May 19, 2025

Hot Budget Summer

$18 for a cocktail used to be a splurge. Now it’s basically a happy hour deal. Prices are up, and we’re all trying to save a little more in case the next headline hits us where it hurts. 

But staying on budget doesn’t have to mean giving up on staying entertained, exfoliated, and emotionally afloat — even if you’re spending less to do it.

Here are six money-savers that we've been putting to work these days…

🧵 A legendary designer’s top hacks  to keep wardrobe heroes looking newer, longer.

💅 The two-minute trick that keeps your mani fresh.

🍅 Still pay for Prime? Make your next Whole Foods run feel more like a TJ’s stop.

🏡 Six ways to keep rising remodeling costs in check.

🖌️ If you’re trying to cut back on salon visits, meet a stylist-vetted way to recession-proof your hair.

💸 Do you actually know how much you’re paying for Substacks? It’s hard to find out… almost like it’s intentional.

— “Going Back to My Roots,” Anna Davies, writer

Read More

• The “Medieval Peasant” Budget Recipes Going Viral

• Ed Sheeran: Recession Indicator?

• Skincare Products That Cost “Less than a Burrito”

Five blink-and-you-missed-it signs that you're in a trust fund baby's house. (Wilted flowers, anyone?)

PSA: Being in the sandwich generation is expensive. Here’s your four-part financial plan to care for aging family members.

Consider this a cautionary tale for how not to use AI at work — courtesy of Coca-Cola.

Congrats on the promotion. Just make sure to carry this entry-level trait with you up the ladder.

Think you have no privacy online now? This new AI tool lets brands “step into” your algorithm.

Earnings season is here. We’re watching Home Depot (Tuesday), Target (Wednesday), and Lowe’s (Wednesday).

All eyes are on Target, which had an especially rough year thanks to (really effective) boycotts, messy shelves, and a shift away from core essentials toward trendy dupes and seasonal items. To state the obvious, tariffs aren’t helping, either. 

Economists are especially interested in this week’s earnings because big-box economic bellwether Walmart missed sales estimates last Thursday. The less-than-stellar report — and the CEO's remarks about potentially raising prices — certainly tested President Trump’s patience, who lashed out at the executive on Truth Social.

What this means for you:  If you’re not someone who regularly trades stocks, a poor earnings report won’t really affect you. But when major retailers signal a slowdown,  it’s often a red flag for the broader economy. Even former President Trump weighed in, lashing out at Walmart’s CEO. TBD whether these new reports will further increase tensions between business leaders and the White House. 

The economy is getting the reality TV treatment. This week…

Forecast: Cloudy with a chance of finance bros ordering from the top shelf again.

A top economist from the asset management firm Apollo just cut 2025 recession odds from 90% to 30% — thanks to the temporary pause in the US-China tariff drama.

Stay tuned for next week when it’ll be a completely different take. 🫡

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Sync Your Career Calendars

First it’s waiting around for the plumber. Then a "just this once" school pickup. Before long, one partner’s calendar is filled with every family errand — and their career starts to quietly take a backseat. 

Here’s how to make sure you’ve got both covered:

• Create a family email address. This is your default contact for school, the vet, the contractors. That way, it’s easy for partners to tag in and out, based on bandwidth. 

• Talk about one, five, ten year goals. Often, it does make sense for one partner to downshift their career during busy life seasons. But it doesn’t mean it has to be the default forever. Strategize.

• Divide the 9-to-5 mental load. It’s not just the calendar invites — it’s the mental tally of the unscheduled stuff, too, like car registration or holiday travel. Split up the recurring admin that quietly takes up space in your brain (and browser tabs). Use your shared email (or an app) to set reminders, and you’ve got built-in backup.

All month, we’re sharing tricks and techniques to make it easier to share responsibilities. Don’t Wait, here.

Trending products and brands our shopping team has been loving recently.

Until May 27, Brooklinen is taking 25% off sitewide and up to 50% off bundles. If you've been waiting to refresh your bedding situation, this is your sign to do it.

Need a new bra? We're willing to bet yes. Soma's now-famous $29 sale ends today, so now's the time to stock up.

Supergoop! is running their one and only sale of the season, taking 20% off sitewide until tomorrow. We like this clever sunscreen stick, which makes reapplication much less annoying.