Advice From Parents That Doesn't Hold Up
Redditors are spilling the most outdated “money tips” they’ve gotten from their parents that are no longer helpful.

• "It doesn’t matter what your degree is in, just get a degree and there will be plenty of jobs available when you graduate."
• "'Balance your checkbook.' I don't even have a checkbook. I've come to learn that some companies use pay cards for employees, and all employees' finances are managed through apps. You can see every transaction in real time, get spending alerts, and see what you have left to spend. The idea of writing everything down in a little book is just not how life works anymore."
• "My grandma told me I should always keep a quarter under the sole of my shoe in case I ever need to make a phone call."
• "My dad used to tell me to decide where I wanted to work, then buy your house near it. People no longer work for the same company for 50+ years, and often, where you work isn't totally up to you. Sometimes you take what you can get."
• "'Loyalty pays off in the end,' and 'Don’t change workplaces; try to stay at one place for your entire career.' Also, 'Only change positions if it’s a vertical move. Don’t change positions if it’s a lateral move.' None of this is true any longer."
• "Don’t spend more than your annual salary on a house."

Things Never To Say At Work

1. Corporate jargon
2. “I’m too busy”
3. “Ladies” or “gents” in emails
4. “As per my last email”
5. “Contact my colleague” in your out-of-office message
6. Jokey out-of-office messages

Nearly Half Of Americans Would Choose Money Over Love
The Bottom Line:

• The median U.S. annual salary is just over $62-thousand, but Americans expect their ideal partner to make six figures or close to it, according to a new Tawkify survey.
• It finds that if forced to choose between love and money, 46% would pick money.
• One in three admit they’d consider getting back together with an ex if that person got rich.

Second Date Update
Anthony and Marisol met on Tinder. He likes that she rollerblades. They had a great first date, according to Anthony. But now she is ghosting.

The Lengths People Go To Save Their Phones
A new survey says folks would consider doing shocking and disgusting things to make sure they didn’t lose or break their device.

• More than a third (38%) would be willing to skip eating for an entire day if it would keep their phone safe.
  
•  If they dropped their phone onto subway tracks, one in five (20%) would risk their safety to climb down and pick it up.
  
• Another 59% would dive into a pool fully clothed at a wedding and 56% would even dumpster dive to get their phone back.
  
• More than half (54%) claim they’d even fish their phone out of a filthy festival toilet.
  

Nope. No thanks, Tom Hanks.

End Of Summer Cleanout
August is the perfect time to give your closet a reset. Experts say you should declutter at least four times a year and this seasonal shift is a natural opportunity to clear out items you haven’t been wearing or that don’t serve you anymore. 

• Sweat-stained summer clothes that can’t be saved
  
• Broken beach bags with ripped handles or torn pockets
  
• Ill-fitting swimsuits that lost their shape or elasticity
  
• Worn-out or unworn sandals that never made it out the door
  
• Duplicate or neglected summer dresses you never reach for
  
• Unused accessories like hats, sunglasses, or jewelry that don’t fit your current lifestyle
  

Trends For Fall

• Secondhand finds are in-demand, as searches for “thrifted kitchen” have jumped 1,012% and “thrifted decor” searches are up 283%.
  
• Statement tiles are having a moment, with searches for “vintage tiles” up more than 1,100%.
  
• Art Deco is making a comeback.
  
• When it comes to clothing, preppy aesthetics are a hot trend for fall. Pinterest has seen searches for “women’s preppy outfits” skyrocket by 47,680% and “preppy chic outfits" are up 2,056%.
  
• For beauty, grungey glam makeup will be big, taking inspo from the 90s and 2000s, but with a modern twist. We’ll be seeing more pixie cuts, with searches for “chic pixie” up 2,435% and “pixie haircut 90s” surging 724%.
  

Second Date Update
Trevor and Aly met on Hinge and they both love trivia. They hit up a trivia night for their first date. Has she ghosted after Trevor exhibited "teacher energy?"

RED FLAGS THAT MIGHT MEAN YOUR FRIEND ISN’T HAPPY FOR YOU
When you have a personal win, you want to share it with your friends. But everyone doesn’t always seem as happy for your successes. Here are a few things to watch out for the next time you’re excitedly telling your friends about your latest win:

• They change the subject quickly
• They downplay your accomplishment
• It feels like they’re competing with you
• Backhanded compliments
• They don’t celebrate your successes
• It seems like they’re only there when you’re having a bad time
• They’re outright negative about your successes
• They don’t like talking about your achievements in public
• For every win you share, they mirror it with one of their own
• When you need them most, they’re nowhere to be found
  

Things Younger Generations Will Never Get
Many Y2K trends are back, especially when it comes to fashion. But there are some trends from the ‘90s and early ‘00s that would totally blow the minds of those under the age of 25. 

• "Downloading music off Limewire to iTunes, running to Walmart while it downloads, buying blank CDs, and burning them once it’s downloaded. Then, thinking of a cool name for your new CD."
• "Playing literally one video game for the entire summer, no online walkthroughs. If you wanted a hint, you needed to buy a paper guidebook, hope your friend knew the tricks, or call a 900 number for help."
• "Not just having a landline, but SHARING a landline."
• “Buying ringtones”
• "Chain emails: I'd be so embarrassed to do that today..."
• "Having to wait a week for 10 photos to be processed and printed."
• "If you missed a new episode of a TV show, you just missed it."
• "Waiting for songs to come on the radio so you could record them on a cassette tape, and getting mad if the DJ talked over the intro. Kids today will never know the struggle of timing it perfectly and still ending up with the DJ’s voice at the beginning."
• “The simple act of being bored while waiting in a doctor's office, traveling, or attending family parties, etc."

How To Eat Well On A Budget

• Snag a $5 mystery dinner: Apps like Too Good To Go and Flashfood help you score a surprise bag of groceries worth $30 for just a few bucks. The only catch? You’ll need to pick it up fast, so be ready to dash out the door when the alert comes in.
  
• Take a free cooking class
  
• Make friends with your freezer:  Buy items like meat, bread, and even milk in bulk when they’re on sale, then freeze what you can’t use right away. Pro tip: freeze herbs in olive oil in ice cube trays for instant flavor boosts in soups and pasta.
  
• Volunteer your way to free produce: Groups like the Society of St. Andrew organize “gleaning” crews, where volunteers harvest leftover crops from farms. You get to keep some of the bounty while the rest goes to local food banks. 
  
• Pick up a rotisserie chicken:  It’s already cooked, tasty, and versatile enough to stretch into several meals. 
  
• Soup it up: Soups are budget superheroes because they turn simple, cheap ingredients into hearty, nutritious meals. Toss in beans, grains, and seasonal veggies.
  
• Shop at the right time. Grocery stores often mark down bakery items, meats, and produce at specific times of day; sometimes slashing prices by 30-percent or more. 
  
• Host potluck nights.
  

Second Date Update: Declan calls us about Soraya. They met on Bumble and decided to walk through Golden Gate Park together.  They even grabbed some dumplings afterward at one of his favorite hole-in-the-wall  places. It was simple, but he thought it was romantic. Soraya has disappeared and he needs our help to figure out what happened.

Over 40 Wants These Requirements

• A Reddit user asks the subreddit r/AskWomenOver40, “What’s a really weird, UNCONVENTIONAL thing that you absolutely NEED in a partner?”
• Hundreds of women did not hold back, confessing the strange and surprising qualities they’re looking for in a partner.
• From “Cannot be a spitter” to “Has the skills necessary to do well in a zombie apocalypse," these ladies know exactly what they want.

Things Our Parents Were Right About

1. Waking up early sets you up for success
2. Family dinners weren’t just about the food
3. Keeping a tidy space actually makes a difference
4. Spending time outdoors isn’t optional
5. Saving money instead of spending it all
6. Building genuine relationships takes actual effort
7. Working with your hands grounds you

Teachers Predict 2025 Slang Terms

• “6-7” - Kids say this in a very particular way, but what it means is unclear. A teacher says she’s asked a million kids, including her own, and she still hasn’t gotten an explanation of the meaning and where it comes from.
  
• “On God” - It’s like saying “swear to God,” apparently. Students insisting they did their homework, but just don’t have it with them, so they say, “On God, Mr. P! On God!”
  
• “Lore” - It’s basically a way to say “backstory” or “background information,” usually about a person or fictional character and it can be complicated, but helps explain someone on a deep level.
• “Delulu” - This one is fun to say and means delusional.
• “Cinema” - It refers to something that’s high drama or incredibly messy and is used the way a millennial might have said “epic” back in the day.
• “Crash out” - This is the new “spiraling” and can be applied to just about anything. “Everything causes a crash out,” a teacher named Marnie explains. “No chocolate milk left in the cafeteria? ‘OMG! I’m crashing out!’ 
  
• “Main character energy” - Someone who has this thinks of themselves as the star of the show and it’s used to call them out for taking themselves too seriously.
• “Big back” - This can be self-depricating, if a kid says they’re a “big back” while raiding the pantry for another snack. But it can also be downright mean when used as an insult toward someone else.

Second Date Update
May calls us about Brent. They both live in Pacifica. They decide to do dinner and a movie for their first date. Now, Brent is ghosting.

Fewer Young Americans Reaching Major Adulting Milestones

• Some people never want to grow up and according to new research from the U.S. Census Bureau, fewer young adults are hitting milestones related to adulthood.
• It turns out, there’s been a dramatic shift in how many young people in the country are reaching major life events, like moving out of their parents’ house, getting married and having a child.
• Back in 1975, nearly half of all Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 had done these things, but today, less than a quarter have.⠀
  

The 12-3-20 Workout
A fitness trend that went viral on social media with more than 14-million views may actually do what it says, new research suggests. The 12-3-30 treadmill workout took off on TikTok. It claims that walking at a 12% incline, at a pace of three miles per hour, for 30 minutes is a fat-burning, low-impact fitness fix. A new study puts it to the test, comparing results to “self-paced” treadmill running.

• In the study, young adults did two workouts, one round of 12-3-30 and one session of running at a pace they could keep up for 20 to 25 minutes.
• The workouts were adjusted to burn the same number of calories and running burned calories faster, about 13 calories per minute compared to 10 calories per minute for the 12-3-30.
• That’s because calories are burned faster with a higher intensity workout, like running.
• What’s interesting is that the 12-3-30 workout used more fat as a fuel source - 41% of energy came from fat, while 33% did during running.
  

The Little Kid Things Adults Won't Stop Doing
Redditors are spilling the “little kid” things they still do even though they’re adults, and you may just want to start doing them, too.

• "Every single time I go to Target, I have to walk down the Lego aisle. I don't even buy them, I just like to look at the big, complicated sets and imagine building them."
• "Watching cartoons. As an adult living in today’s world, I just need a break from reality and want something funny and innocent."
• "Buying dino nuggets. I'm a legal adult who can cook actual food, but sometimes you just have a bad day and the only cure is dinosaur-shaped chicken."
• "Rainbow sprinkles on my ice cream. They look so cheerful and I like the crunch. Chocolate sprinkles are not an acceptable substitute. I want every color of food dye or no deal."
• "Coming home with cool-looking rocks in my pockets."
• "Driving by farm animals and saying their names out loud. 'Hi, cows!' 'Horses!' 'Have a nice day, goatie goats!'"
  

Second Date Update
Andre calls about Nicole. They went for Tapas and now she has ghosted. What happened during dinner?

Ridiculous Excuses For Missing Work
A new Reddit thread is reminding us that people will say just about anything to get out of work. What is your story?

• "I was once late to work because I was glued in my apartment. They replaced the carpet in the common hallway overnight, and were too enthusiastic with the glue by my door. I had to wait until maintenance arrived at 8 a.m., so they could body slam the door from the outside."
• "My grandparents had a medical emergency years ago where one got stuck on the toilet, and when the other tried to help, they fell and knocked themselves unconscious. "
  
• "Flushed my car key down the toilet. It was me, and I certainly did."
• "Got bit on the finger by a squirrel while tossing a coffee cup into a parking garage trashcan."
• "A guy I worked with in retail 15 years ago called in to say he had a nightmare and didn't think he'd be able to get back to sleep and come in to work five hours later."
• "I was running a shift and had a girl call in sick, saying she was too distraught to work because Zayn had left One Direction."
• "I had to call in late once because my stairs were gone. Of course, it was a huge violation by the condo, and we had no way out of our second-story walk-up. Absolutely ridiculous, and fortunately, the photos I sent my boss were enough to excuse my tardiness."
  

Coupes Who Gossip Together Are Closer

• Most couples gossip, and it turns out, that can be good for their relationship.
• According to a new study from University of California, Riverside, couples who gossip together are happier and more satisfied in their romance and share a deeper bond.
• Researchers tracked 76 couples using a portable listening device and found they spent an average of 29 minutes a day gossiping with their partner and those who did more frequently reported higher levels of happiness and better relationship quality.

Cleaning Is My Love Language

• Forget words of affirmation or physical touch, a new survey finds that 54% of Americans say cleaning is their love language.
• The research from Seventh Generation also finds that 85% consider cleaning up for someone else an act of love.
• Nearly two in three respondents admit they’ve been turned off by someone’s messy home and a third have even ended a relationship because of a partner’s lack of cleanliness.⠀

Second Date Update
Taylor met Harper met on Tinder. They went to dinner; food was good, the drinks were good. After one follow-up text, she has ghosted.

Habits People Picked Up After Visiting Other Countries

• A post in the travel subreddit asks, “What’s something you adopted into your lifestyle after visiting another country?”
• Nearly a thousand Redditors responded with the habits and products they’ve added to their routine after learning about them while traveling abroad.
• From a bidet discovered in Japan to individual comforters for each partner after a trip to Denmark, these things are now a part of travelers’ lives.

Worst Pick-Up Lines For Online Dating

• “Hey” or “Hi” - Nothing screams generic laziness like typing two or two three letters and nothing else. 
  
• “You’re hot” - Some people may consider this a compliment, but it’s objectifying and inappropriate for a first message, and it shows no respect.
  
• “What are you doing right now?” - You wouldn’t greet a stranger in a bar like this, so don’t do it online either.
  
• “Why are you on here?” - there’s no point in asking this, as it sounds kind of judgy and can make someone defensive.
  

Quiet Firing
There are some clear signs of quiet firing and these are the most common, according to HR and career experts.

• Being excluded from meetings - If you’re suddenly not invited to meetings you were once a key part of, that’s a serious red flag they may be passively letting you go.
• Shifting responsibilities - Sudden changes in your workload, whether they’re piling it on with unrealistic goals or sticking you with meaningless projects, that could be a bad sign. If you get vague or no answers, that’s a red flag.
  
• Support decreases - They may pull back on support, leaving you feeling abandoned or alone, and making it tougher to handle your workload. If you feel like it’s unbearable and you just can’t do it, then you’ll quit and that’s the idea.
• Development stops - If your future at the company used to be discussed, but now you’re passed over for promotions or raises for no apparent reason, that’s a clear sign of quiet firing. And in some cases, this can drag on for years.
• Policy-driven quiet firing - Employees being required to return to the office can be a form of quiet firing, as some employers expect some workers to decide to leave the company instead.
  

Second Date Update
Damon met Bridget online. They both games of any kind from cards to cornhole. They picked a board game cafe to have their first date. Now, she has ghosted.

Corey Has Psychic Anxiety
At least three times in my life, I have had crazy emotions the day before something bad happens. In high school, after a cross country run I started crying for no reason. The next day, my parents announced they were getting a divorce. The day before the guy I thought was the one dumped me, same thing. I had crazy anxiety Monday...my dad had a bad fall Tuesday morning. (He's okay) How do we cash in on this?

Sleep Maxing
More Americans are investing in better rest through products, routines and lifestyle changes, reshaping both bedrooms and behaviors along the way.

• This includes redesigning bedrooms to tracking sleep with wearable devices .
  
• The most popular sleepmaxxing tools Americans are using include white noise machines or soundscapes (38%), blackout curtains (36%), melatonin or sleep gummies (34%), and following a strict sleep/wake schedule (24%).
•  Over 40% say they’ve given up or at least cut back on scrolling, caffeine and late-night drinks.
  

Four C's Of A Strong Relationship

• Communication. Talk things over…even what makes you angry.
• Cooperation. It extends to everything from chores to the bedroom.
• Compromise. You don't have to change who you are to compromise on something.
• Consummation. Intimacy is such a vital part of a happy marriage, but don't ever use intimacy against them.

Second Date Update
Damian and Valerie met online and found that they both really enjoy trying new wines. They pick wine-tasting in Petaluma for their first date. What could cause Damian to ghost?

Things To Get You Going Besides Coffee

• Sun exposure - getting sunlight it in the morning is actually energizing on a neurological level. 
  
• Movement - a quick stretch, some yoga poses, or a brisk walk outside can boost energy by improving circulation, increasing dopamine and helping you feel less groggy.
  
• Meditation and breathwork - Even five minutes of meditation can help boost energy, quiet mental noise and help with focus.
  
• Vocal vibe shift - the practice of just humming, singing or light vocalizing, which stimulates the vagus nerve and regulates the nervous system.
  
• Cold water - Splash a little cold water on your face to boost mood, help with alertness, improve focus, and even boost stress tolerance.
  

Hobbies That Make Men More Attractive

1. Reading
2. Learning a foreign language
3. Playing a musical instrument
4. Cooking
5. Woodworking
6. Painting
7. Writing
8. Gardening
9. Swimming
10. Photography

Handwashing Is More Important In Summer

• Using public restrooms and shared toilets - Whether it’s at an outdoor festival, a gas station stop during a road trip, or a beach bathroom, these high-traffic areas can be breeding grounds for bacteria like E. coli, salmonella, coronavirus and more. 
  
• Cooking and eating outside - Barbecues and picnics are a lot of fun, but if food is left out in the sun or meat isn’t cooked thoroughly, someone could easily end up with food poisoning. 
  
• Swimming and water play - Lakes, rivers, swimming pools and oceans can all contain harmful germs and parasites, which can be resistant to chlorine. Beach sand and seawater can even carry fecal bacteria.
  
• Camps, playgrounds and festivals - Kids are at higher risk of infection during the summer thanks to group settings like summer camps, playgrounds and soft play centers.
  
• But doesn’t getting dirty help build kids’ immune systems? - Yes, early exposure to natural microbes in soil, from animals or the environment can help support immune development, but this isn’t the same as skipping handwashing after using the toilet or preparing food. 
  

Second Date Update
Armie and Melinda met on Hinge and she felt so comfortable, they had their first date at his place. Now she is being ghosted.

Corey Is A Terrible Person...Again. 
The previous owner of my home wrote me note asking if she and her brother could come visit the house over the weekend.  I never got back to her. I didn't want to give out my number. Am I awful?

How To Sneak In More Movement

• Do some squats or wall sits while your food is heating up 
  
• Bike or walk to errands 
  
• Take the stairs 
  
• Walk while you talk on the phone
  
• Get active while watching your favorite show 
  
• Use a desk treadmill or walking pad 
  
• Do calf raises while brushing your teeth 
  

Tips For Getting Back On The Fitness Track
I started exercising again. I tried not to overdo it. Until my knee gave out and I was on the floor. Any tips for getting back into the groove? Any embarrassing workout stories?

Second Date Update
Caleb met Roxanne on Tinder. Their first date is cocktails in Berkeley. He can't believe she is ghosting.