News You Can Use • September 2026 • Everyday Cheapskate

Hello, September! The days are getting shorter, the mornings a little crisper, and pumpkin spice is officially everywhere. But there’s plenty more going on than seasonal lattes and changing leaves. This month, we’re looking beneath a cemetery, into the earth’s shifting crust, and all the way to the French countryside. Strange, surprising and usefuljust the way I like my news.

Why Fun Is Getting Pricier… and We’re Still Paying

Having fun is getting more expensive, but Americans aren’t exactly putting their hobbies on ice. Spending on everything from crafts and camping gear to video games is climbing, even as travel gets pricier. One interesting twist: some people may be swapping expensive outings for hobbies they can enjoy closer to home.
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This Pumpkin Weighs More Than a Small Car

Forget the pumpkin on your front porch. Farmers at Altoona’s annual Ginormous Pumpkin Festival brought out pumpkins weighing more than 2,000 pounds, with the winning gourd tipping the scales at a whopping 2,212 pounds. But the real attraction may be what happens after the judging: a giant pumpkin drop that turns a simple fall tradition into a community-wide celebration.
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The $1.46 Million Retirement Number Isn’t What You Think

The amount Americans say they need to retire comfortably has jumped to $1.46 million, but that number can make retirement planning feel more intimidating than it needs to be. A better place to start is with what you actually expect to spend, where your income will come from and how long your money may need to last.
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Look Up: The Harvest Moon Has Company

This weekend’s full moon comes with a bonus: Saturn will appear nearby, giving sky-watchers a two-for-one celestial show. The moon will look especially striking near the horizon, where Earth’s atmosphere can give it that familiar golden-orange glow. And if clouds get in the way, you’ll still have a few good viewing opportunities.
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The Estate-Planning Choice That Can Split a Family

Want to leave your family an inheritance without leaving them a mess? A study of 640 contested trust cases found one arrangement especially prone to conflict: putting one child in charge of a trust while siblings also stand to benefit. The cases also show why clear communication, independent oversight and mediation can matter just as much as the legal documents themselves.
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The $10 Garden Trick That Can Cool Your House

What if part of your summer cooling system could grow in the garden? Strategically placed plants can shade hot walls, release moisture that cools the surrounding air and even reduce wall temperatures dramatically. The trick is choosing the right plants and giving them a little breathing room from the house. Plant now, enjoy the payoff next summer.
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The Fed Just Raised Rates: What Retirees Need to Know

A higher Fed rate can be a mixed bag for retirees. Savings accounts, money market funds and short-term CDs could pay more, while credit cards and HELOCs may get more expensive. Mortgage rates probably won’t move much because they’re driven by different factors. Where your money lives matters more than the headline rate hike.
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Your Brain May Actually Be Two Brains Working as One

For centuries, we’ve treated the brain as one unified organ. New research suggests that’s not quite right: the front and back of the brain develop from two completely different sets of cells that evolved separately hundreds of millions of years ago. The discovery could finally help scientists grow hard-to-study hindbrain cells in the lab, opening new ways to investigate conditions such as ALS and SMA.
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The Shingles Vaccine May Have a Surprising Heart Benefit

The shingles vaccine is designed to prevent a painful viral infection, but researchers are finding that its benefits may extend beyond shingles. In a study of more than 72,000 adults age 60 and older, people who received Shingrix had a lower risk of several cardiovascular problems than those who received the older shingles vaccine. The biggest differences showed up with heart disease and heart failure.
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Apple’s New $2,000 iPhone Has a Big Fold

Apple has finally gone foldable, introducing the iPhone Duo with a 7.6-inch inner display that opens like a book and a smaller screen on the outside. It’s packed with clever touches, including a hinge designed to minimize the crease, two-app multitasking and cameras that can capture from both sides. The catch? This pocket-sized phone starts at a very un-pocket-sized $1,999.
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The Surprising Time Music Helps Your Brain Most

Had a rough day? Your favorite music may do more than put you in a better mood. In a study of 120 adults, relaxing music helped people recover from stress faster than soothing water sounds, with quicker improvements in heart rate, sweating, mood and cortisol levels. The most interesting part? When you listen may matter as much as what you listen to.
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Your Personality May Be in Your DNA

Are you naturally outgoing, organized, curious or prone to worry? Scientists have identified more than 1,200 genetic variants linked to the Big Five personality traits, and some of those same genetic patterns are connected to health, careers, income and even sleep habits. But don’t blame everything on your DNA. Your environment still has plenty to say about who you become.
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Millions of Bees Are Living Under This Cemetery

What looks like an ordinary cemetery in upstate New York is hiding something extraordinary beneath the grass: an estimated 5.5 million wild mining bees living in underground burrows. These solitary bees don’t make honey or live in hives, but they may be doing an important job nearby… pollinating apple trees, sometimes more effectively than honeybees. And the discovery raises a fascinating question: How many other hidden bee communities are quietly thriving right under our feet?
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Scientists May Be Able to Pinpoint Where the Next Big Earthquake Hits

Scientists have developed a new method that could identify where major earthquakes are most likely to happen by measuring tiny movements in Earth’s surface and spotting areas where tectonic stress is building. The method successfully identified the section of the Kamchatka fault that ruptured in the massive 2025 earthquake but there’s a big catch: it can’t say when the earthquake will happen. Still, knowing where danger is accumulating could give communities a valuable head start on long-term preparedness.
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The Cheese Crisis: Why France’s Most Beloved Cheeses Are in Trouble

France’s famous cheeses depend on something surprisingly fragile: grass. Repeated heat waves and drought are leaving pastures parched, stressing dairy cows, cutting milk production and forcing cheesemakers to make difficult choices about how they feed their animals. For cheeses with strict rules about where and how they’re made, changing the cows’ diet isn’t a simple fix and it could even change the flavor.
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