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A new report from The Zebra highlights the gap between homeowners confidence in their insurance coverage and their ability to recover financially after a disaster

• 40% of homeowners say they couldnt afford a $5,000 emergency, despite disaster recovery costs averaging $22,100.

• Many homeowners misunderstand their coverage, with 35% believing standard homeowners insurance covers flood or earthquake damage.

• The Zebras insurance analyst recommends documenting damage, saving receipts, and reviewing policies regularly to avoid costly coverage gaps.

Many homeowners feel confident that their insurance will protect them if disaster strikes. But a new survey from The Zebra suggests that feeling prepared and being financially ready for the unexpected are two very different things.

According to the insurance comparison platforms 2026 State of Insurance: Home report, 40% of homeowners say they couldnt afford a $5,000 emergency, even though homeowners who restored their properties after a disaster spent an average of $22,100.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Beth Swanson, insurance analyst at The Zebra,who explained what these findings reveal about homeowners financial preparedness and the potential gaps they may need to address.

Methodology

The Zebras 2026 State of Insurance: Home report draws on three sources:

• 733,436 home insurance premiums

• A national survey of 2,500 homeowners

• Interviews with 26 homeowners who experienced catastrophic insurance claims within the past five years.

The report examines how extreme weather, rising insurance costs, and gaps in coverage can affect homeowners ability to recover financially after a disaster.

Key Findings

The report highlights a disconnect between homeowners confidence in their insurance and their financial readiness for a disaster.

Key findings include:

• 40% of homeowners said they couldnt afford a $5,000 emergency.

• 34% had experienced damage from severe weather or a natural disaster.

• 81% believed they had adequate coverage for their home and belongings, while 77% believed they were covered in the event of a natural disaster.

• Only about one-third felt very or extremely prepared for a natural disaster.

• 35% believed their standard homeowners insurance policy covered flood or earthquake damage, which typically requires separate coverage.

• More than one-third of homeowners with covered claims reported a gap between their insurance payout and the actual cost of repairs.

• One-quarter of homeowners who filed a claim couldnt stay in their homes after the damage. Of those, only about half said insurance fully covered their temporary lodging expenses.

The report also found that homeowners who restored their properties after a disaster spent an average of $22,100 in 2023, underscoring how quickly recovery costs can add up.

Lowering out-of-pocket costs

If you feel unprepared for a natural disaster, Swanson recommends taking the following steps to mitigate your out-of-pocket costs:

• Document everything: Take videos and photos of any and all damage, flooded areas, ruined belongings, etc. An adjuster will likely visit the property to inspect, but its a good idea to document everything you can to ensure you get the most from your claim payout. If youve got a home inventory from before the disaster, this will be important to share, as well. If there are ruined items youll need to throw away that might have serial numbers, be sure to take photos of these things as well.

• Save all receipts for temporary fixes: After a major disaster, adjusters are often backlogged. Don't wait for them before taking steps to prevent further damage, like tarping a leaking roof or boarding up broken windows. Keep detailed records and save every receipt for materials or emergency labor; your insurer will usually reimburse these necessary protective measures.

• Look into grants or FEMA options: This depends on your location and the event itself, but you may be able to file for FEMA assistance (or other options through your state) to help cover costs of housing and other repairs your insurance doesnt cover. You can also reach out to your mortgage company and credit card companies to explain the situation if finances become tight after a major disaster. Remember that insurance reimbursement can take time, and money might come in different stages over an extended period of time.

Know your policy

With 35% of homeowners thinking that their standard insurance policy covers damage from earthquakes or flood damage, its important to know what your policy actually covers.

Its a huge misconception that if your mortgage company doesnt require flood insurance (because you arent in a FEMA designated flood risk zone) then your house is safe and you dont need it, Swanson said. As we continue to see more severe weather events, this is growing into a bigger issue, and its not only a huge stressor and disappointment if you think youll be covered and then youre not, but its extremely pricey to handle everything that comes along with cleaning up a flooded home.

Swanson explained that there are a lot of insurance endorsements homeowners might not be aware of that can come in very handy. I always carry sewer/septic backup coverage, personally, she said. Consider service lines coverage (to repair utilities coming from the street onto your property, like gas or fiber optic) or code upgrade insurance as additional options.

Always review your coverage

If theres one takeaway from this survey, Swanson said its that insurance shouldnt be a set-it-and-forget-it purchase.

People often worry that updating coverage means spending a lot more money, but its really about closing hidden gaps (like adding low-cost water backup or service line protection) before they turn into devastating out-of-pocket costs, she said. Homeowners actually have far more control than they realize, and they might be surprised at how little some of the endorsements add to their cost.

As local weather patterns shift, treating your policy like a living document and giving it a quick tune-up every year or so ensures your coverage matches today's reality (and protects one of your biggest investments, and your savings).

New research from the New York Fed reveals why tariffs can keep pushing prices higher months after they're introduced

• Tariffs hit American-made products, too: Roughly one-third of tariff-related consumer price increases come from goods manufactured in the United States.

• Price hikes take time: Imported products typically get more expensive first, while American-made goods can take six to 12 months to reflect higher costs.

• Higher prices can linger: Even when tariff-related inflation slows, shoppers may continue paying more than they otherwise would.

If you've been wondering why prices keep creeping higher, even on products made right here in America, new research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York offers an explanation.

And it turns out tariffs can keep affecting prices long after they're announced.

In a new report, researchers examined how tariffs work their way through the economy before eventually reaching consumers.

Their big finding is that for every 10 percentage-point increase in average tariffs, consumer goods prices rise approximately 2.6% after a year. And it's not just imported products getting more expensive.

Even American-made products are getting pricier

It's easy to assume tariffs only affect products manufactured overseas. But researchers found that roughly one-third of tariff-related consumer price increases come from products manufactured in the United States.

There are two main reasons worth considering.

First, American manufacturers often depend on imported materials and components.

For example, think about a car assembled in Michigan. While it might be put together in America, it often contains imported steel, electronics, rubber, or aluminum.

So when those materials become more expensive because of tariffs, manufacturers will naturally face higher production costs that can eventually reach consumers wallets.

Second, tariffs can give American companies more room to raise prices.

When imported competitors become more expensive, domestic manufacturers face less pressure to keep their own prices low.

The researchers found evidence of both effects, although rising production costs played the larger role.

The price increases can take a full year

Here's something particularly interesting for shoppers: Tariff-related price increases don't necessarily happen when tariffs first take effect.

Researchers found that nearly 90% of the tariffs studied were passed through to U.S. import prices, often almost immediately.

But those higher costs take time to reach store shelves. About half of the direct effect on retail prices appears within three months, with the full direct effect arriving after approximately six months.

American-made goods take even longer. Their price increases generally build over six to 12 months as manufacturers adjust to higher costs.

That means shoppers can continue seeing tariff-related price pressure long after the initial announcements have faded from the headlines.

Slower inflation doesn't mean lower prices

The New York Fed estimates that tariffs pushed consumer goods prices nearly 3% above where they otherwise would have been in February 2026.

That effect eased to approximately 2% by August following changes in tariff policy.

But there's an important distinction between inflation slowing and prices actually coming down. Even if tariffs stop adding to inflation, the higher prices they caused can remain.

In other words, a product that became more expensive because of tariffs doesn't automatically return to its old price when tariff-related inflation slows.

What shoppers can do to protect their budgets

Unfortunately, there's no simple way to avoid tariffs entirely, especially when American-made products can be affected, too.

But a few shopping strategies can help:

• Don't assume buying American avoids tariff costs. Because many domestic products contain imported materials, if youre on a budget, its smart to compare prices rather than relying solely on country-of-origin labels.

• Track prices before big purchases. For electronics, appliances, and other expensive items, use price-history tools like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel to determine whether a sale is actually a good deal.

• Consider refurbished and open-box products. These can offer meaningful savings compared with buying new.

• Don't panic-buy because of tariff headlines. Price increases can take months to reach consumers, and not every product will be affected equally.

The warehouse club is offering discounts on toys, TVs, electronics, and home goods to help members get ahead on holiday shopping

• BJs Wholesale Clubs Early Black Friday sale begins October 23, with deals available both in stores and online.

• Members can save up to 40% on select electronics, 30% on select home and kitchen products, and 20% on select toys.

• Additional perks include an extra 10% off toy purchases with a coupon, free shipping on select items, and convenient shopping options.

Black Friday shopping is getting an early start this year at BJs Wholesale Club. The retailer announced that its Early Black Friday event will begin October 23, giving members a chance to shop for holiday gifts and household items before the traditional late-November shopping rush.

The sale will feature discounts across several categories, including toys, televisions, electronics, and home and kitchen products. Shoppers can browse deals at BJs warehouse clubs or shop online, making it possible to start checking gifts off their lists without waiting until Thanksgiving weekend.

For 42 years, BJs has been offering members unbeatable savings on gifts for everyone on their holiday shopping list, Stephanie Reibling, Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer, BJs Wholesale Club, said in a news release.

Our Early Black Friday event is the perfect opportunity for families to get ahead of the holiday rush and save even more. Were excited to kick off the shopping season with assortment and value we know our members will love.

What shoppers can expect from the sale

The Early Black Friday event includes several discounts on items that could appeal to holiday shoppers.

Members can get up to 20% off select toys, along with an additional 10% off their entire toy purchase when using a coupon. Exclusions apply, and free shipping is also available. Featured products include the Elf on the Shelf Santas Snuggler Bundle, Tytan Magnetic Tiles, and Hot Wheels R/C Lets Race Snake.

For shoppers considering bigger gifts, BJs is offering up to 40% off select TVs and electronics, plus free delivery on eligible items. Featured products include a Samsung 85-inch U8000HD Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV, Sony wireless noise-canceling headphones, and a Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 laptop.

Home and kitchen products will also be part of the promotion, with up to 30% off select items and free shipping. Examples include a Frigidaire touchscreen nugget ice maker, a Cuisinart Smart Stick immersion blender, and a Dyson V10 Konical cordless stick vacuum.

Members shopping online can also use curbside pickup, same-day delivery where available, and shipping. In stores, the BJs mobile app offers ExpressPay, which lets shoppers scan items as they go and skip the checkout line.

What this means for consumers

For BJs members, the early sale offers an opportunity to spread out holiday shopping instead of leaving every purchase until November. Shoppers looking for toys, electronics, or kitchen appliances may find it worthwhile to compare the advertised discounts with their budgets and shopping lists.

Still, the maximum advertised savings apply to select products, not necessarily every item in a category. Toy shoppers will also need to check the coupon requirements and exclusions before counting on the additional discount.

The sale begins October 23 both in-club and online at BJs.com/BlackFriday. Members who have specific gifts in mind can check the available offers before heading to a store or placing an order.

Feeling rushed may hurt mental health more than having a packed schedule, new research suggests

• A study of 646 college students found that those with busier schedules were less likely to report depression and tended to earn better grades.

• Students who felt constantly rushed were more likely to experience anxiety and depression, regardless of how much they had to do.

• Mindfulness may help people manage busy schedules by shifting their attention to the present moment.

Between work, family responsibilities, appointments, and everyday errands, it can feel like there simply aren't enough hours in the day. It's easy to assume that clearing a few things off the calendar is the key to feeling less stressed. But new research from the University of Colorado Boulder suggests the relationship between time and mental health may be more complicated.

The study, published in the Journal of American College Health, found that having a packed schedule wasn't necessarily linked to worse mental health. Instead, how people felt about their time appeared to make a meaningful difference.

Researchers found that students with busier schedules were less likely to experience depression, while those who regularly felt rushed reported more anxiety and depression. The findings suggest that the problem may not always be how much we have to do, but how we experience the time available to us.

We have a tendency to think, Oh, things will get better, and I wont be stressed if I can just take some things off of my plate, researcher Caitlin McKimmy said in a news release. These data show that its not that simple that outside of what is actually on our calendar we need to heal our relationship with time.

How researchers studied time and mental health

The researchers surveyed 646 undergraduate students to explore two different aspects of time: time scarcity and time pressure.

Time scarcity referred to the actual amount of uncommitted time students had available. To measure it, researchers collected information about how many hours participants spent in class, studying, working, commuting, and handling other activities.

Time pressure, meanwhile, described the subjective feeling of constantly being in a hurry or struggling to keep up. The survey also assessed participants' anxiety, depression, and mindfulness, which involves paying attention to the present moment.

Students also agreed to share their grade-point averages and academic records, allowing researchers to examine how their schedules and perceptions of time related to academic performance.

This approach helped the researchers distinguish between having a genuinely full calendar and feeling overwhelmed by time constraints.

What the findings could mean for consumers

The results revealed an important distinction. Students with less free time were less likely to report depression and tended to have better grades. Those experiencing greater time pressure, however, showed higher levels of anxiety and depression and lower grades.

Mindfulness also appeared to matter. Students who scored higher on mindfulness measures experienced fewer negative mental health effects associated with time pressure.

For consumers juggling busy lives, the findings suggest that cutting back on commitments isn't necessarily the only way to manage stress. Choosing activities that align with personal interests and values, along with taking moments to breathe and refocus on the present, may help make a demanding schedule feel more manageable.

Still, the study doesn't prove that being busy improves mental health. Researchers noted that people who already feel better may be more likely to pursue activities, while other factors could influence both time perception and emotional well-being.

The takeaway isn't that everyone should pack more into their day. Rather, it may be worth paying attention to the difference between having too little free time and feeling perpetually rushed. Those experiences aren't always the same, and understanding that distinction could help people approach their schedules differently.

These data support the idea that doing more and being engaged can not only lead to better mental health but could also support academic and professional success, McKimmy said.

The amount of time we have in our week isnt super malleable. But the way we think about time is.