Best credit card rewards programs in 2026
Read Bankrate’s list of the best credit card rewards programs for 2026.
Brooklyn Lowery is a Senior Editor for Bankrate. She has more than 20 years of journalism experience and has spent the past decade helping everyday consumers approach their personal finance decisions with confidence. She is passionate about highlighting the common experiences people navigate when managing their personal finances and making decisions for their lives and families. She focuses on helping those people make informed, confident decisions that help them to thrive. She has provided expert commentary on personal finance for numerous outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger, Forbes and many others.
In her spare time, Brooklyn enjoys dreaming of and planning her family’s next rewards travel adventure, playing with her two kids, taking nightly walks, tending her plants (indoors and out) or exploring the city with her husband. She’s a 2004 graduate of Auburn University and remains an avid Auburn Tigers fan as well as a diehard Boston Red Sox devotee.
Personal finances are unique to each individual and family and, unfortunately, not everyone starts at the same place. But no matter where you start, today is a good day to take control of your financial future. Understanding how your money works for you helps you make wise decisions — and gives you options — about how to make it work harder going forward. You can't control all of the circumstances that impact your money, so use good information to control whatever you can.
There aren’t enough homes for sale. Existing homeowners have self-imposed golden handcuffs in the form of 3% mortgage rates, and they aren’t in a hurry to move. We keep hearing that the U.S. needs [...]
Many people across the United States are opening their utility bills to an unwelcome surprise. Michael Strickland of Dallas, however, says he saw it coming. “But seeing the actual number still gave me [...]
Low-income homeowners have to work harder to realize the equity gains higher-income homeowners may take for granted. The math is stacked against them.
Consumer debt numbers aren’t alarming yet, particularly for homeowners. But the numbers are starting to creep up and the breaking point could be coming.
Redlining became illegal decades ago. Yet from building wealth to getting a mortgage, the discriminatory practice is still harming communities today.
“They pissed away $16,000 trying to make $10,000,” says Douglas Rill, a Century 21 real estate broker in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was representing a seller for a one-bed, one-bath townhouse listed [...]
As some U.S. home markets flip from seller’s to buyer’s markets, homebuyers could be tempted to be less cautious. That could prove costly.
A rising recession risk and an economy with homes and jobs not really moring. Economists share their thoughts.
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