It’s always a good time to get a good deal. But as tariffs take effect on some imported goods — and as the Trump administration continues to negotiate tariffs with other countries — you may be especially interested right now in how you can save money while you shop.
Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine has taken the time to assess how you can find deals this year on investments, groceries, electronics, clothing, cars and travel, as well as how to take advantage of credit card perks — with a special emphasis on finding deals for products and services most prone to rising prices as the trade war evolves. In this article, we look at deals on credit cards. (See below to find links to our other articles about deals.)
Many credit cards offer money-saving perks that go beyond cash back, points or miles. Check whether your cards offer any of these four benefits.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
International roaming data
Outside the U.S., your smartphone’s data service may be reduced to dial-up speeds unless you pay exorbitant fees.
But holders of certain Visa credit cards can take advantage of a benefit from GigSky, which provides international data services and works in more than 175 countries.
Each year, Visa Signature cardholders receive a free 15-day plan that provides 1 gigabyte of data, plus 20% off other GigSky plan purchases.
Visa Infinite cardholders enjoy a complimentary 15-day, 3GB data plan yearly and 30% off all plan purchases.
Trip delay insurance
When the airlines are at fault for delays and cancellations, they may be responsible for providing you with food and accommodations — but you’ll likely wait in long lines to receive compensation.
And when carriers decide that the disruption is out of their control, you will almost always be left to absorb the additional costs.
But the trip delay insurance that many credit cards offer will cover up to $500 per passenger, per night, regardless of the reasons for the interruption, as long as you charged the flight to an eligible card.
The Capital One Venture X ($395 annual fee), American Express Platinum ($695) and United Club ($695) cards all offer trip delay insurance.
Better yet, the Chase Sapphire ($95) and Sapphire Reserve ($550) cards cover your flights, even if you paid for them using miles earned through Chase’s rewards program.
Auto rental insurance
When you rent a car, some credit cards provide insurance for theft and accidental damage, as long as you book the reservation with the card.
Popular cards with this perk include the American Express Platinum and Gold ($350) cards, as well as Capital One Venture ($95) and Venture X.
Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve offer primary coverage, which supersedes coverage from your personal auto insurance policy.
Cell phone insurance
Certain credit cards — including many from American Express, Chase, Capital One and Wells Fargo — provide insurance for a lost or damaged cell phone if you pay your wireless bill with the card. Coverage excludes cosmetic damage and typically comes with a $50 deductible.
Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.
Related content
- Valuable (and Fun) Things You Can Get for Free
- Smart Ways to Save Money at Museums
- How to Find Deals on Travel in 2025
- Three Ways to Find Deals in Your Investments This Year
- Three Ways to Spend Less on Groceries This Year
- How to Find Deals on Electronics Amid Tariffs
- Surprising Ways to Find Deals on Cars Despite Tariffs
- Strategies to Spend Less on Clothing and Online Shopping in 2025
-
Don't Be a '98 Pound Weakling' Just Because You're AgingCharles Atlas's tips to the '98-pound weakling' might be the only comic book ads that actually paid off. Swap the X-ray glasses for this healthy habit.
-
For Savers Who Hate Surprises, This Strategy DeliversThis approach gives you peace of mind, regardless of whether rate cuts happen.
-
For Savers Who Hate Surprises, This Strategy Delivers
This approach gives you peace of mind, regardless of whether rate cuts happen.
-
Do Baby Boomers Spend More on Travel? What You Can Learn from Each GenerationBaby Boomers lead in travel spending, but younger travelers may be getting better value. See how older travelers compare with younger ones — and what each generation can learn about smarter travel.
-
My First $1 Million: General Manager in Construction/Home Services, 46, IndianaEver wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
-
Google's AI Overview Is Wrong About Life Insurance 57% of the Time, Says StudyYou need more than a grain of salt when getting life insurance tips from Google's AI overview.
-
How Apple’s Tariff Strategy Could Affect Your Next iPhone UpgradeApple’s $100 billion U.S. expansion could shift iPhone assembly stateside — impacting pricing, availability and your next upgrade decision.
-
Your Retirement Side Hustle Starter Kit: The Essential Tools and Apps You NeedCheck out seven awesome tools and apps to jumpstart your retirement side hustle with confidence.
-
Roku Launches $2.99 Ad-Free Streaming Plan: Howdy ExplainedRoku just launched Howdy, an ad-free streaming service with 10,000 hours of classic content. Here's how it compares to other platforms.
-
Time for a Money Checkup: An Expert Guide to Realigning Your Financial GPSEven if your financial plan is on autopilot, now is the perfect time to make sure it's still aligned with your goals, especially if retirement is on the horizon.
