Millions of Americans have already filed their federal income tax returns and many are eagerly awaiting their refunds. The Internal Revenue Service is reminding these taxpayers there is an easy way to track the status of those payments.
The tool is called Wheres My Refund? It provides an easy, fast, and secure way for taxpayers to confirm receipt of their return and track their refund status without calling the IRS.
For taxpayers who file electronically, refund status updates are typically available within 24 hours of filing. However, those who file paper returns should expect to wait about four weeks before the tool provides an update.
The "Wheres My Refund?" tool is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days week through the IRS website and the IRS2Go mobile app, which also offers additional tax assistance and payment options. The tool can provide refund details for tax years 2024, 2023, and 2022.
What you need to check your refund status
To use "Wheres My Refund?", taxpayers must provide the following information:
Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
Filing status (e.g., single, married filing jointly)
Exact refund amount as shown on the tax return
The IRS updates refund statuses once per day, usually overnight, so taxpayers dont need to check multiple times a day.
Refund delivery and potential delays
Most taxpayers who file electronically and choose direct deposit will receive their refund within 21 days. Those without a bank account can explore options to open one through FDIC-insured banks or credit unions.
However, several factors may cause delays in receiving a refund, including:
Errors or missing information on the tax return
Corrections to credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC)
Bank processing times that affect deposit dates
If additional information is needed, the IRS will contact taxpayers by mail. Those who need to inquire about their refund by phone or in person can only do so if:
21 days have passed since e-filing
Six weeks have passed since mailing a paper return
The "Wheres My Refund?" tool instructs them to contact the IRS
Changes in Refund Amounts
In some cases, the IRS may adjust a taxpayers refund amount due to corrections related to tax credits or offsets for past-due taxes and debts. Taxpayers can find more details about reduced refunds at IRS.gov.
The deadline for most taxpayers to file their 2024 tax return, pay any owed taxes, or request an extension is April 15.
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Black Friday promotions trigger urgency and impulsive online buying
Convenience features like one-click checkout fuel overspending and debt
Experts urge shoppers to add friction, track triggers and plan purchases
Americans spent $10.8 billion online on Black Friday last year, according to Adobe Analytics, reflecting the powerful psychological pull of deep discounts and limited-time offers. Retail researchers say the annual surge in promotions creates a sense of urgency that can override financial caution. When shoppers are convinced a deal is fleeting, they are more likely to buy first and think later.
The widespread use of one-click checkout, stored credit-card information and buy now, pay later loans amplifies that impulse. These tools promise convenience and instant gratification a quick dopamine spike that often comes before consumers take a moment to consider whether a purchase is necessary. As a result, many shoppers overspend during the holidays and wind up carrying debt well into the next year.
Experts warn of psychological triggers behind holiday purchases
Financial therapists say the mechanics of Black Friday deals intentionally play on emotional vulnerabilities. Sales can serve as an outlet for stress, boredom or a desire for reward, especially during a busy and sometimes emotionally charged holiday season. Without guardrails, these forces can push consumers into patterns of unhealthy spending.
Nathan Astle, a certified financial therapist, recommends removing the runway for impulse purchases by deleting stored payment information from online accounts, apps and mobile wallets, in a New York Times report. Anything that makes spending slightly less convenient reduces the likelihood of overspending, he said.
Other experts advise adding intentional delays to the buying process. Strategies include setting a 24-hour waiting period before making any discretionary purchase or listening to a full song before pressing the checkout button a small pause that can interrupt the emotional rush that leads to impulse buying.
Small behavioral shifts can rein in holiday overspending
Researchers say introducing points of friction can help curb automatic spending behaviors. For in-store shoppers, this can mean carrying items by hand instead of using a cart, intentionally limiting how much can be purchased. For online shoppers, creating wish lists instead of loading items into a cart can often provide the same sense of satisfaction without completing the purchase.
Planning ahead also makes a significant difference. Financial counselors recommend making a list of what you truly need and noting regular prices before Black Friday begins. Armed with this information, shoppers are better able to determine whether a discount is genuine or artificially inflated.
Another key step is identifying personal triggers whether certain product categories, social-media ads or influencer recommendations. Unfollow or mute accounts that nudge you toward impulse buys, and steer clear of haul videos that glamorize excessive consumption.
Experts emphasize that holiday overspending is often a symptom of deeper emotional patterns. Keeping a money journal can help shoppers recognize what they were feeling before, during and after each purchase. That awareness can reveal hidden motivations such as loneliness, stress or boredom that fuel unnecessary spending.
While Black Friday deals promise big savings, financial counselors say the best bargain may be slowing down long enough to understand the forces driving your decisions.
Tips to avoid holiday overspending
Delete saved payment info: Removing stored cards and one-click options forces a pause before you buy.
Use a 24-hour rule: Wait one day before purchasing anything that isnt essential.
Add friction: Carry items in-store instead of using a cart, or create an online wish list instead of adding to your cart.
Make a must-have list: Decide what you actually need before sales begin and note regular prices to spot real deals.
Identify your triggers: Mute influencers, skip haul videos and avoid product categories that tempt you.
Play a buying pause song: Listen to one full track before checking out online to disrupt impulse spending.
Keep a money journal: Track what you buy and how you feel before and after purchases to catch emotional spending patterns.
Mandatory software change affects thousands of A320-family jets worldwide
Airlines warned the repair must be done before next flight, risking cancellations
Solar radiation glitch linked to incident that injured passengers on JetBlue flight
Airbus has ordered an urgent software change for a significant number of its best-selling A320-family jets after determining that intense solar radiation can corrupt data used by critical flight-control systems. The European planemaker said the issue emerged after a recent incident and acknowledged the fix would cause operational disruptions across global fleets.
A bulletin sent to airlines and reviewed by Reuters says the software change must be completed before each affected aircrafts next routine flight, raising the likelihood of widespread cancellations and delays. The timing coincides with one of the busiest U.S. and international travel weekends of the year.
Incident tied to sudden altitude drop on JetBlue flight
Industry sources attribute the unexpected recall to an October 30 JetBlue flight from Cancun to Newark that experienced a sudden, uncommanded loss of altitude. Several passengers were reportedly injured during the drop. The crew diverted Flight 1230 to Tampa, where the aircraft landed safely. The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation into the event.
JetBlue and the FAA declined immediate comment.
Regulators preparing emergency order
Airbus said the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is preparing an emergency directive requiring airlines to install the fix. For roughly two-thirds of the affected jets, the repair involves reverting to an earlier version of the flight-control softwarea process expected to take about two hours, according to industry officials.
Significant strain on global maintenance capacity
Even a short grounding is expected to add pressure to already-strained airline repair operations. Maintenance facilities are coping with labor shortages, limited capacity and a backlog caused by hundreds of Airbus aircraft already sidelined for unrelated engine inspections and repairs.
Hundreds of aircraft may also require hardware changes rather than software alone, which could result in much longer delays.
At the time of Airbuss announcement, roughly 3,000 A320-family jets were airborne worldwide.
Airlines begin identifying affected aircraft
American Airlines and Hungary-based Wizz Air said they have already determined which jets in their fleets will need the mandatory software change. United Airlines said its fleet is not affected.
Airbus, while acknowledging the potential for significant passenger disruption, said the fix is necessary to ensure safe operation across the global fleet.
If your flight is disrupted
If you're notified of a delay or cancellation
Check your airlines app immediately. Most carriers rebook automatically, but better options may be available if you act quickly.
Look for partner-airline transfers. Many airlines have interline agreements that allow rebooking on other carriers during widespread disruptions.
Confirm whether the aircraft issue is safety-related. While the Airbus directive is precautionary, airlines may offer more flexible rebooking if safety maintenance is required.
Know your rights
U.S. passengers: There are no federal compensation rules for delays, but you are entitled to a refund if your flight is canceled or significantly changed and you choose not to travel.
EU passengers: Under EU261, travelers flying from the EU or on EU carriers may be eligible for compensation if the disruption is not classified as an extraordinary circumstance. Airlines may argue the emergency directive qualifies as extraordinary, but refunds and rebooking rights still apply.
Hotel and meal coverage: Some airlines provide vouchers during maintenance-related overnight delaysask, even if it's not automatically offered.
If you're stuck during a connection
Go directly to an airline agent, not just customer service lines. Agents at smaller gates often have shorter queues.
Use alternative airports. Ask whether rebooking through nearby airports (Baltimore instead of D.C., Providence instead of Boston, etc.) could get you moving faster.
Track your bags. If rebooked, confirm your checked bags are retagged properly; many delays result in stranded luggage.
If your travel is time-sensitive
Ask for endorsements. Airlines can authorize another carrier to honor your ticket at no extra charge.
Consider refund + rebook. Sometimes buying a new ticket, even on a different airline or airport, may be faster than waiting for operational recovery.
Document all expenses. Keep receipts for hotels, meals, ridesharesthese may help with reimbursement or travel insurance claims.
ResumeGenius analyzed data to identify high-paying, fast-growing careers best suited for introverted workers.
Each job pays at least $75,000 annually and offers strong long-term growth and autonomy.
Tech, data, and specialized trade roles dominate the top 10 list for 2026.
If traditional networking, constant meetings, and high-pressure group projects make you want to run in the opposite direction, youre not aloneespecially if you identify as an introvert. And while introverts often bring strong analytical skills, focus, and creativity to the table, the job search can feel stacked against them.
A new ResumeGenius report aims to change that. The High-Paying Jobs for Introverts Report highlights 10 well-compensated career paths where quieter workers can truly excel.
The analysis leans on recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and O*NET Online data to pinpoint roles that dont require heavy social interaction but still offer growth, flexibility, and strong earning potential.
Our list of best-paying jobs for introverts reveals 10 jobs in technical and specialist fields where introverts can let their skills speak for themselves. These roles favor focused problem solving and de-emphasize social interactions, so they're great for workers who rarely find themselves speaking up in meetings or leading projects, Nathan Soto, Career Expert at Resume Genius, said in a news release.
In these 'skills-first' environments, respect is earned through tangible output, and introverts have a long-term competitive advantage."
Methodology
To build the list, ResumeGenius focused on four criteria: autonomy, low social interaction, salary, and job opportunity.
Only roles with:
A minimum median salary of $75,000, and
At least 3% projected job growth over the next decade
were eligible. Researchers then evaluated how well each occupation aligned with introverted work preferences, giving priority to jobs that support independent work, deep focus, and fewer day-to-day interactions. The remaining roles were ranked by median annual wage, resulting in 10 standout careers for introverts heading into 2026.
The Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs for Introverts
Software Developer $131,450 median salary; 15% growth
Actuary $125,770 median salary; 22% growth
Data Scientist $112,590 median salary; 34% growth
Elevator & Escalator Installer/Repairer $106,580 median salary; 5% growth
Financial Analyst $101,910 median salary; 6% growth
UX Designer $95,380 median salary; 7% growth
Electrical Power-Line Installer/Repairer $92,560 median salary; 7% growth
Operations Research Analyst $91,290 median salary; 21% growth
Logistician (listed as operations research analyst in source, but logistician aligns with the data provided) $79,450 median salary; 3% growth
Market Research Analyst $76,950 median salary; 7% growth
From technical roles to specialized trades, the findings make one thing clear: introverts have more high-earning, low-interaction options than everand many of them are growing fast.
A wave of new federal recalls and safety warnings highlights continuing concerns about unsafe baby products, risky household items and defective outdoor gearmany sold online through Amazon, Walmart and other major platforms. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) this week announced more than a dozen recalls and hazard advisories, covering everything from hair dryers and bicycle helmets to infant walkers, bath seats and portable bed rails.
While no deaths have been reported, officials warn that several recalled products pose life-threatening risks, including electrocution, asphyxiation, entrapment, falls, drowning, burns and explosion hazards. Consumers are urged to stop using all affected items immediately.
This Weeks Major Recalls
McLee Creations hair dryer recall for electrocution hazard
Consumers using MyOnlyStyler Root Booster Hair Dryers should stop use and seek a refund.
Hair dryers lack immersion protection, risking serious shock or electrocution
About 740 units sold on Amazon from November 2022 to October 2025
Consumers should stop using and request a refund
McLee Creations LLC is recalling about 740 MyOnlyStyler Root Booster Hair Dryers due to a risk of serious injury or death from electrocution and shock. The affected dryers, sold on Amazon.com between November 2022 and October 2025, lack an immersion protection device required for safety. No injuries have been reported.
The hazard
The recalled handheld hair dryers do not include an immersion protection device. This defect poses a significant risk of electrocution or shock if the dryer falls into water while plugged in.
What to do
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled hair dryers and visit the companys website to request a refund.
Parents should stop using affected childrens and youth helmets and apply for a refund.
Helmets fail to meet federal bicycle helmet safety standards
About 24,300 units sold from June 2024 to February 2025 on Amazon and Walmart.com
Consumers should stop using and request a refund
Outdoor Master childrens and youth bicycle helmets, sold by Maysun Products, Inc., are being recalled due to a failure to meet mandatory safety standards. About 24,300 helmets are affected. No injuries have been reported.
The hazard
The recalled helmets do not comply with positional stability and coverage requirements, potentially failing to protect users in a crash and increasing the risk of serious head injury or death.
What to do
Consumers should stop using these helmets immediately and visit Outdoor Masters website or contact the company to request a refund.
Parents should stop using Rotinyard convertible high chairs sold on Amazon and request a refund.
High chairs lack required restraint system, posing deadly fall and entrapment hazards
About 130 units sold from March to June 2025 on Amazon
Consumers should stop use and contact Rotinyard for a refund
Rotinyard is recalling convertible high chairs due to violations of safety standards. The chairs lack an attached restraint system and present a risk of deadly falls and entrapment for infants. No injuries have been reported.
The hazard
The high chairs were sold without the required restraint system, creating a risk of babies falling. There is also a risk of a childs head becoming trapped between the seat and tray.
What to do
Consumers should stop using the recalled high chairs immediately and contact Rotinyard for a refund.
Ozark Trail camping stove recall for explosion and burn hazard
Campers should stop using the affected Ozark Trail stoves and seek a refund from Walmart.
Stoves can explode or catch fire, leading to burns and fire hazards
About 201,000 units sold at Walmart from March 2023 to October 2025
Refunds are available; 16 injuries reported
China Window Industry Co., Ltd is recalling about 201,000 Ozark Trail Tabletop 1-Burner Butane Camping Stoves due to explosion and fire hazards. The stoves were sold nationwide at Walmart stores and online.
The hazard
The stoves may explode or catch fire, creating a risk of burns and fire. There have been 26 reports of stoves exploding or catching fire, including 16 reports of injuries such as second-degree burns.
What to do
Consumers should stop using these stoves immediately and contact Walmart for a refund.
Sofoliana and Glotika baby lounger recall for infant safety
Parents should stop using Sofoliana and Glotika baby loungers and request a refund due to fall and entrapment risks.
Loungers violate infant sleep product safety standards, posing fall and entrapment hazards
About 200 units sold on Amazon from August to October 2025
Refunds available; no injuries reported
Shenzhen Bosen Trading Co., Ltd., dba Bosen US, is recalling Sofoliana and Glotika baby loungers sold on Amazon due to violations of the mandatory standard for infant sleep products. No injuries have been reported.
The hazard
The loungers have sides too low to contain an infant and openings at the foot that are wider than allowed, creating risks of falls and entrapment. They also lack a stand, posing a fall risk if used on elevated surfaces.
What to do
Consumers should stop using the loungers immediately and contact Bosen US for a refund.
Vivohome bed rail recall for adult entrapment hazard
Adults using Vivohome portable bed rails should stop use and request a refund due to asphyxiation risk.
Bed rails violate mandatory safety standards, risking entrapment and asphyxiation
About 400 units sold on Amazon and Wayfair from November 2023 to September 2024
Consumers should stop use and seek a refund
Yiwu Nachen E-Commerce Firm, dba Vivohome, is recalling about 400 adult portable bed rails due to a risk of entrapment and asphyxiation. No injuries have been reported.
The hazard
The bed rails do not meet the mandatory standard for adult portable bed rails and lack the required warning labels. Users can become trapped between the rail and the mattress, risking serious injury or death.
What to do
Consumers should stop using the recalled bed rails immediately and contact Vivohome for a refund.
Company contact
Vivohome toll-free at 866-848-6463 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or by email at support@3qmart.com.
CPSC also issued multiple urgent warnings about unsafe products sold through online marketplaces:
DHGate Hair Dryers Lack immersion protection; consumers instructed to destroy and dispose of the dryers. ALEBEE Bicycle Helmets Fail retention and labeling standards; consumers should cut straps and discard. Fyzvexo Infant Walkers Can pass through doorways and lack step-stopping features, posing deadly fall risks. Mchoter LED Lights Easy battery access violates Reeses Law; risk of child battery ingestion. MATTITY-CAT Infant Walkers Similar fall and entrapment hazards as Fyzvexo models. Lucakuins Infant Bath Seats Tip over easily; entrapment risks could lead to drowning.
Prevention Tips
How to Avoid Dangerous Consumer Products
Buy from reputable brands with clear safety certifications.
Check for UL, ASTM, or CPSC compliance labels before purchasing.
Avoid infant sleep products not explicitly approved for sleep.
Register products so manufacturers can contact you about recalls.
Review online recalls weeklyunsafe imports frequently appear on major marketplaces.
Experts say many Black Friday mistakes happen before you start shopping from skipping research to ignoring helpful AI tools.
Not every sale is real: Watch for price hikes disguised as discounts and for sketchy sellers offering deals that seem too good to be true.
Some items just arent worth buying this weekend, including seasonal apparel, off-brand TVs, and the newest iPhone.
Black Friday week is officially here and while the excitement is real, so is the skepticism.
Shoppers know that not every doorbuster is actually a deal, and with prices still elevated across plenty of categories, its harder than ever to tell whats truly worth buying. Thats why going into the season with a strategy matters.
To help sort the real bargains from the fake-outs, ConsumerAffairs interviewed Bobby Ghoshal, CEO of Dupe.com, a platform that uses AI to help shoppers find lower-priced alternatives to todays most sought-after products.
Ghoshal says many of the most common shopping mistakes happen before we even add items to our carts from buying at the wrong time to falling for misleading sale tags. Heres what consumers need to know to stay on budget, spot smart buys, and avoid the most expensive Black Friday pitfalls.
Top three mistakes
While some sales have already kicked off, theres still time to prepare and mistakes to avoid. Ghoshal shared his top three mistakes consumers can make this Black Friday:
Going in blind. Some consumers still are not doing the research they need to in order to make smart purchasing decisions. They see what they want promoted by their favorite influencer, identify a 40% off sale at a trusted retailer, and assume thats the best they can do. In order to have a successful shopping season, we must do our research and go in with a plan. Yes, it seems like a lot of work but there are tools to help.
Not using AI shopping tools. If you want to secure everything on your list for the best prices, AI is the way to go.
Playing loosey goosey with your budget. Make your budget ahead of time and stick with it. Its so easy to get seduced by sitewide sales boasting 50% off. However, if its not in your budget, its not a good buy. Separately, if you budget $50 for a person on your list and end up saving $10, do not apply that to a separate item on your list. Thats a slippery slope that can leave you spending more overall.
How to spot a fake sale
Though everything you see online may look like a great deal, not every sale is what meets the eye. AI makes shopping easier, but it also makes easier, and its imperative for consumers to know how to spot a fake sale versus a real one.
Ghoshal says a fake sale can be defined in two ways:
A trusted brand that increases the price of popular items to make their sitewide sale look a little more appealing. The first can be a little tough to identify if you havent been paying attention to price histories of the items on your shopping list. When its a brand that we know and trust, we assume a 40-50% sitewide sale is a good enough deal. Do your homework beforehand AND price compare using trusted apps and shopping sites.
Sketchy sellers that are trying to pull one over on the consumer. If youre unfamiliar with the seller and the price seems too good to be true, trust your instincts. Look into their review history. If they dont have many reviews and the ones they do have are less than stellar, you know youre getting scammed. If they have just a handful of reviews that are overall positive, but worded pretty similarly, thats also a red flag.
Items to skip this Black Friday
As youre looking at your gift lists, there are some things you may want to skip during Black Friday. Ghoshal recommended a few items not to race for this weekend:
Seasonal apparel. We will never see great deals on jackets and winter gear this early into the season. Retailers arent really incentivized to offer the deepest discounts on winter apparel this early in the season. If you want a deal on jackets, wait until spring when they will be clearing their inventory for florals.
Off-brand TVs. It doesnt make sense to buy an off-brand TV during Black Friday when there are so many solid deals on reputable brands. Sure, you can find great deals on these sets, but they likely wont last through the season. If youre in the market for a TV, spend a few extra bucks on a name brand. Youre still going to get a fantastic deal and be happier in the long run.
The newest iPhone. Apple never has great Black Friday deals, so if youre buying any Apple product, I suggest looking at Best Buy, Target, or Walmart. Either way, they just released this new iPhone. You may see some discounts in the form of gift card bundles with this iPhone, but youre still going to be paying a premium.
of ConsumerAffairs
