Consumer News: Shrinkflation isn’t slowing down — It’s just getting harder to spot

Shop ALDI like a pro and keep more cash

• Shop the deals first: Walk the store before buying, grab markdowns, and build meals around what's on sale.

• Compare prices: ALDI isn't always cheapest check unit prices and buy national brands elsewhere when sales are better.

• Avoid impulse buys: Skip unnecessary ALDI Finds, freeze markdowns, and use the Twice as Nice Guarantee on new store-brand products.

ALDI has earned a loyal following by keeping prices low, but simply shopping there isn't enough to maximize your savings.

The chain's smaller stores, private-label focus, and no-frills approach already help keep grocery bills down. But shoppers who consistently spend the least know that ALDI rewards strategy just as much as bargain hunting.

The biggest savings don't come from buying everything in sight they come from knowing when to buy, what to skip, and how to let the store's pricing work in your favor.

Here are eight ALDI shopping secrets that can help stretch your grocery budget even further.

1. Shop ALDI backward

Most shoppers enter ALDI with a shopping list and immediately begin filling their cart. Instead, try making one quick lap around the entire store before buying anything.

This simple habit gives you a chance to spot markdowns on meat, produce, bakery items, and refrigerated foods before you've committed to a week's worth of meals. Rather than forcing your menu to fit your shopping list, let the discounts help decide what's for dinner.

You'll also get a better sense of produce quality. Some days the berries, avocados, or lettuce look fantastic. Other days you may be better off choosing frozen options or skipping that item altogether.

Shopping this way makes your grocery budget far more flexible and often leads to meals you hadn't considered.

Pro tip: Instead of writing "chicken tacos" on your meal plan, write "protein tacos." If discounted pork, turkey, or steak catches your eye, you've instantly saved money without changing dinner very much.

2. Master your store's markdown routine

Every ALDI store has its own rhythm.

Items approaching their sell-by date are often discounted with brightly colored stickers, especially meat, bakery products, refrigerated foods, and produce. Those markdowns can cut prices dramatically, but timing matters.

Some ALDI locations discount products first thing in the morning. Others wait until later in the day after employees have worked through overnight deliveries.

Spend a few weeks paying attention, or simply ask an employee when your location typically marks down fresh items. Knowing that schedule turns bargain hunting from luck into a routine.

Pro tip: If you find markdown meat you'll use within a month or two, freeze it immediately. A deep discount today can become next month's inexpensive dinner.

3. Don't let 'ALDI Finds' empty your wallet

The middle aisle is where ALDI Finds live and they have become an attraction unto themselves.

One week you'll find patio furniture. The next week it's espresso machines, camping gear, cast-iron cookware, children's toys, or holiday decorations.

Some ALDI Finds are outstanding bargains, while others simply feel like bargains because shoppers know they may disappear next week. That's exactly why they're so tempting and why some shoppers have labeled ALDI Finds as the Aisle of Shame, as its very easy to leave with unplanned purchases.

With that said, before adding anything from the aisle to your cart, pause and ask yourself: Did I come here planning to buy this? Would I still buy it if it wasn't labeled "limited-time?" If the answer is no, you're probably responding to urgency, not any real value.

Pro tip: Take a photo instead of buying an ALDI Find immediately. If you're still thinking about it after you've finished your shopping, and it still fits your budget, go back and grab it. Otherwise, leave it for the next shopper to overspend on.

4. ALDI isn't always the cheapest and that's okay

One of the biggest myths about ALDI is that every single item costs less than everywhere else. That's simply not true.

Aldi usually shines on fresh produce, dairy, eggs, cheese, pantry staples, frozen vegetables, and private-label products.

But national brands like cereal, soda, chips, toothpaste, paper towels, and laundry detergent can often be purchased for less at traditional grocery stores when using digital coupons, loyalty rewards, or buy-one-get-one promotions.

Pro tip: Buy about 80 to 90% of your groceries at ALDI, then stop at another grocery store only for a handful of heavily discounted weekly specials.

5. Let unit prices do the math for you

Price tags at ALDI can often be deceiving. Specifically, a smaller package often looks like a better bargain simply because the sticker price is lower.

Instead, train yourself to glance at the price per ounce, pound, or serving listed on the shelf tag and compare similar products that way. Sometimes buying the larger package will save you money and other times the opposite is true.

This habit becomes especially useful when comparing products like cheese, coffee, cereal, snacks, meat, and frozen foods. A few seconds of math can save far more than clipping coupons ever could.

Pro tip: If you're only feeding one or two people, don't buy the largest package unless you'll actually finish it. Paying a little more per ounce is still cheaper than throwing half of it away.

6. Build your meals around bargains not recipes

Many shoppers write detailed grocery lists based on recipes they found online. Instead, reverse the process.

See what's discounted first, then build meals around those ingredients.

If chicken is marked down, maybe tacos become chicken fajitas. If mushrooms and spinach are discounted, pasta night suddenly becomes creamy mushroom pasta.

This approach dramatically reduces impulse purchases while helping you take advantage of ALDI's everyday low prices. It also introduces more variety into your weekly menu.

Pro tip: Keep five or six "flexible meals" in your rotation that can use almost any protein or vegetable depending on what's on sale.

7. Don't overlook ALDI's Twice as Nice Guarantee

Trying unfamiliar products always carries some risk with it. That's where ALDI's Twice as Nice Guarantee comes into play.

Many ALDI-exclusive food products are covered by a policy that allows customers who aren't satisfied to receive both a replacement product and a refund. It removes much of the hesitation that comes with trying an unfamiliar private-label item.

The takeaway is that instead of assuming you'll prefer the national brand, give ALDI's version a chance. You just might discover a permanent way to reduce your grocery bill.

Pro tip: Always hang on to that receipt when trying several new ALDI products. If one doesn't meet your expectations, you'll have an easier time taking advantage of the guarantee.

8. Your freezer is your secret savings account

One of the easiest ways to waste money is throwing away food you intended to eat. Instead, start to think of your freezer as an extension of your pantry.

Discounted meat, bread, shredded cheese, cooked rice, soups, fresh herbs, and even milk can all be frozen for future meals.

Buying a marked-down rotisserie chicken or family pack of chicken breasts becomes much more economical when you divide everything into meal-sized portions before freezing.

You're not just preserving food but you're preserving your future grocery dollars.

Pro tip: Label freezer bags with both the contents and the date. It's amazing how quickly mystery packages become freezer burnt.

Researchers say everyday environmental exposures may affect heart health more than many people realize

• Heat, air pollution, and other environmental conditions can put added stress on the cardiovascular system.

• Researchers found that long-term exposure to fine particle air pollution was linked to subtle changes in heart function, even in older adults without diagnosed heart disease.

• Experts say understanding environmental risks can help people take simple steps to better protect their heart health.

Most people think of air pollution as something that mainly affects the lungs. But researchers say the weather outside and the air you breathe can also have important effects on your heart.

According to experts at Yale School of Medicine, high temperatures force the cardiovascular system to work harder by sending more blood to the skin to help cool the body. Heat can also make blood thicker, increasing strain on the heart.

A big risk of heat waves is not just the heat itself, but the independent risk for heart attacks and strokes, researcher Andrew Chang, MD, PhD, said in a news release.

As extreme temperatures become more common, its important for the medical community to help people understand the risks and how to prevent any complications.

How researchers studied the connection

One of the studies highlighted by Yale examined whether long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution, known as PM2.5, was associated with early changes in heart function before heart disease had been diagnosed.

Researchers analyzed data from 1,576 adults between the ages of 65 and 92 who participated in the long-running Cardiovascular Health Study. None of the participants had a history of major heart disease. The team estimated each person's exposure to PM2.5 based on air pollution levels near their homes between 1990 and 1995.

To evaluate heart function, researchers used a specialized ultrasound imaging technique called speckle-tracking echocardiography, which can detect subtle changes in how the heart muscle contracts. Rather than looking for obvious heart disease, the researchers focused on identifying very early signs of reduced heart function that might otherwise go unnoticed.

What the findings mean for consumers

The study found that higher long-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with small but measurable reductions in heart muscle function.

Participants with higher pollution exposure were about 32% more likely to have abnormal measurements of left ventricular function than those with the lowest exposure levels. While these changes were subtle, researchers say they suggest that air pollution may begin affecting the heart before symptoms or diagnosed heart disease appear.

The Yale experts say environmental exposures should be viewed as another factor that can influence heart health, alongside more familiar lifestyle factors. They recommend that clinicians discuss environmental risks with patients and encourage practical precautions when appropriate, such as staying hydrated during hot weather, seeking cooler indoor spaces during heat waves, monitoring air quality reports, and using air filters or well-fitted N95 masks when air pollution is especially high.

While these findings don't mean that occasional hot days or poor air quality will cause heart disease on their own, they add to growing evidence that everyday environmental conditions can play a role in long-term cardiovascular health and are worth paying attention to.

In general, Americans are aware that the environment can harm their health. The problem is that no one thinks they will personally be affected, Dr. Chang said. Part of our job is to explain to our patients that they are part of a vulnerable population and must take precautions, like visiting a cooling center and staying hydrated on hot days or using air filters or N95 masks when the air quality is poor.

New research links small sleep cuts to measurable changes in weight and daily activity

• Losing about 80 minutes of sleep each night for six weeks led participants to gain an average of one pound.

• People also became more sedentary during the period of reduced sleep, even after accounting for extra waking time.

• Researchers say consistently getting enough sleep may be an important part of maintaining a healthy weight.

Most people know that getting enough sleep helps them feel more alert the next day. But new research suggests that regularly cutting sleep short even by what may seem like a modest amount could also affect body weight.

Researchers at Columbia University found that adults who reduced their nightly sleep by about 80 minutes for six weeks gained an average of one pound and spent more time being inactive than when they followed their normal sleep schedule. The findings add to growing evidence that sleep is an important part of overall health, alongside nutrition and physical activity.

Our study shows that getting adequate sleep may help reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity-related conditions like heart disease and diabetes, researcher Marie-Pierre St-Onge said in a news release.

People tend to gain weight over the course of their adulthood, and obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease. But focusing on eating a healthier diet and getting more physical activity to offset weight gain is simplistic and can be difficult to maintain.

How the study worked

The study pooled data from two randomized crossover trials involving 95 adults ages 20 and older who were already sleeping at least seven hours per night and had elevated cardiometabolic risk. Rather than bringing participants into a sleep laboratory, researchers conducted the study while people lived their normal daily lives.

Each participant completed two six-week phases. During one phase, they maintained their usual sleep schedule. During the other, they delayed their bedtime by 90 minutes each night, resulting in an average loss of about 80 minutes of sleep.

Throughout both phases, participants wore wrist monitors that tracked their sleep and physical activity. Researchers also measured changes in body weight, waist circumference, body composition, and fasting levels of several hormones involved in regulating appetite.

What the findings mean for consumers

By the end of the sleep-restriction phase, participants had gained about one pound on average and were spending roughly 17 more minutes per day being sedentary.

Among men and postmenopausal women, sedentary time increased by nearly 30 minutes per day. Researchers found that participants remained less active even after accounting for the fact that they were awake longer.

While a one-pound increase over six weeks may sound small, the researchers say it could become more meaningful if similar sleep habits continue over months or years.

They also point to earlier work involving some of the same participants, which found that mild, chronic sleep restriction was linked to increased insulin resistance in women with elevated cardiometabolic risk and greater inflammation associated with heart health.

For consumers, the findings suggest that sleep deserves a place alongside healthy eating and regular exercise when thinking about long-term weight management. Although the study doesn't prove that improving sleep alone will prevent weight gain, it indicates that consistently getting enough rest may play a meaningful role in supporting overall health.

Though more research is needed to further understand how sleep restriction leads to weight gain, all of our findings suggest that insufficient sleep increases the risk of obesity-related conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease, St-Onge said.

Now we need to understand the health effects of improving sleep in those who fail to get adequate sleep on a regular basis.

The warning signs that could save your savings

• A convincing scam: Even CBS News correspondent Matt Gutman nearly fell for fraudsters posing as his bank.

• Watch for red flags: No legitimate bank will ask you to withdraw cash, keep a secret, or act immediately.

• Protect yourself: Hang up and call your bank using the number on the back of your card or via their official app.

Scammers are getting so convincing that even veteran journalists who regularly report on fraud can be fooled.

That's exactly what recently happened to CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman, who shared how he nearly fell victim to an elaborate bank scam after receiving what sounded like a legitimate fraud call.

The caller said they were from fraud protection at his bank and knew all of his personal details. The caller then claimed that hackers were targeting his account, and actually convinced him to head to his local bank to withdraw all of his money in cash as part of a supposed law enforcement "sting operation."

Fortunately, Gutman realized something was wrong before completing the transaction, avoiding what could have been a big loss. If he had withdrawn the cash, the scam probably would have ended with him being robbed in the parking lot or robbed elsewhere after leaving with the money.

The incident serves as a reminder that today's scammers rely less on obvious red flags and more on psychology, urgency, and stolen personal information.

Here are six smart ways to protect yourself.

1. Never trust caller ID

Scammers can now easily "spoof" phone numbers to make it appear like they're calling from your bank, credit card company, or even a government agency. Seeing your bank's name on your phone no longer means the call is legitimate.

Pro tip: Hang up and call the number on the back of your debit or credit card. Do not dial the number that just called you.

2. Treat urgency as a warning sign

Fraudsters want you to panic before you have time to think.

If someone says your money is in immediate danger and demands instant action from you, slow down for a moment. Real banks may alert you to suspicious activity, but they won't pressure you into making rushed financial decisions.

3. No legitimate bank will ask you to withdraw cash

This was the biggest red flag in Gutman's experience.

Banks do not ask customers to empty their accounts, carry around thousands of dollars in cash, or help catch criminals by participating in undercover operations. If someone tells you otherwise, it's almost certainly a scam.

4. Never keep secrets from your bank

Gutman said the caller instructed him not to tell bank employees about the situation because they might be involved.

That's a classic scam tactic.

Real fraud investigators want bank employees involved not excluded. Anyone telling you to keep a transaction secret is trying to prevent someone from stopping the scam.

5. Pause before taking action

One of the easiest ways to beat scammers is to create a delay.

Tell the caller you'll call back. Talk with a trusted family member. Visit your bank branch independently and explain what happened. A five-minute pause can save thousands of dollars.

6. Strengthen your defenses before scammers call

Don't wait until you're targeted.

Enable account alerts for large withdrawals and unusual transactions, use strong unique passwords for financial accounts, and turn on multi-factor authentication whenever available. Review your statements regularly so you can catch unauthorized activity quickly.

The bottom line

Today's fraudsters don't rely on bad grammar or suspicious emails anymore. They often sound polished, know personal details about you, and create believable stories designed to override your common sense.

The safest habit is simple: whenever someone contacts you about your money, end the conversation and contact your bank using a trusted phone number or its official mobile app. That one step can stop even the most sophisticated scam before it costs you a dime.

The company is seeking data for AI training

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Samsung Health users are being asked to consent to the use of their health data to train the company's AI models.

• A report claims users who decline the request could lose cloud syncing and backup for their health data, with Samsung warning previously synced data may be deleted unless retention is required by law.

• The policy, first highlighted by How-To Geek, has sparked criticism from privacy advocates who argue users are being forced to choose between privacy and a core app feature.

Samsung is rolling out a change to its Samsung Health app that some argue could force users to choose between protecting their personal health information and retaining one of the app's most important features.

According to a report by How-To Geek, some Samsung Health users are seeing a new prompt titled "Consent to the Use of Health Data for AI Training and Modelling." The notice asks users to allow Samsung to use a broad range of health information including activity data, sleep patterns, nutrition, body measurements, medication information, medical records, and menstrual cycle tracking to improve its artificial intelligence models. Some of that data may also be reviewed by humans as part of the AI training process.

The controversy isn't simply that Samsung is requesting permission to use the data. According to the report, users who refuse consent receive a warning that Samsung Health will no longer synchronize their data with their Samsung account. The notice also says that previously synchronized health data will be deleted unless Samsung is legally required to retain it.

That effectively ties cloud backup and syncing a feature many users consider essential to participation in Samsung's AI development efforts.

Samsungs position

Samsung has published a support page explaining how the data will be used. The company says approved health information will be used for "AI training and modelling, including human review," to improve Samsung Health algorithms and AI-powered features. The categories of information include wellness data such as step counts, sleep and nutrition, medication information, health records containing diagnoses and treatments, and menstrual cycle data.

Samsung shared the following statement with ConsumerAffairs: Samsung Health offers an optional consent to use health data for AI development. Users can withdraw this consent at any time. When consent is withdrawn, only the data collected for AI development will be deleted. Your existing health data will be retained so you can continue to use Samsung Health without interruption.

ConsumerAffairs noted that at least two comments posted to the Android Authority article take issue with the report, however, with the writers saying they opted out of sharing data and have seen no impact to their app.

Samsung is expanding AI throughout its health platform. Last month, the company announced a redesigned Samsung Health experience featuring AI-generated health insights, personalized wellness guidance and new algorithms designed to help users better understand their biometric data.