Same pumpkin vibesminus the markup

Fall drinks are back at Starbucks and my wallet is already side-eyeing me. Heres how to keep the cozy without paying seven bucks every time. Were talking simple swaps that barista wont blink at.

Things like fewer pumps, brewed coffee instead of espresso, light ice so you actually get more coffee, and using a few Stars to cover the syrup cost. Try one of these money savers on your next run.

Order a discount Pumpkin Spice Latte

The next time youre craving a Pumpkin Spice Latte ($6.45 for a Grande), try this little hack to save a couple bucks.

First of all, lets breakdown exactly whats in a 16-ounce Grande PSL. Its two shots of espresso, four pumps of pumpkin spice sauce, then topped with some optional whipped cream.

Heres a clever hack to get essentially the same drink for $2.50 less.

Start by ordering a Caff Misto ($3.95 for a Grande) which is made with half freshly brewed coffee and half steamed milk. Then ask for just two pumps of pumpkin spice sauce (40 each or free with 50 Stars). Two pumps is still plenty to get the same vibe, especially if youre watching your sugar intake. Then you can ask for some free nutmeg or cinnamon sprinkled on top if thats your thing.

Your savings comes from getting brewed coffee instead of two shots of espresso. But Ive found that once you add the syrup, its very hard to tell the difference between the two. Give it a shot, I think youll agree and your wallet will thank you.

A trick to save on a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

A 16-oz Grande Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew comes in at a whopping $5.75 at most locations. Its literally just an iced coffee with a bunch of frothed milk and a splash of pumpkin flavoring.

Instead, save yourself $1.50 and order a Grande Cold Brew with one pump pumpkin and a splash of cream. Youll end up with the same taste but more coffee at a better price.

Also, have you ever noticed how little coffee you actually get when you order an iced drink at Starbucks? Over half the cup is filled with ice. To fight this, be sure to ask for light ice and get more coffee for the same price.

Get the apple crisp flavor for less

Skip the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato price and instead order a Grande Americano (iced or hot) with 1 pump Apple Brown Sugar and a splash of oatmilk, then ask for caramel drizzle on top.

Youll get the same cozy apple-caramel profile for usually $1$2 less than the original. Especially if you keep it to one pump or use 25 Stars to get the syrup for free.

Create your own fall concoction and save

Try a less expensive iced espresso (2 or 3 shots) then adda pump or two of your favorite seasonal flavorlike pumpkin spice or peppermint, then add free milk or half & half to finish it off. Its much cheaper than a regular latte and you end up with the same amount of caffeine.

You can dress up a simple cup of brewed coffee for fall as well. One of my personal favorites is a Tall dark roast with two pumps of pumpkin spice sauce. Then I visit the carafe station and pour my own half and half. Ends up being a nice fall treat for only $3.75.

Worried about being that person? Dont be. Ive had several baristas tell me recently that customizations account for over 50% of their customers and they expect it.

Regular coffee still your thing?

If youre not one for all the fancy fall drinks, and prefer to stick to a good ol regular cup of joe, heres a trick to score more coffee for free. This tip works especially well if you like to add a little half & half (or milk) to your coffee.

When ordering drip coffee, request the next-size cup for extra room. When ordering a Tall, politely ask for a Tall in a Grande cup. If youre getting a Grande, ask for a Grande in a Venti cup.

Ive found that the barista will happily oblige and typically give you a little extra coffee in the bigger cup. But the real win is scoring plenty of extra room to add your half & half. Nothing worse than asking for room, not getting any, then having to dump some coffee in the trash so you can add creamer. Those days are over with this hack.

Glare rarely a crash cause, virtually unchanged from past decade, IIHS study finds,

• IIHS study finds glare cited in only 12 of every 1,000 nighttime crashes

• Brighter headlights have cut visibility-related wrecks, not increased glare

• Automakers design changes since 2016 have sharply reduced poor headlight ratings

Despite growing complaints that todays car headlights are blindingly bright, a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds glare plays only a minor role in nighttime crashes.

From 2015 to 2023, glare was listed as a factor in only one or two out of every 1,000 nighttime crashes across 11 states, the institute said. The rate has remained virtually unchanged over the past decade even as headlights have become more powerful and effective at illuminating dark roads.

Although it can certainly be uncomfortable, headlight glare contributes to far fewer crashes than insufficient visibility, said IIHS President David Harkey. But that doesnt mean reducing glare isnt an important goal.

Brighter lights, safer roads

Headlight brightness standards set by federal regulators havent changed since 1997, but IIHSs own testing program launched in 2016 has driven major improvements. Manufacturers eager to earn higher safety ratings have adopted LED technology and adjusted headlight aim to balance illumination with reduced glare.

When IIHS began testing, only one of more than 80 headlight systems earned a good rating. Today, more than half of model year 2025 headlights tested by the institute rate good, and just 16% are rated marginal or poor.

Those changes have translated into fewer crashes. Previous IIHS research found that vehicles with good-rated headlights are involved in 19% fewer nighttime single-vehicle crashes and 23% fewer nighttime pedestrian crashes than those with poor-rated headlights.

Glare trends flat despite complaints

The new study, led by IIHS Principal Research Engineer Matthew Brumbelow, analyzed more than 24 million crashes in 11 states that record glare as a contributing factor. Fewer than 150,000 crashes overall mentioned glare, and only a fraction occurred at night.

Nighttime glare crashes made up only one or two per 1,000 crashes annually, with no sign of increase during years when headlights grew brighter. In fact, the glare rate was highest in 2015 and lowest in 2020.

Most glare-related crashes involved a single vehicle, often occurring on local two-lane roads in wet conditions. Drivers involved tended to be older and behind the wheel of older cars.

Drivers older than 70 seem to be most affected by headlight glare, Brumbelow said. Its also possible that the better visibility in newer vehicles provides some defense against glare from oncoming headlights.

Progress in reducing glare

IIHS testing shows automakers have dramatically cut glare from their headlights. In 2017, 21% of headlights tested produced excessive glare; by 2025, that share dropped to just 3%. Under IIHS scoring rules, any excessive glare disqualifies a headlight from earning a good or acceptable rating.

Still, experts say more can be done particularly for older drivers and those with eye conditions that make them sensitive to light. Measures such as lane-departure warning systems, better road markings, and automatic high-beam assist could further reduce the small number of glare-related crashes.

Adaptive driving beam (ADB) technology, which automatically adjusts the beam pattern to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers while keeping full illumination elsewhere, is also seen as a promising solution. But regulatory hurdles have slowed its rollout in the U.S., even though ADB systems have been common in Europe for more than a decade.

Wed like to see these obstacles removed, Harkey said. But the IIHS headlight rating program is already driving advancements that are making nighttime driving safer both by improving visibility and by reducing glare.

The grocery retailer is hoping consumers can get everything they want for the holiday within their budget

• Aldi officially announced its Thanksgiving meal bundle for 10 people for $40.

• The discounted prices are running from October 15 through December 24.

• Shoppers will be able to get everything they need for Thanksgiving dinner at these low prices.

While Thanksgiving is still over a month away, its never too early for retailers to start preparing.

Aldi announced that it will be offering a full Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people for $40, making each plate cost under $5.

The ALDI commitment to low prices is unwavering and I am thrilled that we are able to offer an even more affordable holiday meal than last year, Atty McGrath, CEO, ALDI U.S., said in a news release Saving our shoppers money is our mission every day but is especially important during the holidays when they need it most.

Whats included?

The full meal bundle includes over 20 items, giving shoppers everything they need for turkey, sides, desserts, and more.

Heres what Aldi is including in the meal pack:

• Whole turkey (14 lbs.)

• Chicken broth

• Condensed cream of mushroom soup

• Evaporated milk

• Hawaiian sweet rolls

• Mini marshmallows

• Cut green beans

• 100% pure canned pumpkin

• Shells & cheese

• Brown gravy mix

• Poultry spices & herbs

• French fried onions

• Pie crust

• Chicken or cornbread stuffing

• Whipped dairy topping

• Yellow onions

• Baby peeled carrots

• Celery

• Cranberries

• Sweet potatoes (3 lbs.)

• Russet potatoes (10 lbs.)

Shoppers will have to add each item to their carts individually, and each eligible item will be flagged as part of the Thanksgiving sale. The discounted prices will be effective from October 15 through December 24, and no additional coupons or membership will be necessary to get these prices.

Aldi will be offering Thanksgiving dinner at these prices in any way consumers want to shop in store, online for pickup, or on a grocery delivery app.

Thanksgiving is the biggest food holiday of the year, and ALDI is proud to lead the industry once again on price, Scott Patton CCO, ALDI U.S., said in the release.

Price leadership is part of our DNA, and the holidays are when our commitment to value really shines. We believe families shouldnt have to make trade-offs to feed everyone, especially at Thanksgiving.

The bill's supporters included environmental and health advocates

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Governor says ban would limit affordable cooking options

• Lawmakers, environmental groups call decision a setback

• PFAS chemicals, known as forever chemicals, linked to health risks

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday vetoed legislation that would have phased out a range of consumer products containing synthetic forever chemicals, including nonstick pots and pans. The governor said the proposal could hurt consumers by limiting affordable cookware options.

I appreciate the efforts to protect the health and safety of consumers, and while this bill is well-intentioned, I am deeply concerned about the impact this bill would have on the availability of affordable options in cooking products, Newsom wrote in his veto message.

The bill, Senate Bill 682 by Sen. Benjamin Allen (DSanta Monica), would have banned the sale or distribution of cookware with intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by 2030. Other items containing PFAS such as food packaging, ski wax, dental floss, and childrens products would have been phased out beginning in 2028.

Senator vows to keep fighting

Allen said he was disappointed but pledged to continue pushing for tighter restrictions.
We know there are safer alternatives, he said. But I understand there were strong voices on both sides on this topic.

Allen argued that the veto lets manufacturers escape accountability, leaving taxpayers and local governments to shoulder the rising costs of removing PFAS from water systems. Ratepayers and local governments have been struggling to keep up with the ballooning costs of cleaning these forever chemicals from our water infrastructure, he said.

Health concerns over forever chemicals

PFAS are synthetic compounds that persist in the environment and the human body for years. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked PFAS exposure to changes in liver enzymes and to kidney and testicular cancers. A 2023 U.S. Geological Survey study found PFAS more prevalent in urban tap water in Southern and Central California than in most of the country.

Used for decades to make cookware nonstick and fabrics stain-resistant, PFAS have already been banned in some California products, including cosmetics and menstrual supplies.

Environmental groups denounce veto

Environmental advocates said Newsoms decision undermines Californias leadership in chemical safety. This veto is a major step backward for Californias leadership in protecting people and the planet from toxic PFAS, said Susan Little of the Environmental Working Group.

The Sierra Club, League of California Cities, and other public health organizations had backed Allens bill.

Industry groups warned of job losses, higher costs

The Chemical Industry Council of California and the Cookware Sustainability Alliance opposed the measure, citing concerns about job losses and trade disruptions. Steve Burns, president of the sustainability alliance, said the ban could affect thousands of jobs tied to Californias major ports and distribution hubs.

California is the entry point for nonstick cookware and other products that come into the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Los Angeles or the Port of Oakland, Burns said in aLos Angeles Times report. Theres a lot of jobs in the California economy that depend on products that have Teflon.

He also argued that science has not shown all PFAS to be harmful and that the state should have studied the issue further.

Chefs and celebrities weigh in

Several chefs and food industry figures supported the opposition. Napa chef Mark Dommen said eliminating nonstick cookware without a viable alternative would hurt restaurants and raise costs. Television host Rachael Ray also argued that easy-clean cookware helps families cook healthier meals.

Actor and environmental activist Mark Ruffalo pushed back, urging Ray to reconsider. Some of us have so much PFAS in our blood that we face a far greater risk of developing cancer, Ruffalo wrote on X. Lets work together to get PFAS out of the everyday products we bring into our home.

Continuing debate over PFAS science

The CDC notes that research on PFAS health impacts remains ongoing. There are many factors that can influence the risk of these effects, such as exposure, individual factors and other health determinants, the agency says.

For now, Californias broader effort to eliminate forever chemicals from consumer goods remains on pause but lawmakers say the fight isnt over.

How your next Walmart order could start with a simple chat

• Soon, youll be able to shop Walmart directly through ChatGPT using something called Instant Checkout.

• The new approach treats AI like a shopping assistant predicting your needs, planning, and prompting you before you even ask.

• Walmart is already using AI across many areas, from speeding up fashion cycles to reducing customer service times by 40%.

Imagine saying, Hey, I need groceries for the week, to ChatGPT and within a few messages, your cart is filled, checkout is done, and delivery is scheduled.

Thats the vision Walmart and OpenAI just unveiled.

The two companies announced theyre teaming up to make shopping easier than ever for consumers. The partnership will allow ChatGPT users to make Walmart purchases directly in the AI chatbot.

For many years now, eCommerce shopping experiences have consisted of a search bar and a long list of item responses. That is about to change, Doug McMillon, President and CEO, Walmart Inc. said in a news release.

There is a native AI experience coming that is multi-media, personalized, and contextual. We are running towards that more enjoyable and convenient future with Sparky and through partnerships including this important step with OpenAI.

From search bars to smart conversations

With this new partnership, Walmart is moving toward a more natural, conversational online shopping experience.

They call this agentic commerce where AI doesnt wait for you to act, but instead learns your habits and nudges you when it thinks you might need something.

So instead of you browsing, AI will help steer the shopping journey. Want to plan a weeks meals? The system could suggest ingredients. Need to restock cleaning supplies? It might whisper gentle reminders before you run out.

What Walmart already does with AI and whats changing

Walmart isnt entering this world blind. They already use AI in key parts of their operations:

• Their AI-backed tech has helped shorten fashion production timelines (in some cases by as much as 18 weeks)

• Their customer service teams get a boost; AI helps resolve issues faster, reportedly cutting resolution times by up to 40%

• And internally, Walmart is pushing AI literacy giving associates training, rolling out ChatGPT Enterprise internally, and even embracing OpenAI certifications.
  

The new OpenAI tie-up adds a layer: customers themselves will interact directly with AI (like ChatGPT) as part of their shopping experience. Instant Checkout means your conversation ends with a completed order.

Why this matters for you

This isnt about robots replacing people. Walmart emphasizes a people-led, tech-powered ethos.

The aim is to smooth out the bumps to take friction out of shopping so you spend less time hunting for things and more time doing what you want.

Eventually, your next Walmart trip might start with Hey ChatGPT instead of open Walmart.com.