6 Things You Didn’t Know Lemons Could Do

Better Report

I buy at least one lemon any time I go to the grocery store. Why? Lemons are the kitchen’s biggest overachiever: They’ll zest up your pasta (or even a serving of frozen veggies), make your water feel fancy, and add a bright flavor to quick salad dressing. But they also have a ton of uses beyond culinary applications — a lemon can clean your microwave, help you make pancakes, and save you a trip to the nail salon. Here are six surprising reasons to always keep a lemon on hand.

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Clean Your Microwave

You know that baked-on splatter you ignore every time you open your microwave? Here’s the laziest possible fix: Squeeze lemon juice into a microwave-safe bowl of water, toss the halves in, and nuke it all for three minutes. Then let it sit for five minutes longer while the lemony steam does the heavy lifting. The citric acid acts as a natural degreaser and antibacterial agent, so when you finally crack open the microwave, all that crusty gunk should wipe right off.

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Keep Neighborhood Cats Out of Your Garden

If you’ve ever found a mysterious “deposit” in your flower bed, you know the particular frustration of having a curious kitty in your neighborhood. Thankfully, there’s an easy, natural solution to this problem. Cats hate the smell of citrus — their noses are about 40 times more sensitive than ours, and that makes the scent of lemons (as well as other citrus fruits, such as oranges and limes) very unappealing. To keep the local felines from treating your garden like a litter box, scatter citrus peels around the edges. The catch: Peels have to be fresh (dried ones aren’t a deterrent), so you’ll need to replace them as they lose their scent.

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Make a DIY Foot Peel With Aspirin

This sounds kind of wild, but it’s dermatologist-approved. To keep your feet in shape during sandal season, simply crush a few aspirin tablets into a powder and combine with freshly squeezed lemon juice and water to form a paste. Apply to cracked heels, wrap them in plastic and slip on some socks, and leave on up to an hour (but make sure to rinse immediately if it stings!). Finally, moisturize. The mixture is an acidic exfoliant that helps to loosen and dissolve dead skin — aspirin contributes aminosalicylic acid (which is related to the salicylic acid in acne products), while lemon juice amplifies the effect.

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Fake Buttermilk in a Pinch

Imagine: You’re three ingredients deep into a pancake recipe and realize you don’t have buttermilk. Save your breakfast by adding a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to a cup of whole or 2% milk or heavy cream, let it sit for five to 10 minutes to thicken, and stir before using. It won’t be identical to the real thing, but it’ll do the job in pancakes, muffins, or cakes — especially when buttermilk isn’t the star flavor.

Scrub Your Cutting Board Clean

Wooden cutting boards are harder to sanitize than plastic ones because you can’t throw them in the dishwasher. Soap and hot water are usually sufficient to clean them, but if you want to give your wooden cutting board a deep clean, sprinkle the surface of the cutting board with some salt, cut a lemon in half, and start scrubbing. The salt acts as an abrasive and the lemon juice lifts stains and eliminates odors, making the board smell better than it has in years. Let the salty paste sit for five minutes, remove it with a bench scraper, and rinse the board well.

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Kill Weeds (Kind Of)

Lemon juice is acidic enough to damage and kill small weeds, making it a nontoxic alternative to herbicides. That said, getting results from this hack requires a lot of lemon juice, and it will work only on young, small weeds with direct sun exposure. You’ll probably see the most success on gravel driveways or cracks between pavers — places where you can apply lemon juice liberally without worrying about affecting the plants you want to keep around.

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Erin Scottberg

Writer

Erin Scottberg is a Brooklyn-based writer, garden designer, and houseplant expert — and the founder of Full Sun Studio (fullsun.studio), a garden design and plant consulting studio in New York City. She holds an Urban Horticulture Certificate from Brooklyn Botanic Garden, an NYC Street Tree Pruner License, and an NYC Master Composter Certification, and spent three years as Head of Content and Education at The Sill. When she's not working, you can find her creating in her textile studio, running craft nights in her neighborhood, or hanging with her rescue pup, Sunny. She's an ambitious DIYer, avid composter, and has never been able to walk by a thirft store without taking a look.

This article is for general informational purposes only.
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Updated: May 27, 2026

Posted In: Home

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Wealth

5 Surprising Things That Could Ruin Your Credit Score

Better Report

Even if you pay all your bills on time and remain in good financial standing, your credit score can drop almost inexplicably. When this happens, you may be looking for answers so you can avoid making the same mistake in the future. But credit scores are typically shrouded in mystery, and sometimes, there’s no way to know for sure what caused the decline. However, there are a few common pitfalls that often factor into these sudden dips — and it may surprise you to learn what they are. Here are five examples.

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Opening or Closing Credit Cards

When you open up a new credit card, it lowers the average age of your credit — the average length of time that your accounts have been active. The age of your credit can account for as much as 15% of your credit score, so the longer you’ve had credit, the better. Your history will also hopefully demonstrate to lenders that you can manage accounts over time and therefore should be able to make future payments.

Opening up a new credit card account also triggers a “hard inquiry,” which is a thorough analysis of your credit by the lender. This report remains on your account for two years, though a single hard inquiry will typically cause your score to dip by only five or so points. That said, if you open up several new credit card accounts in a short window, the inquiries will have a more substantial effect on your credit score. Also, lenders will be able to see that you opened several new accounts in a short window, which may lead them to believe that you’re in financial distress or a high-risk borrower. This can seriously impact your credit score and may even be grounds for lenders to deny you loans.

Closing an account is also likely to negatively affect your score — and this is true even for credit cards you don’t use anymore. It’s all related to the “credit utilization ratio,” which is the total amount of credit you’re using divided by the total available amount of credit across your accounts. Closing a credit card increases the ratio, which lowers your credit score.

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Having Only One Credit Card

This issue is also related to your credit utilization ratio. If you have only one credit card account, you’re limiting the amount of available credit attached to your name. This, in turn, keeps your credit score lower than it theoretically should be.

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That’s why it’s a good idea to have multiple credit card accounts open at any given time, even if you primarily use one and charge only small amounts to others (more on that in a minute). While you may experience a temporary dip when you initially open a new account, it’ll bounce back in time as your credit utilization ratio improves. It’s important to stay on top of your payments, though, which may be difficult if you manage two or more accounts: Neglecting them can drag down your credit score, negating the benefit of having multiple accounts.

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Paying With Only Cash

Paying with cash to avoid accruing debt may seem appealing, but there’s a downside: According to Equifax, going cold turkey with your credit cards may cause lenders or creditors to deem your accounts inactive. Issuers can choose to shut down a card due to inactivity without warning you that they’re going to do so, which will affect your credit utilization ratio.

To avoid this issue, it’s best to keep your credit card accounts active, even if you’re charging only small purchases every couple of months. (You can also set up a recurring charge alongside autopay so you don’t need to think about it.) Even a few dollars will show creditors and lenders that you’re still using the cards so they don’t shut them down.

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Paying Off Debt Too Quickly

If you have student loans or a car loan, you’re probably trying to get those off the books as quickly as possible to avoid accruing interest. But paying off your loans too quickly can actually cause your credit score to drop.

According to Equifax, paying off these debts impacts the diversity of your credit mix — the types of accounts and loans you have — which account for about 10% of your credit score. Having a diverse mix shows creditors that you can manage different types of debt; paying off a loan removes it from your mix, negatively affecting your overall score. (Not having a diverse enough credit mix can also lower your credit score.) So, if you want to keep your credit mix diverse, you may want to keep making payments on the loan rather than paying it off quickly.

That said, any drop from paying off a loan is likely to be temporary: Your score will probably creep back up around 30 to 45 days after paying off a loan.

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Running Up Balances — Even if You Pay on Time

There are two dates to be aware of when it comes to your credit card account. One is the date when the statement is closed for the month’s billing cycle, while the other is the day payment is due (usually several weeks later).

Credit bureaus are typically alerted to your active balance at the end of each billing cycle rather than when the money is officially due.This means that if you owe $5,000 on your credit card at the end of a billing cycle and pay it off well before the money is actually due (after which you may start to incur fines), all the credit bureau sees is the fact that you owed five grand — not that you paid it off with plenty of time. This could lead to a lower credit score.

To prevent this, pay your bills immediately before the end of each billing cycle, which ensures the lowest amount of credit card debt is reported to the credit bureaus. If you’re not sure when your billing cycle ends, you can find the date on your statement, by signing in to your online account, or by contacting the lender.

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Ali Eldridge

This article is for general informational purposes only.
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Posted In: Wealth

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Wealth

How Much Money You Need To Be Considered Wealthy

Better Report

Since the dawn of commerce, many of the world’s greatest thinkers have debated what it truly means to be rich. Some measured wealth in freedom, others in happiness, purpose, or time. But alongside those philosophical definitions sits a far more concrete one: the income and net-worth thresholds that determine who, exactly, qualifies as “rich.”

If you’re looking for a by-the-numbers benchmark, the answer is somewhat easier to define — albeit with a few caveats.

Wealth is relative, after all: A salary that signals affluence in one city might barely register in another, and a seven-figure net worth can fund a life of luxury for one person and simply a comfortable retirement for another, depending on where you live and how you spend.

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How Much Money Makes You Wealthy?

Still, researchers and economists have spent years trying to quantify what it means to be wealthy in America. According to Charles Schwab’s latest Modern Wealth Survey, Americans say it now takes an average net worth of $2.3 million to be considered “wealthy,” which is down from $2.5 million — an 8% reduction — from the previous year.

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But the answer doesn’t simply end there. Age also plays into the equation. While millennials and Gen-Xers agree that having $2.1 million in the bank makes you rich, baby boomers set the bar a bit higher at $2.8 million. Gen Z, meanwhile, is happy with $1.7 million as that benchmark — making it clear that generational opinions on money differ.

Of course, the Modern Wealth Survey isn’t the only yardstick out there. Other analyses, including the U.S. Census Bureau, look at figures like household income to delineate levels of wealth. In those cases, salaries of $170,000 to $190,000 generally put people in the top 20% of earners, while $650,000 to $700,000 per year is enough to land you in the top 1%.

Yet again, however, the numbers tell only part of the story. Surveys consistently find that even many high-income Americans don’t actually feel rich, due to factors such as inflation, debt, housing costs, and the phenomenon known as “lifestyle creep,” which is when you spend more as you earn more, often without even realizing it. In other words: Being wealthy on paper doesn’t necessarily make you feel wealthy in real life.

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What Makes People Feel Wealthy

Much like those philosophers of yore, today’s high-net individuals have their own definitions of wealth, which aren’t always tied to how much money is in their investment portfolio.

According to Schwab’s Modern Wealth Survey, when asked to explain what makes them feel “wealthy,” nearly half of respondents — 45% — declared happiness as a clear indicator. Surprisingly, just 44% pointed to the amount of money they have. (Physical health, mental health, and strong personal relationships were some of the other metrics mentioned.)

“The concept of wealth can feel distant, abstract, or even aspirational, while financial comfort is something people might see as more tangible and associated with the everyday realities they’re facing right now,” Rob Williams, CFP, managing director of financial planning at Charles Schwab, said in a press release. “It can be hard to navigate these concepts side by side in the form of short- and long-term financial goals. But both are important when it comes to understanding and managing your full financial life.”

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Jennifer M. Wood

Writer

Jennifer M. Wood has been writing about news, entertainment, culture, and travel for longer than she cares to admit. She lives just outside Philadelphia with her husband and an ever-growing menagerie of rescue pets.

This article is for general informational purposes only.
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Updated: May 8, 2026

Posted In: Wealth

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Wealth

Should You Freeze Your Credit?

Woman with hand to forehead holding papers and looking at a computer

Better Report

Thanks to conflicts around the world — which bring an increased risk of cyberscams — experts have suggested keeping a close watch on your credit.

Having a good credit score carries a lot of weight in the modern world. It makes it easier for you to buy a home, lease a car, and even get approved for an apartment. So, if you’ve received a notification that your information has been compromised, you’ve lost your purse or wallet with all of your personal identification, or you’ve started getting mail about offers you’ve never claimed, you’ll likely want to act fast and set up a credit freeze. Doing so protects you against potential fraud: Creditors will no longer have access to your credit report, thus making it more challenging for new accounts to be opened in your name.

Freezing your credit is surprisingly easy to do, and best of all, it’s free. Here’s what you need to know.

When To Freeze Your Credit

According to Joel Steele, entrepreneur and co-owner of Steele Financial Solutions, “there are mostly pros and minimal cons” to freezing your credit — but it’s important to know when you should do so.

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Steele doesn’t recommend freezing your credit proactively, because if you’re trying to get a mortgage or take out a loan for a car, “you may shoot yourself in the foot if your credit is frozen,” he says. “That means no new credit can be issued to you.” And even though data breaches are frequent, “that doesn’t mean your data will be successfully accessed or used.”

Instead, Steele suggests reviewing your accounts every week or two for suspicious activity. If you have one fraudulent charge on a credit card, you don’t need to freeze your credit; in that case, dispute the charge and get a new card. But you should definitely freeze your credit if you see signs of potential identity theft, such as “things coming to your email inbox or physical mailbox with your name, but someone else’s info or someone else’s name and your info,” Steele says. Other common signs include getting collection calls for accounts you didn’t open, and your credit report showing new credit cards you never applied for.

In that case, Steele says, “a freeze is the best and quickest solution to prevent future damage.”

How To Freeze Your Credit

If you want to freeze your credit, you’ll need to do so with each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The process is similar across all three, based on whether you want to freeze your credit online, by mail, or by phone.

Equifax

Online via their website
By phone: 1-888-378-4329
By mail to: Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788

Be sure to download their online forms and include the requested necessary information, such as proof of identity and proof of address.

Experian

Online via their website
By phone: 1-888-397-3742
By mail to: Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

Per Experian.com, your written request needs to include:

Your full name
Social Security number
Complete addresses for the past two years
Date of birth
A government issued identification card, such as a driver’s license
Copy of a utility bill or bank statement

Transunion

Online via their website
By phone: 1-800-916-8800
By mail at: TransUnion
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094

With your mail-in request, include photographic copies of one proof of identity and two proofs of your current address. Make sure the documents show your current name and aren’t expired. Anyone under the age of 18 will need an adult or guardian to do this for them, and active-duty service members can have an authorized representative complete the process.

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When Does the Freeze Take Effect — And Can It Be Undone?

If you decide to freeze your credit by phone or online, it typically happens within an hour of you contacting the credit bureau. By mail, it can take about three business days. Managing your freeze online means you can monitor it and easily lift the freeze when needed.

If you’re concerned about more fraud or identity theft than what you’ve already found, “don’t unfreeze [your credit] until you’ve gotten some answers on what happened, how deep [it ran], and what’s the chance it continues when you unfreeze,” Steele says. When you’re ready, making a phone call to the three credit bureaus or going into your online account can easily undo a freeze.

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Alternatives to Freezing Your Credit

A credit freeze isn’t the only option if you’re concerned about fraud. One step you might want to take is to set up a fraud alert. This requires creditors to take extra steps to confirm your identity before issuing credit. You can set up a one-year alert, a seven-year alert, or an active-duty military fraud alert. The process is similar to freezing your credit, as you can request a fraud alert online, by phone, or by mail at Transunion, Experian, or Equifax.

Credit locks are another option you can pursue if you’re worried about fraud. They often come with a small fee, however, as they’re typically part of a premium credit monitoring package. Experian CreditLock, for example, costs $24.99 per month, and it functions similar to a credit freeze but with features such as data exposure alerts, real-time alerts, and identity theft insurance.

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How To Avoid Future Problems

Steele says the best way to avoid credit issues is by “being vigilant and monitoring your own accounts” on a routine basis, which he calls “your best defense.” That’s especially true in times of conflict, when cyberterrorists from other countries might be trying to get your information. He recommends looking out for any unusual credit card activity or unrecognizable charges, and checking your credit report activity a few times a year to “make sure you didn’t miss anything.”Transunion, Experian, or Equifax all allow you to check your credit score for free and monitor your credit report for updates.

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Ali Eldridge

This article is for general informational purposes only.
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Updated:

Posted In: Wealth

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Wealth

Stamps Are About To Get More Expensive

Better Report

Though virtual communication is easier than ever, many Americans still rely on the U.S. Postal Service to stay in touch with their loved ones or send packages across the country. The organization remains highly popular for both its reliability and its affordability, but it has become less affordable over time.

Intermittent price increases can be a hard pill for everyday Americans to swallow, but it’s not as if the Postal Service is intentionally trying to price gouge customers. These hikes are meant to help keep the organization afloat and offset the financial losses that have plagued the USPS for years. The latest price increase takes effect July 12 — here’s what you should know.

A 20% Increase?

The USPS suffered a $9 billion loss in 2025, and earlier this year, Postmaster General David Steiner said the organization might run out of money in less than 12 months. In a March 2026 appearance before Congress, Steiner proposed raising the cost of a first-class stamp from its current rate of 78 cents to as high as 95 cents, claiming it “would largely solve our controllable loss.”

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The U.S. Postal Service began operations in 1971, replacing an earlier postal agency that had existed since 1792. When the USPS was founded, the cost of mailing a letter was just 8 cents, which equates to 65 cents when adjusted for inflation. It hit 10 cents in 1974, a quarter in 1988, and 50 cents in 2018. Over the next seven years, the price kept creeping up until it hit the current rate of 78 cents, which has been in effect since July 13, 2025 — a 56% increase over the 2018 cost.

A hike up to 95 cents per stamp would denote the largest single increase in USPS history, but thankfully, we’re not going to be paying that price just yet. There’s an annual limit on how much decision-makers at the USPS can increase prices, which takes into account factors such as inflation and mail volume. After doing those calculations, the USPS decided to raise the price of a first-class Forever stamp by 4 cents (or about 5%), from 78 cents to 82 cents, starting on July 12. Other classes of mail will increase in price, too:

Product	Current Price	Increased Price
Letters (1 ounce)	78 cents	82 cents
Letters (metered 1 ounce)	74 cents	78 cents
Domestic Postcards	61 cents	65 cents
International postcards	$1.70	$1.75
International letter (1 ounce)	$1.70	$1.75

Stamps from around the world — Credit: © dp3010/stock.adobe.com

Global Stamp Prices

It’s worth noting that even 95 cents per stamp is quite affordable compared to other countries’ postal services. In his remarks in March, Steiner cited additional data saying that the cost of a first-class stamp in France is almost $3, while the same type of stamp in England costs around $2.50.

Previously, a 2023 report from the Office of Inspector General noted that first-class stamps in the U.S. were more affordable than their equivalents in 26 other nations as of June of that year. The findings ranked Italy at the top, listing the cost of a first-class stamp there as equal to $2.96 USD; Finland and Estonia were runners-up at $2.43.

All this is to say that while nobody is a fan of rumored USPS price hikes, the organization still offers stamps at a more affordable rate than many other industrialized countries.

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Another Price Hike

Stamps aren’t the only thing that have gotten more expensive at the USPS this year. The organization imposed an 8% price hike on April 26 that is set to last until at least January 17, 2027. The price increase — which affects Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select — is meant to help offset rising fuel and transportation costs.

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Bennett Kleinman

Staff Writer

Bennett Kleinman is a New York City-based staff writer for Inbox Studio. He is also a freelance comedy writer, devoted New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils fan, and thinks plain seltzer is the best drink ever invented.

This article is for general informational purposes only.
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Updated: July 20, 2023

Posted In: Wealth

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Wealth

This Is the Most Expensive Supermarket in the U.S.

Better Report

Thanks to the rising cost of fresh vegetables, coffee, beef, and other essentials, buying groceries feels like more of an onerous expense with each passing day. This is especially true at certain chains that charge higher average prices than their competitors.

If you’re one of the many Americans who yearn for a lower grocery bill, it’s best to avoid costlier supermarkets. And thanks to the experts at the trusted brand Consumer Reports, we know the stores where you’re likely to pay more. They analyzed the cost of commonly purchased items sold by mainstream grocery chains in six regional U.S. locations, and put together a list of the most (and least) expensive supermarkets.

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About the Rankings

Before we discuss the most expensive supermarket, it’s worth noting a few things about the methodology used by Consumer Reports. All the prices they compiled reflect sales and discounts available with free loyalty cards, and exclude any discounts that could be attained through coupons or smartphone apps. Prices were gathered in person in late summer 2025. The publication used Walmart — the largest grocery retailer in the county — as a baseline average, determining a percentage difference in the total cost between Walmart groceries compared to food bought at other chains.

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The Most Expensive

At the very top of the national list is Whole Foods, coming in at 39.7% more expensive than Walmart. After the analysis was published in February 2026, Whole Foods contacted Consumer Reports to say that the company’s prices reflect factors important to its customers, such as ingredient sourcing, and that it has reduced prices on 25% of its items in the last 18 months. Nevertheless, Whole Foods remains atop the list.

Rounding out the top five most expensive supermarkets are the New England-based chain Shaw’s (+31.9%), the Texas-based El Rancho (+30.1%), and two stores primarily located in Illinois: Jewel-Osco (+29.7%) and Mariano’s (+27.6%). And in what might be a surprising twist for fans of Trader Joe’s, that chain was the ninthmost expensive in the U.S., costing 24.6% more than Walmart. Target, meanwhile, was a mere 5.9% more expensive than the baseline.

Produce section at Costco — Credit: © Tada Images/stock.adobe.com

The Least Expensive

Across the nation, six grocery chains rank as more affordable than Walmart. The most affordable of the bunch is Costco Wholesale, where customers might expect to pay 21.4% less on groceries than the national average.

BJ’s Wholesale Club is next at 21.0% cheaper than Walmart. Other inexpensive supermarkets include the East Coast chain Lidl (-8.5%), the nationally known brand Aldi (-8.3%), the Western/Midwestern-based WinCo (-3.3%), and the Texas-based H-E-B (-0.2.%).

Exterior of a Jewel Osco store — Credit: © jetcityimage/stock.adobe.com

Regional Differences

Consumer Reports looked at six regions as part of the study: Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Los Angeles/Southern California, and Virginia Beach. While Walmart was the baseline for all, there were a few regional differences when it came to the most expensive supermarket.

Whole Foods was the most expensive grocery store in four of the six regions. Prices were highest in Virginia Beach, where Whole Foods cost 57.7% more than the baseline. But Whole Foods was the second-most expensive supermarket in both Chicago, where Jewel-Osco topped the list (+29.7%), and Denver, where the most expensive grocery store was Trader Joe’s (+30.0%).

When it came to the most affordable chain, there was no straying from the national norm: Costco came out on top in each region — especially in Boston, where Costco’s grocery prices were 37.0% lower than the baseline average.

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Key Takeaways

If you’re looking for a more affordable grocery experience, shopping at wholesale chains such as Costco or BJ’s might be the way to go. Walmart is also an ideal option, especially considering its convenience and the fact that around 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart or Sam’s Club subsidiary.

To see the complete breakdown of national and regional rankings, head to Consumer Reports.

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Ali Eldridge

This article is for general informational purposes only.
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Updated:

Posted In: Wealth

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Wealth

7 Things Getting More Expensive in 2026

Better Report

Many Americans are searching for ways to cut costs this year, and unfortunately, the prices of goods in some categories are rising much faster than in others. The good news: Some costs are leveling off. Egg prices, which surged following the bird flu outbreaks in 2022, were nearly 28% lower in June 2026 than in June 2025. Used-vehicle prices have also eased from their pandemic-era highs. But other categories still deliver sticker shock due to a complex web of global economic factors, domestic inflation, supply shortages, and tariffs. From dining out to streaming movies, here’s where Americans’ budgets are being stretched thin in 2026 — and why.

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Restaurant Meals

Dining out is quietly becoming a luxury again. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), restaurant costs were up 3.4% in June 2026 compared to June 2025. In a press release in February, the National Restaurant Association forecast that both revenue and jobs will continue to grow in the restaurant industry this year, but noted that higher operating costs are squeezing profits.

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Those costs — labor, rent, ingredients, and shipping — are typically passed on to restaurant-goers, forcing them to foot the bill. Another major consideration in the industry is uneven traffic. With consumer budgets becoming increasingly stretched, many Americans are cutting back on dining out.

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Groceries: Beef and Sweets

Overall grocery inflation is up 2.7% in June 2026 compared to the previous year. Beef and veal prices are climbing significantly: They were 11.8% higher in June 2026 than in June 2025. This is due to high consumer demand and limited livestock supply, with the U.S. cattle herd at its lowest level since the 1950s. Droughts, cattle disease, and tariffs for imported beef also contribute to costs.

Sweets are another standout: They’re up 6.9% compared to June 2025. This increase is a spillover from 2025, due to a worldwide cocoa shortage, inflation, and tariffs. Other grocery categories expected to increase in 2026 include nonalcoholic beverages (projected to increase 3.9%), fresh vegetables (6.8%), and pork (1.6%), which all have higher prices than they did in June 2025.

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Electronics: Computers, Smartphones, and Gaming Consoles

Consumers are paying more to upgrade tech this year. One major factor is a global shortage of integrated circuit chips, the tiny devices on which RAM is stored. Manufacturers are shifting their business models, prioritizing high-performance memory to support AI data centers, which limits the supply of consumer-grade products for personal electronics. According to Counterpoint Research, memory prices increased by as much as 90% between Q4 of 2025 and Q1 of 2026.

As a result, prices for PCs, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and wearable tech such as smartwatches are expected to rise. In February 2026, research firm Gartner projected that PC prices would increase by 17% and smartphone prices by 13% by the end of 2026, compared to 2025 prices.

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Utility Bills: Electricity and Gas

If you’ve noticed your monthly utility bills going up, you aren’t alone. Across the country, residents are experiencing price hikes for energy services, which, according to the CPI, rose about 3.9% nationally between June 2025 and June 2026. Electricity costs are up 4%.

The World Resources Institute notes that there’s no single cause for these rising costs. While data centers and AI are impacting some parts of the country, the increase is driven by a mix of factors: the effects of extreme weather on infrastructure, power grid upgrades, and fluctuations in the fossil fuel market.

Piped gas service costs, meanwhile, are up 3% over June 2025. Most of a household’s gas bill covers supply, distribution, and maintenance, which are affected by rising transportation costs and geopolitical events. In some parts of the country with aging infrastructure, new pipeline construction is further increasing consumer bills.

Person browsing Amazon's streaming offerings — Credit: © Kaspars Grinvalds/stock.adobe.com

Streaming Services: Netflix and Prime Video

Streaming services may no longer be a cheaper alternative to cable: Many at-home streaming services are raising their prices in 2026. Some of these price hikes are part of annual profit goals, while others reflect production costs, account sharing with friends and family, and ad-free upgrades. The trend has been dubbed “streamflation.”

Case in point: For the second time in one year, Netflix raised its subscription prices for all tiers. As of March 2026, costs had increased by $1 to $2 per month, ranging from $8.99 with ads to $26.99 for premium. Other video platforms raising their prices in 2026 include Prime Video, Paramount Plus, and Sling TV, as well as the audio streaming services Amazon Music and Spotify.

Medications spilling out of prescription bottles — Credit: Olga DeLawrence/unsplash.com

Prescription Drugs: Vaccines and Cancer Treatments

Medication costs continue to rise, even as policy changes try to limit out-of-pocket expenses. According to a recent price analysis, 872 brand-name medications saw price increases during the first two weeks of 2026, with a median increase of 4%. Some of these drugs included vaccines, cancer treatments, Type 2 diabetes medications, and cardiovascular disease treatments.

In a recent statement, drug manufacturer Pfizer noted that these price increases are necessary for research and development and to keep up with inflation and rising manufacturing and distribution costs. Other manufacturers have cited similar reasons. The changes drive up insurance premiums, and patients are facing higher out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy as a result.

Health insurance application — Credit: © Annap/stock.adobe.com

Health Insurance Premiums

Most Americans will experience some increase in their health insurance costs in 2026, as the employer-sponsored insurance market is expected to see premium increases of 6% to 7%. An estimated 60% of Americans under 65 — roughly 165 million people — have employment-sponsored health insurance.

Meanwhile, Americans receiving health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) saw premiums increase by a median rate of 20%, largely because the ACA’s premium tax credits have expired. Premiums are expected to increase in 2027 as well.

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health notes that other increases contribute to rising health insurance costs, including prescription drugs, physician services, hospital care, and advanced diagnostics and therapies. While health care and other consumer price hikes can add up, staying aware of these trends can help households budget and adjust their spending for the year ahead.

Rachel Gresh

Writer

Rachel Gresh is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer. When she's not writing, you can find her wandering a museum, exploring an unfamiliar city, or baking something new in the kitchen.

This article is for general informational purposes only.
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Updated: December 15, 2023

Posted In: Wealth

Hero Image Credit: Better Report

Wealth

What the Tooth Fairy’s Paying in 2026

Better Report

Certain statistics are good indicators of how the overall economy is performing, such as inflation and the unemployment rate. But there’s an unexpected metric that provides an equally good indication of the current state of the economy: the Tooth Fairy.

It’s long been a tradition in the U.S. and other countries around the world for the Tooth Fairy (wink wink) to leave cash when a child loses a baby tooth. But according to Delta Dental, which comprises the largest group of dental insurance companies in the U.S., the average amount of money has risen sharply over time. The company has released an annual Tooth Fairy Index (TFI) since 1998, and it shows parallel growth to the S&P 500 stock index. Here’s a look at what the Tooth Fairy is paying in 2026.

Child missing tooth holding a dollar bill — Credit: © jaclynwr/iStock

A Continued Rise

Before diving into the numbers, a quick look at the methodology: Delta Dental surveyed 1,000 parents nationwide with children ages 6 through 12, conducting the poll between January 5 and 16 of 2026. The results have a margin of error of +/- 3%.

Now let’s get to the numbers: When the first Tooth Fairy Index was conducted in 1998, the average amount paid per tooth was $1.30, which equates to more than $2.50 when adjusted for inflation. But the current average sits at $5.84, denoting a 17% increase from last year’s average of $5.01. This marks the first time since 2023 that the TFI has gone up, as 2024 and 2025 each saw a slight decline. The current $5.84 average also marks a 349% spike since the TFI began.

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The 17% increase in the TFI from 2025 to 2026 is almost perfectly in line with the S&P 500, which increased 16% over that same time period. The S&P 500 has also jumped 480.93% since 1998 — the year the TFI began. While the percentage may be higher than the TFI’s 349%, it indicates parallel growth during that same time period. (But that’s not to say it’s all growth all the time: The S&P 500 has been trending downward in recent weeks.)

Delta Dental provided some additional insights, including the fact that parents — ahem, sorry, the Tooth Fairy — reported leaving more money when a child loses their first tooth. The stats show that a first tooth is worth 23% more than average, or around $7.17. Some 38% of parents who were surveyed said they left extra cash to celebrate that milestone before dropping the amount for any teeth lost going forward. And the Tooth Fairy doesn’t leave cash for everyone: 32% of kids got gifts instead.

Dollar bill on a bed — Credit: © yanadjan/stock.adobe.com

The Tooth Fairy’s Rates by Region

The average amount left for a tooth also varies depending on where the Tooth Fairy visits.

The Northeast has the highest total of any region at $6.45, which is a 41% jump from 2025. In the West, lost teeth earn a $5.99 reward — a 5% increase year-over-year.

Next up is the South, which held the top spot in 2025. Despite a 3% increase from 2025 to 2026, it now holds the third ranking at $5.89. Last on the list is the Midwest, where kids earn $5.27 per tooth, 52% more than in 2025.

But the Tooth Fairy isn’t merely an American phenomenon — other countries reward kids for lost teeth as well. In Canada, the average is $8.00 CAD ($5.78 USD); in England it’s 4.34 pounds ($5.78 USD); Spain and Ireland leave 4.96 euros ($5.72 USD) per tooth; and in Japan, each tooth is worth 904 yen ($5.66 USD).

Ali Eldridge

This article is for general informational purposes only.
Affiliate Disclaimer Medical Disclaimer Financial Disclaimer

Updated:

Posted In: Wealth

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Wealth

7 Smart Ways To Save at the Pump

Better Report

Summer travel season is upon us, and the 72% of Americans who are planning to take a road trip are likely to experience pain at the pump. Global shortages caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz led U.S. refineries to prioritize the production of jet fuel over gasoline and diesel. As a result, even though the price of gas fell in recent weeks, some experts predict it will head back up toward $5 a gallon once again this summer.

That’s likely to make any road trip an expensive endeavor. Fortunately, there are some smart and simple ways you can conserve fuel and save at the pump if you’re planning to hit the road.

A Shell gas station — Credit: © Alexandr Blinov/stock.adobe.com

Buy gas on certain days of the week.

A recent analysis by GasBuddy, an app that helps drivers find cheap gas stations, showed that across most of the U.S., Sundays are the best day to hit the pump for maximum savings. Drivers can expect to pay more from Wednesday through Friday. GasBuddy also broke down the data state-by-state; you can find out the best and worst days to buy gas where you live here.

Woman filling up her gas tank — Credit: © Maksym Belchenko/iStock

A number of gas stations — including BP, Shell, and Exxon Mobil — offer loyalty programs that cut the price of a gallon of gas. Some grocery stores also offer fuel reward programs: Earning 100 points in Stop & Shop’s GO Rewards, for example, will knock 10 cents off a gallon of gas at participating stations, and you can stack those deals for up to $1.50 off per gallon (capped at 20 gallons). Being a member of a big-box store can help you save, too; Costco members can take advantage of cheaper prices at their gas stations. Walmart+ members can get 10 cents off per gallon not just at their stations but at Exxon Mobil and Murphy USA stations as well. Walmart+ members can also take advantage of the member prices at Sam’s Club.

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Additionally, if you have a credit card that earns points or cash back for purchases, you may want to use that at the pump; in some cases, you can even use your credit card rewards to buy gas station gift cards. That said, a card might not always be the best way to pay, particularly if a gas station offers a lower price for using cash over credit.

A gas pump with three types of gas: regular, plus, and premium — Credit: © CHUYN/iStock

Switch the type of gas you’re buying (if you can).

Unless premium fuel is specifically recommended or required by your vehicle’s manufacturer, you can probably opt for less-expensive regular gas at the pump. According to Kelley Blue Book, “Most cars, trucks, and SUVs are fine running on a diet of regular gasoline.” If premium is recommended, though, stick with it: You’ll not only have better vehicle performance and fuel economy, but you’ll save yourself the headache of issues like engine knocking, which could necessitate expensive repairs.

Pouring oil into an engine — Credit: © AlexGo/stock.adobe.com

Stay on top of vehicle maintenance.

Routine maintenance on your vehicle will ensure it’s in the best possible shape, which in turn will help improve its fuel economy. Regular oil changes are a must, as is tire rotation. Making sure your tires are properly inflated is important, too — it could save you 11 cents a gallon and make your tires last longer as well.

Change how and when you drive.

Before you get in your car, plan ahead — try to travel outside of high-traffic periods and aim to tackle multiple errands in one trip using the most efficient route possible.

And if you have a lead foot, now’s the time to ease up: You can conserve gas by going the speed limit, particularly on the highway, where, as AAA notes, “aerodynamic drag causes fuel economy to drop off significantly as speeds increase above 50 mph.” (Cruise control can help; just make sure not to use it when roads are slippery.)

Stomping on the gas and slamming on the brakes waste fuel, too. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), driving aggressively can lower your gas mileage up to 30% on the highway and as much as 40% in traffic. Instead, aim to accelerate smoothly, and take your foot off the gas to allow your car to slow down on its own before you hit the brakes.

You should also avoid idling whenever possible. In the winter months, don’t let your car warm up for too long, and if your car is parked and you’re going to be there for more than a minute, turn it off. In the summer, avoid using the air conditioning when you can. According to AAA, “Even at highway speeds, open windows have less effect on fuel economy than the engine power required to operate the air conditioning compressor.”

Remove items that add weight and create drag.

A heavy car is a car that wastes gas, so take stock of your trunk and backseat and remove anything unnecessary. The same goes for roof racks and boxes, which can increase drag and decrease fuel economy even when they’re empty. In the latter case, you might see fuel economy reduced by around 2% to 8% when driving in the city and between 10% to 25% when going 65 mph to 75 mph on the highway, according to the DOE.

Gas gauge with the indicator on empty — Credit: © kckate16/iStock

Don’t let your gas tank hit “E.”

It might be tempting to put off filling up for as long as possible, but according to experts, your tank should be at least a quarter full at all times, for a number of reasons. One, when the tank is nearly empty, the gas pump could overheat. Not only that, but sediment that has accumulated at the bottom of the tank could end up clogging your fuel line. An empty tank also leaves room for humidity that could condense into water, which can rust your tank and cause issues in your fuel system.

Having some gas in the tank is helpful in cold-weather emergencies, too, and making sure you’re nowhere near empty will help you avoid having to buy in high-price locations, such as near a highway or in a wealthy neighborhood. So if you’re approaching that quarter-tank mark, get thee to a gas station — apps like GasBuddy and GasGuru can help you find the best prices near you.

Erin McCarthy

Editor, Better Report

Erin is a writer, editor, and content strategist living in the New York City area. Previously, she was the VP/Editor-in-Chief of MentalFloss.com and an editor at Popular Mechanics magazine. When she’s not working, Erin is hanging out with her cats, reading books from her never-ending TBR, traveling, karaoking, and making sourdough with her starter Stephen Sondheim.

This article is for general informational purposes only.
Affiliate Disclaimer Medical Disclaimer Financial Disclaimer

Updated: March 23, 2026

Posted In: Wealth

Hero Image Credit: Better Report

Wealth

An Easy Way To Make Money Off Your Old Books

Better Report

When it comes to their literary diet, every bibliophile is guilty of having eyes bigger than their stomach and to-be-read piles that will take ages to get through — if they actually intend to read them all, that is.

The practice of buying more books than you can read is known as tsundoku, a portmanteau of the Japanese words tsumu, meaning “to pile up,” and doku, a verb that can be used to mean “to be reading.” The word dates back to the 19th century, and there’s not necessarily a negative connotation to it. Instead, those unread piles are a physical manifestation of your reading goals — they contain a wealth of knowledge and experiences you can imagine now and anticipate enjoying at a later date.

But what about the tomes that book lovers do get around to reading? What’s the best way to deal with them and make space for even more books?

One option is to drop them off at a nearby Little Free Library. Another is to find a donation box at the local library or recycling plant. But you can also make some easy money by selling used books online. Sites including World of Books and BooksRun will buy your old books and resell them to other readers at no charge to you; I’ve personally sold my old books through ThriftBooks. Here’s how it works.

books on a white book shelf — Credit: © Erik Mclean/Pexels

How To Free Up Bookshelf Space — And Get Paid

Once I’ve amassed a bunch of books I want to sell, I log in to ThriftBooks’ sellback website and type in their ISBNs (you can also scan book barcodes on the ThriftBooks app). From there, books that are accepted will appear in blue with a price; those that aren’t accepted will appear in red with a line through them.

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Which books ThriftBooks accepts “depends on current market needs and inventory levels,” according to its website. These factors also determine what they offer for each book. In my experience, ThriftBooks will pay less than a dollar for some paperbacks and up to around $4 for hardbacks. All the books need to be in “acceptable or better condition” — meaning the spine should be in good shape with the cover and pages intact. Markups should be minimal; the book also can’t have an odor (old book smell, I assume, is the exception to this rule). Additionally, there are some books ThriftBooks won’t buy, like advanced reader copies, teacher’s editions, and books without ISBNs.

It’s best to wait until you’re ready to get rid of your books to start loading in ISBNs. ThriftBooks reassesses its inventory every day, so if books are on your sellback list too long, the price may change — or they could fall off of it entirely. You can sell up to 40 pounds of books (as well as DVDs and Blu-rays) at once, as long as you can fit everything into one box.

After you’ve accepted the offer, a prepaid shipping label will be sent to your email. Then all that’s left to do is box up the books and take them to USPS within seven days (wait any longer and Thriftbooks will cancel your buyback). When they arrive at ThriftBooks, they’ll be inspected and, once they’ve confirmed the contents of the box and accepted it, you’ll receive payment (you can either get ThriftBooks credit to buy used books on their site or have money sent to your PayPal account) not long after. Between sending and processing, you might wait up to 20 days for payment.

Woman on a laptop next to a bookshelf — Credit: © ToucanStudios/iStock

Don’t Forget To Shop Around

There are a lot of book resellers out there, so it’s possible that one may give you a better price than another. BookScouter, which assesses multiple book resale sites, comes in handy here: When you enter in book ISBNs you’ll see what more than 25 sites are offering — or not offering, as the case may be. (Interestingly, ThriftBooks doesn’t show up.)

To test it out, I entered the ISBNs for books I recently finished into both ThriftBooks and BookScouter. Two of them — a hardcover and a paperback — went for double what ThriftBooks was offering me on another site, while a second paperback went for around 20 cents less.

So, it pays to shop around for a better deal, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind: Any site buying books will have a minimum buyback order, so it’s possible you’ll need to stick to one place if you can’t meet the minimum at multiple sites. It’s also a good idea to look at reviews before you send your books anywhere to make sure other users haven’t had issues. And there may be other factors that lead you to choose one service over another — World of Books, for example, offers payment via PayPal, ACH transfer, or physical check, while ThriftBooks will send payment only through PayPal.

Typically, no matter where you’re selling, the books don’t go for a ton of money. If you don’t mind them sitting around your house for a bit longer, you can use Pango Books to set your own price and sell directly to other readers, which will net you a better profit. Still, something is better than nothing, especially when you can roll those funds back into your book-buying budget. That way, you’ll never run out of things to read — or at least admire, tsundoku-style.

Ali Eldridge

This article is for general informational purposes only.
Affiliate Disclaimer Medical Disclaimer Financial Disclaimer

Updated:

Posted In: Wealth

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