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Families enrolled in the federal savings program will begin receiving activation emails this week

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Treasury has launched the Trump Accounts mobile app ahead of the programs official July 4 rollout.

• Families that already enrolled children through IRS Form 4547 will begin receiving phased activation emails starting this week.

• The Treasury Department warned parents to watch for , saying legitimate activation emails will come only from a Treasury.gov address.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced the launch of the Trump Accounts mobile app, marking the next phase in a federal savings and investment initiative aimed at helping families build long-term financial security for children.

Treasury officials said the app, now available through major mobile app stores, will serve as the primary platform for families participating in the Trump Accounts program, which is scheduled for full rollout on July 4.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the initiative as a major expansion of financial access for American households.

The Trump Accounts app delivers a simple, secure way for households to begin engaging with a program designed to build long-term financial strength from day one, Bessent said in a statement.

Look for emails

Families that already signed up children for the program by submitting IRS Form 4547 will begin receiving activation emails in phases between now and July 4, according to the Treasury. Officials said the emails will contain instructions for completing account setup through the app or through the program website, TrumpAccounts.gov.

Under the program, eligible children will receive a $1,000 pilot-program contribution from the Treasury Department beginning July 4. The accounts will also be able to accept contributions from parents, relatives, employers and other approved contributors, subject to annual limits.

Treasury officials emphasized that the accounts are intended to provide tax-advantaged investment opportunities designed to support long-term savings and financial planning for children.

Watch out for

The department also issued warnings about potential fraud as the activation process begins. Treasury said legitimate communications regarding account activation will come only from the email address no-reply@TrumpAccounts.Treasury.gov and said it will not contact families by phone calls or text messages about activation.

Parents who have not yet enrolled children in the program can still open accounts at no cost by filing IRS Form 4547 before a child turns 18, Treasury said.

Policymakers see rising food insecurity among vulnerable consumers

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• New York Fed researchers say food insecurity has risen sharply among lower-income and less-educated households, as well as families with young children.

• The study links growing financial strain to worsening consumer sentiment, even as the broader U.S. economy continues to expand.

• Researchers found that households experiencing food insecurity are significantly more pessimistic about their future financial prospects and the economy overall.

Consumers have watched in recent months as rising food prices have helped fuel inflation. But the problem may be a lot worse for low-income groups.

Rising food insecurity among financially vulnerable Americans is contributing to growing consumer pessimism, according to new research published this week by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The analysis, published in the New York Feds Liberty Street Economics blog, found that lower-income households, people without college degrees, and families with young children have experienced a remarkable increase in food insecurity in recent years. Researchers used newly collected data from the Survey of Consumer Expectations to update earlier pandemic-era findings on financial hardship.

K-shaped economy

The report comes as policymakers and economists continue to debate the emergence of a K-shaped economy, in which higher-income households continue to benefit from strong employment, wage gains and asset growth while financially vulnerable Americans struggle with higher living costs and economic uncertainty.

While overall economic activity has remained resilient, the researchers said many households are facing elevated financial strain. Those pressures appear to be weighing heavily on public attitudes about the economy.

According to the study, households experiencing food insecurity reported substantially weaker expectations for their future finances and broader economic conditions than households that were food secure. The findings suggest that deteriorating household financial conditions may be helping drive persistently weak consumer sentiment readings.

The researchers also noted that food insecurity increasingly overlaps with other forms of financial distress, including difficulty paying bills and concerns about covering essential expenses.

The report was authored by New York Fed economists Gizem Kosar, Ishva Mehta and Wilbert van der Klaauw. The authors emphasized that the views expressed are their own and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal Reserve System.

A new survey finds that more Americans are turning to AI chatbots at night but the habit may be linked to longer sleep delays and less consistent rest.

• A new Amerisleep survey found that 1 in 8 Americans regularly use AI chatbots in the hour before bed, with millennials leading the trend.

• People who used AI before bedtime took significantly longer to fall asleep about 34 minutes on average, compared to 22 minutes for those who limit screen time before bed.

• Sleep experts say AI may keep the brain more mentally and emotionally engaged than social media, making it harder for users to fully unwind at night.

For years, sleep experts have warned about the effects of late-night screen time, especially endless social media scrolling before bed.

But now, a new bedtime habit is entering the conversation: AI chatbots.

Whether people are using tools like ChatGPT to ask questions, vent about their day, get advice, or simply unwind, more Americans are making AI part of their nightly routine. According to a new survey from Amerisleep, that growing habit may come with a downside.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Jordan Burns, Sleep Expert at Amerisleep, to learn more about how AI use is affecting consumers sleep habits.

Key findings from the study

The survey explored how Americans are using screens including AI chatbots in the hour before sleep.

Researchers surveyed 1,003 Americans in March 2026, including 127 people who said they regularly use AI chatbots before bed.

The survey examined screen habits, how long it takes people to fall asleep, sleep duration, and participants emotional state at bedtime. Respondents also shared whether AI use had changed their nighttime routines, including replacing social media scrolling or even late-night conversations with other people.

Some key findings from the study include:

• 1 in 8 Americans (13%) regularly use AI chatbots in the hour before bedtime

• Millennials do so most often (17%)

• 1 in 3 AI users are deliberately trading social media scrolling for bedtime chatbot sessions.

• Regular AI bedtime users took 55% longer to fall asleep (34 minutes) than those who forgo screen time before bed

AI is keeping us awake

With AI prolonging bedtime by over 50%, Burns explained that the tech is keeping consumers minds active.

AI chats tend to keep the brain more engaged than scrolling or streaming, Burns said. Specifically, respondents who regularly engage with AI reported taking 34 minutes to fall asleep, compared to 27 minutes among social media users, and 22 minutes among those who reduce screen time before bed.

This suggests that blue light, coupled with interaction, might be preventing the brain from unwinding.

AI is different than social media

The survey found that many Americans are choosing to use AI over scrolling social media both habits that can impact sleep and overall restfulness. However, experts say that AI has a different impact on the brain than social media use before bed.

AI interaction is more cognitively and emotionally engaging than scrolling, Burns said. In addition to the fact that users who spend more time talking to AI take more time to fall asleep, conversations with AI can be hard to end because certain systems are engineered to increase user engagement.

Reduce screen time before bed

If you find yourself stuck in an endless chatbot loop before bed, Burns recommends limiting screen time as part of your nighttime routine.

The biggest recommendation here is to replace constant stimulus with predictability, Burns said. Do things to reduce screen time an hour before going to sleep and transition to low-stimulus activities such as reading or even stretching.

If you're really committed, it'd be useful to establish a screen curfew and create a tech-free bedroom.

Costco lets shoppers return almost anything but there are limits

• Costco allows returns on most items with no official deadline, but the company does track return history and can flag shoppers for excessive returns.

• Costcos generous policy does not apply to most electronics, including TVs, laptops, and major appliances, which have a stricter 90-day return window.

• Members usually dont need a receipt because purchases are tied to their membership account, and Costco will even refund most opened food items.

For many members, Costcos generous return policy is one of the biggest reasons the annual membership feels worth it.

The company famously promises a 100% satisfaction guarantee on most merchandise, which means shoppers can often return products months (and sometimes years) after buying them.

But the real story is a little more complicated than what youll find posted on Costcos website. Over the years, Costco shoppers and employees have revealed plenty of unofficial quirks, hidden exceptions, and gray areas that many members dont fully grasp until theyre standing at the return counter.

Heres a full breakdown of how Costcos return policy actually works in the real world.

Most Costco items have no return deadline

This is the part that makes Costco famous.

Unlike many retailers that give only shoppers 30 or 90 days to make returns, Costco generally allows members to return most products at any time if theyre not satisfied.

That includes clothing, furniture, small appliances, kitchen items, toys, bedding, food, seasonal items, and outdoor equipment.

In practice, that means members have successfully returned items years later, especially if products stopped working unexpectedly. Online discussions are filled with stories about shoppers returning old vacuums, broken grills, and worn mattresses.

Costco absolutely tracks your return history

This is one of the biggest things not clearly emphasized on Costcos website.

Every purchase is tied directly to your membership account. That means Costco can see:

• What you bought
• When you bought it
• How often you return things
• Patterns of suspicious returns
• Whether you frequently return expensive items

And yes, Costco can revoke memberships for excessive return abuse. Multiple reports from former employees and longtime shoppers suggest habitual serial returners can eventually get flagged internally.

The exact percentage that gets you banned from returning items is not known, but one employee said that members who return at least 50% of their purchases will get flagged. This is especially true for shoppers who appear to use products temporarily and then bring them back after heavy use.

Examples that employees often complain about include:

• Returning patio furniture after summer
• Bringing back a dead Christmas tree after the holidays
• Returning large TVs the day after the Super Bowl
• Returning mattresses years later because they became uncomfortable"

Pro tip: Think of Costcos return policy as a customer satisfaction tool not a free rental program. Occasional legitimate returns are no problem. Its the repeated high-dollar returns that will attract their attention.

Electronics follow a completely different set of rules

Due to excessive abuse, Costcos generous return anytime reputation does not apply to most electronics. Those products fall under a much stricter 90-day return window. Although 90 days is still liberal, especially compared to other stores like Best Buy who adhere to a 14-day return window.

The 90-day rule applies to TVs, laptops, tablets, cell phones, smart watches, projectors, and major appliances.

For online orders, the countdown starts from the date you receive the item, not necessarily the order date.

Pro tip: If you buy electronics at Costco, save the packaging for at least 90 days. While Costco often accepts opened products, having original accessories and cables makes the return process much smoother.

You dont need a receipt to make a return

One of Costcos biggest advantages is that your membership card acts like a permanent digital receipt system. Employees can simply scan your membership card and locate old purchases instantly.

Thats why shoppers are often able to return items years later even without paperwork.

However, some members have recently reported stores becoming stricter about requiring receipts for certain returns, particularly higher-dollar items or situations where the system struggles to locate the transaction.

Pro tip: Use the Costco app or website to access your digital purchase history before visiting the return counter. By doing so, it will speed up the process dramatically.

Food returns are surprisingly flexible

Costco will often refund food products even after theyve been opened.

If a product tastes bad, spoils early, causes an issue, or simply disappoints you, Costco employees frequently approve refunds under the satisfaction guarantee.

This flexibility is one reason shoppers feel comfortable trying giant bulk-sized products theyve never purchased before.

That said, abuse absolutely does exist. Employees and shoppers online regularly share stories about half-eaten food being returned months later.

Pro tip: If youre returning food, be sure to bring back at least part of the product or packaging. By doing so, it will help avoid questions about the return and any possible hassles.

Mattresses are one of the most controversial return categories

Mattress returns have become somewhat infamous at Costco.

Because mattresses are expensive and difficult to evaluate quickly, many shoppers test them for months, or even years, before deciding theyre uncomfortable.

And yes, Costco accepts most of these returns. This creates a strange gray area where shoppers technically follow the policy while employees and other members sometimes view it as taking advantage of the system.

Pro tip: Its smart to buy your mattress from Costco online and take advantage of their white glove delivery service where theyll haul in the mattress and set it up for you. Then, if you need to return it at any point, you dont have to haul it back to a Costco warehouse.Theyll come and haul it away for a full refund.

Some items are non-returnable

Costcos website lists several important exceptions that many members overlook.

Items that are non-returnable include:

• Airline and event tickets
• Gift cards and shop cards
• Precious metals like gold bars and silver coins
• Cigarettes and alcohol (in certain states)
• Custom-installed products
• Some special-order items

Also, diamonds over a certain value will require authentication inspections before refunds are issued.

Tires and car batteries often fall under separate warranty programs instead of normal Costco returns because they naturally wear out over time.

Costco.com returns work differently

Online Costco purchases can usually be returned either:

• By mail
• At a Costco warehouse
• Through Costco.com return tools

Costcos online return system has improved significantly in recent years, including prepaid labels that are generated automatically, making for an easy return.

But keep in mind that oversized online purchases like appliances, furniture, or patio sets sometimes involve freight pickup coordination instead of shipping labels. For this reason, returning Costco.com items directly to a warehouse is often easier than mailing them back, especially for those really bulky products.

Pro tip: Your annual Costco membership is also refundable. If youre unhappy with your membership for any reason, Costco will refund you in full. That means shoppers who try Costco for many months, and then decide its not worth it, can get their annual fee back with no questions asked.

Employees sometimes quietly make judgment calls

While Costcos return system is standardized across all locations, many returns still come down to manager discretion, local warehouse culture, and whether employees believe a shopper is acting reasonably.

Thats why one customer may return an old product with zero issues while another gets questioned over missing accessories or heavy wear.

Online forums are filled with wildly different return experiences depending on the store and situation.

Pro tip: The key to an easy return at Costco is to be polite. That matters more than many shoppers realize. Those who remain calm and reasonable generally have much smoother experiences at the return counter.

Why Costco keeps the policy so generous

At first glance, Costcos return policy might seem financially reckless. But the company understands the fact that shoppers tend to buy more when they feel protected and can return almost anything at any point.

The confidence of knowing I can always bring it back encourages members to:

• Try unfamiliar products
• Buy expensive items
• Try bulk buying
• Automatically renew annual memberships
• Purchase higher-ticket electronics and furniture

The loyalty generated by their return policy is definitely significant. Thats why the company has kept one of retails most customer-friendly policies for decades with very few added restrictions.