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TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealIf you’re trying to get organized, Walmart has a great deal on a pair of Sterilite 40-Gallon Wheeled Industrial Totes, now just $37 for a limited time.A little shy of 37 inches long, these 40-gallon (or 60-quart) storage boxes are great for sorting and storing anything you won’t need for a while, from comic books and photo albums to old clothes and holiday decorations.Sterilite 40-Gallon Wheeled Industrial Tote, 2-Pack, $37 (was $60) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Details to knowYou can never have too many storage totes, especially if you’re embarking on a spring cleaning spree. Instead of spending money on flimsy options that won’t last, consider investing in durable boxes that are built to keep your belongings safe for years to come. These totes have non-slip grips on the latches, wheels on one end for easy sliding, and are molded for easy, secure stacking if you end up buying more than one set. They’re also BPA-free and have a tight, drip-resistant lid to keep moisture and precipitation out, so they’re ideal for garages, storage units, or storage rooms — as well as basements or large closets.They’re “very stackable,” wrote one shopper. “Something this bulky deserves to have wheels, which it does, especially if the contents are heavier. Even as bulky as it is, it’s slim enough for storage. Great for blankets, bedding, and longer items. The latches can be a bit tough to open, but they are super secure. I’d buy more of these in the future.”Related: Walmart is selling a storage cabinet with drawers and a cupboard for just $65″These 40-gallon Sterilite totes are even more sturdy than I thought they would be,” another reviewer said. “The lids are rigid enough to ease the worry about stacking them loaded. What a bargain these turned out to be.”If you need to get your basement or storage unit in order, stop procrastinating and save $23 on a pair of Sterilite 40-Gallon Wheeled Industrial Totes — a perfect solution for the vast majority of your organizing needs.

You probably already know your Social Security check doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. But what you may not realize is exactly how fast the gap is growing between what you receive and what you’re expected to pay for care.A new report from the AARP Public Policy Institute, released this week, paints a picture that should alarm anyone approaching retirement or already living on a fixed income. The cost of the most common long-term care services has jumped nearly 50% in just five years. And the income meant to help you keep up? It grew by less than half that rate. The numbers get worse the deeper you look. For millions of retirees, the question is no longer whether care will be affordable. The question is what happens when it isn’t.Long-term care costs are rising two to three times faster than retiree incomeThe AARP report, based on data from the Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey, tracked changes in long-term care costs from 2019 to 2024. The findings cut across every type of care older Americans rely on.Home care and assisted living costs rose by close to 50%, adult day services increased 33%. Nursing home costs climbed 25% and over that same five-year window, the median household income for Americans 65 and older grew by just 22%.If you’re a typical older adult earning around $60,000 a year, the annual cost of moderate home care (roughly 30 hours per week) now consumes nearly your entire income. Assisted living or a nursing home exceeds it.What long-term care actually costs in 2024 dollarsAccording to the AARP report, the national cost of long-term care now ranges from about $26,000 a year for adult day services to nearly $128,000 for a private nursing home room.Cost breakdown by care type:Adult day services: approximately $26,000 per yearHome care (30 hours/week): approximately $50,000 or more per yearAssisted living: varies widely by state, up nearly 50% since 2019Private nursing home room: approximately $128,000 per yearCompare those numbers to a median household income of roughly $60,000 for adults 65 and older. Then consider that the median financial assets for households headed by someone 75 or older sit at about $50,000. That’s barely enough to cover one year of home care or a few months of nursing home care before savings run dry.Social Security’s 2.8% raise barely covers your rising Medicare premiumThe Social Security Administration announced a 2.8% COLA for 2026, translating to about $56 more per month for the average retired worker. That brings the typical monthly benefit to roughly $2,064. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) set the 2026 Medicare Part B premium at $202.90 per month, up $17.90 from $185 in 2025. That’s a 9.7% increase, more than three times the COLA. In practical terms, roughly a third of your Social Security raise goes straight to Medicare before you can spend a dollar on groceries, rent, or prescriptions. The Part B annual deductible also climbed from $257 to $283.This pattern has repeated for two decades, and it’s getting worseAn independent analysis by Social Security and Medicare policy analyst Mary Johnson found that from 2005 to 2024, Medicare Part B premiums rose an average of 5.5% each year. Over the same period, Social Security COLAs averaged just 2.6%.The reason is structural. Medicare costs are not included in the Consumer Price Index used to calculate the COLA. So while the COLA formula tracks things like gas and groceries, it largely ignores the fastest-growing expense retirees actually face, which is healthcare.More Medicare/Medicaid:AARP raises a red flag on Social Security, MedicareIf your Medicare plan was canceled, do this nowAARP explains huge new Medicare change coming soonAccording to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, the 2026 Part B premium increase will consume more than 25% of the Social Security COLA. And Part B premiums as a share of the average Social Security benefit will reach an all-time high of 9.4%.Middle-income retirees face the tightest squeezeThe AARP report identifies middle-income older adults as the group under the most financial pressure. You earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, which covers long-term care for low-income Americans. But you don’t earn nearly enough to comfortably absorb these rising costs.About 60% of households headed by someone 65 or older include more than one person. When a large portion of household income goes toward one person’s care, fewer resources remain for a spouse or partner. The financial strain doesn’t stop with the person receiving care.Related: Retirees may earn more with a MYGA than a savings accountThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 56% of adults who turned 65 between 2021 and 2025 will need long-term care services during their lifetime. Yet many people have no plan for how they’d pay for it, often mistakenly believing Medicare will cover the costs.Medicare generally does not pay for long-term care. It covers limited stays in skilled nursing facilities after a hospital admission, but not the ongoing home care, assisted living, or custodial nursing home care that most people actually need.Where you live dramatically changes what you’ll payLong-term care costs aren’t uniform across the country, and your state plays a major role in what you’ll spend. The AARP report found that for every type of service, the cost in the most expensive state is at least double that of the least expensive one.State-level cost differences at a glance:Most expensive states for long-term care: Maine, West Virginia, OregonLeast expensive states: Louisiana, Maryland, Utah, TexasIn wealthier states, higher local incomes can partially offset home care costs, but nursing home care remains expensive almost everywhere. The state-by-state variation matters for planning. If you’re considering relocating in retirement, long-term care affordability should be a factor alongside housing costs and tax rates.When care becomes unaffordable, families absorb the cost themselvesThe financial reality of long-term care has created a parallel economy of unpaid family caregiving. When professional care is out of reach, spouses, adult children, and other family members step in.According to the AARP report, unpaid caregivers provided support valued at an estimated $600 billion in 2021 across the United States. Many of these caregivers reduce their work hours or leave jobs entirely to manage caregiving duties, sacrificing their own income, savings, and retirement security in the process.“More families have no choice but to step in themselves, often providing care beyond what they realistically have the time, resources or capacity to handle,” said Alan Weil, Senior Vice President at the AARP Public Policy Institute. A 50-year-old who leaves the workforce to care for a parent loses years of earnings, employer retirement contributions, and Social Security credits. Those losses follow you into your own retirement.Steps you can take to protect yourself and your familyThere is no single solution to the long-term care affordability crisis, but there are steps you can take now to reduce your exposure.Planning moves worth considering:Don’t assume Medicare will cover long-term care: It generally does not. Understand what Medicare Parts A and B actually pay for, and where the coverage gaps are.Evaluating long-term care insurance early: Hybrid policies that combine life insurance with long-term care coverage are worth exploring, but read the fine print on benefit triggers and inflation protection.Check your state’s Medicaid eligibility rules: Medicaid is the primary public payer for long-term care, but eligibility thresholds and covered services vary significantly by state.Build healthcare costs into your retirement projections: A retirement plan that doesn’t account for rising Medicare premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and potential long-term care needs is incomplete.Talk to your family before a crisis hits: Discuss who would provide care, how costs would be shared, and what legal documents (power of attorney, advance directives) are in place.Consider your location: If you’re planning a retirement move, factor in long-term care costs and Medicaid access in your target state.None of these steps eliminates the risk entirely. But each one narrows the gap between what you might need and what you can afford.What’s being done at the policy level, and what’s stalledAARP has been pushing Congress to expand long-term care coverage under Medicare and Medicaid, and to provide stronger financial support for family caregivers, including a proposed caregiver tax credit.President Trump advocated for a caregiver tax credit during his campaign, but as of March 2026, related legislation has stalled in Congress. The broader political landscape around Medicare and Medicaid remains uncertain, with ongoing debates over program funding and benefit structures.“AARP is working to help families afford long-term care by expanding access to services and supports, so they aren’t forced to rely solely on unpaid caregivers or drain their savings,” Weil said. “We’re advocating for public policies that ease the financial burden and protect older adults and their families.”For now, the gap between what care costs and what retirees can afford continues to widen. And until policy catches up, the financial burden falls directly on you and your family.

Taco Bell revealed more than 20 upcoming menu innovations and brand partnerships during its third Live Más LIVE event held in Hollywood, Calif., earlier this month.The fan-focused event, launched in 2024, serves as a stage for the fast-food chain to preview new products and collaborations set to debut at its U.S. restaurants in the year ahead.Several celebrities appeared at the event, including Benson Boone, Doja Cat, Peso Pluma, and Demi Lovato, but one highly-awaited announcement stood out among fans.”This show is built specifically for the fans, and that’s what I appreciate the most about Taco Bell,” said host Vince Staples during the event.Taco Bell makes Nacho Fries permanentAfter years of limited-time returns and strong customer demand, Taco Bell confirmed that Nacho Fries will officially become a permanent menu item later in 2026.First introduced in 2018, Nacho Fries feature crispy fries seasoned with Mexican spices and served with the brand’s signature nacho cheese sauce.The item quickly became one of the chain’s most successful menu launches. Taco Bell’s roughly 7,000 U.S. restaurants sold more than 53 million orders in the first five weeks following the original debut, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.At the event, the company also unveiled Flamin’ Hot Nacho Fries, an upcoming variation paired with Flamin’ Hot Nacho Cheese sauce for an added spicy kick.Taco Bell Nacho Fries become a fan-favoriteSince Nacho Fries’ debut, Taco Bell has repeatedly brought them back as a limited-time offering, often introducing new variations to maintain customer interest.Nacho Fries variations testedLoaded Steak & Jalapeño Topped Fries7-layer Nacho FriesSteak & Guac Nacho FriesGrilled Cheese Nacho FriesChicken Bacon Ranch Nacho FriesSupreme Beef & Loaded Taco Nacho FriesPoutine Nacho FriesThese recurring releases helped create a “cult following” around the menu item, while generating buzz each time the fries returned to restaurants.

Taco Bell makes Nacho Fries a permanent menu item in 2026.Shutterstock

Why Taco Bell tests menu itemsLike many major restaurant brands, Taco Bell frequently introduces new menu items through limited-time offers or regional test markets before committing to a nationwide rollout.This approach allows companies to evaluate customer demand, refine recipes, and reduce financial risk before expanding a product to all markets.Test launches also create anticipation among consumers, which is essential for chains amid intensifying competition across the restaurant industry.Menu items Taco Bell turned into permanent hitsNacho Fries are not the first Taco Bell item to evolve from a test or limited-time promotion into a permanent menu staple. Several of the brand’s most successful products followed a similar path.Limited-time items made permanentCrunchwrap Supreme: Introduced as a limited-time item in 2005 before becoming permanent in 2006, according to Taco Bell.Doritos Locos Tacos: Tested in select markets in 2012 and launched nationwide the same year, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.Mexican Pizza: Originally introduced in 1985, removed from menus in 2020, and reinstated permanently in 2022, according to Taco Bell.Cantina Chicken Menu: Introduced in 2024, with several items becoming permanent menu additions that same year, according to Taco Bell.Fast-food innovation amid rising costs and shifting consumer behaviorRestaurant chains like Taco Bell are increasingly prioritizing menu innovation as rising costs and slowing industry traffic reshape the fast-food industry.According to recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, prices for food away from home surged 4% in the 12 months ending January 2026.Meanwhile, food and labor costs for the average restaurant have each risen by about 35% over the past five years, according to the National Restaurant Association.To offset those increases, menu prices climbed an average of 31% between February 2020 and April 2025, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.Despite those price increases, overall customer traffic across the food service industry declined 1% in the quarter ending June 2025, according to Circana. The slowdown has pushed many chains to experiment with new products and promotions to maintain customer engagement and strengthen brand loyalty. More Restaurant Business News:Starbucks announces more store closures as strategy shiftsChick-fil-A reveals seven new menu items for Spring 2026McDonald’s revives two popular collaborations in new Happy MealStarbucks makes two big changes to 1,000 stores in 2026Industry analysts say experimentation alone is not enough to sustain long-term growth.”Creating a thriving innovation ecosystem within an organization requires more than just great ideas,” said Itonics Marketing Team Lead Sophia Hoferer. “It demands a strategic approach that connects people, processes, and technologies across departments to turn those ideas into impactful outcomes.”In a recent KPMG study, industry analysts say this type of experimentation is necessary in today’s market.”In response to the decreasing food dollar and the empowered customer, restaurants are turning to innovative business and operating models to grab a greater share of the market,” said KPMG Restaurant Segment Leader Paul Fultz and Strategy Leader of Consumer Markets Joel Rampoldt in the study.Taco Bell’s broader growth strategyThe decision to make Nacho Fries a permanent menu item aligns with Taco Bell’s Relentlessly Innovative Next-Generation Growth (RING) strategy, which focuses on accelerating menu innovation, enhancing its digital sales experience, and expanding the brand internationally. With this plan, the company aims to increase the average unit volume in the U.S. and triple Taco Bell’s global restaurant footprint by 2030.Value offerings have also become a key component of the strategy.The chain launched its Cravings Value menu in January 2024, replacing its longstanding Dollar Cravings Menu introduced in 2014, and expanded value offerings again in 2025 with its Grilled Steak Burrito lineup.Early results suggest the strategy is working. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, parent company Yum! Brands (YUM) reported that Taco Bell’s worldwide system sales increased 3% year over year, while same-store sales rose 7% and U.S. system sales grew 2%.During the earnings call, Taco Bell CEO Christopher Turner said the brand saw transaction growth across all income groups, particularly among higher-income consumers, families, and younger guests.”Taco Bell is showing us a great example of how to do that,” said Turner. “It tells us that the Taco Bell marketing and value are really resonating. The new category use occasions that the team has added are very well fit to consumer needs.”Related: Taco Bell reveals 30 new menu items launching in 2025

Big tech is about to get leaner. And for Meta Platforms, the possible job cuts could be historic.Three sources told Reuters that Meta (META) is planning layoffs, which could affect 20% or more of its workforce, according to CNBC. If that number holds, it would be the company’s largest round of job cuts since its 2022 restructuring. Back then, Meta let go of roughly 21,000 workers across two rounds of cuts, according to Reuters.Meta spokesperson Andy Stone called the news “speculative reporting about theoretical approaches.” But the backdrop driving these conversations is anything but theoretical.The potential layoffs should enable Meta to consistently raise its annual dividend amid near-term increases in capital expenditures. Meta makes a massive AI betMeta has committed to spending $600 billion building out data centers through 2028, per CNBC. And Meta’s capital expenditures could surpass $700 billion through 2030, data from Tikr.com suggest. The social media heavyweight is also investing heavily in acquisitions to widen its AI moat and onboard top-tier talent. Meta is spending $2 billion to acquire Manus, a China-based AI start-up, The Wall Street Journal reports. Notably, it has also offered $300 million over four years to attract AI talent for the Superintelligence lab, according to Wired. That kind of spending requires a trade-off somewhere.At the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on March 4, Meta CFO Susan Li explained the thinking behind the company’s aggressive infrastructure push.She pointed to AI-powered tools that are already making Meta’s developers significantly more productive.Li cited an internal figure of 80% gains in coding productivity. The idea is that a smaller, more AI-equipped team can accomplish more than a larger one without the tools.

Meta has a sustainable dividend payout ratio.Chris Unger / Getty Images

Is Meta’s dividend safe?Despite cost pressures, Meta’s financial profile remains strong, even as free cash flow growth slows. Between 2020 and 2024, Meta grew its free cash flow from $23.63 billion to $52.10 billion, indicating a compounded annual growth rate of over 21%. The AI race and heavy capital expenditures led to a 16% decline in FCF to $43.6 billion in 2025. Analysts expect FCF to fall by another 75% to $10.74 billion this year. However, analysts estimate FCF to surpass $119 billion in 2030 as AI spending normalizes. Meta pays a quarterly dividend of $0.525 per share, and its annual dividend expense is roughly $5.3 billion, indicating a payout ratio of almost 50% in 2026. Analysts forecast the annual dividend to increase to $3.81 per share by 2030. Key dividend and valuation metrics for Meta stockAnnual dividend per share (2025 actual): $2.10Estimated dividend per share (2026): $2.25 (year-over-year growth of 7.1%)Estimated dividend per share (2030): $3.81 (CAGR of 12.6% through 2030)Free cash flow (2025 actual): $43.59 billionEstimated free cash flow (2026): $10.74 billion (down 75.4% year over year as capex peaks)Estimated payout ratio (2026): 50% of FCFMeta stock dividend yield: 0.36%The dip in free cash flow through 2026 reflects Meta’s heavy investment in AI. But analysts project a strong recovery beginning in 2027, with free cash flow nearly tripling by the end of the decade.That recovery, if it materializes, would give Meta plenty of room to grow its dividend while continuing to fund AI initiatives.What’s next for Meta stockLi acknowledged at the Morgan Stanley conference that Meta has been “playing catch-up” on infrastructure capacity, and that much of what is being built today will not come online until 2027 or later.Still, she was measured in her optimism about Meta AI, which she noted already has more than one billion users, despite not yet running on a state-of-the-art foundation model.More Dividend Stocks:Down 63 percent, Warren Buffett dividend stock signals opportunity114-year-old defense stock offers a $3 billion dividend payout in 2026This megacap AI stock pays over $12 billion in annual dividends”When we have a frontier model,” Li said, “I feel quite confident that the combination of that, the distribution graph, and the network effects” will position Meta AI as a serious competitor.Down 22% from all-time highs, Meta stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 20x. At the current multiple, the megacap dividend stock could surge $1,100 over the next five years, 80% above the current price. Out of the 44 analysts covering Meta stock, 39 recommend “buy” and five recommend “hold.” The average Meta stock price target is $859, 40% above the current price. For dividend investors, the story here is straightforward. Meta is spending heavily now to set up for what it believes will be a much larger and more profitable business by the end of the decade. Whether the layoffs materialize as reported and whether the AI investments pay off will be the defining questions for META stock in the years ahead.Related: Bank of America resets Meta stock forecast on deal with AMD