Technology

10 things to stop paying for to save money now

Published

1 week ago

April 1, 2026

10 things to stop paying for to save money now

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Money can start to feel tight faster than you expect. It is not always one big expense. More often, it is a series of small charges that quietly add up over time.

When that happens, it is easy to think you need a major reset. You don’t. In many cases, the fastest way to create breathing room is to stop paying for things that are not adding real value to your day.

That is where this list comes in. These are 10 common expenses you can cut back on right now. Start with one or two, and you will likely notice the difference quickly.

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VIRAL GROCERY SHOPPING METHOD PROMISES TO SLASH SPENDING: ‘WAY EASIER, WAY CHEAPER’

Cutting back on recurring costs like delivery apps, gym memberships and bottled water can create quick financial breathing room. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

1) Daily ‘treat’ habits that quietly add up

That quick coffee run or snack feels harmless. It takes a minute and gives you a boost. Over time, it adds up fast. A $6 drink every weekday can reach around $1,500 a year. You don’t have to cut it completely. Just change how often it happens.

Tech tip: Use your banking app’s spending insights to see how much you’re actually spending in this category. Most major banks now auto-categorize purchases.

Quick step: Open your banking or credit card app, then go to transactions or spending insights. Use the search bar and type “coffee” or filter by a category like “dining” or “food and drink.” Most apps will show how much you’ve spent over the last month.

Seeing the total makes it easier to cut back without guessing.

2) Convenience spending you barely notice

Convenience costs more than it seems. Delivery apps, one-click checkouts and saved payment methods make it almost too easy to spend. That is when purchases start happening without much thought.

Tech tip: Remove saved cards from your favorite shopping apps. Making yourself enter your payment details each time can help slow down impulse buys.

Quick step:

iPhone: Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > select a card > Remove Card
Android: Open the Samsung Wallet app > tap All or Menu > Payment cards > select a card > tap More (three dots) > Remove card. (Settings and menu names may vary slightly depending on your software version.)
Google Pay (Android): Open Google Wallet app > tap your card > three dots (top right) > Remove payment method
Apps (Amazon, DoorDash, Uber, etc.): Open the app > go to Account or Profile > tap Payments, Wallet or Payment methods > select a card > tap Edit or Remove. (Menu names may vary slightly depending on the app version.)

A small pause at checkout can stop a purchase you did not really need.

3) Subscriptions you forgot you had

Streaming services, apps, cloud storage and free trials that turned into charges. Most people are paying for at least one thing they rarely use.

Tech tip: Your phone already tracks this.

Quick steps:

iPhone: Settings > your name > Subscriptions
Samsung Galaxy (Android): Open Google Play > Profile icon > Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions (Menu names may vary slightly depending on your device and software version.)

You’ll see everything in one place and can cancel in just a few seconds.

4) Storage you never visit

Storage units feel temporary, but the monthly charge sticks around. If you have not used those items in a year, you likely do not need them.

Tech tip: Sell items quickly using apps like Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp instead of letting them sit.

Quick step: Take photos on your phone, list items in minutes and price to move.

Turning unused items into cash is better than paying to store them.

7 FOOLPROOF WAYS TO SAVE MONEY IN A TOUGH ECONOMY

Small daily purchases, unused subscriptions and convenience spending can quietly drain your budget faster than expected. (Douglas Rissing/Getty Images)

5) Gym memberships you are not using

Signing up feels productive. Showing up is what counts. If you are not going, it becomes a recurring charge with no benefit.

Tech tip: Replace it with free fitness apps or built-in phone features.

Apple Fitness: Basic tracking is free with iPhone
YouTube: Free workout videos are easy to find
iPhone: Open the Health app > tap Steps to track your daily movement
Samsung: Open the Samsung Health app> tap Steps (or install it if needed)

Quick step: Set a daily step goal in your Health or Samsung Health app and start there.

Consistency matters more than where you work out.

6) Bottled water and repeat small buys

This one slips under the radar. Buying a drink here, a snack there or a bottle of water on the go does not feel like much in the moment. But over time, it turns into a steady drain on your budget. If you have access to clean tap water, you are paying for something you already have. The real issue is not the item. It is the pattern. These are repeat purchases that happen automatically.

Tech tip: Use your phone to break the habit before you leave the house, not after you are already out.

Quick step:

iPhone: Open the Reminders app > tap New Reminder or the + sign > type “Bring water bottle” > tap the (i) icon > set it to alert you at a specific time or when leaving your home location > Click the blue check mark in the upper right of the screen.
Samsung: (Menu names may vary slightly depending on your device and software version.)Option 1: Open Reminder app (Samsung Reminders) > Create reminder > add “Bring water bottle” > set time or location.Option 2: Say, “Hey Google, remind me to bring my water bottle when I leave home.”

Catching the habit before you leave helps you avoid spending later.

7) Premium gas your car does not require

Many drivers pay extra for premium gas without needing it. If your car is designed for regular fuel, premium will not help performance.

Tech tip: Look up your car’s fuel requirement online in seconds.

Quick step: Search: “Does [your car model] require premium gas” or check your manual digitally.

Using the right fuel can save you money every time you fill up.

8) Upgrading your phone too often

New phones are appealing. The upgrades feel important. In reality, most changes are minor, and your current phone likely still does everything you need. The biggest issue most people run into is not performance. It is battery life. That is often fixable.

Tech tip: Check your battery health and storage before deciding to upgrade. Those two things usually explain why a phone feels “old.”

Quick steps:

iPhone: Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging (look at Maximum Capacity)
Samsung: (Menu names may vary slightly depending on your device and software version.)Settings > Battery > Battery usage > tap Diagnostics or Device care > check battery status

Battery health above 85% means you are in good shape. Keep your phone. Around 80% or lower means the battery is wearing out. Replace the battery instead of upgrading. Still running slow after updates and clearing storage? It may be time to move on.

HOUSING EXPERT WARNS PRE-PANDEMIC AFFORDABILITY LEVELS MAY NEVER RETURN IN AMERICA

Saving money often starts with fewer automatic charges, fewer impulse buys and better use of the tech you already have. (Juanmonino/Getty Images)

9) Lottery tickets and quick-win promises

It is easy to justify a few dollars here and there. But over time, it adds up, and the odds stay the same.

Tech tip: Set up an automatic transfer instead.

Quick step:

Go to your bank app
Set recurring transfer (even $5 a week) to savings

You turn a habit into something that actually builds money. Plus, small, steady savings will always beat relying on luck.

10) Buying out of habit, not need

Scrolling and buying can become automatic. Most purchases are not planned. They happen in the moment. That is how small, unplanned spending starts to add up.

Tech tip: Turn off push notifications from shopping apps. Fewer alerts mean fewer chances to buy on impulse.

Quick step:

iPhone: Settings > Notifications > select app > toggle off
Samsung: Settings > Notifications > App notifications > toggle off notifications for the app you wish to stop receiving notifications from (Menu names may vary slightly depending on your device and software version.)

Fewer alerts mean fewer chances to spend without thinking.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

You don’t need to cut everything. Focus on the expenses that are not adding real value. Saving money does not always come from doing more. Often, it comes from doing less. Less automatic spending. Fewer impulse purchases. Fewer charges you forgot about. Technology can either make spending easier or help you stay in control. It depends on how you use it. Start small. Stay consistent. That is where the real change happens.

So here’s something worth thinking about: Which app, subscription, or habit is quietly costing you money every month without you realizing it? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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Technology

Microsoft starts removing Copilot buttons from Windows 11 apps

Published

3 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Microsoft starts removing Copilot buttons from Windows 11 apps

Microsoft is starting to remove “unnecessary” Copilot buttons from its Windows 11 apps. In the latest version of the Notepad app for Windows Insiders, Microsoft has removed the Copilot button in favor of a “writing tools” menu. The Copilot button in the Snipping Tool app also no longer appears when you select an area to capture.

The change is part of “reducing unnecessary Copilot entry points, starting with apps like Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets and Notepad,” that Microsoft promised to complete as part of its broader plan to fix Windows 11. While Copilot buttons are being removed, it looks like the underlying AI features are here to stay, though.

The Copilot button has been removed from Notepad, but the writing tools replacement still uses AI-powered features and looks like the identical menu of options that existed before. I still think these features are largely unnecessary in what’s supposed to be a lightweight text app, but removing the superfluous Copilot branding is a good first step.

Technology

AI chatbots refilling psych meds sparks debate

Published

4 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

AI chatbots refilling psych meds sparks debate

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If you have ever waited weeks just to renew a mental health prescription, you already know how frustrating the system can feel. Now imagine handling that refill through a chatbot instead of a doctor.

That kind of thing is already starting to happen. In Utah, a new pilot program is allowing an artificial intelligence system from Legion Health to renew certain psychiatric medications without direct approval from a physician each time. State officials say this could speed things up and reduce costs.

Many psychiatrists are not convinced. They are asking whether this actually solves the problem it claims to fix.

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AMAZON HEALTH AI BRINGS A DOCTOR TO YOUR POCKET

Utah launches AI chatbot to renew select psychiatric prescriptions, raising questions about safety and oversight. (pocketlight/Getty Images)

How the AI prescription system works

Before this starts sounding like a robot psychiatrist, the program stays tightly limited. The AI only renews a short list of lower-risk medications that a doctor has already prescribed. These include commonly used antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft and Wellbutrin.

To qualify, patients must meet strict requirements. You need to be stable on your current medication. Recent dosage changes or a psychiatric hospitalization will disqualify you. You also need to check in with a healthcare provider after a set number of refills or within a certain time frame.

During the process, the chatbot asks about symptoms, side effects and warning signs such as suicidal thoughts. If anything raises concern, it sends the case to a real doctor before approving a refill. According to an agreement filed with Utah’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy, the pilot includes strict safeguards, including human review thresholds and automatic escalation for higher-risk cases. The system cannot prescribe new medications or manage drugs that require close monitoring. As a result, it leaves out many complex conditions from the pilot.

Why some experts are pushing back

Even with those guardrails, many psychiatrists are uneasy. Brent Kious, a psychiatrist and professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine, has questioned whether AI systems like this actually solve the access problem they are designed to address.

He has suggested that the benefits of an AI-based refill system may be overstated, especially since patients must already be stable and under care to qualify. Kious has also raised concerns about how much these systems rely on self-reported answers. Patients may not recognize side effects, may answer inaccurately, or may adjust their responses to get the outcome they want.

He has further questioned whether current AI tools can safely handle even routine parts of psychiatric care, noting that treatment decisions often depend on factors that go beyond simple screening questions. He has also pointed to a lack of transparency in how these systems operate, which can make it harder for doctors and patients to fully trust them.

HEALTHCARE DATA BREACH HITS SYSTEM STORING PATIENT RECORDS

A new pilot program allows AI to handle some mental health medication refills without direct doctor approval. (Sezeryadigar/Getty Images)

The promise behind the technology

Supporters of the program are focused on access. A lot of people in Utah still struggle to get mental health care. Wait times can stretch for weeks. In some areas, there simply are not enough providers available. The idea is that AI can take care of routine refill requests so doctors have more time to focus on patients with more complex needs. That could help take some pressure off the system. Legion Health is also leaning into convenience. The service is expected to cost about $19 a month and is designed to make refills quicker and easier for patients who qualify. From a big-picture view, that could help. From a patient’s point of view, the tradeoff may feel a little more complicated. We reached out to Legion Health for comment, but did not hear back before our deadline.

What this means to you

If you rely on mental health medication, this kind of system could change how you manage your care. You may be able to get refills more quickly if your condition is stable and your treatment plan is not changing. At the same time, this does not replace your doctor. It does not handle new diagnoses or complex decisions. It also adds another layer between you and your care. Instead of a conversation, you are interacting with a system that depends on how you answer a series of questions. Mental health treatment often depends on small details. Changes in mood, sleep or behavior can matter more than a simple yes or no response. That is where some experts believe human care still has a clear advantage.

The bigger question about AI in healthcare

This pilot is only one step in a much larger shift. Utah is already experimenting with AI in other areas of healthcare. Companies like Legion are signaling plans to expand beyond a single state. What starts with simple refills could eventually move into more complex decisions. That is where the conversation becomes more urgent. Is this a practical way to improve access to care, or does it risk reducing something deeply personal into a transaction driven by software?

HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE

Psychiatrists question whether AI prescription refills address access issues or create new risks for patients. (SDI Productions/Getty Images)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

There is no question that access to mental health care needs improvement. Long wait times and limited availability are real problems that affect millions of people. AI may help in specific situations, especially when the task is routine and the patient is stable. Still, convenience should not be confused with quality. For now, this system is narrow in scope and closely monitored. That makes it easier to test. It also highlights how early we are in this transition. The technology will continue to evolve. The real question is whether the safeguards, oversight and transparency will evolve at the same pace.

Would you feel comfortable letting a chatbot handle part of your mental health care, or is that a line you do not want technology to cross? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

ChatGPT has a new $100 per month Pro subscription

Published

15 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

ChatGPT has a new 0 per month Pro subscription

OpenAI has announced a new version of its ChatGPT Pro subscription that costs $100 per month. The new Pro tier offers “5x more” usage of its Codex coding tool than the $20 per month Plus subscription and “is best for longer, high-effort Codex sessions,” OpenAI says.

The company is introducing the new tier as it tries to win over users from Anthropic and its popular Claude Code tool. ChatGPT’s $100 per month option will directly compete with Anthropic’s “Max” tier for Claude, which costs the same price. It also offers a middle ground between the $20 per month Plus tier and the $200 version of the Pro tier.

(Yes, there are now two tiers of “Pro”; while the new tier “still offers access to all Pro features,” OpenAI says that the more expensive one has even higher usage limits.)

According to OpenAI, ChatGPT Plus will “will continue to be the best offer at $20 for steady, day-to-day usage of Codex, and the new $100 Pro tier offers a more accessible upgrade path for heavier daily use.” OpenAI also offers an $8 per month Go tier and a free tier.