Category: Articles

The Top 15 Summer-Blooming Flowers for Every Corner of Your Yard

Teresa Joaquim on June 24, 2026

Add pops of color to your yard with these easy-to-maintain blossoms.

Hybrid Car Sales Are Heating Up with Elevated Gas Prices

Jamie L. LaReau and Detroit Free Press on June 24, 2026

As gas prices approach $4 a gallon and overall new car sales fall nearly 6%, hybrid vehicles are up 11% — and the five-year ownership math shows a hybrid can save you over $2,000.

Your Black Plastic Spatula Could Be Leaching Toxic Chemicals: 6 Things to Know

Stacy Johnson CPA on June 24, 2026

A viral study said your kitchen gear could dose you with cancer-linked chemicals. Then came the correction nobody mentions.

Congress Passes Bipartisan Housing Bill as Cost of Living Surges

Andrea Riquier, Zachary Schermele and USA TODAY on June 23, 2026

The 21st Century Road to Housing Act passed 358-32 in the House, targeting manufactured home regulations, large investor restrictions, and a construction bottleneck years in the making.

These Budgeting Apps Can Help You Break the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle

Faith Wakefield and USA TODAY on June 23, 2026

Between 57% and 69% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck — these five apps reveal exactly where your money’s going and help you plot an escape.

The Best Gas Price Savings and Rewards Apps to Battle High Fuel Costs

Charles Singh and USA TODAY on June 23, 2026

Three apps — GasBuddy, Gas Guru, and Upside — can save you up to 33 cents per gallon or put real cash back in your pocket every time you fill up.

Federal Judge Rules Against States’ SNAP Ban on Soda, Sugary Foods

Stephen Gruber-Miller and Des Moines Register on June 23, 2026

A federal judge struck down Trump administration waivers letting five states ban SNAP recipients from buying soda and candy, ruling the USDA overstepped its legal authority.

New California Laws Go Into Effect on July 1. Here’s What to Know

Noe Padilla, Daniella Segura and USA TODAY on June 23, 2026

Minimum wages rise in 11 California cities on July 1, some to over $20 an hour, as a dozen new laws take effect.

Popular Plant-Based Foods Recalled for Possible Plastic Pieces

Greta Cross and USA TODAY on June 23, 2026

MorningStar Farms recalled two frozen products over plastic contamination — here’s which items are affected and how to get a refund.

9 Reasons Why Portugal Is so Hard for Retirees to Resist

Kat Kalashian on June 23, 2026

This sunny, affordable and safe corner of the world just might check every item on your retire-overseas list.

7 Reasons You Should Rent (Not Own) a Home in Retirement

Emmet Pierce on June 23, 2026

Here’s how renting can pay off quite nicely for some retirees.

US Citizenship Fees Could Rise 80% under New Trump Administration Plan

Trevor Hughes and USA TODAY on June 23, 2026

A new DHS proposal would raise naturalization application fees from $760 to $1,330 on paper — and eliminate some fee waivers for low-income applicants.

9 Factors That Affect the Size of Your Social Security Check

Marilyn Lewis on June 23, 2026

How much money will be in your Social Security retirement check — and how much can you keep?

Tourists in Europe Face Brutal Temperatures Under ‘Heat Dome’

Julia Gomez and USA TODAY on June 23, 2026

The European ‘heat dome’ has already killed dozens, closed the Eiffel Tower early, and shattered temperature records that stood since 1947 — here’s what travelers need to know.

9 Tips for Keeping Your Grass Alive in Record Heat

Jeff Herman on June 23, 2026

The brutal heat can wreak havoc on a lawn. These tips will help you keep it green.

Supreme Court Lets Michigan Family Fight Foreclosure in Equity Theft Case

Maureen Groppe and USA TODAY on June 23, 2026

A Michigan family lost their $200,000 home over a $2,242 tax debt — and now the Supreme Court is giving them another shot at challenging the sale process.