Personal Finance News
Personal Finance News Round-Up: December 2023
Each month, the Money@30 YouTube channel rounds up the top personal finance, credit card, and travel news. Now, we here at Fioney are pleased to present these quick and to-the-point video digests with our readers. Dive into the December 2023 round-up video and go even deeper into the stories below.
Discover Announces First Quarter 2024 5% Bonus Categories
The new year is now just around the corner, which also means that it’s time for a new 5% rotating bonus category from Discover. From January 1st to March 31st of 2024, Discover It cardholders will be able to earn up to 5% back in two categories: Restaurants and Drug Stores.
Universal Studios and FNBO Debut a Pair of New Rewards Card
Universal Studios recently rolled out two new rewards credit cards — one with no annual fee and one with a $99 a year fee. In addition to rewards that can be used at Universal destinations, the cards also include some theme park perks. But… are they actually worth it?
New Streaming Deals from Verizon, Instacart, and More
Given the popularity of streaming services, it’s no surprise that new deals and bundles for these platforms keep emerging. For example, Verizon has introduced a new $ 10-a-month add-on that will give customers access to ad-support Netflix and ad-supported Max. Meanwhile, Instacart+ now includes a subscription to Peacock. Finally, for a limited time, Disney+ subscribers can save $40 on an annual membership for Walmart+ — which happens to also include Paramount+ access.
Spotify Adds Audiobook Listening Feature for Premium Members
Even though the hype surrounding Spotify’s annual Wrapped offering has seemingly died down, one recent feature from the service deserves some more attention. Now, Premium users (with some exceptions) can enjoy up to 15 hours a month listening to audiobook content for free. Could this addition be an Audible killer?
Bilt Adds Marriott Bonvoy as a Transfer Partner
The Bilt platform is expanding once again as Marriott Bonvoy has joined as a transfer partner. Now, customers can move Bilt Points to Bonvoy at a rate of 1:1. Actually, for every 20,000 points customers transfer in one transaction, they’ll receive a bonus 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Also, in a last-minute update, Avianca Lifemiles has also joined Bilt’s stable of partners.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Plan Merger
In case you didn’t hear, the airlines (which happen to be named after the 49th and 50th states in the union) have announced plans to merge. Although the combined airline would operate using a single system and loyalty currency, both brands will remain intact. Of course, regulators will need to sign off on the deal before it becomes official.
HMBradley and Ness Credit Card Shut Down (on the Same Day)
November was not a great month for FinTech as two services announced they were closing down. Neobank HMBradley revealed that it was ending its consumer services, but plans to pivot to being a behind-the-scenes firm. As for the Ness Card — which only had its official launch in April — the company says it simply ran out of money. In fact, the site is seemingly already gone.
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Other Articles by Kyle Burbank
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Survey: Southwest Flyers Defecting After Baggage Fee Updates
A recent survey shows that a significant percentage of formerly loyal Southwest customers are seeking alternatives after the airline's controversial policy changes. About the Survey and Results: According to Thrifty Traveler, two-thirds of those who describe themselves as regular Southwest flyers report moving on to other carriers now that the budget airline has begun charging for checked luggage. This survey was conducted in May and June, just as Southwest began...
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