It all depends on the state where you live

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The typical American household spends $2,058 a month on essential bills, about one-third of the median income.

• California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are the most expensive states for household bills.

• West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma are the most affordable places to cover monthly essentials.

If you feel like your bills are eating up a big chunk of your paycheck, youre not alone. A new 2025 State-by-State Bill Pay Market Report from doxoINSIGHTS finds that the average American household spends $2,058 per month on essential bills, making up about 31% of household income.

That number covers the basics: mortgage or rent, utilities, car payments and insurance, phone service, internet, health insurance, and even things like waste removal or alarm systems.

The most expensive states

Not surprisingly, states with high housing and living costs dominate the top of the list. California households pay a median of $2,854 a month, nearly 40% more than the national average. Hawaii, New Jersey, and Massachusetts also rank among the priciest, with bills topping $2,600 a month.

Other expensive states include:

• Maryland: $2,505

• Washington: $2,453

• New York: $2,412

• Colorado: $2,391

For families living in these states, bills can take up nearly a third of their income, leaving less room for savings or extras.

Where bills are lowest

On the flip side, the most affordable state is West Virginia, where residents spend just $1,149 per month, less than half of what Californians pay. Other states with lower bills include Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, all with typical monthly costs around $1,500.

That means a family in West Virginia is paying 44% less than the national median for the same essential services.

Knowing how your bills stack up against the national average can help you plan your budget and even guide big decisions, like moving to another state for affordability.

For example, someone relocating from New Jersey to Kentucky could save more than $1,000 a month on bills, simply due to differences in housing and utilities. Over a year, thats over $12,000 in savings.

The data also highlight how much housing and insurance costs drive financial stress in certain regions. Even if incomes are higher in expensive states, the bigger bill burden means families often have less flexibility in their budgets.

But home prices continue to go up

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Mortgage rates fell to their lowest level since October, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaging 6.58% and the 15-year averaging 5.71%, boosting affordability and purchase activity.

• Declining rates have lowered the median monthly mortgage payment to $2,631, a seven-month low, giving buyers with a $3,000 budget about $20,000 more purchasing power compared to Mays peak rates.

• Despite lower borrowing costs, home prices continue to climb, with the median home price reaching $396,000 in August, up 2.1% year over year, marking the fastest price growth since early April.

Mortgage rates continue to fall and this week hit their lowest level of 2025. Freddie Mac reports its Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.58% this week.

Mortgage rates fell to their lowest level since October, said Sam Khater, Freddie Macs chief economist. Purchase application activity is improving as borrowers take advantage of the decline in mortgage rates.

Latest rates

• The 30-year FRM averaged 6.58% as of August 14, 2025, down from last week when it averaged 6.63%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.49%.

• The 15-year FRM averaged 5.71%, down from last week when it averaged 5.75%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.66%.

The decline in rates helps offset the continued rise in median home prices, improving affordability. Real estate broker Redfin reports the median monthly mortgage payment fell to a seven-month low of $2,631 during the four weeks ending August 10, down $215 from its May peak of $2,846. Last week marked the 12th consecutive week that monthly payments either dropped or stayed flat.

That means that a buyer on a $3,000 monthly budget gained roughly $20,000 in purchasing power since mortgage rates hit a recent peak of 7.08% in May.

Limited window

The mortgage rates that buyers can lock in today have already priced in the likelihood that the Fed will cut rates on September 17, said Redfins head of economics research Chen Zhao. That means that mortgage rates are unlikely to drop any further when the Fed actually makes the expected cut. And the window to snag a mortgage rate in the mid-6s may be limited: Increased rate volatility is expected in coming weeks as new economic data is released.

But while rates are beginning to favor buyers, prices arent. According to Redfin, the median home price grew to $396,000 during the four weeks ending August 10, up 2.1% year over year, the fastest growth since early April.

Last week was the fifth consecutive week that price growth gained steam after dropping to a two-year low in early July.

ustomers of Capital Ones 360 Savings account may be eligible for compensation.

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• $425 million class action deal: Customers of Capital Ones 360 Savings account may be eligible for compensation.

• Alleged $2 billion in lost interest: Regulators said Capital One froze rates at 0.3% while competitors and its own newer account paid much more.

• Claims deadline Oct. 2: Settlement awaits court approval, with a final hearing set for Nov. 6.

If you had a Capital One 360 Savings account between September 2019 and June 2025, you may soon be entitled to a payout. The bank has agreed to a $425 million settlement to resolve allegations that it misled customers about the returns on its flagship savings product.

The settlement follows a 2024 class action lawsuit filed by customers in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Earlier this year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) also sued Capital One, charging that the bank cost consumers more than $2 billion in lost interest. Although the CFPB dropped its case in February, the class action moved forward leading to this large settlement.

What Capital One was accused of

Capital One heavily marketed its 360 Savings account as a high-interest, variable-rate product that would pay among the nations best yields. In practice, however, the bank allegedly froze rates at just 0.3%, even as national interest rates climbed rapidly during 2022.

Meanwhile, Capital One launched a separate 360 Performance Savings account, which eventually offered rates as high as 4.3%. Customers of the older 360 Savings account were never notified of the newer, higher-earning option, according to filings.

The CFPB called the banks earlier advertising false or otherwise misleading.

Who qualifies for payment

Anyone who held a Capital One 360 Savings account between Sept. 18, 2019, and June 16, 2025 qualifies for settlement payments.

How much will customers receive

Payments will be based on what account holders would have earned if their money had been in the 360 Performance Savings account during the same period.

In addition, customers who still maintain a 360 Savings account will see their interest rates raised. Under the terms of the settlement, the account will now earn a rate that is at least twice the national average savings rate, as calculated by the FDIC.

Key dates

• Oct. 2, 2025: Deadline to submit a claim or file objections.

• Nov. 6, 2025: Court hearing scheduled for final settlement approval.

Heres what shoppers need to know when their favorite in-store beauty section closes next year

• Ulta and Target will end their in-store beauty partnership when the current agreement runs out in August 2026.

• Until then, you can still shop Ulta Beauty at Target stores and online, and continue earning linked rewards.

• Both brands promise a smooth transition, with Ulta launching its own online marketplace and Target continuing to offer a strong beauty lineup.

If youve been a fan of the Ulta Beauty section inside Target stores, the days of shopping both stores in one are officially numbered.

Ulta and Target announced that they have mutually decided not to renew their shop-in-shop agreement, which means the Ulta-in-Target experience will officially end when the contract wraps up in August 2026.

However, theres no need to worry just yet! Until then, everything still operates as usual, both in stores and online. Plus, if you've linked your Ulta Beauty Rewards with your Target Circle account, those earned perks continue until August 2026.

For 35 years, Ulta Beauty has revolutionized how people experience beauty bringing together an unmatched assortment from mass to luxury and our partnership with Target was one of many unique ways we have brought the power of beauty to guests nationwide, Amiee Bayer-Thomas, chief retail officer, Ulta Beauty, said in a news release

As we continue to execute our Ulta Beauty Unleashed plans, were confident our wide-ranging assortment, expert services and inspiring in-store experiences will reinforce our leadership in beauty and define the next chapter of our brand.

What Shoppers Should Know

Shopping and Rewards Still WorkUntil 2026

From now through August 2026, Ulta Beauty at Target remains fully operational. You can still stroll into your local Target (or browse the mobile app or website) and get all the Ulta-branded makeup, skincare, fragrance, and more plus earn Ulta Rewards if your accounts are linked.

What Ulta Has Planned

Ulta isnt going away its focusing on growing its own game. The retailer highlights its long-standing presence (about 1,500 stores across the U.S.) and its plan to launch the Ulta Beauty Marketplace later this year, a curated online hub to bring in new brands and audiences. Essentially, Ulta is steering shoppers toward its own platforms, where rewards, a vast product mix, and salon services stay front and center.

Whats Next for Target

Target is keeping its beauty game strong. Even after the Ulta section closes, Target promises to maintain an up-to-date beauty selection beauty essentials, brand-new finds, fun product trials, and sharp pricing. The takeaway: beauty at Target stays convenient and fresh, even without the Ulta branding.

A Smooth Transition Ahead

Both companies want consumers to know that this will be a seamless hand-off. They pledge to preserve product availability and a smooth shopping experience through the end of the partnership, plus ensure support for their teams and partners during the transition.

Were proud of our shared success with Ulta Beauty and the experience weve delivered together, Rick Gomez, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Target, said in the news release.

The magic of shopping for beauty at Target is the combination of on-trend products that delight consumers with an inspiring and convenient shopping experience. We look forward to whats ahead and remain committed to offering the beauty experience consumers have come to expect from Target one centered on an exciting mix of beauty brands with continuous newness, all at an unbeatable value.

More Americans now view moderate drinking as harmful to health

• Only 54% of U.S. adults now say they drink alcohol the lowest level Gallup has ever recorded in its nearly 90-year history.

• For the first time ever, a majority (53%) believes that moderate drinking (one or two drinks a day) is bad for ones health up significantly from earlier years.

• Even among those who do drink, consumption is down: just 24% had a drink in the past 24 hours, and the average number of drinks per week is a record-low 2.8.
  

For the first time in Gallups nearly nine-decade tracking, only 54% of American adults say they drink alcohol.

Thats a dramatic drop from the 60%+ range that held steady from 1997 all the way up to 2023.

The decline has been sharp: 62% in 2023, then 58% in 2024, and now down to 54% in 2025. Those earlier dip levels were rare only once before in all that time making this the most sustained fall Gallup has ever seen.

What the Findings Mean for Consumers

Drinking Isnt as Popularor Frequent

Fewer people are drinking, and those who are are doing so less often. Only 24% of drinkers had a drink in the past day, and a whopping 40% had not touched alcohol in over a week. That puts the average number of drinks per week among all adults at just 2.8, the lowest since 1996.

Moderation Is Harmful Is the Majority View

Gallups poll reveals that 53% of Americans now believe moderate drinking is bad for health and this is the first time ever that more people feel this way. By contrast, just 6% think moderate drinking is good for health, while 37% say it makes no difference. This marks a dramatic shift from earlier years when many thought moderate drinking had health benefits.

Changes Across Demographics

The drop in drinking is happening broadly but its sharper in some groups. Womens self-reported drinking fell 11 points, to 51%; men dropped 5 points, to 57%. Among young adults (1834), only 50% now drink, down from 59% a couple of years ago. Republican drinkers also fell sharply (19 points, to 46%), while Democrats stayed relatively steady (61%).

Final Take for Consumers

Whether youre rethinking your own habits or just curious about bigger trends, the data show a clear cultural and personal shift. Not only are fewer people drinking, theyre doing it lessand importantly, theyre increasingly questioning whether even moderate alcohol use is worth it.