Denial as a service: Medicare’s new WISeR program will pay AI firms a share of money saved by denying “wasteful” care. That’s right, AI companies are turning into health care mercenaries. Just 12 procedures targeted at first, but it’s a slippery slope. Six states (NJ, OH, OK, TX, AZ, WA) start the experiment in January.
Think you’re paying $139 for Amazon Prime? Think again
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When’s the last time you checked how much Amazon is pulling from your bank account? If you guessed around $100 a year, you’re in for a surprise. You could be spending over $300 annually without realizing it. Let’s break it down.
🧓 Back in my day…
When Amazon Prime launched in 2005, it was a sweet deal: $79 a year for free two-day shipping. That price held until 2014, when it jumped to $99. Then $119 in 2018. By 2022? We hit $139 a year, and I’m predicting it now: Next year, it’ll go up to $159.
Oh, and that’s just the base price.
Now there’s a $9.95 delivery fee for Whole Foods orders, a $36 annual upcharge if you want Prime Video without ads, and sky-high grocery minimums for Amazon Fresh (originally $35, now $100). Want more?
- Amazon Music Unlimited: $99/year
- Audible: $14.95/month
- Amazon Kids+: $5.99/month
- Kindle Unlimited: $11.99/month
- Streaming add-ons (HBO Max, Paramount+, etc.): $7.99 to $20.99/month each
That $139 membership? It’s just an appetizer.
✅ Here’s how to check what you’re paying:
- Go to Your Prime Membership to see if you’re billed monthly or annually.
- Then check Your Subscriptions for all those sneaky add-ons like Kindle Unlimited, Music, channel bundles and more.
- From your account, click Memberships & Subscriptions or Subscribe & Save Items for a full list.
(Pro tip: The layout may shift depending on the browser, the app or which way the tech winds are blowing that day.)
🤑 Easy ways to save
- Amazon Family: Share your Prime perks at no extra cost.
- Pay annually: It’s $40 cheaper than month-to-month.
- Gas savings: Get 10¢ off a gallon at 7,000+ stations.
- Grubhub+: Unlimited $0 delivery fees for as long as you’re a Prime member.
- Rx savings: Discounts on prescriptions at almost 60,000 pharmacies.
- Amazon Photos + Shutterfly: Get 45% off regular-priced orders and free shipping if it’s $35+.
- Prime for Young Adults: Half off & a six-month free trial.
- EBT/Medicaid: Get Prime for just $6.99/month.
- Prime Visa: If you shop a lot on Amazon, this card gives you cash back to help offset the cost. Bonus: Get a $50 gift card when you’re approved.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
$27,500
The likely sticker price for Slate’s “Blank Slate” pickup. The first trucks from the Bezos-backed company are expected to hit the road late 2026 or early 2027, just ahead of Ford’s $30K EV competitor. Already, 100,000+ people have put down a reservation (it costs $50) for this no-frills entrant into the EV truck game.
🤳 Fix blurry phone photos: If tapping to focus isn’t working, your lens is probably dirty. After all, your phone lives in your pocket, collecting dust and grime. Folks, don’t reach for your T-shirt. Go with proper lens wipes that are scratch-free and streak-free. I found a pack of 200 for under $10.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📦 Shipping crackdown: Amazon’s dialing back some Prime benefits; you’re not allowed to share your Prime free shipping with people unless you live together. From Oct. 1, outsiders must pony up a discounted $14.99/year for the first year, then $14.99/month. Amazon Family still works, but only if everyone’s under the same roof. No more long-distance toothpaste subsidies.
A smart tip to help protect your retirement savings: With the economy so unpredictable, I don’t put all my eggs in one basket. I protect a portion of my savings with real gold and silver from Goldco. And right now, Goldco is giving up to 10% back in FREE silver when you open a qualified account.
Luxury’s identity crisis: When you’re dropping $400K on a car, do you really want it to feel like a fancy iPad on wheels? Bentley doesn’t think so either. They’re going full old-school – custom wood, rare materials and designers who actually sit down with you. Because real luxury is still made by hand, not just coded in.
🛒 Don’t fall for bulk deals: When you buy a pack of something, always check the unit price (cost ÷ number of items). Sometimes multipacks end up pricier than singles. On Amazon, for example, they do the math for you and show it in tiny brackets next to the sale price.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Paying too much for cloud services? Check this out. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, is built for speed, power and serious savings, without the usual cloud headaches. That’s why some of the biggest AI innovators trust it. Try it for free right now.
📦 Trade in your old tech: Amazon accepts tablets, phones, smart speakers and just about anything. Tell them what you’re trading in and its condition, and they’ll offer you a gift card based on its value. Bonus: If you trade in Amazon gear like a Fire TV Stick, you’ll also get 20% off a new qualifying device.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Denied? Not so fast: I’ve talked about insurance companies using AI to deny your coverage in literal seconds. If that happens to you, fight back using AI of your own. A free service called Counterforce Health writes appeal letters faster than you can say, “That’s not covered.” Here’s good proof that tech doesn’t have to mean soulless. You know, my puns are like health insurance. Some just can’t get it.
Stop overpaying for subscriptions: I use Rocket Money to track all my recurring payments. It shows everything in one place and makes it easy to cancel the ones I don’t need anymore. The first time I used it, I saved $435! Start saving today!
Find forgotten 401(k) money: There’s $2 trillion sitting in old retirement accounts. When companies close, merge or lose touch with former employees, those funds go unclaimed. The good news? The Department of Labor runs a “Lost & Found” where you can check if any of it is yours. Worth a peek.
Got an FSA or HSA? You can use those funds on Amazon for OTC meds, Fitbits and more. Just go to Account & Lists > Account > Your Payments > Add a payment method > Add an FSA or HSA card. Enter your info, hit Add your card, and you’re set. Here are all the eligible items. So smart.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
⚙️ Uninsurable metal box: Tesla’s stainless steel Cybertruck is apparently too weird to insure. Geico and Hanover are pulling out, citing plummeting sales (just 4,306 sold last quarter) and high repair costs. The truck’s low production and high drama have made it a financial Bermuda Triangle.
🚗 Primed to drive: Live within 75 miles of Dallas, Houston, LA or Seattle? You can now shop Hertz’s used rental cars on Amazon Autos. That means more variety instead of only Hyundais. Just pick it up at a Hertz lot within three days. They’ll soon expand to 45 cities, because let’s be real, Amazon won’t stop until you can buy everything from them.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Paying too much for cloud services? Check this out. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, is built for speed, power and serious savings, without the usual cloud headaches. That’s why some of the biggest AI innovators trust it. Try it for free right now.
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!
$20,000+
What some parents are dropping to make a dorm room look like a boutique hotel. Yep, for the price of a good used car, your college freshman can nap under velvet and study beneath a pink chandelier. “Dormcore” just got its luxury rebrand, and it starts with monogrammed towels. Also includes emotional support, really!
🎧 A fan favorite is back: Raycon has brought back the Everyday Earbuds Classic! Now with Active Noise Cancellation, eight hours of play time and a ton of battery life. An icon is back, and better than ever. My readers get 20% off when you use code: CLASSIC.