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Jason Steele
Jason has been writing about personal finance, travel, and other topics on blogs across the Internet. When he is not writing, he has a career in information technology and is also a commercially rated pilot. Jason lives in Colorado with his wife and young daughter where he enjoys parenting, cycling, and other extreme sports.

8 Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards – Reviews & Comparison

Jason Steele

passport travel credit cardsSome of the first reward credit cards were the ones that offered frequent flyer miles. People just loved the idea of saving up points for an exciting vacation destination.

But recently, severe restrictions on award seat availability have destroyed the dreams of so many who have saved their miles for a luxury vacation. While redeeming your credit card miles for an international flight in business or first class can still represent a greater return on your credit card spending than almost any other type of award, your best travel reward credit cards will offer more than just frequent flyer miles that can be hard to redeem.

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8 Best Cash Back Credit Cards – Reviews & Comparison

Jason Steele

cash back credit cards handWhen it comes to earning rewards on your credit cards, points and miles can be great, but nothing beats the value of cold, hard cash. As long as you always pay your balances in full and on time, and learn to use credit cards and rewards wisely, the only problem with cash back credit cards is choosing the right one.

Some offer a certain percentage of cash back on all purchases, while others grant different rates of cash back depending on the category of spending. Many cards take this a step further by offering higher cash back rates on categories of spending that change throughout the year. In general, simpler is better, but it is hard to turn down very high return rates even when they do not apply to all purchases.

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How to Crack US Airways Dividend Miles Redemption for Rewards Travel

Jason Steele

us airways dividend miles logoYou spend years earning frequent flier miles through travel, credit cards, and various promotions. But when the time comes to book your flight, the airline wants to redeem twice the amount of miles you expected. How many times has this happened to you?

It’s happened to many US Airways customers when they’ve tried to redeem their Dividend Miles. US Airways has severely restricted their award seat availability on their own flights, while making it very difficult to find available award seats on their partners’ flights. Fortunately, there is a large community of travelers dedicated to the challenge of finding awards and they’re willing to share their secrets.

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The Platinum Card® from American Express – Review of Travel Rewards Benefits & Requirements

Jason Steele

american express platinum cardThe Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium credit card for frequent travelers. This card offers an impressive array of benefits, but you’ll have to pay a steep price to get them: an annual fee of $450.

Most people won’t even consider applying for a card with such an outrageous expense, but Amex keeps adding to the benefits.

If you’re their kind of traveler, you may find that the card is well worth the cost.

Key Features

The astounding $450 annual fee is the highest annual fee you’ll find on any credit card offered to the general public. You’d expect the benefits, then, to be the best around.

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How to Sell Your House by Owner – Without a Realtor

Jason Steele

house for sale by ownerOwning a home is one of the biggest investments most people ever make. When it’s time to sell your property, the standard practice is to find a real estate agent.

After the sale, your agent and the buyer’s agent will share about 7% of the sale price as their commission, which amounts to a hefty portion of your equity being lost to the real estate agents.

After buying and selling multiple properties, I eventually realized that I was paying the real estate agents too much money for something I could handle myself. I discovered how to sell a property while retaining significantly more equity than if I had hired an agent.

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Chase Sapphire Credit Card Review

Jason Steele

It’s great to earn credit card rewards, but the rule has always been that if you’re carrying a balance, you should avoid rewards cards and focus on finding a card with the lowest interest rate. Why? Since most reward cards have a high interest rate, the interest you’ll be forced to pay on your balances will far exceed any rewards you earn.

But what if you pay off your balance most of the time? Or what if you pay it off all the time, but still want to have a backup plan in case you ever run into a cash flow crunch? Is there a credit card that offers the best of both worlds – a low interest rate and great rewards?

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5 Revolutionary New Types of Bicycle Parts & Accessories to Look for

Jason Steele

bike technologiesNothing is quite as enjoyable as the simple pleasure of riding a bicycle. That pleasure can disappear, however, when you have to deal with a flat tire or a malfunctioning derailleur. Jarring rides, poor brakes, and greasy chain marks on pants and legs are some of the other common inconveniences that cyclists have tolerated for more than a century.

Thankfully, manufacturers are adapting technologies from other industries and applying them to bicycles to reduce or eliminate some of these problems. If you have an old clunker gathering dust in your garage, take a look at the next generation of bicycles and how they have evolved to make cycling even more enjoyable than it has ever been. And if you’ve put off a regular tuneup for a little too long, consider some of these practical innovations.

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Top 3 Online Computer Security Threats Travelers Should Watch for

Jason Steele

hacker computer maskIn an incredibly connected world, it’s easy to feel as if the Internet is safe and accessible no matter where you are in the world. To a large extent, you can go online using computers in cyber cafes and hotel lobbies in nearly every country, but there are risks in doing so.

If you understand how your information can be compromised and take steps to counter those threats, however, you can safely log on to your most sensitive accounts from anywhere in the world.

Here are the three most serious threats facing travelers when they go online, and what to do about them.

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Credit Card Chargebacks 101 – Process & Rules for Shoppers

Jason Steele

credit card chargeback manWhen credit cards are used wisely, they offer an incredibly convenient way to pay for goods and services. They fit neatly in your wallet, you don’t have to carry loads of cash, and you can easily shop from the privacy of your own home via the Internet – all thanks to a little piece of plastic.

The other bonus? When you pay for things with a credit card, you are guaranteed by law to receive them as promised. If you don’t, federal regulations require that credit card issuing banks reverse transactions in these types of cases in the form of a chargeback.

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What Is Chase Blueprint – Review of Credit Card Payment Program

Jason Steele

chase blueprint logoUnder the Credit CARD Act of 2009, credit card companies must allow their users at least 21 days to pay off their credit card bills in any given month free of interest. However, with most credit cards, when you fail to pay your entire balance before the due date, you give up this “grace period” and are retroactively forced to pay interest on the entire month’s worth of purchases, including any portion that you were able to pay off. Under this system, falling short of paying off your entire balance, even by just $25, can result in significant amounts of additional interest on your entire balance.

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Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Review from American Express

Jason Steele

delta platinum skymiles credit cardIf you’re looking for an airline-affiliated credit card, a card that offers more than just frequent flyer miles will set itself apart. You’re probably looking for added perks, and an opportunity to be recognized as a valued customer by your favorite carrier.

While airlines are increasing fees and reducing the quality of customer service, they’re still managing to continue lavishing privileges on elite members of their frequent flyer programs. Normally, the only way to enter the ranks of elites is to fly as many miles as possible. Now, with Delta’s Platinum SkyMiles card from American Express, you can earn miles that qualify towards their elite Medallion program.

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7 Essential Computer Maintenance Tips & Checklist

Jason Steele

clean computer lcd screenYour computer might not come with as high of a price tag or as many moving parts as your car, but laptops and desktops require just as much regular maintenance to keep running efficiently and securely. Desktops come with lots of peripherals that need regular upkeep and cleaning, and compact laptops are vulnerable to trouble caused by everything from dust to accidents.

Whether you primarily use your computer for work or for leisure, you invested plenty of money in a high-tech machine. While you know the technology may eventually be too old to keep using, you want to maximize your equipment’s life in the meantime. If you fail to keep up with maintenance and instead operate a slow, dirty machine, it will be vulnerable to damage and hacks, and you’ll be more prone to making mistakes.

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Delta Reserve Credit Card Review from American Express

Jason Steele

delta reserve credit card amexDelta Airlines and American Express partner to offer a wide selection of rewards cards, and at the top of the pile is the Delta Reserve Card. It leads their other cards in many ways, from the perks to the annual fee, which stands at a whopping $450.

With a fee that high, the card does offer significant benefits if you’re a frequent flyer and you pay your bills on time, but will you take enough advantage to justify spending $450 a year?

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Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card Review from American Express

Jason Steele

gold delta skymiles card american expressEvery airline has an affiliated credit card that lets you earn frequent flyer miles for everyday purchases. And each one has their own special promotions and bonuses, so if you’re lucky, your favorite carrier and your most common purchases match up for the best deals.

While these cards and programs have been around for years, an emerging trend involves banks and airlines teaming up to offer innovative rewards that go beyond mere miles. The Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, for example, entices members by offering non-mileage benefits that can earn you some major money, if you fly Delta frequently enough.

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9 Places to Look for Restaurant Discounts & Coupons

Jason Steele

eating out restaurantI’m an extraordinarily frugal person, but my one weakness is eating out at restaurants. There are only so many times that I feel like cooking and cleaning, and there are some dishes that I can only get at my favorite restaurants. Though menu prices are getting expensive, I’ve found enough tricks to save big at restaurants, and I never pay full price.

Some might tell you to just skip appetizers, cut out alcohol, and never indulge in dessert. But you can enjoy a few courses and even a glass of wine if you have the right tools. My goal is to show you how get the most out of your meal, not the least. If you’re looking for a filling meal, an enjoyable evening, and most importantly, great value, check out these nine sources.

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