Money Matters - Best Accounts for Students

With a new academic year about to start, WalletHub today released its editors’ picks for the Best Student Credit Cards and Best Student Checking Accounts of 2026, selected from 2,000+ offers. College students need to prepare for their financial future, and these types of accounts are essential building blocks.

Key Findings:

• Best Credit Card for Students: The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1 - 8% cash back on purchases, an initial bonus of $100 for spending $300 in the first three months, and no annual fee.
   
• Best Checking Account for Students: The SoFi Student Checking and Savings Account doesn't have overdraft fees, monthly fees, or a minimum deposit requirement. It also earns interest.
  
   

“Parents typically make sure their kids have all the clothing, bedding, toiletries and other staples that they need to live on campus for the semester, but they may not fully address the financial side of the preparations. It’s important for parents to help their college-age kids pick the right credit card and bank account before heading off to school, or shortly thereafter, because it will help ensure they’re not only covered in an emergency but also building both the skills and the credit history needed to thrive after graduation. Plus, the best student credit cards and checking accounts can help students save money, when that’s more important than ever.”

- John Kiernan, WalletHub Editor
 

 
 
More From WalletHub

• WalletHub Budgeting Tools
• Best Personal Loans for Students
• Best Credit Cards for People with No Credit
• Best Credit Cards for International Students
• Most & Least Financially Literate States
• Best & Worst Places to Start a Career

Consumer Critique - Lucent Globe Laundry Sheets

I recently had a chance to try out some of Lucent Globe's laundry detergent sheets, which are sustainable and practical. They're perfect for those living in apartments or dorms - much easier to store and carry to the laundry room than heavy detergent jugs, and even more convenient than powdered detergent. One sheet easily handled a full load in our washer, and I loved that the packaging was recyclable cardboard. There are no PFAS, bleach, phosphates, or dyes, so they're safe and suitable for people with sensitive skin.

They also come in some unique scents - fragrance free and lavender show up in other products, but ocean breeze and strawberries & cream don't. I was a little worried about trying the strawberry one - I didn't know if it would be sickeningly sweet or leave too much scent behind (since we typically use unscented). However, it was a pleasant, springy scent that wasn't too strong. The sheets were also perfect to be able to take along on a recent trip without leaking or taking up a lot of room.

Music Minute - An Acoustic Evening with Lacy J. Dalton (10/15, Nashville)

Singer-songwriter and country music outlaw Lacy J. Dalton is celebrating her 80th birthday. The celebration, An Acoustic Evening With Lacy J. Dalton and Friends, is a special Nashville event marking this once-in-a-lifetime milestone, taking place October 15th at 7:30 p.m. at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville, Tennessee. Joining Dalton for the intimate evening are Country Music Hall of Fame member Jimmy Fortune, David Frizzell, Terri Gibbs, Makenzie Phipps, Dale Poune, and Michelle Wright. This rare Nashville appearance will celebrate Dalton's remarkable career while benefiting her nonprofit, the Let 'em Run Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving, rescuing, and providing sanctuary and homes for America's wild horses and burros. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, with a limited number of VIP tables available for $125, which includes four seats. Sponsored by Mezek Films along with Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farms, the evening promises unforgettable music, stories, and special moments shared among friends while supporting a cause close to Dalton's heart.

To purchase tickets, visit HERE.

"I'm calling this my 'Not Dead Yet' Birthday Bash," shares Dalton. "I'll be 80 years old on October 13, and we are celebrating in a grand way on October 15th! I'm proud to have made it this far. Not everybody can say that! I'm incredibly thankful to all of my friends who are coming out to perform, and hey, you never know, there might be a surprise or two. I don't live in Nashville and only make it back every couple of years, so I want to officially announce that this will be my last Nashville performance... maybe... who knows... could be! I'm kidding!" 

Dalton is currently celebrating the 45th anniversary of her signature hit “Takin’ It Easy,” the title track from her third album of the same name with Columbia Records. Released in July 1981 as the lead single from the project, the song went on to become the highest-charting single of Dalton’s career, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Co-written by Dalton, Billy Sherrill, and Mark Sherrill, “Takin’ It Easy” helped define her distinctive blend of country, rock, and soulful storytelling, and remains one of her most enduring classics. 

To purchase/stream: lnk.to/TakinItEasy

About Lacy J. Dalton:
Lacy J. Dalton first captured the hearts of country music fans with her 1979 Top-20 hit "Crazy Blue Eyes." She became one of the most successful female vocalists of the 1980s, known for hits like "16th Avenue," "Takin’ It Easy," "Everybody Makes Mistakes," "Hard Times," "Hillbilly Girl With The Blues," and "Black Coffee." Dalton has shared the stage with legends such as Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Jr., Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, and George Jones. Her music continues to resonate with audiences, reflecting her status as a trailblazer in the genre.
 

Book Nook - Roger Rides Route 66

The stories of Roger the Elephant and his many companions in adventure are the brainchild of writer Pete “PJ” Phillips and his friend, illustrator Sara Jearally.  Dipping into any of these delightfully written and charmingly illustrated tales is a wonderful way to fuel your child’s creativity and love for reading.

Whether they are practicing their very first words, mastering spelling challenges, or splashing colour onto the pages with Roger the Elephant, these books blend education with endless entertainment. They’re perfect for curious minds and active hands over the summer, while also offering the ideal focus for wind-down time with cosy bedtime stories.

This year the creative team have taken their – and Roger the Elephant’s - love of adventure to a new level, with this road trip across America with his old friend Phileas Hogg.

 

Synopsis:

The “Roger the Elephant” books tell the tales and adventures of Roger and the friends he met as he travelled the world as the most famous circus elephant. Animals love performing for people but over the years people have realised maybe circus animals can have more fun in the wild with their friends and family So, all the circus animals like Roger are now retired from the circus.

 

Roger now spends his time spinning his antique globe to decide where to go and travelling around the world visiting the old friends he previously made and getting up to all sorts of mischief.

 

In this just-published adventure, Roger teams up with his old pal Phileas Hogg to travel the great American Highway Route 66. The book has been endorsed as part of the Route 66 centenary celebrations.

 

“The world of “Roger the Elephant” grew from my own desire for travel and adventure,” explains Roger’s creator, author PJ Phillips. “When planning a motorbike trip to Turkey with my friend and illustrator Sara Jearally, we created an imaginary friend to accompany me, and so we met Roger the Elephant. At the time we were creating a YouTube channel for the trip - “The Unconventional Retiree”- but soon Roger’s concept started to grow!”

He continues: “Roger the Elephant - "The World's Most Famous Circus Elephant" (now retired) - will be an ongoing series of children's picture books. We are releasing them first self- published via our publishing company Wondrous Books. But Bumblebee Books have the rights to two other books - “Roger Goes Home” and “Roger Visits Father Christmas” - both of which should be released this year.”

 

Pete and Sara are also delighted that their new book “Roger Rides Route 66 with Phileas Hogg” has been certified by the Route 66 Centennial Committee as part of the official one hundred years of Route 66 celebrations this year.

 

PJ and Sara have  big plans for the “Roger the Elephant” series, and interest from some exciting directions: “We are also working with a TV producer Bryan Taw via Voyage Media based in LA to create a “Roger the Elephant” children's TV show but obviously at present we are looking to promote the books first and foremost. We have also released three colouring-in and spelling books and “Roger the Elephant's Little Book of Fun Facts” as all our books will have a page of Fun Facts for children to enjoy.”

 

“Roger The Elephant Rides Route 66 with Phileas Hogg” is available now, click here to purchase: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1919068023

 

Young readers can follow along with “Roger the Elephant’ adventures here:

linktr.ee/rogercircuselephant

 

 

About the Author:
Pete Phillips was brought up in a small village in Scotland called Crossford close to Lanark. He always dreamed of traveling the world but says, “I never thought I would get to travel to over 40 countries.”

After turning 60, Pete decided an adventure was in order: “I bought a Voge R125 and learned to ride 4- four months later I was taking my A1 bike test on a 650. Two weeks later and two tests passed I bought my Voge DS900x and named her Jazzy Kasi. A month of learning to ride Kasi and I was ready to ride to Turkey!” he explains. “Fast forward I have been to Turkey and back and now Roger the Elephant has become a children's picture book series.”

Consumer Critique - S.NATURE

Founded after developing a formula while researching treatments for severe atopic dermatitis to provide relief for sensitive and compromised skin, S.NATURE was created to bring clinically inspired skincare beyond the lab and into everyday routines. Now, the brand's Aqua Squalane collection has earned recognition from Olive Young in Korea, and Hwahae, one of Korea's leading beauty review platforms, for its lightweight, glow-boosting squalane formulas. The collection is now available on Amazon.

I had a chance to see samples of a few items in the product line. I liked how they made my skin feel - or, more accurately, what I didn't feel. No greasy film or residue, no heavy or sticky feeling, just light moisturizing that was effective and easy to use!

Learn more: IG: @s.nature_global

What squalane does (TikTok)

Travel Tidbits - Side Trips

In Europe, often times, the main city gets booked first but then it's the side trip that actually makes the trip unforgettable - we recently experienced this for ourselves in Copenhagen. While we loved the city, our day trips to smaller areas (Stevns Klint, Helsingor, Dragør) were equally enjoyable.

From Paris: Skip the obvious Eiffel Tower postcard and send clients to Giverny, Monet's actual garden, the one that inspired the water lily paintings, or Versailles for the palace grounds most tourists rush through in an hour when it deserves a full day.

From London: The Cotswolds deliver the storybook English countryside clients picture in their heads, honey-colored stone villages, none of it more than two hours out. Bath adds Roman history and Georgian architecture in one easy add-on.

From Rome: Tivoli's Villa d'Este, with its cascading Renaissance fountains, is a short drive and a completely different pace from the Colosseum crowds. Ostia Antica gives ancient Rome without a single tour bus.

From Florence: A day in Chianti turns into vineyard lunches and hilltop towns like Siena, proof that Tuscany is bigger than one city.

From Barcelona: Montserrat's jagged mountain monastery is unlike anything in the city itself, and Girona's medieval old town has quietly become a favorite for clients who've already "done" Barcelona once.

From Amsterdam: The windmills of Zaanse Schans or the tulip fields of Keukenhof (seasonal) give clients the postcard Netherlands that the city alone can't deliver.

From Munich: Neuschwanstein Castle, the literal inspiration for Cinderella's castle, is close enough for a day trip and worth every minute of the drive.

From Vienna: The Wachau Valley's vineyards along the Danube, or a day trip to Salzburg, turn a city break into a proper regional exploration.

From Lisbon: Sintra's fairytale palaces, especially the candy-colored Pena Palace, sit in misty hills just thirty minutes away, and the coastal town of Cascais adds an easy beach-and-seafood afternoon.

From Nice: The hilltop villages of the French Riviera, Èze perched dramatically over the Mediterranean, or Monaco for a taste of glamour, are both close enough to fold into a single unforgettable day.

From Prague: Český Krumlov's medieval old town, wrapped in a bend of the Vltava River, feels like stepping into a smaller, quieter version of Prague itself, while Kutná Hora's famous Bone Church gives clients something genuinely unexpected.

From Valletta: The neighboring island of Gozo, reached by a short ferry, trades Malta's busier energy for the Azure Window's former dramatic coastline, quiet countryside, and the Ġgantija temples, older than Stonehenge.

From Dubrovnik: The Elaphiti Islands offer an easy boat-day escape from the Old Town crowds, and Montenegro's Bay of Kotor is close enough for a full-day cross-border adventure through fjord-like scenery.

Book Nook - The Preventioneers: Diseases, Disasters, and the Discoveries That Changed Our World

In medicine, the most powerful interventions often happen before disease ever appears. Yet across the US healthcare system, prevention consistently takes a back seat to treatment - leaving avoidable illness, outbreaks, and chronic disease to escalate before action is taken.

Preventive medicine physician and public health researcher Dr. Barry R. Davis says this disconnect reflects what he calls the “prevention gap” - the distance between what science already knows can prevent disease and what society actually implements.

“The challenge isn’t that we lack evidence,” Dr. Davis explains. “It’s that prevention requires acting before the damage is visible, and systems tend to reward responding to crises rather than preventing them.”

In his new book The Preventioneers: Diseases, Disasters, and the Discoveries That Changed Our World, Dr. Davis speaks to why adopting a true prevention mindset is essential to protecting public health and building a more resilient future, and why so many institutions struggle to do it.

Shopping Savings: FRESKO Hand Blenders

Most people do not need (or want) another bulky blender taking up space on their counters. They need a compact tool that can blend a smoothie in a glass, turn a pot of soup into a smooth purée, make sauces and dressings, or handle smaller kitchen tasks without requiring a full-size blender.

That is the appeal of FRESKO’s immersion blenders. They are handheld, easy to store, and designed to work directly in a pot, bowl, glass, or included container. The H9 also adds chopping and whisking attachments, giving shoppers several useful kitchen tools in one compact set.

FRESKO’s immersion blenders are currently on sale through August 23, with Amazon prices starting at $39.78 and savings of up to 44%:

FRESKO H7, $39.78, regularly $69.99: A 300W immersion blender with variable-speed control, an anti-scratch stainless-steel shaft, ergonomic grip, and detachable blending head.

Amazon | FRESKO

FRESKO H7-P, $44.99, regularly $79.99: Adds a pressure-sensitive speed trigger, titanium-coated blades, an anti-scratch blade guard, detachable shaft, and 700ml beaker.

Amazon| FRESKO

FRESKO H9, $59.99, regularly $89.99: A 4-in-1 set with an immersion blender, 24-ounce beaker, food chopper, and egg whisk.

Amazon | FRESKO

Dazzling Drinks - Cocktail and Mocktail Ideas from Owl's Brew

Female-founded beverage brand, Owl’s Brew, recently launched its new Functional Non-Alcoholic Mixers, making it easier than ever to shake up cocktail-bar-worthy drinks at home -- whether you're sipping spirit free, mixing low ABV or going all in on margarita season. From spicy margaritas and tropical piña coladas to refreshing spritzes and cosmos, Mixers deliver all the flavor and good stuff. Crafted with real fruit juice, tea, botanicals and functional ingredients like antioxidant-rich green tea, L-Theanine, vitamin C, and hibiscus, they're designed for consumers who want their cocktails and mocktails to work a little harder this summer.

 

Freshly launched and available on Amazon, the new line lets consumers create elevated cocktails or zero-proof serves in seconds - just add your favorite spirit or sparkling water. 

 

COCKTAILS:

 

Chai Pina Colada

• Ingredients:
• 2 parts Owl’s Brew Pineapple Coconut Mixer
• 1 part rum
• Instructions:
• Serve over ice, and garnish with pineapple slice

 

Habanero Spicy Margarita

• Ingredients:
• 2 parts Owl’s Brew Habanero Margarita Mixer
• 1 part tequila
• Fresh lime   
• Instructions:                                                               
• Combine Habanero Margarita Mixer, tequila and lime juice in a shaker with ice and shake
• Pour into a glass with fresh ice, and garnish with orange or lime wheel

 

Watermelon Margarita

• Ingredients:
• 2 parts Owl’s Brew Watermelon Margarita Mixer
• 1 part tequila
• Fresh lime             
• Instructions:                                                     
• Combine Watermelon Margarita Mixer, tequila and lime juice in a shaker with ice and shake
• Pour into a glass with fresh ice, and garnish with watermelon and/or lime wheel

 

Hibiscus Cosmo

• Ingredients:
• 1 part Owl’s Brew Hibiscus Cosmo Mixer
• 1 part vodka
• Instructions:
• Shake with ice and strain, and garnish with an orange twist

 

MOCKTAILS:

 

Wicked Chill

• Ingredients:
• 1 part Owl’s Brew Habanero Margarita Mixer
• 1 part seltzer
• Instructions:
• Swirl and serve over ice, and garnish with lime or orange wheel

 

Pineapple Coconut Crush

• Ingredients:
• 1 part Owl’s Brew Pineapple Coconut Mixer
• 1 part seltzer
• Instructions:
• Swirl and serve over ice

 

White Tea Watermelon Crush

• Ingredients:
• 1 part Owl’s Brew Watermelon Margarita Mixer
• 1 part seltzer
• Fresh mint
• Instructions:
• Swirl and serve over ice
• Muddle in fresh mint

 

Hibiscus Fizz

• Ingredients:
• 1 part Owl’s Brew Hibiscus Cosmo Mixer
• 1 part seltzer
• Fresh raspberries
• Instructions:
• Serve over ice, and garnish with fresh raspberries

 

• Learn more - Social: @theowlsbrew on IG and TT; #DrinkWise

Music Minute - Engelbert Humperdinck: Beth

Legendary singer Engelbert Humperdinck recently released his new single “Beth,” a stirring interpretation of the classic rock song by KISS, as part of the highly anticipated launch of his new album Faithfully via Cleopatra Records on August 28th. The project continues Humperdinck’s bold new chapter blending his timeless vocals with iconic rock material.

Engelbert will also make a special appearance at Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 11am PT celebrating the release of the new album Faithfully. The musical icon will meet and greet fans during the in-store event. Barnes & Noble is located at The Grove at 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, California 90036. To get tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1995388645152?aff=oddtdtcreator.

 

The appearance and the new single are in support of his new album Faithfully featuring Humperdinck’s interpretations of songs originally made famous by rock n’ roll bands Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Aerosmith and others, along with the original track “Always My Love.” The album includes guest appearances by an impressive roster of musicians, including Jonathan Cain, Rick Wakeman, Al Di Meola, Harvey Mandel, Ian Anderson and Eric Gales.

Media can reserve space to cover the event at The Grove by emailing or calling the press contact listed below. Interviews with Engelbert Humperdinck can also be scheduled.

 

Link to the single “Beth”:  https://orcd.co/engelberthumperdinck_beth

 

Link to the music video for “Beth”: https://youtu.be/0wqlPn1tp6I

 

Pre-Order CD: https://cleorecs.com/products/engelbert-humperdinck-faithfully-cd?_pos=9&_sid=1ab694d9c&_ss=r

 

Pre-Order VINYL LP: https://cleorecs.com/products/engelbert-humperdinck-faithfully-colored-vinyl-lp?_pos=11&_sid=1ab694d9c&_ss=r

 

Digital Pre-Save Link: https://orcd.co/eh_faithfully