Consumer News: Sales of existing homes fell to the lowest level since 1995 last year

With new tax laws, its not too early to start preparing

• The IRS officially kicks off the 2026 tax filing season on January 26.

• New tax law provisions and updated forms could affect deductions, credits, and refunds.

• A suite of online tools and resources is available to help taxpayers file accurately.

Its that time of year again the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has officially opened the 2026 tax filing season.

Starting January 26, 2026, taxpayers across the country can begin submitting their federal tax returns for the 2025 tax year. Whether youre a seasoned filer or tackling taxes for the first time in a while, knowing whats happening this year can make the process smoother and less stressful.

The Internal Revenue Service is ready to help taxpayers meet their tax filing and payment obligations during the 2026 filing season, IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano said in a news release.

As always, the IRS workforce remains vigilant and dedicated to their mission to serve the American taxpaying public. At the same time, IRS information systems have been updated to incorporate the new tax laws and are ready to efficiently and effectively process taxpayer returns during the filing season.

Whats different this year

The IRS anticipates receiving about 164 million individual tax returns during this filing season, with most people filing electronically. The deadline to file and pay any taxes owed remains April 15, 2026.

One of the big talking points for this year is a group of new tax provisions that took effect under recent tax law changes often referred to in IRS communications as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.

These changes affect how certain income and deductions are handled, including updated rules for things like tips, overtime, and car loan interest. Because of this, the IRS has rolled out new or revised forms (like Schedule 1-A) that you may need to use when preparing your return.

To help taxpayers navigate these updates, the IRS is promoting a variety of online tools and resources on IRS.gov. Through your personal IRS Online Account, you can check your tax records, view payment history, access important forms (like W-2s and 1099s), and track your refund status once your return is submitted.

Takeaway tips: How to make filing easier

Here are some practical tips to help you get through tax season with confidence:

1. Start early and stay organized. Gather your W-2s, 1099s, and any other income documents now so youre not scrambling as the deadline approaches.

2. Use IRS online tools. Setting up or accessing your IRS Online Account gives you a snapshot of your prior tax details and helps you navigate filings and payments more efficiently.

3. Choose e-file with direct deposit. Electronic filing combined with direct deposit is usually faster and more secure most refunds show up a few weeks after filing.

4. Watch out for . The IRS will never contact you first by email or text asking for personal financial information be cautious and verify anything that seems suspicious.

Tax season doesnt have to be overwhelming. With a little preparation and the right resources, you can breeze through your return and make the most of the benefits available to you in 2026.

More choices, smarter discovery, and budget-friendly products designed to help you feel your best

• Target is boosting its wellness offerings with a major 30% assortment expansion in 2026.

• The retailer is adding thousands of affordable products many under $10 across nutrition, supplements, self-care, apparel, and more.

• New in-store and digital experiences will make wellness easier and more personal for shoppers.

Target is turning wellness into a central part of its 2026 shopping experience, and it wants consumers to take notice.

The big-box retailer just announced a significant expansion of its health and wellness assortment a move that brings more products, more ways to shop and more options that fit a range of goals and budgets. Whether youre building a morning routine, trying out new supplements or refreshing your self-care shelf, Target is stacking its shelves to meet you where you are.

"About 70% of guests are already shopping wellness at Target and right in time for the new year, we're bringing them even more newness and value by adding some of the most trusted, relevant and inspiring brands across our assortment," Lisa Roath, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer of food, essentials and beauty, Target, said in a news release.

"Our goal is to make wellness really accessible fun, easy, affordable, and personalized so consumers can focus on building routines that help them look and feel their best."

Whats new and why it matters

At the heart of Targets 2026 wellness push is a 30% growth in items available under that umbrella. That adds thousands of new products across categories like nutrition, beauty, supplements, apparel, and everyday wellbeing goodies many of them exclusive to Target or priced under $10, so trying something new doesnt feel like a splurge.

Target merchandisers say this expansion reflects what customers are actually shopping for: more protein-packed snacks, immunity-supporting vitamins, functional beverages, and easy self-care treats.

To support these trends, the store added on-trend brands in supplements and drinks, dermatologist-backed skincare, performance-ready workout apparel, and practical family wellness options.

But its not just about products its also about how you discover them. Target is updating both its physical stores and digital channels with new wellness hubs, personalized recommendations on the website and app, and curated in-aisle displays that highlight trending items. For those who like trying before buying, the retailer is also rolling out in-store wellness events with samples and giveaways.

Takeaway tips for shoppers

• Start with what matters to you. Before browsing the expanded aisles (online or in store), think about your wellness goals better sleep, more protein, self-care or a refreshed beauty routine so you can narrow your options without feeling overwhelmed.

• Look for value picks.Thousands of items in the new assortment are priced under $10, meaning you can experiment with wellness products without stretching your budget.

• Use Target tools to your advantage. Check out the Wellness Hub online or in the Target app for personalized recommendations and easy navigation.

Plus tips to eat fast food without paying sit-down prices

• Fast food isnt cheap anymore What used to be a quick, budget meal now routinely costs $13$20, even at chains once known for value.

• Price creep hit quietly Portion sizes stayed similar, but menu prices didnt, pushing fast food into sit-down restaurant territory.

• Small tweaks still save money Skip combos, order value or kids items, and use apps or off-peak deals to cut a few dollars per order.

It used to be that a quick drive-thru run at your favorite fast-food spot could feed a family without much thought of the financial impacts.

But as Allrecipes recently reported, that era is fading fast. They recently broke down the most expensive fast-food chain in the country and the results have a few surprises worth sharing.

The fast food chains diners say are no longer budget-friendly

Chipotle

AllRecipes points out that Chipotles price increases feel especially noticeable because many customers remember what it used to cost. A standard chicken burrito that once ran about $7.50 now costs $10 or more and premium bowls with carne asada and guac can exceed $16.

On Facebook, one shopper compared the cost of making a similar bowl at home versus ordering Chipotle. The homemade version came out to roughly $2.67, compared to more than $12 at the restaurant, fueling ongoing frustration over value.

Five Guys

Five Guys has built a cult following around fresh burgers and overflowing fry cups, but its prices now rival many sit-down restaurants. At many locations, a cheeseburger alone costs around $13.59. Fries start near $4.69. Add a drink, tax, and tip, and a basic meal can easily cross $20.

Online, shoppers have shared receipts topping $50 for just two meals. One widely shared Reddit post showed a total of nearly $60 for two burgers, fries, and sodas, prompting comparisons to lower-priced competitors like In-N-Out.

Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box was once known for its late-night value menus for night owls but theyve recently been moving into premium pricing territory. For example, some large combo meals now approach $16.

On Reddit, longtime customers say prices have doubled while portion sizes appear smaller. One commenter even said the Jumbo Jack burger is now more of a 3 bites and its gone snack.

Jersey Mikes

Even sandwich chains are feeling the pinch. A regular-sized sub at Jersey Mikes can approach $12, while a giant version of premium sandwiches nears $20 before sides.

Many customers still defend the quality. Several Redditors say they split giant subs across multiple meals to justify the price, treating them more like grocery replacements than fast food.

Panda Express

As AllRecipes points out, Panda Express still delivers large portions, but prices have steadily climbed. Plates with premium entres often land near $14, and the Bigger Plate can exceed $16 depending on selections.

Reddit threads frequently point to nostalgia for earlier pricing. Citing that Panda used to be a good value, but those times have long passed.

Shake Shack

Shake Shack may still carry the fast food label, but pricing tells a different story. Specialty burgers regularly push past $15, and adding fries and a drink can send totals above $25.

AllRecipes pointed to a 2024 Preply consumer pricing study that labeled Shake Shack the most overpriced fast food chain in the country. Shoppers online echo the sentiment, often praising the taste while questioning whether the portions justify the cost.

Wendys

Even traditional fast food giants arent immune. A Baconator combo that once cost around $6$7 now frequently exceeds $13.

Reddit users argue Wendys prices have risen faster than competitors, especially on value menu items. Many point out that McDonalds still offers bundle deals that keep per-item costs lower in comparison.

A few smart ways to save on fast-food

Skip the combos and build your own

Combo meals are designed for convenience, not necessarily savings.

Youll usually save by breaking up your meal and ordering the following:

• One value sandwich
• One add-on side
• Water (or app-discounted drink)

This can knock $2$4 off a typical combo without reducing calories or portions much.

Look for the hidden value items

Most chains still have value food but its just buried and you have to seek it out.

Think:

• Smaller sandwiches
• Snack wraps
• Kids menu items (especially for sides)

Many of these arent on the main menu boards anymore, but theyre still orderable.

Time your visit and save

Menu prices and promos can change at many chains depending on when you visit.

• Late afternoon and late night often trigger flash deals. For example, Taco Bell often runs late-night cravings deals in their app and Burger King offers mid-afternoon Whopper deals on occasion.
• Breakfast menus are usually cheaper and some places even serve breakfast all day long.
• Some locations run localized promos mid-week to boost slow traffic. For example, my local Chick-fil-A offers a free breakfast item every Wednesday morning.

A typical buyer needs about seven years and no unexpected expenses

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Saving for a down payment remains one of the biggest barriers to homeownership in the U.S., even as housing market conditions show signs of improvement.

• In 2025, the typical U.S. household needs about seven years to save for a standard down payment, down sharply from a peak of roughly 12 years in 2022, according to a new analysis from Realtor.com.

• Despite the improvement, the timeline is still about twice as long as it was before the pandemic, reflecting higher down payment amounts and persistently weaker household savings rates.

In addition to mortgage rates and high home prices, saving for a down payment has become a significant barrier to home ownership. A new Realtor.com analysis shows that while slowing home price growth and modest gains in affordability have shortened the down payment timeline since its 2022 peak, todays buyers are still facing far steeper hurdles than before the pandemic.

The typical household now needs about seven years to save for a down payment, a meaningful improvement from the record highs reached during the height of the pandemic-era housing frenzy. At that point, intense competition and rapidly rising prices pushed the timeline into double digits, briefly stretching to well over a decade.

Even so, the current environment is far from normal. Before the pandemic, many buyers could reasonably expect to save for a down payment in just three to four years. Todays longer timeline reflects a combination of elevated home prices and weaker savings behavior.

Higher prices and intensified competition

Higher home prices and intensified competition have pushed typical down payments higher, at the same time that inflation and rising household expenses have reduced savings rates, said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com.

Although conditions have improved since 2022, todays timeline shows that saving for a home takes meaningfully longer than it did before the pandemic, especially in high-cost markets.

One of the biggest constraints is how much households are able to set aside. In 2025, the U.S. personal savings rate averaged about 5.1% of income, well below the pre-pandemic norm of 6.5% and far below the unusually high levels seen earlier in the decade. With less money being saved each year, it takes longer to accumulate the cash needed to buy a home.

More money is required

At the same time, the size of the typical down payment has climbed dramatically. In the third quarter of 2019, buyers typically put down about $13,900. By the third quarter of 2025, that figure had more than doubled to roughly $30,400, significantly extending the savings horizon for many households.

The impact is most severe in the nations most expensive housing markets. In high-cost coastal metros, saving for a down payment can take decades. In the San FranciscoOaklandFremont metro area, for example, the typical down payment exceeds $245,000, translating into more than 36 years of saving at current income and savings rates. Similar timelines are seen in San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where the down payment alone can rival or exceed a full year of household income.

In high-cost markets, the typical down payment alone exceeds a full year of household income, said Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com. That reality makes homeownership feel unattainable for many buyers, particularly younger households trying to enter the market for the first time.

The price makes a big difference

By contrast, a very different picture emerges in many Southern metros and more affordable regions. Cities such as Atlanta, Houston, Jacksonville, and Oklahoma City offer down payment timelines of fewer than five years, while some marketslike San Antonio or Virginia Beachrequire as little as one to two years of saving.

Military hubs stand out in particular, thanks to widespread use of VA loans, which often allow buyers to purchase with little or no down payment. In these areas, savings can be redirected toward closing costs rather than large upfront cash requirements, dramatically shortening the path to ownership.

Despite the challenges, the desire to own a home remains strong. About three-quarters of Americans still view homeownership as part of the American dream. For first-time buyers, easing rent growth in some markets may provide an opportunity to rebuild savings, while repeat buyers can use accumulated equity and savings to manage higher mortgage payments.

Nearly every category is showing impressive upgrades in technology

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

All week, technology companies have unveiled new products and visions of products for the future that have impressed attendees at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. AI and robots have gotten the most attention, but tech companies seem to have upped their game over recent years.

Some of the most talked-about innovations and product reveals from CES 2026 this week include AI, robotics, displays, wearables, laptops, and unexpected gadgets. AI integration across devices was a dominant theme its no longer just a buzzword but embedded in appliances, wearables, and robotics.

• Humanoid & home robots: LGs CLOiD aims to assist with household chores (folding laundry, interacting with smart appliances) and was a showfloor highlight.

• Boston Dynamics robots with Gemini AI: Atlas and Spot now understand more natural language and practical tasks thanks to advanced AI integration.

• AI voice assistants: Lenovo announced Qira, a personal AI assistant that learns routines across phones, laptops, and wearables.

Next-gen displays and TVs

• Massive 130 Micro RGB TV: Samsung revealed what it calls the worlds largest Micro RGB display with advanced AI picture and sound tech.

• LGs latest OLED lineup: New OLED TVs include brighter panels, ultra-thin Wallpaper designs, and the first 4K 120 Hz cloud gaming TVs powered by AI processors.

• Other major TV brands like Amazon and TCL also showcased new art and high-brightness TVs.

Laptops and PCs

• Dell XPS revival: New XPS 16 and XPS 14 laptops powered by Intels latest Panther Lake Core Ultra CPUs were introduced.

• Rollable and concept PCs: Lenovos rollable gaming laptop and auto-twist convertible designs drew attention.

• The push toward AI-enhanced PCs (Copilot+, integrated models) continues across the show.

Wearables and head-mounted tech

• AI smart glasses: Multiple AI eyewear concepts were unveiled XGIMI MemoMind glasses that look like normal eyewear and Solos AirGo V2 with multimodal AI functions.

Smart home and domestic tech

• Robot vacuums with legs: Roborocks stair-climbing vacuum was a standout on the floor.

• Smart locks & refrigerators: UWB-enabled smart locks and AI-equipped fridges with barcode scanning are emerging in the connected home space.

• Govee debuted new smart lighting products ahead of the opening.

Audio and gaming gadgets

• AI-powered headphones & accessories: Razers Project Motoko AI headphones and Corsairs Stream Deck keyboard showed how gaming gear is evolving.

Surprising and novel tech

• Unusual or fun devices: from smart LEGO Smart Brick interactive play components to quirky items like AI pets and sensory gadgets making the rounds in online coverage.

• Beauty & wellness innovations: LOral introduced a light-based hair straightener and LED face mask tech aimed at reducing damage and enhancing skin care.

Many reports from Las Vegas underscore that AI in the physical world and robotics are potentially the biggest CES themes this year, with chip makers like Nvidia/AMD and device makers pushing practical AI use cases.

The show runs through Friday, January 9.