Paper coupons exploding: Well, not really. But Kroger got bullied into giving boomers and tech avoidants exactly what they wanted: real physical coupons. Print versions of digital-only deals drop every Wednesday. Just grab a flyer and flash it like it’s 2005. No app logins, no error messages from hell.
Zillow stalking: The new national pastime
ChatGPT
Confession time: I Zillow people. All the time.
Someone casually mentions they just bought a house in Aspen? I’m on it. I’m already hunched over my keyboard like a Nancy Drew reboot.
New neighbor moves in with a Mercedes-Benz and suspiciously good patio furniture? You better believe I’m typing that address into Zillow before their moving truck finishes unloading.
Zillow knows if they’re legit or just really good at faking it for the ’gram.
🏠 Putting the real in real estate
You probably already use Zillow to dream-shop for your next home. But here’s the real power move: using it to fact-check people’s financial lives.
Millions of people are doing the same (paywall link). Zillow isn’t just some real estate listing site anymore, it’s a national pastime.
In just the first quarter of 2025, Zillow clocked a mind-blowing 2.4 billion visits. That’s not a typo. 227 million unique visitors show up every month. We’re all snooping, and the data is just sitting there waiting to be explored.
📍 Zestimate is close
When you plug in an address at Zillow, the first thing you see is the Zestimate. That’s Zillow’s home value estimate. It’s calculated from public records, recent sales, tax data, local MLS listings, updates from homeowners and spidey senses.
Zillow says it’s accurate within 2% of sale prices for homes currently on the market and within 7% for off-market homes. I know, it’ll likely be too low for your home and too high if you’re buying.
You’ll also find the price history (what they paid and when), estimated rent, tax assessments, square footage and even neighborhood details. It’s like a financial X-ray.
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.
$23.8 billion
That’s how much Americans are expected to drop during Amazon Prime Day this week. The sale runs four days, twice as long as last year, and Adobe says spending will jump 24%. It’s basically Black Friday in July, only with better delivery windows and fewer family arguments.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Get to the point: Cut to the chase if you’re adding special instructions to your online order. If there’s a gate code, for instance, start the message with “Gate code 1234” (or whatever your code is). Often, those notes get cut short for the delivery person, so put the important stuff right up front.
Your side hustle is delicious
ChatGPT
You know that thing you do where you dissect your burger like you’re Gordon Ramsay on espresso? Good news, you can now get that burger for free.
Mystery dining is having a renaissance. You often get free food, tips and travel covered, usually via a prepaid card or voucher.
Food prices change while you shop, here’s what to do
ChatGPT
If you think food prices are high now, just wait. Grocery stores across the country are installing electronic shelf labels (ESLs), ditching those humble paper price tags for sleek little digital screens.
Sounds like a snazzy tech upgrade, right? Just wait until your eggs get a price hike while you’re still pushing your cart toward the meat section.
A free upgrade could be hidden in your TV: NextGen TV broadcasts have more vibrant colors, a higher resolution, better-quality surround sound and interactive features. Newer TVs from Sony, Hisense, Samsung and TCL have NextGen tuners built in, but you probably didn’t know it. See if your TV has NextGen here and which channels are available in your area!
💵 Bon voyage to car rental fees: Clark Howard has a secret weapon to fight one pesky fee: a portable toll reader. Register online, and it works in 19 states. Subscribe to Clark.com’s free newsletter to receive more must-have money tips every day.
🛍️ Prime perks for Gen Z: If you’re 18-24 or know someone who is, Prime for Young Adults is a deal. Get all the Prime benefits with a $0 trial for six months, then it’s 50% off. For a limited time, earn 5% cash back on faves like beauty, tech and personal care. During Prime Day next week, that jumps to 10%. Don’t miss out.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Shopping online and the price looks weird? Type camelcamelcamel.com and paste the Amazon URL. It shows the full price history.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
💸 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.
Find the subscriptions you forgot about: I use Rocket Money, an app that finds all your recurring subscriptions and lets you easily cancel anything you don’t want. The first time I logged in, it saved me $435!
🎮 Play more, pay less: The Steam Summer Sale is on now until July 10. Perfect for scoring deep discounts on the games you’ve been eyeing. You’ll need a free Steam account to save. No account? Don’t use Steam? No problem, Amazon’s got plenty of hot gaming bargains happening right now.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Freebie for teachers: Need posters, worksheets or slides that actually look good? Canva’s got loads of templates made for teachers. Go to canva.com/education and click Get Verified with your school info.
Don’t miss rewards: From groceries to travel, Clark.com has a list of the best credit cards to help you maximize every dollar you spend. Subscribe to Clark.com’s free newsletter to receive more must-have money tips every day.
💸 Buying from an overseas seller? PayPal lets you choose to pay in your own currency or theirs. Pick yours, and you’ll get slapped with a 3% to 4% conversion fee (it’s in the fine print). Go with the seller’s currency instead. Your bank or card usually gives you a better rate.
💸 Declutter and save: Don’t toss your old gadgets. Trading them in can get you Amazon credit or discounts on your next purchase. Head to Amazon’s Trade-In page to see what your gear is worth. Easy money!
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🚘 Waymo’s not cheap: A study in San Francisco found it costs about $10 more than Lyft or Uber during peak hours. The twist? Some people actually prefer it. The quiet, driverless ride and having the car to yourself is enough to win them over. Introverts stay winning.