editor's note
Happy Monday. I’m obsessed with travel, but there are always hiccups. Two years ago, when my then 6-year-old and I landed at 5 am in Dublin, our hotel couldn’t check us in early. We stopped by at least 10 hotels until we found one that would let us book right then…for nearly $300. Now, I call hotels in advance and ask if we can check in early. Sometimes, they offer it as a courtesy, other times, they charge a fee. But knowing you can go straight from the airport into bed? So worth it.
— Anna Davies / Money Writer / New York, NY
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How the news affects your finances.
Cheap(er) Summer Travel
The calendar says March, but if you’re already planning your summer vacation, you’re right on time. According to one estimate, the cheapest booking window for scoring a great deal on domestic flights is about two–and–a–half months to three weeks out. Hint: That means you can also start getting serious about your Memorial Day plans. And good news: Airfare prices have been stabilizing since last year. But they’re still $$$. Doing the legwork now to score the best deal can make your vacation budget stretch that much farther.
Your move:
Use your credit card rewards. Points can be a great way to get to your destination for less. Search your credit card’s travel portal to see how much trips will cost with the points you have. If you’re planning to travel later this summer, it may be worth regularly using a specific credit card to rack up as many points as possible in the next few weeks.
Sign up for flight alerts and deal sites. Subscriptions can pay off in saved money. One to try: Going, a subscription newsletter featuring cheap flights. OneAir Premium is an AI-powered in-app plan that constantly scans flight deals. Looking for a free tool? Try Skyscanner or Google Flights.
Be flexible with your destination. Consider a “destination dupe,” aka a less pricey location that still has the amazing scenery, beaches, and food you’re looking for. Like swapping Hawaii for the Portuguese island of Madeira, for example. Bon voyage.
for the group chat
The money stories everyone’s talking about.
Homebuying is tough right now…
Will the “silver tsunami” make it easier?
Slipping on work deadlines or avoiding convos with coworkers?
It could be a sign of something bigger than work dissatisfaction.
Want to make sure your resume actually gets into the hands of a human?
These tricks can help you beat the bots.
If you’re a Costco member, you know how to save $$$ at the store…
But have you tried saving online through Costco Next?
market update
The Wall Street trends to know this week.
Today, bitcoin’s price surpassed $67,000 as the coin continues edging closer to its all-time high of $69,000. One reason: The SEC recently greenlit bitcoin ETFs, bringing more investors into the crypto space. And the growth may keep going. Analysts anticipate a “halving” next month, which has historically been beneficial for bitcoin pricing.
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