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Why we love this deal

Keeping up with cleaning can be difficult with everything else going on. Work, errands, and other responsibilities often come before cleaning, but in households with pets or kids, floors seem to collect dust as quickly as you clean them. Having some assistance with routine cleaning can free up time, and help keep your place cleaner, even while you’re away. 

The Prettycare 3-In-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop combo not only sweeps and vacuums away dust, but also washes tough dirt off floors. With adjustable suction levels, water-flow settings, and a dual-tank for dust and water, the 73% off price tag is definitely worth it. Originally $300, shoppers can get this vacuum for just $80 for a limited time during Walmart’s Flash sale. 

Prettycare 3-In-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop, $80 (was $300) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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Why do shoppers love it?

This vacuum combines mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming into one device that reduces cleaning time by 30%. The 2-in-1 tank holds 400mL of dust and 250 mL of water, allowing it to vacuum up debris while mopping. The high-powered suction can clean dirt and debris off the floor while staying at a lower noise volume, and offers six cleaning modes, including auto, spot, edge, scheduled, manual, and bow-shaped path cleaning, allowing you to choose what needs the most cleaning. 

Related: Why choosing the right vacuum cleaner is crucial for your home and health

The simple controls can be used via voice command, an app, or a remote control. It works on Wi-Fi and includes infrared sensors to help avoid obstacles, furniture, and stairs, and at just 3 inches tall, it can reach beneath furniture, like sofas and beds, where hairballs and dust bunnies can easily accumulate. It also features a 15-degree climbing angle to roll over carpets, tile, and flooring changes. The vacuum has up to 150 minutes of runtime, and returns to the charging port automatically for convenience. 

Details to know

Run time: It can run up to 150 minutes and recharges itself.

Size: At about three inches tall, it easily fits under lower furniture where cleaning can be more difficult. 

Cleaning: It features vacuuming, mopping, and sweeping technology for quick and efficient cleaning. 

One reviewer wrote, “I’m really happy with this robot vacuum and mop! It’s easy to use with the remote, cleans the floors nicely, and the mopping feature is a great bonus. It saves me so much time and keeps the floors clean with very little effort. Comes with all accessories and a remote, so we can connect with the phone for easy access.”

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The Prettycare 3-In-1 Robot Vacuum offers quick and efficient cleaning and maneuvers around obstacles easily, offering a simple and dependable option to keep your house clean. It easily fits under furniture to snag dustballs, and has no trouble transitioning from carpet to hardwood. At 73% off, it’s a fantastic deal. Shoppers can save $220, paying just $80 for this robot vacuum at Walmart for a limited time. 

Buying a new car is getting harder just as Ford Motor’s stock is having one of its best days of the year.

Ford (F) shares jumped 12.4% Thursday after the automaker delivered better-than-expected adjusted earnings and raised the bottom end of its annual profit outlook.

For shareholders, that was welcome news.

For someone walking into a dealership, Ford’s results revealed a less comfortable trend.

From a previous forecast of around $2 billion, Ford now anticipates increased commodity expenses of nearly $2.5 billion this year. The cost of steel, copper, computer chips, gasoline, and transportation is all rising.

These pressures come at a time when Americans are already paying near-record prices for brand-new cars.

The average new vehicle sold for $50,562 in September, just $52 below the record set in December 2025. The typical monthly payment climbed to $776, according to Cox Automotive.

This friction is driving Ford’s most recent rally.

Despite growing expenses, Ford is managing to safeguard its earnings. However, there could be another reason buyers are holding out for far less expensive automobiles.

Ford absorbs billions in costs while protecting profit

Ford reported third-quarter revenue of $49.5 billion and net income of about $2 billion.

Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes, a measure Ford uses to track its underlying operating performance, increased slightly to $2.7 billion from $2.6 billion a year earlier.

Additionally, Ford raised the low end of its full-year adjusted operating profit forecast.

In contrast to its prior estimate of $10 billion to $11 billion, the business now anticipates between $10.5 billion and $11 billion.

Ford said its cost-cutting efforts, growing software and services businesses, and improving operations helped it navigate the quarter.

That explains why investors reacted so violently.

Ford’s core profitability has remained steady, even as uncontrollable expenses have put pressure on it.

The most apparent example is the cost of commodities.

As the cost of steel, copper, and other commodities surged, Ford raised its forecast of the year’s commodity headwinds by almost $500 million to around $2.5 billion.

Transportation costs have also increased due to rising fuel prices, and computer chips continue to be a significant expenditure for cars that use a lot of software.

Those figures could seem a long way from the showroom to an automobile customer.

They’re not.

The truck’s body is made of steel. Copper is used in automobiles that are becoming more electric. Everything is controlled by chips, including safety features and entertainment systems. Diesel prices drive up the cost of transporting parts and completed cars nationwide.

Someone ultimately has to pay for those inputs as they become more expensive.

“We are intensely focused on driving efficiencies throughout our business,” Ford CFO Sherry House said.

Ford’s job is to prevent all of those higher costs from eating into profit.

The issue facing consumers is that maintaining prices is one way automakers safeguard earnings.

Ford’s rally comes as new cars approach record prices

Ford expects its pricing to finish about 1% higher this year, according to Reuters.

That does not imply that Ford will increase each car’s sticker price by 1%.

Automobile prices reflect the models that buyers purchase, incentives, trim levels, and other variables.

However, the larger market already demonstrates why affordability is still an issue.

The average American paid $50,562 for a new vehicle in September, according to Kelley Blue Book, up 0.9% from August and only $52 below December 2025’s all-time record.

Even those who purposefully look for less expensive cars aren’t completely avoiding the market.

In September, the average price of a compact automobile was $27,977, up 3.2% over the previous year. The average price of subcompact SUVs increased by 1.5% to $31,213.

The average price of full-size pickup trucks, a crucial market for Ford, was $67,573.

At that point, Ford’s profits narrative turns into a tale about family budgets.

Most households don’t use cash to purchase a car.

They provide the funding.

The average monthly new-vehicle payment reached $776 in September, the highest since December 2023, according to Cox Automotive. Buyers needed about 35.7 weeks of median income to purchase the average new vehicle.

Incomes have increased, and interest rates have somewhat decreased.

However, in September, rising car costs overshadowed part of that gain.

Therefore, a prospective buyer of an F-150 or Bronco sees something different than a Ford shareholder, who perceives the corporation effectively safeguarding its profits.

Automobiles are still costly.

Furthermore, there is no reason to believe that manufacturers suddenly have billions of dollars to cut costs based on Ford’s most recent cost estimate.

Ford stock jumped 12%. Car buyers may not like whyBill Pugliano / Getty Images

Ford still needs Americans to keep buying

Ford’s robust stock response has another flaw.

Its U.S. vehicle sales were down 8.6% through the first nine months of the year, according to Reuters. The decline partly reflected Ford phasing out its Escape SUV as well as weaker electric-vehicle and hybrid sales.

This necessitates a delicate balance.

Ford aims to safeguard the price it gets for every car.

However, it also needs a sufficient number of customers to continue purchasing them.

Americans have already begun to shift toward less costly car models in response to demands to be more affordable.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the industry’s total year-over-year price increase in September was comparatively small due to increased sales of less expensive models.

In other words, even if producers aren’t making significant price reductions, customers are adjusting their choices.

A person may decide to purchase a smaller SUV instead of the larger one they originally intended to purchase.

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A customer could choose a less expensive trim.

Some could decide to go into the secondhand market or hang onto an older car for another year.

For Ford, sustaining high prices is only effective as long as buyers continue to find the product to be worthwhile.

There is proof that the business is still able to set prices.

Automakers continue to profit from strong demand, especially in appealing areas, according to RBC Capital Markets analyst Tom Narayan, who spoke to Reuters.

Ford’s F-Series continues to be essential to that approach.

Ford is purposefully controlling full-size truck inventories more strictly, aiming for around 55 to 60 days of supply rather than the more common 80 to 100 days, according to CEO Jim Farley.

This is important because overstocked dealerships often force manufacturers to provide higher discounts.

Ford seems committed to avoiding that cycle again.

Disciplined inventories may benefit margins for investors.

It may not be as encouraging to consumers who are expecting that surplus supply would drive down costs.

Ford’s stock win doesn’t solve the affordability problem

Ford’s most recent quarter demonstrates why a positive carmaker earnings report does not always convert into positive news for consumers.

The shareholders identified several positive aspects.

Ford beat adjusted earnings expectations, generated $4.7 billion in adjusted free cash flow and raised the bottom end of its annual profit outlook.

In response, the stock increased by 12.4% on Thursday.

However, the situation is different for the family seated across from a salesman at a dealership.

Already, the typical new automobile costs over $50,000.

The average monthly payment is close to $800.

Additionally, one of the largest manufacturers in America is informing investors that the cost of the materials required to construct such cars is rising significantly.

By reducing internal costs, managing inventory, increasing software and service sales, and increasing production efficiency, Ford can combat those challenges.

Investors expect management to do just that.

However, Ford may feel less need to aggressively reduce cars to address growing expenses as it becomes better at safeguarding profits.

Both approaches carry risks.

Customers may put off purchases or trade down if affordability declines too much, ultimately reducing Ford’s pricing power.

That makes one figure more significant than the stock rise on Thursday.

Despite a fall in U.S. sales, Ford anticipates that pricing will be healthy.

Ford can endure billions of dollars in increased expenses without losing its profit margins as long as consumers continue to accept those prices.

Ford’s profits indicate that Americans may still have to wait for new vehicle costs to fully decline.

Related: Ford sets 2027 goal to dethrone Toyota in certified used cars

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 deal

One of the lesser-discussed aspects of home shopping is how much built-in cabinetry there is. While storage space is definitely a consideration for buyers and renters, it’s most often far lower on the list of deal breakers than natural lighting, neighborhood, and yard size. Most homebuilders and realtors know this, which means storage space becomes a very small part of the overall equation. Thanks to Walmart, you can correct this injustice with a standalone farmhouse storage cabinet. In fact, one of the retailer’s most impressive corner pantries is currently on sale for a great price.

The Vabches Tall Barn Door Corner Cabinet can slide into just about any corner of your home for just $91. Standalone cabinets typically come at a premium price because people often shop for them in a sudden moment of need. That’s why this 57% off discount is so enticing. It allows you to get a great deal on new cabinetry before you’re in a tight squeeze.

Vabches Tall Barn Door Corner Cabinet, $91 (was $210) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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Why do shoppers love it?

If you like the ability to store items both behind closed doors and also display them out in the open, then this cabinet is a stellar choice. It has a large closed cabinet at the bottom, an open cubby in the center, and a glass-door cubby at the top. This allows you the freedom to store multiple types of things at the same time, regardless of whether you want them to be visible or not. That makes it a wonderful option for kitchen storage, especially if you have good china you want to show off. Its design is all about versatility and adaptation, so even though it’s a great kitchen hutch, it’s really suited to any room in the home.

Made from waterproof and durable engineered wood, the cabinet is built to last no matter where you put it. It has a triangle-shaped footprint that adds storage without taking up too much room. Many corners become wasted space, but a cabinet with this design makes it functional. Not only will it hold a lot of things, but it’s a visual anchor and a focal point for any room you place it in. Few furniture items look good tucked away in corners, and they tend to result in awkward design choices. This cabinet solves that problem and makes practical use of otherwise underutilized square footage.

Aesthetically, it’s not just the size of the pantry that catches the eye. The lower dual barn doors add a bit of traditional farmhouse charm to the cabinet, while the clear upper doors highlight the depth within. While we’re partial to the white colorway, there are also gray and black variants from which to choose. At this price, you may want to consider buying more than one, given how many empty corners most homes have.

Related: Walmart is selling a $110 farmhouse storage cabinet for just $60

Walmart customers were extremely pleased with this hutch. One said, “I really liked this corner cabinet,” adding that “It’s easy to assemble and looks very good.”

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If you want to get the most out of every corner of your home, then the Vabches Tall Barn Door Corner Cabinet is the way to do it. For just $91, you can have a whole new storage option for your overflow items, and you can improve the look of your room at the same time.

A rare pricing shift is coming for Medicare beneficiaries in 2027, but taking advantage of potential savings will depend on the coverage decisions they make before the December 7, 2026, enrollment deadline.

Medicare Advantage premiums are expected to fall next year, while Medicare Part B premiums are projected to rise more modestly than some retirees may have feared, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Prescription drug coverage, however, comes with a higher annual out-of-pocket limit and deductible in 2027.

Meanwhile, major insurers are reducing their coverage in some areas, leaving certain counties and limiting provider choices while cutting extra benefits like dental care in some regions.

The result for 2027 is that two neighbors in the same county could pay sharply different amounts starting in January 2027, depending on which plan they end up in after the shuffle.

KFF research published in September 2024 found that nearly 7 in 10 Medicare beneficiaries had not compared their coverage options during open enrollment for 2022. The finding highlights how many beneficiaries historically remain with existing coverage without evaluating alternatives.

Also read: Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: Don’t Let These 5 Mistakes Cost You

CMS projects a 16.5% drop in Medicare Advantage premiums for 2027

Average monthly Medicare Advantage premiums are projected to fall 16.5% from $14.37 in 2026 to $12 in 2027, CMS announced. The agency also projects that prescription drug premiums bundled into Medicare Advantage plans will fall from $11.32 to $7, a 38% decline after federal rebates.

Standalone prescription drug plan premiums move in the opposite direction, climbing from $35.09 in 2026 to about $36 in 2027. These figures show why lower Medicare Advantage premiums do not necessarily translate into lower overall healthcare spending for every beneficiary.

Enrollment in Medicare Advantage is expected to reach 34 million in 2027, representing about 47.4% of all Medicare beneficiaries nationwide. Access remains broad, with more than 99% of enrollees having at least one plan option and 97% having 10 or more.

CMS also estimates that roughly 8 in 10 Medicare Advantage enrollees will keep their current plan at the same or a lower premium. That assurance does not apply to every county, since some insurers have narrowed their service areas or restructured their benefits for 2027.

Drug caps, physician premiums, and state-level gaps widen 2027’s cost picture

The maximum out-of-pocket cost that Medicare Part D enrollees pay for covered prescription drugs rises from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027.

The standard annual deductible also climbs from $615 to $700, with 25% coinsurance applied until spending reaches the new cap, according to Medicare’s Contract Year 2027 rate announcement.

The Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration, a temporary subsidy program CMS launched in July 2024 to offset premium increases driven by the Inflation Reduction Act’s benefit redesign, ends after 2026, removing the buffer that kept standalone Part D costs lower in recent enrollment cycles, CMS confirmed.

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The standard Medicare Part B premium is projected to rise from $202.90 to $209.50 per month in 2027, an increase of $6.60. AARP’s analysis of the Medicare Trustees Report confirms the figure, with the agency expecting the Part B deductible to rise from $283 to $292.

Average Medicare Advantage premiums also mask steep state-level variation that national headlines rarely capture during the fall enrollment push.

Wyoming leads the nation at $69.23 per month, while Mississippi’s figure drops to $4.08, according to an analysis of CMS data by Becker’s Payer Issues.

Medicare’s 2027 cost changes include higher prescription drug caps, rising physician premiums, and sharp state-level differences in Medicare Advantage costs.SimpleImages / Getty Images

Open enrollment becomes the annual chance to lock in lower premiums

Medicare’s annual open enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, with all plan changes taking effect on January 1, 2027, CMS showed. The window gives beneficiaries roughly 8 weeks to join, drop, or switch Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans for next year.

Juliette Cubanski, Vice President and Director of the Program on Medicare Policy at KFF, told the Associated Press that defaulting into last year’s plan risks missing cheaper options.

She described the window as the beneficiary’s main annual chance to catch savings or avoid worse coverage.

<em><strong>An opportunity to evaluate the coverage they have and see if there might be better options for them in terms of accessing the care that they need at possibly a lower cost,</strong></em>

Insurer footprints keep shifting behind the premium headlines, with UnitedHealthcare alone exiting counties that cover 600,000 members in 2026, Reuters reported.

Nearly 3 million Advantage plan members had to replace coverage for 2026 after insurers exited markets, according to a JAMA research reported by Reuters. 

Early 2027 figures suggest another 3.2 million individual-plan enrollees face the same scramble this fall, CNN confirmed.

How to secure 2027 Medicare savings before the December 7 deadline

The Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov allows beneficiaries to compare available plans using their prescription medications and preferred pharmacies.

The tool can help identify differences in monthly premiums, deductibles, prescription drug costs, and estimated annual expenses, according to CMS.

Beneficiaries should also review their insurer’s Annual Notice of Change, which outlines adjustments to premiums, copayments, covered services, prescription drug formularies, and provider networks taking effect in January.

Nancy LeaMond, AARP’s Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer, urged beneficiaries to shop around and compare their coverage options as healthcare costs and Medicare benefits change for 2027, the Associated Press reported.

KFF recommends that beneficiaries confirm their current doctors remain in-network and compare total annual costs, including deductibles and coinsurance, to catch the changes that national premium averages do not reflect.

For beneficiaries whose plans are being discontinued, reviewing replacement options before the December 7 deadline is particularly important.

Ultimately, the biggest Medicare savings in 2027 may not come from simply choosing the plan with the lowest advertised premium. Comparing prescription drug coverage, provider access, supplemental benefits, and expected out-of-pocket expenses could make a much greater difference to a retiree’s annual healthcare budget.

Related: Retirees may be ignoring a Medicare blind spot before 2027