I order supplements online: Mix two scoops of collagen into your coffee or smoothie. I do this every morning to keep my skin, bones and joints happy. (Psst, it’s 45% off and you’ll get free shipping with my link.)
How to find and stop hidden fees
When I’m booking air travel, it seems like the price goes up with every click. By the time I pay to check a bag or two, that “great deal” isn’t looking so, well, great.
So of course airlines are fighting the Biden administration’s “junk fees’” rule, which would make them show their fees upfront for checking bags, carrying on a bag, and changing or canceling a reservation.
Virtually every major airline (American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Alaska and Hawaiian) is suing to stop this rule. Yeah, and they probably don’t want you to know their checked-baggage fees are going up again (at least, for American).
Airlines aren’t the only ones
It’s called price obfuscation, and I bet it’s happening in your online shopping carts all the time. You see one price when you hit “buy,” and as they tack on more fees, you’re less likely to notice them.
Concert tickets are some of the worst offenders, with service fees, order processing fees, delivery fees and facility charges.
The price obfuscation for concert tickets got so out of control, some states finally made Ticketmaster show “all-in pricing” — your actual ticket cost — instead of the ticket price you think you’re paying.
- 🎶 How to avoid it: When you can, buy tickets at a physical box office to avoid some of the fees.
Hotels stays: Many hotels tack on a “resort fee” they claim is for amenities. Some local governments charge a tourism tax, too. It can add up!
- 🧳 Ask about the charges: If your hotel’s “resort fee” is for a closed pool or a gym you’re not using, politely ask if it can be removed from your bill.
Online shopping: That outfit was a good deal … until you saw the shipping and handling fees.
- 🛍️ Do your own legwork: Literally. If you’re purchasing online for a store with a brick-and-mortar shop in your town, get it shipped there for free and pick it up.
5 small biz freebies to save you some cash, from shipping materials to logos
Owning or working for a small business is full of joys: Seeing your business take off, working closely with a small team and watching your ideas flourish.
It’s not all a walk in the park, though. Small teams, limited budgets and not enough time in the day can make things challenging.
The end of free shipping
Do you make too many returns? Many online retailers are starting to punish this behavior.
🚂 Thieves’ loco motives: I never thought of this crime. Gangs hitting railroads jumped 40%, costing over $100 million. Around $4 million of that comes from the BNSF railroad in California. They’re using bolt cutters to break into shipping containers to steal electronics, sneakers and toys.
$20,000
What a guy from Wyoming is selling two giant boulders for on eBay. These aren’t just any rocks, by the way. They’re made of nephrite jade (he has no idea what their true value is). As for who’s buying? Apparently, serious collectors or people who really love stones. Oh, and shipping’s not included. You’ll need to organize a crane and a truck. Speaking of … What dinosaur used boulders as toilet paper? Megasoreass. 🦕
📦 Prime, who? Score free shipping without signing up for Amazon Prime. Just add at least $35 worth of goodies to your cart and pick “Free Amazon Shipping” at checkout. That way, you can save $14.99 a month for something fun instead. So good to know!
100,000 iMessages
Sent by scammers each day. They’re using iPhone farms (aka groups of phones with rotating Apple IDs) to slip past security filters. If you’ve gotten a text saying you need to act fast about an unpaid road toll, shipping fees or taxes, that’s likely where it came from. Barry texted me, “Call me.” So I called him and said, “Text me” and hung up. I thought it was hilarious! Him not so much.
I love it when things are functional … and mini. Mini is great, too.
- A universal charging cable, complete with USB, USB-C, micro-USB and Apple Lightning adapters.
- An emergency Advil stash (10% off).
- A $9 seatbelt slicer and safety hammer for escaping a wrecked car.
- An eyeglass repair kit under $5.
- An Apple AirTag holder (30% off). Ta-da! Your keys are now unlosable.
I order supplements online: Mix two scoops of collagen* into your coffee or smoothie. I do this every morning to keep my skin, bones and joints happy. (Psst, it’s 45% off and you’ll get free shipping with my link.)
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
You look good: Collagen is scientifically proven to help increase bone density, support cartilage regrowth, smooth wrinkles, strengthen nails and make your hair thicker. I’ve taken it for years, and you should try it, too. Get up to 45% off and free shipping at NativePath with my link.
Online order never arrived? Do this, the FTC says
Did your online gift never arrive? The FTC says you don’t have to accept shipping delays. Here’s what to do, in one minute.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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