Slate – Books

This ‘Money-Saving Perk’ Sounds Too Good to Be True. It’s a Scam, Right?

The column tackles three personal finance dilemmas: why cash‑back rewards aren’t free money, how to split rent fairly when one partner supports a dependent, and whether beneficiaries can be added or changed without informing them. It explains that interchange fees of roughly 2 % fund rewards, pushing costs onto merchants and ultimately consumers. It advises a rent split that reflects income disparity and caregiving responsibilities rather than a strict 50/50 split. Finally, it confirms that beneficiary designations are private and can be updated at any time.