People often ask me how to get a refund when a flight goes belly-up. Belly-up covers drama from Sandy or that Nor'easter-when airlines are the ones canceling flights-to you falling ill and scrubbing your own trip.
It may be that the company placed a block â or a hold â on your card for the estimated total of your bill. Merchants use blocks to make sure you have sufficient funds to pay your bill. If youâre near your credit limit or you have a low balance in your bank account when a block is placed, your card could be declined for additional purchases. To avoid surprises at the cash register, ask your card issuer and the merchant if they use blocking.
Everybody has an opinion on how much money you should tuck away in your bank account. The truth is, it depends on your financial situation. What you need to keep in the bank is the money for your regular bills, your discretionary spending and the portion of your savings that constitutes your emergency fund. Everything starts with your budget. If you donât budget correctly, you may not have anything to keep in your bank account.