines: All award flights booked using Mileage Plan miles on Alaska and partner airlines will now count towards elite status and earn EQMs based on distance flown. You’ll earn one EQM for each mile flown.
EQM bonuses through other partners: Earn 1,000 EQMs for every 3,000 miles earned through the Mileage Plan shopping and dining portals and through non-airline partners like Bilt and Lyft. Previously, you could earn bonus miles through these partners, but not EQMs.
New milestone rewards: Earn selectable milestone rewards, such as bonus miles and lounge access, after eclipsing each of the following EQM thresholds in a calendar year: 10,000; 30,000; 55,000; 85,000; 150,000; 200,000; and 250,000 EQMs. Previously, you’d have to qualify for a new level of elite status (starting at 20,000 EQMs) to get such rewards.
Lower mileage rates for booking partners directly: This was the one negative change in Alaska’s news, but it affects a smaller group of flyers. Mileage earnings rates will now be lower if you book travel through a partner airline’s website and credit your flight to Mileage Plan, but will remain generally unchanged if you book with a partner directly through Alaska Airlines.
New milestone rewards
As of January 2025, Mileage Plan members can earn the following milestone rewards:
10,000 EQMs – choose one of the following:
750 bonus miles.
Pre-order a complimentary meal for your flight.
One (1) complimentary Wi-Fi pass.
Try MVP status for a trip.
Earn double miles with non-air partners.
Upgrade your next Avis rental.
30,000 EQMs – choose one of the following:
2,500 bonus miles.
$25 off a future Alaska flight.
Four (4) Wi-Fi passes.
Try MVP Gold status for a trip.
$100 off an Alaska Lounge membership.
55,000 EQMs – choose two of the following:
5,000 bonus miles.
10,000 miles off an Extras redemption.
Gift MVP for a trip.
One (1) complimentary Lounge day pass.
Two (2) upgrade certificates.
85,000 EQMs – choose two of the following:
15,000 bonus miles.
25,000 miles off an Extras redemption.
Two (2) complimentary Lounge day passes.
Two (2) upgrade certificates.
Gift MVP Gold status for a trip.
Nominate someone for MVP status.
10,000 elite-qualifying miles rolled over.
150,000 EQMs – choose two of the following:
15,000 bonus miles.
25,000 off an Extras redemption.
Two (2) complimentary Lounge passes.
Two (2) upgrade certificates.
10,000 elite-qualifying miles rolled over.
200,000 EQMs – choose two of the following:
15,000 bonus miles.
25,000 off an Extras redemption.
Two (2) complimentary Lounge passes.
Two (2) upgrade certificates.
10,000 elite-qualifying miles rolled over.
250,000 EQMs – choose two of the following:
15,000 bonus miles.
25,000 off an Extras redemption.
Two (2) complimentary Lounge passes.
Two (2) upgrade certificates.
10,000 elite-qualifying miles rolled over.
The best airline rewards program gets better (for most people)
This addition of benefits without requiring more EQMs to qualify for each loyalty tier has the Alaska Mileage Plan flying in rarefied air, especially when compared to the loyalty program devaluations we’ve grown accustomed to.
One exception will be for people who fly frequently on partner airlines and credit their flights to Mileage Plan. To get the most airline miles and EQMs on partner airlines, you’ll now have to book those flights directly through Alaska Airlines, which may be more expensive or potentially not available.
Looking for the best online customer service jobs? If you’re searching for a way to make money from your laptop or are tired of commuting, then an online customer service role might be the perfect fit for you. Online customer service jobs are typically entry-level opportunities that can be done from home. These jobs are…
Looking for the best online customer service jobs?
If you’re searching for a way to make money from your laptop or are tired of commuting, then an online customer service role might be the perfect fit for you.
Online customer service jobs are typically entry-level opportunities that can be done from home.
These jobs are great for anyone, even with no experience. I’ve personally seen how these roles can provide a good income, all while giving you the freedom to create your own schedule.
In this article, I’ll guide you through the best online customer service jobs available, what they pay, and how to get started—even if you’re completely new to the field.
12 Online Customer Service Jobs
Below is a list of the best online customer service jobs to make money.
The below are mainly large companies that are hiring, but another option would be to become a virtual assistant and work for a small company. Many smaller companies use virtual assistants to get the tasks done that they need, such as customer service. You can learn more about this at Best Ways To Find Virtual Assistant Jobs.
1. Amazon
Amazon is always hiring remote customer service associates to support its massive customer base.
To find jobs on Amazon as an online customer support specialist, visit Amazon’s career website here. In the search bar, type “customer service” and select remote or virtual as your location. This makes sure that the jobs that come up are 100% remote.
From there, you can also choose filters like part-time or full-time. You select the country you’re eligible to work in, as Amazon has job postings all around the world. You’ll want to look for jobs with titles like “Customer Service Associate,” “Customer Support Specialist,” or “Virtual Customer Care Representative”.
Amazon also has seasonal positions, so if you’re looking for a temporary role to bring in extra money during the holidays, this is a great option.
There are many benefits to working for Amazon, including stock options, career development course funding, employee discounts, and more.
Recommended reading: How To Find A Remote Job
2. Apple
Apple also has job listings for remote customer support jobs.
To find customer support jobs at Apple, go to their official careers page here. You can also choose filters like “home office,” so you only see remote job listings. Besides the Apple careers page, you can also find jobs at Apple on sites like Indeed and LinkedIn. Search for keywords like “Apple Customer Service” or “Apple At-Home Advisor”.
You can also set up job alerts for Apple’s customer support jobs so you get email alerts any time a job related to customer service is posted.
There are many benefits to working for Apple, including generous time off, discounts on Apple products, stock options, and education reimbursement for courses.
3. American Express
American Express also has remote customer support jobs. To find these jobs, visit the American Express career page. This is where you can search for jobs by keyword and location.
You can type in keywords like “Customer Service” or “Customer Support” and use the location filter to choose “virtual” or “remote” jobs.
American Express has remote customer service jobs, usually called “Virtual Customer Care Professionals.” You can look for these jobs on sites like Indeed and LinkedIn as well. American Express is frequently hiring customer support specialists, so keep checking for job listings or set up email alerts.
There are many benefits to working for American Express, including health insurance, travel discounts, stock, and more.
4. Progressive
Progressive Insurance has Customer Support job openings on their website here.
To find Progressive customer support roles that are remote, use the keyword “remote” when searching for jobs. As of this writing, I found job openings for remote Claims Adjusters paying $24/hour. I think it’s important to regularly check for job updates on Progressive’s website as they are constantly adding new jobs.
You can also search for Progressive customer support roles on Indeed and LinkedIn. Indeed even lets you set up email alerts whenever new Progressive customer support roles show up.
There are many benefits to working for Progressive, including good starting pay, eligibility for bonuses, extra pay for working evenings or weekends, PTO, and more.
5. Yelp
Yelp has common customer support roles such as Customer Support Specialists and Content Moderation specialists.
To look at job openings for Yelp, check out their career page here. This is where you’ll find all of Yelp’s job openings, including tasks, qualifications, and benefits.
You can also engage with Yelp employees on LinkedIn to see what the job is like and get any insights on the hiring process.
There are many benefits to working for Yelp, including insurance, PTO, mental health services, monthly wellness subsidies, work-from-home reimbursement, and more.
6. AAA
I had a harder time finding remote roles for AAA, but I did find people saying they hire for remote customer support roles, they just can be harder to come by.
In-person customer support roles for AAA seem to be more common, but to find online jobs for AAA, check out their career page here.
There are many benefits to working for AAA, including tuition reimbursement, comprehensive health insurance, and wellness programs.
7. CVS Health
CVS Health has many remote customer support roles, with pay starting at $18 an hour and going up to $28 an hour, depending on experience.
To find CVS Health customer support roles, go to their careers page and filter the search for remote customer support jobs.
There are many benefits to working for CVS Health, including 401(k) with matching, employee discounts, wellness programs, and stock options.
8. Sutherland
You may not have heard of Sutherland before. Sutherland is a digital transformation company specializing in making digital processes feel more human to customers.
Sutherland often has remote customer support roles open. To find Sutherland customer support roles, go to their careers page and search for remote.
There are many benefits to working for Sutherland, including advancement opportunities, competitive pay, comprehensive health benefits, and more.
9. Chewy
If you love animals, you may love working for Chewy as a customer support specialist.
To find jobs at Chewy, go to their customer service careers page here. This is where you’ll find all of the job openings, qualifications needed, benefits, and more. I found it interesting that they have a page specifically for customer service careers, which suggests they are actively hiring in this area!
The starting wage for these jobs is $15.50 an hour, with room to grow.
There are many benefits to working for Chewy, including comprehensive insurance, competitive pay, 401(k), and more.
10. Concentrix
Concentrix is a global business company specializing in CEM, also known as customer experience management. They help businesses improve their operations and enhance customer interactions.
Concentrix has many open job listings for customer support roles, which you can find here.
There are many benefits to working for Concentrix, including paid training, bonus opportunities, insurance, wellness programs, and more. They even have mentorship programs to help you grow in your career and other unique benefits.
11. Alorica
Alorica is a global customer experience and business process outsourcing company. They help businesses improve their customer interactions, similar to Concentrix, which I mentioned above.
To find Alorica customer support job listings, visit their careers page here. Their customer support roles usually start at $16 an hour.
There are many benefits to working for Alorica, including employee discount programs, paid training and tuition reimbursement, and more.
12. TTEC
TTEC is similar to Alorica and Concentrix and is often hiring customer support specialists.
To find jobs at TTEC, go to their careers page here and search for customer service representative jobs.
There are many benefits to working for TTEC, including working remotely full-time, PTO, wellness and healthcare benefits, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the most common questions about online customer service jobs.
How much do work-from-home customer service jobs pay?
Work-from-home customer service jobs typically have a starting wage of around $15 an hour, with more experienced customer support specialists earning over $25 an hour.
What are the highest-paying jobs in customer service?
The highest-paying jobs in customer service include jobs at Progressive and CVS Health. Technical support is related to customer support and typically pays a little bit more than customer service specialist jobs.
Can customer service be online?
Customer service jobs are almost always online since you can do this work from your laptop via chat, email, or video conferencing. So, this can be a great work-from-home job choice!
What does an online customer service representative do?
An online customer service representative is in charge of many tasks and may include:
Supporting customers through live chat, email, and social media
Addressing customer inquiries, resolving issues
Handling customer complaints
Handling processing, managing returns or exchanges
You can find job listings for customer service agents in nearly all industries around the globe, such as retail, travel, finance, and more.
Are there Amazon customer service jobs?
Amazon has many customer service jobs that are both in-house and remote. These roles typically involve helping customers with returns and inquiries, troubleshooting issues, and providing support related to Amazon’s products and services.
How can I find online customer service jobs from home with no experience?
To find online customer service jobs, visit job boards like Indeed or FlexJobs. Look for jobs with keywords like “customer service” and “customer support.” Make sure to choose your location as “remote,” so you only see remote job openings.
Best Online Customer Service Jobs – Summary
I hope you enjoyed my article on the best places to find online customer service jobs.
Finding an online customer service job is relatively easy to do, even with no experience. This is a great way to work from home without having to go on a long commute to work.
Are you interested in starting an online customer service job?
While paying off your credit cards often helps improve your credit, this isn’t always the case. Depending on the strategy you use to wipe away your debt, you could (inadvertently) do some damage to your scores. This could make it harder to get a mortgage, car loan, or even a rental agreement in the future. Here’s what you need to know to pay down your credit obligations while protecting your credit.
What Not to Do: Ignoring Credit Card Debt
When it comes to credit card debt, the consequences of avoidance and procrastination are steep, both to your financial well-being and to your credit scores. Here’s a look at the potential fallout.
• Interest charges will pile up: Generally, the longer you avoid paying down your debt, the more interest will accrue. The average interest rate on credit cards as of September 2024 is 27.64%. This means that even if your debt isn’t growing through new purchases, interest alone can make your balance balloon over time.
• Late fees and credit damage: Credit card issuers usually charge fees if you don’t make the minimum payment by the due date. After 30 days of no payment, your issuer will likely report the missed payment to the credit bureaus, which can do significant damage to your credit scores. Maintaining a balance also keeps your credit utilization (how much of your available credit you’re using) high. Credit utilization plays a large role in your credit rating. As your balance grows, your credit score will generally decline.
• Debt collection and legal consequences: Ignoring credit card debt for too long could lead to the debt being sold to a collection agency, who can be aggressive in pursuing repayment. In extreme cases, your creditors might sue you, potentially leading to wage garnishment or seizure of personal assets.
What You Should Consider: Paying off Credit Card Debt Using a Planned Approach
If you have a significant amount of credit card debt, it may be tempting to bury your head in the sand. But you’ll be far better off coming up with a clear, actionable plan to start whittling down what you owe. The following steps can help you feel more in control over your debt, as well as your overall financial situation.
• Assess your debt. A good place to start is to list out all of your credit card balances, along with their interest rates and minimum payments. This will give you a full picture of what you owe.
• Create a basic budget. You don’t have to come up with a detailed line-item spending plan. Simply go through your last few months of financial statements and assess what’s coming in and going out, on average, each month. Then comb through your discretionary (unnecessary) monthly spending and look for places where you can cut back. Any money you free up can go toward credit card payments.
• Pick a debt payoff strategy. Here’s a look at two popular approaches that can help you gradually pay down your balances.
• Avalanche method: Here, you make extra payments on the credit card with the highest interest rate first, while making minimum payments on the others. Once the highest-rate card is paid off, you funnel those extra funds toward the card with the next-highest rate, and so on. This strategy minimizes the amount of interest you’ll pay over time.
• Snowball method: With this method, you put extra payments toward the card with the smallest balance first, while making minimum payments on the others. When that card is cleared, you focus on paying off the next-smallest balance, and so on. This gives you quick wins and a psychological boost, which can help you stay motivated.
• Take advantage of windfalls: If you get a bonus, tax refund, or any extra income, consider applying it toward your credit card debt. This can help you reduce your balance faster and lower the total amount of interest you’ll pay.
• Automate your payments: It’s a good idea to set up automatic payments for at least the minimum payment due each month. You may be able to pay more, but having this set up in advance helps you avoid missed payments, which can harm your credit score, as well as late fees.
• Keep paid-off accounts open. As you pay off your cards, you may think it’s a good idea to close those accounts — but not so fast. When you close a credit card, you lose that account’s available credit limit. That means any balances remaining on other credit cards will then account for a higher percentage of your total available credit. This increases your credit utilization, which can hurt credit scores.
Negotiating and Settling Credit Card Debt
If you’ve been struggling to make payments on your credit cards, there’s a good chance your credit score has been negatively affected. Before the debt is sent to collections, you may be able to negotiate with the credit card company.
Like any business, the primary goal of a credit card company is to make a profit. When it becomes apparent that a cardholder is unable to pay their bills, companies are sometimes willing to find an arrangement that will enable the customer to make payments based on their situation. Here’s a look at some options a credit company may be able to offer.
• Workout agreement: With this arrangement, the credit card company may agree to lower your interest rate or temporarily waive interest altogether. They may also be willing to take additional steps to make it easier for you to repay your debt, such as waiving past late fees or lowering your minimum payment.
• Debt settlement: In a debt settlement, the credit card company agrees to accept less than the full amount you owe, forgive the rest, and close the account. While this might seem appealing, a debt settlement can negatively affect your credit scores and stay on your credit reports for seven years. As a result, it’s generally considered a last-resort option for those facing severe financial difficulties.
• Hardship agreement: Some card issuers offer a hardship or forbearance program for borrowers who are experiencing a temporary financial setback, such as a job loss, illness, or injury. Under these programs, the company may agree to lower your interest rate, even temporarily suspend payments. However, your credit can be negatively affected, since the issuer may report negative information to the credit bureaus during the forbearance period.
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Credit Card Debt?
The statute of limitations governs how long a creditor or collection agency can sue you for nonpayment of a debt. The statute of limitations on credit card debt varies from state to state, but is typically between three and six years. Once the statute of limitations has passed, debt collectors can’t win a court order for repayment.
Even if your credit card debt is past the statute of limitations, however, it doesn’t magically disappear. Unpaid debts can remain on your credit report for up to seven to 10 years from the date of your last payment. That negative mark can lower your credit scores, making it hard to qualify for new credit cards and loans with attractive rates and terms in the future.
Say Goodbye to Credit Card Debt with a Personal Loan
Consolidating credit card debt with a personal loan (often referred to as a debt consolidation loan) can be an effective way to lower your debt and simplify repayment.
To do this, you essentially take out an unsecured personal loan, ideally with a lower interest rate than you’re paying on your cards, then use it to pay off your balances. Moving forward, you only have one payment (on your new loan). An online personal loan calculator can show you exactly how much interest you could save by paying off your existing credit card (or cards) with a personal loan.
Initially, debt consolidation can negatively impact your credit score. This is because the lender will do a hard pull on your credit, which can decrease your score by a few points. However, this decline is temporary. Making consistent, on-time payments on your personal loan can help boost your credit profile over time. Payment history makes up 35% of your overall FICO® credit score.
If, on the other hand, you make any of your loan payments late, or miss a payment entirely, credit consolidation can end up having a damaging impact on your credit.
Recommended: FICO Score vs Credit Score
The Takeaway
Credit card debt can be a major financial burden, but it doesn’t have to ruin your credit or your financial future. By avoiding the temptation to ignore your debt and adopting a planned approach, you can gradually reduce what you owe. Whether you choose to use a paydown strategy (like avalanche or snowball), negotiate with creditors, or explore a consolidation loan, there are various strategies to help you regain control of your finances while protecting — and ultimately building — your credit.
Ready for a personal loan to pay off credit card debt? With low fixed interest rates on loans of $5K to $100K, a SoFi Personal Loan for credit card debt could substantially decrease your monthly bills.
SoFi’s Personal Loan was named NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Personal Loan overall.
SoFi Loan Products SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.
Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .