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.

air view of airplanes on the ground
My Latest Global Entry Victory — And How It Was Different From Normal
This past week, my wife and I returned from our latest international trip... well, technically. I have to say that, given the long, overseas flights we're used to, it was quite strange to be boarding a regional jet for an international flight from LaGuardia to Toronto. Speaking of strange, another unique aspect of this airport...
Starbucks Summer Game logo
Starbucks' Summer Game is Back and Could Score You Free Stars
In the past, I've written plenty about Starbucks, including penning a detailed guide to completing one of their games for scoring a boatload of free Stars — AKA their loyalty points that can be redeemed for food, beverages, and more. Yet, since writing that, my wife and I had slowed way down on our Starbucks consumption...
Delta SkyClub
Delta SkyClub is Still Updating Its Entry Rules — But Not as Drastically
If you're a frequent flier or credit card enthusiast, chances are you heard some rumblings about Delta this week. Specifically, changes announced to their Delta SkyClubs did not go down well with some travelers, leading to a rare instance where a brand backtracked on its plans in just a few days' time. So, now that...
SoFi Really Wants You to Stop Using Your SoFi Money Account
Earlier this year, some big things happened with SoFi. First, the FinTech became a full-fledged bank after purchasing Golden Pacific Bancorp. Then, in turn, the company announced it was launching an account with the incredibly creative name SoFi Checking and Savings — with SoFi Bank issuing the account instead of Bancorp Bank, which the company...
Current app
How Current Just Became One of My Favorite Neobank Accounts
With these weekly Quick Tips, it feels like I'm either sharing small deals and upgrades or complaining about the latest disappointing change to a FinTech platform I like. Well, for a change of pace today, I'm excited to highlight a positive update to a neobank account! And that comes courtesy of Current — an app...
Discover logo
Discover is Introducing a Free Online Privacy Protection Tool
Have you ever Google'd yourself and been horrified to find just how much information about you was publically available? As scary as that is, it's somehow worse when you come across sites that tease your sensitive info and advise those interested to pay for the privilege of viewing it. To combat such experiences, Discover has...
Uber app and Clear
New CLEAR Customers Can Currently Earn a $75 Uber Voucher
Are you someone who's been curious about CLEAR but haven't yet bothered to sign up for the service? Well, if you're also an Uber user, then a current offer could help sweeten the deal. As The Points Guy reports, new CLEAR customers can earn a $75 Uber voucher when signing up via a special link....
AMEX Disney credit
Amex Platinum Has Added New Options to Its Entertainment Credit
Last summer, American Express rolled out a revamped version of its iconic Platinum card. While some of these changes were controversial, I ended up being a fan overall. Yet, one of the sources of consternation among some involved the limitations of the Digital Entertainment Credit. At launch, this $240 a year (broken down into $20...
Yotta credit card
Yotta's Credit Card Has Arrived... But Is It Any Good?
Considering how often I see FinTech products announced yet never launched, I do always find it exciting to see one of these offerings actually make it to market. This week, I got to experience that feeling when I checked my Yotta app and I noticed that I could apply for one of the platform's new...
Schwab is Now Offering $101 in Free Stocks to New Customers
Over the past few years, I've seen plenty of bank bonuses and other offers — some of which are great and others of which are, well, not. Given my line of work, more often, I come across really attractive offers from FinTech startups, which are so good that they usually don't seem sustainable. Meanwhile, although...
hotel view
A Potential Point Redemption Trap to Avoid
Next weekend, my wife and I will be headed to Florida, mainly to embark on our Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser adventure. But, before we board the Halcyon on Tuesday, we're spending a few nights in the general Walt Disney World area. So, after some consideration about where the best place to stay would be, I...
using the Delta iMessage app during a flight
How Delta's iMessage Feature Saved the Day On My Trip Home
All things considered, I've had pretty good luck on the majority of my travels. Of course, every once in a while, something does go a bit wrong. That was the case on Tuesday morning when I woke up in my French hotel room to see that my flight home from Atlanta to Springfield (following our...
Featured Articles
Travel Tuesday: The Club ATL Grab & Go Pantry Lounge Review
Last week, I set off for San Francisco from my home in Springfield, Missouri. But, since I was flying Delta, I of course needed to make a stop in Atlanta before my flight back in the correct direction. Over the years, I've spent plenty of time at ATL, so when something new pops up, I...
4 Daily Games I Play That Somehow Make Me Feel Smart
Remember a few years ago when Wordle took the world by storm? Well, after that, it seemed that several other daily games popped up as well. Over time, the lineup of games I actually bother to play daily has evolved — but there are a few that I keep returning to. That's probably because, even...
Hotel Vandivort Review: Springfield, Missouri's Four Diamond Boutique Hotel
When it comes to my Travel Tuesday hotel review series, I often wonder what travels might be featured in my latest installment. That's when it hit me that: instead of looking to other cities for adventure, I could feature a property found right here in Springfield, Missouri.  Hotel Vandivort is a unique boutique hotel we’d...
I'm 40 and Finally Figured Out How to Properly Shave My Face
For a good portion of my mid to late 20s, I made my living pretending to be in high school for television. As it turns out, part of the reason why I could pass for younger is that I can't grow a beard to save my life. Unfortunately, this lack of growth also means that,...