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.
Tech how-to: Call 911 using a smart speaker
Smart speakers tell you the weather, play music, answer trivia questions, help you prank your spouse (more on that at the end), and they just might save your life one day, too.
Make sure you know these commands to get help in an emergency by heart. Be a pal and tell your friends and family members about them, too.
Let’s start with the most popular
Amazon’s Echo line of smart speakers and voice assistant Alexa cannot call 911 for you. They won’t reliably report your location and don’t offer a callback number, so they don’t meet the standard requirements. You have two options:
- Set up an emergency contact to get notified if something is wrong. In the Alexa app on your phone, tap More > Communicate, then tap the two-person icon (top right). This takes you to your “Contacts” screen. Here, tap the three-dot icon at the top right, then tap Emergency Contact to pick one. Now, to use this feature, just say, “Alexa, call for help” or “Alexa, call my emergency contact.”
- Pay for it. Alexa’s Emergency Assist plan costs $5.99 a month or $59 for a year if you have a Prime membership. Add up to 25 emergency contacts, and it’ll put you through to an agent who can call emergency services for you. The command is the same: “Alexa, call for help.”
If you’re in the Google-verse
Google Nest speakers don’t let you specify an emergency contact, but you can call anyone in your Google Contacts list.
- From the Google Home app on your phone, tap the gear icon, then Communication > Video & Voice Apps to make sure everything’s set up. You can then just say, “Hey, Google, call [name of the person you want to speak to].”
With Nest Aware ($8 a month or $80 a year), you’ll get direct 911 access, but the feature’s really designed to serve more as a security system for when you’re out.
- In your Google Home app, tap the gear icon, then Subscriptions > Nest Aware > Emergency calling.
- You can then reach 911 from any speaker screen in the app. Tap the three-lined menu button (top left) > E911 > Call Emergency Services.
And if you’re an Apple person …
You can tell the Apple HomePod, “Hey, Siri, call 911.” Here’s the caveat: The speaker must be connected to an iPhone for this feature to work. If the HomePod can’t find the iPhone used to set it up, it’ll look for any other iPhones on the same Wi-Fi network to do the job.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Automakers want to get rid of AM radio
When I was growing up, my dad worked for United Airlines, and I traveled a lot. I would always sneak a portable AM radio in my backpack, and as the plane crisscrossed the country, I would tune into various stations along the way. Never would I have imagined what that little hobby would become for me.
Don't cancel this after a loved one dies
It’s typical to cancel credit cards, utilities, and subscriptions after someone passes. But a common mistake is pulling the plug on this too soon.
❌ Big win: The FTC just finalized its click-to-cancel rule, making it easier to cancel subscriptions. If you signed up for an app or service, you won’t need to call a live agent or dig through complicated account settings to cancel. Businesses now have to clearly disclose their subscription terms and get your OK before charging you, too. Not so fast — this won’t happen until July 2025.
Are there more humans or more mobile phone subscriptions on Earth?
I couldn’t think of Ariel-y good pun: Grocery chain Kroger is offering a free subscription to Disney+, Hulu or ESPN+ for members of their Boost loyalty program, which is $59 a year. Heads-up: Spectrum and DirecTV customers get Disney+ free, too.
Mickey needs the money: Disney+ subscriptions are now limited to one household based on using the same internet connection regularly. It’s a way for them to make more money, of course. Add an extra member to your household for $6.99 per month with a basic Disney+ subscription or $9.99 a month for premium plans.
Why cutting the cable was all BS
What started as a way to dodge high cable bills has turned into a tangled mess of streaming subscriptions, each with its own costs.
Not a mice idea: Logitech is toying with the idea of a “forever mouse” you’ll never have to replace — just update. The rumor mill says it’ll cost around $200, plus a subscription fee. Over time, you’ll probably spend more on things like swappable switches, replaceable shells and wheels, and detachable cables as they break.
Free ways to stream movies
Tired of those expensive streaming subscriptions? You’re not alone. Good news: there are plenty of free streaming options like Freevee, Pluto, Tubi, and more!
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.
The NFL may owe you a ton of money
Paid for the “Sunday Ticket” subscription service? A jury found that the NFL broke antitrust laws in how it handled some Sunday games. Uber’s “One Less Car” challenge, and no more green texts with your Android buddy. Also, a creepy AI ad from Toys ‘R’ Us!
⚡️ Check how much you’re paying: Everywhere you turn, it’s a buck or more a month. Check your subscriptions for increases with what I use: Rocket Money.
💲 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.
Jeff Bezos needs more money: I mean, he’s only worth $201.3 billion. News is coming out now that Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa, is gonna cost you if you want to use her AI powers. No word on price yet, but it’ll be a monthly subscription added on top of your Prime subscription. Will you pay for it? I won’t.
🎮 Score cool points with the kids: Share these fun facts. Microsoft is adding its next “Call of Duty” installment to Xbox Game Pass, moving away from its tradition (paywall link) of only selling it as an independent title. By adding it only to their Game Pass subscription service, once that subscription ends, so, too, does your access to the game. Meanwhile, “Grand Theft Auto VI” is expected to drop in fall 2025.
Channel bundling is back
Major streaming services are banding together. Here’s what that means for your subscription fees.
Quick way to cancel your subscriptions
Considering canceling your card on file to reset your subscriptions? Before you do, there are a few steps you should follow.