# Beginner Guides
Guide to Secured Credit Cards in the U.S.
After upgrading its regular credit cards, BofA also updated its secured cards. They offer the same rewards structure as the regular versions: your choice of 3% cash back and unlimi...
Empower Personal Finance Tool: A Free Money Management Helper
Our original personal finance tool, Personal Capital, has been acquired by Empower and integrated. Its official name is now Empower Personal Dashboard. After the integration, core...
U.S. Hotel Points and Loyalty Programs 101: How Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, and IHG Work
If you live in the U.S. and like to get away now and then to stay at quality hotels, be sure to read this article—it can take your hotel stay experience to the next level....
Airline Miles and Airline Alliances 101: How Beginners Choose Miles and Redeem Award Tickets
You do not need to learn airline miles all at once. Start by understanding airline alliances, partner awards, and a few common mileage programs, then decide how to book based on yo...
How to Manage a U.S. Credit Card After You Get It: Payments, Annual Fees, Product Changes, Card Closures, Long-Term Holds, and a Multi-Card Setup
My approach to card management is actually pretty simple: when I first get a card, I make sure the payments are handled properly; when the second-year annual fee posts, I reassess...
Truist Checking Account Guide: Record-High $500 Sign-Up Bonus, Detailed Tips and Tricks!
Truist Checking has increased its sign-up bonus. The requirements are not complicated: you need to receive a total of $2,000 in direct deposits and complete 20 debit card purchases...
2026: How to Choose a U.S. Broker: A Full Comparison of Long-Term Investing, Active Trading, Broker Choices, and Chinese Users
Compare mainstream U.S. stock platforms like Fidelity, Schwab, Moomoo, Webull, and IBKR from the angles of long-term investing, beginner experience, trading fees, interest on idle...
Step-by-Step Guide to Signing Up for Super Cheap Xfinity Internet in the U.S.: 1G Plan, $50/Month, Up to $500 Back
The Xfinity 1G plan, $50 a month, with a 5-year price lock, is back!...
U.S. Bank Account Opening Bonuses 101: Earn Hundreds or Even Thousands with Just a Few Clicks
In the U.S., credit cards are not the only way to earn sizable welcome bonuses—opening checking or savings accounts can also come with solid bonuses. Today, let’s take a quick look...
Award Ticket Search Guide: The Complete Framework from Finding Space to Transferring Points and Ticketing
The most important part of booking award flights is not memorizing redemption charts, but building a search workflow. Over the past decade and more, we have written many real-world...
2026 U.S. Business Credit Card Basics: You Can Apply Even Without a Company! Sole Proprietor, EIN, and 5/24 Fully Explained
Everything you need to know about business credit cards, including an introduction, how to apply, credit history, risks, and recommended business cards....
