I’m going to Japan in March and have looked up flights on a few different sites. Roundtrip prices vary as much as $900 depending on where you look. Oof!

Here’s the twist

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Retailers are getting really creative in how they get us to fill our carts. When I say creative, I don’t necessarily mean in a good way.

An estimated 79% of us shop online at least once a month, and 91% make purchases from our smartphones. Yes, me too. But how many of those purchases were manipulated?

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Don’t die. That’s 46-year-old Bryan Johnson’s main goal in life.

Bryan made $400 million when he sold his credit card processing company to eBay. Today, he lives in Los Angeles as a self-proclaimed “rejuvenation athlete” — and spends his time and money trying to turn back the clock.

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My car insurance just went up 32%. Did I have an accident or get a few tickets? Nope. Since 2020, car insurance rates in the U.S. have risen by a whopping 37%. The main reason? High-tech vehicles — aka anything remotely new — cost way more to repair. And you don’t need to have a high-tech car to feel the pinch. It’s hitting everyone.

Driving up costs

Our cars are packed with dozens of sensors and endless lines of computer code. Combine that with the rising cost of replacement parts and repairs, and voila, soaring auto insurance rates. 

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I don’t mean to start with something sad, but whenever I talk about class-action lawsuits, it reminds me of the day my father died back in 1997. He and my mom were about to go on a cruise in a few days when suddenly, his allergies kicked in. So, he took an over-the-counter (OTC) allergy pill that interacted with his heart medication. He suffered a fatal heart attack because of that.

Years later, my mother received a letter that the OTC allergy pill was yanked off the market, along with a settlement check from a class-action lawsuit for $432. She spent countless hours on that paperwork.

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Picture this: Your phone rings and it’s a familiar number. You answer and an unsettling voice tells you they have your kid. The only way to get your son or daughter back alive is to send money.

It gets worse. Your child gets on the phone and directly pleads with you for help. You see a picture of them in chains. You watch a video of them crying. Now you’re panicking. 

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Color me shocked. I knew you’d like the CES updates about new tech coming down the pipeline, but wow, I got so many notes about how much you enjoyed it.

I aim to please, so here we go with the rest of the gadgets, gizmos and updates you’ll want to know.

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If you love true crime shows, boy, oh boy, I have a gig for you! Lawyers use virtual juries to try out their strategies before a case makes it to court, and you can get paid for participating. How fun is that!

The job requirements are pretty basic. Most of these sites require you to be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 and have no felony convictions. Depending on the case, there may be additional eligibility criteria.

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Well, it looks like Aunt Sue bought you yet another ugly sweater for Christmas. Hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?

Some of us tuck unwanted things away in a closet, and some return them. If that’s you, check the fine print. Many retailers are doing away with free shipping on returns. I did some digging to help during this busy season.

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Ask anyone who knows me and they’ll say I’m frugal. Heck, you can call me cheap — I won’t be offended.

I’ll let you in a little secret, too. Sometimes, buying used is totally the way to go. There are some things I would only buy new, but tech isn’t one of them. There are some darn good deals out there if you’re willing to find them, from Apple, Amazon, eBay, you name it.

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Mark Zuckerberg is building a $100M hidden compound on his Hawaiian island ranch — and he doesn’t want you to know about it.

I’m so fascinated by this. It’s not just the Meta CEO, either — billionaires worldwide are adding fortresses to their properties. Why? Good question.

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I went to a bin store the other day. I bought a completely sealed two-foot by two-foot box for $10. Inside my mystery box were four pairs of men’s black socks, a cat bell, two potato peelers, an iPhone stand and a Dallas Cowboys women’s shirt that I got a kick out of. Someone must have made a snap decision to return that.

Ever heard of bin stores? They’re like the Wild West of retail — usually small and independently run — with some junk and deals you won’t believe. The neatest part is where they get all this stuff. Bin stores hawk returned items from Amazon, Target, Walmart, you name it, along with liquation and overstock inventory.

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This morning, I realized that I had totally forgotten about three people. Have you ever done that? The good news is you’re not relegated to gift cards just yet. I found a bunch of nice gifts that should arrive before Christmas.

Pro Tips: Sometimes, changing the color or size will show you different delivery dates. And I thought this was strange. Today, I wanted to buy two of one thing (I can’t say what it is cause I know they get my newsletter!). The delivery date was after Christmas. So I changed the quantity to one and it will be here tomorrow. Then I ordered another to be delivered tomorrow. Sweet!

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I know some of you are like, “Kim, knock it off with the gift picks.” Hey, I’m done with my shopping so I’m with you. But based on all the positive comments and popular demand, I put together a list of small, affordable gifts you can stick in the stockings or wrap up and put under the tree. 

Without further ado.

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It’s crunch time. Wait much longer and you’re giving gift cards — or braving the stores. I’ve got your back with thoughtful gifts, tech and otherwise, that are sure to please.

In no particular order, here are my picks that are destined to be used time and time again. Nothing beats giving a gift that doesn’t get stashed away in a closet after a week, right?

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The holidays are upon us, folks, and you’ll feel so good if you knock out some of your shopping this weekend. I’ve got you covered with solid picks for anyone in your life.

Pro tip: Before you add anything to your cart, look for the orange coupon flag under the product price. You only get the savings if you check the box.

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Have you been putting off finishing your Christmas shopping? The time for procrastination is over. Why? Because Wednesday, Dec. 13, is the last day to order most things online and get them in time for Christmas. Well, that is unless you like paying for expensive fast shipping.

Don’t worry. I’m here to help. Here are some gift ideas perfect for everyone on your shopping list.

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You see them on about every shopping site now. Think of “BNPL” (buy now, pay later) as a short-term financing plan. With a few clicks, you request a limited loan agreement to pay for items over time.

Even Apple is getting in on the action. With Apple Pay Later, buy that $1,000 iPhone today and pay it off over four payments. PayPal has one, too, along with services like Afterpay, Affirm and Klarna.

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New word for you: Grandfluencer. That’s grandparent + influencer for all the folks trading in retirement for social media fame. We’re talking millions of followers, thousands of comments … and a lot of money. One paid post can land a particularly big grandfluencer over $150K. 

Take 79-year-old Lynn Yamada Davis, for example. She rakes in a cozy six-figure salary from her Cooking With Lynja channels. Over 17 million people have watched her build a 10-foot hotdog and make popcorn with a hair straightener. Unusual? Yes. Entertaining? Definitely. 

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Working from home offers many perks (aside from not having to wear pants). The big one is you don’t have to commute. Think of all the money you’d save on gas! Plus, you can listen to music without disturbing anyone, have more time with your family and customize your office exactly as you want.

It’s not all bells and whistles. If you’re working from home or planning on it, there’s one big mistake that can cost you your job or worse. Here’s what you need to know.

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