The retailer has taken big steps over the last couple of years to revamp its fashion selection and bring in more premium brands in a bid to get wealthy shoppers to shop at Walmart.

Walmart is an especially great place to shop for all the little ones in your life. From the top trending toys for toddlers and kids to the most coveted brands for teens and tweens, you'll find plenty of great gift ideas for the grandkids at Walmart. You can head directly to Walmart's holiday gift shop now to browse some of their bestselling gifts of the season.

Not sure where to start? Keep scrolling for some of the most popular Christmas gifts for kids of all ages in 2025. Between Walmart's low prices and wide selection of trending gifts, you'll easily outcompete Santa Claus himself this year.

The best Christmas gifts for toddlers at Walmart

If you're trying to keep your holiday gift budget under control this year while still making your grandkids feel as special as they are, here are some of the biggest toy trends of 2025 available at Walmart.

• For the future chef: Melissa & Doug Flip & Fry Grill Play Set with Water WOW!® Color Reveal Play Food, $35
• A toddler's first pet: Pets Alive Polly the Magic Bird Electronic Girls Robotic Toy, $30
• For the gearhead-to-be: Monster Jam Smash & Bash Grave Digger Remote Control Vehicle, $45, Save 29%
• Share the classics with the next generation: Dr. Seuss's Christmas 3-Book Boxed Set, $25

Walmart's most popular gifts for kids

For kids roughly 6 and up, nostalgia is big this year. From rebooted Tamagotchis and Pokémon trading cards to the Furby and Rubik's cube, the most popular toys for kids this year are a blast from the recent past.

• For the kid who's "gotta catch 'em all:" Pokemon Trading Card Game Mega Evolutions Booster Bundle, $49. Save 11%
• A Furby that DJs and teaches yoga: DJ Furby Rainbow Electronic Plush Toy, $56. Save 20%
• The brain teaser that never gets old: Rubik's Cube, Pulse Cube, $19
• For the future coding genius: GiiKER Super Decoder, 600-Level Code-Breaking Puzzle for 1-2 Players, $50. Save 33%
• For the budding artist: Art 101 Glow and Neon Drawing and Painting Art Set, 61 Pieces, $25. Save 11%

The best Walmart Christmas gifts for preteens

Want to maintain your title of "best grandparent ever" this year? Pick up any of these gifts for your preteen grandkids and you're sure to win the title again.

• For the trendsetter: Stanley Quencher Flowstate, 40 oz., $25. Save 44%
• The gift your gamer grandkid is dreaming about: PlayStation Portal Remote Player, $179. Save 10%
• For the kid who never has enough Labubus: Pop Mart The Monsters (Labubu) Big Into Energy Vinyl Plush Blind Box V3, $33. Save 11%
• A fun way to capture memories: Fujifilm Instax Mini SE Instant Camera with Bonus 10 Pack Mini Film, $55. Save 25%

The best Christmas gifts for teens at Walmart

Shopping for teens can be tricky. But if you stick with one of these popular gift ideas, you're sure to squeeze a smile out of even the angstiest of teens.

• For the music lover: Apple AirPods 4, $85. Save 34%
• A popular tech gift for 78% off: Holy Stone 4K EIS Drone with UHD Camera, $130. Save 78%
• For the cozy gamer: Better Homes & Gardens Grey Bubble Faux Fur Ultra Soft Luxury Oversize Throw Blanket, $24
• Because snail slime is self-care now (really): COSRX Advanced Snail Hydrogel Eye Patch (60 Patches), $28
• For the fashion club captain: OPI Holiday 2025 Mini Nail Polish Set, 4-Pack, $20

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Steep increases in auto insurance premiums following the COVID-19 pandemic have been a major contributor. Costs for auto repairs have swelled, too, up 15% year over year in August, according to CPI data. Tariffs of 25% on imported car parts are driving up repair costs, as are more-complex repairs for vehicles packed with advanced technology, such as sensors that assist with blind-spot monitoring or warn you when you drift out of your lane. After a crash, fixing damage to these systems can add up to 37.6% to repair costs, according to AAA.

To mitigate ballooning car ownership expenses, try making these moves.

Consider ownership costs when you choose a car

As you decide which model to buy, think beyond the purchase price. Picking a vehicle with solid fuel economy rather than a gas guzzler could save you hundreds of dollars a year. You can select vehicle models and compare their fuel economy and estimated annual fuel costs at the U.S. Department of Energy’s fueleconomy.gov (in the “Find & Compare Cars” section, click on “Compare Side-By-Side”).

Reliability ratings of car brands can help you determine the likelihood of a car needing frequent repairs. In its most recent assessment of vehicle dependability, which tracked problems in the first three years of car ownership, J.D. Power found that Lexus rated highest overall. Among mass-market brands, Buick, Mazda and Toyota topped the rankings.

With online calculators, you can assess a car’s overall ownership costs. The tool from automotive-research site Edmunds estimates a car model’s total five-year costs, including insurance, maintenance, repairs, fuel and other factors. At Kelley Blue Book, a vehicle valuation and research company, offers a tool that lets you do a side-by-side comparison of five-year costs for various models.

Manage the ongoing expenses

If you haven’t compared quotes on auto insurance policies in a while, it’s worth shopping around; you can gather quotes on sites such as Policygenius.com and TheZebra.com. Take advantage of any discounts you qualify for, such as for automatic bill payments or low annual mileage.

Stay on top of routine maintenance, such as oil changes and brake inspections, to help avoid costly repairs down the road. You may spend less at an independent garage or oil-change shop than at the dealership, according to Edmunds (although certain tasks, such as work on sophisticated electronic systems, are best performed at the dealer). Look for coupons or specials that offer discounts on maintenance services.

When you buy gas, use an app such as GasBuddy to check for the lowest prices at stations near you. Some credit cards provide extra rewards on fuel purchases. The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, available to Costco Wholesale members, offers 5% cash back on gas purchased at Costco and 4% on fuel you buy elsewhere (you’ll earn those rates on a combined $7,000 in annual fuel spending and 1% thereafter).

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.

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Right now, you can save up to 77% on NordVPN depending on the plan. That’s a significant cut for a service that’s consistently ranked among the most dependable and user-friendly VPNs available.

Whether you want to protect your data while traveling, access streaming content from other countries or simply beef up your everyday privacy, this offer gives you premium-level protection for much less.

What’s a VPN?

A VPN, short for virtual private network, helps protect your identity and online activity by routing your internet connection through an encrypted tunnel. It masks your IP address, making your device appear as if it’s in another location.

This makes it harder for advertisers, hackers or even your internet provider to track you. It also opens the door to accessing region-locked content, which is why frequent travelers and streaming fans often consider a VPN essential.

VPNs can help prevent risks on public Wi-Fi, shield sensitive information during online shopping or banking and create an extra buffer between you and the many digital threats that exist today.

Save on security with NordVPN

NordVPN is up to 77% off for Black Friday and combines privacy tools, a clean interface and a strong global server network, making it a great choice whether you're at home or on the road. If you want to watch a show that’s only available in another country or maintain access to your usual library while abroad, NordVPN can help.

Beyond location control, NordVPN includes built-in security features. That includes:

• Ad and tracker blocking to cut down on intrusive ads
• Malware protection to help detect harmful downloads
• A password manager for simpler, safer logins
• A global server network for reliable connections
• Fast speeds that work well with streaming in HD or 4K

These tools run quietly in the background, offering protection without slowing you down. For many users, the combination of speed and privacy is the biggest selling point.

Whether you’re looking for safer browsing or more flexibility when watching your favorite shows, this discount delivers strong value for the price. With up to 77% off, it’s one of the strongest VPN offers we’ve seen this Black Friday weekend.

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From Amazon's best Cyber Monday deals to Target Cyber Monday deals that are worth stocking up on, there are savings to be found today if you do some digging (and comparison shopping).

While some Black Friday deals fall short, these Best Buy Cyber Monday deals are all 50% off or more. So you can get that upgraded TV you've been dreaming of or grab a few tech gifts that your friends or family will love at half the price (or less). But order quick, because many of these deals will be gone tomorrow.

Best Buy Cyber Monday TV deals

• LG - 65" Class B5 Series OLED AI 4K TV, $1,000. Save 50%
• TCL - 65" Class QM6K Series 4K TV, $500. Save 50%
• Hisense - 98" Class QD5 Series QLED 4K TV, $1,000. Save 56%
• Toshiba - 55" Class C350 Series LED 4K TV, $200. Save 50%

Best home security deals at Best Buy

• Blink - Video Doorbell, Battery-Powered, $30. Save 57%
• Lorex - 2K Wi-Fi Smart Lightbulb Camera (2-Pack), $40. Save 50%
• Blink - Outdoor 4, 5-camera system, $120. Save 60%
• SimpliSafe - 9pc Outdoor Home Security System, $225. Save 50%
• Ring - Alarm Security Kit 5-Piece, $100. Save 50%

Best Buy Cyber Monday deals on laptops and tablets

• HP - OmniBook 3 15.6" Full HD Laptop, $400. Save 50%
• Amazon - Fire HD 10 Tablet, $70. Save 50%
• Lenovo - IdeaPad 1 15.6" Full HD Laptop, $250. Save 52%
• Samsung - Galaxy Chromebook Go - 14" LED Laptop, $150. Save 54%
• Amazon - Fire HD 8 Kids Pro Tablet, $65. Save 53%

Our Favorite Cyber Monday headphone deals at Best Buy

• Soundcore - by Anker P20i True Wireless In-Ear Headphones, $20. Save 50%
• JBL - Tune Buds 2, $50. Save 54%
• Sony - WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones, $160. Save 54%
• Sennheiser - MOMEMTUM 4 Noise-Cancelling Headphones, $180. Save 60%
• Soundcore - by Anker C40i Open-Ear Cip-On Headphones, $50. Save 58%

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According to a survey from ecommerce marketing company Omnisend, Americans are expected to spend nearly $80 billion on Black Friday today and Cyber Monday.

That's a $20 billion increase from last year. But with tens of thousands of job layoffs, mounting credit card debt and lingering inflation, how are Americans affording this?

At first glance, it may seem like this is a positive boost in consumer confidence, but what's really happening is financial denial and retail therapy.

Pressure to shop proliferates

In today's climate, there's so much pressure to buy. Advertisements are virtually everywhere, and they only get worse during the holiday season when retailers promise big deals and savings.

Add online shopping with near-instant delivery and buy now, pay later options and the budget feels limitless. Especially if you're shopping for young children. But is that material item worth clocking in extra hours at work or taking on more debt than you can afford?

The obvious answer is no, but it's not that simple. During a time when inflation is eroding people's purchasing power, there's a lot of guilt associated with paying full price. Retailers know this, and they sometimes use it to their advantage.

Some may artificially inflate the original price of an item to make it appear as if you're getting a deal. They may even add an expiration date to create urgency.

Under these conditions, you're more likely to buy on impulse under the guise that you're saving money when that may not be the case.

Tools like CamelCamelCamel and Honey allow you to check an item's price history.

It's also a good idea to shop around. If you notice multiple retailers are discounting the same product, the sale is likely legit.

However, if you see an item being advertised for 50% to 75% off for one day only, it may be advantageous to skip it — especially if it's from an unknown brand.

Consider some financial literacy

So why is this important? Holidays can be a stressful time for parents who are trying to provide the best Christmas for their children, and the pressure to get every item on their list can be intense — no matter how much it costs.

But if money is tight this year, breaking the bank to get a material item that may hold your child's attention for a few weeks isn't worth racking up debt for.

In fact, it may be the perfect opportunity to teach your child what this season is all about and the importance of financial literacy.

Now, I'm not suggesting parents should skip the gifts altogether, but consider having an age-appropriate conversation with your children about what's going on.

Explain that prices are higher this year and that you don't have room in the budget to get everything on their wish list.

Focus on thoughtfulness over abundance. Teach your children that gifts are meaningful because of the care and effort that are put into them, not because of the cost or the type of item.

Put together a shared gift plan

Another option is to create a shared gift plan. Sit down with your child and make a list of who they want to get small gifts for, such as siblings, friends or teachers. Give each person on the list a target budget and stick to it. This will help them understand that money is finite.

Depending on their age, you can also encourage them to use their own money to buy the gifts. Help them research where to buy things, compare prices and decide what items are "worth" the money.

By using their own money, your child learns the value of a dollar and that sometimes sacrifices have to be made. It also teaches them that money is earned — if you want something, you have to work for it.

Alternative gift options

As you're preparing for the holidays, remember the reason behind the season. Are you getting gifts simply because it is tradition? Are there other more affordable times throughout the year when you could show that person how much they mean to you?

Perhaps you could take a special trip in the summer or give yourself more time to save money by buying them something for their birthday.

If your budget is tight this season, don't let the pressures of the holidays force you to make choices you cannot afford.

Consider spending quality time with one another by creating memories and experiences, rather than focusing on material items that can easily be replaced or forgotten.

Picking up the phone to call a loved one or sending them a card goes a long way, too. Oftentimes, that's more meaningful and authentic.

There's no shame in going back to the basics this holiday season — the memories and experiences created instead are priceless.

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This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

Starting November 25, Hulu subscribers can add HBO Max with Ads for only $2.99 per month for 12 months. Considering the standard HBO Max price is $10.99 per month, this limited-time offer unlocks a full year of TV and blockbuster movies at a fraction of the usual rate.

Whether you’ve been waiting to catch originals, revisit holiday classics or binge this year’s new releases, Hulu’s HBO Max Black Friday deal makes premium streaming more affordable than ever.

Why the HBO Max add-on is a good deal

Hulu’s Black Friday promotion brings the HBO Max with Ads add-on down to $2.99 per month for 12 months, compared with the regular $10.99 monthly price for the Basic with Ads plan. The savings last a full year, and once the promotional period ends, the add-on returns to standard pricing.

The deal runs now through December 1, and once it expires, the add-on returns to standard pricing. If you’ve been thinking about trying HBO Max or expanding your current Hulu lineup, this is one of the most aggressive discounts Hulu offers all year.

Who can add HBO Max to Hulu for $2.99

The deal is open to new and existing Hulu subscribers on eligible plans who don’t currently have the HBO Max add-on. Those on ineligible legacy plans will need to switch to a qualifying plan if they want to redeem the offer.

Once added, subscribers can enjoy HBO Max’s wide catalog of acclaimed originals and premium series, including new titles like IT: Welcome to Derry, The Pitt and recent releases such as The Conjuring: Last Rites.

How to add HBO Max to your Hulu subscription

Adding HBO Max is simple. Log in to your Hulu account, go to “Account,” then choose “Manage Add-Ons.” Select HBO Max (with Ads) and confirm the update.

Hulu will handle billing for both your main subscription and the add-on, making it a seamless upgrade.

To access HBO Max titles, download the HBO Max app, choose “Sign in with a provider,” select Hulu and log in using your Hulu credentials.

You’ll be able to stream select HBO programming directly through Hulu while accessing the full HBO Max library through the app.

There’s no long-term commitment, and you can cancel at any time through your Hulu account.

What you can watch with the HBO Max add-on

HBO Max brings a substantial entertainment library to Hulu, from timeless holiday movies to genre-defining originals. The platform’s mix of series, documentaries and new titles makes it one of the most robust catalogs available.

Whether you're rewatching yearly favorites or introducing holiday classics to someone new, HBO Max offers a wide selection to kick off the season.

Christmas movies on HBO Max:

• A Christmas Story
• A Christmas Story 2
• Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Elf
• Four Christmases
• Fred Claus
• Holiday Affair
• Jack Frost
• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
• Scooby Doo: Haunted Holidays
• The Polar Express

What’s new on HBO Max in December

HBO Max adds new titles monthly, including documentaries, comedy specials and a sequel to a beloved cult classic.

Here are a few highlights:

December 4

It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley — A documentary exploring the life, music and legacy of Jeff Buckley.

December 12

Sarah Squirm: Live + In the Flesh — A stand-up special from “Saturday Night Live” cast member Sarah Sherman.

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues — A follow-up to the iconic mockumentary that reunites the original fictional heavy-metal band.

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This year, Hulu is focusing heavily on premium add-ons like STARZ, delivering deep discounts that let you watch more for less. Whether you’re catching up on dramas or starting your holiday movie marathon, Hulu’s new offer means you can stack major entertainment without the premium price tag.

And if you’ve been waiting for a reason to try STARZ or jump back in for a new season of your favorite series, Hulu’s limited-time STARZ add-on Black Friday deal makes the decision pretty easy.

Why the STARZ add-on is such a strong value

Hulu is offering new and existing subscribers the chance to add STARZ for only $2.99 per month for 12 months, a drop from the regular price of $10.99 per month.

That’s one of the lowest prices you’ll see for the premium channel all year. To get the deal, you’ll first need a Hulu base plan, which starts at $11.99 per month, and then you can add STARZ at the discounted rate.

The clock is ticking, though. Hulu’s Black Friday offer is available now through December 1, and once the discount expires, STARZ returns to its standard pricing.

Who can add STARZ on Hulu for an additional $2.99 during Black Friday

The deal is open to new and existing Hulu subscribers who don’t currently have STARZ, as well as anyone who has been without a STARZ subscription for at least one month. That means a wide swath of viewers can take advantage of the promotional pricing without needing to create a brand-new account.

What you can watch with the STARZ add-on

Why consider STARZ? The add-on unlocks access to an extensive catalog of hit movies and original series. Subscribers can stream everything from action blockbusters to thrillers, all in one place.

Current standouts include titles like Ballerina, Now You See Me, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Borderlands and more, giving movie fans plenty to binge during the holiday season.

But STARZ is perhaps best known for its original programming. The network is home to major hits like Outlander, Power Book IV: Force, BMF and a growing library of exclusive series that you can’t find on any other streaming service.

Hulu lets you cancel anytime, so you’re not locked into a year-long commitment even though the discount lasts for 12 months. That makes it a low-risk way to test STARZ during the peak entertainment season, when new episodes, holiday specials and fresh movies are released.

When does the Hulu Black Friday savings end

With premium networks continuing to raise prices across the board, Black Friday has become one of the best times of the year to secure lower streaming rates. If you’ve been considering consolidating your streaming apps or trimming back on subscriptions, this offer gives you premium content at a fraction of the regular price.

Whether you’re catching up on your movie-to-watch list, starting a new original series or kicking off your annual holiday movie binge, Hulu’s Black Friday STARZ deal delivers a lot of entertainment for a very small price.

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The popular streaming service just added a bunch of new holiday movies to its roster and dropped a Black Friday streaming deal at the same time.

From now through December 2, you can sign up for either the Paramount+ Essential or Premium plan for just $2.99 per month for two months. That's plenty of time to rewatch all of these Christmas movies while you decide if you want to keep the subscription.

Classic Christmas movies on Paramount+

Share your childhood favorites with the next generation by adding some of these timeless Christmas movies to your marathon list this year:

• Planes, Trains and Automobiles
• Scrooged
• Scrooge (1970)
• All I Want For Christmas
• Home For The Holidays
• The Love Boat: The Christmas Cruise
• Trading Places

Christmas comedies on Paramount+

From feel good family movies to raunchy comedies, these are some of the best Christmas comedies streaming on Paramount+ right now:

• Surviving Christmas
• Happy Christmas
• Santa Stole Our Dog!
• Last Holiday (2006)
• A Fairly Odd Christmas
• Tiny Christmas
• A Clüsterfünke Christmas
• When Christmas Was Young
• Santa Hunters
• Daddy's Home 2
• Twas the Night Before Spongemas
• Friendsgiving

Spooky Christmas movies and festive mysteries to watch on Paramount+

For a change of pace, switch things up by sprinkling a few festive horrors and mysteries into your holiday marathon. Here are some of the spooky picks you'll find on Paramount+:

• Fatman
• Deck the Halls (2011)
• Reindeer Games (2000)
• Dear Santa

How to get a deal on Paramount+

Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to save on streaming. Most major platforms offer some of their best deals during the major shopping event. Paramount+ is no exception. When you sign up before December 2, you can pay just $2.99 per month for the first two months.

That low price applies to both the Paramount+ Essentials plan and Premium plan. If you opt for Premium, you'll not only get no ads but also get access to Showtime content. It’s the perfect excuse to curl up with family, save some cash and enjoy all your streaming favorites.

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Driven by a projected 20% rise in wholesale natural gas prices for 2026, the cost of keeping your home toasty could rise sharply, depending on where you live and the type of fuel you use.

Electricity is expected to lead the price hikes, with double-digit jumps in some parts of the country, followed by more modest increases in the cost of residential natural gas. The price of home heating oil, though still the most expensive way to keep a house warm, is expected to remain flat or even drop in some areas.

“Even with temperatures forecast to mirror last winter, home heating costs are expected to rise about 10% overall, as utilities pass higher fuel costs directly to consumers,” says Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.

How can you ease the pinch? “The smartest and cheapest thing homeowners can do is focus on efficiency first,” says Laura Bowler, design lead with Ramboll, a sustainable architecture and engineering consulting firm. “Simple steps can make a big impact.”

Here are some to consider.

1. Seal air leaks

Check your windows and doors for leaks that let in cold air and moisture. For the windows, you can use rope caulk (about $6 at your local hardware store) to seal any openings or damage to sealant you find, says Kriss Swint, marketing director with Westlake Royal Building Products in Columbus, Ohio.

For the doors, you can install a door sweep, a type of weather stripping that plugs the opening at the bottom ($10 to $20). Reducing these drafts can cut your energy bill by 5% or more, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

2. Unblock vents

Check around your home to make sure your vents aren’t blocked by furniture, which wastes heat and forces your system to work harder. Don’t want to rearrange couches and beds? You can instead connect a small plastic extender or deflector to the vents ($7 to $20), which can steer warm air to the areas of your home that need it most.

3. Use a smart or programmable thermostat

To save on heat while you’re out of the house, consider installing a programmable thermostat, which lets you set an automatic schedule for adjusting the temperature.

Turning down your thermostat by 10% to 15% for eight hours a day can reduce your bill by 10%, according to the DOE. Or spring for a smart thermostat linked to your cell phone that will track your location and daily patterns, then adjust the temperature in your home accordingly. A basic programmable model is about $50; a smart thermostat goes for around $100 to $200.

Below are a few top-rated smart thermostats from Amazon:

4. Insulate the attic

“Roughly 25% of heat loss occurs in the attic,” says Swint. To help prevent that, add more insulation, such as fiberglass, wool, or cotton, between the attic joints to trap heat. “If you’re a DIYer, this project should take a weekend,” says Swint.

'Average cost: $1,500 to $3,500, depending on the size of your attic and the material used.

5. Replace old heating systems

This could be an ideal time to spring for a new furnace or boiler, while some tax credits are still available for energy-efficient upgrades. One such credit, which expires at the end of 2025, can cover 30% of your energy-efficient home upgrades, for a total savings of up to $3,200. You may also qualify for state and local rebates, depending on where you live.

While you’re at it, also consider replacing an old attached garage door, which can be a significant source of heat loss. New versions have more insulation and improved sealing.

A bonus: Sellers recouped nearly double the average $4,513 they paid for a garage door replacement in 2024.

For more-targeted guidance, consider working with a professional home-energy auditor. “An audit will help identify where heat loss is happening and what improvements make the most sense,” Bowler says. For information on finding an auditor, visit energy.gov/energysaver/professional-home-energy-assessments.

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.

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All that money being spent over the holidays brings scammers out of the woodwork as they try to steal your cash, your credit card information and other sensitive data. And the techniques fraudsters use are getting more and more sophisticated every year.

As the biggest sales event of the year rolls around, make sure you're taking advantage of legitimate Black Friday deals at Amazon and other retailers, instead of handing your hard-earned money over to a fraudster. To do that, brush up on how some of the most common Black Friday scams work and the red flags to watch for so you don't fall into these traps.

1. Fake Black Friday deals

Your inbox is probably already seeing a steady stream of Black Friday deal announcements and offers from your favorite brands. Scammers will be using all the frenzy and excitement to try to steal your money. Here's how it works:

• You get an email from what looks like a brand you like, offering a can't-miss Black Friday deal.
• You click through the link in the email to shop the deals on that brand's website.
• The website looks identical to the real thing, but it's actually a fake operated by scammers.
• When you go to check out, you often won't have the option to pay by credit card. Instead, it will request a bank transfer or even cryptocurrency payment.

How to avoid this scam

• Check the URL. Instead of "Amazon," you might notice that the URL actually reads "Amaz0n" (with a zero), for example. There will often be something slightly off about it.
• You can also look at the website itself more closely. Does it have a privacy policy? Does the business have a mailing address? Is there an "about us" page?
• Compare the deal to other retailers. If the website is promising the latest Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $100, but no other retailer has a deal lower than $200, that's a red flag.
• If you can't use a credit card, don't make the purchase. When paying with a credit card, you enjoy some built-in fraud protection – including the option to call up your bank and request a charge back if it turns out the deal was a scam. When you transfer cash from your bank, use a payment app like Zelle or pay with crypto, you don't have those same protections.
• Use shopping guides from trusted news outlets, like our guides to Target's best Black Friday deals or our favorite Walmart Black Friday deals. Even if you don't end up buying any of our picks, the links you used to navigate to the site will be legitimate.

2. Fake order confirmations

This one can come via email or text. Scammers will send you what looks like a legitimate order confirmation, but clicking the link will either install malware on your device or take you to a phishing site. Here's how it works:

• You get an order confirmation via email or text.
• If it looks like an order you recently placed, you might mistake it for a legitimate confirmation and use the link inside to track the shipping progress.
• If it looks like something you never ordered, you might click through the link to investigate or cancel the order.
• In a malware attack, clicking the link is all it takes to install the malware on your device, which will then be able to scrape that device for sensitive information like passwords or financial data.
• In a phishing attack, clicking the link takes you to a webpage that asks for your personal information — often under the guise of helping you track (or cancel) the order.

How to avoid this scam

• Check the email address of the sender. Often, the email will be from a public domain (like gmail rather than Amazon). If not, the domain might be either misspelled or contain extra words. For example, Amazon would be Amaz0n (with a zero) or it might be "Amazoncustomerservice.com" instead of just "Amazon.com."
• Look for threats or pressure tactics. A real order confirmation will never threaten you with things like "click here to avoid order cancellation" or "your order will be deleted if you don't confirm your information."
• Keep track of all your holiday purchases, perhaps by writing a list with order numbers, tracking numbers and other key details. If you get a confirmation that looks like it could be real, compare the order number or tracking number against the actual order you think it might be referring to. If they don't match up, report the sender as spam.

3. The gift card scam

You get an email or text claiming a friend or family member sent you a gift card. Like the order confirmation scam, clicking through the link will either take you to a phishing page or immediately install malware on your device.

How to avoid this scam

• If the message includes a friend or family member's name, reach out to that person directly to ask if they did, in fact, send you a gift card. Do not reply to the gift card message or click on any links in the meantime.
• If no name is included, that's suspicious on its own. But, you can confirm by reaching out to all of your friends and family who tend to send you gifts around the holidays to find out if any of them sent a gift card.
• If nobody you know says they've sent you a gift card, report the phone number or email address as spam.

4. Fake shopping apps

Plenty of retailers offer downloadable apps that you can install on your phone. It's actually become one of the more annoying tech intrusions. But it's important to make sure the app you're downloading is actually the one that belongs to that retailer. Otherwise, you could be walking into a scam.

Counterfeit apps can look surprisingly similar to the real deal. The logo and other details might look just like that of the popular retailer it's impersonating. When you download it, you're actually downloading malware or spyware.

In some cases, the app prompts you to log in, browse what look like real deals and even checkout with your financial information. Now, the scammer has your real login credentials and potentially stole other sensitive information from you as well.

How to avoid this scam

• Check the number of downloads and reviews. A popular brand or major platform like Amazon or Walmart will have millions of downloads and a substantial review history on its app. The fake version, on the other hand, might only have a few thousand downloads and even fewer reviews.
• Check the developer's name. The developer of Walmart's app will be Walmart (spelled correctly). A scammer will either use a slightly misspelled version of the brand they're impersonating or a generic name like "Best Shopping Deals."
• Just don't download the app. Sometimes, retailers offer special perks for downloading their apps. There are some Walmart+ perks that you can only use if you have the app, for example. But, if you don't need those specific perks or you've been fine so far without them, just skip the app. At best, it's taking up space on your phone. At worst, it's a counterfeit app stealing your data.

Shop smart this holiday season

The safest way to shop on Black Friday or any time of year is to be cautious. Stick to retailers you know and trust. Navigate to their websites directly rather than by clicking through links you get in emails or texts.

Above all, remember that Black Friday deals can be good — but if a particular deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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With gift givers spending more than ever, that pressure is mounting. In 2024, U.S. consumers dropped a record $994 billion on holiday shopping, according to the National Retail Federation, and projections by the Mastercard Economic Institute suggest holiday sales will continue to climb this year, by an estimated 3.6%. Higher-income shoppers, buoyed by a surging stock market, are likely to spend even more.

Shelling out bigger bucks, though, doesn't necessarily yield better gifts for the people you love. The NRF says holiday returns last year were 17% higher than average, suggesting a growing number of presents are missing the mark, putting added pressure on gift givers this year.

"We give gifts because we want to make people happy, give them something they'll enjoy and signal we care about them," says Elanor Williams, an associate professor of marketing at Washington University and a leading gifting researcher. "And therefore we stress about it."

How can you reduce that anxiety and land on gifts the people you care about will love? Science can help.

A growing body of research from behavioral finance experts identifies the kinds of presents that people typically like best and the mental quirks that prevent many people from buying them. Understanding these preferences and the cognitive traps that lead gift givers astray can help ensure your holiday presents not only stand out when they're unwrapped but also stand the test of time.

These are the strategies that leading researchers in the field suggest.

Skip the razzle-dazzle

Have you ever splurged on gifts for your family that made them exclaim in delight upon opening, only to never see the items used or played with again? You may have fallen victim to the smile-seeking hypothesis.

Coined by researchers at the National University of Singapore and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the term refers to the tendency of gift givers to focus on eliciting the biggest reaction at the time a present is opened — a big smile or expression of awe — rather than on whether the item will bring your recipient long-term satisfaction when he or she actually uses it in the future.

The researchers ran several experiments to test the hypothesis, including one in which they randomly assigned participants to give or receive one of two similarly priced mug sets as a wedding present: an award-winning ergonomic set or a personalized set with inscriptions of the couple's names and wedding date.

Gift givers favored the more personal mugs and predicted the newlyweds would have a more positive reaction to them when opened and like them more over the long term, too. In reality, the recipients preferred the more useful mugs, both at the moment of unwrapping and for use over time.

"There's so much pageantry that goes along with exchanging gifts, especially at Christmas," says Williams. "It really gets you focused on that moment where you're going to hand that gift over and see what the person says when they open it."

What to do instead? Rather than try to wow loved ones when you give them a holiday gift, focus on whether your kids, grandkids and dear Uncle Bill really need the item and will use it and like it in the days and weeks to come.

Research shows, says Cindy Chan, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Toronto, that recipients are often just as happy, if not happier, to open practical gifts as they are showstoppers, valuing a seemingly boring gift more because they get more use out of it.

"For my parents and their stockings one Christmas, I just threw in some kitchen utensils," Chan says. "I noticed that their kitchen tongs were really annoying, that their ladle was starting to crack. They use them every day, and they appreciate that gift."

Gift them what they want

One of the simplest ways to get everyone on your list something they will enjoy is to put yourself in their shoes, says Mary Steffel, associate professor of marketing at Northeastern University who has published multiple research papers on the psychology of gift giving.

"Try to think about what that person might choose for themselves, and let that help guide your decision," Steffel says. "That's more likely to keep our focus on the recipient's preferences as opposed to other motives, like our desire to feel thoughtful."

The easiest way to do this? Buy something from your recipients' wish list. Studies suggest your loved ones will appreciate that gift more than an unsolicited surprise offering and consider it more thoughtful, even if it doesn't feel that way to you.

That was the conclusion of a study out of Harvard Business School and Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. In one experiment, the researchers gave gifters the option to pick a present from their recipient's Amazon wish list or choose one on their own. People were more satisfied when they received gifts from their list — just as, in other experiments, they preferred to get wedding gifts from their registry and birthday gifts they had explicitly requested.

Still, gifters love to go rogue. Why the disconnect? The researchers concluded that people giving presents mistakenly believe it makes them look more considerate when they think up gift ideas for someone on their own, though the opposite is true.

"We want to feel thoughtful. We want to communicate, I want to show you how well I know you," says Julian Givi, associate professor of marketing at West Virginia University and a leading gifting researcher. In reality, he says, these are unconsciously selfish motivations because they don't put what the recipient really wants first.

Don't get too personal

You may think that a highly personal gift will signal how well you know the unique tastes and preferences of your friends and relatives. But a series of studies spearheaded by Northeastern University's Steffel and Washington University's Williams show how these kinds of presents can backfire.

In one experiment, the researchers randomly assigned participants to imagine that they were either giving a gift to a close friend or receiving one from that pal. They were then presented with two gift options: a Visa gift card that could be used anywhere or a gift card from the recipient's favorite clothing store. As it turned out, givers were far more likely to choose a gift card to the recipient's favorite store, but the people getting the present preferred the more versatile Visa gift card.

Steffel and Williams's research also finds that you are more likely to choose a personalized, less versatile gift for someone you're close to — say, a child or sibling — than people with whom you have a more distant relationship because you think it signals how well you know the recipient. Ironically, you could be giving the people you love worse presents than your acquaintances.

Buying your daughter a gift card to a store you know she's purchased clothes from before shows you are paying attention, but it doesn't take into account all the other facets of her personality, Steffel says. Clothes might not be first on her wish list.

"Givers tend to pick something that is representative of who their recipient is," she says. "Recipients are more likely to focus on what they want or need right now, so gravitate toward a gift that's more flexible."

Play the hits

You also don't have to bend over backward to give everyone a different present, even if the gifts will be opened at the same holiday gathering. If you've landed on a winner — say, Labubus for the grandkids or Amazon gift cards for the adults — go with it.

Steffel and Robyn LeBoeuf, professor of marketing at Washington University, tested that strategy in a series of experiments. In one, the researchers invited college students to get a jump on holiday shopping by giving either one or two friends a $25 gift card; in the two-friend scenario, only one of the recipients was a student at the giver's school. The gift-card choices were Amazon (established in pre-testing as the one people would likely want most), the university bookstore or a sporting goods store.

When giving a present to their fellow student alone, 72% of gifters chose the Amazon card while 24% picked the bookstore. For two friends, 81% picked the Amazon card for the person who didn't attend their school, and the number giving the university bookstore card to the college pal jumped to 43%.

Other experiments established the likely reason was to appear thoughtful by choosing a uniquely suitable gift — even one that might not be enjoyed as much.

"Givers may be overthinking it," Steffel says. "You really should be giving people the thing that you think they're going to like the most, even if it is a duplicate of something you're giving somebody else."

Favor experiences over stuff

Gifts of experiences — say, a gift card to a favorite restaurant or tickets to a play or ballgame — are likely to bring you closer to your loved ones than material gifts, studies show. So think about what the people on your holiday list enjoy doing in their spare time and how you might tailor a gift to their preferred activities, suggests Chan.

Her research, conducted with Cassie Mogilner, a professor of marketing and behavioral decision-making at the University of California, Los Angeles, looked at how different types of presents affect the relationship between giver and receiver. In one experiment, university students were recruited with a friend, with one from each pair randomly assigned to be the giver while the other was the receiver. Givers could purchase either a $15 experiential gift or a $15 material gift, and recipients rated the strength of their friendship with the giver before and after getting the present.

The researchers found that recipients rated the experiential gifts as far more effective at improving the relationship — even when the experience wasn't something the friends could do together.

This is because experiences elicit a stronger emotional response than purely material gifts do, Chan says. It's not so much that the person getting the gift likes it more; rather, it makes her feel closer to the giver when she consumes it.

"Experiential gifts tend to be more emotionally intense and more emotionally evocative, and this has a spillover effect on making the relationship stronger," Chan says.

You can also mix a material gift with an experience for greater impact. Rather than buy your coffee-connoisseur son a gift card to a local java joint, for example, you could present him with a bag of coffee beans and a mug with a heartfelt note saying you hope he will savor them before work. When your son has his first sip each morning, he will think of you fondly.

"It's very different to say 'Here's a mug, I hope you love it,' than 'Here's a mug, I hope it brings you a moment of calmness in your busy day,' " says Chan. "You will feel differently about that mug."

Don't overthink it, though. No matter what you give your loved ones for the holidays, Chan says, they're likely to appreciate the gesture. "People talk about bad gifts, but really, really bad gifts are not the norm," she says. In the end, she notes, "most gifts are well liked."

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.

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You can also follow the path well-worn by clever snowbirds: Go somewhere warm, whether for a short vacation, a season or to live out your life without ever having to wait out a snowstorm to go back to the greens.

If you love someone who daydreams of reorganizing their life around the golf course (and believe me, they're not alone), these gift ideas should be high on your shopping list for the holidays.

I included a mix of price points here, and, as someone who makes a living, in part, playing two to three times a week, traveling to see new golf courses and seeing one to two Top 100 courses a year, I can tell you that each option will improve their games and enjoyment of it.

An indoor golf simulator

If you have the space, money and time, this might be the best moment to invest in a simulator for your home.

There are many brands to consider, so don't just default to Trackman or Full Swing because you see their names the most (though those are great options).

There are also many ways to set up a simulator to get the most bang for your buck and make the best use of your space. To narrow down these options, talk to the pros at The Indoor Golf Shop to find a setup that will fit your budget.

The best advice I can offer is that camera-based systems are often better than radar-based systems, but the technology is getting better each year, along with the graphics. Don't skimp on a projector and get a high-quality hitting mat. Expect to spend at least $7,500 on a quality setup.

Top option: The Indoor Golf Shop

Seriously great irons

You don't have to be a golf equipment nerd to pick out great irons. All the manufacturers ensure you have great clubs in your hands these days. Similar to cars, there aren't many lemons anymore. You just need to pick an iron that performs well for you.

The new T series irons by Titleist are this year's winner for me. My shots have never flown farther or higher than with these irons. The key is that somehow Titleist keeps finding ways to lower the center of gravity in their irons, which creates launch conditions that make even a moderate swinger like me launch the ball fast and high. These come in at $1,500 per set.

Top option: Titleist T-250

An epic driver

Aside from hitting a home run in Little League baseball, nothing has ever felt better in sports than a well-struck drive. That feeling happens more often than not with TaylorMade's latest driver, the Qi-35, which is now $100 off.

In terms of gifting, you might want to make have them unwrap a photo of the gift, then you both go in person to pick out the physical gift from the store. The driver comes in three different models to suit your game, but a good fitter can help you find the right combination of head and shaft that works for your game and swing. Don't buy one off the rack. Make sure you get it fit.

Top option: TaylorMade Qi-35

A lightweight golf bag for walkers

I'm a walking golfer and believe the game is best played on foot. I prefer hoofing it with my clubs thrown over my back to putting on a weighted vest and walking through my neighborhood. If you walk, you want a lightweight bag.

At only 4.3 pounds and about $339, the Lux Air is my bag these days. It has plentiful pockets to stow balls, tees and some sunscreen, as well as a nice full-length pocket to accommodate a sweater or vest. The bag comes in a six- or 14-way top. Its kickstand legs are carbon fiber, and its backpack mechanism is self-balancing.

Top option: Lux Air from Vessel Golf

Golf shoes that don't pinch

One of the fastest-growing brands in golf is Payntr Golf Shoes. One reason they've taken off is that they're incredibly comfortable and some of the best shoes on the market. The new Sport Classic LE, a spikeless shoe, is so comfortable that a recent madcap scramble in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson (is there any other kind of transfer at that airport?) was as comfortable as walking in house shoes — on carpet.

The entire lineup of shoes is worth checking out. The underlying technology is designed to let golfers utilize ground forces more efficiently, which translates into faster swings and more power when hitting the golf ball.

An ortholite footbed provides great cushioning, and the waterproof uppers mean early morning rounds won't leave your socks steeping in dew or someone's spilled coffee on the commuter train. A pair costs $160.

Top option: Payntr Golf Shoes

Refined athleisure to outfit your golfer

Sun Mountain is known for creating the modern-day golf stand bag (and the Eclipse is a good choice), and they've recently stepped into apparel and improved their waterproof rain jackets.

My picks this year from Sun Mountain include: For women, the Teigan Quarter-Zip ($99), a soft fleece that feels like one of my kids' stuffed animals. For men, I like the Knockdown Vest ($199), which I can't seem to stop wearing even once I'm inside the house. And to battle the rain, go with a Monsoon Jacket ($99).

Top option: Sun Mountain

Sweaters for cooler days on the course

More golf apparel companies are including women's lines. This year, my wife and I liked the new releases from Turtleson, including the Maeve Extra Fine Merino and the Asymmetrical Funnel Collar. Both are soft and perfect for layering under a jacket or vest for fall golf rounds or when the evening chill comes out in warmer climates.

For men, the Ace Birdseye Crewneck Sweater is a handsome choice with old school flair on and off the course. Prices begin at $155.

Top option: Turtleson

A simple but effective piece of training equipment

I'm not one to go into deep rabbit holes of Instagram or YouTube videos on improving my swing, but the TRS Slider is a sound piece of training equipment.

One thing I know from lessons over the years is that golfers need to be forced into feeling the proper swing positions. The TRS Slider won't allow you to raise your right arm, and keeping the right arm close to your body makes it harder (though not impossible) to come over the top on your swing.

By helping you ingrain that feeling in your swing, the hope is that when you take off the aid, you're still hitting with the same proper mechanics. This is a thoughtful gift that your golfer will be impressed you thought of – and they'll use it often.

Top option: TRS Slider

Better data for better scores

Given that we carry computers in our pockets all day, it makes sense to take advantage of that by installing Arccos sensors on our golf clubs. These allow you to know how far you hit each club by keeping track of your stats over time.

If you analyze the data right, you won't just know how many fairways you're missing (ahem, I mean, hitting), you'll know what your tendencies are under pressure and in heightened moments. Golf is complicated, but if you can use the data to get better at course management, you'll be able to play and practice smarter. Systems start at $99.

Top option: Arccos Golf

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Verizon Home Internet is a wireless internet solution that runs off the 5G networks your phone uses, offering reliability, speed and no need for a scheduled installation.

The service is quickly gaining traction as cable alternatives get more expensive, and additional perks like entertainment add-ons and a credit to help you switch make Verizon Home Internet highly appealing. But just like any other internet service, it’s important to carefully review all of the pros and cons to decide if this service is right for you.

What Verizon Home Internet offers

Verizon Home Internet offers convenience that you won’t find with wired internet services. Since Verizon’s 5G internet uses the Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband network that your phone uses, the service connects to local cell phone towers.

There’s no need to schedule an installation, drill holes and run wires through your home. Instead, a 5G receiver in your home connects to cell phone tower signals, acting as a modem and router to connect your home devices.

The plan structure is simple and straightforward, too. There are no annual contracts, and you won’t find extra fees or equipment charges. The router is included for free as long as your plan is active. Verizon offers a three-, four- or five-year price lock guarantee on its plans, so you can avoid unexpected price increases.

There are additional ways to save and maximize the value of your plan, too. If you sign up for Auto Pay or bundle your mobile and home internet plans, you can get a discount.

Verizon also offers discounts for service members, teachers, nurses, students and first responders. Additionally, you can add on perks like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and other entertainment bundles to save on what you’d pay for those services if you bought them on their own.

How much Verizon Home Internet costs

The cost of Verizon Home Internet depends on the plan you choose and the discounts you qualify for.

The following prices include discounts with Auto Pay and paper-free billing, as well as a discount for also having a Verizon mobile plan.

• 5G Home - $35 per month: The plan has fast speeds, unlimited data and 1080p HD video streaming.
• 5G Home Plus - $45 per month: The plan includes faster speeds, unlimited premium data and 1080p HD video streaming.
• 5G Home Ultimate - $60 per month: This plan has the fastest speeds available, unlimited premium data and ultra HD 4K video streaming. It also includes a free router upgrade after three years and one WiFi extender.

Where Verizon Home Internet works best

Since Verizon Home Internet relies on the Verizon 5G service, the internet service works best in areas where the 5G coverage is strong. Those areas tend to include metro areas and coverage may be spotty or slow in more rural locations.

You can check coverage availability using Verizon’s coverage map. Keep in mind that to get top speeds, you’ll need to be close to a Verizon cell tower. The farther away you are from the tower, the slower your internet speeds will be.

Pros and cons at a glance

Weighing the pros and cons of Verizon Home Internet can help you decide if it’s right for you.

There are several appealing pros to this internet service:

• Easy setup: There’s no need to drill holes or run wires, since this wireless plan runs off Verizon cell towers. In most cases, you can set up your service yourself, though Verizon does state that this option isn’t available in every location.
• Simple, upfront costs: The plans are straightforward and easy to understand, and there are no hidden fees or annual contracts required.
• Early termination fee coverage: If you’re a new Verizon Home Internet customer and you face an early termination fee when switching over, Verizon will give you a credit of up to $500 to help cover that fee.
• Equipment is included: All plans include a free router as long as your service is active. The 5G Home Ultimate plan also includes a free Wi-Fi extender, so you can access the internet throughout your entire home.
• Additional perks: You can add and save on entertainment services like Netflix and HBO max. Verizon is also offering a special holiday gift option with the 5G Home Ultimate plan; you can choose from a Samsung TV, Samsung Galaxy Tab or Nintendo Switch system.
• Suitable for current and new customers: You don’t have to have a Verizon mobile plan to sign up for the Verizon Home Network. While you can qualify for a bundle discount if you do have a mobile plan, you can choose to purchase just the home internet plan, too.  

There are also several downsides to this internet service that you should consider:

• Limited availability: The availability of this internet depends on how close you live to Verizon cell towers. If you’re in a busy metro area, there’s a greater chance that this internet service is available, and that you’ll get faster speeds.
• Variable speeds: Speeds vary according to the plan you purchase and the 5G signal strength in your location. If you want to get the fastest speeds, you’ll need to buy the 5G Home Ultimate plan, which is the most expensive.
• Self installation: While the ability to install the service yourself may be appealing to some, if you’re not terribly tech-savvy, the self-installation may be a downside.

Who Verizon Home Internet is best for

With its wireless convenience, Verizon Home Internet is a solid choice if you’re in a location where there’s a strong Verizon 5G signal. The plans’ straightforward pricing make shopping for internet simple, but the numerous entertainment options also make the service an appealing and potentially money-saving pick for anyone who enjoys streaming services.

While there’s a lot to like about Verizon Home Internet, the biggest limitation is the 5G network availability. If you’re in a rural area or are too far from Verizon cell towers, the speeds may be slow or the service might not be available at all. If you’re considering this internet service, it’s a good idea to start by checking the coverage map to verify that it’s available in your area.

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Trade-ins are popular because they benefit both you and the carrier. You get an instant price break, and the carrier gets your old device to refurbish and resell.

But it’s still worth thinking twice. Keeping your old phone can offer perks like resale value, a backup device or a hand-me-down for a family member.

Why trade-in deals are so common

Trade-in deals are common because they benefit companies and are appealing to customers, too. By offering customers deals to trade in an old phone, manufacturers and carriers can encourage customers to trade up sooner, driving sales.

They can also refurbish and resell the phones that they take in on trade, which can help companies expand their customer base into those looking for phones at a lower price point. Offering trade-in deals also serves the important purpose of boosting customer loyalty, since customers will continue paying for service as they’re paying down the cost of their new phone.

But trade-in deals offer benefits to consumers, too. Trading in an old phone can help to make the cost of buying a new phone more affordable. It’s easy and simple to trade up for a new model, plus you won’t have to worry about recycling or disposing of your old phone.

Benefits of keeping your old phone

Keeping your old phone offers several benefits:

• Resale: Many lightly used phones still hold significant value, and you can potentially resell your old phone for cash.
• Backup: Keeping your old phone means you’ll have it available as a backup device if you lose your phone or if it breaks. You can use your old phone as a backup while waiting for repairs or a replacement, so you can stay connected until your new device arrives.
• Hand-me-down: Many parents choose to keep an old phone as a hand-me-down device for family members. Giving your kids your old phone can make a lot of sense, especially if they’re younger and are still learning how to properly care for a valuable phone.
• Avoid e-waste: Keeping and repurposing your old phone can help reduce e-waste, or discarded electronic devices. If you no longer have a use for your phone, be sure to recycle it appropriately. You can find local recycling sites through Call2Recycle.

How Verizon’s monthly phone financing works

It can be tempting to trade in an old phone to make your new device more affordable, but Verizon’s monthly phone financing can make it easier to pay for a new phone even if you don’t have a trade-in.

Verizon’s monthly phone financing divides your phone’s cost into 36 monthly installments. You can pay those installments over the full 36-month period, or you can pay the balance off in full at any time. Current Verizon customers can use the payment agreement when they add a line to their account or upgrade a device.

A credit check is required to qualify for financing. To increase your chances of approval, Verizon recommends that you pay all of your balances on time and pay off any past-due amounts over $25 before you apply.

When a trade-in does make sense

Trading in your phone may make sense if you have a newer phone that will substantially reduce the cost of your upgrade. You may also consider a trade-in if you’re looking for a fast solution and don’t want to deal with the hassle of selling your phone.

If you have a little time to work with, then keeping your old phone may make more financial sense. Chances are you can make more money off of your phone if you sell it yourself than you would by trading it in. That’s particularly true if your phone is a little older and has lost some trade-in value.

How to evaluate your current phone’s lifespan

To get a sense of how much lifespan your current phone has left, you’ll need to consider several factors:

• Battery health: As phones age, their battery health declines, meaning you’ll have to charge your phone more often as you use it. You can check the battery on an iPhone by going to Settings and choosing the Battery option. On an Android, you’ll find the Battery information in the Settings section. If your phone has less than 50% of its battery health, it’s time to start thinking about a replacement.
• Storage capacity: As your phone starts to run out of storage, your usage options will be limited. You can add storage to a newer phone, but it usually doesn’t make much sense to add storage to an older, less valuable phone. To check your storage on an Android, go to Settings. Your phone should have a Storage or Device Care option with details about your available storage. If you have an iPhone, navigate to Settings, General, and iPhone Storage.
• Operating system support: Manufacturers only support operating systems for so long. Six to eight years of support is pretty common. Check your phone’s operating system and do a little research to see how long its support period is. Once you’re beyond the support period, the manufacturer will stop issuing software updates, so you could start to encounter technical and security issues.

These factors can help you determine how much more use you might get out of your old phone, and they can make it easier to decide if you should trade it in.

If you decide to purchase a new phone, consider how you’ll make the purchase. Buying a phone outright gives you more carrier flexibility, since you can switch carriers if you want. But if you need to finance your phone, you’ll need to stay with your carrier until you’ve paid it off, which could be frustrating if the carrier’s coverage or service doesn’t work well for your needs.

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When you mix that with lingering inflation and higher shipping and labor costs, the result is the same: smaller discounts and fewer jaw-dropping bargains.

If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your laptop, replace an appliance or check off your holiday gift list, this shift matters. Some categories will offer real savings, but others are likely to disappoint. But with the right strategy this Black Friday shopping season, you can still find value.

Let’s break down what’s happening and how to shop smarter this season.

The new reality for Black Friday pricing

Tariffs have always been a behind-the-scenes cost factor, but this year their impact is far more visible. U.S. import duties on a wide range of consumer goods like electronics, tools, household items and more, have increased or expanded. Since retailers can’t absorb all those higher costs, they pass a portion on to consumers.

That matters because Black Friday discounts often rely on retailers buying huge quantities in advance at low prices. When those upfront costs rise, markdowns shrink. Layer on lingering inflation and higher shipping and labor costs and retailers are facing thinner margins than they’ve seen in years.

Rather than slashing prices dramatically, many stores are opting for smaller markdowns, bundled offers, or heavily restricted “doorbusters” designed to protect profitability.

Categories facing the biggest price pressure

Some product categories are far more exposed to tariff-driven price creep, and those are the ones most likely to disappoint deal hunters this year.

Electronics

When it comes to phones, laptops, tablets, gaming consoles and monitors, many of these categories rely heavily on imported components subject to tariffs. Expect fewer steep discounts and more deals that don’t rival years past.

Major appliances

Large kitchen and laundry appliances are among the most affected by tariff increases on metal and imported parts. Retailers may advertise sales, but the actual savings could be modest.

Tools and home improvement supplies

According to Family Handyman, tariffs on common materials and tool components are playing a big role in pricing this season. Expect limited discounts on power tools, compressors and accessories.

Apparel

While clothing discounts will still exist, brands facing higher production costs may not push the aggressive 50–70% off deals consumers are used to.

Categories where value is still possible

Not all areas of holiday shopping are feeling the same tariff squeeze. If you’re looking for real value, prioritize:

Home goods & seasonal decor

While still affected by rising costs, seasonal items tend to be high-markdown categories because retailers need to clear inventory fast.

Beauty and personal care

These items have strong profit margins, which gives retailers more room to discount without losing money.

Domestic or non-tariff-heavy brands

Products manufactured in the U.S., Mexico, or other lower-tariff regions may see deeper markdowns.

Digital products and services

Streaming subscriptions, gift cards, apps, online course and software bundles aren’t subject to import duties, so deals may stay competitive.

Timing your purchases for the best value

With tighter margins, retailers are spreading out their promotions over longer timelines instead of saving everything for the day after Thanksgiving.

Here’s how to time your purchases this year:

• Early deals (late October–early November): This time is best for toys, small kitchen appliances and seasonal décor.
• Black Friday: Look for limited-quantity doorbusters (but expect them to sell out quickly). Electronics may not be as steeply discounted as in years past.
• Cyber Monday: Good for online-exclusive brands, streaming services and software. Tech accessories like chargers, cables, mice, keyboards tend to peak here.
• December clearance: Best for apparel, gift sets, décor and stores working through excess inventory.

If you’re unsure, use price-tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel to see whether a “deal” is actually the best it’s been all year.

How to spot weak or inflated discounts

Not all Black Friday deals are created equal, and this year especially, shoppers will see more promotions that look impressive on the surface but offer very little real savings. One of the biggest red flags is the artificial markdown.

This is when a retailer shows a steep discount based on an inflated “original price” that the product rarely, if ever, sold for. If the item has been sitting at roughly the same price all year, that dramatic slash isn’t a true deal.

Another tactic to watch for is the bundle strategy. Retailers may package an item with accessories or low-cost add-ons to make the total “discount” seem larger than it is. While these bundles can sometimes offer value, it’s worth checking what the main item costs on its own and whether the extras are things you actually need.

Limited-quantity doorbusters are also trickier this year. Stores may advertise a standout deal, but only keep a handful in stock. These offers can drive excitement, but most shoppers won’t get them and many end up settling for a far weaker discount on the standard item.

Lastly, pay attention to modest percentage cuts on recently marked-up items. A 10% discount doesn’t help much if the price quietly rose by 15–20% over the past few months due to tariffs or supply-chain costs. When in doubt, checking price history tools can help you spot when a sale isn’t really a sale.

Smarter ways to shop this year

If you want to protect your wallet in a higher-tariff, lower-discount environment, focus on strategy and not hype. Here are a few strategies to try:

• Compare pricing across retailers. Prices are varying widely this season. Don’t assume the big box store always wins.
• Track historical prices. Browser extensions and price-history tools can help you confirm whether a “deal” is truly worthwhile.
• Buy from retailers with price protection. Some stores will refund the difference if the price drops later. That’s a major win in a year with unpredictable discounts.
• Prioritize needs over nice-to-haves. Since deals may be weak, focus your budget on the items you genuinely need to replace.
• Consider open-box, refurbished or previous-year models: These items may escape the tariff-inflated pricing that affects new inventory.
• Look beyond the traditional retailers: Warehouse clubs, membership-based sites and off-price stores may offer better value on certain categories.

Tariffs are shaping Black Friday more than many shoppers realize. But with careful timing, smart comparison and an eye for real value, you can still save meaningfully this holiday season.

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“At this stage of life, most of my clients just want everything to be convenient and hassle-free,” says Adam Rex, a financial planner with Cornerstone Financial Services in Virginia Beach. Unfortunately, the vehicle market has some new headaches thanks to supply chain issues, tariffs and changes in vehicle technology.

Whether you’re planning to buy soon or exploring options for the future, here’s what to know about purchasing a car today.

1. Prepare for sticker shock

The average price of a new car just hit over $50,000, according to Kelley Blue Book. “There were steep price increases after the COVID-19 pandemic, and prices remain at an elevated level,” says Chase Gardner, data insights manager at Insurify, an online car insurance quote marketplace.

2. Consider going for a 'budget' test drive

Given the skyrocketing prices, monthly payments have also gone up. You can get a feel for your expected loan payment using a website like Calculator.net.

Consider a budget “test drive,” says Rex. “For a few months, set aside what you expect to pay on the new car and see if it’s doable.” Don’t forget about adding money for insurance, registration and maintenance. At the end of the test, you’ll have extra cash for a down payment.

It’s especially important to plan ahead if you’ve recently retired on a fixed income and have a different household budget than when you were working. The number of people struggling and missing car payments is climbing quickly for consumers of all income levels because of high prices and interest rates. Avoid getting locked into something uncomfortable.

3. Leasing simplifies things

As always, when getting a new car, the question is whether to buy or lease. When you buy, payments start higher, and you’re responsible for more repairs and maintenance. But after you pay off the loan, payments stop. Plus, you can later sell the vehicle or trade it in.

Leasing is a long-term rental, so the payments never end. However, you can regularly replace your vehicle with a new model every few years at the end of each lease, and you don’t have to repair damage from normal wear and tear.

Given the tradeoffs, Rex finds leasing to be a more convenient fit for retirees, especially if they plan to continue driving for only a few years. “When it’s done, you just hand the vehicle back to the dealer. There’s no hassle of selling,” says Rex. Just be aware of any mileage caps and restrictions if you drive a lot. For snowbirds who go between New York and Florida every winter, leasing is probably not the right fit.

4. Weigh financing versus paying out of savings

If you’re going to buy, think about whether it could make sense to pay off the entire vehicle at once using your savings.

Paying up front means you don’t have an ongoing loan payment and won’t be charged interest. On the other hand, you no longer have the money to invest. If you make a lump sum withdrawal from a pre-tax traditional Individual Retirement Account or 401(k), the entire amount will be taxable, could push you into a higher bracket and create surcharges on your Medicare premiums.

Borrowers with strong credit scores (650+) today pay between 5% and 7% for a new car loan, while subprime borrowers face double-digit interest rates. “If your investments are earning more than your quoted loan rate, financing could make sense,” says Rex, the financial planner from Virginia Beach.

5. Your loan interest could be deductible

A new provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act allows taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 per year in car-loan interest from 2025 through 2028 on new, U.S.-assembled vehicles. Used car purchases and leases don’t qualify.

You can claim this tax break even if you use the standard deduction, making it more accessible than deductions that require itemizing. If you paid off your home and no longer qualify for the mortgage interest deduction, this new tax break can help make up the difference. The loan interest deduction does phase out for individuals with a modified adjusted gross income over $100,000 and for married joint filers with an MAGI over $200,000.

6. Consider comfort and convenience

When researching and test-driving, think about whether a vehicle would make your life easier and keep you safe on the road. “For most retirees, the best vehicle choice is a small SUV or midsize sedan,” says Gardner from Insurify. “They’re easy to park, have a higher seating position and offer great visibility.”

If you spent your career driving a high-powered sports car or dreamed your whole life about getting one in retirement, ask whether this is the wisest move. They’re expensive to repair and less reliable. “No one wants to worry about a car breaking down on the way to a doctor’s appointment,” says Rex.

The faster speed increases the chances of an accident, especially if your reaction time is not what it used to be. Plus, since sports cars are lower to the ground, they are harder to get in and out of.

7. New tech can keep you safe, but also create headaches

If it’s been years since you bought a car, you might be taken aback at how much the technology has changed. And often, not in a good way: distracting touchscreens instead of physical buttons, facial recognition instead of keys to start the car, and even pop-up video ads in some vehicles.

Not all innovations are a step in the wrong direction. Some have come a long way to reduce accidents, especially for tired and fatigued drivers: automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance and backup cameras.

Still, even these safety features take getting used to. The typical 15-minute test drive might not be enough to really see if a car is a fit for your style. If you have your eye on a specific model, consider renting it for a weekend before deciding.

8. Understand car insurance costs

Car insurance rates skyrocketed after the COVID-19 pandemic, something you certainly noticed with your current bill. Even though rate hikes have slowed, premiums remain high. Keep this in mind when deciding what to buy.

Newer cars are more expensive to insure than used ones, because they have more costly parts and technology. Sports cars are also more expensive to cover, given the additional risk of a crash. You’ll enjoy an insurance discount when you start retirement, but only to a certain point.

“Drivers in their 60s enjoy the lowest average full-coverage premiums, about $155 per month,” says Gardner. “For drivers in their 70s and beyond, rates creep up as insurers factor in slower reaction times.” You can lower costs by taking a defensive driver’s course or using a pay-by-the-mile insurance policy if you aren’t on the road often.

9. Downsizing simplifies things

If you own multiple cars from when the kids were living at home, ask whether you still need more than two, or even more than one. Giving up one of your cars in retirement can lead to real savings. Each vehicle increases costs for registration, insurance and maintenance even if they aren’t being driven often. Demand for used cars is extremely high, making it a seller’s market. You may be surprised by how much you get for your old vehicles.

10. Tariffs will drive up prices even more

The $50,000 record car prices don’t reflect new tariffs, as dealers haven't fully priced those in yet.

Tariffs are highest on European models, making Japanese and American vehicles comparatively affordable. Still, prices for American models could climb too, since many rely on imported parts or are partially manufactured abroad.

While you shouldn’t rush a purchase, the current landscape creates some urgency. “Tariffs will likely increase prices by another 10% to 25%. If you’re thinking of buying a car within the next couple of years, acting sooner could make sense,” says Gardner.

Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Retirement Report, our popular monthly periodical that covers key concerns of affluent older Americans who are retired or preparing for retirement. Subscribe for retirement advice that’s right on the money.

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One of the best-kept secrets for finding under-$20 gifts that will put a smile on people's faces is Amazon Haul. The home of "crazy low" prices and deeply discounted finds, Amazon Haul is a place where everything you see costs $20 or less.

Sure, you won't find the newest Nintendo Switch for your grandkid or a diamond-studded tennis bracelet for your wife. But, there are some surprisingly gift-worthy items on there if you're willing to dig. So, if you need budget-friendly stocking stuffers for the family or low-cost gift ideas to pass out to coworkers and extended relatives, Amazon Haul is a great resource to use.

Still not convinced? Check out some of the best under-$20 gift ideas from the platform below to see what kind of items you'll find.

Best Amazon Haul travel gifts

For the frequent flyers on your gift list this year, make their next trip more comfortable by gifting them one of these under-$20 travel gadgets and accessories.

• Small Portable USB-C Charger, 5000mAh, $10
• Retro Canvas Crossbody Bag, $14
• Travel essentials Electronic Cable Organizer Pouch, $10
• Mini Refillable Perfume Travel Bottle, 5-Pack, $3
• RFID Blocking Passport Holder, $6 (originally $10)
• Travel Jewelry Organizer Case, $13
• Portable Charger with Built-in USB-C Cable, $16

Best Amazon Haul gifts for kids and teens

Need some stocking stuffers for the kids and teens in your life that won't break the bank? Here are 10 Amazon Haul finds that are all $20 or less.

• Kids Camera Instant Print, $17
• Build Your Own FM Radio Kit for Kids, $10 (originally $13)
• Newborn Winter Romper Fleece Hooded Jumpsuit, $19
• Gamie Mini Electronic Memory Game, $10 (originally $13)
• Mp3 Player with Bluetooth 5.3 HiFi Sound, $20
• Vgogfly Lined Men's Knit Beanie, $10
• Winter Cable Knit Beanie Hat for Women, $12
• Buffalo Games Mountains on Fire - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle, $11 (originally $15)
• adidas Women's Athletic Cushioned Crew Socks, 6-Pack, $17 (originally $26)

Best home and kitchen deals on Amazon Haul

If you need a crowd-pleaser gift for a coworker or a white elephant gift exchange, it's hard to go wrong with a handy gadget or decor for the home. Here are a few under-$20 gift ideas to consider.

• Dosmix Retro Bluetooth Speaker, $13 (originally $17)
• Bicycle Pizza Cutter Wheel, $10
• TRZLIFE Cordless Desk Vacuum Cleaner, $17
• French Press Coffee Maker, 11.8 oz, $10
• 2 in 1 Glass Oil Sprayer & Dispenser,16 oz, $8
• Electric Pepper and Salt Grinder, $10
• Artificial Fall Lighted Maple Tree, $20 (originally $26)

If these exact options aren't a fit for your gift-giving needs, shop around on the Amazon Haul site. There are plenty of options and you're sure to find something that will work for everyone, including yourself.

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Though Thanksgiving launches Black Friday and holiday shopping, an increasing number of stores are closing for the holiday and opening up on Friday, instead.

Whether you need a key ingredient for Thanksgiving dinner or want to start holiday shopping early, be sure to verify which stores are open on Thanksgiving before heading out.

Major grocery chains open with reduced hours

Many major grocery store chains still operate on the holiday, but with truncated hours. It’s common for stores to close early so their staff can enjoy Thanksgiving with their families, so if you need groceries, shop earlier in the day.

Large chains like Albertsons, Wegmans and Food Lion are open on Thanksgiving, but for retailers like Whole Foods, whether or not stores are open varies depending on location. To be safe, check your local store locator for information on your local store’s Thanksgiving hours.

Some retailers, like Sam’s Club and Target, have already shared that they’ll be closed on Thanksgiving Day, so you’ll need to hold off until Black Friday for any shopping.

Grocery stores that will be open on Thanksgiving:

• Albertsons
• ACME Markets
• Food Lion
• Giant Food
• Kroger: Varies by location
• Meijer
• Ralphs
• Safeway
• Starbucks: Varies by location
• Wegmans
• Whole Foods Market: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. locally, with exceptions for locations in Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island

These grocery stores will be closed on Thanksgiving:

• Aldi
• BJs Wholesale
• Costco
• Publix
• Sam's Club
• Target
• Trader Joes
• Walmart
• Winn-Dixie

Where to go for fast, convenient essentials on Thanksgiving

If you forgot a key ingredient for your pie or need last-minute essentials like napkins or candles, certain retailers still have generous store hours on Thanksgiving.

Once again, some of these hours will vary by location, so check your local store’s website or give them a call before heading out.

These convenience stores will be open on Thanksgiving:

• Big Lots: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• CVS: Varies by location
• Dollar General: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Family Dollar: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

These convenience stores will be closed on Thanksgiving:

• Walgreens

Big-box & department stores lean toward closed or later opening

Most big-box and department stores will be closed on Thanksgiving. That includes retail giants like Walmart and Target. Though these retailers offer major Black Friday sales, most stores won’t be opening their doors until Friday.

These big box stores will be open on Thanksgiving:

• Bass Pro Shops: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cabela’s: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

These big box stores will be closed on Thanksgiving:

• Best Buy
• CVS
• Home Depot
• IKEA
• JCPenney
• Kohl’s
• Lowe’s
• Nordstrom
• REI
• Sephora
• Target
• Ulta
• Walmart

Check local hours and exceptions before you go

Retailer hours and Thanksgiving Day policies vary by location, so don’t assume that your local store will have the same hours that the national chain might advertise.

In some cases, “open” may mean “open for reduced hours,” and stores may open later and close earlier than normal on the holiday. In some situations, certain sections of the store, like the pharmacy or deli, may be closed. To be safe, take the time to verify the store hours before you travel.

Shopping on Thanksgiving can be tricky, so if possible, try to get everything you need ahead of time, and realize that some grocery stores may close early the night before Thanksgiving to give their staff more time to enjoy the holiday.

If you can’t wait to get started on Black Friday shopping, consider shopping online. Retailers like Walmart and Target offer competitive Black Friday sales that start online on Thanksgiving, saving you a trip to the store the next day.

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Grocery prices are surging everywhere, but some cities have been hit harder than others. To figure out which places are feeling the pinch the most, I analyzed the latest grocery pricing data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to identify the 10 cities where residents are paying even more than the national average at the grocery store.

I also gathered data on median incomes for each city to estimate how much of a household's income was going toward putting food on the table. And the numbers may surprise you.

How high grocery costs stack up against expert recommendations

Financial experts typically recommend that you spend no more than 10% to 15% of your take home pay on groceries. That's your after-tax income.

Almost none of the cities below met that benchmark. Using pre-tax income data, eight out of 10 cities had average monthly grocery costs that exceeded 15% of household income — meaning the share of take-home pay going toward food is even higher.

The USDA’s monthly cost of food reports outline what a balanced, nutritious diet should cost nationwide. Based on the latest USDA food plan report, a 4-person household should spend between $926.90 and $1409.40 per month, depending on how thrifty they want to be.

But in eight of the 10 cities below, the average monthly grocery bill is higher than even the USDA’s “liberal plan,” the agency’s most generous estimate for a healthy monthly food budget.

See which cities made the list and how much residents are spending to keep their kitchens stocked.

Honolulu, HI

• 33.5% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,660
• Median household income: $102,382
• Grocery spend to income: 19.46%

Living full-time in paradise will cost you. Residents of Honolulu pay 33.5% more than the national average to eat.

On average, households earn $102,382 per year and spend $19,920 of that on groceries every year. That's 19.46% of income going toward food.

Juneau, AK

• 29.4%more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,613
• Median household income: $99,748
• Grocery spend to income: 19.40%

Three Alaskan cities made the list for most expensive groceries, but Juneau's food bill was the highest of the three. Residents here pay 29.4% more than the national average. A typical household brings home $99,748 before tax and spends $19,356 of that on groceries.

That puts it just below Honolulu in terms of affordability, with grocery spend accounting for 19.40% of a household's income.

Fairbanks, AK

• 26.4% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,575
• Median household income: $86,780
• Grocery spend to income: 21.78%

Fairbanks might only have the second-most-expensive groceries in Alaska, but income here is spread thinner than it is anywhere else in the state. With a median household income of $86,780 and an average annual grocery bill of $18,900, the typical household spends 21.78% of its earnings on food.

That makes this the least affordable city for groceries in Alaska and the third least affordable city on this list – outranked only by Brooklyn, NY and Oakland, CA.

Anchorage, AK

• 25.7% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,567
• Median household income: $93,881
• Grocery spend to income: 20.02%

Alaska's capital isn't faring much better than Fairbanks. With prices here 25.7% higher than the national average, Anchorage residents spend $18,804 per year on groceries on average. That's 20.02% of the median household income of $93,881.

San Francisco, CA

• 19.1% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,485
• Median household income: $125,456
• Grocery spend to income: 14.20%

San Francisco wouldn't be most people's first thought when it comes to "affordable." Indeed, it is one of the most expensive cities to live in.

But when you compare the average grocery spend to the median income in the city by the bay, the typical household spends just 14.20% of its income to keep the fridge stocked.

Manhattan, NY

• 18% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,469
• Median household income: $101,078
• Grocery spend to income: 17.43%

Like San Francisco, it probably comes as no surprise that Manhattan would have higher food prices than the rest of the country. But also like San Francisco, a higher than average median household income helps offset that somewhat.

Though, Mahattanites aren't faring quite as well as their west coast counterparts. Here, a typical household earns $101,078 per year and spends $17,628 of that on groceries. That's 17.43% of income going toward food — not as bad as many of the other cities on this list, but noticeably higher than San Francisco.

Oakland, CA

• 14.7% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,429
• Median household income: $73,200
• Grocery spend to income: 23.43%

San Francisco might stand out for the "affordability" of groceries, but its neighbor to the east tells a different story. At 14.7% above the national average, prices are technically cheaper in Oakland than they are in San Francisco.

But, when you factor in the significantly lower median household income of $73,200, the cost to keep a household fed takes up 23.43% of that income. In terms of relative affordability, then, Oakland residents rank lowest among the cities on this list – meaning groceries are the least affordable here.

Brooklyn, NY

• 14.5% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,425
• Median household income: $76,912
• Grocery spend to income: 22.23%

Brooklyn is in a similar position as Oakland. The New York borough technically enjoys slightly lower prices on food compared to Manhattan, it's wealthier neighbor.

But, the dramatic income difference makes groceries far less affordable in Brooklyn than they are just across the East River.

San Jose, CA

• 13% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,408
• Median household income: $153,202
• Grocery spend to income: 11.03%

While San Jose, CA faces grocery prices that are 13% higher than the national average, most residents can shrug those above average prices off.

With a median household income of $153,202 and an average grocery spend of $16,896, San Joseans earn the most and spend the least on food compared to every other city on this list. Groceries take up just 11.03% of a typical household's pre-tax income.

Queens, NY

• 13% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,407
• Median household income: $81,399
• Grocery spend to income: 20.76%

In Queens, households pay 13% more than the national average for groceries, spending $16,884 per year to put food on the table. That's almost the same as San Jose. But, with a median household income of $81,399, residents here earn about half as much as the typical San Josean household.

That means groceries take up 20.76% of a household's budget in Queens. Their wallets might not be quite as strained as their Brooklyn neighbors, but they're definitely feeling the pinch more than the typical Manhattan household.

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Many brands reward loyalty with discounts, perks or special offers that make you feel valued for sticking around. It’s a relationship built on trust and the idea that long-term customers should benefit from their commitment.

But when it comes to car insurance, that loyalty can sometimes work against you. Staying with the same insurer year after year might be costing you more. Instead of rewarding your consistency, some insurance companies quietly raise your rates over time.

This practice, often called a loyalty penalty, means you could be paying higher premiums simply because you haven’t switched providers. The increases can be subtle, building year after year until you’re overpaying without realizing it.

What's the car insurance loyalty penalty?

Some car insurance providers use price optimization, a strategy that determines the highest price you’re likely to tolerate before switching companies. Insurers use data analytics and algorithms to adjust your premium based on your behavior, including how long you’ve been a customer and whether you pay on time.

If you’ve stayed with the same insurer for years, you might notice your premiums steadily creeping up. Some increases are normal, driven by factors such as the rising cost of vehicle repairs or the growing risks posed by severe weather.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (PDF), car insurance rates rose 4.7% from August 2024 to August 2025. But if your premiums are climbing faster than that, you might be paying a loyalty penalty.

Before assuming loyalty is to blame, look for other reasons your rate might have increased. Buying a newer, more expensive car will raise your premium because it costs more to repair or replace. Being at fault in an accident or getting traffic tickets can also increase your rate since your insurer sees you as a higher-risk driver.

If your rates are rising beyond what’s typical and there’s no clear explanation, it might be time to shop for a new policy.

What about car insurance loyalty discounts?

You might feel as if you’re getting a great deal because your insurer offers a loyalty discount, a percentage off your premium for staying with the company over time. These discounts usually increase after you have been a customer for a few years, typically around the three-year mark.

However, a loyalty discount doesn't always mean you're saving money. In some cases, it can hide the fact that you're paying more overall.

If your insurer has gradually raised your base rate, even a discount might not offset the higher premium and you could still be overpaying for car insurance.

How to avoid the loyalty penalty

To avoid paying a penalty, make a habit of shopping around for car insurance with other companies. Try to compare rates at least every two years.

Shopping for insurance can help you find new programs, lower rates available to new customers, even new insurance companies that have entered the market. If you have kept a clean driving record or gained more experience behind the wheel, you might also qualify for lower rates.

When comparing quotes, gather estimates from at least four or five companies. Be sure the coverage types and limits are the same so you're comparing fairly. Research the reputation of each company you're considering.

This is also a good time to call your current insurer and request a policy review. Explain that you're thinking about switching and share the rates you've been quoted. Your insurer might be willing to lower your premium or find additional discounts to encourage you to stay.

Explore and compare some of today's best car insurance offers with the tool below, powered by Bankrate:

What to know before you change car insurance

While switching car insurance might help you get a lower rate, it’s important to consider a few factors before you make the switch:

• Loss of bundling discount: If you’ve bundled your car insurance with another policy, like homeowners insurance, you’ll lose that discount when you switch your car insurance to another company. Bundle discounts can be significant, so you might want to shop around for a new insurance company that offers both policy types.
• Cancellation fees: If you’re changing car insurance providers in the middle of your policy term, your old insurance company might charge you a cancellation fee. Contact your insurance company ahead of time to ask about that fee. Depending on how much you could save on insurance, it might be worth it to cancel the insurance and pay the fee. Alternatively, you could wait until your policy comes up for renewal and change providers then to avoid the cancellation fee.
• Coverage lapse: Depending on when you schedule your new policy to begin, it’s possible to create a lapse in coverage where your old policy ends before your new policy begins. Even if that lapse is just for a day, insurance companies see it as a red flag and might raise your rates. To be safe, schedule your new policy so it starts at least a day before your old policy ends. If you’re switching insurance providers in the middle of your policy, only cancel your old insurance policy once your new policy has gone into effect.

If you suspect you’re paying a loyalty penalty, taking the time to shop around for car insurance could help you get lower car insurance rates.

Even if you’re not paying a penalty, many insurance companies offer lower introductory rates to new customers, so making a change could still pay off.

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With the Mint Mobile 55+ plan, you can get unlimited talk and text and 5 gigabytes (GB) of data for just $15 per month. The plan runs on T-Mobile’s nationwide network and offers key benefits such as free scam protection and international calling.

Before you sign up, we’ll help you review your phone habits and data usage and walk you through the details so you can decide if the Mint Mobile 55+ plan fits your needs.

How the Mint Mobile 55+ plan works

The Mint Mobile 55+ plan at a glance. It includes:

• Unlimited talk and text
• 5 GB data on the T‑Mobile U.S. network (4G/5G) from Mint Mobile
• Free international calling to the U.K.
• Free roaming in Canada
• Free scam protection
• Option to bring your own compatible, unlocked phone to Mint
• Option to bring your own number

Mint Mobile offers this plan for $15 per month, but you’ll need to meet certain requirements to qualify for and retain that price.

Key terms and caveats

To qualify for the plan, you must be age 55 or older. Additionally, new activation is required, and you’ll need to pay $45 upfront to cover the first three months of your plan. Taxes and fees are extra.

After your first three months are up, you will need to commit to a 12-month Mint Mobile plan to keep the $15-per-month pricing. Because Mint is prepaid, you’ll pay the full 12-month cost upfront at the equivalent of $15 per month, or $180, with taxes and fees extra.

While the plan includes free talk and text, data usage is capped at 5 GB per month. If you exceed the limit, your speeds could be throttled for the rest of the month, which will make using the internet slow and frustrating.

Mint Mobile offers an online screening tool that can help you determine which data usage plan is right for you.

You’ll also want to consider where you’ll be using your phone, since coverage and speed might vary based on your location.

Mint Mobile operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which means it uses another mobile provider’s network. Mint Mobile uses the T-Mobile network, so your calls will be sent to T-Mobile cell phone towers. You might experience varying coverage and speed, particularly in rural areas.

Why this deal is notable for seniors

The Mint Mobile seniors' cellphone plan offers several appealing perks. The $15-per-month rate is low compared with many senior-targeted plans from major carriers. It’s also a relatively simple plan. There’s no multiline bundle requirement and no long-term contract beyond the prepaid term that you choose.

This plan could be a solid choice for seniors who use a moderate amount of data each month. The unlimited talk and text feature means you can communicate freely without worrying about being charged if you exceed your plan’s limits.

Mint Mobile doesn’t have brick-and-mortar stores that you can go to for help, so this plan is best for seniors who are comfortable with online billing and setup. If you need assistance, Mint Mobile has a help center library of videos and guides, plus you can call and receive help over the phone.

When the deal might not be the best fit

While this seniors’ cellphone plan is ideal for certain users, it’s not best for everyone. If you frequently use your phone to stream media, perform video calls or make large downloads, you might use significantly more than 5 GB of data per month. This plan’s 5 GB cap might feel restrictive, especially if you run out of data partway through the month.

If you prefer in-store support, Mint Mobile probably isn’t for you. The online-only structure might leave you feeling frustrated.

While the plan includes free roaming in Canada, it’s not ideal for travelers who often go overseas. If you frequently travel internationally, you might find that more premium carrier plans for international travel might offer better perks and save you money in the end.

How it stacks up to alternatives

As long as you don’t need significant data, the Mint Mobile plan is the most affordable option for age 55 and above when compared with other top carriers.

The T-Mobile Essentials Choice plan for 55-plus costs $45 per month for one phone line. It includes unlimited talk and text, but it also includes 50 GB of data, which is significantly more than the Mint Mobile plan offers.

The AT&T 55+ plan is a bit more affordable, but is designed for two lines. It costs $35 per month, per line, and includes unlimited talk, text and data in the United States, Canada and Mexico. This plan might be the best option for seniors who use significant amounts of data and need multiple lines.

Consumer Cellular also offers unlimited talk, text and data. For two lines, you’ll pay $55 per month total, or $27.50 per line. This plan is more affordable than the AT&T plan, but you’ll need to be an AARP member to qualify.

Sign-up tips for seniors

Before you sign up for Mint Mobile, follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition:

• Check your phone compatibility. Make sure that your device is unlocked and compatible with your new mobile network. Mint Mobile’s phone compatibility page provides more information on determining if your phone will work.
• Verify that there’s coverage in the areas where you’ll use your phone. You can check this using the Mint Mobile coverage map, as well as the T-Mobile network map.
• Read the full terms. Study the contract and understand the upfront cost, renewal process, data cap and hot spot policy.
• Keep your old account active. If you’re transferring your old number, keep your old account active until porting is complete.
• Use Mint’s support. Mint’s MINTech Advisors are wireless experts who can guide you through problems you might have with your phone. For $15 per year, you can get access to these experts, which is valuable since Mint doesn’t have brick-and-mortar stores where you can for help.

Is Mint's 55+ plan for you?

If you’re 55 or older, use moderate data and want a very low-cost wireless plan, the Mint Mobile 55+ is a great choice. At $15 per month, it offers excellent value and can be an affordable way to stay connected and save on your cellphone plan.

That said, the plan has some downsides. Data limits, online-only service and a required upfront payment mean it’s not the right choice for everyone. It’s also important to consider your usage, location and willingness to manage setting up the new account on your own before you commit.

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While you might be reluctant to pay the added cost, some of these sales materials can make it sound pretty scary to drive without one. But, if you don't check the fine print and make sure to choose a reputable warranty underwriter, you could end up paying for coverage that doesn't quite live up to your expectations.

How do extended warranties work? Do you really need one? What should you consider if you are going to buy one? Get the details you need to know below.

How do extended warranties work with new cars?

When buying a new car, you might be offered an "extended" or "wrap-around" warranty. Whether it's worth it depends on what the standard warranty already included with your new car covers.

This varies by make and model, but typically a standard warranty lasts about three to five years or 36,000-60,000 miles. In terms of what they do, there are a few things to understand before signing:

• Normal wear and tear is never covered. All warranties only cover defects or damage that aren't considered normal wear and tear. So, something like worn-out brake pads will be on you to replace.
• Covered components: Some warranties might be "comprehensive" or "bumper-to-bumper," meaning all parts and systems are covered. Others might apply to specific systems like the powertrain, infotainment system or battery.
• Owner responsibilities: Often, warranties come with the condition that you keep up with routine maintenance like oil changes and tune-ups. If you fall behind, the warranty could be voided.
• Exclusions: Even if a certain system is included, some specific components of it might be excluded, or there might be certain situations in which they'll be excluded. Read through these exclusions carefully.
• Upgrades can lead to denied claims. If you take it to a shop after the fact to modify it in any way, dealerships may claim the upgrade caused the defect and deny your claim. Something as simple as swapping the tires or installing a hardwired dash cam may be enough to cause problems
• "Abnormal use" won't be covered. Even if you have a car made for off-roading, your warranty may not cover damage that happens if you actually take it off-road. In some cases, doing anything more than normal street driving could void the entire warranty.

An extended warranty, meanwhile, would work the same as your standard. The difference is it either includes things that are excluded from your standard warranty or that it extends the time that your vehicle is covered.

How do extended warranties work with used cars?

Unlike a new car, buying a used car usually doesn't come with a warranty. One exception to that is a certified pre-owned car, which is certified by the dealer to meet certain standards and will sometimes come with an extended warranty to back that up.

For the most part, used car warranties work the same way. But there are a couple of unique features that you might find:

• Waiting periods. Sometimes, used car warranties won't kick in right away. Instead, they take effect 30 to 90 days after purchase. The waiting period might instead be a mileage, like 1,000 miles.
• Preexisting conditions. Any issue that existed before the warranty was purchased is often excluded. If you bought the warranty when you bought the car, it can be hard to appeal a claim that's denied as a preexisting condition.

Is it worth it to get an extended warranty on a car?

The answer depends on your risk tolerance. When buying a new car, you already have a standard warranty included in the price, so you can at least wait until that one is near its expiration to explore your options.

For used cars, the answer is trickier because it depends on the condition and maintenance history of the car you bought. For a certified pre-owned car that came with an extended warranty, go ahead and use the warranty if you can.

If trying to get a claim approved turns out to be a huge headache, it might not be worth the money to buy another extended warranty when that one expires.

Reasons to not buy an extended warranty

Some reasons you might opt not to get the extended warranty include:

• You had bad experiences trying to get repairs covered under the original warranty that came with your car.
• You've made modifications to your car that would either void a warranty or render it pretty much useless.
• You've done the routine maintenance on the car yourself, so you don't have official records documenting its maintenance history.
• You do a lot of off-roading, hauling or other things with your car that a warranty underwriter could deem "abnormal."
• You'd just prefer to handle repairs without the stress of a claims process.

Extended warranty vs emergency fund

Depending on whether the car is used or new, an extended warranty can range from about $1,000 to $3,000 for a coverage period lasting three to five years (or a certain mileage).

Would you be better off forking over that cash for a warranty or stashing it in a savings account to pay for repairs as needed over that time frame?

The good news is you aren't stuck with one decision or the other. As mentioned, you can hold off on deciding about that extended warranty until your existing warranty is about to expire. While you're waiting, go ahead and keep the cash you'd spend on it in a savings account so it can earn interest while you weigh your options.

Mistakes to avoid when buying an extended car warranty

If you would feel more comfortable having that extended warranty, there are some important steps to take to make sure you're getting a fair price and paying for a warranty that is actually usable.

Here are some of the biggest mistakes car buyers make when buying extended warranties:

• Forgetting to negotiate the price. The price you're offered isn't set in stone. Start by offering to pay half (or even less) than the price you're initially quoted and negotiate from there.
• Not vetting the company. You'll get plenty of ads, phone calls and emails offering you an extended car warranty. But they aren't all created equal. You need to buy one from a reputable source, like your car's manufacturer, a local bank or an auto club like AAA.
• Getting pressured into buying an extended warranty right away. At the dealership, the salesman might put a lot of pressure on you to add that warranty right then. Just take your car home, do some research, and compare prices and options from multiple reputable companies. Your dealer's offer might be the best one, but you might end up scoring a better deal elsewhere.

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Toyota and Lexus have recalled more than a million vehicles due to a software issue in the Panoramic View Monitor. Subaru models using the same system are included. The problem can cause the rear camera image to freeze or go blank when reversing.

This matters because rear visibility is a required safety feature. Even a brief loss of the back-up camera image can create risk in tight spaces or driveways. What to know about the issue and which models are included.

What to know about the recall

The core issue that caused this most recent vehicle recall is the software of the Panoramic View Monitor, which can intermittently cause the rearview camera feed to freeze or go blank when the vehicle is shifted into reverse.

This problem directly violates the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111, which mandates a functional rear visibility system for all vehicles.

Rear cameras are more than a convenience these days; they’re a crucial safety tool. A frozen or missing rearview image could lead to accidents, particularly involving children, pedestrians or other objects behind the vehicle that the driver cannot see.

Which vehicles and model years are affected?

Here’s a snapshot of the models involved in the recall:

Lexus Models

• ES (2023 – 2025) – Gas and hybrid
• GX (2024 – 2025)
• LC (202 – 2025) – Gas and hybrid
• LS (2023 – 2025) – Gas and hybrid
• LX (2022 – 2025 Gas; 2025 hybrid)
• NX (2022 – 2025) – Gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid
• RX (2023 – 2026) – Gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid
• RZ (2023 – 2025) – Electric
• TX (2024 – 2026) – Gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid

Subaru Model

• Solterra (2023 – 2025) – Electric

Toyota Models

• bZ4X (2023 – 2025) – Electric
• Camry Hybrid (2025 – 2026)
• Crown and Crown Signia (2023 – 2026) – Gas and hybrid
• Grand Highlander (2024 – 2026) – Gas and hybrid
• Highlander (2023 – 2025) – Gas and hybrid
• Land Cruiser (2024 – 2025) – Gas/hybrid
• Mirai (2023 – 2025) – Hydrogen fuel cell
• Prius (2023 – 2025) – Hybrid and plug-in hybrid
• Prius Prime (2023 – 2024)
• RAV4 (2023 – 2025) – Gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid
• RAV4 Prime (2023 – 2024)
• Sienna (2025) – Hybrid
• Venza (2023 – 2024) – Hybrid

How dealerships will address the recall

Toyota and Lexus dealerships will update the vehicle software free, which should resolve the glitch and restore proper function to the Panoramic View Monitor.

Notification letters to affected owners are expected to begin going out in December. If you suspect your vehicle might be included, you don’t need to wait.

Owners can:

• Visit the Toyota, Lexus, or Subaru recall website and enter their 17-digit VIN
  • Toyota safety recalls
  • Lexus safety recalls
  • Subaru safety recalls
• Use the NHTSA recall lookup tool.
• Call customer service
  • Toyota: 1-800-331-4331
  • Lexus: 1-800-255-3987
  • Subaru: 1-800-782-2783

In most cases, the fix is a relatively quick software flash that can be done at the dealership, often without needing to leave the car overnight.

Why such recalls are becoming more common

As cars become increasingly complex and software-driven, recalls such as this are becoming more frequent. Software-related defects have grown steadily in the last decade, now accounting for nearly 40% of all vehicle recalls, according to industry analysts.

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), infotainment and safety technologies offer major benefits but also increase the risk of bugs and defects. Even a seemingly minor coding issue can cascade into significant safety concerns such as a blank camera screen that could lead to a collision.

Automakers are racing to keep up with both consumer demand for high-tech features and government safety standards. Unfortunately, that often means some glitches only surface after thousands of vehicles have already hit the road.

Taking action to stay protected

While it’s unsettling to hear about a recall of this size, the important thing is that the issue has been identified and a fix is available at no cost to the consumer.

If you drive a Toyota, Lexus or Subaru from the past few model years and rely on your rear or surround-view camera, it’s a good idea to check your VIN today.

When it comes to safety, especially around visibility and reversing, it’s better to act sooner than later.

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The retail giant’s glittering 1-ounce gold bars have been selling out consistently online, with curious investors and everyday members alike clamoring for access. Costco now offers 24-karat gold, silver and platinum options through its website (and occasionally in warehouses). Some shoppers are picking up bullion the same way they stock up on paper towels and bottled water.

But what makes Costco’s gold bars even more intriguing isn’t just the price or the brand. It’s the potential to earn up to 4% in rewards through Costco’s membership and credit card programs. For savvy shoppers, this bonus can help soften the blow of premiums over spot price, which is especially valuable in today’s fluctuating gold market. Here’s how Costco’s bullion program works, how to stack your rewards strategically and when it might (or might not) make sense for investors.

How Costco's bullion program works

Costco sells 1-ounce, 24-karat gold bars online and occasionally in select warehouses. Offerings often include bars from respected refiners such as PAMP Suisse and Rand Refinery, both featuring assay cards for authenticity. The bars are non-refundable and subject to purchase limits (typically two bars per membership).

Prices update in real-time based on the spot market and demand, and since gold purchases can’t be returned, this isn't a decision to take lightly.

Yet that hasn’t deterred customers: Costco CFO Richard Galanti noted that the retailer is selling “several hundred million dollars” in gold monthly, and the bars usually sell out within hours.

Costco’s current bullion offerings also include silver and platinum coins, but gold remains the headliner.

Understanding the rewards and membership tier angle

What truly sets Costco’s bullion program apart isn’t just the access to physical gold. It’s the layered reward strategy. Here's how it works:

• Executive Membership (annual fee: $120) gives members 2% cash back annually on eligible purchases, up to $1,000.
• Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers up to 2% cash back on Costco.com purchases (plus more on categories like gas and travel).

When combined, members using both the Executive Membership and Costco Anywhere Visa can earn up to 4% back on their gold purchase.

For example, a gold bar priced at $2,000 with a 4% combined reward yields $80 in cash back, lowering your effective cost to $1,920. If Costco’s gold was priced at just 2% over spot, the rewards could essentially eliminate the premium altogether.

It’s worth running your own numbers with Costco’s bullion rewards calculator to estimate how much you might earn based on your membership and payment method.

Pricing dynamics and investor benefits

Costco’s pricing tends to be fairly competitive in the physical bullion space at usually just 1% to 2% above the spot price, which is lower than many traditional dealers. However, the exact premium varies depending on market volatility, supply and brand.

For investors, the appeal is twofold. First, you gain physical ownership of bullion. You’re holding a tangible asset rather than paper or indirect exposure. Second, you benefit from Costco’s strong brand reputation, which means bar authenticity and packaging are handled by a trusted retailer, helping reduce concerns many first‑time bullion buyers face.

Third, compared to many online bullion sellers, Costco’s premium is relatively modest, which means your effective cost (especially when paired with reward incentives) may be more attractive.

Risks, downsides and what to watch

Despite the appeal, there are several risks and caveats to consider:

• Premiums fluctuate: While Costco often has lower premiums than competitors, it’s not always the cheapest option.
• Storage and security: Owning physical gold means you’ll need a safe or other secure storage. Insurance may be necessary too.
• Limited resale liquidity: Unlike gold ETFs, physical bars may be harder to sell quickly and might fetch below spot value due to dealer margins.
• Non-refundable: Once you buy a gold bar from Costco, there’s no returning it, even if the price drops tomorrow.

How to get the best deal if you go this route

If you decide to buy Costco gold, plan ahead so you capture the rewards and avoid surprises. Upgrade to an Executive Membership before you buy so the 2% annual reward will apply. The upgrade timing matters because that rebate is applied to qualifying purchases made while you hold Executive status.

Pair that membership with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi for Costco.com purchases to stack card cash back on top of the 2% Executive benefit. Always run the numbers first (Costco’s bullion rewards calculator is a helpful tool) and compare the after‑rebate cost with other reputable dealers.

Inventory and pricing move fast, so monitor Costco’s bullion listings early in the morning when new inventory often appears, and be prepared to complete checkout quickly: bars frequently sell out within hours.

Remember that Costco’s gold is nonrefundable and subject to purchase limits, so confirm the SKU, refiner and assay card before you pay, and keep all documentation in case you sell later.

Also factor in storage, insurance and potential shipping costs; home safes, bank safe deposit boxes and third-party insured vaults all carry different price and accessibility tradeoffs.

When it makes sense and when it doesn’t

A Costco gold buy might make sense if:

• You’re already an Executive Member or plan to upgrade.
• You have the Costco Anywhere Visa or another cash-back credit card.
• You prefer owning physical gold and are okay with storage logistics.
• You’re holding mid-to-long term and want to reduce your cost with rewards.
• You value Costco’s brand trust and straightforward buying process.

It may not make sense if:

• You’re seeking short-term gains or plan to actively trade gold.
• You’d rather invest via ETFs or gold IRAs for better liquidity and convenience.
• You’re uncomfortable with the idea of storing physical bullion.
• You want exposure to gold without paying any premium over spot.

When a Costco gold buy makes sense

In the right context, Costco’s bullion program offers an attractive option for retail investors. The combo of physical gold, competitive pricing and up to 4% in rewards makes the purchase more financially savvy than it might initially seem.

But gold is still a commodity with market risks, and rewards don’t negate those risks. They just help lower your entry cost. Before buying, compare options, run the math using Costco’s rewards calculator, and ensure your gold-buying goals align with the realities of owning physical metal.

Related Content

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Carriers such as T-Mobile and Verizon are betting that wireless home internet, powered by the same 5G networks that run your smartphone, can deliver reliable broadband without the wires, contracts or hidden fees that frustrate customers.

T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet is catching on with households that want an easier setup, fewer devices to manage and a lower monthly bill. If you’re looking to simplify your home internet without scheduling an install or dealing with extra equipment, here’s what to know before signing up.

How wireless home internet works

Wireless home internet delivers broadband through the same cellular towers that serve mobile phones. Instead of using coaxial cables or fiber-optic lines, a home router (often called a gateway) connects to a nearby cell tower and broadcasts Wi-Fi throughout your home.

It’s different from tethering your phone or using a mobile hotspot. Wireless gateways are built for stationary whole-home use with larger antennas and stronger receivers. You can stream, browse or video chat much such as you would on a cable or fiber connection, although speeds can vary based on your distance from the tower and the strength of your carrier’s network.

The technology, known as fixed wireless access, is growing quickly as carriers such as T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T expand their coverage.

What to expect from T-Mobile 5G Home Internet

T-Mobile delivers home internet over its nationwide 5G and 4G LTE network and setup is straightforward. Plug in the gateway (included with the plan), download the T-Mobile Internet app and follow the steps. There’s no technician visit, special wiring or installation fee and most customers can be online in minutes.

The service typically costs $50 to $70 per month without a voice line. Customers who bundle with an eligible T-Mobile phone plan save $15 a month, bringing the cost down to $35 to $55 monthly. The price includes equipment, taxes and fees. T-Mobile’s 5-Year Price Lock Guarantee means your rate won’t increase for at least five years, and there is no long-term contract required.

Typical download speeds range from 134 Mbps to 415 Mbps, while upload speeds run from 12 Mbps to 55 Mbps. T-Mobile notes that about 25% of customers see speeds below or above these ranges depending on location and network conditions. Those speeds are sufficient for HD streaming, video calls and everyday internet browsing.

T-Mobile offers several home internet plans that bundle internet service with a T-Mobile voice line. Prices vary by plan tier and perks.

Weighing simplicity against performance

As with most things, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons and think about what fits your lifestyle. Here are some advantages to consider.

Ease of setup

One of the biggest benefits is convenience. You can install it yourself without an appointment or special equipment. The all-in-one gateway, which is included with your plan, replaces both a modem and router, and the app helps you find the best spot in your home for signal strength. There’s no drilling or wiring, which makes it a good option for renters.

Transparent pricing

T-Mobile’s flat monthly rate covers everything with no rental fees or surcharges.

Cost savings

Many households can save $20 to $50 a month compared with traditional broadband, especially when bundling with an existing T-Mobile phone plan.

Portability

If you move within a covered area, you can take the gateway with you. That kind of portability is especially helpful for renters, college students and snowbirds, or anyone who relocates frequently.

Variable speeds and reliability

Despite its benefits, wireless home internet isn’t a perfect fit for everyone. Here are some potential drawbacks to keep in mind.

Speed fluctuations

Because it relies on cell towers, performance can vary based on your location, signal strength and network congestion. During peak hours, you might notice slower speeds.

Data prioritization

In congested areas, mobile carriers might prioritize smartphone traffic over home internet users. Your connection could slow temporarily when the network is busy.

Coverage limitations

Not all addresses qualify for service, and rural customers might still connect through 4G LTE instead of full 5G speeds. Always check coverage maps and test the service before canceling your existing provider.

Internet options at a glance

When comparing home internet services, the best choice depends on your needs, budget and location. Here’s how the main internet service options stack up at a glance.

Fiber remains the gold standard for speed and reliability, but it’s expensive and not widely available.

While cable is more consistent than wireless, it often comes with contracts and fees. Wireless home internet wins on simplicity and value, especially for simple everyday internet use.

Who should consider wireless home internet?

Wireless home internet makes sense for:

• Renters or households tired of contracts and fees
• Families with moderate streaming and browsing needs
• People who move frequently or live in strong 5G coverage areas
• Rural customers with limited broadband or fiber options

On the other hand, if you upload large files, work in data-intensive fields or you're heavily into gaming or cloud computing, fiber might be the better long-term choice if available.

Making the right choice for your home

T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet offers an appealing blend of affordability, convenience and coverage. It could be a strong alternative for those seeking to simplify their bills without sacrificing too much speed. It’s not perfect, but it’s fast becoming a competitor to traditional broadband.

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If you want to cut costs, there's a new internet provider on the block. Mint Mobile recently announced its home internet service, called MINTernet.

I'll break down how the service works. Additionally, I'll compare its service with other cellular providers offering home internet plans to determine if Mint Mobile's service is worth the switch for you.

Mint Mobile's new service keeps things simple and affordable

When searching for an internet provider, costs and ease of use are at the top of my list. These are two things Mint Mobile does exceptionally well.

Let's start with costs. If you have a Mint Mobile cellular plan, you can save $10 off its home internet service, bringing the initial cost down to $30 for the introductory three-month period. If you don't have cell service with Mint Mobile, you can still get the plan for $40 for three months, which is about half of the average internet bill.

After the first three months, the service costs depend on a few factors. This table breaks them down:

Along with costs, ease of use is imperative. Unlike other internet providers, with whom you have to schedule an installation appointment, then another for them to bury the line in your yard, Mint Mobile simplifies the process. They'll send you a wireless gateway (with expedited shipping) that you plug in, connect your devices, and the service is ready to go.

How does Mint Mobile's service work?

Mint offers 5G internet connection through T-Mobile's network, meaning before signing up for service, you'll want to check T-Mobile's coverage map to ensure you'll receive the higher speeds.

Next, you'll want to see if the service is in your area. Visit Mint Mobile's website and enter your address to see if coverage is available. If it is, you can sign up for service online within minutes. If you want to cancel service later, there are no early termination fees.

What happens if you try the service and dislike it? No worries, you have a 14-day money-back guarantee, making it a risk-free way to see if its connection speeds are adequate for your online needs.

How fast is the network? It depends on where you live. Mint Mobile says you can experience download speeds from 133 to 415 megabits per second (Mbps), with upload speeds of 12 to 55 Mbps. The download speeds are comparable with what you probably receive through your service provider now.

How does Mint Mobile compare with other internet providers?

Here's a breakdown of how Mint Mobile's home internet compares with other services:

Every mobile internet provider has a data cap. If you reach the data threshold for the month and there's network congestion during peak usage, they'll lower the connection speeds of the users exceeding it.

Also, to be fair to Verizon, my location only qualified for the Lite plan. But even the Lite plan pales in comparison with what you receive in terms of value, data allowance and download speeds Mint Mobile offers.

Is Mint Mobile's home internet a good deal?

It depends on your needs. If you want to cut costs and you're in their service area, it makes sense to give them a try.

Their download speeds are favorable to other cellular providers offering home internet, and even without the phone plan discount, you're still paying well below what you would with a regular internet provider. The only issue is you'll have to pay at least three months in advance, and the best savings force you to prepay for a year of service.

The good news is that you have a risk-free way of trying it out. You can test speeds for two weeks, and if it doesn't work for you, you can return the gateway and get your money back.

For the price and the features, this is one of the better buys I've come across, if it works for your needs.

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With a prepaid plan, customers pay for service in advance, which can help avoid surprise charges or hidden fees. There's also peace of mind, knowing you can typically cancel at any time without facing penalties or early termination fees.

For many, this structure offers a simpler and more predictable way to manage cellphone costs. With major carriers such as Verizon now offering prepaid options that use the same reliable network as their contract plans, it’s easier to get a quality prepaid phone service without locking into a lengthy agreement.

What is Verizon Prepaid, and how does it work?

Verizon Prepaid is a no-contract wireless service that lets customers pay for talk, text and data before they use it. Unlike traditional contract phone plans that bill users after the fact, prepaid service is purchased upfront, typically in 30-day increments.

Users can select from several plan options based on their data needs, ranging from limited-data packages to unlimited plans. Once the month is up, they can choose whether to renew, upgrade or pause their service altogether. There’s no credit check required to sign up, making it accessible to those who are rebuilding their credit or prefer not to open another line of credit.

Even though it’s prepaid, Verizon’s service runs on the same 4G LTE and 5G networks as its postpaid plans. That means customers still get reliable coverage nationwide, but with a bit more control and flexibility.

Key features of Verizon’s prepaid plans

Verizon’s prepaid phone plans are designed to serve a variety of needs, from casual users to data-heavy streamers. Plans start with basic data tiers and go up to fully unlimited packages.

One of the most attractive features is the Auto Pay discount, which knocks $10 off the monthly cost of service when customers set up automatic payments. For example, a $45 per month unlimited plan drops to $35 per month with Auto Pay, providing real savings over time.

Verizon also offers a three-year price guarantee on certain prepaid plans. That means the rate you sign up for won’t go up for at least 36 months, adding an extra layer of financial predictability for long-term users.

Most prepaid plans come with mobile hot spot capabilities, although data caps might apply. Customers can also add optional services such as international calling, roaming passes for travel or extended data buckets as needed.

For those who don’t need the latest perks or bundled entertainment, prepaid offers a back-to-basics approach to phone service with just talk, text and data.

Let’s take a closer look at Verizon’s prepaid phone plans, from basic 15 gigabyte data to full Unlimited Plus coverage:

What you get with a Verizon Postpaid (Contract) plan

Verizon’s postpaid plans, also referred to as contract plans, offer a different kind of value. These plans typically include access to premium features, greater network prioritization and the ability to finance high-end smartphones over time.

One of the biggest draws of a postpaid plan is device financing. Customers can get the newest iPhone, Galaxy or Pixel with no money down and pay it off over 36 months at 0% interest. This arrangement makes expensive phones more accessible without requiring a large upfront payment.

Postpaid customers also enjoy bundled perks on higher-tier plans. These often include subscriptions to streaming services such as Disney+, Hulu, Apple Music or cloud storage. Verizon’s “myPlan” structure lets users mix and match perks based on what they use most, adding more value for families or heavy media users.

Multiline households benefit from family plan discounts as well. Adding more lines to a postpaid account can significantly reduce the per-line cost, especially when combining data plans and sharing features.

Direct comparison: Prepaid vs postpaid at Verizon

While both types of plans offer strong service and network reliability, they differ in a few critical ways.

When prepaid makes the most sense

Prepaid phone service is ideal for individuals who want simplicity, savings and control. It's especially useful in the following situations:

• Single-line users who don’t need family plan discounts can save significantly with prepaid.
• Budget-conscious consumers who appreciate the upfront pricing, predictable costs and the ability to avoid surprise overages or fees.
• People with unlocked phones who want to bring their own device (BYOD) can easily activate on a prepaid plan without needing to finance new hardware.
• Those with minimal data needs or who use Wi-Fi often might find a low-tier prepaid plan is more than enough.
• Credit rebuilders or those avoiding hard inquiries benefit from prepaid’s no-credit-check structure.

When a postpaid/contract plan is worth it

While prepaid offers flexibility, there are several scenarios where Verizon’s postpaid plans provide better overall value:

• Families with multiple lines often save more through shared data and line discounts.
• Tech enthusiasts who want to always have the latest phone can take advantage of 0% interest device financing and upgrade offers.
• Heavy data users benefit from premium unlimited plans that offer higher network priority and larger hot spot data allowances.
• Travelers and frequent roamers will likely prefer the more robust international options available with contract plans.
• Those who value bundled services such as streaming apps or cloud storage will find these features baked into many postpaid offerings.

Hidden caveats to watch out for

No plan is perfect, and there are a few important caveats to be aware of when considering Verizon’s prepaid service.

• Data speeds might be slower during peak hours: Especially in busy urban areas.
• Hot spot usage on prepaid plans may be limited: Either by speed caps or total data limits. Not all prepaid unlimited plans include mobile hot spot access by default, so users should check plan details before relying on it.
• Device compatibility is another concern: Not all unlocked phones will work seamlessly on Verizon’s network. It's important to verify that your device supports the right bands and technology before switching.
• Activation or SIM card fees: These fees might apply though Verizon occasionally waives these during promotions.

Verizon’s prepaid plans offer a streamlined, affordable and flexible way to stay connected without the strings of a long-term contract. They’re a smart choice for anyone who wants to simplify their phone service, avoid surprise bills or manage their costs more intentionally.

At the same time, postpaid plans remain a strong option for households that crave the latest devices, premium features or the convenience of bundled services. Choosing the right plan comes down to your priorities and personal preferences. But it’s always good to have options.

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The good news is that it’s coming sooner than expected this year, and there are a few new perks and surprises brewing behind the scenes.

Whether you’re loyal to the Peppermint Mocha, can’t get enough of the Caramel Brulée Latte, or simply want to snag the coveted reusable red holiday cup, this one-day event is not to be missed.

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks Red Cup Day is a fan-favorite annual event where customers receive a free, limited-edition reusable holiday cup with the purchase of a handcrafted holiday beverage. The offer is valid in stores while supplies last, and these collectible cups often go quickly.

The promotion began in 2018 and has since become a seasonal tradition, drawing long lines and early morning visits from customers eager to enjoy their favorite winter drinks with a festive twist.

While the red cups change designs each year, the goal remains the same: bring some cheer to your cup while encouraging the use of reusable drinkware.

When is Red Cup Day in 2025?

Mark your calendar: Red Cup Day 2025 falls on Thursday, November 13.

That’s one day earlier than last year’s event and a full two weeks ahead of Thanksgiving. This decision definitely positions Starbucks to get a head start on the busy holiday shopping season.

The earlier launch aligns with broader retail trends we’ve seen over the past few years, as brands compete to capture consumers’ attention (and wallets) ahead of Black Friday.

To participate, customers simply need to order a handcrafted holiday beverage, hot, iced, or blended in any size, and they’ll receive this year’s reusable red cup at no additional cost, while supplies last.

What’s on the Starbucks holiday menu?

The return of Red Cup Day also signals the full rollout of Starbucks’ holiday menu. Fan favorites are back, including:

• Peppermint Mocha
• Caramel Brulée Latte
• Iced Sugar Cookie Latte
• Iced Gingerbread Chai

The Chestnut Praline Latte and fan-favorite Eggnog Latte will return later in the season.

You’ll also find a festive lineup of seasonal bakery items, such as the Polar Bear Cake Pop, new Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread, and returning Snowman Cookie, Cranberry Bliss Bear and Sugar Plum Cheese Danish.

In addition to the returning stars, Starbucks has hinted at new twists on old favorites and potential exclusive merchandise drops tied to the red cup launch. The 2025 red cup design is said to feature a bold “modern nostalgia” theme, balancing tradition with a fresh look, but Starbucks is keeping full design details under wraps until the official release.

More than just a cup

Beyond the eye-catching holiday design, this year’s red cup rollout comes with a deeper push toward sustainability and digital convenience.

Starbucks continues its effort to reduce single-use cup waste and promote reusable drinkware. Last year, the red holiday cup qualified for the chain’s 10-cent discount and 25 bonus Stars in the Starbucks Rewards program when used on future orders. Hopefully, the same discount (or an even better one) will apply again this year.

Customers using the Starbucks app can now opt to bring in their own reusable cup and still order ahead which is a move that removes one of the biggest barriers to reuse.

Behind the scenes: Staffing and seasonal support

Red Cup Day is one of the busiest days of the year for Starbucks, and the company has taken steps to prepare accordingly.

In recent years, Starbucks has responded to employee feedback by boosting staffing levels, improving training programs and investing in wage increases and scheduling flexibility for baristas.

Ahead of the holiday season, the company shared that it is investing in seasonal employees nationwide and prioritizing appropriate staffing for the day of the event. This is part of a broader strategy to improve customer wait times and maintain high service levels during peak hours.

These efforts come on the heels of continued labor discussions and unionization efforts at some Starbucks locations. While the Red Cup Day promotion is primarily a consumer-facing campaign, it also highlights the tightrope Starbucks walks between meeting high seasonal demand and supporting its frontline workers.

Tips for scoring your free red holiday cup

Want to make sure you don’t miss out? Here are a few tips to help you snag your red cup:

• Go early. Cups are first come, first served and tend to run out by mid-morning at busy locations.
• Use the app. Order ahead on the Starbucks app to beat the line, but double-check that your store is participating.
• Know what qualifies. Only handcrafted holiday drinks (hot, iced, or blended) are eligible (brewed coffee and bottled beverages don’t count).
• Keep the cup. Bring it back for future visits to earn rewards and save on your drink.

Red Cup Day is more than just a freebie. It’s become a cultural moment for coffee lovers and a clever way for Starbucks to usher in the holiday season. With its earlier-than-ever launch date, expanded digital features, and commitment to sustainability, Red Cup Day offers something for loyal fans and first-timers alike.

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What you find is that being in touch with nature is one of the most serene experiences you can have. But what happens when you need access to things like trail reports, weather updates, or help in an emergency?

This is where having the right connection becomes critical to staying safe. That's why, before I go on a hike or remote trip now, I make sure to have satellite service on my cell phone. And if you're a T-Mobile member, it's easy to get.

T-Mobile partners with Starlink for remote connections

T-Mobile has coverage that extends beyond dead zones, with more than 650 satellites overhead. How it works is that if you enter a zone where you don't receive a reliable cellular connection, the satellite picks it up for you, so you remain connected to a few of your apps.

This service comes included on some T-Mobile plans. If you have the Go5G Next or Experience Beyond plans, you already have access to it. If you don't have either of these plans, you can upgrade to one or add the satellite service for $10 per month.

What's helpful about the Experience Beyond Plans is that if you're 55 years old or older, you receive a discounted cell phone plan. To demonstrate, the Experience Beyond w/55+ Savings is only $130 for two lines, a savings of $40 off the regular plan.

Therefore, switching to a plan of this scope not only allows you to remain connected on remote trips, but you can save some money too.

How does the satellite service work?

First, you'll need a compatible device to use this service. Thankfully, T-Mobile has over 60 devices eligible:

• iPhone 13-17 series, including iPhone Air
• Google Pixel 10 series, data will be available for Google Pixel 9 series, excluding 9a soon
• Samsung Galaxy S23-S25 series, including Z Flip 5-7, Z Fold5-7
• See all eligible devices

And if you're considering a switch to T-Mobile, you can save on a newer device. Some incentives give you a free iPhone 17 and other devices, provided you sign up for the right plan.

You can browse phone deals here:

Once you're set up with the right plan and device, the satellite service works automatically. You'll notice you're using satellite when your phone's network reads "T-Mobile Space X" or "T-Sat+Starlink."

Keep in mind that satellite service is limited in speed and capabilities. Your phone won't work like it normally does, in that connecting to apps or sending messages might take longer, since connection speeds are not the same as cellular. And if you're service switches from one satellite to another, you might notice a temporary lapse in coverage.

Furthermore, you won't be able to use all of your phone's apps when connected to the satellite. Here's a list of all the available apps you can use.

Is the service worth it?

It depends on how much you plan to use it. If you're camping, boating or hiking in remote areas often, it pays to have the service, just to remain connected in case emergencies arise.

However, if you're only planning on doing the occasional trip, it doesn't seem worth it to upgrade your plan, since you can add the service for $10 a month and cancel when you don't need it anymore.

Overall, T-Mobile offers adventurers a way to remain connected when you're off the grid. T-Mobile's partnership with Starlink ensures you receive satellite connections that can power optimized apps and allow you to stay in touch when you need it. Just make sure you have the right device and plan before setting out into the great, wide open.

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For those who drive to work, this means considerably less wear on your car from sitting in traffic day in and day out.

Does that mean you can cut your insurance bills? Yes, cutting your daily commute can be leveraged to trim your premium. The difference probably isn't as much as you're hoping for — and there are more meaningful changes you can make as you retire that will net better savings.

If you're in your 50s or 60s, the good news is you're already likely paying some of the lowest rates you'll ever pay. Drivers in this age range are considered some of the least risky to insure by providers. Once you hit 75, premiums start climbing, as older drivers are considered higher risk.

That means decreasing your annual mileage is unlikely to make that much of a difference to what you're paying. It also means you don't need to make any dramatic changes to your coverage just yet if you're not ready.

If you want to see a meaningful drop in rates, here are some changes you can make and how much you can expect to save from each one. Make the changes now or keep them in your back pocket for when your car insurance rates start surging in your 70s.

Save $80 for low annual mileage

Cutting your commute could be enough to put you in the "low mileage" club.

Insurers vary on what they consider low mileage and how much they discount premiums for those who drive less. On average, you can expect your policy to drop by about 3%. Based on the current national average car insurance rate of $2,671 per year for full coverage, that translates to about $80.

To get those savings, call your insurance provider and ask how much of a discount you'd qualify for and what you need to do to get the change in your driving habits reflected on your policy.

If your insurance is up for renewal soon anyway, use this opportunity to shop for a new policy, and make sure to report your new annual mileage now that you're no longer commuting.

To find out how much you'd save by switching car insurance now that your annual mileage is lower, use our car insurance comparison tool, powered by Bankrate:

Consider switching to a pay-per-mile policy

If cutting out your commute means you'll rarely be driving at all, you might be a good candidate for pay-per-mile car insurance. These policies usually charge a low base premium, then tack on additional premiums at a fixed rate per mile.

Since rates vary by provider and the amount you pay will change each month based on how much you drive, it's hard to estimate how much you'd save (or if you'd save at all) by switching to pay-per-mile car insurance. If you know you'll be relying on other modes of transport like walking, biking or using public transport for most of your daily needs, it's worth getting quotes.

One important caveat here is that the insurance company might require you to install a device in your car or download an app to track your mileage. If they do, read through the privacy policies thoroughly to see what other data the company might be gathering about you, how it will use it and with who else the data will be shared.

The savings might not be worth the risk of a data breach or the deluge of marketing calls and emails you end up dealing with by handing over this kind of personal information.

Save $2,100 by getting rid of a car

If you're in a two-car household, consider getting rid of one car. Now that you're no longer commuting every day, it might be easier for you and your spouse to get by on just one vehicle, and the savings can definitely make it worth your while.

Assuming you have a multi-car policy — which usually comes with a roughly 20% discount on insuring the second car — you could save an average of $2,100 per year by ditching one of your cars. That's based on the same $2,671 average calculated by Bankrate.

You should be able to log in to your account and see a breakdown of exactly how much each car on your policy costs to insure. If that info isn't available in the online portal, call your insurer to ask how much each car on your policy costs.

If you're getting rid of a car, you can save even more by getting rid of whichever car model costs the most to insure. If you're choosing between a Subaru and a Tesla, for example, ditching the Tesla will net you the most savings.

That doesn't mean you have to give up your dream car to save money, though. If you have a luxury or classic car you love, keep it (just remember to have the best insurance for luxury or exotic cars). Going from two cars to one on your insurance will still result in notable savings, even if the car you keep is the more expensive of the two.

Save $1,400 by downgrading one car to minimum coverage

If you're not ready to completely give up a car in retirement, you can still save thousands by opting to downgrade coverage on one of your vehicles to the minimum required by your state — if you're willing to accept the risks and possible higher costs in case of incidents.

A minimum coverage policy is about $1,800 cheaper than full coverage, according to Bankrate. If you're on a multicar policy, getting that 20% discount would translate to about $1,400 in savings by dropping to minimum coverage on just one of your cars.

If you go this route, make sure you're dropping coverage on your least valuable car. Minimum coverage typically means you're dropping collision and comprehensive coverage, so you're on the hook for repair bills if you're at fault in an accident. It's better to be on the hook for the car that will be the cheapest to repair.

Another option, if you're not ready to completely drop full coverage, is to lower the coverage amounts. If you're driving less, you're also less likely to be involved in a serious accident. You could drop the coverage amounts on your policy without exposing yourself to much more risk. (If, however, you're swapping commutes for long road trips, this would be risky.)

Be wary of decreasing your liability coverage, though. Liability coverage also shields your assets in the event the other driver sues you after an accident. As a retiree, that means your hard-earned retirement savings could be on the line if your policy doesn't provide enough coverage to pay for the lawsuit.

Save $800 by raising your deductible

Raising your deductible is another good way to find real savings on your car insurance. A full coverage policy with deductibles of $100 for comprehensive and $500 for collision insurance costs $3,041 on average.

If you raised those deductibles to $1,500 each, your premium would drop to an average of $2,205. That's about $800 saved without giving up coverage.

As your risk decreases, you can basically treat your car insurance as a "worst-case-scenario" tool. That is, max out your deductible knowing that you're only going to file a claim on your collision or comprehensive coverage if the damage is severe enough that you're pretty sure your car will get totaled.

Retirement is a great time to save on car insurance

While cutting out your commute might not impact your car insurance rates as much as you thought, there are lots of opportunities to slash your premiums now that you're retired.

Many of the strategies above can also bring other savings, too. Driving less means you'll save on gas, and if you get rid of a car, you'll save even more.

You can toss all those savings into a one-year CD and treat yourself to a vacation or shopping spree every year, paid for by your monthly savings from paying less for car insurance, gas and car maintenance.

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On the other hand, choosing an internet plan that’s too slow can be equally frustrating. Lagging video calls, buffering movies and delayed downloads can interrupt work, school and entertainment. The right internet speed makes a noticeable difference in how smoothly your household stays connected day to day.

By taking a closer look at your household’s size, online habits and number of connected devices, you can narrow down the best options. Whether you live alone and mostly stream movies or share Wi-Fi with a busy family, matching your plan to your real usage helps you save money while keeping your internet experience seamless.

How to choose the right internet speed for your household

Everything from your household size to how you use the internet will affect the minimum internet speed you need.

A single user that relies on the internet for a few hours of email usage and entertainment streaming in the evenings will have different speed needs than a family of four who rely on the internet for work, school, gaming and more.

You’ll need to consider several factors when determining your internet speed:

• The number of people in your home: Think about how many people in your home will be using the internet. Most importantly, consider how many people will be using the internet at the same time. You’ll want to buy the internet service that meets your family’s needs during times of peak usage when all family members are online at the same time.
• The number of devices in your home: In addition to the number of people in your home, consider how many devices will be connected to the internet. Laptops, phones and tablets are common, but in today’s smart home era, chances are you have other devices that rely on the internet. Security cameras, security systems and smart home devices like TVs, speakers, appliances, thermostats and more will all use the internet and can increase your speed needs.
• Internet usage activities: The way that your household uses the internet will also help determine the speeds you need. Browsing the internet doesn’t necessarily require high speeds, but you’ll want faster speeds for activities like streaming videos, gaming, or uploading or downloading large files. You’ll want to buy the internet speed needed to support the most demanding activities that you perform.

Recommended Mbps for streaming, gaming and working from home

Internet speed is most commonly measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). The higher the Mbps, the faster data is transferred. Some very fast internet packages measure speed in Gigabits per second (Gbps).

The Federal Communication Commission recommends varying internet speeds for common activities:

• General browsing and email: 1 Mbps
• Telecommuting: 5 to 25 Mbps
• Downloading files: 10 Mbps
• Streaming high-definition video: 5 to 8 Mbps
• Personal video calls, like Skype: 1 Mbps
• Online multiplayer gaming: 4 Mbps

Remember, your internet speed will need to support multiple activities at once, especially if you’re living in a larger household or one with many devices.

The chart below provides some helpful information that can give you an idea of what speed might be best for your home and internet usage.

How to test your internet speed and what the results really mean

There are several sites and tools you can use to measure your internet speed, and your internet provider may even offer a dashboard for this. One of the easiest options is Google — simply type “internet speed test” into the search bar to access Google’s built-in speed test.

These tests are simple to use: just click the button to start and let it run for a few seconds. When it’s done, you’ll see your download and upload speeds.

Keep in mind, though, that these tests measure the speed reaching the specific device you’re using. They may not reflect the full speed of your internet plan, since results can vary based on your device’s capabilities, Wi-Fi connection, and other conditions.

Still, they’re a good way to gauge your typical speeds. If you consistently see slower results and notice performance issues, it may be time to upgrade to a faster internet plan.

When upgrading your internet plan makes sense (and when it doesn’t)

If your internet service is too slow for your usage, you might encounter problems like website pages that are slow to load, glitching video calls and videos that buffer without playing smoothly. It may make sense to upgrade your internet plan if you have lots of device, perform high-usage activities like online gaming or if you have a large family that heavily uses the internet.

You may not want to upgrade if you only use the internet lightly or moderately. For example, if you mainly browse and use email, but occasionally have to download a large file, it probably doesn’t make sense to pay more for higher speed when you can just be patient and wait a little longer for the larger files to download.

Upgrading your plan may also not help with your internet performance if you’re using outdated technology, like an old router or a very old computer. Instead, try upgrading those devices and see if that solves the problem.

If you do decide to upgrade your internet service, shop around and look for the best price on the internet speed you need. Many retailers offer perks that can increase a plan’s value.

For example, Verizon is offering deals that include a Nintendo Switch or Disney Hulu streaming bundle with certain plans. Taking advantage of these sign-up perks when you’d already planned to upgrade can give you a better value.

Just resist the temptation to sign up for more speed than you need because of the perks offered; ultimately, you’ll be overpaying for internet every month.

Finding the right balance for your internet speed

Choosing the right internet plan doesn’t have to be complicated. By assessing how many people and devices are online in your home — and what activities you do most — you can avoid overpaying for unnecessary speed or struggling with a sluggish connection.

Take time to compare plans, test your current speeds, and look for value-adding perks from providers. The best internet speed is the one that meets your household’s needs efficiently and affordably.

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It was the summer of 2021. We were growing tired of renting, so we decided to try buying a home. However, there was a problem: Where we lived in Florida, we couldn't get a shack for under $500k.

Instead, we moved to the Midwest, where our money went quite a bit further. We bought a home built in 1985 that was a capsule in time. Thanks to my in-laws, we were able to revitalize the place, making it look contemporary and upgrading its functionality.

Now, with our baby girl soon to be crawling around our small home, we realized we need more space. As such, we're starting to see some of the oopsies we — and many homebuyers — might make when buying a home. Here are some of the things we learned, and expert tips to help you avoid them.

Lesson 1: Build a buyer's profile

Real estate agent, broker and writer of the newly released The Pursuit of Home: A Real Estate Guide to Achieving the American Dream, Scott Harris says doing your homework should be your first step.

"Buying a home feels like something we should know how to do, but too often, buyers go in half-cocked," he said. "They spend more time planning their vacations than what they want in a home."

Our situation was unique in that we had a retired real estate agent helping us every step of the way. But we also didn't have the hard conversations about wants either. It ended up working well for us, aside from the space issue, but that's a lesson we're definitely adopting moving forward.

The solution: If you're in a relationship, start by having a conversation about each person's values in a home. As Harris puts it, "You want to row together."

And if you're a single buyer, find an encouraging voice to help you. "You want a cheerleader during this process, not someone who's going to bring you down and question every decision you make," Harris remarked.

The goal is to set a table of expectations ahead of time of what you're willing to compromise on and what you're not willing to. This sets the stage for being on the same page when making difficult decisions about locations, budget and more.

Lesson 2: Don't always choose the first real estate agent

Your real estate agent is one of the most important decisions you'll make in the home-buying process. They should take the time to understand your needs, set expectations and negotiate on your behalf.

Choosing the wrong agent can make what should be an exciting process frustrating. Thankfully, we didn't have that issue, as our agent was a family member who knew the area and our needs well. But now that we're going to move away from the area (eventually), we'll need to go through this too.

The solution: You should interview a few agents. This will give you a chance to see who fits your needs best. If you're buying with a spouse, work together to have a few questions prepared to ask each agent.

And if you're buying alone, consult with a trusted friend or loved one about the questions you ask. Making sure you're on the same page with your realtor at the beginning can prevent many problems from arising later.

Similar to agents, make sure to shop around for the best mortgage rates. This Bankrate tool can help you compare options fast:

Lesson 3: Know when to walk away

Buying a home is a stressful process. Even when you do find a home you love, chances are there are at least a dozen others who love it, too.

Before we bought our first home, we placed offers on others. When we received those rejection calls, it started to weigh on us. And desperation kicked in.

That's what you don't want. As Harris said, "Sometimes you need to step back and give yourself some time to feel the feelings. Know that 25% of the time, those making the winning bid walk away."

The solution: As hard as it is, you can't allow emotions to influence your buying decisions.

"If you're looking at listings or going to open houses and you're not wowed by any of them, it's likely your mind's way of protecting you, since you're not emotionally ready yet," Harris said.

It's why you need to have the hard conversations with your spouse, friend or realtor. If it doesn't feel right in your gut, it's OK to walk away. It won't be easy to do so, but there's a reason you feel the way you do.

Harris added, "Keep in mind that 50% overpay for homes. Sometimes you're pushing too hard to get a deal done. "

Ultimately, buying a home should be an exciting time in your life. By doing your homework, having the hard conversations up front and shopping around for the realtor that best fits your needs, you're grounded in your decisions.

As such, you won't allow emotions to dictate your buying decisions. It will make the process much less stressful and give you the clarity you need to have confidence in the decision you make.

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At one time, most major streaming providers looked the other way when customers provided their account credentials to people outside their household (say, an adult child who moved away) so that they could watch shows through the plan.

But more services have been blocking access to those who don’t live with the account holder, requiring an additional fee to let them join the plan. And even within your household, you may be limited to a certain number of devices that can stream from your account simultaneously.

For some of the most-watched services, we’ve outlined below the prices and policies for on-demand video content.

Netflix

If you have Netflix’s Standard With Ads subscription ($7.99 a month), you can’t include people from outside your household on your account.

But with the Standard plan ($17.99 monthly), you can share your subscription with one person who doesn’t live with you; it’s $6.99 monthly for the extra user to have an ad-supported plan or $8.99 monthly ad-free.

Non-household members can stream on one device at a time; within a household, you can stream on up to two devices simultaneously.

Subscribers to Netflix’s Premium plan ($24.99 monthly), which allows streaming on up to four devices concurrently within a household, can include as many as two members outside the household for monthly fees of $6.99 each with ads and $8.99 without ads. Each non-household member can stream to one device at a time.

Amazon Prime Video

This service is included with an Amazon Prime membership ($14.99 monthly or $139 annually), which offers other perks, too, including free shipping on Amazon purchases. If you’d rather subscribe only to the video-streaming service, you’ll pay $8.99 monthly.

Amazon says that adults who share Prime benefits and digital content must have the same primary residential address. Within a household, two adults and up to four children can be on an account. Amazon permits up to three concurrent video streams.

For those ages 18 to 24, Amazon offers Prime for Young Adults, which includes Prime Video, at a rate of $7.49 monthly or $69 annually.

Hulu

You’ll pay $9.99 monthly for a subscription to Hulu’s ad-supported library of on-demand programming or $18.99 monthly for the ad-free version.

To allow a non-household member to stream through your account, you’ll pay an extra $6.99 monthly if you have a basic plan with ads or $9.99 monthly for the no-ad plan.

Hulu subscribers can stream from two devices at once; a non-household member who is on your account can stream from one device at a time.

You can also bundle Hulu with various other services, including Disney+, ESPN+ and HBO Max. For more, visit Hulu.com.

Disney+

Disney’s streaming service charges $9.99 monthly for a basic, ad-supported plan. For an extra $6.99 a month, you can include one person from outside your household.

If you have a commercial-free Disney+ Premium subscription ($15.99 monthly), you can share your account with one person outside your household for an additional monthly fee of $9.99.

At home, you can stream on up to four devices at once. If a non-household member is on your plan, they can stream on one device at a time.

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.

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Some banks and credit unions offer extra benefits on their credit cards to customers who have a broader banking or investment relationship with the institution. In some cases, you could earn hundreds of dollars in additional rewards each year.

Here’s how it works: Most credit card issuers also offer deposit accounts, and they may have investment accounts, too. Some of these institutions grant additional rewards or fee waivers on their credit cards to customers who also hold investment or deposit accounts.

In most cases, you must maintain a specified average monthly balance to qualify for the increased rewards. Or, with some issuers, certain credit cards are available only to applicants who hold a qualifying account with the card issuer or a partner.

The decision of where to hold your cash and investments depends on many other factors besides the potential to boost your rewards on a credit card.

But if one of these programs is available to you because of your existing status with a card issuer or one of its partners, it’s worth exploring whether you could be reaping the benefits.

Below, we’ve outlined the relationship programs from some well-known issuers.

Bank of America Preferred Rewards

One of the most long-standing and generous relationship bonuses is for Bank of America customers who are part of the bank’s Preferred Rewards program.

The program has four tiers, based on your combined average daily balance over three months in both Bank of America deposit accounts and Merrill investment accounts:

• Gold ($20,000 to less than $50,000)
• Platinum ($50,000 to less than $100,000)
• Platinum Honors ($100,000 to less than $1 million)
• Diamond Honors ($1 million or more)

Members of each tier receive increased rewards for their spending on eligible Bank of America credit cards. Those in the Gold tier get a 25% bonus on their spending rewards, those in the Platinum tier get a 50% bonus, and customers in the Platinum Honors and Diamond Honors tiers get a 75% bonus.

Most Bank of America personal and small-business credit cards are eligible, except for those that are co-branded with partners, such as the Alaska Airlines card. (Preferred Rewards customers enjoy other benefits, too, including waived or reduced fees on deposit accounts and lower interest rates on loans.

Thanks to the Preferred Rewards program, we deemed Bank of America a top choice for high-net-worth clients.)

Especially for those who qualify for the 75% bonus, the rewards can be exceptional. For example, the no-fee Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards card offers a standard 1.5% cash back on all purchases, which isn’t noteworthy.

But with the 75% bonus, you’ll earn 2.62% cash back, with no limits — a better rate on unlimited spending than you can get with other cards available from major issuers.

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards, which also has no annual fee, offers a standard 3% cash back on a category of your choice (you select among categories such as gas, dining and travel) and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs; the 3% and 2% rewards apply to the first $2,500 in combined spending in those categories each quarter.

You get an unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. With the 75% bonus, the cash-back rates rise to 5.25%, 3.5% and 1.75%, respectively.

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite cardholders who qualify for the 75% bonus earn 3.5 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases and 2.62 points per dollar spent on all other purchases, compared with standard rates of 2 points and 1.5 points per dollar, respectively.

The points can be worth as much as 1.25 cents each toward airfare booked through Bank of America.

The card’s annual fee is $550, but it comes with a number of perks, including a credit of up to $300 annually for airline incidental fees (such as for baggage and seat upgrades), up to $150 annually for lifestyle conveniences (such as video-streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and ride-share services), and up to $120 to reimburse the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

U.S. Bank Smartly Card

With U.S. Bank’s Smartly card, all cardholders earn an unlimited 2% cash back. Those who have a U.S. Bank Smartly Savings account plus qualifying balances in a U.S. Bank Smartly Checking or Safe Debit account, however, earn extra cash back on up to $10,000 in purchases each billing cycle. (After your spending surpasses that threshold, you earn the standard 2% rate.)

You get a total 2.5% cash back if your qualifying balance is between $10,000 and $49,999, 3% if your qualifying balance is between $50,000 and $99,999, and 4% if your qualifying balance is $100,000 or more.

If you hold at least $100,000 in eligible balances and spend $10,000 per month on the Smartly credit card, you could earn $4,800 in cash back each year.

The interest rate on the Smartly Checking account tops out at a negligible 0.005%. The Smartly Savings account offers a standard rate of 0.05%, but if you also have a Smartly Checking account, a Safe Debit account or the Smartly credit card, your savings can earn a more enticing yield.

By maintaining a combined balance of at least $100,000 in qualifying U.S. Bank deposit and investment accounts, for example, you could recently get a 3.5% yield with Smartly Savings.

PenFed Honors Advantage

PenFed Credit Union offers two credit cards with benefits for members of its Honors Advantage program. To be eligible for the program, you must maintain a qualifying Access America or Free Checking account or be an active duty, reserve, honorably discharged or retired member of the military.

Honors Advantage members who have the no-fee PenFed Power Cash Rewards card receive 2% cash back on all purchases, with no limits, instead of the standard 1.5%. And for those who have the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards card, PenFed waives the $95 annual fee.

This card offers 4 points per dollar on travel purchases and 1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases. Points are worth about 0.85 cent apiece if you exchange them for gift cards; if you use points to make hotel reservations, they’re worth a more attractive 1.25 cents each.

Other Pathfinder perks include auto-rental insurance coverage, trip-delay reimbursement, a credit of up to $120 to reimburse the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, complimentary access to airport lounges in the Priority Pass Select network and a credit of up to $100 annually for ancillary fees with 10 domestic airlines.

Citigold and Citigold Private Client

Citibank recently introduced the Citi Strata Elite card ($595 annual fee), and those who are members of the bank’s premium relationship program get extra benefits. If you qualify for Citigold, which requires a minimum combined average monthly balance of $200,000 in eligible linked deposit, retirement and investment accounts, you get a $145 annual credit on the card.

And Citigold Private Client customers, who must maintain $1 million or more in qualifying account balances, get a $595 credit the first year they have the card and $145 yearly thereafter. The bank offers the same annual credits to Citigold and Citigold Private Client customers who have the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, which has a $595 annual fee. (We recently named Citi one of the top banks for high-net-worth clients.)

Among Strata Elite’s perks are free airport-lounge access through a Priority Pass Select membership, four yearly passes to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges, $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more booked through Citi Travel, and up to $120 in reimbursement for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

The AAdvantage Executive World Elite card offers free access to Admirals Club lounges, a free checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights, and a credit of up to $120 for a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.

Benefits Through Brokers

The Platinum Card from American Express exclusively for Charles Schwab. If you have an eligible investment account with Charles Schwab (including an IRA or a Schwab One brokerage account), you can get this version of the American Express Platinum card, which has a $695 annual fee. Besides the standard benefits that Amex Platinum offers (more on those below), the Schwab card comes with an annual bonus, depending on the amount of your Schwab holdings.

You’ll receive a $100 card statement credit if your qualifying Schwab holdings are $250,000 to less than $1 million, a $200 statement credit if your holdings are from $1 million up to $10 million, or a $1,000 credit if you have $10 million or more in your Schwab accounts.

Among the plentiful benefits for all holders of American Express Platinum are a $200 annual airline-fee credit, a $200 annual hotel credit, a $199 credit toward a CLEAR Plus membership (which provides expedited security screening at the airport), reimbursement for a Walmart+ membership (which provides free shipping from Walmart and other perks), $200 yearly in Uber Cash (for Uber rides and Uber Eats deliveries), and access to Priority Pass and American Express Centurion airport lounges, among other lounge networks.

Morgan Stanley Blue Cash Preferred American Express Card. Customers who have a brokerage account with Morgan Stanley or E*Trade can sign up for this card, which is a version of the standard Amex Blue Cash Preferred card. Brokerage customers get a $100 statement credit after they spend $15,000 a year on the card, which has a $95 annual fee (waived the first year).

Blue Cash Preferred provides an outstanding 6% cash back on select streaming subscriptions as well as on up to $6,000 spent yearly at the supermarket. It also offers 3% back for spending at gas stations and on transit (such as taxis, tolls and train fares) and 1% on other spending.

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.

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My time on the credit card beat also informed my own strategy as a rewards card user. I charge most purchases on a card that has no annual fee and offers 2% cash back on all spending. (And, practicing what we at Kiplinger preach, I don’t charge more on it than I can afford to pay off each month.)

My husband, Tom, is also on the account, and together, we earn hundreds of dollars in cash back each year, which we deposit into our checking account.

Otherwise, I put restaurant and travel purchases on a card that offers extra points on each dollar spent in those categories. When I’m ready to exchange the points for rewards, I check the redemption values to make sure I’m getting a healthy return.

Many cards offer varying point values depending on how you redeem the rewards, so it’s worth doing the math.

My advice: Aim to get a value of at least 1 cent per point. Or, in other words, each 100 points should be worth at least $1. American Express Membership Rewards points, for example, are worth a penny each if you use them to book flights through Amex Travel, but only 0.6 cents each if you exchange them for statement credits.

Although rewards rates drive most of my decisions on which card to use for a purchase, I consider the card’s additional benefits, too.

When buying electronics or appliances, for example, I often charge them to a card that offers an extended warranty, in case the item breaks down shortly after the manufacturer’s warranty expires.

Premium rewards credit cards

I keep a couple of premium travel cards in my wallet, too. Thanks to Tom’s status as an active-duty military member, he qualifies for a waiver of the annual fee on some credit cards, and the benefit extends to me as an authorized user on his accounts.

For us, taking advantage of the many perks premium cards offer while bypassing annual fees in the hundreds of dollars is a no-brainer. (After Tom retires from military service, however, we’ll have to assess whether the annual fee is worth paying.)

One of the best benefits has been complimentary entry into airport lounges. Along with offering access to lounge networks such as Escape and Priority Pass Select, some card issuers are opening their own lounges, too.

Chase, for example, has been expanding its network of Sapphire lounges. Over the summer, I visited the sleek, expansive lounge Chase recently opened at Philadelphia International Airport. I ordered a fresh bowl of noodles with vegetables, which a server delivered to my table restaurant-style, and my kids played arcade games and shuffleboard while we waited out a three-hour flight delay.

Free wine, beer and cocktails, shower rooms, and private rest pods are other amenities you’ll find at many lounges run by issuers such as Amex, Capital One and Chase.

Judging by the responses to our annual Readers’ Choice Awards, many of you use rewards cards, too. If you’d like to share your strategies to maximize rewards or highlight your favorite perks, feel free to drop me a line.

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.

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Sunday shoppers had access to the warehouse from 10 am to 6 pm. That will change to 9 am to 8 pm starting on Sunday, October 12. Sam's Club Plus members will continue to have one hour of early access at 8 am on Sundays.

Further, the retailer is also expanding operations during holiday hours. On New Year's Eve, Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day, instead of closing at 6 pm, they'll close at 8 pm.

If you're curious about joining Sam's Club, I'll break down how much a membership is and whether it's worth it.

How much is a Sam's Club membership?

Sam's Club has two membership tiers. The Club Membership is your basic, get-in-the-door plan. This plan is perfect if you want to try it out and see if it works for you.

Best of all, there is currently a deal in which you can get an annual Club membership for $15, saving you 70% off the regular price of $50.

Then there's the Plus membership. This elevated plan grants you one hour of early shopping access each day at the warehouse. On top of that, you'll earn 2% cash back on everything you buy, up to an annual cap of $500, and free shipping on all orders exceeding $50.

Now is an excellent time to upgrade because of the ongoing deal. If you're a new member, you can buy a Plus membership for $50, saving you 54% off the original price of $110.

If you're a current Club member, you won't qualify for this incentive, but you can upgrade your membership through the Sam's Club app or by visiting your local store and speaking with customer service.

Is Sam's Club a good deal?

I've been a Sam's Club member for more than six months, and like many warehouse clubs, it offers cost savings, making it well worth the membership … if it fits your needs.

I used it mainly for baby supplies. Having a 4-month-old means I'm going through diapers, wipes and formula at warp speed, but I'm also saving $20 on every formula purchase because it's much less expensive than what other retailers charge.

Sam's Club is also one of the easiest shopping experiences I've encountered. Their "scan and go" feature means I can scan items as I add them to the cart, check out before reaching the front, and bypass the sometimes long check-out lines.

However, there are things I've found there that are not the best deals. Their gas, while convenient, isn't less expensive than other stations in my area. If you're a Club member and need an item shipped, it's $8. Plus members will also pay $8 for shipping orders under $50.

Overall, Sam's expanding store hours on Sundays and holidays is excellent news for shoppers who need more flexible times to coincide with their schedules. If you're on the fence about trying them, the $15 sale on the Club membership is an affordable way to check out the store.

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Offered by companies such as Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna and PayPal, these financing services split the cost of purchases into equal installments over a few weeks, usually with no interest charges.

“It seemed like a no-brainer to try it,” says Rogers, 51, a medical retail worker in Troy, Mo. “I like to spread out my payments for cash flow purposes.”

Buy now, pay later plans have been popular among younger generations — Millennials and Gen Zers — for a while, but lately BNPL has been taking off among the over-50 crowd, too.

Afterpay says the number of orders it receives from older shoppers has been rising recently, and 13% of Baby Boomers and 28% of Gen Xers have used one of these plans, according to a 2025 survey from financial services company Motley Fool.

Higher earners have been adopting this payment option as well, with nearly one-third of those earning $100,000-plus now using BNPL, a recent Bankrate study found.

“The conventional wisdom was that young people without much money and without much credit were using BNPL,” says Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate. “There’s still some of that, but BNPL has also moved upmarket.”

Buy now, pay later plans can be a useful way to get extra time to pay off purchases, especially expensive ones, without incurring interest.

Those are the top reasons consumers, especially older shoppers, cite for using the services, Bankrate found. Younger shoppers were more likely to also appreciate the easy credit-approval process.

But research shows that because the plans make the price of a purchase seem less painful, they lead many people to overspend — a big reason, along with late fees, that nearly 40% of users ultimately regret opting for the service, Motley Fool found.

With credit-scoring company FICO announcing this year it is creating models that will take BNPL payments into account and more BNPL services sending data to the credit-reporting companies, it’s especially important now to know exactly what you’re getting into before you click on this payment option.

How BNPL works

Think of a buy now, pay later service like an old-fashioned layaway plan in reverse. Instead of making payments and then taking the item home, you get your purchase right away, then pay off what you owe over time, with the total typically split into four equal interest-free installments.

You make the first payment when you check out, then a subsequent one every two weeks until the balance is paid off at the end of six weeks.

Many BNPL providers also offer the option of longer-term plans, often ranging from three to 24 months, for larger purchases.

Instead of weekly, payments are due monthly, typically with interest that can range from 0% to as high as 36%, depending on your credit and income, factored into the bill.

To apply, you select the BNPL option at the retailer’s online checkout, answer a few basic questions about yourself, and supply a debit or credit card number.

Within seconds, most people are approved; the industry rejected only 22% of applications in 2022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found. Some BNPL companies may conduct soft credit checks, which do not impact your credit score.

Until this year, using a buy now, pay later plan didn’t affect your credit score either, as long as you didn’t miss a payment or end up with your debt sent to collections. But the industry is starting to change that, with both Klarna and Affirm now sending more BNPL loan data to credit-reporting companies such as Experian and TransUnion.

Meanwhile, FICO is incorporating BNPL data into two of its new scoring models this fall.

The impact is likely to be minor, though. According to a yearlong FICO study, the change to most consumers’ credit scores was within 10 points, higher or lower, after adding BNPL data, similar to the impact of opening a new credit-card account.

Even with the new changes, it will likely be a while before BNPL usage affects your credit in a meaningful way, in part because it takes a while for lenders to adopt the newest scoring models, says Adam Rust, director of financial services at the Consumer Federation of America.

And when it does have an effect, he says, you’ll need to use the service a lot, not just for an occasional purchase, for your activity to really have an impact.

How to use BNPL wisely

Tempted to try out a buy now, pay later plan? Experts suggest these steps to take advantage of the service without it taking advantage of you.

Know your billing schedule

Each BNPL loan has a unique repayment schedule that begins on the day you make the purchase.

With most services, you must set up automatic payments — and regardless of whether it’s required, it’s a good idea to do that and sign up for bill reminders to ensure you don’t miss a due date.

Nearly one in three users has lost track of payments, Motley Fool reports. That can be a costly error, because many BNPL providers charge late fees, commonly around $10.

Fight the urge to splurge

When stores add a BNPL option, it not only makes us more likely to buy but also raises the average checkout total by 10%, according to research published in the Journal of Marketing.

By splitting the payment up into smaller chunks, BNPL makes you “perceive costs as more trivial,” the research found. The plans also spur more impulse purchases, so Rossman advises waiting a day or two before buying so you can reevaluate with fresh eyes.

Set ground rules

Some BNPL shoppers use the plans to finance food delivery, groceries, concert tickets, clothing and other discretionary items with a short shelf life. Don’t be one of them.

Instead, Rossman suggests, restrict your BNPL purchases to higher-ticket items you really need so “you can spread payments out and isolate them from the rest of your finances” — say, if your refrigerator breaks and you need a replacement or you want to manage the cost of pricey dental work.

Limit your purchases to items you’re sure you’ll keep, because 14% of buyers have had problems returning items and getting a full refund, Bankrate found.

The CFPB issued a rule last year requiring BNPL lenders to follow the same dispute-resolution standards as credit cards, but the bureau has pulled back from enforcing that rule. If you’re unsure, pay by credit card instead. “Credit cards have far better protections than BNPL,” says Rust.

Stick to one purchase at a time

Three in five BNPL users have taken out multiple loans simultaneously, with nearly one-fourth holding three or more at once, LendingTree found. That makes keeping on top of payments and avoiding late fees more difficult.

“BNPL is already clunky, requiring you to track several small, constant payments,” says Rust. “If you have multiple BNPL loans from different providers, you just amp that up.”

Consider alternatives

Many credit card issuers also offer their cardholders BNPL services, such as Plan it from American Express and Citi’s Flex Pay. These plans allow you to separate some larger purchases from your balance to be repaid through fixed installments for a fee — often equal to 7% to 10% interest, far less than you’d pay on a typical credit card revolving balance.

Or, if your credit score is 670 or better, you might apply for a credit card with a 0% introductory offer on purchases. Those offers typically last 12 to 24 months, such as ones recently from the Wells Fargo Reflect and U.S. Bank Shield cards.

“Credit cards can be like power tools — really useful or really dangerous, depending on how you use them,” says Rossman. “The same analogy applies to BNPL.”

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.

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With the major deals available at Amazon right now, you can cross a few names off your list this week and leave less stress for yourself as the holidays get closer.

As a shopping expert who covers major sales like these, one of the best parts of a huge sales event is that it gives you a chance to grab gifts with a premium feel like smart tech or top-of-the-line appliances at a bargain price you'd normally never find them at.

So, if you're looking for gifts that will impress without straining your budget, here are some October Prime Day deals that are under $50 (but won't be once the sale ends).

My favorite under-$50 Prime Day deals that won't feel cheap

From $120 noise-canceling headphones on sale for just $35 to 67% off DNA testing kits, there are major deals this week that double as great gift ideas this year. So you can stretch your holiday shopping budget further without your gift recipients feeling like you're cheaping out on them.

More ways to save during the Amazon October Prime Day sale

Taking advantage of these under-$50 Prime deals is a great way to score gifts (for others or yourself) that feel more expensive than they are. But you can squeeze even more savings out of each deal by using a shopping rewards credit card at checkout.

From generous cash back to elevated points earning potential, your gift shopping this season can be just as rewarding for you as it is for everyone on your list.

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That's why, if you're considering upgrades for your home office, now is an excellent time to do so. Many retailers are offering sales this week, from Amazon Prime Big Deal Days to Walmart Deals.

As a deals writer with years of experience, I can help you find the best deals available, considering both price and quality. Additionally, I'll show you which home office upgrades also qualify for tax credits.

Laptops and tablets

Here are some of the best laptop and tablet deals from Amazon and other retailers:

• acer Chromebook Plus 515 Laptop with Google AI – 15.6" Full HD 1920 x 1080 IPS Touch Display- Now $329.99, save $100 at Amazon
• HP - 15.6" Laptop - Intel Core i3 - 8GB Memory - 128GB UFS - Natural Silver - Now $229.99, save $270 at Best Buy
• Apple - 13-inch iPad Pro M4 chip Built for Apple Intelligence Wi-Fi 256GB with OLED - Now $1,099, save $200 at Best Buy
• HP - OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1 - Copilot+ PC - 16" 2K Touch-Screen Laptop - Now $699.99, save $400 at Best Buy
• Apple - MacBook Pro 14-inch Laptop - Apple M4 chip Built for Apple Intelligence - 16GB Memory - 512GB SSD - Now $1,399, save $200 at Best Buy

Office chairs

Having the right chair can reduce lower back pain and fatigue, keeping you focused on the task at hand. Here are some of the better deals offered:

• Insignia™ - Essential PC Gaming Chair - Black - Now $89.99, save $90 at Best Buy
• Primy Drafting Chair Tall Office Chair - Now $108.96, save $81.03 at Amazon
• JONPONY Ergonomic Cross-Legged Swivel Chair - Now $59.99, save $110 at Walmart
• Bestier Big and Tall Executive Office Chair with Flip-Up Arms - Now $239.99, save $143.99 at Target
• Realspace® Hurston Bonded Leather High-Back Executive Office Chair - Now $129.99, save $140 at Office Depot

Printers

Having the right printer can enhance your work with a polished appearance. If you need a new printer, here are some of the best deals this week:

• Epson® WorkForce® Pro WF-3820 Wireless Inkjet All-In-One Color Printer - Now $99.99, save $100 at Office Depot
• Canon - PIXMA TS6420a Wireless All-In-One Inkjet Printer - Black - Now $44.99, save $96 at Best Buy
• HP - Envy 6165e Wireless AI-Enabled All-in-One Inkjet Printer - Now $79.99, save $70 at Best Buy
• Portable Printers, D820 Wireless Bluetooth Printers - Now $65.99, save $29 at Amazon

Headphones and earbuds

Sometimes, you need to detach as you work. And one of the best ways to do this is with the right headphones and earbuds, as you can listen to your favorite podcast or music as you work:

• Beats Solo 4 Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear Headphones - Now $129.99, save $70 at Target
• Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation - Now $34.99, save $85 at Amazon
• Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C) - Midnight - Now $429.99, save $120 at Best Buy
• Apple - AirPods 4 - White - Now $89.99, save $40 at Best Buy
• Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones - Now $229, save $120 at Amazon
• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 - Now $169.99, save $59.01 at Amazon

How do I qualify for tax credits for home office upgrades?

First, let's get out of the way what doesn't qualify you for a tax credit. If you're a regular employee working from home, you won't be eligible to claim your office expenses as deductions on your tax return.

Meanwhile, if you're self-employed, you will be eligible to deduct certain purchases on your tax return. Qualified purchases include:

• Computers or laptops
• Printers
• Postage
• Office supplies
• Office furniture

Make sure to keep documentation of all purchases you made. You'll need them when you submit Schedule C (Form 1040) of your tax return.

And if you use your home office mainly for business purposes, you might be eligible for the home office tax deduction.

How long does each sale last?

This is a busy week for retailers, as many offer good deals on office supplies and electronics. Here's a look at how long the sales events last with each retailer:

• Amazon Prime Big Deal Days: October 7-8 (Prime membership required)
• Walmart Deals: October 7-12
• Best Buy Techtober: October 6-12
• Target Circle Week: October 5-11 (Target Circle required for best deals)
• Office Depot Discount Days: October 5-11

Overall, this is just a taste of all the great deals retailers offer this week. Whether you're in the market for a new laptop or chair, this is a great week to upgrade your office.

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But buying eyeglasses often gets more complicated somewhere around age 50. Single-vision lenses suddenly don’t help you decipher the small print on restaurant menus. Eye exams require more steps. Glasses get more layered, with add-ons for older folks with vision issues. And the prices for these more-complex glasses can shoot into the stratosphere.

Getting glasses may be more involved with age, but it need not induce as much stress as getting a new car. To help bring the process back to earth for folks 50 and older, we reached out to experts on vision and aging and have weaved their advice into this eight-step guide.

1. Get an exam

This advice might sound obvious. But to save a few bucks, too many people try to use old or even outdated prescriptions to get new glasses. An exam is a must.

You can get one from your optometrist or ophthalmologist. Many eyeglass retailers will perform exams in their offices, too.

2. Shop around

Once you have an updated prescription, explore all your options for purchasing glasses. Most retailers offer package deals for frames, lenses and coatings, and these bundles can save serious money, says Michael Vitale, vice president of government relations at The Vision Council, a nonprofit trade association for manufacturers and suppliers of the optical industry.

Some retailers also offer discounts on purchases of two pairs of glasses or more.

“The most common mistake is not to do comparison shopping,” says Catherine Roberts, senior health reporter at Consumer Reports. In 2022, Consumer Reports surveyed 11,450 of its members who had purchased new glasses within the previous two years.

Most respondents said that for convenience, they bought their glasses at the doctor’s office where they had their eyes examined. When you make a choice for convenience, there is a good chance you’re missing out on better deals, Roberts says.

If you decide to buy glasses elsewhere, get a copy of your prescription from your eye doctor. And don’t hesitate to ask your eye doc for the name of the lowest-price place to purchase glasses, Roberts suggests.

3. Weigh the pros and cons of the bargain options

Odds are, you’ll be directed to a warehouse club or an online retailer, which will likely run you considerably less than buying glasses at your eye doctor’s office or from a major retail chain such as LensCrafters.

In the Consumer Reports survey, members who shopped at Costco Wholesale and online specialist Warby Parker paid a median $160 and $190, respectively, for a pair of glasses after insurance. But the median price at independent optical shops was $346 after insurance, or $511 out of pocket.

If you go with a wholesaler such as Costco or Sam’s Club, you can take advantage of both unbeatable prices and in-person assistance in selecting and fitting your glasses.

Respondents to the Consumer Reports survey ranked warehouse clubs very highly, not only for price but also for service and quality.

“You get a top-notch product at a reasonable price,” says Vitale. But keep in mind that warehouse clubs charge annual membership fees, and they may not accept all vision plans, he says.

If you shop with an online retailer such as Eyebuydirect, Warby Parker or Zenni Optical, you’ll enjoy cut-rate prices without stepping outside your home. But because older folks typically have more-complicated glasses prescriptions and are often more finicky about fit, online purchases might not be the best option, says Faheem Ahmed, an ophthalmologist at Eye Physicians of Virginia.

Consumer Reports suggests that the stronger and more complicated your lenses are, “the more you should lean towards buying in person.”

Unlike many other online retailers, Warby Parker also has physical locations where you can get exams and have a professional fit your glasses.

In the Consumer Reports survey, Warby Parker ranked “very high” in price, quality and service, says Roberts.

4. Compare vision insurance plans with optical-store discount plans

As you age, you probably need more-costly bifocals or progressive-lens glasses. So some form of vision insurance — or even an optical-store discount plan — can be financially beneficial for older adults, says Ahmed.

He estimates that about half of his patients do not have employer-sponsored vision plans, in part because many are retired. Some opt for optical-store discount plans, which typically require a membership fee (often about $25 to $50 annually) and are often best for less-frequent users.

If you have insurance, it’s usually cheapest to use your plan’s in-network providers. If you don’t have insurance or an optical-store discount plan, try to negotiate up front with the provider to get the best prices.

5. Beware the limits of Medicare

Many people who are 65 or older are surprised to discover that routine eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses are not covered by Medicare.

However, for some conditions, such as macular degeneration and cataracts, Medicare does pay for testing and treatment, according to the National Council on Aging.

Most Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer vision care benefits that go beyond what original Medicare covers, including routine eye exams to check your vision and eye health and an eyewear allowance to help pay for glasses or contact lenses. Coverage varies from plan to plan.

6. Choose coatings carefully

Coatings come in a dizzying array of options. Older people will probably want anti-glare coatings because the coatings can greatly help with night driving, says Ahmed.

But think twice before purchasing a coating for blue-light filtering. These filters act to cut back screen light from electronics such as cell phones and laptops and can sometimes help those who suffer from migraines.

But Ahmed says there is no scientific evidence that blue light can damage your eyes.

7. Don’t overlook transition lenses

If you need prescription sunglasses in addition to standard glasses, you can save money by getting transition lenses, says Ahmed. That way, you might need to purchase one pair of prescription glasses instead of two.

These lenses, also known as photochromic lenses, automatically darken (to act as sunglasses) when exposed to ultraviolet light and lighten when the UV light source is removed.

Using transition lenses is also easier than carrying two pairs of glasses and switching between them. And, Ahmed estimates, because you are purchasing just one pair of glasses instead of two, it can save you $300 to $500.

Be aware that when you’re in a vehicle, your photochromic lenses may not darken fully if the car’s windshield blocks a lot of UV light, says Ahmed. Certain lenses, however, including Transitions XTRActive, can work quite well for daytime driving, he says.

8. Take care of your glasses

Perhaps the best way to save money on new glasses is to take care of your old ones, says Roberts. The pair of glasses you don’t have to buy is money in your pocket.

That means breaking the worst of habits: using your T-shirt to wipe the smudges off your lenses. Instead, always use a lens cloth and cleaner, says Roberts.

Carry your glasses in a hard — not soft — case when you’re not wearing them. When you take your glasses off, do so with both hands to avoid loosening or bending the frames.

Finally, when you do need new lenses, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need new frames, too. If your new prescription will work with your old frames, says Roberts, you could save hundreds of dollars by asking your optician to plop the new lenses into the frames you already own.

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.

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But the sale ends tonight. So, whether you're gearing up for holiday travel or just want to take advantage of this year's deals to refresh your travel accessories for next summer, now's the time to do it.

To help you sift through thousands of great Prime deals this October, I've rounded up some of my favorite travel deals from top-of-the-line luggage to the best travel deals for pets to make your next trip as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

Not an Amazon Prime member yet? You can sign up now for a free trial to shop the fall sale and decide afterward if the savings and other Prime perks are worth keeping the membership.

Our favorite Prime deals on carry-on luggage

At the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale, I found deep discounts on premium brands like Guess and Samsonite as well as serious bargains on convenient items like a packable tote for your souvenir and stylish weekender bags.

• Wrangler Smart Spinner with Cup Holder and Charging Port - Now $34. Save 47%
• Eddie Bauer Stowaway Packable Backpack - Now $32. Save 20%
• Samsonite Classic Leather Slim Backpack - Now $114. Save 40%
• Hanke Under-Seat Carry-On Bag - Now $64. Save 20%
• Original Penguin Crimson 21-Inch Carry-On - Now $130. Save 50%
• LEVEL8 Elegance Carry-on Suitcase with 4 packing cubes - Now $160. Save 30%
• Michael Kors Hardside Carry-on - Now $299. Save 40%

Last chance checked luggage deals from Prime Big Deal Days

Packing for a longer trip? Get spacious and durable checked luggage from top travel brands without breaking the bank thanks to these October Prime Day deals from Amazon's major fall sales event.

• Kenneth Cole REACTION Renegade 24-Inch Suitcase- Now $86. Save 29%
• Traveler's Choice Maxporter II 30-Inch Trunk - Now $211. Save 30%
• Pacific Gear 30-Inch Rolling Duffel - Now $44. Save 45%
• SwissGear 7366 Hardside Expandable Luggage, 3-Piece Set - Now $234. Save 46%
• DELSEY PARIS Helium Aero Hardside Luggage, 2-Piece Set - Now $190. Save 50%

Amazon October Prime Day deals on travel accessories

From cushy travel pillows to compression packing cubes, you can save on all those little extras that make for a comfier trip during the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale this month.

1. Compression Packing Cubes, Set of 10 - Now $30. Save 35%
2. European Plug Adapter, 2-Pack - Now $22. Save 20%
3. RFID Blocking Travel Money Belt & Passport Holder - Now $8. Save 43%
4. Fuzion Shipping Scale - Now $30. Save 46%
5. Memory Foam Travel Pillow - Now $24. Save 27%
6. Luggage Tags, 10-Pack - Now $5. Save 15%

Travel tech deals on Amazon you can shop today

Level up your travel game with the latest tech that will make the time on that long haul flight fly by. Amazon has dropped prices on everything from noise-canceling headphones to GPS trackers during the Prime Big Deal Days sale.

• Apple AirTag, 4-Pack - Now $65. Save 34%
• Tile GPS Tags, 4-Pack - Now $53. Save 30%
• Kindle Essentials Bundle - Now $118. Save 27%
• Apple AirPods Pro 2 - Now $170. Save 32%
• Beats Studio Pro - Now $140. Save 30%
• Powerbank with 4 Built in Cables - Now $29. Save 32%

Pet travel deals from the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale

Traveling can be extra stressful on pets, whether it's a short flight or a long road trip. Make their adventure as comfortable as possible with these deals on pet carriers, portable bowls and other essentials for traveling with your pet.

• Travel 2-in-1 Pet Water Bottle with Food Container - Now $12. Save 20%
• Expandable Extra Large Cat Carrier with Litter Box Area - Now $80. Save 20%
• rabbitgoo Cat Harness and Leash - Now $13. Save 20%
• Amazon Basics Heavy Duty Dog and Puppy Pee Pads, 50-Count - Now $15. Save 24%
• HiCaptain Travel Litter Box - Now $24. Save 20%

Squeeze even more value out of these deals with the right credit card

Before you click that checkout button, make sure you're armed with the best shopping credit cards to maximize your savings. With the right credit card, you can earn generous cash back or bonus miles. Stock up on all your travel essentials for less and use those extra rewards to fund your next trip with all your new gear.

Not sure which card is the best choice for the way you travel (and the way you shop)? We've rounded up our top picks to make it easy for you to compare.

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Prime Day, which kicks off the holiday shopping season, gives members an early chance to check items off their shopping lists and snag limited-time bargains.

Finding the best deals on the items you want and need can be a challenge with these massive shopping events, but AI tools such as Amazon Rufus and Amazon Lens can help you shop wisely during Big Deals Days.

Be careful, though — while these tools can be helpful, you’ll need to resist the urge to buy items you hadn’t planned to purchase.

Amazon Rufus

Amazon Rufus, an AI chatbot, launched in early 2024. Rufus is a free tool that’s available to all shoppers. Think of Rufus as being your personal shopping assistant. You can ask the chatbot such questions as, “What supplies do I need for a Halloween party?” or “What are the best deals on women’s sneakers?”

The more specific you get, the more refined the bot’s responses will be, and within a few seconds, Rufus can provide suggestions, including links to Amazon products that best fit your shopping needs.

During Amazon Prime Day, Rufus could help you to quickly sort through deals, rather than scrolling through pages and pages of offers. Get specific with your questions to find the best deals on the products you need.

For example, after asking “What are the lowest-priced kitchen knives on sale now?” Rufus produced a list containing ultra-budget options under $10, best value individual knives and best value knife sets.

Rufus is helpful because it provides personalized responses. According to Forbes, testing indicates that the bot’s responses vary between users, suggesting that Rufus tailors its recommendations based on each customer’s spending thresholds and shopping history. That approach means that you’re more likely to see results that are relevant and that you’re likely to purchase.

Be careful when it comes to customer feedback, though. While you can ask Rufus a question such as, “How easy is this air fryer to clean?” its responses are based on data such as product listing details and customer reviews. Trusting those responses can be risky, given Amazon’s issues with fake reviews.

If Rufus points you toward a product that sounds like a good fit, do your own research. Google the product, look at reviews across multiple sites, and watch out for reviews that seem over the top in their praise or criticism. Look at the profiles of the reviewers, too, and try to find “verified purchase” badges, which generally indicate the reviews are more trustworthy.

You can use Rufus through Amazon’s app, or you can open the chatbot on your computer by clicking on the icon in the upper left corner of the Amazon homepage.

Alexa Voice

Alexa Voice can help with your shopping, too. You can speak to our Alexa-enabled devices, adding items to your shopping list as you think of them. You can also ask Alexa about the best deals on certain items on Amazon, and the AI voice service can make purchase recommendations based on your buying habits.

Amazon has also released Alexa+, the retailer’s next-generation AI assistant. Alexa+ offers a more personalized and conversational experience, and is capable of understanding complex requests. Alexa+ also integrates with other shopping platforms, so it can help you find Christmas gifts, book tickets through Ticketmaster and plan a night out in a certain city.

Alexa+ is available on a limited basis during the Early Access period. Customers who own an Echo Show 8, 10, 15 or 21 will be the first to access Alexa+, and more Echo customers will gradually receive access. You can sign up to be notified about Early Access availability. Alexa+ will be free to Amazon Prime members, while non-Prime customers can subscribe for $19.99 per month.

Amazon Lens

If you use the Amazon Shopping app, you can access Amazon Lens, an AI-powered visual search tool. With Amazon Lens, you can take a picture of a product and upload that image or scan a barcode. Amazon Lens can then find that product on Amazon, saving you some searching time and streamlining your shopping experience.

Amazon Lens Live, released in September, instantly scans products and shows you real-time matches in a carousel, so it’s even easier to find the product you need. It also integrates with Rufus, so you can get product insights and summaries right in the app.

You can add items to your cart by tapping the heart icon. If a friend has a product you love or if you want to do some comparison shopping while you’re in a retail store, Amazon Lens Live can make that process easy.

Tips to keep your shopping focused

AI tools can help you discover products quickly, but they also make it easy to get upsold into buying things on impulse. To stay disciplined, create a shopping list ahead of time and stick to it, and set a budget to avoid overspending during Prime Big Deals Days.

Even if a deal looks great on Amazon, take the time to comparison shop. Retailers such as Walmart and Target often run competing sales during these events, and you might find the same item for less elsewhere.

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The title of your new book is The Art of Spending Money. How is spending money an art?
MH: It’s an art because it’s not a science. I wish I could say, here’s how everybody should spend, but I don’t think a formula for how everyone should spend exists. The spending that works for me and makes me happy might be wrong for you, and vice versa.

Some people might find that disappointing, that I’m basically giving an overview of the psychology of spending money. But you have to figure it out for yourself, because I don’t know you or your life experiences. I’m still trying to figure all this out for myself, too.

That insight, that our different life experiences affect what we think is worth spending money on, is central to the book. How can understanding that help people make better spending decisions?
MH: I’ve had a good life, but like everybody else, I’ve had some challenging moments and I have some psychological scars. If you put me on the therapist’s couch, you could probably pull a thread that ties back to my aspirations today, my desire to earn more money and have some sort of material trophy to signify what I’ve done, to my feelings of inadequacy in my high school years.

We all have some version of that. Given our different pasts, it is almost immature to assume other people should like what you like and avoid what you don’t like. Once you see that, it forces you to say, look, I should not copy what Jim and Sue are doing with their money because maybe that’s not right for me. I have to take an individualist approach.

You also say that you have to already be happy for more money to make you happier. What do you mean?
MH: Research shows that if you are already content, you have friends and are healthy, having more money is like rocket fuel, because you can use that money to spend more time with those friends and do the projects you want to pursue.

But if you’re not — if you’re unhealthy, you’re in a bad marriage or you don’t like your job — earning more money is probably not going to do much for you.

You quote a Dutch philosopher who said, “The appetite for applause counts amongst the lowest of human character traits.” How does this shape our spending?
MH: It’s important to realize that nobody is thinking about you as much as you are. Nobody is paying attention to your cars or your clothes or your jewelry or your house as much as you are.

Even if other people are paying attention, they’re imagining themselves having the jewelry or clothes; they’re not giving any credit to you or admiring you. So the appetite for applause is just naïve. Everyone else is busy worrying about themselves.

Your advice in the book is to minimize future regret. How can people apply that to the way they spend money?
MH: Many years ago, a gerontologist named Karl Pillemer interviewed 1,200 Americans, most of them 80 to 100 years old. Not a single one, looking back at their life, said, I wish I had made more money.

But every single one said, I wish I spent more time with my family, I wish I was nicer to my friends, I wish I took care of my health more. When I try to figure out my work-life balance, that’s something I try to keep in mind.

Your last book, The Psychology of Money, was very successful. Have you spent any of the money you earned from it in ways that have made you happier?
MH: Our spending has gone up quite a bit, in ways I don’t regret. But if I’m honest, it doesn’t make me any happier. It’s not like because we live in a different house now, I wake up smiling.

My daughter and wife don’t love me any more or less. I’m in the same relative health I was five years ago. So the things that actually move the needle on my happiness haven’t changed.

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.

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Package theft increases during peak delivery season around the holidays. More packages are shipped and left unattended, which means porch pirates have more opportunities. Some thieves even follow delivery trucks, stealing packages right after they’re delivered.

As you start your holiday shopping, keep these tips in mind to prevent package theft and ensure that you receive all the items you order from Amazon.

Use Amazon Day delivery to control timing

Your packages are most vulnerable when they’re delivered when you’re not home. With Amazon Day Delivery, you can schedule eligible Amazon purchases to arrive on your preferred day of the week.

If you know you’ll be home on a certain day of the week, you can schedule your deliveries for that day so you can promptly bring them in off your porch once they arrive.

Amazon Day Delivery is free for Amazon Prime members. To set up the delivery, you’ll need to sign into your account, order your items and select the “Free Amazon Day Delivery” option. Then, you can choose the preferred day of the week when your items will be delivered.

Scheduling your deliveries for your preferred day also gives Amazon the ability to combine your orders in a single box, minimizing package waste for a more eco-friendly option.

Pick up packages from Amazon lockers

You can also choose to pick up your packages from Amazon lockers. These self-serve lockers are a secure way to keep your packages safe until you can retrieve them. You can search for an Amazon locker location near you and choose the locker when you check out.

When it’s time to pick up your package, you can either enter the six-digit pickup code and scan the barcode on the locker’s screen, or simply use your smartphone and the Amazon Shopping app to unlock it.

Use Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery

Amazon Prime members have the option to choose Key In-Garage Delivery, which lets drivers place packages directly inside your garage for added protection.

To use the service, you’ll need a compatible smart garage and must set it up in the Amazon app. At checkout, simply select In-Garage Delivery.

When the driver arrives, they’ll scan your package, which serves as a one-time access code to your garage. Amazon verifies both the package and the driver’s location before the door opens, so you never have to share access codes. To further protect customers, Amazon also runs background checks on all drivers before their first delivery.

Rely on a PO box or UPS Store box

A PO box or UPS Store box can also help prevent package theft, but these options can be costly. PO box rates can range from $21 to $115 or more per month, and they depend on your location and the box size you choose.

Even if you select the extra-large box, some very large packages may not fit inside and you’ll need to pick them up inside the post office.

UPS Store boxes work similarly to PO boxes, but you’ll need to pick up your packages during store hours. Rates vary depending on the location and the size of the box you choose.

Relying on one of these mailbox options may make sense if you work during the week and need a way to prevent porch pirates. You’ll want to consider how far you’ll need to drive to the box each day, as well as how much a box rental will cost you.

Invest in a secure porch lock box

You might also consider investing in a secure porch lock box to keep deliveries safe. These boxes come in various styles, including models with combination locks, keyed locks or smart panels. You can find package delivery boxes for under $300 at Amazon.

They’re designed so drivers can easily place packages inside, but only someone with the key, code or authorized access can retrieve them.

When choosing a lock box, think about how many packages you typically receive and the size needed to hold them. Look for one made of durable materials, like steel, and ensure it can be anchored to your porch or secured against your home. Also consider who in your household will need access and which security method — key, code or smart entry — works best for everyone.

Consider pickup points and retail partners

You can also decide to pick up your Amazon packages in store at retail partners, like CVS, Kohl’s and Whole Foods. These in-store pickup options can help keep your packages safe, but you’ll need to pick your packages up during store hours.

If you don’t pick up your package within five calendar days, Amazon will cancel and refund your order.

This in-store pickup option at a retail partner can work well if you frequently buy from the retailer and will be at the store anyway. The in-store pickup can also be a good option if you live just a few minutes from the retailer and can easily get to the store.

Find the delivery method that fits your lifestyle

There are plenty of ways to protect your packages from porch pirates, and the right solution may be a mix of several options.

Some of the most secure methods, such as picking up your packages from a locker or PO box, come with convenience tradeoffs, since you’ll have to travel to get the packages. At the same time, these different delivery methods can offer you additional peace of mind, and they can save you the hassle and financial loss of package theft.

Ultimately, you’ll need to consider factors like the occurrence of package theft in your area, the level of risk you’re comfortable with and which of these methods may be the best fit for your needs.

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The settlement is one of the largest in FTC history, with $1 billion going toward civil penalties and $1.5 billion going to Amazon customers.

The lawsuit centered on what the FTC described as "manipulative, coercive or deceptive user-interface designs" that "trick" consumers into joining Amazon Prime and make it difficult or confusing to cancel the automatically renewing membership program. As part of the settlement, Amazon denies any wrongdoing.

If you've ever accidentally joined Amazon Prime or enrolled without realizing that the membership would auto-renew indefinitely until you canceled, you might be entitled to a payout from this settlement. If you decided to cancel Amazon Prime only to find it confusing or complicated to actually do so, you might also qualify.

Here's what you need to know about the case itself and about the payouts that will be rolling out in the next few months.

What is the FTC lawsuit against Amazon about?

The original complaint (PDF) filed by the FTC in 2023 focuses on a two-part problem:

1. Amazon Prime is so easy to join that, according to the lawsuit, customers are accidentally enrolled without realizing it.
2. Once enrolled, the process to cancel Amazon Prime is unnecessarily confusing and complicated, according to the FTC complaint.

On the first point, the FTC describes multiple "enrollment flows" using vague language that doesn't make it clear that you're signing up for the shopping membership, let alone agreeing to let that membership auto-renew indefinitely until you cancel.

One example cited in the lawsuit was the shipping options page. At the top of the list of shipping options displaying different prices and speed options, the default selection was "FREE Same-Day Delivery with a free trial of Amazon Prime" or similar phrasing that would enroll you into Amazon Prime if you didn't actively change it to one of the other shipping options.

On the other end, the FTC alleged that the cancellation process was an unnecessarily complicated multistep process with repeated "save offers" that shoppers had to navigate through before they could finally end their Prime membership.

In Amazon's motion to dismiss the case, filed in 2023 a few months after that original complaint, the company denied the FTC's claims, arguing that the enrollment and cancellation processes for Amazon Prime "comply with current law" and that members who want to end their memberships are "given multiple simple mechanisms to cancel."

While the settlement is not an admission of guilt on the company's part, Amazon did agree to make its enrollment pages more transparent and its cancellation process more straightforward, along with the $2.5 billion in penalties and customer refunds.

How much does Amazon have to pay as part of the settlement?

As part of the agreement with the FTC, Amazon must pay $1 billion in civil penalties to the commission. It will also put $1.5 billion into a consumer fund used to provide refunds to eligible consumers.

Those eligibility requirements are discussed in more detail below. But payouts will be capped at $51 per eligible customer.

Payout levels will be tied to the number of Amazon Prime benefits you used while enrolled. That would include things such as taking advantage of free two-day shipping or watching a show on Amazon Prime Video.

Other key terms of the $2.5 billion Amazon Prime settlement

In addition to the $2.5 billion in penalties and consumer refunds, the court order also requires the company to agree to the following terms to make the Amazon Prime enrollment process more transparent and the cancellation process more straightforward:

• Amazon must use clear language (such as "join Prime") on sign-up pages, rather than potentially misleading language (such as "Yes, I want free 2-day shipping").
• If the membership automatically renews, that must be indicated on all sign-up pages along with the dates that charges and renewals will happen.
• Sign-up pages also need to clearly display the price and prominently display the decline option. That is, if you don't want to join Prime, the option to not join can't be a small link saying, "No thanks, I don't want free shipping."
• Amazon must get customers' informed consent before charging them for any good or service. Informed consent means you're aware of what you're signing up for, the fees involved, the auto-renewal feature and any other important terms.
• Canceling a membership or turning off the auto-renewal feature can't be "difficult, costly, confusing or time consuming."

Who is eligible for a payout in the $2.5 billion Amazon Prime settlement?

If you meet the criteria below, you're entitled to a full refund of the fees paid during the eligible subscription period, up to the $51 maximum:

• You enrolled in Amazon Prime from June 23, 2019, to June 23, 2025.
• You did so via a "challenged enrollment flow." That's one of the following four enrollment pages that were cited as deceptive by the FTC:
  • Universal Prime Decision page: The sign-up page where the buttons read something like "Yes, I want free shipping" or "No thanks, I don't want free shipping" even though clicking "Yes, I want free shipping" actually means you're signing up for Prime, not just agreeing to free shipping on that order.
  • Shipping Option Select page: This page typically showed up while you completed your order and includes different shipping options at different speeds and prices. The default, preselected option is usually something such as "FREE Same-Day Delivery with a free trial of Amazon Prime." Choosing that (or failing to change that default selection) would enroll you in Amazon Prime.
  • Prime Video enrollment flow: If you tried to sign up for a subscription to just Prime Video, only to realize you'd been enrolled in an Amazon Prime membership, you might be eligible for a claim in the settlement. That includes if you clicked on a "Watch with Prime" button under a movie or show you wanted to watch.
  • Single Page Checkout: This one looked similar to the "Universal Prime Decision" page, except that it was embedded in the checkout process such as the "shipping option select" page. Clicking on the button (which often displayed language like "Fast FREE Delivery" or "Try Prime FREE for 30 Days" would enroll you in the membership even if you didn't ultimately complete the checkout process. It was discontinued in 2022 following pressure from the FTC.
• After enrolling in Prime via one of these processes, you used no more than 10 Prime benefits in any given 12-month period that your subscription was active.
• You're also eligible to make a claim if you attempted to cancel your Prime subscription but were unsuccessful — even if you didn't originally sign up through one of the "challenged enrollment flows." That includes starting the cancellation process, but failing to complete it or starting it but inadvertently choosing one of the "save offers" such as "remind me later," "keep my benefits," "switch to monthly payments" or "pause membership."

How to get the Amazon Prime settlement refund

There are three groups of eligible consumers in this settlement, and payouts will go to customers in order of which group they fall under.

• The first group includes those who enrolled through one of the "challenged enrollment flows" above and used three or fewer Prime benefits during any 12-month period after enrollment. If you're in this first group, you don't need to do anything. Amazon will automatically send out your payment in the first round of payouts (see more on that below).
• The second group includes those who enrolled through one of the "challenged enrollment flows" above and used from three to 10 benefits during any 12-month period after enrollment. If you're in this group, you'll need to file a claim form that Amazon will send out. If you don't receive a form from the company, you'll also be able to find it on the settlement website once it's launched.
• The third group includes those who unsuccessfully attempted to cancel their Prime membership, regardless of how they enrolled. If you're in this group, you need to file a claim form. The same information applies as that mentioned for the second group.

If you're not sure which group you fall under, you can wait to see if you receive a payout in the first round. If you don't get a payout, you can file a claim to see if you're eligible once the claim forms go out.

When will you get your Amazon Prime refund?

The payout process began earlier this month, with the automatic payments going out to members of the first group above. This process will run from November 12 through December 24, according to the FTC.

The refund will come in the form of a PayPal or Venmo payment and you should accept the payment within 15 days of receipt. Check those accounts regularly throughout this automatic refund window.

If you miss the 15-day acceptance window, Amazon will mail a check to the default shipping address that was listed on your Amazon Prime subscription

For those in the second and third groups who aren't eligible for automatic payments, you should expect to receive a claim form from December 24 to January 23, the FTC told CBS News.

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau (PDF), households that own their homes have a median wealth of about 44 times that of renter households, largely because of home equity. If your retirement savings feel a little tight, your house might hold untapped potential.

How and when you use that equity matters. Should you sell and downsize? Take out a loan? Rent part of it? Hold it for your heirs?

Here's how to turn that built-up equity into a retirement strategy that works for your lifestyle, needs and legacy.

Equity is wealth you can put to work

Home equity is the difference between your home’s market value and what you owe on it. If your home is worth $400,000 and your mortgage balance is $100,000, you’ve got $300,000 in equity.

For retirees who bought decades ago and stayed put, that figure could be even higher (often surpassing the size of their 401(k) or IRA).

This equity can be a source of financial flexibility. Whether you’re looking to supplement income, reduce monthly expenses or help your children with college or a down payment, your home can be more than just a place to live. It can help you live better in retirement.

Staying put: Protecting your home’s value

If you plan to age in place, using equity to preserve your home’s value should be a top priority. Preventative maintenance such as addressing roof issues early or servicing heating and cooling systems can help avoid costly repairs down the line.

Consider updates that enhance both your living space and resale value. Installing walk-in showers, adding handrails or improving lighting might not seem like value-boosting renovations, but they can make a big difference for aging homeowners.

Energy-efficient upgrades such as modern windows or insulation improvements can lower utility bills while making the home more attractive to future buyers.

Proper home insurance coverage is a must. Make sure your policy reflects current replacement costs and consider additional protection for natural disasters if you’re in a vulnerable area.

Compare some of today's best home insurance offers with the tool below, powered by Bankrate:

Downsizing or relocating: When less can mean more

Selling a larger home and downsizing to something smaller can also unlock a big chunk of equity while also cutting your monthly bills. Transitioning to a smaller, more affordable home can lead to lower property taxes, lower insurance and fewer maintenance headaches.

That freed-up equity could pad your retirement savings, cover travel or health care costs, or simply give you peace of mind knowing you have a bigger cushion. Some retirees also take the opportunity to move closer to family, downsize into a condo community, or relocate to a state with lower taxes and living costs.

Downsizing comes with trade-offs: Emotional attachments to your home, the hassle of moving and possible capital gains taxes if your home has skyrocketed in value. For many retirees, less really does mean more.

Tapping equity without selling

If selling doesn’t appeal to you, there are ways to tap into your equity without giving up your home.

• Home-equity loans provide a lump sum, usually with a fixed rate, which can be handy for one-time big expenses.
• HELOCs (Home-equity lines of credit) act more like a credit card, letting you draw money as you need it (though the rates are often variable).
• Cash-out refinancing replaces your existing mortgage with a new, larger loan, giving you the difference in cash.

Each of these options comes with pros and cons. They can be useful tools, but remember: Your house is on the line as collateral. It’s smart to run the numbers with a financial adviser to be sure the payments fit comfortably into your retirement budget.

Turning your home into income

Your house doesn’t just have to sit there; it can generate income. Renting out a spare bedroom, converting a basement into a small apartment, even building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on your property can provide steady monthly cash flow.

If you live in a popular tourist spot, short-term rentals through platforms such as Airbnb might also be worth exploring. But be sure to check local regulations, factor in the extra wear and tear, and think about whether you’re comfortable hosting strangers in your home.

Done right, this can be a great way to stretch your retirement income without selling the house.

Planning for the next generation

For many people, leaving the family home to children or heirs is part of the legacy they want to build. It’s worth knowing the rules so your heirs aren’t hit with an unexpected tax bill.

When heirs inherit a home, they usually benefit from what’s called a “step-up in basis,” which adjusts the home’s value for tax purposes to its current market value. That means if they sell it right away, they might owe little to no capital gains tax.

Other strategies, such as putting the home in a trust, can simplify the transfer and avoid probate. On the flip side, gifting the home during your lifetime could complicate things for you and your heirs, especially with Medicaid eligibility. An estate planner can help you weigh the best path forward.

Is it time to sell? Decision checklist for retirees

Sometimes the best option is to sell outright. If you’re weighing that choice, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Am I struggling to afford the upkeep, taxes or insurance?
• Would selling give me more financial breathing room?
• Do I still want to live in this neighborhood, or would I prefer to be closer to family or health care?
• What’s the tax impact of selling now?
• Do I have a plan for where I’ll go next?

Answering honestly can help you see whether selling would bring relief, or if you’d rather keep your home as part of your retirement plan.

Make your home part of your retirement strategy

At the end of the day, your home is more than just four walls and a roof. It’s a financial resource. The key is making sure your housing decisions align with your broader retirement goals.

For some, that means preserving the property and living comfortably in it for decades to come. For others, it may mean downsizing, renting part of it, or using equity to cover expenses.

For many, it’s about planning carefully so the home becomes a lasting gift to the next generation.

Whatever path you choose, your home can give you options, peace of mind and a solid foundation for the next chapter.

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They've come a long way from the early days of mobile. Now, they feature gigantic screens, rich graphics and functionality that simplifies many things you do online. One phone that illustrates this perfectly is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7.

I'll break down the phone's pros and cons, trade-in incentives and where you can receive the best deal on one. Armed with this information, you can determine if now is the time to switch to a foldable phone.

What I like about the Samsung Z Fold7

Let's start with the phone's pros. I really like the eight-inch screen size, as I always seem to be furrowing my eyebrows when reading on my Google Pixel 9 now. Not only does the screen size make it easier to read, but it creates an almost tablet-size screen that's perfect for streaming your favorite shows, playing mobile games or accessing apps on the go.

Another perk I enjoy is the storage. The Z Fold7 comes standard with 256 gigabytes (GB) of storage, though you can upgrade to 512GB for free through Samsung or go with the 1 terabyte (TB) option. If you have grandkids or nieces and nephews, you know how quickly your storage can fill up from pictures alone, so this feature separates it from flagship offerings on other Samsung and Google devices.

I also like the foldable design because it creates some security, and it's thinner and lighter than previous models. With the next-generation Snapdragon mobile processor, you receive a responsive and smooth experience, whether you're streaming, reading the news or taking pictures.

Therefore, if you're looking for a durable phone with a fast processor and a large screen, this could be the right device for you.

What are some challenges to consider?

When considering this or other foldable phones, the first con is cost. Because it's a phone with unique folding capabilities, it means you'll pay more than you would with other phone models. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is $1,999.99 for both the 256GB and the 512GB models.

However, you can lower your total costs. Samsung allows you to trade in your device and receive up to $1,000 in trade-in credits. The amount of credits depends on the phone you trade in.

To demonstrate, the iPhone 16 Pro Max earns you a trade-in credit of up to $750, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will fetch you up to $1,000.

The other thing is that the phone, when folded, can be bulkier. This could create a George Costanza-like wallet for your pocket or purse.

Lastly, because it's a larger phone, it'll require more battery. Heavy users experience a run time of six to 10 hours between charges, depending on what you're doing.

Where can I find the best deals on foldable phones?

T-Mobile

Along with Samsung's generous trade-in offer, you should check out mobile carriers, as well. T-Mobile offers a trade-in credit of up to $1,000 via 24 billing credits when you trade in an eligible device and choose a qualifying plan.

Broken down, it means you'll only pay $1,099.99 plus tax, or you can make 24 monthly payments of $50 per month when you add a line.

Verizon

Another option is Verizon, which offers several different incentives. If you plan to buy more than one Z Fold7, they currently offer a buy one, get the second for $1,100 off when you choose the Select Unlimited plan for both new lines.

New and existing customers can receive half off the phone per line with the Unlimited Ultimate plan. This incentive allows customers to get the new phone for as low as $27.77 per month, with 36 bill credits of $27.78.

How does the Samsung Galaxy ZFold7 compare with other options?

Here's a breakdown of how the Galaxy ZFold7 compares with other top models:

As you can see, despite its higher costs, the Galaxy Z Fold7 punches above its weight in screen size, camera resolution and storage. Keep in mind if you buy with Samsung, you receive a free upgrade to 512GB.

Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 offers a lot of perks, such as a fast processor, an exceptional camera and a generous screen size. Moreover, you can earn a substantial discount by trading in a device with Samsung or with your mobile carrier.

That said, most foldable phones are expensive, bulky and won't retain the same battery life as regular devices. Therefore, these phones work best for those looking for a larger screen and a more responsive experience, who don't mind the bulk.

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The problem stems from the upper shaft of the steering column, which may not meet required safety standards. If the shaft separates, drivers could suddenly lose the ability to steer — one of the most serious hazards on the road.

Although no crashes or injuries have been reported, Ford and federal safety regulators are urging owners of certain trucks to take the recall seriously. Here’s a closer look at which vehicles are affected, why the defect is so concerning and the steps owners should take to stay safe.

Which vehicles are affected?

The recall centers on 2020–2021 Ford Super Duty trucks, including the popular F-250, F-350 and F-450 models. These heavy-duty vehicles are widely used for both commercial and personal purposes, which raises the urgency of the issue.

According to Ford, only about 1% of recalled trucks are expected to have the defect, but every owner of an affected model should have their vehicle inspected. Even if a problem is unlikely, the risk of losing steering control while driving is too severe to ignore.

Why Ford trucks are being recalled

The core issue for the recall is the steering column’s upper shaft. Investigations revealed that some shafts failed to meet the necessary “anti-pull-apart” strength requirements. This means that the column could come apart under stress which is a huge risk to consider.

If that happens, the driver would lose the ability to control the vehicle’s direction and this failure could lead to a serious crash. The defect was traced back to a supplier’s quality control lapse, which allowed the faulty parts to slip through.

So far, Ford has logged seven warranty claims tied to the issue, but thankfully, no accidents or injuries have been reported.

What Ford is doing about the defect

Ford has assigned this recall the number 25S94. Interim notices to affected owners will begin going out in early October, with final repair instructions expected before the end of the year.

Dealerships will inspect the steering column free of charge. If a defect is detected, the dealer will replace or repair the column at no cost to the customer. Ford has emphasized that drivers should not delay scheduling their inspection once they receive notice.

Steering defects are among the most dangerous vehicle issues because they give drivers little warning before a failure occurs. Even if only a small percentage of trucks will experience the problem, the consequences could be devastating.

For truck owners who rely on their F-250s, F-350s or F-450s for work or family use, addressing the recall promptly ensures peace of mind and safety on the road.

What to do if your vehicle is recalled

If you think your truck may be affected, here are the key steps to take:

1. Check your VIN

Go to the NHTSA recall website or Ford’s recall lookup tool and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This will confirm whether your truck is included in the recall.

2. Watch for notifications

Ford will begin sending recall notices by mail and email starting October 6. Keep an eye on your mailbox and inbox, and don’t discard any official letters from Ford.

3. Contact your dealer

Call your local Ford or Lincoln dealer to schedule an inspection. Inspections and repairs under this recall are completely free of charge.

4. Stay alert for warning signs

Even though Ford hasn’t issued a “Do Not Drive” order, drivers should be cautious. If you notice looseness in your steering, unusual play, or unresponsiveness, pull over safely and arrange an immediate inspection.

5. Document the process

Keep copies of recall notices, repair orders, and communication with your dealer. These records may be useful if there are any disputes or delays later.

Recalls can feel like a hassle, but they exist for one reason: to protect drivers and passengers from risks they can’t see coming. Ford’s steering column defect recall is a reminder that even the most reliable trucks can have hidden flaws.

Taking action now ensures your vehicle remains safe to drive, and gives you confidence every time you get behind the wheel.

Explore and compare some of today's top car insurance offers with the tool below, powered by Bankrate:

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While Amazon and the FTC agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement this week, the company denied any wrongdoing as part of the settlement terms. In Amazon's motion to dismiss the complaint filed on October 18, 2023, the company denied the accusations, arguing that both the enrollment and cancelation process for Amazon Prime "comply with current law" and that members who want to end their membership are "given multiple simple mechanisms to cancel."

If you've decided you should cancel Amazon Prime but found those simple mechanisms either tricky to find or not quite as simple as you'd like, here's what I was able to find out about the different methods for ending your membership.

How to cancel Amazon Prime

According to Amazon's Help & Customer Service page, canceling is as easy as visiting the "cancel your Prime membership" page and following the prompts. An easy way to find that page is to simply search for it in Amazon's search bar. Here's a step-by-step guide to what the process might look like for Prime members:

1. Type "cancel Prime membership" into Amazon's search bar in the mobile app or website.
2. Click on "Cancel Prime membership" on the result page.
3. You'll be taken to a page with information about how much time is left in your subscription and multiple options to pause or change your membership. At the end of this list is the option to cancel.
4. Choosing the cancel option will take you to another page reminding you of what you'll lose by canceling along with more options to keep or pause your membership. At the bottom of this list is the option to cancel which should confirm your request.
5. When you cancel, your membership will remain active through the end of your latest renewal period. You'll see the date that your membership ends on that final page.

Unless you cancel your membership within three days of renewal, you may not be able to get any membership fees refunded, but you will, at least, still be able to use your Prime perks until the cancelation date that was given when you canceled.

How to cancel Amazon Prime if you have an Android

If you tried the above steps with no success, it may be because you signed up for Prime via the mobile app on your Android phone. According to Amazon, if you did that, you can only cancel your membership by going through Google Subscription services. Here's what that looks like:

1. Open your web browser and type "myaccount.google.com" in the URL bar.
2. Click on "payments & subscriptions" from the menu on the left side of the page. If you're on mobile, it might be at the top of the screen and require scrolling to the side to find the option.
3. On that page, click on "manage subscriptions" under the subscriptions box.
4. You should see Amazon listed here. Click on it and follow the prompts to cancel your subscription.

How to cancel your Amazon Prime free trial

According to multiple users on Reddit and a few customers on Amazon's customer service forum, it's not possible to cancel your Prime membership during the free trial period. I couldn't find any information from Amazon about a separate cancelation policy for the free trial period. But, if you're not seeing the option to complete either of the cancelation processes described above, try this:

• Go to "Manage Prime Membership" in your Prime account.
• Look for the renewal date listed on the page. If you're still in the free trial phase, you should see the option to click "Do not continue" somewhere near this date. This should stop the membership from auto-renewing at the end of the free trial period and you shouldn't be charged for a membership.
• Note that these instructions are based on Amazon's Singaporean website, which would be subject to different laws than the United States. If you're not seeing the "do not continue" option or any other option to cancel or disable autorenewal, try reaching out to customer service to end your free trial.

If customer service isn't able to help – as some users on Amazon's customer service forum have complained – set a reminder in your phone to try again the day of the renewal.

This process may result in you being temporarily charged for a renewed membership. However, in the Prime membership terms and conditions, Amazon says you can get a full refund of the fee if you cancel within three business days of converting from a free trial to a paid membership.

To get that full refund, however, you can't use any of the Amazon Prime benefits – like free shipping or watching something on Prime Video – during that three-day period. If you did use any benefits, the company will deduct the value of those benefits from your refund.

Key points to remember if you want to cancel Amazon Prime

If you are already a paying member, you should be able to cancel either directly through your Amazon profile or through your Google account. If you're still in your free trial period, you might have a harder time canceling before it renews to a paid membership.

But, in the worst case scenario, you should be able to get a full refund as long as you don't use any of your Prime benefits after it renews (and you cancel it within three days of said renewal).

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Last week, Apple announced details surrounding its iPhone 17. The base model remains at the same price of $799.99 and comes with many elevated features that make it an attractive buy. You can preorder it now, with the release coming Friday, September 19.

Furthermore, if you’re thinking about switching carriers, T-Mobile is offering a promotion that could get you the new iPhone at no cost. We'll break down what's new about the iPhone 17, how the T-Mobile deal works and whether it's a smart value.

What's new about the iPhone 17?

Normally, I don't make a big deal about iPhone releases since most of the time the changes are not newsworthy. However, with the iPhone 17, Apple did make some excellent improvements that make it a great phone to consider.

Some of the top upgrades include:

• ProMotion with a refresh rate of 120 frames per second, resulting in a smooth and responsive experience (the iPhone 16 had a refresh rate of 60 frames per second)
• Standard memory of 256GB, up from 128GB on previous models
• Quicker charging capabilities - Charge up to 50% in 20 minutes
• A 5-Core GPU that's 90% quicker than the iPhone 14

Overall, what you'll find is that the base iPhone 17 offers you iPhone Pro features for the price of a base model. That makes upgrading intriguing on the surface.

How to get a free iPhone 17 from T-Mobile

T-Mobile offers a perk where you can get the iPhone 17 for free by switching service to T-Mobile and signing up for an Experience plan.

If you go this route, you won't have to trade in a device. All you'll have to do is pay sales tax and a $35 connection charge per line. You'll receive the iPhone 17 for free via 24 bill credits.

What if you're already a T-Mobile customer? If this applies to you, you can qualify for a discounted iPhone 17.

To do so, you can open a new line of service, choose an Experience plan and get the iPhone 17 with an eligible trade-in device. The amount of the discount depends on the device you trade in, whether you're porting a line over and the plan you select.

You can also upgrade your current phone. If you have the Experience Beyond or Experience Beyond w/55+ Savings, you can upgrade your phone every year. The price you'll pay depends on the phone you trade in and how much you owe on it.

Is this a great deal?

It depends on your needs and budget. On the surface, yes, it's a great deal because you're receiving a free iPhone, saving you $800. Moreover, if you're 55 or older, you can score even better savings with one of T-Mobile's 55+ plans, offering you the same perks as regular plans at a significant discount.

For two lines, here's a breakdown of how much your savings can add up on a 55+ plan:

As you can see, taking advantage of this deal can save you money, not only on a new phone but on plans and streaming services. Sounds too good to be true? Well…there is a catch.

Things to consider before getting a free iPhone 17

There are a few hoops you might have to jump through to qualify. First of which is signing up for an Experience plan. Experience plans are the more expensive options offered by the carrier. One line on a regular Experience plan starts from $85 per month. If you're over 55, it's $70 per month.

What's included in the Experience plans? Here are some of the top perks:

• Unlimited calling, texting and high-speed data
• A 5-year plan price guarantee
• Upgrade your device every one to two years, depending on your plan
• Free streaming services, such as Apple TV Plus and Hulu
• Free high-speed mobile hotspot data
• Unlimited text and 5GB of high-speed data in more than 215 countries

You'll also need to maintain service for at least two years to qualify for all the bill credits. If you cancel before then, you'll owe a remaining balance on the device. Therefore, ensure the plan is in your budget before signing up.

Ultimately, the iPhone 17 generates a lot of excitement because it offers Pro features at a base price. And T-Mobile offers several deals where you can get this new phone for free or at a steep discount, via billing credits.

Before signing up, ensure you'll use the plan perks enough to justify the costs. If you don't, it might make better sense to buy the new iPhone 17 outright and get a more affordable phone plan.

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