Consumer News: Best states for young people to buy a home

How smart shoppers "coupon" at Costco without coupons

• Learn Costcos sale cycles, and then combine with the monthly savings book. Otherwise, if you miss it, youre paying full price for no reason.

• Read the price tags or youre guessing what kind of a deal youre getting. $0.97 means clearance, $0.00 can be a killer deal, and the asterisk means its about to disappear.

• Stack what Costco does allow, which includes instant rebates, 2% rewards, credit card cash back, and then grab a price adjustment if it drops in price within 30 days.

When you think about shopping at Costco, the word coupon doesnt immediately come to mind.

After all, you wont ever find Costco coupons in the Sunday paper, or promo codes, or an app with digital coupons ready to be clipped.

Because at Costco, the game isnt about clipping coupons, but rather about timing your purchases, decoding the price tags, and stacking hidden savings layers most people never notice.

Heres a full breakdown of how it all works at Costco.

The 'coupon book'isnt optional reading its your roadmap

Most shoppers treat the monthly Costco Savings Book like junk mail. Flip. Toss. Forget.

But if you actually study it, youll start to see some interesting patterns, and those patterns are where the real savings live at Costco.

These coupons are:

• Preloaded into the system.
• Automatically applied at checkout.
• Often the lowest price that item will hit for months.

Costco negotiates these savings book discounts directly with brands. That means when something shows up in the book, its not a random markdown. Its actually a planned price drop tied to inventory cycles.

Why that matters: If your household regularly buys things like paper goods, vitamins, coffee, or protein shakes, the difference between buying on-cycle vs. off-cycle can easily be 2030% per item.

Multiply that across a year, and now youre talking about some real savings.

Costco runs on a cycle and once you see it, you cant unsee it

Any seasoned Costco shopper knows they dont do constant discounts, but instead, they rotate them throughout the year.

And once you start tracking that rotation, youll stop overpaying immediately.

Heres what you need to know to make it happen:

• Household staples rotate every eight to 12 weeks.
• Seasonal items get aggressive markdowns at the end of the current season.
• Big-ticket items (think appliances, computers, TVs) often align with holiday sale cycles.

So, when you start paying attention, instead of asking, Do I need this today? You start asking yourself, Where is this in the cycle?

Heres an example:

• Laundry detergent not on sale wait
• Two weeks later shows up in the book at $6 off
• Same exact item, completely different price

In a nutshell, thats how couponing at Costco works.

Pro tip: Keep a running note in your phone of the items you buy regularly and the last time you saw them on sale. Within a few months, youll start predicting deals before they happen.

Price tags tell a story and most dont know the language

Costco employees wont walk up to you and tell you something is about to disappear or get cheaper.

But the price tag will, and over the years, Ive had several Costco employees tell me how to read their shelf tags to figure out what kind of a deal youre getting.

Heres how to read the tag like an insider:

• Price ends in $0.97 Markdown clearance price (typically corporate-driven)
• Price ends in $0.99 This is the regular price
• Ends in $0.00 or $0.88 (varies by store) Manager markdown (store-specific, often an excellent price)
• Asterisk (*) in the corner Item is being discontinued. Some call it the Costco death staronce its gone, its gone forever.

That asterisk in the corner of the shelf tag is the big one to pay attention to.

It means:

• No restock
• No future sale cycle
• What you see is all thats left

Combine an asterisk with a $0.97 price and youve found what many shoppers call a Costco unicorn deal. The next time you see this combination, I dare you to try and find a cheaper price anywhere else. I doubt you can.

Where real couponing happens: stacking outside the store

Youve never seen a shopper with a stack of manufacturer coupons checking out at Costco. Thats because they do not accept them.

Because of this, most people assume stacking discounts at Costco is impossible.

Its not impossible, you just have to do it a little differently.

Heres the workaround:

• Use a rebate applike Ibotta, Fetch, or Shopmium.
• Scan your receipt after purchase.
• Earn points, cashback, or gift cards.

Now layer that savings with these:

• Costco instant savings (the monthly savings book)
• An Executive Membership (2% back)
• A rewards credit card (15% back)

Congrats, youve just creatively recreated coupon stacking at Costco, and the savings is significantespecially when you can take advantage of a deal in the monthly savings book.

A real-world example:

• $20 item $5 instant Costco discount
• $2 rebate app
• 2% Executive reward
• 2% credit card

Youve just saved about 30% when you combine all of these. Thats how a no coupon store can still leave you with significant savings.

Costcos 30-day price adjustment policy is retroactive couponing

This is one of the most underused Costco hacks out there today.

If something you bought goes on sale within 30 days, you can request a price adjustment.

The best part is you dont have to bring back the item, or your receipt, as Costco keeps track of all your purchases via your membership. Just walk up to the membership counter, tell them about the lower price, and theyll refund you the difference.

This policy allows you to do the following:

• Buy when inventory is available
• Watch upcoming sales cycles
• Get refunded the difference if the price drops

Why this matters right now: With supply chain issues and rising prices (especially in tech), waiting can sometimes mean missing out entirely or paying more down the road.

Their price adjustment policy basically lets you shop smart now and still hedge your bet if the price drops later.

Where Costco 'couponing'goes wrong

Even the smartest Costco shoppers can slip up from time to time.

After all, the biggest danger at Costco isnt high prices, its when they trick you into false value.

For example, watch out for these common mistakes:

• Bulk produce that spoils before you use it.
• Deals on items you wouldnt normally buy.
• Name brands that are cheaper at grocery stores with coupons.

Remember, Costcos pricing psychology is a real thing and quite powerful. They realize that the bigger the package, the more it feels like a better deal in the minds of consumers.

For this reason, always pay attention to the unit price. Thats the price that still wins and always will.

Rule to live by: A discount only saves you money if you were going to buy it anyway and actually use the entire thing before it goes bad.

New Insurify data reveals where costs are climbing fastest, whats driving the increases, and how homeowners can stay ahead

• Homeowners insurance costs are rising again nationwide, with premiums expected to increase in 2026 though some states will see much steeper hikes than others.

• Extreme weather and costly natural disasters are the biggest drivers behind higher rates, with risks varying by region.

• Homeowners may be able to lower their premiums by shopping around but cutting coverage could leave you financially exposed.

If it feels like everything tied to homeownership is getting more expensive lately, youre not imagining it and homeowners insurance is a big part of that trend.

A new report from Insurify shows that premiums are continuing to climb nationwide, adding yet another layer of cost for homeowners already dealing with high mortgage rates and maintenance expenses.

The increases arent happening in a vacuum. From extreme weather to rising construction costs, several forces are pushing insurance prices higher and, according to Insurifys projections, those pressures arent easing anytime soon.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Insurifys Senior Economic Analyst, Matt Brannon, to break down whats behind the spike and what it means for homeowners right now.

Key findings from the report

Insurifys latest data paints a clear picture: homeowners insurance costs are rising across the board, though some areas are being hit harder than others.

• A nationwide increase is on the way: The average cost of homeowners insurance is expected to rise about 4% in 2026, bringing the typical annual premium to around $3,057.

• Some states will see much sharper spikes: Premiums are projected to jump 10% or more in several states, including Georgia, New Mexico, Nebraska, and California.

• California is facing major increases: Insurify predicts that California premiums will rise 16% in 2026, the largest estimated hike in any state.

• Prices are lowering in some states: Rates are projected to drop in five states by 0% to 2%: Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maine, Louisiana, and Rhode Island.

Why are prices rising?

Brannon explained that extreme weather and natural disasters are two of the primary reasons for higher homeowners insurance premiums.

Broadly, severe weather is an answer, Brannon said. But the type of severe weather that is raising insurance premiums varies from state to state.

Brannon broke it down:

• The southeast: Wind is often the most costly weather threat. The region is a hotspot for hurricanes and lately has seen increased tornado activity as well.

• The Midwest: Hail was the main driver of losses in 2024. And the high cost of hail claims has caused insurers to move away from insuring the replacement value of a roof and instead now factor in depreciation, often lowering the payout in the event of a claim.

• The West: Insurers in California and surrounding states may raise rates to offset wildfire losses. In terms of insured losses, the Palisades and Eaton fires are now the first and second-most expensive fires on record globally (1900 to present).

These increasingly expensive claims events have caused home insurance premiums to significantly outpace inflation, Brannon said.

Can you lower your monthly premium?

One tactic that some homeowners adopt to lower their monthly premium is to reduce their coverage. However, Brannon says this is a risky move.

The worst-case scenario becomes more likely, a situation in which your home is rendered uninhabitable and your policy doesnt fully cover the damage, leaving you still responsible for your mortgage payments, he said. It should be a last-resort option, as there are better alternatives.

What are those better alternatives?

• Compare prices: Too many homeowners treat their insurance coverage like their mortgage just paying it and moving on without appreciating the difference in pricing between insurers. Comparison websites allow homeowners to input how much coverage they need and find out what different insurance companies would charge them. Insurers are constantly changing rates, so comparing prices twice a year can yield significant savings.

• Location-based mitigation programs: In California, at-risk homeowners can earn an insurance discount if they make fireproofing upgrades to their home and pass an inspection. In Florida, homeowners can obtain matching grants of up to $10,000 for wind-mitigating upgrades, and insurers are required to provide discounts to homeowners who make certain adjustments.

In February, the Producer Price Index rose at the fastest level in months

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Wholesale inflation accelerated in February, with the Producer Price Index (PPI) rising 0.7%, the fastest monthly gain in months.

• Goods prices surged 1.1%, driven by sharp increases in food and energy, including a nearly 49% spike in vegetable prices.

• Core producer prices (excluding food, energy, and trade services) climbed 0.5% for the 10th straight month, signaling persistent underlying inflation.

Economists keep an eye on wholesale prices, because they eventually affect the prices consumers pay. The trend is not good.

Wholesale prices picked up momentum in February, reflecting broad-based increases across goods and services, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand rose 0.7% for the month on a seasonally-adjusted basis, following gains of 0.5% in January and 0.4% in December. On a year-over-year basis, producer prices increased 3.4%, matching the largest annual gain recorded since February 2025.

The February increase was driven by both goods and services, though goods prices showed the strongest acceleration. Prices for final demand goods climbed 1.1% the largest jump since August 2023 while services advanced 0.5%.

The biggest drivers

Food and energy played a major role in the goods increase. Food prices surged 2.4%, accounting for roughly 40% of the overall rise in goods. Energy prices also rose sharply, up 2.3%.

A standout contributor was a dramatic 48.9% spike in prices for fresh and dry vegetables, which alone accounted for more than one-fifth of the overall increase in goods. Other notable increases included diesel fuel, gasoline, jet fuel, chicken eggs, and tobacco products. In contrast, prices for jewelry fell 4.0%, while home heating oil and soft drinks also declined.

On the services side, the 0.5% increase marked the third consecutive monthly gain. Much of the rise came from services excluding trade, transportation, and warehousing, which climbed 0.6%.

Trade services and transportation and warehousing services also posted gains of 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively.

Within services, a sharp 5.7% increase in traveler accommodation prices was a key driver, accounting for about one-fifth of the overall services advance. Prices also rose for food and alcohol wholesaling, financial services such as securities brokerage and investment advice, and inpatient care. However, some sectors saw declines, including a 4.5% drop in retail margins for apparel and accessories, as well as decreases in airline passenger services and gaming receipts.

Meanwhile, core producer prices which exclude food, energy, and trade services rose 0.5% in February. This marked the tenth consecutive monthly increase, pushing the 12-month gain to 3.5%.

The steady climb in core prices suggests that underlying inflation pressures remain persistent, even as some categories show volatility.

Seven cases have been confirmed in three states so far

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Federal and state officials are investigating a multistate E. coli outbreak linked to raw cheddar cheese.

• Seven cases across three states have been reported, with two hospitalizations and no deaths.

• Health officials say Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese is the likely source and advise consumers to avoid it.

U.S. health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections that may be tied to raw cheddar cheese produced by Raw Farm, LLC, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC, working alongside the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state health agencies, has identified seven confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection across three states. Two people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.

Illnesses linked to the outbreak began as early as September 1, 2025, with the most recent case reported on February 13, 2026. Officials caution that the true number of infections is likely higher, since many people recover without seeking medical care or undergoing testing.

Reporting delays also mean additional cases may still be identified.

Young children among those affected

Preliminary demographic data show that the outbreak has disproportionately affected very young individuals. The median age of those infected is just 3 years old, with patients ranging in age from 1 to 28. About 71% of reported cases are male.

Among patients with available racial data, most are white, while a smaller portion are African American. The majority of those infected are non-Hispanic.

Raw cheddar cheese identified as likely source

Investigators are focusing on Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese as the likely source of contamination. Of the three patients interviewed so far, all reported consuming the product in the week before becoming ill.

Laboratory analysis supports this link. Using whole genome sequencing, scientists found that bacterial samples from infected individuals are closely related genetically, indicating a common source of exposure.

The CDCs PulseNet system, which tracks DNA fingerprints of foodborne bacteria nationwide, played a key role in identifying the outbreak.

Health officials urge caution

While the investigation continues, public health officials are advising consumers to avoid eating Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese.

Consider not eating affected raw cheddar cheese produced by Raw Farm, LLC, while this investigation is ongoing, the CDC said.

E. coli O157:H7 can cause severe illness, including stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for serious complications.

Why waiting to upgrade could end up costing you

• AI is driving up costs: Tech companies are buying up memory chips, leaving fewer for phones and laptops.

• Prices likely rising into 2026: Shortages wont ease quickly, so expect higher device prices.

• Buy smart now: Shop earlier, consider last years models, and track prices to avoid overpaying.

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence isnt just changing tech, its also starting to hit your wallet. A new Bloomberg analysis shows that surging demand for AI is creating a major shortage of memory chips, a key component inside of our smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles.

Right now, tech giants like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta are pouring hundreds of billions into AI data centers. These systems require massive amounts of memory, including high-speed chips designed specifically for AI workloads. The problem? There simply arent enough to go around.

Thats pushing everyday consumer devices to the back of the line.

And this isnt a quick fix. Building new chip factories takes years, and manufacturers are being cautious about expanding too fast. This means the supply shortage, and subsequent higher prices, could stick around all of 2026 and beyond.

What consumers can do now

• Buy sooner rather than later: Prices are likely to rise in the coming months. If youve been thinking about replacing an old phone or laptop, now would be a good time to start researching and price comparing your various options.
• Skip the latest model: Last years devices can often be bought at a steep discount, typically in the 30-40% off range. Unless youre looking for specific features, they are nearly identical in terms of performance for the average user.
• Track prices before you buy: Use price tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel or Keepa to spot price spikes on laptops and tablets so you dont get fooled by fake sales. Theres a good chance rising chip costs will translate to sales that arent always real deals anymore.
• Prioritize RAM and storage over brand-new models: With memory costs rising quickly, its smart to figure out now how much RAM youll potentially need and lock in higher RAM now. Not only will you extend your devices lifespan, but youll avoid a costly upgrade later.
• Time your purchase around major sales windows: Back-to-school sales, Amazon Prime events, and Black Friday deals may be your best shot to offset AI-driven price increases before they fully hit store shelves.