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Smart Home Basics: Starting Your Connected Home
Trivia: Which comedy series set a record by sweeping the major comedy categories at the 2020 Emmys?
RetireHub
October 14, 2025
Rise and shine, RetireHub community! ☀️ Your Tuesday newsletter is here!
Today we’re sharing smart tips on Smart Home Basics: Starting Your Connected Home, along with the best deals, fun trivia, and more!
Top Deals From Around The Web
We find the best daily online deals so you don’t have to!
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What We’re Reading
Get these e-book deals before they’re gone.
 | By: Hazel Smith A posh hotel, guests with secrets to hide and a mysterious dead body. Ivy’s new maid job plunges her into a thickening plot of revenge where she races against time with help from new friends & dear dog Monty to unmask the true culprit. |
On this day in 1947, Chuck Yeager made history by becoming the first person to break the sound barrier. Flying the experimental Bell X-1 aircraft—nicknamed Glamorous Glennis—Yeager reached speeds over 700 miles per hour at 45,000 feet above the Mojave Desert. His daring flight marked a turning point in aviation, paving the way for supersonic travel and the next generation of aerospace innovation.
Smart Home Basics: Starting Your Connected Home
Turning your home into a “smart home” may sound futuristic, but today’s technology makes it easier—and more affordable—than ever. Whether you’re looking to save energy, improve safety, or simply make life a little more convenient, a few connected devices can transform your daily routine.
A good place to begin is with smart plugs and bulbs. These are simple, inexpensive upgrades that can be controlled through your smartphone or voice assistant. Imagine turning off the lights from bed or scheduling lamps to come on automatically at sunset—small touches that make a big difference in comfort and security.
From there, you might explore smart thermostats, which learn your preferences and adjust the temperature to save energy while keeping you comfortable. Many models can be controlled remotely, so you can warm the house before you arrive or cool it down on a hot day—all with a quick tap on your phone.
Home safety is another popular starting point. Smart doorbells and cameras let you see who’s at your door and receive motion alerts in real time. Paired with smart locks, you can even grant access to trusted visitors or delivery people without having to be home. For peace of mind, smart smoke detectors and leak sensors can send instant notifications if something’s wrong, helping you act before a small issue becomes a big one.
Voice assistants—like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple’s Siri—can tie everything together. Once connected, you can control multiple devices with a simple voice command: “Turn on the porch light,” or “Set the thermostat to 72 degrees.” For those who prefer minimal tech fuss, these systems can make smart living feel effortless.
Of course, you don’t need to buy everything at once. The best approach is gradual: start with one or two devices that fit your needs and build from there. As you get comfortable, you can add new tools that make your home more energy-efficient, secure, and personalized.
A connected home isn’t just about gadgets—it’s about creating an environment that works for you. Whether you’re adjusting lighting to match your mood or checking in on your home while traveling, smart technology brings convenience and peace of mind into your daily life—one simple upgrade at a time.
What’s the First Smart Device You’d Add to Your Home? |
Yesterday’s Poll Results: What’s the Most Confusing Part of Medicare for You?
When it comes to Medicare, most readers agree—the choices can feel overwhelming. The biggest challenge by far was deciding between Medicare Advantage and Medigap, followed closely by trying to make sense of the alphabet soup of Parts A, B, C, and D. Others pointed to the difficulty of estimating yearly costs and choosing the right prescription plan. The takeaway? Medicare isn’t one-size-fits-all, and a little guidance can go a long way in turning confusion into confidence.
TOP COMMENTS
“Advantage sounds likes it affords more to its clients, when Medicare sounds like there are gaps in the plan.”
“Nothing really. I have never been to an actual SS office. I signed into MySocialSecurity a couple of years before turning 60 and have done everything online. It's really painless and has everything you need to take care of pretty much everything to do with SS.”
“ALL of it! It is very confusing! I am 63 and I have started reading about it and I am glad I still have 2 years to figure.”
“I had a Medicare specialist help me to understand and set me up.”
“My husband and I are 69 and 75 and are starting to have more dental procedures as we age. What would adding Dental coverage to our Medicare Plan cost? Right now we only have A and B.”
“We have some slight difficulties with all of them, particularly the comparison between all of the options. One covers something we need but doesn't cover something else we need and just the opposite with another. I still don't understand why chiropractic isn't covered.”
“I've had UnitedHealthCare for many years. It's gotten a bad reputation lately, but I've never had one bit of trouble from them.”
“Back when my parents were around, from 1960s to 1990, I thought once you get Medicare, Dental and Vision would be covered, including Special Dental surgery and Vision surgery w/little out of pocket! Not for ME! I am hearing and visually impaired and w/Fixed income, I cannot AFFORD surgeries! What do I do?”
Why the Assisted-Living Model Is Losing Ground—And Why Aging in Place Is Gaining Momentum
The idea that older adults will eventually move into assisted living is being challenged. Recent polling data shows that the majority of people over 50 would rather stay in their own homes than relocate to institutional care. The traditional model of assisted living is proving brittle, sustained largely by private-pay residents and stretched Medicaid systems, with too many communities underfunded, understaffed, or driven by inequality.
Rather than viewing assisted living as inevitable, many experts now see it as a model in decline. Facilities that cater to those who can pay thrive, complete with amenities and attentive care. But those relying on public funds often struggle with reduced services, staffing shortages, and diminished safety. The system is especially fragile because it depends heavily on low-wage care workers—many of whom lack benefits or security themselves.
In contrast, “aging in place”—remaining in your own home and community with the right supports—is emerging as a preferred and more sustainable path. With modifications like grab bars, no-step entries, smart lighting, and well-coordinated in-home care, people can maintain independence, dignity, and deeper social connections. Support networks such as “village models” and local volunteer groups are already helping supplement care where formal infrastructure is lacking.
The message is clear: aging in place isn’t just a sweet idea—it’s becoming a practical alternative to institutional living. Especially if communities, families, and policymakers invest now in infrastructure, home-based services, and fair wages for caregivers, the future of elder care could be more humane, more flexible, and more in tune with how people want to live their later years.
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Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: Sundae Mood
Meaning: A lighthearted expression describing the feeling of wanting to treat yourself or indulge in something sweet, comforting, or relaxing—much like enjoying an ice cream sundae on a carefree afternoon. It often implies self-kindness and taking a little break from stress.
In a sentence: “After finishing all her errands, Jean said she was in a sundae mood—ready to put her feet up, watch an old movie, and enjoy a little bowl of ice cream.”
Good News of the Day
Delicate Surgery in Miniature: Butterfly Wing Transplants to Life Online
A nature center in New York made headlines when wildlife rehabilitators performed an emergency wing transplant on an injured monarch butterfly. A donor wing from a deceased butterfly was carefully attached using contact cement, powdered starch, and tiny amounts of wire—an intricate procedure made possible because butterflies’ wings lack nerves and blood vessels. The entire delicate operation was livestreamed on social media, where it captured viral attention with millions watching in awe.
Rehabilitation staff believe this may be the first recorded butterfly wing transplant of its kind. The outcome was successful: the butterfly regained enough mobility to continue migration. The surgery has sparked calls from entomologists across the country, hoping to learn from the technique and explore its potential for saving other fragile insects in distress.
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RetireHub Trivia
Want more trivia? Play our “Nostalgia Trivia Game” on our site! We add fresh questions daily, so there’s always something new to test your knowledge.
Not into trivia? No worries! We’ve got plenty of other fun games to enjoy, like:
Which 1950s game show was at the center of the notorious quiz-show scandals involving Charles Van Doren? |
Who was the first African American to win an Academy Award (Best Supporting Actress, 1940)? |
Which comedy series set a record by sweeping the major comedy categories at the 2020 Emmys? |
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