Because half an inch is way different than 5 inches: New to the Weather Channel app, “probabilistic snowfall,” aka how much snow is expected to fall. It’s only included for the $30-a-year pro membership. Nah, get the same thing here for free on the government weather site.
Find all those subscriptions you forgot about
ChatGPT
July 4th is all about independence, fireworks and maybe reinventing how many hot dogs a stomach can physically hold.
But financial freedom? Nothing says “I’m a prisoner of the bad side of capitalism” like paying for three streaming services just to rewatch The Office on a loop.
Here’s how to break free from the subscriptions you forgot about (but are still paying for).
Spoiler: You might save hundreds in under 15 minutes.
✂️ Cut ties the easy way
Here’s how to catch subscription suckers on your own:
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > tap your name > Subscriptions. You’ll see every active Apple-billed subscription. Tap to cancel what you’re not using.
- On Android: Open the Google Play Store > tap your profile pic > Payments & Subscriptions > Subscriptions. Cancel with a couple taps.
- On Amazon: Head to Accounts & Lists > Memberships & Subscriptions. This shows every Subscribe & Save, channel, Kindle Unlimited and more.
💬 Try this AI trick: Upload your last bank or credit card statement (delete the private stuff), and let ChatGPT or your favorite AI bot sort through it like your own digital accountant.
Use the prompt: “List all the subscription charges in this statement. Mark which ones are essential and which I can probably cancel.”
🧾 Find the vampires
You can also use a free app with paid premium features like Rocket Money or OneMain Trim. These scan your bank and credit card accounts to uncover recurring charges hiding in plain sight. That $7.99 magazine app you downloaded during a dentist appointment in 2019? Busted.
PSA: You will need to link your bank accounts and credit card accounts with the app so it can do its job. Yea, that’s a lot of data you’re sharing right there.
Amazon's secret profit center
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.
🛠️ Hacker turned pitch guy: A Missouri man hacked a gym, dropped his membership to $1 and emailed the owner, offering “cybersecurity consulting” after proving he broke in. He also posted their camera feed on social. Not the sharpest guy. He now has plenty of time to work out in prison.
7 years
Since Costco’s last price hike. Starting this month, renewals and new customers on the Gold Star, Business and Business Add-on plans will pay $65 a year, a $5 increase. The premium Executive Membership went up $10 to $130 a year. At least hotdogs are still $1.50.
💸 Old electronics lying around? Costco’s revamped trade-in program lets you swap them for a store gift card, no membership needed. The trade-in values aren’t small potatoes, either; you can get up to $1,080 for an old laptop! Go to this portal for a quote. If you’re cool with their offer, the shipping’s free, and you’ll have your money in under three weeks. PSA: Amazon has a trade-in program, too, so compare both to see which gives you the better price.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🧳 Global Entry is getting faster: New camera tech will soon let travelers breeze through passport control without stopping. Your face gets scanned on the move, so no kiosks or lines. It’s being tested at seven airports, including Miami, LAX, Chicago O’Hare and Toronto. Suddenly, that $120 five-year membership doesn’t sound so bad.
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.
Reddit getting paywalled: That’s when you hit a post online and it’s blocked until you pay a membership fee. It’s coming to Reddit, at least for certain content. Reddit went public last March, so it makes sense they’re looking for more ways to make money.
Amazon Prime vs. Walmart+
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.
Make AI your fitness coach
You don’t need an expensive gym membership to get a workout in. All you need is ChatGPT.
Amazon Prime perks you might not know about
Are you using the most of your membership? Don’t miss out on these great benefits.
July 1st, 2023
In this week’s show, American tech is found in the Chinese spy balloon. I talk to the CEO of HerMoney.com, Jean Chatzky, about automating your finances — and why you should do it. The FTC sues Amazon, Costco cracks down on membership impostors, the one place you shouldn’t use WD-40 and how to password-protect your sensitive docs. That and much more, plus all your calls and questions.