The tiny Hive Thermostat (2024) has made heating my home far more efficient – and it looks great, too
The tiny Hive Thermostat (2024) has made heating my home far more efficient – and it looks great, too
Hive Thermostat (2024): one-minute review
Hive is a trusted name in the heating and smart device market, and the Hive Thermostat is its flagship product. The Hive Thermostat has gone through several iterations over the years, starting as the Hive Active Heating before becoming the Hive Active Heating 2, then simply the Hive Thermostat we now know. But this isn’t the same smart thermostat we reviewed back in 2022 – it’s a newer model with some upgrades.
While the design is largely the same, Hive has done away with the physical buttons of the smart thermostat’s predecessor, opting for touchscreen compatibility instead and making for a more sleek and stylish design. But this thermostat doesn’t just look good – it’s got the goods, too.
The newest Hive Thermostat allows you to easily schedule your heating and Boost it on a whim, but signing up for a Hive Plus subscription is the key to unlocking some of the device’s best (and most efficient) features, including bill insights, saving advice, and the ability to ensure you’re not heating your home when you’re not home. It’s an extra cost that’s worth investing in if you want to have more control over your heating bill.
However, like its predecessors, the Hive Thermostat doesn’t come with native zonal/room control. Hive Radiator Valves must be purchased for room control, which cost £59 a pop (the thermostat and its accessories are only available to buy in the ***). Other extras, like the Hive Hub and installation, can also quickly increase its £119 price tag, but if you’re looking for an easy-to-use and convenient thermostat, you can’t go wrong as it’s one of the best smart thermostats on the market.
The updated Hive Thermostat (2024) has a sleek new design with a touchscreen rather than buttons (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Hive Thermostat (2024): price and availability
£119 (hub and professional installation extra)
Only available in the ***
Available from Hive online store
The Hive Thermostat is only available in the *** and costs £119, making it £20 more than its £99.99 predecessor. That price can quickly increase, depending on your required extras – though delivery is free. You need a compatible Hive Hub for the Hive Thermostat to work, which costs an extra £70 if you don’t have one, bringing the total to £189. Likewise, if you want to add on a professional installation from British Gas, this will add another £109 to the cost. Adding the Hive Thermostat, Hive Hub, and professional installation increases the total price to £298.
Other optional extras include a stand for £29 if you don’t want to mount the Hive Thermostat on the wall, and a Hive Plus subscription (£3.99 a month / £39.90 a year). Zonal/room control doesn’t come cheap, either. To heat rooms individually, you need to purchase a Hive Radiator Valve – costing £59 each – for each room you want control over.
For this review, I received the Hive Thermostat, Hive Hub, five Hive Radiator Valves, a professional install, and a year’s worth of Hive Plus – which would typically cost an eye-watering £613.
The price of the Hive Thermostat comes in slightly less than the Honeywell Evohome, with similarly priced extras, but the Hive Thermostat offers more sophisticated features. If you’re on a budget, it’s worth considering the Drayton Wiser, especially if you’re after room control. Like the Hive, the Drayton Wiser is only available in the ***.
Hive Thermostat (2024): design
Easy-to-use digital display
Small enough to be inconspicuous
Professional installation optional
Straight out of the box, you get your Hive Thermostat with its four required AA batteries, a Hive receiver that connects to your boiler, and a Hive Hub (if you ordered one) that plugs into a normal electrical socket and your router via an ethernet cable. The Hive Thermostat comes with a 12-month warranty, but signing up to Hive Plus extends this.
The Hive Thermostat is stylish and inconspicuous, with the option to mount it on your wall or, if you bought a stand, set it on a flat surface. Measuring just 95.9mm x 95.9mm x 46.2mm (including the dial), it is considerably smaller than the 10-year-old Hive thermostat it replaced on my wall, and doesn’t look imposing in my hallway. It’s also much prettier than my old thermostat, with its ****** display, white surround, and silver dial giving it a contemporary look. There are also two discreet buttons on the top – one for the device’s Boost feature, and one for Hot Water Boost (if you have a separate water heater).
The Hive Thermostat (2024) is much smaller than the one it replaced (as you can see from the mark left on the wall) (Image credit: Vic Hood)
While not in use, the display is blank, but press the dial, and the thermostat springs to life, with its touchscreen display showing a red back button, green tick button, and menu button (indicated by three horizontal lines).
The displayed text is easy to read, with large text showing the actual temperature and the target temperature. Just how toasty your desired temperature will make your home is indicated by the color of the text. For example, 21C appears orange (warm), 7C blue (cold), and over 25 red (hot). I found this very helpful, as it gave me a rough indication of just how hot I was making the house – very, apparently.
While you can install the Hive Thermostat yourself, the Hive Thermostat FAQs say, “You need to be competent in electrical wiring and DIY.” If that’s not you, you need to add on a professional installation when placing your order. The professional installation is done by a British Gas engineer, but you don’t need to be with British Gas for this service or to use the Hive.
The thermostat’s glossy surface remains blank until touched (Image credit: Vic Hood)
As mentioned, I already had an old Hive thermostat installed, but the engineer easily removed it and installed the new one, as well as the Hub and receiver. Alongside this, he installed my extra five Hive Radiator Valves, but this isn’t typically part of the service. You need to install the valves (if you buy them) yourself, but it’s fortunately a pretty straightforward process. My engineer also gave me a rundown on how to use the app to control my new thermostat. Overall, the engineer was at my home for two hours, but a typical installation takes about an hour and can be booked online when you order your Hive Thermostat.
Hive Thermostat (2024): performance
Convenient smart app compatibility
More efficient heating
Linking with Siri can be confusing
The Hive Thermostat is a joy to use and there are plenty of features tucked away in this pint-sized heating device.
A click of the menu button brings up options for Heat, Holiday, and Settings. Under Heat, you can manually alter your current temperature, adjust your heating schedule, or simply turn the heating off. Holiday mode allows you to input when you’ll be away for a long ******* and when you’ll return, so your heating doesn’t come on while you’re away but your home is heated for your return. Thanks to Frost Protection, the thermostat turns on when your home reaches below 7C as default to prevent your pipes from freezing, while parents will be pleased to see the Child Lock function, which prevents little hands from adjusting the temperature.
Clicking the menu button reveals the thermostat’s Heat, Holiday, and Settings options (Image credit: Vic Hood)
The aforementioned Boost button on the top of the device allows you to heat your home to a desired temperature for a set *******, so you can give your home a controlled heat burst. The other button, for Hot Water Boost, allows you to turn your hot water on for a set ******* but doesn’t control the temperature – this button is redundant if you have a combi boiler like me, though.
While the Hive Thermostat is fairly straightforward to use, I found controlling the device via the Hive app much easier. Controlling my thermostat’s schedule was much more straightforward; I could quickly use the Boost feature, and I was able to control my heating from anywhere. There’s nothing like the simple pleasure of coming home from a night out and popping the heating on so the house is warm when you get home. You can also set up Quick Actions so you can activate predefined settings at the click of a button, but I found these a bit complicated and they would be better suited to those who own several Hive smart devices.
The Hive app allows you to control your thermostat from anywhere (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Even more convenient are the Away Mode and Geolocation features. Away Mode allows you to tell the Thermostat when you’re out so it doesn’t unnecessarily heat your home while you’re away, while Geolocation gives you a notification when you get a certain distance from your home and have left the heating on.
These features are only available with a Hive Plus subscription, however, which I advise getting if you want assistance with saving on your gas bill and advice on using your heating more efficiently. This subscription includes a Saver Mode which predicts your bill and helps you cut it, a Budget Tracker that can alert you when you’re overspending, and a Schedule Assist feature that advises on the most efficient way to schedule your heating. Unfortunately, these three features don’t work if you have Hive Radiator Valves (as I do).
If you have a Hive Plus subscription, the app will provide insights into your energy use (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Fortunately, despite the Hub’s ethernet connection, you can still use your Hive Thermostat manually if you lose internet connection, but you won’t be able to control it via the app.
The Hive Thermostat’s performance isn’t completely flawless, though. While the device is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Siri, Philips Hue, and Mixergy, I struggled to connect my thermostat with Siri – and the app’s “Ask Hive” assistant did little to help. When I finally connected it, the voice command didn’t work properly. This would be fine if there were clearer instructions on exactly how this compatibility works.
You’ll need a compatible Hive Hub for the thermostat to work (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Another pesky issue is the ‘Actual’ temperature reading. You set a temperature cap for the Hive Thermostat, so it should never heat your home above that temperature. However, the Actual temperature is often wrong. It seems the temperature is measured from the area immediately around the thermostat, which isn’t necessarily a true reflection of the temperature in your home.
For example, my thermostat is in our downstairs hallway, near no radiators, so the Actual temperature appears at the time of writing as 14.8C when it’s actually 16C two feet away, so if I cap my heating at 25C, it could potentially reach 26 or 27C in my house before the thermostat registers it at 25. This is fair enough with the thermostat, which obviously can’t track every room in the house, but it’s worth noting it’s not a true reflection of your home’s temperature. This becomes a more apparent issue if you get the required Hive Radiator Valves for zonal control. I regularly found the temperature of a room to be higher than the Actual estimate of the valve. For example, right now, my small office is 16.6C, but the valve says it’s 15.5C. A degree isn’t much, but if you’re setting a temperature cap, it’s worth doing it a degree lower than you actually want and it’s also worth noting if you’re trying to save on your gas bill.
The ‘Actual’ temperature shown by the thermostat was often one or two degrees lower than it should be (Image credit: Vic Hood)
I also found a significant delay (around 15 to 20 minutes) between my radiators being Boosted and when they actually turn on, despite having Heat On Demand enabled, which should kick the thermostat, and therefore boiler, into action. This resulted in me increasing the Boost time to give the thermostat and boiler time to register the Boost.
A smaller issue I had with the device was its use of lithium batteries. No one likes changing batteries, and while it makes for an easier install, it does mean we need to keep a stock at home for when they run out.
Overall, though, these are only minor things, and the Hive Thermostat has made heating my home much more efficient – especially with the addition of the Hive Radiator Halves. With the press of a couple of buttons or the turn of a dial, I can heat my house, while the extra features ensure I don’t use my heating when I don’t need to – which should ultimately help my gas bill in the long run. It’s made me more aware of how and when I heat my home, so instead of being scared to turn on the thermostat (and remember to turn it off), I happily turn it on, knowing I have greater control of both.
Should you buy the Hive Thermostat (2024)?
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Hive Thermostat (2024) score card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
The thermostat itself is quite affordable, but installation and extras can rapidly increase the price.
4/5
Design
The thermostat is small, sleek, and looks stylish when installed. It’s easy to use too, and a big upgrade from its predecessor.
4.5/5
Performance
Controlling your heating with the Hive thermostat is a piece of cake, particularly using the mobile app, and the energy use insights are excellent.
4.5/5
Buy it if
Don’t buy it if
Hive Thermostat (2024): also consider
If you don’t live in the ***, here are two other smart thermostats to consider:
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Tie-dye and dancing bears: Grammy weekend begins with Grateful Dead honored as Persons of the Year – The Associated Press
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Tie-dye and dancing bears: Grammy weekend begins with Grateful Dead honored as Persons of the Year The Associated PressMusiCares’ Grateful Dead Gala Full of Good Vibes, Hope for ‘Stronger, Shinier’ Los Angeles Rolling StoneWatch The War On Drugs, Vampire Weekend, & More Cover The Grateful Dead At MusiCares Tribute StereogumAP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:28 a.m. EST Walla Walla Union-BulletinGrateful Dead honored as MusiCares Person of the Year Rural Radio Network
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#Tiedye #dancing #bears #Grammy #weekend #begins #Grateful #Dead #honored #Persons #Year #Press
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Medical patients leave Gaza as Rafah crossing reopens after eight months
Medical patients leave Gaza as Rafah crossing reopens after eight months
Gaza’s Rafah border crossing, a main entry and exit point for the territory, has reopened after eight months to allow sick and wounded Palestinians to cross over into Egypt to receive medical treatment.
Fifty patients, including children with *******, had entered Egypt to access medical care, according to the ******-run health ministry.
The crossing had been closed since Israeli forces took control of the Gaza side in May last year.
The key gateway, a vital conduit for aid, has reopened as part of a ceasefire and hostage deal between ****** and Israel.
Footage of the evacuees shows ************ children in stretchers and ambulances arriving at the border crossing.
“We have been waiting for this day impatiently,” Mai Khader Abdul Ghani, whose son, Moatasem Billah Rami Nabil Sammour, has a rare autoimmune disease, told BBC Arabic’s Gaza Today.
She said her son was placed in intensive care at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital and had been suffering from severe pain over the past three months.
“Thank God that his name was included in the referral for treatment. I hope that his suffering comes to an end after receiving the appropriate treatment,” she said.
She added that the treatment for the disease was not available in Gaza because of the closure of crossings, a medicine shortage and the general lack of healthcare.
Her son said he had been in great pain while waiting to be referred to a hospital in Egypt.
“I have severe difficulty moving, my mouth has ulcers, and I also have difficulty eating, drinking, and everything,” he said.
Mohammed Abu Jalala was also among those accompanying relatives crossing the border for medical treatment. He said his niece Lara Abu Jalala had suffered serious injuries to her feet after a bombing, which killed her parents and three brothers.
“One foot was so badly damaged that it had to be amputated. We tried to avoid the amputation, but it had to be performed as the foot had gangrene in the bone,” he said. “The other is still injured and needs treatment, and the amputation needs follow-up and treatment.”
Speaking to the BBC from the crossing, Dr Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s representative for the West Bank and Gaza, described the evacuation as an “orderly” and “slow” process.
“The ambulances are going one by one, first with the non-walking patients, then walking patients and the companions. They’ll be checked and then moved on to the Egyptian side,” he said.
He estimates that 14,000 people need access to treatment they cannot get in Gaza.
WHO estimates that half of those patients’ injuries “are related to war and trauma injuries, amputees, burns, spinal injuries which will need multiple operations and specialised rehab,” he said, adding that the other half suffer from chronic diseases.
“Approximately 5,000 of them we expect to be children.”
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Friday that the bloc had deployed a monitoring mission at the crossing.
“It will support ************ border personnel and allow the transfer of individuals out of Gaza, including those who need medical care,” she wrote on X.
The Rafah crossing is the southernmost post of exit from Gaza. There are only two other border crossings from and into the Gaza Strip – Erez, a crossing into Israel in northern Gaza, which is for people, and Kerem Shalom, a solely commercial goods junction with Israel in southern Gaza.
More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, the ******-run health ministry says.
The offensive came after about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken back to Gaza as hostages when ****** attacked Israel on 7 October 2023.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing came as Israel and ****** carried out their fourth hostage release and prisoner swap since the ceasefire began on 19 January.
Israel released 183 ************ prisoners and detainees in exchange for three Israeli hostages – Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon and Keith Siegel.
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Strike averted at Costco as Teamsters reach a tentative deal
Strike averted at Costco as Teamsters reach a tentative deal
The union has called for significant wage increases and improvements to benefits.Photograph: David Zalubowski/AP
A strike that would have seen some 18,000 workers at Costco around the US walk off the job at midnight was averted on Saturday, with the Teamsters union reaching a tentative agreement just before the deadline.
Full terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed publicly.
Teamsters members employed by the retailer voted overwhelmingly to authorize a walkout last month while negotiations over a new contract stalled. Citing Costco’s surging profits, which hit $7.4bn last year, the union has called for significant wage increases and improvements to benefits.
“From day one, we’ve told Costco that our members won’t work a day past January 31 without a historic, industry-leading agreement,” said the Teamsters general president, Sean O’Brien, in statement.
In January the Teamsters announced that members had voted 85% in favor of a strike, with the union holding practice pickets and rallying outside Costco’s headquarters in Washington during the company’s annual shareholder meeting.
The union said their questions submitted to the shareholder meeting went unanswered, accusing the company’s negotiators of “nickel and diming” workers at the bargaining table while the company’s board has approved “outrageous” salaries for corporate executives. The Costco CEO, Rich Vachris, received more than $12m in total compensation in 2024, his first year in the position.
“We’re demanding a contract that matches the success we made possible,” said Paul Lowrie, a Costco fleet driver in Sumner, Washington said in a press release.
Ahead of the proposed strike, Costco announced pay increases for most of its store employees, with $1 an hour increases for top scale employees to $30.20 an hour, and $1 an hour annual increases over the next two years, claiming the pay increases will bring the hourly pay for most store workers to over $30 an hour. Workers on the bottom of the wage scale will receive a $0.50 increase to $20 an hour.
As several large corporations have rescinded their diversity, equity, and inclusion policies as Trump has taken office, including Walmart, McDonald’s and Target, Costco has defended its DEI policies. Republican state attorney generals have threatened the company for doing so.
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Trump Administration Fires Consumer Bureau Chief – The New York Times
Trump Administration Fires Consumer Bureau Chief – The New York Times
Trump Administration Fires Consumer Bureau Chief The New York TimesRohit Chopra is leaving his role as Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director CNNTrump fires CFPB director Rohit Chopra AxiosThe head of a federal agency for consumers has packed up his office. But will Trump fire him? The Associated PressTrump removes Rohit Chopra as director of CFPB The Washington Post
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Pro-RFK Jr. letter to the Senate includes names of doctors whose licenses were revoked or suspended – POLITICO
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Pro-RFK Jr. letter to the Senate includes names of doctors whose licenses were revoked or suspended POLITICOView Full Coverage on Google News
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RSF kill at least 54 at Sudan market: health ministry
RSF kill at least 54 at Sudan market: health ministry
At least 54 people have been killed and 158 wounded in a strike by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on a popular market in the city of Omdurman, the health ministry says in a statement.
War between the Sudanese army and RSF broke out in April 2023 over the integration of the two forces.
It has killed tens of thousands of people, driven millions from their homes and plunged half of the population into hunger.
There was no immediate comment from the RSF.
Culture Minister Khalid al-Aleisir condemned the attack, saying that the casualties included many women and children.
He also said the attack caused “widespread destruction to private and public properties”.
“This criminal act adds to the bloody record of this militia,” he said in a statement.
“It constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”
Sudan’s Doctors Syndicate condemned the RSF’s attack.
It said one shell hit metres away from al-Naw hospital, which received most of the market casualties.
It said most of the bodies taken to the hospital were of women and children, adding that the hospital has a significant shortage of medical teams, especially surgeons and nurses.
The conflict in Sudan started in 2023 when simmering tensions between the leaders of the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital Khartoum and other cities across the sprawling northeastern African country.
Saturday’s attack was the latest tragedy in the country’s brutal civil war.
Last week, about 70 people were killed in a RSF attack on the only functional hospital in the besieged city of El Fasher in the western region of Darfur.
The conflict has killed more than 28,000 people, has forced millions to flee their homes and has left some families eating grass in a desperate attempt to survive as famine sweeps parts of the country.
It has been marked by gross atrocities including ethnically motivated killing and *****, according the United Nations and rights groups.
The International Criminal Court said it was investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The US administration of former president Joe Biden accused the RSF and its proxies of committing genocide in the war.
In recent months the RSF has suffered multiple battlefield blows, giving the military the upper hand in the war.
It has lost control of many areas in Khartoum and the eastern and central provinces.
with AP
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Scientists reveal how a new strategy in Africa is having unprecedented success — here’s what it’s accomplished
Scientists reveal how a new strategy in Africa is having unprecedented success — here’s what it’s accomplished
In an effort to conserve nature and reduce deforestation, several African countries have teamed up with non-governmental organizations to co-manage protected areas.
According to a press release by France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), the collaborative management strategy includes 127 partnerships that span 1 million square kilometers (more than 386,000 square miles) across 16 countries.
An international research team from INRAE and Le Havre University investigated how much of an effect the management models had on deforestation rates. The findings, published in the journal PNAS, showed that protected areas saw a 55% reduction in deforestation, while the most vulnerable protected areas experienced 66% less tree removal.
As sub-Saharan Africa houses 13% of the world’s biodiversity and around 20% of its forests, per the news release, governments established the continent’s first protected area in 1925 to safeguard these immense natural resources.
Following the conservation of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, government bodies created thousands of other protected areas. However, underfunding and ineffective management have made it difficult for governments to oversee such vast wilderness.
To fill the management gap, co-management initiatives have sprung up over the last two decades between several African states and NGOs. Through these collaborative management partnerships, NGOs manage thousands of square kilometers across several states for 25 to 40 years. INRAE stated that NGOs normally support projects for just 2-5 years, so this long-term partnership will provide even more benefits for people and the environment.
Watch now: Ecologist cries tears of joy after badly injured bald eagle is released following rehabilitation
Funds from the partnership will go toward training staff and park rangers, building roads and tourism infrastructure, and installing power plants near the Virunga and Garamba Parks to boost living conditions for communities.
Researchers noted that these investments in energy development and staff recruiting have made the biggest difference in the protected areas most threatened by human activities. The findings prove that co-management between governments and NGOs can play a critical role in preserving biodiversity and ecosystems in the long term.
Other conservation efforts have borne fruit in South Africa, where a private reserve released at-risk southern white rhinos to boost the population, and an urban farm restored a huge forest area.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
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13 Easy Money Tips That Can Work for Anyone in 2025
13 Easy Money Tips That Can Work for Anyone in 2025
Marion Curtis/Starpix/Shutterstock / Shutterstock
To make extra money in 2025, you may feel like you’ll have to take on a bunch of side gigs or find a new job that earns a higher paycheck. However, you may just need to take the advice of someone who knows his way around a profit margin.
Up Next: 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money
Try This: 4 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money That Actually Work
Warren Buffett has a gift, and being one of the richest people in the world proves this over and over again. He may be the largest shareholder of the famous Berkshire Hathaway, but he still shares some of the most relatable money advice that anyone can use.
Buffett’s 60-plus-year career has left the personal finance world with some of its favorite quotes and most evergreen advice. Check it out below, and here’s some more too.
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
Buffett didn’t start with millions to invest or a social media platform to grow his wealth as an investing expert influencer. He describes his early days as “working with a tiny, tiny amount of money,” when he would choose a promising small company and invest in its growth.
He believes this freedom to choose small companies makes small-scale investing powerful. More importantly, anyone can follow this advice. Choose an affordable company you believe in, then wait for it to work its magic and make lots of money.
As Buffett said at the 2001 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, “I think if you’re working with a small amount of money, you can make very significant sums.”
Find Out: How Much Money Do Americans Have in Their Bank Accounts in 2025?
“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund.”
In this day and age, you can earn passive income from more than just **** sitting or affiliate marketing. You can work smarter, not harder, and learn some investing basics from the “Oracle of Omaha” himself. If you’re looking for the simplest way to invest, Buffett recommends the index fund.
Index funds are investments that track the return of a market index, representing a particular section of the stock market. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is one such example.
The S&P 500 includes 500 companies in various top-performing industries. Its broad representation means you’re not tying your funds to a tiny slice of the economy. Buffett likes it for everyday investors because it’s a simple yet effective way to spread your money around.
The relative low risk of this investment is backed by this famous Buffett quote: “The first rule of an investment is don’t lose [money]. And the second rule of an investment is don’t forget the first rule. And that’s all the rules there are.”
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“Put 10% of the cash in short-term government bonds.”
If you’re looking for investment strategies, why not do what Buffett does with his money? As Buffett told shareholders in 2013, he has instructed the administrator of his wife’s trust to split the funds 90/10: 90% in the S&P 500 and 10% in government bonds.
The U.S. government offers two types of bonds: treasury and savings. Treasury bonds cost a minimum of $100, while savings bonds cost $25 and up.
“Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.”
Knowledge is power when it comes to your money. You don’t need to know everything about the market or the industry you’re investing in via websites and apps. Most people would never be able to invest if that was a requirement.
You do need to understand the basics of how an investment works. You’ve already taken the first step by learning about index funds and bonds. If you have another investment interest, start researching it. You can always ask a financial advisor for help if you need it.
“The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. You need a temperament that neither derives great pleasure from being with the crowd or against the crowd.”
Buffett has never made investment decisions by following trends. He made billions by finding companies he believed in and holding his shares in them for as long as it made sense.
If you understand the products in your portfolio and why they’re smart, you don’t need to follow investment trends.
“When bills come due, only cash is legal tender. Don’t leave home without it.”
Buffett believes in his investments but knows the market can be volatile. In 2008, when its competitors were faltering, Berkshire thrived because it had plenty of access to cash.
That money was in cash equivalents, a short-term investment that you can cash in relatively quickly. Think of certificates of deposit and money market accounts, which you can open at most financial institutions.
One word of caution: CDs tend to charge fees if you withdraw early. There are always high-yield and traditional savings accounts if you need quick access.
“People should avoid using credit cards as a piggy bank to be raided.”
When a friend asked Buffett what to do with the money she came into, she likely expected investment advice. Instead, Buffett told her to pay off her credit cards.
As Buffett explained, credit cards have high interest rates. So before you start renting your car to advertisers, dog walking or taking online surveys for a few extra bucks, you may be able to free up some extra cash by getting out of a debt spiral.
“Price is what you pay; value is what you get.”
When Buffett gave his shareholders this advice in Berkshire’s 2008 annual letter, he quoted his old friend and mentor Ben Graham. Graham believed in choosing investments based on the target company’s value, not the stock price.
Sound familiar?
Buffett adopted Graham’s belief in buying based on a company’s worth. He determines that worth based on how much money the company will generate for shareholders down the line — not how much he’ll pay for it now. That advice applies to everything from Apple stock to iPhones.
It’s not about “how much will I pay?” but “what will it do for me?”
“Whether we’re talking about stocks or socks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.”
Buffett’s appreciation for value extends to a good deal. The less he can pay for a quality stock, the better. Quality is still the priority since it isn’t a good deal if it doesn’t benefit you down the road.
Any bargain hunter can take this advice to heart. You don’t have to buy cheap products to save money. You only need to find worthwhile products and buy them on *****.
“Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble.”
Buffett fans love this quote for a good reason. It’s an easy reminder that the market doesn’t usually present you with “perfect” conditions, so you need to watch out for them. These moments are when it “rains gold.”
When things look good, Buffett scoops up as many great-value stocks as he can. He still pays attention to stocks with long-term value, but he might spend more on them than usual. That’s what “put out the bucket” means.
“Don’t try and drive a 9,800-pound truck over a bridge that says, ‘Capacity: 10,000 pounds.’ Go down the road a little bit and find one that says, ‘Capacity: 15,000 pounds.’”
The margin of safety is the difference between a stock’s ***** price and its estimated value. That’s math you might not do as a beginning investor, but it’s valuable advice.
Suppose you have $1,000 left each month after paying your bills. You know investing has a higher potential return than a savings account, but you also know it’s riskier. You only have half a month’s worth of expenses in your savings, so you can’t afford that risk. You put the money in savings to increase your margin of safety.
“Games are won by players who focus on the playing field — not by those whose eyes are glued to the scoreboard.”
Buffett gave plenty of good advice in his 2013 shareholder letter, which included six basic rules of investing. This one is good news for everyday savers and investors. It means you don’t have to keep an eagle eye on stock prices — or even check them every day. You only need to keep a safe cushion and play the long game.
Not sure about the long game, either? That’s what brokers and advisors are for. You can even sign up online to work with a “robo-advisor,” which uses technology to manage your portfolio based on your goals.
“You don’t need to be an expert in order to achieve satisfactory investment returns. Keep things simple and don’t swing for the fences. When promised quick profits, respond with a quick ‘no.’”
This final quote encapsulates Buffett’s most important advice for beginning investors. With reasonable expectations and a portfolio that makes sense, given your experience level, you can do well for yourself. The key is to be the tortoise, not the hare. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes and trust the market’s slow and steady progress.
It worked for Buffett, and that’s an excellent endorsement.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Warren Buffett: 13 Easy Money Tips That Can Work for Anyone in 2025
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Samsung Slashes 70% Off the Newest Galaxy S25 Ultra, Free Galaxy Buds3 Pro as a Bonus – Gizmodo
Samsung Slashes 70% Off the Newest Galaxy S25 Ultra, Free Galaxy Buds3 Pro as a Bonus – Gizmodo
Samsung Slashes 70% Off the Newest Galaxy S25 Ultra, Free Galaxy Buds3 Pro as a Bonus GizmodoThe Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra isn’t so ‘ultra’ anymore The VergeSamsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra brings in the camera upgrade I’ve been waiting for – Apple should be taking notes TechRadarPre-order Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 Ultra and get up to $1,250 in savings USA TODAYI’ve tested every Samsung Galaxy S25 model – and my favorite isn’t the Ultra ZDNet
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Life-threatening flood warning after days-long deluge
Life-threatening flood warning after days-long deluge
Meteorologists have warned of life-threatening flooding and further heavy rainfall across northern Australia that could take totals to more than one metre.
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Sekiro’s Best Gameplay Feature Can Save Elder Scrolls 6
Sekiro’s Best Gameplay Feature Can Save Elder Scrolls 6
It’s been more than six years since Bethesda first announced that Elder Scrolls 6 is on its way. Many believe that 2025 will finally be the year when Bethesda drops some hints about the game, but that probably won’t be the case as the next Elder Scrolls 6 is still in early production.
Elder Scrolls 6 is still years away from release. (Image via Bethesda Game Studios)
Unfortunately, gamers aren’t really that excited about Elder Scrolls 6, considering what Todd Howard and his team did with the studio’s previous works, Fallout 76 and Starfield. However, Bethesda can still save the upcoming Elder Scrolls 6 game by directly bringing one of the best features we saw in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Elders Scrolls 6 must learn from FromSoftware’s best game
Every developer should study Sekiro’s gameplay and features. (Image via FromSoftware)
FromSoftware and Hidetaka Miyazaki have given us a ton of incredible games that are bound to go down in the history books. However, one of the most special pieces that has come out of the studio is undoubtedly Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Seriously, its gameplay and setting can’t be matched by the competition.
One of the best parts about Sekiro is the game‘s stealth mechanics. Sure, you might think that they’re simple, but at the end of the day, they’re effective and work. The game allows players to hunt for enemies quietly and properly plan their approach. Players are given tons of options, such as clinging to ledges, using grappling hooks, and whatnot.
While the game gives you tons of ways to sneak up on your enemies, it also punishes you hard if you get caught. Enemies will become aggressive, and escaping can prove to be a nightmare once you’re surrounded. Gamers must make quick decisions and approach the mission with the best plan.
With Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda can improve stealth mechanics by increasing its impact on the gameplay and making it more rewarding, just like Sekiro.
We could see enemies have better AI to detect enemies, and stealth missions play a massive role in the game’s overall narrative. We all know how terrible NPCs were in Skyrim, and that allowed gamers to trick them during stealth missions.
It’s high time for Bethesda and Todd Howard to learn from the best minds in the gaming industry and elevate the Elder Scrolls franchise.
Elder Scrolls franchise has a new title dropping soon
An Oblivion remake will satisfy the itch of Elder Scrolls players.
If you’re tired of waiting for Elder Scrolls 6, there’s some good news. Rumors suggest that Bethesda is breaking up the wait for the next mainline Elder Scrolls game by dropping an Oblivion remake later this year.
Originally, Oblivion was released all the way back in 2006, and it was the first Elder Scrolls entry to be released on Xbox 360. While it might not have reached the same heights as Skyrim, the RPG had a huge impact on the Elder Scrolls franchise and the genre as a whole.
The Oblivion remake is supposed to be released this year, with several reports suggesting it could hit the shelves as early as this spring. However, it’s quite shocking that Bethesda still hasn’t announced the game, considering it’s supposed to be right around the corner.
With that said, is there any other mechanic you would like to see in Elder Scrolls 6? Let us know in the comments below.
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Saturday schedule, TV info for NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium – NBC Sports
Saturday schedule, TV info for NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium – NBC Sports
Saturday schedule, TV info for NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium NBC SportsView Full Coverage on Google News
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Claims of ICE raids circulating in northeastern PA
Claims of ICE raids circulating in northeastern PA
(WBRE/WYOU) — As the federal ******** immigration raids continue around the country, there have been reports and social media posts that raids have been carried out in northeastern Pennsylvania.
People living in a Luzerne County neighborhood say they saw what appeared to be ICE agents taking a person into custody earlier this week.
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The 28/22 News I-Team went to that neighborhood Thursday.
The federal raids on undocumented immigrants continue around the nation since they were launched last week by the Trump administration.
28/22 News has been receiving numerous reports about raids being carried out in northeastern Pennsylvania.
We have been looking into reported ICE raids across the region, including the Poconos, Kingston, and Wilkes-Barre.
Thursday, we spoke to neighbors in a south Wilkes-Barre neighborhood who say they saw, who they believe were ICE agents, taking two men into custody.
People who live in the Barney Farms neighborhood of Wilkes-Barre tell the I-Team they witnessed a law enforcement presence early Monday morning along Gordon Avenue and Reliance Drive.
They saw, who they believe, were ICE agents taking two men into custody near a city ball field across from the Susquehanna River levee pump station, and there have been several social media posts along with photos showing a man being taken into custody.
We spoke to a woman who lives in Barney Farms; she did not want to be identified.
“It’s scary because they were supposed to target the criminals. I’m glad they are doing it. It is shocking to see it right down the street. I live in the neighborhood, but I’m glad they’re doing it,” said a Wilkes-Barre resident.
Other neighbors, who did not want to be interviewed, tell the I-Team they too saw, who they say were federal agents.
Congressman Dan Meuser (R) says he is closely monitoring the nationwide raids.
“As far as northeastern Pennsylvania, Andy, yeah I do think it’s going to have an affect in northeastern Pennsylvania. We know of various residences, if you will, perhaps employers who are taking advantage of those who are here illegally. I do expect that to be corrected,” explained Rep. Dan Meuser (R) 9th District.
People we spoke to in this Wilkes-Barre neighborhood say they just want to have peace of mind.
“If they’re criminals here, not U.S citizens, I’m glad they are taking care of them,” voiced a Wilkes-Barre resident.
28/22 News has reached out to ICE for comment, but we have not heard back.
Wilkes-Barre City Police and state police tell the I-Team they are unaware of the law enforcement activity in south Wilkes-Barre on Monday, and have not been involved in any ICE raids.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
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Trump readies order for steep tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, China – Reuters
Trump readies order for steep tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, China – Reuters
Trump readies order for steep tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, China ReutersThe latest on Trump’s presidency as tariff pledge comes due CNNTrump tariffs on Mexico and Canada could land this weekend. Here are some goods in the crosshairs The Associated PressTrump sketches unprecedented plan for sweeping tariffs The Washington Post
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AMD rumored to launch the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D alongside RDNA 4 GPUs in late March
AMD rumored to launch the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D alongside RDNA 4 GPUs in late March
Reports suggest that AMD will debut its 16-core and 12-core Ryzen 9000X3D CPUs in late March, coinciding with the launch of its Radeon RX 9000 series graphics cards. Citing internal sources, French hardware news website CowCotLand claims that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D are planned for release by the end of Q1, aligning with AMD’s provided release timeframe.
AMD revealed its high-core count Ryzen 9000X3D offerings at CES, boasting a 20% performance bump in gaming against Intel’s Core Ultra 200S (Arrow Lake) processors. There is no difference in the total cache size versus the last generation, as the chipmaker will continue offering the 3D V-Cache on a single CCD. However, AMD’s 2nd-generation V-Cache technology, which has the SRAM chiplet beneath the CCD, allows these chips to have a higher thermal headroom with a Tjmax of 95 degrees Celsius. This enables higher boost clocks, as seen with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D’s V-Cache equipped CCD suffered a hefty 500 MHz frequency penalty compared to the CCD without the X3D cache, which should be resolved with the changes to the stacking structure.
CowCotLand suggests that these processors will arrive by the end of next month. While the source doesn’t explicitly mention an expected timeline for RDNA 4, preliminary listings suggest RDNA 4 pre-orders start March 23. AMD will likely introduce the RX 9070 series first, followed by budget-friendly offerings later in the year. Given the hype behind AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which is practically impossible to find at MSRP anywhere, let’s hope supply for upcoming dual-CCD models is enough to keep up with demand.
Specifications for the RX 9070 XT and its non-XT counterpart have been leaked beforehand. The main highlight is that both GPUs are rumored to boast 16GB of memory, with the flagship RX 9070 XT allegedly trading blows with Nvidia’s RTX 4080 Super. Our testing suggests a 10% performance gap between the elusive RTX 5080 and RTX 4080 Super. While this is purely speculative, the RX 9070 XT is projected to be within 15-20% of the RTX 5080. The best part? The 9070 XT might be in stock, unlike the RTX 5080.
AMD seems to be planning two major launches next month. According to leaks, RDNA 4 looks good, so it makes sense that it would have a dedicated launch event. However, AMD has not yet announced any details.
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Hat-trick for Kiwi Wood with Forest in seventh heaven
Hat-trick for Kiwi Wood with Forest in seventh heaven
Prolific striker Chris Wood has scored a hat trick as Nottingham Forest routed Brighton 7-0 for the biggest-ever Premier League win for the unlikely title contenders.
Wood, the 33-year-old New Zealand international, took his tally to 17 goals in the best Premier League campaign of his late-blooming career on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (19) and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (18) have more goals this season.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams and Jota Silva also scored after an own-goal by Lewis Dunk set the ball rolling at the City Ground for third-place Forest, the surprise team in the English top-flight this season who moved level on 47 points with second-place Arsenal.
This thrashing came a week after Forest had been beaten heavily themselves, 5-0 at Bournemouth.
“What a difference a week can make,” Wood said. “Last week wasn’t us. Today was definitely us.”
Liverpool, six points clear having played two games fewer than Forest, were visiting in-form Bournemouth later.
Forest battled to avoid relegation last season but now have a great chance of qualifying for the Champions League, which would put the club back in Europe’s elite — where they were a generation ago under the great manager Brian Clough when winning the European Cup in 1979 and 1980.
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Shocking new details emerge in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex-trafficking case
Shocking new details emerge in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex-trafficking case
NEW YORK — New details have emerged in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking and racketeering case, with the music mogul now accused of dangling a victim over an apartment balcony and coercing two more women into commercial sex acts, according to a superseding federal indictment filed Thursday.
The superseding indictment doesn’t add any new charges against the music mogul, but prosecutors now say Diddy abused, threatened, trafficked and coerced his victims over the course of two decades, from 2004 to 2024.
Among the new details, the indictment claims Combs subjected one victim to horrifying abuse, including an incident in which he dangled her from an apartment balcony. The superseding indictment also adds the names of two additional victims, whose identities remain sealed.
Combs is accused of orchestrating the conspiracy in the case — filed in the Southern District of New York in September— alleging that the 55-year-old hip-hop icon kidnapped, drugged and at times trafficked them across state lines.
According to the indictment, the star “provided the victims with, among other things, monetary payments, career opportunities and payment of rent and housing expenses” and then threatened to take it away if they “resisted engaging in sex acts with Combs and, at times, with Combs and male commercial sex workers.”
He’s also accused of tracking his victims, monitoring their medical records, supplying them with drugs and preventing them from leaving Combs’ home or hotel rooms.
Prosecutors say Combs threatened the women with guns and violence to intimidate them into violent ******* performances he videotaped. In March, federal raids at his Miami and Beverly Hills mansions uncovered more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and drugs, among other supplies, which were reportedly intended for use in ******* known as “freak offs.”
Earlier this month, a woman filed a lawsuit in Manhattan against Combs, accusing him of raping her when she was 16 years old. It’s one of more than 30 similar lawsuits accusing him of heinous ******* assaults and other misconduct.
The former billionaire has been behind bars in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since September, when he was arrested for the horrifying conspiracy in New York. He’s been denied bail three times and is currently set to head to trial in May.
_____
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Three more Israeli hostages and dozens of ************ prisoners released – BBC.com
Three more Israeli hostages and dozens of ************ prisoners released – BBC.com
Three more Israeli hostages and dozens of ************ prisoners released BBC.comLive updates: US-Israeli citizen Keith Siegel freed in latest round of hostage releases CNNLIVE: Israel frees Palestinians after 3 captives released in Gaza Al Jazeera EnglishVideo American hostage and 2 others released ABC News
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The 30-year rate decreases for a full week
The 30-year rate decreases for a full week
Today marks a complete week of 30-year fixed mortgage rate decreases. According to Zillow, the average 30-year rate is currently 6.55%, which is down three basis points since yesterday and 19 basis points since this time last week.
Trump could enact his plan to impose tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico this weekend, which could have various effects on the U.S. economy — including increasing mortgage rates. With relatively low 30-year rates today, it could be a good time to lock in an interest rate.
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Have questions about buying, owning, or selling a house? Submit your question to Yahoo’s panel of Realtors using this Google form.
Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data:
30-year fixed: 6.55%
20-year fixed: 6.40%
15-year fixed: 5.88%
5/1 ARM: 6.84%
7/1 ARM: 7.09%
30-year VA: 5.99%
15-year VA: 5.40%
5/1 VA: 6.06%
Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth.
Learn more: 5 strategies for getting the lowest mortgage rates
These are today’s mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data:
30-year fixed: 6.59%
20-year fixed: 6.34%
15-year fixed: 5.89%
5/1 ARM: 7.02%
7/1 ARM: 6.81%
30-year VA: 5.95%
15-year VA: 5.59%
5/1 VA: 6.08%
30-year FHA: 6.49%
15-year FHA: 5.88%
Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth. Mortgage refinance rates are often higher than rates when you buy a house, although that’s not always the case.
This embedded content is not available in your region.
Use Yahoo Finance’s free mortgage calculator to see how various interest rates and term lengths will impact your monthly mortgage payment. It also shows how the home price and down payment amount play into things.
Our calculator includes homeowners insurance and property taxes in your monthly payment estimate. You even have the option to enter costs for private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowners’ association dues if those apply to you. These details result in a more accurate monthly payment estimate than if you simply calculated your mortgage principal and interest.
There are two main advantages to a 30-year fixed mortgage: Your payments are lower, and your monthly payments are predictable.
A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has relatively low monthly payments because you’re spreading your repayment out over a longer ******* of time than with, say, a 15-year mortgage. Your payments are predictable because, unlike with an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), your rate isn’t going to change from year to year. Most years, the only things that might affect your monthly payment are any changes to your homeowners insurance or property taxes.
The main disadvantage to 30-year fixed mortgage rates is mortgage interest — both in the short and long term.
A 30-year fixed term comes with a higher rate than a shorter fixed term, and it’s higher than the intro rate to a 30-year ARM. The higher your rate, the higher your monthly payment. You’ll also pay much more in interest over the life of your loan due to both the higher rate and the longer term.
The pros and cons of 15-year fixed mortgage rates are basically swapped from the 30-year rates. Yes, your monthly payments will still be predictable, but another advantage is that shorter terms come with lower interest rates. Not to mention, you’ll pay off your mortgage 15 years sooner. So you’ll save potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest over the course of your loan.
However, because you’re paying off the same amount in half the time, your monthly payments will be higher than if you choose a 30-year term.
Dig deeper: 15-year vs. 30-year mortgages
Adjustable-rate mortgages lock in your rate for a predetermined amount of time, then change it periodically. For example, with a 5/1 ARM, your rate stays the same for the first five years and then goes up or down once per year for the remaining 25 years.
The main advantage is that the introductory rate is usually lower than what you’ll get with a 30-year fixed rate, so your monthly payments will be lower. (Current average rates don’t necessarily reflect this, though — in some cases, fixed rates are actually lower. Talk to your lender before deciding between a fixed or adjustable rate.)
With an ARM, you have no idea what mortgage rates will be like once the intro-rate ******* ends, so you risk your rate increasing later. This could ultimately end up costing more, and your monthly payments are unpredictable from year to year.
But if you plan to move before the intro-rate ******* is over, you could reap the benefits of a low rate without risking a rate increase down the road.
Learn more: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgage
First of all, now is a relatively good time to buy a house compared to the last couple of years. Home prices aren’t spiking like they were during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you want or need to buy a house soon, you should feel pretty good about the current climate.
Also, mortgage rates aren’t predicted to fall drastically throughout 2025 like people were expecting a few months ago. So, now could be just as good a time to buy as in a couple of months from now.
Also, the best time to buy is typically whenever it makes sense for your stage of life. Trying to time the real estate market can be as futile as timing the stock market — buy when it’s the right time for you.
Read more: Which is more important, your home price or mortgage rate?
According to Zillow, the national average 30-year mortgage rate is 6.55% right now, after gradually falling for a full week. But keep in mind that averages can vary depending on where you live. For example, if you’re buying in a city with a high cost of living, rates could be higher.
Mortgage rates are expected to go down overall in 2025, though they probably won’t significantly drop anytime soon.
Mortgage rates have been inching up and down, but 30-year fixed rates have been steadily decreasing all week.
In many ways, securing a low mortgage refinance rate is similar to when you bought your home. Try to improve your credit score and lower your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Refinancing into a shorter term will also land you a lower rate, though your monthly mortgage payments will be higher.
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Congo health ministry says 773 bodies in Goma hospital morgues – Reuters
Congo health ministry says 773 bodies in Goma hospital morgues – Reuters
Congo health ministry says 773 bodies in Goma hospital morgues ReutersLife After a Rebel Takeover The New York TimesUN says more than 700 killed in just five days of fighting in DR Congo CNNCongolese army fights to repel Rwanda-backed rebels in fighting that has killed some 700 people Yahoo! Voices
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Meeting the 11-year-old collector who pulled the Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch: ‘I was shocked’
Meeting the 11-year-old collector who pulled the Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch: ‘I was shocked’
The father of the 11-year-old boy from Los Angeles who pulled the Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch autographed card thought it was either a checklist or a Topps promotional card. The kind of inserts typically thrown away.
The mother asked, “Who’s Paul Skenes?”
The boy knew.
He knew even through sleepy, crusty eyes around 6 a.m. on Christmas morning. And he knew the redemption card he pulled from the fifth pack of the one hobby box of 2024 Topps Chrome Update Series he received as his primary present was genuine.
The young collector described his emotions in a journal entry his mother encouraged him to write after finding one of the most sought-after cards in recent history in terms most parents have likely cringed hearing before: “My brain pooped.”
“I said, ‘So if you share this with the world, you really want to tell the world that your brain pooped?’” the father asked his gobsmacked son. “And he smiled and I think that was, to be honest, his favorite part,” the father said.
The Athletic spoke with the 11-year-old boy and his parents for an exclusive interview a week after Topps’ announcement that he redeemed the much-hunted Skenes card. The boy and his parents were granted anonymity because of fears of harassment for the 11-year-old who hit the card. It’s the same anonymous path the family has taken throughout the process, never publicizing their discovery themselves through social media and remaining incognito when deciding which auction house to use to sell the high-value card. The Athletic independently verified the identities of the boy and his parents by matching them to publicly available profiles and accounts. The Athletic has also had visual confirmation of the boy in possession of both the redemption card and the actual patch card prior to it being graded.
GO DEEPER
Pirates’ offer for Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch declined, card going to auction
A deliberate, guarded process embraced by Topps has brought scrutiny to the Fanatics-owned card company, Fanatics Collect (the company’s auction house the family chose to sell the Skenes card) and PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator, who graded the card) from conspiracy theorists thinking the story from every angle was concocted and orchestrated by Fanatics.
“There are definitely little things that we might have done differently,” Fanatics Collect CEO Mike Mahan said in a Thursday interview with The Athletic. “But look, given all of the various sensitivities around privacy and the (Los Angeles) wildfires, I’m not sure that there was a lot that we could have done differently. Are there some things that with perfect hindsight that we would do or not have done to dispel conspiracy theories? Yes. But I’m proud of the fact that we protected the anonymity of a father and an 11-year-old boy.
“If people want to be critical of that, so be it.”
The redemption card that the boy found in his hobby box. (Photo courtesy of the family)
The 11-year-old Shohei Ohtani fan presented his parents with a Christmas list in November: a 24-pack hobby box of the 2024 Topps Chrome Update Series. That’s it. That’s the list.
“You know you’re only going to have one thing under the tree,” the mother said. “And it was a hefty price. So he was like, ‘Yeah, that’s it.’”
Prices for boxes had been increasing through the months with the collecting world hunting for the set’s MLB Rookie Debut Patch one-of-one autographed cards. Skenes headlined as the biggest chase because his star power combined with the public bounty posted by the Pirates and Livvy Dunne, Skenes’ girlfriend, an LSU gymnast and social influencer. The parents scoured for a “semi-reasonable” price on a box after the cost soared from the original $210 tag. According to Waxstat, which tracks sealed box prices, the average price for a box is currently around $650. Boxes on eBay sold for around $515 on Thursday.
The family eventually purchased a box from online marketplace StockX. The boy wrote in his journal entry that the family paid $320 for the box.
“Then comes Christmas morning and I’m thinking there’s this one main thing we have, but we have some books or something,” the mother said. “But he just goes straight for the first present and opens it up.”
The boy opened three packs and stopped to allow his parents and his brother to open their gifts.
“Then on the fifth pack, it was there. I was shocked,” the boy said.
The actual MLB Debut Patch card wasn’t what was pulled. What he found was a thin redemption card with a picture of the actual card. Redemptions are used when a card isn’t autographed in time to be included in the product itself or as a way to protect particularly valuable cards from the potential damage of sitting in a package. The back provided the instructions on how to redeem the card from Topps.
“It wasn’t even on my mind that I would pull it,” the boy said. “I thought it would go to some big breaker (someone who opens boxes of cards online in large quantities and typically sells the contents by team or player).
“So I’m like, ‘Dad, I pulled the Paul Skenes.’ And he was like, ‘No you didn’t.’”
The father admitted his skepticism, having never seen a redemption card before.
“So then I put it under the light and it was like ‘Oh my God, I think this is real,’” the father said. “And I was immediately just kind of stupified, and then that went into excitement and then I was just kind of slackjawed.”
After coming to terms with the gravity of the potential value of the card, the family also realized what kind of exposure it would bring to their doorstep. So the father researched potential auction houses where the card could be sold, all while being as anonymous as possible.
Maintaining their privacy as the finders and sellers of the Skenes card was important for two reasons.
The family feared the media attention surrounding the potential seven-figure value of the card and associated bounties that became a national news story would be too much for the 11-year-old boy. Plus, the family felt publicly boasting the good fortune wouldn’t be appropriate given the tragedies their friends and many others endured through the recent Los Angeles wildfires.
“It’s been a really hard time in the community,” the mother said, tearing up. “It’s not the time to be walking around and saying, ‘I got the golden ticket.’”
The family evacuated from its Los Angeles area home twice because of the fires. The home sustained no damage, but the threat and upheaval caused a delay in the timeline of acquiring the card from Topps and choosing an auction house to sell it.
“There was a portion of time where we had to just kind of set aside what was happening with the card and deal with what was in front of our faces,” the father said.
The family took the steps to redeem the card shortly after pulling it on Christmas morning. The father said he contacted three auction houses: Robert Edwards Auctions, Heritage Auctions and Fanatics Collect. The family had its first contact with Fanatics Collect on Jan. 2.
Nineteen days later, Topps announced an 11-year-old collector pulled the Skenes card from a single hobby box. Three days after that, Topps announced the card would go to auction with Fanatics Collect, which will put the card up for ***** in March.
The Pirates made the most public pitch of them all at the onset of the set’s release, offering two season tickets behind home plate at PNC Park for 30 years and a host of other unique experiences and items. Plus, Dunne offered the card holder a chance to sit with her in a suite during a game if the person took the Pirates’ deal. The team maintained its bounty for the card once the news broke that it had been found.
The father said he thought the Pirates’ offer was “amazing” and “really cool,” but added it was geographically impossible to accept given the family lives in the Los Angeles area. The team publicly extended a visit to the boy and the family the same day it was announced the card would go to auction. The father said the family would be open to taking up the Pirates’ offer for a visit, but both parents expressed concerns about whether a visit could reveal their identity.
Once the identity, or lack thereof, of the person who pulled the card and where it would be auctioned off became news, the loud Internet chatter began, calling shenanigans on every aspect of the situation, with some calling it an inside job from Topps and others suggesting the journal entry was fabricated.
“An 11-year-old boy holds the card of the year that everybody’s talking about and everybody’s chasing,” Mahan said. “Something everyone unequivocally should celebrate and people are skeptical, and that skepticism doesn’t happen if it weren’t for years and years, and frankly decades, of neglect of the collector.”
Skenes pitches in his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on Saturday, May 11, 2024. MLB Debut Patch can be seen on his sleeve. (Photo: Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Mahan still doesn’t know the name of the boy who pulled the Skenes card, nor the names of his parents.
“In this case, you understandably had the highest profile card of the year, arguably, the century,” Mahan said. “You had a father of an 11-year-old son who wanted to remain private. … And we wanted to work that out with the father in a way that he felt comfortable with.”
Topps and Fanatics stayed true to that strategy despite the potential perception of the situation. For example, critics attacked Topps because in January boxes were being sold by entities for inflated prices compared to when the product first came out as it still seemed possible to pull the Skenes card even though it happened on Christmas.
“We didn’t sell anything during that time,” Mahan said. (Topps had sold out their inventory of the product by the time the Skenes card was pulled.) “And the other thing is when he called us, the circle on this was very tight. When you have the privacy of an 11-year-old boy at stake, that becomes the focus. … I’m the father of an 11-year-old boy myself. I understand that desire not only to keep it private, but to keep it insulated.”
Mahan said, though, he understands why some people expressed skepticism with the process.
“There’s a lot of collectors that want transparency and want communication and want integrity and want honesty and for years, they didn’t get it,” Mahan said. “And so now, all of that is pent up when something really extraordinary happens. … And so I understand why people are skeptical. I understand why people want Fanatics, as a big company comes in (to the hobby space), to prove it to them.”
The father said one of the company’s executives flew to Dallas and picked up the card from Topps headquarters, then flew back to Los Angeles the same day (Jan. 22) and brought the encased Skenes card to their house. The boy was able to hold the encased card and “gawk at it” until the next day. That’s when a Fanatics Collect representative took the card to PSA to have the card graded. It garnered a top score of 10 for card quality and 10 for the autograph quality. The grade also received scrutiny from critics who assumed PSA handed out a top grade because of the hype surrounding the card.
“I saw some chatter out there that of course the card got a 10!” PSA president Ryan Hoge said on the company’s podcast last week. “We’re not going to just grade a card a 10 because it’s an iconic card unless it was worthy of the grade. I mean, our grading, our graders have high standards, high integrity and it’s like we’re not going to just do that for that one card.”
After the dual 10 grades, the father said a Fanatics Collect representative flew with the card back to the East Coast, where it will be going through the marketing and auction process.
And as for the journal, the mother said she really wanted her 11-year-old son to be able to look back at this moment when he’s older and recall it with the same excitement as he’s living now.
“We come from a family of storytellers and I wanted him to tell his own story,” the mother said. “This is a story that you’ll remember forever and you’ll look back at it 30 years later and read it in his voice and his interpretation of what happened. And so I said, ‘I’d love for you to write it down.’”
The boy’s written account of pulling the Skenes card. (Photos courtesy of the family)
Of course, there’s the money element after the card is sold, likely for six to seven figures.
“Upon pulling it, he decided without any prompting from us, I mean this is almost within seconds of pulling it, he wanted to share the money with his (immediate) family and with his brother,” the father said. “So we’ve decided to split the money between him and his brother and we’re going to invest it for education. Also it’s going to help those in need from the fire (all of Fanatics’ earnings from the ***** will be donated to local charities for that cause).”
The mother added: “It’s one of those moments where, clearly, you’re better than all of us. That’s part of this whole experience, like that was his impulse.”
But maybe there’s some room for fun with at least a small portion of the *****.
“The first day he said, ‘I want to split it evenly with my brother for college education,’ and we were like, ‘Oh, we’re so proud of you, that’s so sweet,’” the mother said. “And then the next day he was quiet. He said, ‘Mom, um, do you think maybe it might be possible that I just take a little bit before we start saving for education and maybe buy some packs of cards?’”
Follow The Athletic’s regular, in-depth sports memorabilia and collectibles coverage here.
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(Lead illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Paul Skenes photo: Justin Berl / Getty Images)
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