Category: Quick Tips

Every Friday I post a new Quick Tip covering a wide range of topics, including ways to save money, travel tips, personal products/services I find interesting, and more.

model house with keys
3 Things We're Immediately Buying for Our New House
In case you missed it, my wife and I just bought a house. More accurately, we'll be buying a house on November 2nd when we actually close. As that date quickly approaches, we're realizing there's still a few things we need to do. And while we don't plan on making any major changes to our...
Pair of Allbirds shoes
Allbirds is Having a Massive Sale on Its Awesome Travel Shoes
A few years back, I purchased my first pair of Allbirds as I figured they'd make for a good pair of travel shoes. Sometime later, I added some high-tops to my collection — which I happen to like even more. But, as much as I enjoyed both pairs of shoes, the downside was the price....
Klook activities screenshot
My Latest Money-Saving Klook Success Story
In the past, I've written about how travel sites like Klook can help you save on tickets to popular attractions. So, when my wife and I decided to buy tickets for Hong Kong Disneyland (after already visiting for a press event at the park on Friday), I found it fit to take my own advice...
Peacock and Mastercard logos
Mastercard Customers Can Now Save on Peacock Subscriptions
Mastercard has announced some new perks for cardholders. Thanks to partnerships with NBCUniversal and Instacart, cardholders can now save on Peacock subscriptions, Instacart+, and more. Starting with Peacock, this is the first time that Mastercard has offered a streaming service deal. Now, those with either a World Mastercard or World Elite Mastercard can earn a...
photographer taking a picture
The Subtle (and Sometimes Hilarious) Deception of Home Listings
Over the past few weeks, my wife and I have once again been lurking on Zillow. However, unlike past phases, we've also been following this up with some real tours of the homes we like enough to go check out. This experience has highlighted some of the ways that photos in home listings can be,...
Fellow Ode 2 Coffee Grinder
My Quick Review of the Fellow Ode 2 Coffee Grinder
A couple of weeks back, in my column on Fioney, I somewhat lamented a recent splurge purchase — not because I was necessarily upset with what I bought but what the process of doing so said about some of my personal finance failings. The item in question was the Fellow Ode 2 coffee grinder. Since...
Bilt and Curve credit cards
Bilt Has Seemingly Shut Down Rewards on Curve Transactions
Ya know, some weeks I really struggle to find a quick tip post to share. And then there are weeks like this that are so overflowing with news that I don't even know where to start. So, since I trust you've already read about the big news regarding Delta SkyMiles and SkyClub access (among other...
Hulu, Disney+, Spotify logos
3 Reasons Why I Just Shuffled My Streaming Subscriptions
This week, my wife and I made quite a few changes to our entertainment subscription accounts. Specifically, this "great streaming service shuffle" involved three different platforms and a credit card perk. But why? Follow along as I share with you why we made these moves and (hopefully) came out on top. Amex's Digital Entertainment Credit...
Amazon and Target logos
Discover's Q4 5% Bonus Categories Are What You Probably Think They Are
In years past, Discover has announced its entire quarterly 5% bonus category calendar before the new year gets underway. Yet, starting with the first quarter of 2023, the card issuer has taken a different approach and, instead, only revealed one quarter at a time, with those unveilings happening one month in advance (leading me to...
Bilt Rewards Mastercard
Bilt Mastercard Adds a New (And Not Great) Redemption Option
It looks as though my monthly Bilt Mastercard update is coming a bit early this time. Although we'll need to wait a few more days to see what the company has up its sleeve for September's Rent Day, the platform has added a much-requested (including by me in my review) feature. Unfortunately, while it is...
American Express Platinum Card shown at a lounge entry
Amex (Sadly) Just Closed a Major Loophole with the Platinum Card
Over the past few years, you wouldn't have to look far to find anecdotes regarding overcrowding at airport lounges. While these spots are meant to be exclusive getaways for frequent fliers or other fancy people, the availability of premium credit cards that offer lounge access as a perk have seemingly led travelers to sometimes find...
YouTube screenshots
YouTube is Changing Some of Its Clickable Link Practices Soon
With spam and even phishing links running rampant on the YouTube platform, the site has announced some sizable changes to combat the problem. Unfortunately, some of these adjustments could impact how creators currently link affiliates, sponsors, their own websites, and more. First, effective August 10th, the social media icon links that creators could have on...
Featured Articles
How Utilization Impacts Your Credit Scores: My Real-Life Example
You may already know that Credit Utilization is the second-largest factor FICO considers when determining your credit score. Specifically, it makes up 30% of your score, topped only by Payment History at 35%. But what does that look like in practice? Well, I recently got the "opportunity" to see firsthand. In April, I elected to...
Travel Tuesday: Allbirds Weatherproof Hightops - How They Compare to Mizzles
As I've mentioned more than a few times before, after purchasing a pair of water-resistant Allbirds Runner-Up Mizzles a few years back, they quickly became my go-to travel shoe. That's because they're not only comfortable but also help protect my feet from wet weather while on the road (there are few things I hate more...
This New Hardshell Carry-On Luggage Option Has My Attention
Welcome back to another Quick Tip — and the latest edition of our occasional, unofficial series Things Kyle Wants to Buy. When I returned from my most recent trip, for some reason, I had hardshell luggage on my mind. That's strange because my current soft-sided luggage has served me well and, moreover, I've traditionally not...
Would it Be Wrong to Try This Potential Free Checked Bag Trick?
I don't remember the last time I paid for a checked bag on a plane. Granted. I've paid for carry-ons while flying Allegiant — but, in the cases where I have elected to check a bag in recent years, it's been a free gate check since I occasionally volunteer to part with my bag early...