Smart Spending
Consumer trends, deals, price changes, subscription services, comparison shopping, and making smarter purchasing decisions in everyday life.
Latest in Smart Spending
YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers can claim a cash payout from an antitrust settlement
Subscribers who paid for YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream over the past several years can claim a cash payout from a $50 million antitrust settlement...
Owners of 1.5 million recalled Ocoopa hand warmers can get a refund after fires and one death
About 1.5 million rechargeable hand warmers sold under the OCOOPA name are being pulled from American homes after their batteries were tied to 15 fires,...
Esse Health patients can claim a flat $50 from a data-breach settlement, no proof needed, by August 4
Patients of Esse Health, a St. Louis physician group, can claim a flat $50 cash payment from a data-breach settlement without submitting any proof of...
Tinder will pay $60.5 million to California users it charged more for being older, with a payout choice due August 18
Tinder has agreed to pay $60.5 million to settle a long-running lawsuit accusing it of charging older California users more than younger ones for the...
Best Buy recalled Insignia gas ranges because the knobs can turn on by accident, and owners can get free knob covers.
Best Buy has recalled about 3,820 Insignia gas ranges in the United States because their front-mounted knobs can be turned on by accident, creating a...
Amazon Prime’s price could rise to $159 a year, though current members can lock in $139 before any hike.
Amazon Prime could get more expensive for the first time in years. A closely watched Wall Street projection has the annual U.S. membership climbing to...
Panasonic is offering full refunds on recalled toaster ovens after reports the power cord can shock or spark.
Panasonic will refund the full purchase price of a single toaster oven model after federal safety regulators warned its power cord can shock or spark....
Owners of about 13,500 recalled Amana window air conditioners can get a full refund over a fire risk.
About 13,514 Amana air conditioners and heat pumps now qualify for a full refund, and for the households and building owners who bought them the...
States are holding about $70 billion in unclaimed money, and a free official search can turn up accounts in your name.
Roughly $70 billion sits in state unclaimed-property accounts across the country, money separated from its owners by a move, a forgotten account, or a misspelled...
Target recalled 211,000 Cat & Jack sandals and is offering full refunds
Target recalled about 211,000 pairs of Cat & Jack children’s sandals after receiving reports that decorative pearls detached, creating a choking hazard. The remedy is...
Walmart and Sam’s Club cut prices on thousands of summer essentials
Walmart and Sam’s Club are promoting thousands of lower summer prices, stretching from groceries and beverages to pools, toys and apparel. The announcement is broad,...
The FTC is mailing 9,419 checks after a deceptive marketing case
The FTC’s Trend Deploy refund is unusual because affected buyers do not have to discover a settlement website and submit a claim. The agency is...
Florida returned $88 million in unclaimed money this year, and a free state search shows if any is yours.
Floridians collected $88 million in unclaimed property in February alone, a record monthly disbursement announced by Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia. The money, which had...
Walmart shoppers can get full refunds on recalled Marketside salads in a nine-state outbreak
If you bought a Marketside salad from Walmart in the past few weeks, check your refrigerator before your next meal. Nearly 2,000 people across nine...
Recalled salmonella-linked eggs at Kroger and other stores can be returned for a refund
Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. has recalled more than 1,589,577 dozen shell eggs tied to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 98 people across six states...
Tom’s of Maine buyers can claim part of a $2.9 million marketing settlement
Consumers who bought Tom’s of Maine toothpaste between November 21, 2020, and March 6, 2026, can now file claims against a $2,900,000 class action settlement...
Ford is fixing more than 565,000 Broncos free after wiring that can catch fire, and owners who already paid for the repair get refunded
Ford is recalling more than 565,000 Bronco and Bronco Raptor vehicles sold in the United States because engine compartment wiring can overheat and catch fire....
Francesca’s is liquidating all 460 of its stores, so spend any gift cards before they lose value
Shoppers holding Francesca’s gift cards face a shrinking window to use them. The women’s clothing and accessories retailer filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection...
Disney streaming subscribers can claim a $50 million settlement share by August 27
Subscribers to Disney’s streaming platforms face a hard deadline to file claims in a $50 million antitrust settlement tied to the case Biddle et al....
Ford is recalling 288,314 Explorers over roof-rail covers that can fly off, and the fix is free, with refunds for owners who already paid
Ford has recalled 288,314 Explorer SUVs because their roof-rail covers can detach while the vehicle is in motion, turning a cosmetic trim piece into a...