- RetireHub
- Posts
- Robot Vacuums: Silly or Helpful?
Robot Vacuums: Silly or Helpful?
Trivia: Why was Martha Stewart sent to prison?
RetireHub
October 08, 2024
Presented by…
As one of our earliest supporters, FreeBooksy is a personal favorite for a number of reasons:
1) They deliver hours of entertainment in the form of free, 5-star books every day.
2) No matter what genre you enjoy, FreeBooksy has it (romance, thriller, non-fiction, etc)
3) They believed in and supported RetireHub (and our members) before almost any other brand.
If you’re so inclined, you can sign up for their free newsletter below.
(Please support our sponsors — they help keep RetireHub going!)
Good morning from RetireHub,
Welcome back to Tech Tuesday. Robot vacuums seem so much like a gadget of the future, don’t they? Today we’ll be discussing if they’re worth it. Now, onto the usual deals, tips, and trivia.
An update on Hurricane Milton: Milton has been upgraded to a category 5 Hurricane. The latest models show a direct hit to the Tampa area in Florida. Please pay attention and follow all local guidelines regarding preparation or evacuation—storm surges could be catastrophic. See local guidance here.
Top Deals From Around The Web
Every day we look for the best online deals so you don’t have to.
On this day in 1996, wholesome lifestyle innovator Martha Stewart, known for her domestic tips, reported to a federal prison in West Virginia to begin her five-month sentence.
What was Martha Stewart sentenced for? Test your knowledge in our trivia at the end of the newsletter.
RetireHub Poll
How do you feel about robot vacuums? |
Robot Vacuums: Are they worth it?
The question is: how do you feel about vacuuming? Is this a chore you hate? Or is it one you struggle with physically?
Here are a few things to consider before buying a robot vacuum:
Robot vacuums aren’t quiet: You might think these things are quiet, given their sleek, futuristic design. But sucking up dirt requires some noise. Don’t expect quiet time while it’s running.
Robot vacuums can take a long time: With a decent cordless vacuum, doing a quick run around the living room or kitchen isn’t the longest task. But a robot vacuum trundles slowly along, reportedly taking 30-40 minutes per room.
Robot vacuums aren’t perfect cleaners: Most of them are round which presents an obvious problem: what about corners? Or tricky areas such as around the trash can? And if they miss a piece of lint, they don’t know they’ve missed it, so there the lint stays. You may find yourself catching what it missed—and wondering what’s the point?
Robot vacuums can’t move items out of the way: We all know that for a good vacuum, you have to move obstacles out of the way, such as chairs. No robot vacuum can do that. It also can’t move things like shoes, toys, or other things that end up on the floor. Which means you still have to get up to tidy those things out the way—often quickly, if you see the robot moving towards something.
Robot vacuums are generally expensive: Decent models are over $1000, quite a bit over in some cases. That’s a lot more than a high quality cordless vacuum.
Despite these things, robot vacuums can at least reduce the amount of manual cleaning you do, and some come with mop attachments that do a good job of hardwood floors. If budget isn’t an issue and you don’t like vacuuming, you could consider a robot vacuum. For all other situations, stick to regular non-robotic vacuums or hire a cleaner.
Yesterday’s Poll Results - What did you think of your heating costs last fall and winter?
📈 Over half (53%) of RetireHub Daily readers say their heating costs were higher than expected last year. Of those, a third (33%) said their bills were a lot more than they were expecting. 6% struggled to pay their heating costs.
Thank you to the many of you who vote and comment every day!
Our Favorite Comments:
“I find it difficult to predict heating costs with any accuracy so it’s always a bit of a surprise.”
“We have a pellet stove that heats our entire home!”
“I set my furnace between 65 and 68 degrees, so it was chilly. This kept the gas bill lower.”
“Cost of oil was at an all-time high.”
While we can’t publish them all, we do read and appreciate every comment. Some comments are edited to make room for more contributions.
WHAT WE’RE READING
Here’s a free downloadable book we think you’ll enjoy today! Limited time promotion.
 | Unnatural CausesBy T.E. Harkins Life in a retirement community can be murder! Madeline Delarouse suspects she may die of boredom when she moves into the luxury retirement community of Egret’s Loft…that is, until one of her new neighbors is murdered. Unnatural Causes is a “laugh out loud” whodunit that will keep you guessing! Price — $2.99 Free! |
Senior Living News From Around the Web
Are Your Cravings Controlling You?
When it comes to cravings, most of the women I work with tell me that they feel out of control around their problematic foods or beverages, and once they start, they just can’t stop.
As a Registered Dietitian, I could put my clients on a diet for weight loss. But I don’t. Because diets don’t work. If you’re using food as a coping tool, taking it away doesn’t fix the problem. In fact, it usually makes things worse.
Follow us on Social Media!
Join an online community thriving in retirement! Find us on:
Every day we post retirement tips, highlights from our newsletter so you can comment and discuss in the community, and some fun retirement-themed motivation!
Longevity Tip of the Day
Change Your Pillows—do you find yourself tossing and turning all night, or waking up with a stiff neck? The culprit could be your pillow. There are so many kinds of pillows out there, from soft to firm to springy, that you may have just not found the right one for you yet. Many bedding stores will let you try what a pillow feels like, but it’s hard to know until you sleep overnight with one—many companies now offer 100-day trials.
Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: “Amped”
Meaning: Are you ever feeling excited about a particular upcoming event? If so, you could describe yourself as “amped” or “amped up”.
In a sentence: “I am so amped for the second part of this final season of Yellowstone!”
Good News of the Day
Hero passenger lands plane after pilot passes out—NBC News
The one person you don’t want to pass out on a flight is the pilot, but that’s exactly what happened on this flight from Nevada to California after the pilot fell ill.
Thankfully, a heroic passenger was able to safely land the plane with guidance from air traffic control.
Other Publications We Like
Check out these other email newsletters we think you’ll enjoy!
RetireHub Trivia
Want more trivia? Try our brand new “Nostalgia Trivia Game” on our website! New questions daily!
What was Martha Stewart arrested and sent to federal prison for in 2004? |
What is the capital city of Arkansas? |
In the "Jurassic Park" franchise, what is the name of the company behind the technology that brought dinosaurs back from extinction? |
How was today's newsletter? |
(*RetireHub may receive affiliate compensation for links clicked within this newsletter)