😅💰 Your bank account is judging you

☕ Which state has the most Dunkin’s? Spoiler: Not us! We were today years old when we learned that one state has more Dunkin’s than our 1,034 … and we’re honestly kinda pissed about who it is …

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

Ring ring! Your bank account called. We’re celebrating National Financial Literacy with our new series “Money Smarter, Not Harder,” where Boston Globe senior assistant business editor Andy Rosen answers all of your burning $$$ questions every Thursday this April. 

You asked, he answered:

Is it better to add to your savings account, or put everything in the market? 

💸 Friendly reminder from last week: Aim to have three to six months worth of your essential expenses (housing costs, utilities, cars, etc.) available at any given time. Given the price of living in Boston, this can be more than $10,000.

😬 Putting everything in the market is risky. Maybe you’ll get unlucky and need some $$$ on a rainy day when your investments are down, or maybe you’ll have tax and transaction costs you’re not ready to pay. That said, investing is important: $10,000 invested now for retirement is projected to be worth more than $100,000 in 40 years. The happy medium: Squirrel that emergency fund away, then start investing the money you earn after that. 

What if you have more credit card debt than you can pay off? 

💳 Put debt repayment at the TOP of your priority list. Most people have gotten behind on credit cards at some point (I’m guilty, too). If you pay more than your monthly minimum, the interest will shrink as your principal goes down. That will gradually make your monthly overpayments more powerful. 

📲 But if your principal is just too high, contact your credit card company. Your monthly interest will overwhelm whatever progress you can make at that point. Some credit card companies offer repayment plans that give you a lower rate while you hit your targets. Another option is to refinance your debt. You can try a new credit card with a balance transfer option that gives you a lower rate (watch out for fees here). You can even explore a debt consolidation loan that offers a more manageable payment. 

How do you maximize credit card rewards for big purchases?

✈️ Step 1: Shop around! Some credit cards will give you cash back or other perks such as free flights and hotel stays based on the amount of the money you spend. Typically the best rewards will be front-loaded. Think: Opening a new account and spending a certain amount of $$$ to unlock a certain number of points or cash-back dollars. The best card all depends on what you’re trying to do. Sites like NerdWallet (my former employer) and The Points Guy can help you see the best bargains.

✋ But, but, but! The rewards are only worth it if you’re staying on top of your payments and not accumulating interest.

👀 Got more questions for Andy? Drop them here!

🏙️🏡 Buying here isn’t exactly simple (or cheap) — but it doesn’t have to feel impossible. Institution for Savings offers competitive rates, fast turnaround, and local lenders who know this market inside and out (because they live here, too and complain about rent like the rest of us). Whether you’re just casually browsing Zillow or already picking out paint for your future home office, they’ll help you make sense of it all. Explore your options and take the first step. Institution for Savings | NMLS #2478201 | Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender. All loans are subject to credit approval.

📲 Mass. social media bans (Gov. Healey’s version). Healey proposed her own hefty slate of restrictions on social media companies this week. Her version aligns with similar proposals from the Mass. House and Senate, but goes even further by requiring companies to change default settings for Mass. users under 18. Think: Limiting them to two hours per day, deactivating infinite scroll, and nixing notifications during school hours — all of which could be changed back. How she’ll enforce the changes is unclear, but Healey doesn’t seem pressed. Now, it’ll need approval from the legislature.

⚽ Need a ride to the World Cup? That’ll be $95. Boston World Cup officials just dropped tickets for The Boston Stadium Bus, a service that’ll shuttle over 10,000 riders per match from 20 hotels (and Logan) to Gillette. The kicker? It could cost even more than the commuter rail’s $80 price tag: Tickets will run you anywhere from $25 to $95(!), based on the distance from the stadium. Adding to the buzzkill vibes: Tailgating isn’t allowed, so leave the grills and tents at home.

🎉 The City of Boston will pay you to throw a party. It’s true! Boston is doling out grants up to $750 for residents to throw block parties this summer — especially ones celebrating Boston 250 and the World Cup. Here’s the deal: To be eligible, the parties have to be between May and September, free and open to the public, and held on a public street. Alcohol, loud music, grills, and street vendors are a no-no, but potlucks, games, and other activities are OK. Here’s a full list of details. Ready to party? Apply by June 8!

😋 It’s a GOOD month to eat in the Seaport. First, Island Creek Oysters raw bar, the vibey outdoor pop-up, returns for its second season of slinging oysters and caviar-topped hot dogs on April 20; the hood’s new sports bar, Rocco’s, opens April 23; and swanky steakhouse Maple + Ash follows on April 30. Bonus: If you're willing to travel just a mile down the road to Southie, Park City returns for the season TODAY. *Opens Beli.*

Below are some of the hottest local things to do. This month, B-Side Members can save more than $150 across our events plus monthly freebies like free coffee at Flour Bakery.

🏃 April to September: RACE Cancer Boston 5K Summer Series. Run eight 5Ks along the Charles River with the Summer Series full season pass. Includes a UPF shirt, custom race bib, and post-race beers and pizza. Save $20 on the pass as a B-Side Member!

😂 April 24: Rockwell Nova Comedy Show, $27. The Nova Show returns to The Rockwell on April 24 with "I Dream of TV" — 90 minutes of sketches that surf through classic sitcoms, game shows, and reality TV. The first 14 members to use the 20% off code get a drink ticket upon entry. Get your ticket here!

👀 Want to feature your upcoming event above? Click here.

It’s come to our attention that the people don’t know about Fenway’s food policy. 

We recently came across a new series on TikTok: “Sneaking food into Fenway,” where a Fordham football player (per his TikTok) covertly “snuck” a dozen buffalo wings into the ballpark. 

There’s just one problem: He didn’t have to do all that. Bringing outside food into the park is … OK.

Fenway didn’t get back to us for a comment in time for publication, but food isn’t listed on the park’s prohibited items list (though cans, bottles, and glass containers are), and tons of folks in the comments vouched that bring in outside food all the time. One even brought in a whole container of Grillo’s Pickles on opening day. 

The more you know! 

— Written by Andy Rosen, Gia Orsino, and Emily Schario

🌭 Thanks for reading! Still, we’d take a Fenway Frank over 12 cold buffalo wings ANY day.

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Institution for Savings, for supporting local journalism and helping Bostonians escape the rent cycle once and for all. 

⚾ The results are in: 41% of readers said they don’t like Loretta’s OR Game On. Ouch! Not that anyone asked, but we’d never turn down a night of line dancing at Loretta’s … or a late night doughnut.

💃 Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].