30% of shoppers

Say return fees are more annoying than jury duty and the DMV. I agree — I was just charged a 20% restocking fee when I tried to return a few sweaters. Check the policy before you buy, and just know many retailers will waive those fees if you go to a physical location.

Tags: fees, return policy, shopping


Safety first

Your valuables, guns and money need to be locked up. Options? Yup, I’ve got ‘em.

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Need a new computer? Knowing the minimum requirements for what you do helps. For using the internet and watching movies, a 1.3 GHz processor and 2GB to 4GB of RAM is fine. If you do anything more intensive, go for a 3.5 GHz processor and at least 8GB of RAM.

🐾 Amazon hack: Amazon’s new AI chatbot, Rufus, can help you find things to buy and answer product questions. People are using it to find cheaper versions of popular name-brand items. Pro tip: The bot won’t help if you ask for “dupes” (paywall link). Rephrase your request, like asking for “leggings similar to Lululemon pants.” You’ve gotta be smarter than the bot!

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Going chemical-free is worth the money

🥘 I got rid of all my old pots and pans that didn’t match and had PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, lead, cadmium and other toxic materials that can leach into your food, making them unsafe for you and your family. 

Here’s what I bought instead. Let me tell you, these are expensive, but they have no chemicals, and I don’t even need to use spray oil anymore. With the holidays coming up, you’ll definitely use these:

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🧀 Cheesy food puns are so grate

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Dinner is served!

Despite what my podcast cohost, Andrew, would have you believe, I don’t order takeout every night.

  • One of my favorite meals is fresh-caught salmon cooked on one of these salt blocks. So, so good.
  • Chef trick: Sprinkle Maldon sea salt on meat, veggies, brownies or cookies. It’s crunchy and not too salty.
  • Last time I moved, I threw out all my crusty, old baking sheets and got fresh, shiny ones. This brand lasts forever.
  • You deserve a real napkin with dinner, not a paper towel.
  • Keep your fridge fresh. This odor eliminator works better than a box of baking soda and lasts a decade.

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🐶 Your best friend’s best friend: Content Queen Allie was telling me about how much her pup, Nova, loves her BarkBox subscription. It shows up in the mail monthly (or however often you want), packed with treats and toys. There’s a standard option or the Super Chewer box if your pup tears up soft toys.

You ask, I deliver

📦 Lots of requests for more handy little helpers around the house. I’ve got your back!

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So smart: Instead of just one smart plug, upgrade to a smart power strip. This one is 40% off and has six outlets you can control individually. Looks like a home office home run to me.

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👍 Finds you’ll use time and time again

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