News You Can Use • October 2026 • Everyday Cheapskate

Welcome to October’s News You Can Use! This month, we’re looking at the surprising ways inflation is changing retirement plans, where to find a less expensive appliance without giving up the basics, and the Halloween candy preferences that vary wildly from state to state. A little useful information, a little “well, I didn’t know that,” and plenty to keep you in the know as fall rolls along.

Has Inflation Killed the Early Retirement Dream?

The FIRE movement promised a shortcut to freedom: save aggressively, spend carefully and retire decades early. But with prices up 27% since 2021, many Americans now say early retirement feels out of reach. There’s a twist, though. Some FIRE savers are actually weathering inflation better because they’ve already built their lives around spending less.
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The Budget Appliance Brand Hiding Inside Whirlpool

If Whirlpool is the name you know, Amana may be the money-saving brand you’ve overlooked. Both belong to the same corporate family, but Amana appliances typically cost less because they skip some of Whirlpool’s pricier bells and whistles while still handling the basics. In a recent comparison, similar Amana models were $60 to $155 cheaper.
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Your State’s Favorite Halloween Candy Might Surprise You

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups may rule Halloween nationwide, but candy preferences get wonderfully strange once you cross state lines. Californians favor Red Vines, five Midwestern states choose Laffy Taffy, and seven Southern states reach for an inexpensive candy assortment. And that supposedly hated candy corn? Orders are up 30% from last year.
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Check back regularly for updates! We’ll be adding new top news articles throughout October 2026.