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While loyalty programs incentivize consumers, it doesn’t always translate to increased spending. Although 72% of members say they shop more at companies with loyalty programs, only 52% say they spend more because of them. ow.ly/L62150JYpIC

Americans’ total credit card balance is $841 billion in the first quarter of 2022, according to the latest consumer debt data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. That’s a $15 billion drop from $856 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021. ow.ly/VCxU50JYojR

Americans aren’t optimistic that we’ll avoid an economic recession. 70% of Americans believe a recession is coming, with 59% expecting it in the next six months. Six-figure earners are most likely to predict a recession in the next six months at 68%. ow.ly/rJMI50JYnp6

Whether you’re working to repair your credit after some financial missteps, or preparing to apply for a new mortgage or loan and want to make sure you get the best interest rate, taking steps to improve your credit score is a smart decision. ow.ly/LTsn50JR1f5

There is a lot of terminology when it comes to credit cards. We compiled a list of industry terms to help you the next time you want to look at your credit card statements as well as the fine print on credit related documents. ow.ly/7eZG50JR16N

Carrying a balance over from month to month can get expensive as those interest charges are added to your balance. Those high interest charges can negate the rewards you are earning with the card. ow.ly/qh3Z50JLQws

People are paying more for streaming subscriptions compared to last year, but are missing out on even more credit card rewards. Only 28% of streamers earn rewards by paying for their subscriptions with credit cards, compared with 37% in last year’s report. ow.ly/XQE550JK6qV

Just 53% of cardholders say they’re confident they can pay their credit cards’ monthly statement balances in full this month. That’s down 10 percentage points from May, matching the biggest monthly decline in the nearly four-year history of the index. ow.ly/Rgn850JLQjn

Consumers are increasingly turning to peer-to-peer payment (P2P) service apps, but with this comes security concerns. Nearly a quarter (23%) of P2P users have sent money to the wrong person, and 15% have been victims of scams. ow.ly/UYI150JK67c

A credit freeze temporarily suspends anyone from accessing your credit report, which means neither you nor identity thieves can open new lines or credit or loans in your name. Check out this article on the pros and cons. ow.ly/ZC9n50JIxjF

Nearly half of Americans believe their health insurance would cover them if they got sick or hurt on an international vacation, but it isn’t that simple. ow.ly/XPzf50JBVRS

Many consumers will be fine with a credit card that doesn’t have an annual fee. It’s possible to earn generous rewards and even get useful benefits on a card with no annual fee. However, there are a few cases where an annual fee card is worth it. ow.ly/JhoI50JBNHr

Music fans are gearing up for the return of concerts and music festivals. According to the latest LendingTree survey, attendance is expected to return to pre-pandemic averages this year — with concertgoers ready to shell out dough to make up for lost time. ow.ly/vtkN50JyIZL

According to a @LendingTree analysis, those who used personal loans to pay off at least $5,000 in credit card debt saw their credit scores rise an average of 38 points in one billing cycle. ow.ly/LbzQ50JyI4Z

A balance transfer card can help you get out of debt faster with an intro 0% APR period. With no interest accruing during the interest-free period, your payments will be 100% allocated to the principal balance instead of the balance plus interest charges. ow.ly/cK9X50JwniY

Looking forward to your summer travel plans? We compared passenger arrivals at the 100 largest U.S. airports to determine which saw the biggest summer spikes last year. Here’s what to look out for this year with travel heating up again. ow.ly/eQfS50JsAV9

Federal student loans are offered through the U.S. Department of Education. Federal student loans are often preferred to private student loans because they come with lower interest rates, protections from the government and opportunities for forgiveness. ow.ly/rTK550JsPE4

The main advantage of a balance transfer is that it gives you a period of 0% intro APR where you can pay down debt without accruing interest charges, helping your credit score. One issue you may encounter is qualifying for a balance transfer card. ow.ly/KM9H50JswsQ

If you don’t need another credit card, don’t get one. If you’re already repaying a bundle of debt, adding a credit card to your mix of monthly bills is probably not a great idea. ow.ly/hNiJ50JrMVR

15% of travelers have changed how they are getting to their vacation due to high gas prices. As gas prices continue to soar, one way to help offset the cost of road trips is to pay with a card that offers bonus points or cash back for gas spending. ow.ly/TLjo50JnrLj