Algorithmic landlords: The nation’s biggest landlord, Greystar, just settled a $141 million class action after tenants said RealPage’s rent software helped landlords sync prices and push rents higher. The companies deny wrongdoing but agreed to stop sharing secret data. Millions of renters could see a check, probably smaller than their next rent increase. Keep an eye out for a claims form if you’re eligible.
The great Bitcoin dumpster fire
Bing
Picture this: It’s 2013. A guy named James Howells from Newport, Wales, is cleaning up his office and accidentally throws out an old hard drive. No big deal, right?
Wrong.
Stored on that hard drive were the digital keys to 8,000 Bitcoins. Back then, Bitcoin was worth around $130 each, a solid chunk of change. But today? One Bitcoin is worth about $122,000, which means James accidentally trashed almost $1 billion. With a “B.”
🗑️ It all went to waste
James’ Bitcoin passkey is buried somewhere under 110,000 tons of garbage in the city dump. For more than a decade, he’s begged officials to let him search.
He offered to foot the entire bill, buy the landfill, use high-tech, robot-assisted excavation tools and split the recovered Bitcoin with the city. He even lined up investors and engineers. But the city said no. Again and again. Too messy, too expensive, too risky.
So now, he’s doing something completely wild.
🪙 Trying to create interest
James just launched a new cryptocurrency called Ceiniog Coin (that’s “penny” in Welsh).
Here’s how it works: The 8,000 Bitcoins James lost are still technically tied to his crypto wallet. They’re frozen in time. No one can access them without the key on that hard drive.
So James is offering Ceiniog as a kind of tribute meme coin, tied to the legend of the missing landfill billion. Buyers of the coin are essentially investing in his story.
🦄 Dump and dumpster
Read this before you renew your car insurance
ChatGPT
You’ve probably seen this pitch from your insurance company: “Drive safely and save. Sign up for our smart driving program today!”
You’ve got a squeaky-clean record, so what’s the harm, right? Before you sign up, let’s pop the hood.
3,821%
That’s how much Pokémon cards have surged since 2004. For context, the S&P 500 managed a measly 483% in the same stretch. Translation: Pikachu just smoked your retirement account (paywall link). One near-mint Pikachu Illustrator sold for $5.3M, proving that a tiny crease can tank your portfolio faster than a bad earnings call.
🌡️ Trim your energy bill: A tiny temp change can mean big savings. Use apps like Nest or Ecobee to set your smart thermostat on auto-away or eco mode. Seriously, dropping the heat (or AC) by just 2-3 degrees can shave up to 10% off your energy costs over time.
AT&T owes you: Two massive data breaches exposed info from 73 million AT&T customers, and the company’s dishing out $177M to make it go away. If your SSN was part of the leak, you could grab up to $7,500. Check if you’re eligible. Go to TelecomDataSettlement.com, enter your Class Member ID (or request one) and submit your claim by Nov. 18, 2025.
Print for free at libraries: Why drop cash on a printer you’ll use twice a year? Many local libraries let you print 10-20 pages a day for free. Search libraries.org to find one near you, then call to confirm. Perfect for last-minute forms or that “oops” school project.
Student discounts rock: Got a kid in school? Their .edu email or student ID unlocks deals on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Premium, Hulu and more. Example: Hulu with ads drops from $9.99 to $1.99 a month. Easy win.
Cable hoarding pays off: That tangle of old cords in your junk drawer? Some are weirdly valuable. GameCube cables can fetch $200, and even a dusty SCSI might score $50. Before you toss that HDMI doppelgänger, check eBay, nerds will pay. Turns out nostalgia is profitable, and so is not cleaning your garage for 15 years. Check here to see how much your old cables are worth.
🗑️ Don’t waste money on outdated tech: Before buying a cheap phone, tablet or e-reader, check if it’s still supported. Visit endoflife.date and search the model to see if updates have ended or it’s discontinued. If it’s past its prime, that usually means no more security updates, which is a big no-no.
🐝 Sweeten online shopping: Add the Honey extension to your browser and let it hunt down coupon codes across 30,000 sites. It’ll track prices on your Droplist and ping you when there’s a discount. It even tells you when Amazon sellers are overcharging. Buzz buzz, instant savings.
🌐 Stop overpaying for internet: Run a speed test and check if it matches what you’re paying for. Then Google other ISPs and compare. Call your provider, drop the “I might switch” line and watch them magically lower your bill or bump your speed. Gotta love a little competition.
🖨️ Print for free at public libraries: Many local libraries offer free printing, sometimes up to 10–20 pages per day. Great for boarding passes, forms or return labels.
Uber’s new Costco energy: You might want to check out using prepaid passes for routes you take often, so you save money up front. You can buy bundles of five, 10, 15 or 20 rides, and the bigger the bundle, the bigger the discount (5%‑20% off), which means no surge price surprise for your daily commute.
Stop wasting money! Most of us pay for subscriptions we forgot about. Rocket Money finds them, tracks them and helps you cancel what you don’t need. I saved $435 on my first try. See how much you’ll save!
LUV hurts: Imagine checking the mail and finding 15 tickets from states you’ve never even driven through. That’s what happened to a California woman with the vanity plate “LUVSICK.” Turns out, a clothing brand was selling fake novelty plates that looked almost identical to hers. She lawyered up and got them pulled offline, but not before fighting every bogus ticket.
💸 Say goodbye to paper checks: Starting Sept. 30, Social Security, veterans benefits and IRS payments will only be sent electronically. Most folks already use direct deposit, but if you’re still getting checks, you’ll need to either open a bank account or request a Treasury-issued debit card by calling 800-967-6857. Don’t wait on this.
$20,000
That’s what a contractor in Maine had to pony up for violating a lakeshore ordinance. He says he checked with the town first, but they fined him anyway. His revenge? Paying the entire thing in coins, 12,000 pounds worth. Now the town’s thinking of charging him a handling fee to count it. Ever heard of Coinstar, guys?
📦 Gmail’s getting a Purchases tab: Instead of making you dig through your inbox, all your order-related emails (like Amazon confirmations and shipping estimates) will now show up in one spot. On mobile and web, you’ll find it in the left panel. And yes, the package tracker for deliveries arriving within 24 hours still appears at the top of your inbox.
$49 million
The price tag on Sam Altman’s Hawaiian hideaway. The OpenAI CEO just listed his 21.8-acre Kailua estate for nearly $6 million more than he paid in 2021. Ten bedrooms, a private marina, helicopter pad, theater, staff quarters and sweeping Pacific views. Not really a house, but more like a billionaire’s personal resort.