Consumer News: California is cracking down on replacement tires — and drivers nationwide may eventually feel it

Cheap Flight Day is coming, but the best airfare probably won't depend on one magical date

• Forget the airfare hacks. Booking at midnight, clearing cookies, and avoiding repeat searches arent proven ways to save.

• Compare the true cost. Check one-way fares, nonstop options, and added fees before deciding which flight is cheapest.

• Cheap Flight Day isnt a guaranteed sale. Your best bet is to track fares early, set alerts, and stay flexible on dates.

If you've ever searched for airfare, you've probably heard the tricks. Book at midnight. Clear your cookies. Use incognito mode. Don't search too many times or the airline will notice and jack up the price.

The problem? Many of these supposed airfare hacks don't appear to do much at all.

Ahead of National Cheap Flight Day on August 23rd, CheapOair released a survey of 1,000 U.S. travelers along with an analysis of its own booking data. The results suggest that travelers may be spending too much time trying to outsmart airline websites and not enough time comparing actual fares.

Here are some myths worth forgetting about and what to do instead.

Myth #1: There's a magical time of day to book

Nearly three-quarters of travelers surveyed (74.4%) believe there's a best time of day to purchase airfare.

CheapOair says there isn't.

Airfares can change throughout the day as inventory and demand change, so staying awake until midnight isn't necessarily going to unlock a secret fare.

Do this instead: Set fare alerts for trips you're considering and start monitoring prices before you're ready to buy. You'll have a much better idea when a genuinely good fare pops up.

Myth #2: Clear your cookies to get a cheaper flight

Half of travelers surveyed believe clearing their browser cookies can produce lower fares.

CheapOair says that's another myth. It also says repeatedly searching for the same flight won't cause the price to increase, something 48.2% of travelers believe happens.

So, if a fare jumps $40 after your fifth search, don't automatically assume the airline caught you looking.

Pro tip: Instead of repeatedly searching the exact same itinerary, change something that can actually affect the fare. Try leaving a day earlier or later, compare nearby airports, and try checking different flight times.

Myth #3: Round trip is always cheaper

About 72% of respondents believe buying a round-trip ticket always beats purchasing two individual one-way fares.

Not necessarily.

Before clicking "purchase," be sure to price the outbound and return flights separately. You just might discover that flying one airline there, and a different one home, can produce a better deal.

Just remember that separate tickets can also complicate potential changes and cancellations.

Myth #4: Budget airlines are always cheapest

The headline fare for a budget airline might be $49, but that's not necessarily what you'll pay.

CheapOair found 68.1% of travelers believe budget airlines always offer the lowest fare, even though add-on charges can stack up quickly to erase any savings.

Be sure to always compare the final trip cost, including bags, seat selection, and any other fees you'll be asked to pay.

For example, a $129 fare that includes your checked bag, can beat a $79 fare that doesn't.

Myth #5: A layover automatically saves money

Two-thirds of surveyed travelers believe connecting flights are always cheaper than nonstop flights.

Again, not always the case.

Before volunteering to spend three hours in Denver eating a $19 airport sandwich, be sure to check the nonstop price. If the difference is only $25, your time might be worth more than the savings.

Myth #6: Cheap Flight Day means everything suddenly gets cheaper

National Cheap Flight Day is Aug. 23, but don't circle it on your calendar expecting airlines to simultaneously slash fares.

CheapOair describes it more as the beginning of a broader seasonal window when summer demand starts cooling. Its historical data found that average domestic fares in late August and early September have been about 12% lower than earlier August levels, while international fares averaged about 17% lower.

Keep in mind that those are historical averages, not a guarantee for a particular flight this year.

The company's data also found its most consistent savings occurred when travelers booked 30 to 60 days before departure.

The consumer takeaway

Stop looking for a secret airfare cheat code.

Instead, watch prices early, use fare alerts, compare flexible dates and nearby airports, price one-way tickets separately, and compare the final cost after fees.

The cheapest flight might not appear at midnight, or after deleting your cookies, or even on National Cheap Flight Day.

Sometimes the best airfare hack is simply knowing what a good price looks like and quickly snagging it when you see it.

Here's what pet owners should know before sharing food with their dogs

• Many simple foods are safe to share with dogs, but pet owners should avoid foods like grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, chocolate, xylitol, alcohol, and cooked bones.

• Raw-fed dogs may face additional risks from contaminated food, so pet owners should pay close attention to recalls, lot numbers, storage, and food-handling practices.

• Keep an eye out for signs of illness after a possible exposure, including vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, abdominal discomfort, fever, or sudden behavior changes.

For pet owners, a recalled food doesn't necessarily stay on the human side of the kitchen. Dogs may eat table scraps, fruits and vegetables, or ingredients used in homemade meals, which means they can also be exposed to contaminated food.

With recalls affecting everything from produce and prepared foods to pet food and raw ingredients, it's worth taking a closer look at what's ending up in your dog's bowl.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Dr. Gary Richter, DVM, founder of Ultimate Pet Nutrition, who explained what pet owners should know about sharing human foods with their dogs, taking extra precautions with raw diets, checking for recalled ingredients, and recognizing potential signs that a dog may have eaten something contaminated.

Safe foods for sharing with pets

As a pet owner, it can be hard not to share whats on your plate with your pets. However, for their health and safety, its important to know how to safely share food with your furry friends.

Many simple, minimally seasoned foods can be safely shared with dogs, including lean cooked meats, eggs, carrots, green beans, blueberries, apples without the seeds, and small amounts of plain pumpkin or sweet potato, Dr. Richter said.

The important thing is to keep foods plain (unseasoned) and avoid known hazards such as grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, chocolate, macadamia nuts, xylitol, alcohol, and cooked bones.

Taking extra precautions

When feeding pets raw food, Dr. Richter encourages pet owners to take some extra precautions especially as recalls and health risks abound.

Raw food requires some additional vigilance because it does not have a traditional cooking step to eliminate bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, although some commercial raw foods use pathogen-reduction processes such as HPP, he said.

During periods of increased recalls, check lot numbers carefully, follow manufacturer notices, keep raw food properly frozen or refrigerated, wash hands and food-contact surfaces thoroughly, and don't leave thawed food sitting out.

Dr. Richter also explained that the FDA maintains current recall information for both human and pet foods, and pet owners can check the product name, manufacturer, lot number, and expiration or best-by date on the FDAs website.

If you're uncertain, contact the manufacturer directly, they should be able to tell you whether your specific package is affected, he said.

Another tip: keep the original packaging or take a photo of the label and lot number when you open a new bag or package. If a recall is announced later, you'll have exactly the information you need to determine whether your pet's food is affect

Knowing the signs of contamination

Dr. Richter also wants pet owners to know the signs to look for in case a pet has accidentally eaten contaminated food.

The most common signs are vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, abdominal discomfort, fever, or a sudden change in behavior, although symptoms vary considerably depending on the contaminant, he said. If your dog develops significant symptoms after eating a recalled product, or you suspect they may have consumed something potentially dangerous, contact your veterinarian rather than waiting to see if it resolves on its own.

A new study finds drivers are traveling farther for cheaper fuel and changing how they spend their money

• Americans are changing their driving habits to save on gas, with 56% saying theyve reduced how often they drive and 40% willing to drive at least 10 minutes out of their way for cheaper fuel.

• Driving farther for cheaper gas doesnt always pay off, especially when the extra mileage and time outweigh the savings at the pump.

• Simple habits can help lower fuel costs, including combining errands, avoiding unnecessary idling, maintaining proper tire pressure, and comparing gas prices along routes you already drive.

When gas prices start eating into the household budget, even a trip to the pump can lead to some tough decisions.

For many Americans, saving a few dollars on fuel now means changing how and how often they drive, combine errands, and even spend time with family and friends.

A new study from ExtremeTerrain found that Americans are going to considerable lengths to cut their fuel costs. Four in 10 say theyll drive more than 10 minutes out of their way to find cheaper gas, while more than half have reduced how often they drive. And for some, the impact goes beyond the car: 43% say rising fuel costs have caused them to skip vacations, family gatherings, or other social plans.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Paul Knoll, Sr. Marketing Director, to learn more about how drivers can save at the pump.

Survey methodology and key findings

ExtremeTerrain surveyed 1,000 American drivers via SurveyMonkey on July 14, 2026, to better understand how rising gas costs are affecting driving habits and household spending.

The survey found that Americans are making some significant changes to save at the pump. Here are some of the biggest findings from the survey:

• 40% of drivers said they would drive at least 10 minutes out of their way to find cheaper gas.

• 56% said theyve reduced how often they drive overall.

• The average driver reported spending $134 a month on gas.

• Combining errands, driving less, and comparing prices between gas stations were among the most common strategies to save money on gas.

• Drivers estimated that these tactics save them about $28 per month on average.

• 43% of drivers said gas prices have caused them to miss a vacation, family gathering, get-together with friends, or another special occasion.

• 69% said theyve cut back on at least one other spending category to keep up with fuel costs.

Does driving farther away actually help your gas budget?

Knoll says going the extra distance for cheaper gas may not always be the smartest move.

The mistake is fixating on the price per gallon instead of the cost and time its taking you to find that cheaper gas, he said/ If youre adding 10-20 minutes of driving just to save a few cents, the extra youll burn can eliminate much of the savings, especially if youre only filling a partially empty tank.

If a cheaper station is on your way home, then sure it makes the most practical sense, or if the price difference is massive, but aside from that, the additional mileage to realistically save not that much, just isnt worth it.

Keep up with regular car maintenance

Aside from driving less, keeping up with your regular car maintenance can also help with fuel efficiency.

One of the easiest things you can do to keep cut down how much youre spending and improve your fuel efficiency is just keep your tires properly inflated, Knoll said. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance and force your engine to work harder.

Staying on top of basic vehicle maintenance, including the correct oil, filters, and addressing engine or emissions problems early on also can help with your fuel economy. At the end of the day, its about keeping your vehicle operating as efficiently as possible as it was designed to.

What actually works?

Instead of trying different ways to save money on gas, Knoll shared some of the tried and true methods that can work.

Start with combing your errands, avoid any unnecessary time idling in your car, dont slam your foot on the gas when accelerating, stay within reasonable highway speeds, and keep your tires properly inflated, he recommended.

Its also smart to compare gas prices along routes youre already driving on versus making a special trip for cheaper gas. The goal should be to reduce the total cost of driving, not just find the lowest price tag for gas.

Knoll also mentioned that the recent survey found that drivers estimate theyre saving about $28 a month with some of these tactics, and none of them require a huge change in behavior.

Consistency matters more than chasing every possible penny you can save, he said.

A new survey finds that caring for or worrying about aging parents is prompting many adults to rethink their financial plans

• 70% of Americans say watching their parents age has changed the way they approach financial planning.

• Caring for aging parents can put financial pressure on adult children, making it important to balance helping family with protecting your own finances.

• Experts recommend planning ahead by maintaining an emergency fund, continuing retirement contributions, reviewing insurance coverage, and having honest conversations with family members.

Watching your parents get older can change more than family dynamics. For many Americans, it can also prompt a closer look at their own finances, future plans, and the responsibilities they may eventually take on.

A new study from Ethos, based on a survey of 1,079 U.S. adults, finds that 70% say seeing their parents age has changed the way they approach financial planning. For some, those changing family roles can even blur the line between being a child and becoming a caregiver and may influence the financial decisions they make for their own future.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Nichole Myers, Chief Underwriter, Ethos, to learn more about financial security, adult children reaching new milestones with their parents, and more.

How the survey was conducted

Ethos surveyed 1,079 U.S. adults who own life insurance to examine when people begin to feel like adults, how major life milestones are changing, and what prompts them to take financial planning more seriously.

Seventy percent of respondents said watching their parents age made them take their own financial planning more seriously. A parent's health scare and reaching a certain age were the most commonly cited events that prompted that shift, with 18% naming each, while 11% said a parent needing daily help was the turning point.

The survey also found that 42% of Americans sometimes feel more like a parent to their own parents, while 25% already help care for an aging parent and another 39% expect to do so.

More broadly, the findings suggest that traditional markers of adulthood are changing, too. Fifty-two percent said they reached major adult milestones in a different order than their parents did, and 50% said getting life insurance made them feel like a true adult. Meanwhile, only 26% said they have written a will, showing that feeling financially responsible and actually putting a formal plan in place don't always happen at the same time.

How aging parents are affecting adult children

Myers explained that financial planning can often feel more urgent as you watch your parents grow older.

Adult children end up helping to meet the costs that can come with aging, like medical bills and long-term care, she said. This is changing how people approach adulthood. For a lot of Americans, adulthood is now less about checking off milestones like marriage or homeownership. Instead, it involves being able to handle responsibility when your family needs you.

In addition, watching parents age can impact how adult children think about their own finances.

When you experience what aging can cost, a lot of people start looking at their finances differently, Myers said. They may build up a bigger emergency fund or get more serious about paying off debt. I also see people becoming more willing to have uncomfortable money conversations with their parents about housing and long-term care. Its not uncommon for your emergency savings to someday cover someone elses emergency, too.

Adult children as caregivers

Another factor that comes into play: adult children acting as caregivers to their aging parents.

While this can take both a financial and mental toll, Myers shared some advice for those in this situation.

The first instinct is often to start paying for things yourself, she said. Before using your own savings or pulling money out of retirement, it helps to get a picture of what your parents actually have available to them: income, insurance, benefits, savings, and monthly expenses. Then decide what you can afford to contribute without putting your own finances at risk.

Helping a parent shouldnt mean wrecking your retirement in the process. That can create the same problem for your children years from now.

Some of Myers financial tools to consider if youre caring for a parent:

• Prioritize keeping an emergency cushion

• Continue retirement contributions whenever possible

• Review life and disability coverage

• Have honest conversations with siblings or other family members about how the caregiving load can be divided