Evan Morgan, Author at Budget and the Bees

9 Household Items That Usually Cost Less If You Stop Buying Them One at a Time

Buying household basics one package at a time may feel easier on the budget, but that convenience can quietly raise what you pay per use. For products your family goes through predictably, larger packages and multipacks can reduce the unit price and the number of emergency store runs. Consumer Reports has found meaningful price differences […]

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September Is a Good Month to Find Out Where Your Money Really Went This Summer

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Summer has a way of making ordinary spending feel temporary: a weekend trip here, restaurant meals there, and a few extra purchases for the kids. By September, however, those charges are no longer vacation memories; they are numbers sitting on bank and credit card statements. That makes this month an ideal time for a summer

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7 Ways to Tell Whether an Online Deal Is Actually Saving You Money

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Online shopping makes it remarkably easy to feel like you are saving money, especially when a countdown clock or giant “40% off” banner appears on the screen. But an online deal is only valuable when the final price is genuinely lower and the purchase fits your needs and budget. Retail prices can change frequently, meaning

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Taylor Swift Is Worth Billion — Here’s Where the Money Actually Came From

Taylor Swift Is Worth $2 Billion — Here’s Where the Money Actually Came From

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Taylor Swift has spent nearly two decades turning hit songs into something much bigger than chart success: a multibillion-dollar business empire. As of September 2026, Forbes estimates the 36-year-old singer-songwriter’s fortune at roughly $2 billion, putting Taylor Swift’s net worth in territory reached by remarkably few musicians. Unlike many celebrity billionaires, however, Swift did not

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8 Money Mistakes That Feel Harmless Until They Become Monthly Expenses

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Small spending decisions rarely feel dangerous when you make them. A subscription, a financed upgrade, or one more food-delivery order can seem manageable when viewed alone. The problem begins when those choices quietly become monthly expenses competing with rent, groceries, savings, and other necessities. Once several accumulate, dollars can disappear before you decide how to

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Is Your Phone Listening to You for Advertising? The FTC Just Took Action on “Active Listening” Claims

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You mention needing a new mattress over dinner, and hours later an ad for mattresses appears on your phone. It is the kind of coincidence that has fueled years of suspicion about phone listening and whether advertisers secretly use our microphones. A recent Federal Trade Commission case seemed, at first glance, to validate that fear.

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10 Expenses You May Be Able to Cut Before Holiday Spending Begins

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Holiday shopping has a way of arriving faster than expected, and the bills can linger long after the decorations come down. PwC’s 2026 Holiday Outlook found that consumers expect to spend an average of $708 on gifts, while households with children anticipate spending about $875. Instead of relying on credit cards to absorb holiday spending,

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The FTC Is Paying Millions Back to Consumers—Could Some of It Be Yours?

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The Federal Trade Commission is sending money back to consumers in cases involving everything from deceptive credit repair services to rental fees and unwanted purchases. Some payments arrive automatically, meaning a check or electronic deposit could show up even if you have not recently filed a claim. Other FTC refunds require consumers to meet specific

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9 Ways September Can Quietly Become One of Your Most Expensive Months

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September doesn’t have December’s reputation for draining bank accounts, but it can create a surprisingly similar problem. School expenses continue after the first bell rings, fall activities begin, homeowners start preparing for colder weather, and retailers roll out sales designed to get shoppers thinking about the next season. Meanwhile, Labor Day trips and the first

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7 Things to Do With Your Money Before the Final Quarter of the Year

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September can be one of the most useful months on the financial calendar. There is still enough time to change retirement contributions, prepare for holiday expenses, correct tax withholding, and deal with expensive debt—but the end of the year is close enough that you can see where your money actually went. Instead of waiting until

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