News You Can Use • December 2025 • Everyday Cheapskate

Hello, December! The twinkle lights are up, hot cocoa mugs are in hand, and the scent of cookies, and maybe a hint of pine, is wafting through homes everywhere. As we slide into the busiest month of the year, the news is keeping pace with deals, warnings, and heartwarming stories to help you navigate the season with a little more ease and a lot more cheer.

Fewer Americans Are Tipping This Holiday Season — Here’s Why

Holiday tipping is down in 2025, with fewer Americans planning to reward teachers, childcare providers, housekeepers, and other service workers. Financial stress and social pressure play a role, though generous tips remain for those who go above and beyond. Some categories, like landscapers and trash collectors, are seeing higher median tips, while younger generations feel the strongest tipping obligations. Practical advice: budget ahead, pool resources, or offer small gifts if cash is tight.
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The Genius Hack That Makes Greasy Oven Racks Shine

Say goodbye to stubborn oven grime: soaking racks overnight in hot water, dish soap, and dryer sheets can break down baked-on grease, leaving them sparkling. The sheets’ compounds loosen the grease while their soft texture helps wipe it away. For faster results, pros suggest a baking soda paste or commercial degreasers—but if you have time, this unusual hack works surprisingly well.
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Starbucks’ Secret Cookies & Cream Cocoa Is Here

Starbucks just unveiled a sweet new treat for the holiday season: Cookies & Cream Hot Cocoa. This secret menu favorite blends rich hot chocolate with Oreo-like cookie flavors and whipped cream, available via the app or by customizing your order in-store. A Grande runs about $5.25, and you can adjust the size to your preference. Perfect for cozying up on cold winter days or indulging in a nostalgic chocolatey moment.
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10 Mind-Blowing Brain Discoveries You Need to Know in 2025

From glowing neurons to impossible new colors, 2025 delivered jaw-dropping insights into the human brain. Scientists mapped five distinct brain eras, uncovered newborn memory storage, confirmed adult neurogenesis, and identified a “reality signal” that distinguishes imagination from perception. Add breakthroughs in Huntington’s treatments, primate cognition, and the detection of biophotons, and it’s clear our brains are still full of surprises. Here’s a roundup of the most fascinating discoveries you can actually wrap your head around.
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Target’s Website Outage Hits Peak Holiday Week

Just when shoppers are scrambling to finish their holiday gift lists, Target’s app and website are down, affecting online orders and some gift card transactions. The outage comes during the busiest week of the season, causing frustration for customers trying to track purchases or complete last-minute shopping. Target says stores remain open and a fix is underway, but the disruption highlights how reliant shoppers are on digital ordering as the holidays hit full stride.
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Upgrade Your Accounts: Why Passkeys Matter Before 2025

As the year wraps up, securing your most important accounts should be a priority—and passkeys make it easier than ever. Unlike traditional passwords, passkeys stay on your device, can’t be phished, and protect financial, email, cloud, and shopping accounts with biometric or PIN-based verification. With major platforms like Google, Apple, Microsoft, and many banks supporting them, switching your accounts now can shield you from breaches in the year ahead.
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The Strange Afterlife of Lost Luggage (And Why It All Leads to Alabama)

If your suitcase vanishes forever, it doesn’t disappear into thin air. It likely ends up in Scottsboro, Alabama. That’s home to Unclaimed Baggage, the nation’s only retailer selling items from truly lost luggage, often at steep discounts. From designer clothes and electronics to wedding dresses and medieval armor, shoppers flock from all over to hunt for unexpected treasures. This is the surprising, oddly heartwarming story of what happens after “lost” becomes “found.”
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Roomba Isn’t Dead… Here’s What iRobot’s Bankruptcy Really Means

iRobot has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but before you panic, your Roomba isn’t going anywhere. The company says it’s business as usual, with no disruption to apps, customer support, or existing devices. A deal is already in place for iRobot to go private under new ownership, aiming to stabilize the brand and keep those little floor-cleaning workhorses humming along. Here’s what happened, why it matters, and what Roomba owners need to know.
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This Simple Brain Hack Can Make Your Most Dreaded Tasks Feel Easy

Ever notice how small tasks can feel strangely overwhelming? Psychologists say it’s not laziness, it’s brain chemistry. A technique called dopamine anchoring pairs an unappealing task with something enjoyable, training your brain to feel motivated instead of resistant. From folding laundry with a favorite podcast to building tiny rewards into long projects, this cognitive trick can lower friction, reduce procrastination, and make hard things feel surprisingly manageable. Here’s how it works and how to use it today.
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Gas Prices Slip Under $3: Here’s What’s Really Behind the Drop

Gas prices have dipped below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021, offering drivers a little breathing room at the pump. Strong refinery output, lower crude oil prices, and steady production at home and abroad are all playing a part in this rare, nationwide decline. Some states are even seeing prices hover around $2 or less. But experts warn this winter calm won’t last forever. Here’s what’s driving the drop and what to expect next.
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Why Creativity Might Be the Secret to a Younger Brain

A new study suggests that creativity may do far more than lift your mood. It could help keep your brain biologically younger. Researchers found that people engaged in creative activities like dance, music, art, or strategy gaming showed stronger brain networks and slower aging, in some cases by several years. Even beginners saw measurable benefits after short-term practice. From boosting attention to improving cognitive resilience, creativity acts like a workout for your mind. Here’s how to put this research to work in your daily life.
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Are Gas Stoves Secretly Harming Your Lungs?

New research shows that gas stoves are a major source of indoor nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas linked to asthma and lung cancer. In some households, these stoves account for over half of total nitrogen dioxide exposure. Experts say switching to electric stoves, improving ventilation, or limiting cooking time can drastically reduce risk. With millions of Americans still using gas, understanding this hidden danger is more urgent than ever.
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Service Shrinkflation: Why You’re Paying More for Less

You’ve heard of shrinkflation with cereal boxes, but now it’s happening with services, too. Hotels cut housekeeping, loyalty programs require more points for the same rewards, and customer support increasingly relies on frustrating chatbots, all while prices stay the same. Knowing how to spot these changes and protect yourself can save you money, time, and headaches. Learn where service shrinkflation is hiding and how to fight back.
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Why Hisense TVs Are So Affordable

Wonder why Hisense TVs often cost far less than big-name brands? It comes down to smart manufacturing, vertical integration, global production, and a business model that favors scale over high margins. While premium features appear on higher-end models, budget versions simplify components to keep prices low, all without sacrificing impressive specs. Learn how Hisense delivers value and what trade-offs you might face.
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The Penny’s Final Farewell

After 232 years, the U.S. Mint has produced the last penny, ending an era of jingles, coin jars, and “a penny for your thoughts.” While many Americans feel nostalgic about the tiny copper coin, the penny cost more to make than it was worth. Surveys show over half of adults are sad to see it go, yet its retirement could save taxpayers millions annually. Find out why the penny is retiring, how Americans are reacting, and what to do with all those spare coins.
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New Social Security Scam Targets Seniors… Here’s What to Know

A new wave of Social Security scams is preying on fear, urgency, and confusion, especially among older adults. Emails claiming your Social Security number will be “suspended within 24 hours” are designed to push you into calling scammers who pretend to be government officials. With more than $12.5 billion lost to fraud last year and older adults reporting the biggest losses, staying alert matters. Learn how this scam works, what red flags to watch for, and the one rule experts say could stop most fraud before it starts.
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USPS Shipping Prices Are Going Up… Here’s What to Expect in 2026

Shipping with USPS is about to cost more next year. The Postal Service has announced new shipping rate increases starting January 18, 2026, affecting Priority Mail, Ground Advantage, Parcel Select, and more — though stamp and mailing prices will remain unchanged for now. These adjustments are part of USPS’s long-term plan to stabilize finances after reporting continued operational losses. If you rely on USPS for holiday shipping, small business orders, or regular parcels, a little planning may help soften the impact.
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Your Passport in Your iPhone? Here’s What You Can (and Can’t) Do With It

Carrying a passport isn’t exactly convenient — so Apple’s new Digital ID feature now lets you store your passport securely inside the Wallet app on your iPhone or Apple Watch. It’s encrypted, protected by Face ID or Touch ID, and already accepted at more than 250 TSA checkpoints in the U.S. While you’ll still need your physical passport for international travel, this digital version can make domestic flights and ID checks a whole lot easier. Want to set it up and see where it works?
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Target Slashes Prices on 3,000 Essentials

Just in time for the holidays, Target is lowering prices on 3,000 items, including groceries, beverages, and household essentials. From Kraft Mac & Cheese to CeraVe Face Cleanser, shoppers can save on pantry staples, kids’ snacks, and even a Thanksgiving meal for under $20. These cuts aim to help families stretch budgets while staying competitive with other retailers.
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Beware This Sneaky Hotel Booking Scam

Travelers using sites like Booking.com and Expedia are being targeted by the “I Paid Twice” scam, where hackers trick guests into sharing banking details through fake emails or WhatsApp messages. The multi-step attack begins with compromised hotel systems, eventually leading victims to malicious pages that steal personal and financial data. Always confirm directly with the hotel using official contact info, and never click suspicious links.
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After 540 Days, Shelter Dog Finally Finds Home

Francesca, a timid mixed-breed dog, spent 540 days in a Kentucky shelter before her forever family saw her on local TV and adopted her just in time for Thanksgiving. Once shy and bullied by her littermates, Francesca now begins a new life surrounded by love, proving that patience and hope can lead to heartwarming miracles.
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