Health Tips Line

I can sit here all day and count the reasons I love Costco, from the low prices to the food-court offerings to the sheer number of goods. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t call out the retailer’s lone red flag: super slow checkout lines. There are days when I actually extend my shopping trip, adding more stuff to my cart, just because I don’t want to face that gnarly line again too soon. Here’s the thing: If the Costco community banded together to share tips for breezing through checkout, we’d all save so much time . So let’s get into the intel we all need. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more shopping, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. How do the checkout lines at Costco work? If you’re a Costco newbie, the checkout lines at the warehouse may feel a little daunting. You’ll see Costco shoppers placing some items on the conveyor belt but keeping others in their carts for scanning. What gives? Generally, there are two employees stationed at eac...

There’s nothing like relaxing with a cocktail at the end of a long day, but enjoying a little tipple before lunch? Well, that may be reserved for college students trying a hair-of-the-dog hangover cure—and apparently royals who can do pretty much whatever they’d like because, well, they’re royalty! Believe it or not, it’s not Harry or William who indulged in these midday drinks back in the day but their grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II . That’s right—England’s longest-reigning monarch had a daily cocktail ritual, and who knows, maybe it contributed to her long life. After all, she did live to the ripe, old age of 96. But her pre-lunch imbibing wasn’t about boozing it up. (How undignified!) No, her favorite two-ingredient cocktail actually served a purpose that may surprise you. Read on to find out the reason for the queen’s midday drink and which cocktail she favored. You just may end up adding it to your favorites list too! Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newslett...

There are families who hike and others who read, but I’m from a household where games reigned supreme. We played loads of cards (Go Fish, Gin Rummy, Uno), and board games were set up on multiple surfaces. Our favorites were Sorry! and Clue, but on rainy weekend days, we always dug out Monopoly. Once my sibs and I were old enough, the beloved real estate game became a (friendly) battleground with our cousins and the neighborhood kids. Fast-forward to today, and my daughters still love it. And yet, everything that’s old can be made new again—and Monopoly is no exception. There’s a new way to play this classic board game, but are the changes actually for the better? Read on to see how the iconic wheeling-and-dealing pastime has been reimagined, and decide for yourself. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more news, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. What’s the new way to play Monopoly? The new way to play Monopoly involves a mobile app...

Everyone knows the importance of keeping sensitive personal information like your Social Security number under wraps. However, there are any number of savvy scammers out there trying to steal these precious digits, and Social Security scams are unfortunately more common than you might think. In 2024, there were 265,975 reported government fraud scams, with Social Security being the No. 1 government agency that scammers pretended to impersonate. Encountering these scams isn’t just nerve-racking—those who fall prey can be significantly impacted financially. According to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), government imposters scammed Americans out of $577 million as of November 2024. Knowing what scams to look for goes a long way toward protecting yourself against these fraudsters. Here are six common Social Security scams, along with expert tips for exactly how to spot them. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more scam news, humor, travel, tech an...

If you’re of a certain—let’s call it distinguished —age, you probably remember the good ol’ days of greeting your loved ones at the gate before waving them off for a flight. Even if you were born after 9/11 security restrictions went into effect, you’re likely aware that airport hellos and goodbyes used to look different. Just look at the dozens of Hollywood blockbusters portraying dramatic reunions and sendoffs at the gate . If you long for those halcyon days of air travel, you’re in luck. Select airports will now let you inside the terminal without a ticket so you can greet your loved ones at the gate or say an extended, emotional goodbye after getting through security . Keep reading to find out which airports offer visitor passes that allow you inside the terminal even without a plane ticket and what you need to do to secure your spot. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more travel, humor, tech and fun facts all week long. What does the pass allow you to ...