Consumer News: Thrift shopping is emerging as an answer to ‘affordability’

Your spending habits are full of clues let AI help you find them

• Connect your finances. ChatGPT can now analyze your spending, subscriptions, and income to deliver personalized money-saving advice.

• Spot easy savings. Use AI to find forgotten subscriptions, spending leaks, and realistic ways to cut your monthly expenses.

• Trust, but verify. AI is a helpful financial coach, but major tax, retirement, and investment decisions still deserve professional advice.

For some time now, many consumers have been comfortable using ChatGPT to build budgets, compare mortgage payments, and explain investing.

Now, it can do something much more personal that can really help you get ahead financially.

OpenAI has begun rolling out a new feature that lets users securely connect their financial accounts to ChatGPT using Plaid, giving the AI access to spending patterns, recurring bills, income, and account balances. The goal is to provide more personalized financial insights instead of generic budgeting advice.

While the feature is initially available to ChatGPT Pro subscribers, it offers a glimpse into where personal finance tools are headed. Here's what it can do, where it can help, and where you should still be cautious.

What ChatGPT can actually see

After securely connecting your accounts through Plaid, ChatGPT can categorize transactions and identify spending patterns across thousands of financial institutions.

Instead of simply asking, "How can I save money?" you can now ask questions based on your actual finances, such as:

• "Where am I spending the most money each month?"

• "How much am I really spending on restaurants?"

• "Which subscriptions am I paying for but rarely use?"

• "How much did I spend on groceries last year?"

• "How much could I save if I cut dining out by 20%?"

The big takeaway here is that instead of AI spewing out some generic personal finance advice, ChatGPT can now answer questions using your actual financial data.

Find subscriptions you've forgotten about

One of the easiest ways to save money is identifying recurring charges, some of which you may have completely forgotten about.

Instead of scrolling through months of statements looking for them, simply ask:

• "List every recurring subscription I pay for."

• "Which subscriptions increased in price this year?"

• "Show me subscriptions I haven't used recently."

Many consumers discover streaming services, apps, gym memberships, and software subscriptions they completely forgot they were paying for.

Pro tip: Use AI to identify recurring bills worth negotiating. After ChatGPT identifies your subscriptions and monthly bills, ask, "Which of these could I realistically lower or negotiate?" Then ask which competitors have lower prices, or current discounts, that you can use as ammo when you make the call.

Spot those sneaky spending leaks

Small purchases often go unnoticed and can easily lead to a blown budget.

To find these leaks, you can ask ChatGPT:

• "Where did I spend the most money that surprised you?"

• "Compare this month's spending to last month's."

• "Which spending category has increased the fastest?"

These questions can quickly reveal habits like frequent coffee runs, impulse Amazon purchases, or food delivery expenses that quietly add up.

Build a realistic savings plan

Instead of using online calculators based on a bunch of averages, ChatGPT can work with your actual cash flow and help you make a savings plan.

To make it happen, try prompts like:

• "How can I save $5,000 in the next year?"

• "How much house can I realistically afford?"

• "Could I realistically increase my retirement contributions by 3%?"

Because it's analyzing your real income and expenses, the recommendations can be much more personalized than those traditional budgeting worksheets youre used to.

Prepare for large purchases

Planning a vacation? Need a new vehicle? Or maybe youre thinking about replacing your old roof?

Ask ChatGPT to estimate how those purchases fit into your budget based on your existing expenses instead of rough guesses.

It can also identify areas where temporarily reducing your spending could help you reach your goal faster, which is very cool.

Review your spending before it becomes a problem

Many people don't notice financial trends until they're already overspending.

Try making it a monthly habit to ask AI to review your spending by asking the following:

"Summarize my spending this month. What changed? What concerns you? What should I improve next month?"

You just might find that this type of regular financial checkup may be more valuable than creating an annual budget that you'll never revisit.

Don't let AI make every financial decision

Despite the new capabilities, it should be said that ChatGPT isn't replacing a certified financial planner.

Financial professionals interviewed by news organizations found the chatbot generally provides solid educational guidance but may overlook important tax issues, estate planning considerations, or investment strategies unique to your situation. OpenAI itself says the tool should complement, not replace, professional financial advice.

Your privacy matters

Before connecting any financial account, make sure youre using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.

Also, be sure to review what information you're sharing and always disconnect accounts you no longer want linked.

Lastly, avoid sharing any account numbers or sensitive personal information in conversations unless absolutely necessary.

Even though the connection uses Plaid (a service already used by many budgeting apps) it's still wise to periodically review which apps have access to your financial accounts.

Here's what happened when a hypothetical $10,000 investment was put to the test over five years

• A MarketWise analysis found that some Pokmon collectibles outperformed Bitcoin, gold, and the S&P 500 over a five-year period.

• Experts say timing matters, and chasing viral investment trends can leave consumers buying after prices have already peaked.

• Whether you're investing in stocks, crypto, or collectibles, understanding what you own and the risks involved is more important than following the latest hype.

When people think about investing, they usually picture stocks, ETFs, or maybe even cryptocurrency.

But what if one of the biggest winners over the past five years wasn't a traditional investment at all?

A new MarketWise analysis compared how a hypothetical $10,000 investment would have performed across 21 different assets between January 2021 and April 2026. The study looked at everything from cryptocurrencies and meme stocks to gold, sneakers, and Pokmon collectibles and some of the results may come as a surprise.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with James Royal, Senior SEO Writer at MarketWise, who broke down what the data reveals, why some unexpected assets outperformed more familiar investments, and what consumers should keep in mind before chasing eye-catching returns.

The key findings

According to Royal, some of the biggest winners werent what youd expect.

A sealed Pokmon card ended up beating Bitcoin, gold, and even the S&P 500 over the time period we analyzed, he explained.

Just because something is driving headlines doesnt mean itll deliver the best returns. We found that several popular AI funds actually trailed a basic S&P 500 index fund. At the end of the day, the timing was crucial. Those who bought the same investment didnt wind up with the same results when they were a few months apart.

What investment lessons can consumers take away?

Royals biggest piece of investing advice: dont buy into the hype you see online.

Dont let viral TikTok videos or headlines convince you that investing is about jumping on the bandwagon and chasing whatever everyone else is buying, he said. Whether its Pokmon cards, crypto, or stocks, people often dive in after prices have already taken off.

On top of that, he encourages consumers to do their homework to get a better understanding of how different investment options work from the inside out/

If youre interested in investing, a good starting point is educating yourself on how assets gain value, understanding the risks involved, and only investing money that you can stand to do without for a while, Royal said. Slow and steady typically beats chasing the latest fad.

Tried-and-true investments such as an S&P 500 index fund have delivered long-term returns for investors for years. However, investing in fads may leave you with worthless cardboard, as traders move on to the next hot thing. So, its important to understand which investments will create lasting value over time.

What to do if youre a Pokemon collector

If you have a box of old Pokemon cards in your house somewhere, dont start tearing into them just yet. Instead, take some time to evaluate what you have.

Sealed products have become more valuable, and specifically, certain cards can be worth far more than you might think, Royal said. Digging around online to check out recent sales or talking with someone at a reputable card shop can save you from potentially giving away something thats worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Additionally, Royal explained that its unlikely that every Pokmon product is going to keep skyrocketing in value forever.

Every collectible market has periods where the energy is running hot, and then prices cool off, he said.

Investing doesnt always look how youd expect

One of the biggest lessons from this experiment: investing isnt always what you expect it to be.

Sometimes its a brokerage account, and sometimes its a collection youve spent years building up, without realizing the financial value it offers, Royal said. Its important to understand what you own before making a decision, and dont be reactive.

Whether its Pokmon cards, sneakers, or stocks, knowledge is typically what separates a wise investment from an expensive mistake.

Jayco, Tiffin, and Ford are part of this week's recall roundup

New provisional data reveal encouraging trends alongside ongoing health challenges

• The overall U.S. age-adjusted death rate declined 4.6% from 2024 to 2025, reaching its lowest recorded level.

• Heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries remained the nation's three leading causes of death.

• While death rates fell across all age groups, differences among demographic groups continue to be seen.

New provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that overall mortality in the United States continued to move in a positive direction during 2025.

Although more than three million deaths were recorded during the year, the age-adjusted death rate which accounts for differences in the population's age makeup fell by 4.6% compared with 2024.

According to the report, that marks the lowest age-adjusted death rate ever recorded in the United States. The findings are based on nearly all death records received for 2025, giving researchers an early look at nationwide mortality trends before final numbers are released.

What the new numbers show

The CDC estimates that 3,094,593 people died in the United States during 2025. Death rates declined for every age group compared with the previous year, although they remained highest among adults ages 85 and older and lowest among children ages 5 to 14. Men continued to have higher age-adjusted death rates than women.

Heart disease remained the leading cause of death, followed by cancer and unintentional injuries.

The report also noted a change in the rankings of other causes of death. Influenza and pneumonia moved up to become the eighth leading cause of death in 2025, while suicide moved from the tenth to the eleventh position.

The CDC also found differences among racial and ethnic groups. The lowest age-adjusted death rate was reported for the multiracial non-Hispanic population, while the highest was reported for the Black non-Hispanic population.

Rates declined for several groups, remained statistically unchanged for Asian people, and increased for American Indian and Alaska Native people as well as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people.

What this means for consumers

For most people, these findings offer a broad snapshot of the nation's health rather than information that changes day-to-day decisions.

The report suggests that overall mortality continued to improve in 2025, even as heart disease and cancer remained the leading causes of death. It also highlights that health outcomes are not uniform across all populations, underscoring the importance of continued public health efforts.

It's also worth remembering that these figures are provisional. The CDC notes that some death records are still being processed, and certain causes of death particularly unintentional injuries can take longer to be finalized.

As additional data become available, some numbers may change, but the report provides an early picture of mortality trends across the country.

Why summer mosquito protection matters more than ever

• West Nile virus activity has started earlier than usual, with the highest number of reported cases by the end of June since 2004.

• Most people who become infected never develop symptoms, but early recognition of illness can help people seek medical care if symptoms appear.

• Simple steps like using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding peak mosquito hours can lower your risk all summer long.

Summer means more time outside, but it also means mosquito season is in full swing.

This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says West Nile virus activity has gotten off to an unusually early start. By June 30, 2026, the agency had received reports of 48 human cases, including 38 cases involving severe neurologic disease. That's the highest number of reported infections at this point in the year since 2004.

The virus has already been detected in 23 states, making this the widest early-season activity seen in the past decade. While many people enjoy spending time outdoors throughout the summer, health officials say it's a good reminder that mosquito bite prevention should remain part of warm-weather routines.

"These findings serve as an important reminder that mosquito season is well underway," CDC Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Erin Staples said in a news release.

Why early detection and ongoing prevention matter

One challenge with West Nile virus is that most infected people never develop symptoms. However, about one in five people experience fever along with symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash.

In fewer than 1% of infections, the virus can cause serious neurologic illnesses, including meningitis or encephalitis, which may lead to long-term disability or death.

Adults ages 60 and older, along with people who have certain underlying medical conditions, face a greater risk of severe illness. That's why recognizing symptoms if you become sick during mosquito season and continuing to prevent mosquito bites throughout the summer is so important.

The CDC also notes that prevention doesn't stop with individuals. State and local health departments continue monitoring mosquito populations and carrying out mosquito control efforts where appropriate, while the CDC works with public health partners across the country to track disease activity and provide guidance.

How to reduce your risk this summer

• Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent whenever you're outdoors.

• Wear long, loose-fitting shirts and pants to make it harder for mosquitoes to bite.

• Limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when the mosquitoes that spread West Nile virus are most active.

• Keep mosquitoes out by using window and door screens or air conditioning when available.