Buying a car is a hellish experience. Aside from the cost (nearly $50,000 for an average new car these days!) theres the exhausting battle of wills you must engage in. No matter how well you prepare, walking into a dealership sometimes feels like walking into a battle, because everyone there is trying to take advantage of youeven if you know exactly what car you want.Unless youre paying cash, the trickiest part of the car-buying experience isnt dealing with the salesperson. Its dealing with the finance people. The finance manager at your typical car dealership is often the highest-paid person thereand for good reason. Theyre the ones who really work the angles to ensure the dealer gets as much money out of you as possible. They have a long list of subtle tricks they use to get you to sign a contract that might not be the best deal you could getor even the deal you thought you were getting. Here are the tricks you should look out for after the salesperson hands you over to the finance people.Drawing your attention to the wrong numberCar salespeople are forever trying to do one basic thing when youre financing a new car: Focus on the wrong number. The number they typically want you to pay attention to is the monthly payment. Theyll ask you what your budget is, then feel you out to see how high you can actually go, then work backward from there to come up with a deal that hits that monthly number but gets them the most profit over the long term. Common tricks include the infamous Four Square, where the salesperson jots down numbers, talks fast, crosses stuff out, and guides you to see that monthly payment and nothing else.Even if you defeat the Four Square and negotiate an out-the-door price on the car and a financing deal you can live with, that monthly number can still haunt you. One trick to watch out for is a monthly number thats just slightly off what you expectedits close to what you negotiated, but not exactly right. That means its time to go through that contract with a fine-toothed comb, because somethings been altered. They may have added fees or something else into the total price, and when its amortized over several years the extra payment is small and they simply hope you wont notice.Messing with the trade-in valueIf youre trading in a vehicle as part of your transaction, the salesperson might proudly inform you that theyre going to value that trade-in at the same amount you owe on it. Which is greatas long as its true. What the finance guy might do is value the trade-in at a lower amount, then roll the extra money owed into the overall principle of the loanand since they get incentives to write loans, the bigger the better (for them). This is probably illegal in your area, but that doesnt stop them from making an honest mistake sometimes.Add-ons that increase the price unexpectedlyYouve negotiated your deal and you feel pretty good about the price you got for the car and the terms youre getting for the financing. Then you sit down with the finance person and suddenly the price and payments are higherbecause a long list of features and options you assumed were included in the price were not, actually, included. Now you have to choose between paying more for the car you thought you were getting, or starting the process over to get less car than you want.Interest rate markupsIf you finance your car purchase through the dealership, you should still look for financing elsewhere, if only to know what the available rates are. Because dealerships often mark up their interest rates to make the deal better for themselves. They call their lender and get a rate of, say, 6% for your car deal. But when they present the financing numbers the rate is 8% because the finance folks have marked up the ratethe dealer gets to keep that extra 2% charged on the loan. Always ask if the rate in the contract is the dealers buy rate or if theyre packed on some extra points without telling you."Yo-yo-ing" This is a lot less fun than it sounds. It works like this: You negotiate the deal and buy the car. You take the car home. You love the car. Then a few days later the dealer calls and tells you that your financing was denied, so you have to come back in and re-negotiate the deal. Often, if you inspect the paperwork the finance people handed you, youll find fine print that states the sale isnt final and that the dealer has the right to cancel the sale if they need to. Theyre banking on a version of the sunk-costs fallacy to drive you to negotiate against yourself and pay more for the car.All you can do to defend against this is to get outside financing and read your paperwork carefully. Look for language that allows the dealer to cancel the salekeywords like conditional or not final are often hints about this. If you see anything youre not certain about, ask directlyand if you dont like the answer, walk away.Bundling multiple negotiations into oneBuying a new car isnt one simple transactionyoure probably doing two or three separate things in parallel. Youre trading in a caressentially negotiating a sale price for your old vehicle; youre negotiating a price on a new vehicle; and youre negotiating financing terms.What finance people at dealerships love to do is bundle those negotiations into one huge, messy deal. This way, if you push back on one aspect of the deal they can just make up for it in another. For example, lets say you decide youre not getting enough value for your trade-in and you push to get $500 more for it. The dealer reluctantly agreesand adjusts your financing terms to claw back that $500. The more confusing and interconnected the bundle is, the harder it is for you to figure out if youre getting what you actually want. The only real defense is to insist on separating these negotiations so you can see clearly what each one looks like.Adding "standard" things without askingSometimes you sit down with the finance folks and suddenly the price you negotiated is higher in the paperworkbecause theyve gone ahead and added standard stuff like gap insurance (covering the value of your car if you total the car and your insurance doesnt cover the remaining debt on the loan) or extended warranties. Theyll often argue that the price you negotiated is still in effectits the cost of the car, not the extra services. Theyll also often imply that these are required fees of some sort instead of add-ons.Gap insurance and warranties might be a good ideabut you should be aware of their costs before youre presented with a contract. And dealers will sometimes add these in even if you already have your own insurancewhich is almost certainly going to be a better deal for you overall.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Im no stranger to the crisping prowess of the air fryer. (Here are some of my favorite models.) The powerful convection heating mechanism reheats leftovers, blisters veggies, and roasts meats quickly and with a sizzling finish reminiscent of an actual deep fryersans the vat of oil. But after using the Ninja Crispian air fryer that comes apart for easy storagemy interest in crispy crusts has changed to something totally unexpected: dips. Making dip in an air fryer is not normal. Dips have always been a stove top thingyou cook the ingredients in a pot or pan, then you pour it all into a casserole dish. Maybe at the end you move it to the oven for a broiled cheesy crust. But things have changed for me: Now I can make a heaping container of spicy buffalo chicken dip, broil it, serve it, and store the leftovers, all in the same vessel. Ninja Crispy Air Fryer $179.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $179.99 at Amazon Why dip works in the Ninja Crispi All this can be done because the Ninja Crispi is designed to come apart. The PowerPod (Ninja's name for the handheld convection engine) lifts on and off the cooking chamber. That container is made of clear tempered glass. It's pretty enough to be used as a serving dish, and small enough to fit in the fridge with your other containers. The Crispi cooking system comes with two containers (one large and one small), so you can still cook in one while you have something stored in the other. Plus, both containers come with lids. Here's my full Ninja Crispi review.Making dip in an air fryer might seem unhinged, but there are benefits to this style of cooking. It has the minimal clean-up of one-pot cooking, but its cooking from the top-down instead of the bottom-up. You cook ingredients directly in the air fryer container, stopping to lift off the Ninja Crispi PowerPod to stir when needed. When the necessary ingredients are cooked, simply mix in spices and the creamiest ingredientssour cream, yogurt, or mayonnaise. Then top with cheese and put the PowerPod back on to melt it until browned and bubbly. Your air fryer has just become a quick, efficient broiler. No need to empty the dip into a new dishsimply serve it as-is.Here are my favorite dips to make in the Crispi right now.Buffalo Chicken Dip RecipeThis dip is quick to make and almost too easy to eat. The right buffalo sauce is key, so make sure you love the one youre using. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Ingredients:8 ounces butterflied chicken breast teaspoon saltPinch MSG cup plain Greek yogurt2 ounces cream cheese2 to 4 tablespoons buffalo hot sauce (I use Hot Ones buffalo hot sauce) cup shredded cheddar, plus more for topping1 to 3 sliced scallion, white ends and greens separated1. Lay the thinly sliced chicken breast onto the grate of the Ninja Crispi, sprinkle with salt and MSG. Cook the chicken on bake mode for 10 minutes, or until cooked through but not too browned. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann 2. Slide the grate out from under the chicken, and remove it. Shred the chicken with two forks directly in the Ninja Crispi container.3. Add the yogurt, cream cheese, two tablespoons of buffalo sauce, cheddar, and the white and light green parts of the scallion. Cook it for another five minutes on bake mode. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann 4. The cheeses and yogurt should be super soft. Mix everything together thoroughly and taste to see if you want more hot sauce. Spread the dip out flat and top the dip with a little more shredded cheese. Cook it for another three to five minutes on bake mode. Sprinkle the green scallion slices over the top and serve. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann French Onion Dip RecipeI never imagined being able to caramelize onions in an air fryer before, but it works in the Crispi. Dont skip the MSG and Worcestershire saucethey bring in the hearty umami boost that we all look for in French onion dip. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Ingredients:2 medium onions (about 14 ounces), sliced2 teaspoons neutral oil1 tablespoon butter teaspoon salt4 ounces full-fat sour cream3 ounces plain Greek yogurt teaspoon onion powder1 teaspoon Worcestershire saucePinch MSG1. Spread out the onion slices into the small Ninja Crispi container. (Do not use the grate.) Drizzle the oil over the top along with the salt. Toss the onions a little to get them in contact with the oil, but you dont have to be too precise about it. Break the butter up into chunks over the onions. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann 2. Cook the onions for about 30 minutes on bake mode, stirring every three to five minutes. (Caramelizing onions takes time no matter how you do it.) Stir often. This step is important so the onions cook evenly. Some of the ends will still burn and thats totally OK. Its actually a good thing. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann 3. Once the onions are softened and evenly browned, remove the PowerPod and let the caramelized onions cool for about 15 minutes. Stir in the sour cream, yogurt, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, and MSG. Serve at room temperature or cover it with the Ninja Crispi lid and put it in the fridge until chilled.Extra-Meaty Seven-Layer Dip RecipeThis dip is great for a party. If you're a guest, stop at Step 5, pack up the container with the NinjaCrispi lid, and throw the PowerPod in the car. Plug in the Pod and broil the cheese just before serving. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Ingredients:1 pound ground turkey (or other ground meat) teaspoon baking soda teaspoon salt1 packet taco seasoning (or any another spice mix of choice)Sliced olives (I used jalepeo stuffed green olives) can refried beans cup sour cream (or plain greek yogurt)2 to 3 tablespoons salsaSliced green onions cup shredded cheddar1. I sprinkle the baking soda over the surface of the ground turkey and, with a gloved hand, mix it into the meat. This will help brown the meat and keep it tender.2. Put the meat into the container of the Ninja Crispi without the grate. Note: In the picture Im using the small container, but the dip almost didnt fit by the end. I'm considering the large container for next time.On bake mode, cook the meat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring and flipping the meat every five minutes or so. It'll look somewhat gross at first with the top browning and raw meat lurking underneath, just keep cooking it. The air fryer cooks from the top down, so flipping as you break up the meat morsels is the best way to cook it evenly.3. When the meat looks mostly browned and nearly finished cooking through, stir in the salt and seasoning packet. Finish cooking the meat completely. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann 4. Stir some olives into the meat. Then top the meat with more olives. Spread the refried beans over the top of the meat. Layer the sour cream on top of that, followed by a thin layer of salsa, green onions, and top it all with shredded cheddar. If using the small container, gently press the dip down so its below the rim of the dish. You dont want the cheese to touch the PowerPod.5. Cook the dip for another minute or two on the bake setting to melt the cheese, and serve with chips, crisp breads, or between two hamburger buns for a fancy sloppy joe.Why not?

The sun is out, the birds are chirping and the Amazon Spring Sale is just around the corner. Though it officially starts March 25, we're already seeing a bunch of early Amazon Spring Sale deals for brands like Dyson, Samsung and Apple. The latter includes a six percent discount on Apple's new 11-inch iPad. The 128GB 2025 model is down to $329 from $349 in every color. It comes with an A16 chip that gives it a performance boost, though not enough power for Apple Intelligence like the iPad Air with an M3 chip. It also offers features such as a 12MP wide camera, 4K video and a liquid retina display. If you're not fussed about getting the newest model then check out Amazon's sale on Apple's 10th generation iPad. Right now, it's down to $269 from $349 a 23 percent discount. It's screen is one-tenth of an inch smaller and it offers many of the same features, like 4K video recording and a 12MP wide camera. Plus, it still has a USB-C port rather than the old lightning port.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-new-base-ipad-is-20-off-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-143705838.html?src=rss

Despite streaming services continuing to dominate the business of recorded music, theres still very much a place for physical media in that sector. The Recording Industry of America said in an annual report [PDF] that sales of vinyl records rose for the 18th straight year in the US to $1.4 billion the highest revenue for that format since 1984, when CDs started to emerge.Vinyl accounted for nearly three-quarters of physical format revenue in 2024. It was the third consecutive year that there were more shipments of vinyl records than CDs 44 million vs. 33 million. It perhaps helps vinyls case that the RIAA has factored in sales figures directly from indie labels for the first time this year. And that Taylor Swift released thirty-six variants of her most recent album, The Tortured Poets Department, including eight vinyl editions.Many fans prefer to own physical copies of music for many reasons, such as their belief that vinyl offers better audio quality and an all-round superior listening experience to streaming services, as well as a way to perhaps better support artists. Scouring the racks at a record store is a fun pastime as well. Vinyl records and CDs are also a hedge against the possibility of music vanishing from streaming services if rights agreements expire or an artist decides to yank their music from a platform.Still, streaming services hit a new milestone last year. The RIAA reports that the average number of paid subscriptions for the year hit 100 million in the US for the first time. Thats a three percent increase from 2023.Revenue from paid subscriptions rose by five percent to $11.7 billion, with the total revenue from streaming (factoring everything from ad-supported services to fitness apps) growing four percent to $14.9 billion. Streaming accounted for 84 percent of recorded music revenue for the third year running.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/vinyl-record-sales-continue-to-rise-amid-music-streamings-dominance-142131328.html?src=rss

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Following continuous trade tensions between the European Union and the United States, the European Commission moved forward with the enforcement of its digital antitrust rules on Alphabets Google and Apple.On Wednesday, the commission said in a press release that Alphabet treats its own services, such as shopping, hotel booking, transport, or financial or sports results, more favorably than other results offered by third parties, and that Alphabet displays its own services at the top of Google Search results with enhanced visual formats and filtering mechanisms.The commission noted that it informed Alphabet that its app marketplace, Google Play, does not comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), as app developers are prevented from steering consumers to other channels that may have better offers.Alphabet now has the opportunity to review the documents in the commission investigation file and respond. If the commission upholds its preliminary assessment, it would then issue a noncompliance decision.We will keep engaging with the Commission and comply with its rules, Google said in a blog post. But todays findings now increase the risk of an even worse experience for Europeans. The DMA is designed to regulate large platforms like Google, Apple, and Meta, and boost competition, but in reality, it is having the opposite effect by hurting European businesses and consumers.In another press release, the commission specified the measures that Apple has to take to comply with certain aspects of its interoperability obligation.According to the commission, interoperability enables a deeper and more seamless integration of third-party products with Apples ecosystem and is the key to opening up new possibilities for third parties to develop innovative products and services on Apples gatekeeper platforms.The commission then outlined its recommendations for Apple to enhance the interoperability of its iOS devices with competitors products, such as headphones, smartwatches, and virtual reality headsets, in order to comply with the DMA. These included requiring Apple to improve the compatibility of third-party smartwatches and headphones with iPhone and iPad operating systems and simplifying the pairing process for users.Todays decisions wrap us in red tape, slowing down Apples ability to innovate for users in Europe and forcing us to give away our new features for free to companies who dont have to play by the same rules, the company said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal.The decisions on Apple and Google are just the latest of an escalating trade war between the U.S. and EU. On March 13, President Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on European alcoholic beverages in response to the EUs 50% tariff it imposed on American-made spirits. The EUs move came in retaliation to Trumps 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel, which took effect on March 12.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is honing in on infant formula in his food safety review.RFK Jr. says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will further test formula brands for heavy metals after some concerning results from Consumer Reports (CR) were released earlier this week. The FDA will use all resources and authorities at its disposal to make sure infant formula products are safe and wholesome for the families and children who rely on them, Kennedy said in a statement. HHS is calling the plan Operation Stork Speed.On Tuesday, CR revealed the results of testing on 41 types of powdered formula, from major labels such as Enfamil and Similac to smaller startups like Bobbie. Brands were tested for heavy metals including arsenic, lead, BPA, acrylamide, and PFAS. Per the report, the results were concerning with about half of the samples that were tested containing potentially harmful levels of at least one contaminant.However, the formula wasnt heavy-metal-ridden across the board. The report noted that the other half of the samples showed low or no levels of concerning chemicalsshowing that there are many good options on the market.The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry rates arsenic as the most toxic substance in the environment. When it came to the formula with the highest level of the substance, Abbott Nutritions EleCare Hypoallergenic took the top slot. The formula had 19.7 parts per billion (ppb). The second highest level was found in Similac Alimentum at 15.1 ppb (also made by Abbott). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits arsenic in municipal drinking water to 10 ppb.Abbott told CR in a statement, per the report, that the company had questions about CRs methodology, and noted that heavy metals are found in the natural environment and may therefore show up in trace amounts in any food products, and even in breast milk. We look forward to working with the secretary, the FDA, and the scientific and medical communities to continue to make infant formulas even closer to breast milk and support the aims of Operation Stork Speed, Scott Stoffel, divisional vice president of external communications and public affairs at Abbott, told Axios in a statement.While RFK Jr. campaigned on some heavily controversial ideas, such as vaccine scepticism, health officials seem to be greeting the investigation into infant formula warmly. Its very encouraging to see the FDA issue this announcement immediately after Consumer Reports shared our findings about contaminants in infant formula, said Brian Ronholm, head of food policy for CR. We look forward to seeing the details of how they intend to implement the plan, and we hope the FDA is provided adequate resources and staffing to actually follow through on their promises.As it stands, its tough for parents to know which brand of formula to choose. Thats especially true because some of the most well-known brands seemed to be the ones with the highest rates of heavy metals. Four main formula companiesNestl, Abbott, Perrigo, and Reckittdominate the market, though in recent years some smaller startups, such as MyHeart and Bobbie, have emerged. In 2022, after a major formula recall kicked off a formula shortage, the newer brands hoped to help meet demand and create more natural formulas. Bobbie was listed in the new reports best formulas, and MyHeart was listed in the good category.

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