🌊 Wipe out: Paste text without copying all the extra formatting like size, font and color. Hit Control + Shift + V on Windows or Command + Shift + V on Mac. This tip alone was worth the cost of the subscription to this newsletter. Oh, right … it’s free.
The best budgeting and finance tools for home and business
The Mint budgeting app has been folded into Credit Karma, owned by Intuit. It’s been around since 2006, so it’s a shame to see it go. Worry not! There are other options out there.
What to look for in a budgeting app
Don’t just blindly choose the first app that pops up when you search for budgeting apps. There are several factors to consider when selecting the one that fits your needs best.
Security
Most budgeting apps have you connect your credit cards and bank accounts and enter personal information, including your most delicate passwords. That’s a lot of faith given to one app.
With hackers being a constant concern, security should be your number one priority when choosing the right budgeting app. Do they have a history of being hacked? Does the application offer two-factor authentication? Be sure to check the security settings of an app before making a final choice.
Cost
Budgeting apps typically have a free option, but many require upgrading if you want premium options. This doesn’t mean you should avoid the paid apps, but you’ll want to ensure the purchase is worth it for your budgeting needs.
Features
Not every app is created equal. Some will let you track all your financial accounts, and some are more limited. Investigate a few apps before choosing so you can see which features are the most valuable to you and if they are worth paying for. Now onto the apps.
You Need A Budget (YNAB)
When you look up the best budgeting apps online, you’ll probably find YNAB. That’s because it has a ton of robust features you can use to take charge of your personal finance goals.
Scammers use AI to mimic your boss
A deepfaked call or video could cost the company big. Spot the scam before it’s too late.
Alexa really is getting smarter: Amazon rolled out the new Alexa+. You’ll be able to search Ring footage and upload docs, like your kid’s soccer schedule. Alexa will put the dates on your cal and snacks on the shopping list. Cost? Free with Prime or $20 a month without.
3.7 cents
Cost to mint a penny. President Trump just told the Treasury to call it quits. The government lost $85 million producing pennies over the last fiscal year at almost four times their face value (paywall link). This makes cents.
Have a college student at home
Have a college student at home? Prime Student is half the cost of a regular Prime membership, and you get a six-month free trial to boot.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
$50,000
Cost to remove saggy skin. People who lose a ton of weight on GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are booking “360-degree” body lifts (paywall link). Lower-body procedures are up by 28% and upper-body surgeries have spiked by 86%. Most new patients are in their 20s and 30s. I just have no appetite for this.
🤖 Alexa’s glow-up: Save the date for Feb. 26. That’s when Amazon will show off a new Alexa with generative AI. Yep, it’s finally happening after many delays. Alexa will be able to chat back and forth with you and help you get things done. Expect the smarter Alexa to cost you a few bucks a month.
$3.69
The cost to produce and distribute a single penny. According to the U.S. Mint, the price jumped 20% during the 2024 fiscal year. Isn’t that crazy? Speaking of … How does a penny look under a microscope? Magnificent. (I heard you groan!)
Can Gen Z handle cash?
About 30% say they avoid it, saying it’s too easy to steal. Want a tech career? AI is changing everything, and some degrees might already be outdated. Plus, the truth about video wills and how Zillow’s Zestimate could cost you.
How many homes and lives did this cost? A “Super Scooper” plane collects 1,600 gallons of ocean water in just five minutes. One fighting the LA wildfires was grounded after some genius flying a hobby drone hit its wing. Whoever did it could face a $75,000 fine and a year in prison.
👰🏻🤵🏻 Billionaire wedding: So many news outlets are reporting Jeff Bezos, 60, is tying the knot with fiancée Lauren Sanchez, 55, next weekend in an Aspen, Colorado, wedding rumored to cost $600 million. Jeff says, “The whole thing is completely false.” Phew, now I don’t feel so bad I didn’t get my invite yet.
Small-biz tip: Getting the right domain is an important part of settling on your business name. Check for a site name across different top-level domains (think .com, .net. and .biz), and see how much they cost at iwantmyname.com.
How to watch football for free
How much would it cost to watch every NFL game this season? Spoiler: it’s more than you think, but there are some ways to catch the action without breaking the bank.
🧥 MagSafe for coats: Jony Ive, designer of the iPhone, has invented a new button. His company, LoveFrom, teamed up with luxury brand Moncler to create a down-filled vest that transforms into a field jacket, parka or hooded poncho using magnetized buttons for easy swapping. FYI: It took four years to develop, so it’ll cost more than a few iPhones.
💰 $2,000 a month for ChatGPT-5: That’s the rumored cost for the next iteration of OpenAI’s chatbot. A Samsung exec leaked it (accidentally?) at a conference. The real question: What could possibly be worth a 100 times price increase? It’d better wash the floors, cook and be able to do all my work for that much money.
🗣️ Alexa’s makeover is going to cost you: This is interesting. Amazon’s in-house Alexa AI software struggled, sometimes taking seven seconds (a digital lifetime) to reply. Now, they’re using Anthropic’s Claude AI. Amazon invested $4 billion in Anthropic. A smarter Alexa is coming in October, costing $5 to $10 a month.
Stop your TV from selling your data
Remember when a 4K TV cost over ten grand? Now, they’re packed with smart features at a fraction of that price. But there’s a catch.
They blue it! LG is cooking up a PHOLED screen to sell next year. Blue phosphor OLED is more efficient, brighter and longer-lasting. The catch? OLEDs are already expensive to produce, so these may cost a fortune.