Consumer News: The late-winter money reset: 7 ways to cut $500 (or more) before spring

The decision gives doctors another way to check for Alzheimers-related changes

• Roches new blood test can help doctors assess whether amyloid pathology linked to Alzheimers disease is likely present.

• The test is intended for people 55 and older who have signs, symptoms, or concerns about cognitive decline.

• Because it can be used in both primary and specialty care, the test could make the evaluation process more accessible for some patients.

Getting answers about changes in memory or thinking can involve a number of steps, particularly when doctors are trying to determine whether Alzheimers disease may be involved.

Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared a new blood test from Roche that could give doctors another tool for that process.

The Elecsys pTau217 blood test is designed to help assess amyloid pathology associated with Alzheimers disease. Roche says it is the first and only FDA-cleared single-biomarker blood test that can support both ruling in and ruling out amyloid pathology in primary and specialty care settings.

"FDA clearance of Elecsys pTau217 marks an important milestone in Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and underscores Roche's continued leadership in advancing innovative solutions that can help patients get answers sooner," Dan Malarek, President and CEO of Roche Diagnostics North America, said in a news release.

"As the first and only FDA-cleared, single-biomarker blood test supporting both rule-in and rule-out assessment of amyloid pathology, Elecsys pTau217 has the potential to transform how Alzheimer's is assessed across primary and specialty care. This kind of innovation can help bring diagnostic evaluation closer to patients and give clinicians greater confidence in determining the right step in their care.

How the test works

The test measures phosphorylated tau 217, or pTau217, in a blood sample. Rather than producing a simple yes-or-no diagnosis, the test provides positive, intermediate, or negative results indicating the likelihood of amyloid pathology.

Those results aren't meant to stand alone. Doctors are expected to consider them alongside a patient's clinical information and other relevant findings when determining the next steps in an Alzheimer's evaluation.

The test is intended for people aged 55 and older who have signs, symptoms, or complaints of cognitive decline. It can be run using Roche's existing cobas laboratory instruments, with more than 4,500 of those instruments already in use across the U.S., according to the company.

What this means for consumers

For patients experiencing cognitive changes, one potential advantage is that the test offers a minimally invasive option that can be incorporated into existing medical and laboratory workflows.

Roche notes that traditional methods of assessing amyloid pathology, including PET imaging and cerebrospinal fluid testing, can be costly, invasive, and difficult to access outside specialty centers. The new blood test may help doctors determine which patients should receive additional testing or be considered for a specialist referral.

That doesn't mean a blood test will replace every other part of an Alzheimer's evaluation. Instead, it gives doctors another way to gather information and potentially helps some patients move through the diagnostic process with fewer barriers.

"For decades, clinicians have faced significant challenges in accurately diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in its early stages," Jared R. Brosch, M.D., Neurologist, Indiana University Health, said in the release.

"Advances in blood-based biomarkers have the potential to transform the diagnostic pathway by expanding access to evaluation for Alzheimer's across a variety of care settings. As these tools become available, clinicians may be able to evaluate more patients earlier in the disease course, improving diagnostic confidence and helping patients and their families make more informed decisions at a critical time."

The retailer is ending one of the longest-running checkout annoyances for mobile-wallet users

• Walmart and Sams Club are finally adding tap-to-pay, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless cards.

• The rollout starts August 24 at select locations, with all U.S. stores expected to have it by the end of 2026.

• Not every store will be upgraded immediately, and fuel stations wont be fully covered until mid-2027.

If you've ever walked into Walmart with your phone but without your wallet, you probably discovered an oddity: One of the biggest retailers in America still didn't accept Apple Pay or Google Pay.

That's finally changing.

Walmart recently announced that it's bringing tap-to-pay to Walmart and Sam's Club stores in the U.S., meaning shoppers will be able to pay with a contactless card, smartphone, or smartwatch. That includes popular digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

But don't leave your physical wallet at home quite yet.

The rollout starts August 24 but not everywhere

Walmart says tap-to-pay will begin appearing at select Walmart and Sam's Club locations on Monday, August 24th.

The company plans to have the technology available at all U.S. Walmart stores and Sam's Club locations by the end of 2026. Walmart and Sam's Club fuel stations will take a little longer, with the company targeting mid-2027 for that rollout.

Walmart hasn't stated yet which stores will be among the first to get the upgrade.

So, if you walk into Walmart this week with your iPhone, and you dont see the tap to pay icon, just ask the cashier if they know when the store is going to get upgraded.

Theres a good chance management has given them a rough idea of when the upgrade might happen.

Why did this take so long?

That's what makes the announcement interesting.

Walmart has been one of the most conspicuous holdouts in the move toward NFC contactless payments.

Walmart instead pushed shoppers to use Walmart Pay, which is their own QR code-based system. It forced shoppers to open the Walmart app and scan a QR code instead of just tapping their phone on the payment terminal.

But its safe to say that Walmart's resistance goes back even further. The retailer was part of a group of merchants that backed CurrentC, which was an attempted mobile-payment alternative to services such as Apple Pay. CurrentC ultimately went nowhere, while Apple Pay and other tap-to-pay options became the norm.

Rest assured, Walmart Pay isn't disappearing. The retailer says customers will still be able to pay with cash, credit cards, and Walmart Pay, while Sam's Club members can continue using Scan & Go.

In other words, Walmart isn't replacing its payment system. It's finally giving shoppers another choice.

What you'll be able to tap

Once your store is upgraded, you won't necessarily need Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Walmart says its terminals will accept eligible contactless credit or debit cards, phones, and smartwatches. Customers will also be able to put eligible Walmart, Sam's Club, and OnePay cards into their digital wallets and use them contactlessly.

That means the little contactless symbol on your physical credit card should become useful at Walmart, too.

One reason you may want to use Apple Pay anyway

Convenience isn't the only advantage.

Digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay can add another layer between the merchant and your actual payment-card information.

Instead of handing over your physical card details in the traditional way, the payment is generally completed using tokenized credentials.

It's not a reason to stop paying attention to your accounts, but it can be another useful security tool. This is particularly true for consumers who already keep most of their cards in a digital wallet.

You can also still earn the normal rewards associated with the card you put in your digital wallet, assuming the purchase otherwise qualifies under your card's rewards program.

Before you try it

A few things that are worth knowing during the rollout:

• Look for the contactless symbol. Once your Walmart terminal has been upgraded, that's your clue that tapping should work.

• Keep another payment method handy for now. The August 24th launch covers only select locations initially.

• Don't assume the gas pump is ready. Walmart says fuel stations aren't scheduled for a complete rollout until mid-2027.

Pro tip: Check the card before you tap. Apple Pay and Google Pay make checkout so quick that it's easy to pay with whatever card happens to be your default. Before holding your phone to the terminal, take two seconds to verify you're using the card that gives you the best rewards for that purchase.

A new study finds a roughly $30,000 difference in the amount buyers may need to save, depending on where they live

• Where you live can make a big difference: The amount needed for a 5% down payment ranges from about $10,400 in Iowa to roughly $42,000 in Hawaii.

• Higher incomes don't always mean easier homebuying: High housing costs, taxes and limited inventory can offset the benefits of earning more.

• You may not need 20% down: First-time homebuyer programs and private mortgage insurance can help make homeownership more attainable with a smaller down payment.

Saving for a home can feel like a moving target, especially when housing costs, taxes and everyday expenses are all competing for a spot in your budget. And where you live may make a bigger difference than you realize.

A new study from BadCredit.org ranks all 50 states and Washington, D.C., based on how easily residents can save for a down payment, taking factors such as income, housing costs, taxes and the job market into account.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Erica Sandberg, a consumer finance expert at BadCredit.org, who explained what these rankings can tell prospective homebuyers and why a higher income doesn't necessarily make it easier to save for a down payment.

The biggest findings

The study found that the states where residents have the easiest time saving for a down payment tend to strike a balance between higher incomes and more manageable housing costs. Maryland ranked No. 1 overall, followed by South Dakota, Virginia, New Hampshire and Iowa.

The gap becomes especially clear when looking at the amount needed for a 5% down payment. In Iowa, where the median home value is $208,000, that would come to about $10,400. In Hawaii, where the median home value is $839,100, the same 5% down payment would be roughly $42,000 a difference of more than $30,000. The study also found that the home price-to-income ratio ranges from 2.77 in Iowa to 8.36 in Hawaii.

At the other end of the rankings, New York, California, and Hawaii were among the least affordable states for aspiring homeowners. While residents in these states can earn relatively high incomes, those earnings can be eaten up by high home prices, taxes, and overall living costs, making it harder to put money aside for a down payment.

What contributes to higher costs?

Sandberg explained that there are several factors that come into play when it comes to affording a down payment.

That Maryland garnered the top spot in our study shows the importance of economic balance, she said. The concept of home purchase affordability goes beyond price. The cost needs to fit neatly with income, which is where this state comes out ahead.

When average residents earn salaries that make it easy to save for a down payment and then meet the monthly mortgage payment, theyre in a great position to purchase.

However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, in states like New York, California, and Hawaii, housing inventory plays a big role.

Intense demand pushes prices upward, Sandberg said.

State specific tax and policy issues can magnify the problem. For example, there is a battle over Proposition 13 in California, which discourages people from selling their property because it resets the assessed value to the most current purchase price. Whether this is positive or negative is up for debate, but it almost certainly affected inventory.

Is homeownership attainable?

For consumers living in states with high price-to-income ratios, homeownership may not feel attainable. Sandberg offered her best advice for consumers in these states.

Not everybody blooms where planted, she said. For some, their community is extremely important, so they are willing to stick it out despite the extreme expense. In that case, recognize the trade-offs. Instead of a spacious home with a big yard in South Dakota, you may be happier in a small condo in Maui for now.

Sandberg also recommends that consumers start planning today, and pursue federal and local assistance programs that can help you purchase.

Every state in the U.S. has a first time homebuyer program that allows you to buy without a big down payment, she said. If your income fits the threshold, you may have the opportunity to buy a home for below market rate. Even if you don't qualify for such programs, you can still purchase a home without having to put 20% down by getting private mortgage insurance to make up the difference.

More advice: Build and maintain your credit rating.

The higher your credit scores are, the less expensive your home loan will be, Sandberg said. Commit now to making all of your payments on time, and pay off your credit card balances in full every month. Not only will this strategy improve your credit, youll avoid paying interest, leaving you more money to save for the down payment.

Helping family members make ends meet can come at a cost to Americans own savings and retirement plans

• 80% of Americans provided financial support to a loved one in the past year, with groceries, housing, and utilities among the most common expenses.

• Nearly 1 in 4 Americans have reduced or stopped retirement contributions because of family financial responsibilities.

• Experts say helping loved ones is sometimes necessary, but consumers should avoid putting their own long-term financial security at risk whenever possible.

Supporting a loved one financially can be an important way to help family members through a tough time. But for many Americans, that support is becoming a regular part of the household budget and it may be forcing them to put their own financial goals on the back burner.

A new study from My Guide to Retirement found that 80% of Americans provided financial support to a loved one over the past year, with groceries, housing, and utilities among the most common expenses.

For those helping both children and parents, the financial strain can be even greater. Nearly one in four Americans say theyve reduced or stopped contributing to retirement because of family responsibilities, while others have dipped into emergency savings or taken on debt to keep up with expenses.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Ashley Korpi, Executive Director at My Guide to Retirement, to learn more about the long-term impacts this can have on consumers finances.

The sandwich generation is taking a financial hit

The sandwich generation refers to those who are simultaneously caring for young children and aging relatives. Korpi explained that this group is most impacted financially when caring for extended family members as well as their own families.

One of the biggest obstacles for the sandwich generation is that helping your family can quickly spiral from a temporary expense into an ongoing one, she said.

If cutting back your retirement contributions becomes routine, and those folks depend on it for groceries, housing, or healthcare, youre not only losing the money you saved, but also the time and potential growth of those savings.

Your own savings matter, too

In the name of supporting family, 25% of respondents have skipped contributing to their own savings or retirement accounts. However, Korpi encourages consumers to prioritize their own savings both short- and long-term.

Theres certainly situations where helping a loved one has to take priority at the moment, Korpi said. Maybe theyre dealing with a health emergency, or at risk of losing their housing, like in that sort of situation, most people are going to want to step in and help if they have the means.

The problem is when that behavior is normalized, and you frequently sideline your own financial security to help someone else. Whenever possible, its best to try and keep your emergency savings intact, and contribute enough to your 401(k) so that you can take advantage of employer matching if thats on the table.

Her best piece of advice: Aim for is family support that can be pulled from money youre okay with disappearing, not the money you need for your own financial security.

Think about your retirement

Some of Korpis biggest advice is about saving for retirement, as these decisions can affect more than just your own finances.

For a lot of people, theres a good chance youll end up responsible for helping aging parents, adult children, or other relatives at some point, she said.

If you think thats in the cards for you in the future, its worth having those talks before theres an emergency and decisions have to be made at that moment. Even having a basic idea of what youre able to provide and help with will make those situations easier to handle.

Another tip: Have a portion of retirement income that's guaranteed and predictable, rather than everything depending on how a portfolio performs in a given year.

There are financial tools that can provide guaranteed income to help replace a paycheck in retirement and cover essentials like housing and healthcare, which takes some of the pressure off if you also find yourself needing to help family along the way, Korpi said. It's not the right fit for everyone, but for people juggling their own retirement with supporting others, having that predictable baseline can be one less variable to worry about.

Start retirement planning today

If youre worried about your retirement planning, Korpi encourages consumers to start planning today. Its ultimately never too late to improve your financial wellbeing and retirement outlook.

If you get a late start, you might have to save more aggressively, work more, or redefine what your retirement is going to look like, but doing something is still better than doing nothing, she said.

What I want to hammer home is that you should focus on what you can control moving forward versus what you cant. Theres no retirement time machine available, but the decisions you make now can have lasting impact on the days ahead.

Gold is at its highest level since mid-May

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Gold has climbed above $4,700 an ounce as investors seek protection from geopolitical conflict, inflation, and concerns about rising government debt.

• Silver has rallied along with gold but is also benefiting from strong industrial demand and a persistent shortage of physical metal.

• A weaker U.S. dollar and expectations that interest rates may stabilize have made precious metals more attractive, though prices remain volatile.

Gold and silver prices have risen sharply in recent weeks as investors react to a mix of geopolitical turmoil, government debt concerns, a weaker U.S. dollar, and tight supplies of silver.

Gold futures moved above $4,700 an ounce Monday, their highest level since mid-May. Silver recently traded near $69 an ounce after gaining about 19% during August, although it pulled back slightly in Monday trading. Gold has risen about 15% this month.

The immediate catalyst for the latest rally was the U.S. Treasury Departments decision to expand its purchases of longer-term government bonds. The move is intended to improve trading conditions and reduce some upward pressure on long-term interest rates.

However, some investors interpreted the larger bond-buyback program as a sign that the government is becoming increasingly concerned about high borrowing costs and the size of the national debt. That prompted a sell-off in the dollar and increased demand for assets, including gold, that are viewed as stores of value.

Gold rose above $4,600 late last week as the Treasury announcement contributed to dollar weakness and concerns about U.S. fiscal stability. It then extended its gains Monday, climbing above $4,700 in early trading, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Why a weaker dollar helps gold and silver

Gold and silver are generally priced in U.S. dollars. When the dollar loses value, the metals become less expensive for investors using euros, yen, or other currencies, potentially increasing demand.

A weaker dollar can also raise concerns about inflation and the long-term purchasing power of cash. Some investors buy precious metals as a hedge against those risks.

Interest rates are another important factor. Gold and silver do not pay interest, so they may become less attractive when investors can earn high inflation-adjusted returns from Treasury securities or savings accounts.

But expectations that interest rates could stabilize or eventually decline reduce that disadvantage. Investors are watching upcoming inflation data and Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warshs speech at the Jackson Hole economic symposium for clues about the central banks next move.

War and economic uncertainty boost demand

Geopolitical tensions have also added to the rally. Conflict involving Iran, continuing uncertainty surrounding Ukraine, and renewed trade disputes have increased demand for investments considered relatively safe during periods of instability.

Gold has traditionally filled that role because it is widely traded, cannot be created by a government, and is held as a reserve asset by central banks.

Central-bank purchases have provided another source of demand. The World Gold Council has said economic and geopolitical uncertainty, investment demand, and central-bank buying remain important supports for the gold market.

Silver has an additional advantage

Silver often moves in the same direction as gold, but it is also an important industrial material. It is used in solar panels, electronics, electrical grids, automobiles, medical equipment, and data-center infrastructure.

That gives silver two sources of demand: investors looking for a precious metal and manufacturers that need it to make products.

At the same time, the world is consuming more silver than mines and recycling operations are supplying. The Silver Institute projects that the silver market will record its sixth consecutive annual supply deficit in 2026.

Because the silver market is much smaller than the gold market, a relatively modest increase in investment buying can produce a much larger price movement. That helps explain why silver has recently outpaced gold.

What it means for consumers

Consumers who own gold or silver coins, exchange-traded funds, or mining stocks may have seen substantial gains. But anyone buying now should be aware that precious-metal prices can reverse quickly if the dollar strengthens, interest rates rise, or geopolitical tensions ease.

Physical gold and silver also usually sell at a premium over the quoted market price. Dealers may offer substantially less than the market price when an owner sells.

The recent rally does not necessarily mean metals will continue rising at the same pace. It does show, however, that investors are increasingly willing to pay for protection against economic, political, and currency risks.