Things To Do In SW Florida

By Pamela de la Fuente, NerdWallet

Holiday decorations and deals are already hitting shelves — and your inbox. Are you ready?

Maybe this season is your Super Bowl. Or maybe you’re more of a “I’ll get deals if I see ’em” person.

We used AI to create a quiz based on articles written by our Nerdy experts. Take it to find out your holiday shopping personality.

So, what’s your score?

About a third of holiday shoppers (31%) in a recent NerdWallet survey say they plan their holiday purchases in advance so they can monitor them continuously for sales before purchasing.

We know some people like that. Our Nerds took the holiday shopping quiz, and the results were a mix.

The Vibes Only Buyer

You tend to impulse buy and rely heavily on the hype of the sale. You often go into the shopping period without a plan…

Honestly, this was me. Don’t @ me! I haven’t been on NerdWallet’s shopping squad that long.

I know I should do my homework, but I have to work, parent, exercise and attempt to get my daily protein allotment. Fitting “create a holiday budget” into my schedule would be the smart move, but when? Guys, who has time? Please tell me someone out there can relate. read more

By JOSH FUNK, AP Transportation Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Shareholders of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern backed the railroads’ proposed $85 billion merger to create the nation’s first coast-to-coast rail network.

Related Articles

• 
  Disney reaches new deal with YouTube TV, ending a blackout that lasted over two weeks

• 
  Government will release September jobs report next week, ending data drought from federal shutdown

• 
  Preliminary findings show a fatigue crack caused a Keystone Pipeline oil spill in North Dakota

• 
  NASA denies improper shuttering of Goddard facilities during shutdown

• 
  Pictures: Princess Cruises’ Star Princess in Port Everglades

Roughly 99% of both railroads’ shareholders voted to support the largest rail merger in history Friday, but the U.S. Surface Transportation Board must still approve it before the deal can be completed.

Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said, “Our shareholders see the value and understand this merger will unlock new opportunities to enhance service, growth and innovation.” read more

By KEN SWEET

NEW YORK (AP) — Imagine if your bank could move money for you with only the slightest of digital nods for your approval. Or that could tell you that you’re overspending but more importantly know how to address that overspending and put you on better financial footing.

Related Articles

• 
  Homebuilders bet on 1% mortgage rates to wake up US buyers

• 
  Google accused in suit of using Gemini AI tool to snoop on users

• 
  IRS boosts contribution limits for 401(k) retirement plan savers

• 
  Doritos and Cheetos dial back the bright orange in new versions without artificial ingredients

• 
  AT&T reached a $177M data breach settlement. What consumers should know about claiming their money

That’s what you’ll get with Moneybot, a new financial services chatbot shown off this week by Cash App that will be slowly introduced into its banking app this winter. Unlike existing bank chatbots, which can handle routine tasks like changing an address, Moneybot can take advanced actions for a customer like creating a savings plan, buying or selling stock, or even evaluating a customer’s spending habits. read more

By Prashant Gopal, Bloomberg News

With the average mortgage rate near 6%, U.S. homebuyers are looking at the most affordable monthly payments in a year. But San Antonio real estate agent Tavyn Weyman knows how to get them lower — much lower.

Related Articles

• 
  Average US long-term mortgage rate rises again, inching up to 6.24%

• 
  Ask a real estate pro: Can HOA stop us from feeding the ducks?

• 
  Permit filed for mystery project at Epic Universe

• 
  White House’s 50-year mortgage proposal has one notable benefit but a number of drawbacks

• 
  A $5.5M Windermere home has a spectacular pool. But wait until you hear about the closet.

The trick is simple: buy new.

In markets across the U.S., homebuilders sitting on unsold inventory are subsidizing mortgage rates so heavily they sometimes match the record lows last seen during the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s in addition to perks like free appliances, finished basements and zero closing costs.

Weyman said a large private builder just gave one client a 3.49% fixed rate on a $414,000 home on the west side of town. The sales agent even bumped up Weyman’s commission to cover the cost of breaking the buyer’s lease and threw in another $2,000 to make the first month effectively free. read more

By Robert Burnson, Bloomberg News

Google was accused in a lawsuit of using its Gemini AI assistant to unlawfully track the private communications of users of its Gmail, instant messaging and videoconference programs.

In the past, users of Gmail, Chat and Meet were given the option to turn on Google’s artificial intelligence program. But in October, the Alphabet Inc. unit “secretly” turned on Gemini for all those applications, enabling it to collect private data “without the users’ knowledge or consent,” according to the complaint filed late Tuesday in federal court in San Jose, California.

While the company allows users to turn off Gemini, they need to dig into Google’s privacy settings to deactivate the AI tool, according to the proposed class-action suit. Unless they take that step, Google uses Gemini to “access and exploit the entire recorded history of its users’ private communications, including literally every email and attachment sent and received in their Gmail accounts,” according to the complaint. read more