costs Archives

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Phone case wallets

If your favorite purse is a jacket, the transition to summer is bittersweet. Where to put your stuff? Enter the phone case wallet. Oh, and I always keep a $20 bill behind my phone case for emergencies. Do this and thank me later!

Best for iPhones: Smartish makes iPhone wallet cases that hold and hide three cards and cash with a spring-loaded door. Their iPhone 15 case costs $24.99.
Best for Samsung Galaxy phones: This handsome faux leather case ($18.99 for the S22) hides its built-in wallet, which has two vertical card slots behind a magnetic flap and an additional card pocket. Pick the right size for your Galaxy model!
Best universal phone case wallet: If you have a hard plastic case or prefer a caseless phone (brave!), go for an adhesive phone wallet. This clever model attaches with super-strong 3M adhesive and expands to hold five cards. Right now, it’s 25% off ($14.99).

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Charges you forgot about: Amazon Subscribe & Save is handy when it’s stuff you want and annoying when it’s stuff you just forgot to cancel. From Your Account, select Memberships & Subscriptions or Subscribe & Save Items to see a list of your subscriptions, costs and renewal dates.

Google Search is dying

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Younger people are turning to AI chatbots, TikTok and Reddit for answers instead. Gen-Z is also sticking with older cars to avoid new tech and high costs. Plus, Chipotle is using robots for avocado prep, and we’ll show you how to turn your smart TV into a photo frame.

The future is now: A Texas hospital now lets patients see their doctors via hologram. The Holobox beams a high-quality 3D image that makes it seem like the doc is sitting right there. Why this over Zoom? Doctors can see the patient’s full body. The catch? The machine costs $42,000, so expect to pay up for 3D visits.

The FTC just banned noncompete clauses, which companies use to keep workers from going to competitors. With the ban, does the FTC expect a decrease in A.) Wages earned, B.) Startups founded, C.) Patents filed, or D.) Health care costs?

Find the answer here →

1,600% increase

In power costs in Texas. Things are bigger in Texas, but that’s nuts. Hotter temperatures are sending energy prices soaring (paywall link). Here’s how to lower your bills.

Amazon's secret profit center

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Streaming costs are spiraling, but Amazon’s secret fees are the real eye-opener. What started as a simple $79 Prime membership has ballooned into a $22 billion profit machine — without most people even realizing it.

Why cutting the cable was all BS

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What started as a way to dodge high cable bills has turned into a tangled mess of streaming subscriptions, each with its own costs.

Amazon Prime vs. Walmart+

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Did you know Walmart has its own membership program similar to Amazon Prime? It’s called Walmart Plus, and it costs $98 a year. Let’s break down the features so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.

🔋 A pain in the wallet: EVs are getting harder to insure thanks to higher price tags and repair costs. So far this year, EV-related claims have cost 30% more (paywalled) than claims for their gas-powered counterparts. It’s not just fancy parts, either; it’s the EVs’ souped-up acceleration enticing owners to floor it.

Seoul you wanna start a revolution: I thought this was super interesting. Korean activists are using 3D-printed smart balloons to send messages deep into North Korea. Each balloon costs up to $1,000 and can carry up to 16.5 pounds of cargo, like leaflets or mini speakers. The mission: Undermine dictator Kim Jong Un.

💲 If you put a Ring on it: Ring’s raised its Basic video doorbell subscription costs from $3.99 to $4.99 a month. Always something, huh? More than ever, getting SimpliSafeto protect your whole home is a smarter and cheaper choice.

💲 If you put a Ring on it: Ring’s raised its Basic video doorbell subscription costs from $3.99 to $4.99 a month. Always something, huh? More than ever, getting SimpliSafe to protect your whole home is a smarter and cheaper choice.

Bravo! Samsung has a new TV that comes with a free 8K TV, valued at $8,000. The 114-inch “ultra-premium” set costs $132,630 and uses Micro-LED display tech for enhanced colors, brightness and response times. They’re also throwing in a discount on a new pair of speakers and a $2,200 hotel stay. Sorry, but this offer’s for Korea only for now.

Audible now has over 40,000 AI-voiced audiobooks. Good way for self-published authors to save on costs and add a voiceover to their books. Humans are watching their gigs disappear, and I’m really not a fan of that AI monotone.

3 ways to save on an Uber

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Ride fares can pile up fast, but with a few savvy moves, you can keep those costs down.

$132,000 in profits lost for every EV Ford sold in Q1

Issues cited include stiff competition, high R&D costs and only 10,000 vehicles sold all quarter. Ford execs say the EV business will be profitable “in the near future.” Something tells me they can’t af-ford those numbers for long.

Hidden costs of Instacart

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Opting for grocery delivery? It’s convenient, but be aware of the extra price.