The Trump tariffs we’ve seen so far will increase costs for the average American household by about $4,900, according to an April analysis from The Budget Lab at Yale University. And as you’re forced to spend more money on daily luxuries, it’s all too easy to adjust to a new normal. I’ve previously covered how too many people overstate the impact of your morning iced coffee on your long-term finances—but at the same time, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of spending more money on an everyday basis, which can make it difficult to save for the future.

This “new normal” of spending money falls under the umbrella of something known as “lifestyle creep.” And given the current state of inflation and tariffs alike, now is not the time to let all your small luxuries blow your budget out of proportion. While you brace yourself for impact during the ongoing trade war, be prepared to continue to alter your personal shopping habits. Here’s what to know about the cost of lifestyle creep, and what you can do to avoid it.

What lifestyle creep is (and how to manage it)

Typically, “lifestyle creep” is the pattern of spending more money as you earn more money. But even if you aren’t making more money, given the state of inflation and tariffs, you may be slowly adjusting to a more expensive new normal.

And remember, luxury is relative; for many, lifestyle creep is the difference between living paycheck-to-paycheck and realizing you can comfortably order DoorDash multiple nights a week. Unfortunately, even small luxuries can add up. And when dealing with economic forces beyond your control, it’s best to reign in whatever inflated lifestyle costs you can control.

Make a budget and stick with it

The best budget is the one that works for you. There are plenty of popular options to try out, like the 50/20/30 method. Here’s how that breaks down, in broad strokes:

• 50% of your monthly spending goes toward essentials. Your home, your transportation, your food, etc.

• 20% of your monthly spending goes toward savings goals. You can also group debt payments into this category, since paying down debt helps you build savings later.

• 30% of your monthly spending goes toward everything else. That might include your gym membership, travel, gifts, and dining.

Unfortunately, there’s no one magic spreadsheet out there. It may take some trial and error to find one that makes sense for your personal situation. Here’s my guide to getting your budget started.

Become a more conscientious spender

Now that you’ve made a budget, it’s time to actually stick to it. One place to start is with your bank statements, reviewing whether all the things you’re spending money on are actually valuable to you (and not some subscription service you forgot about long ago). You might be surprised to find how many expenses you’ll be able to eliminate whether because they were unintentional or were motivated by stress.

A simple tip to avoid unnecessary purchases is to write down the things you want to buy before you buy them. When you read over items on this “to-buy list,” you’ll be able to make a more thoughtful decision as to what you really need.

Save money in a rainy day fund

A major symptom of lifestyle creep is failing to grow your emergency fund. If the amount you are saving has remained static even after an increase in your income, chances are you’re allocating that money to smaller lifestyle changes instead. Stay on top of how much you’re saving and make sure it’s rising with your earnings.

You’re still allowed to treat yourself

Living below your means doesn’t mean you need to live a life of austerity. Allow yourself to indulge occasionally in things that make you happy, especially if these indulgences improve your overall relationship with your money. It’s important to treat yourself thoughtfully. Ask yourself, “How do I expect this purchase will make me feel? What do I want it to make me feel? What feelings am I trying to avoid by buying it?” This might look like splurging on a family vacation, but cutting back on ordering take-out.

When you feel confident that you’re spending only on things you love and not wasting money on things you don’t love, you will make much better big financial decisions.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 might’ve made headlines for their heart-rate monitoring feature, but that’s actually their worst feature. These new earbuds, which came out in February, compete against the AirPods Pro 2, since they’re normally the same price. Right now, though, you can get Beats’ Powerbeats Pro 2 for $199.95 (originally $249.99) after their first major discount, according to price-tracking tools.

Beats waited five years to upgrade the Powerbeats Pro. For those who waited patiently for the new version (and now for a good discount), they’ll be rewarded with great workout earbuds, according to Beth Skwarecki’s review, for under $200. The new ear hooks are smaller, made out of nickel titanium alloy, making them flexible and durable. There are four sizes of eartips so you can get a tight seal to take advantage of the active noise-cancelling (ANC) and audio quality.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 are designed with working out in mind, which is why they’re IPX4 water resistant and have a physical button to control media (as opposed to touch control). The charging case now has wireless charging and is smaller than the previous generation’s gigantic case, but they’re still bigger than the AirPods Pro 2. You can stretch the battery life to 10 hours with ANC off and about eight hours with ANC on (about twice what you get with the AirPods Pro 2).

The H2 chip is the same one that comes in the AirPods Pro 2. The media pauses automatically when you take the earbuds off, and it has a heart rate monitor that underperforms on each earbud (you can read more about this in Beth’s article). Like a lot of other Beats products, there is no full EQ customization on the app, so you’ll be stuck with Beats’ punchy and bass-forward sound signature.

Starting this week, Google will start rolling out the ability for kids under the age of 13 to use Gemini on their own accounts. Both on the web and through the Gemini mobile app, kids will be able to use Google Gemini to help with their homework, create songs, draft poems, and more.

Parents started getting notified about the update towards the end of last week, according to an email seen by The New York Times and Chrome Unboxed. It makes a major change for the company, and a bold one, too. While parents will receive an email the first time their child uses Gemini, AI access is nonetheless being added as a default, rather than an opt-in. Google does encourage talking to your kids about what to expect from the AI, but if you’d rather go beyond that, you can, at least, opt out.

How Google Gemini for kids works

Kids under the age of 13 will, once the update rolls out out to them, have automatic access to Gemini AI using the Gemini website and Gemini apps for iPhone and Android. This also includes personal assistant features on Android, which are now handled by Gemini instead of Google Assistant.

Google does say that kids accounts will have filters in place, and restrictions to make sure that your kids don’t see anything that they aren’t supposed to. It also says that the release will be gradual, and some features may not be available in certain regions. But the company warns that parents should still practice vigilance.

Google suggests that you sit down with your kids to have a real, honest conversation about what AI is and how it works. According to Google, you should explain to your kids that Gemini isn’t a real person, that it can sometimes make things up, and to always cross-check Gemini’s work. Oh, and you should also tell them not to share any personal information with Gemini. All of this is solid advice not just for kids, but for anyone who uses AI tools.

How to disable access to Google Gemini for kids accounts

Google Gemini access can be disabled and controlled using Google Family Link, which is Google’s suite of parental controls.

First, go to the Family Link website or open the Family Link app. Then choose your Child’s account from the list.

Next, go to Controls > Gemini. Disable the Gemini Apps feature to keep your kid from being able to access Google’s AI on either the web or its mobile apps (at least using their own account).

If you’re looking to send personal messages securely, Signal is a great option. If you’re a government official discussing classified information? Not so much.

So is the case with Trump administration officials: Last month, we learned that highly sensitive war plans were being discussed in Signal group chats, after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to the conversation by then-U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. (Trump has since fired Waltz—and then nominated him to be U.N. ambassador.)

‘Signalgate’ continues

There are many reasons why the administration’s “Signal strategy” is problematic, but the issues didn’t end there. On Thursday, Reuters posted a photograph of Mike Waltz during a cabinet meeting at the White House. While there are plenty of important people in the photograph to pay attention to, 404 Media zeroed in on Waltz—specifically, his iPhone. The outlet spotted that Waltz had what appeared to be a thread opened with officials like Tulsi Gabbard (Director of National Intelligence), Marco Rubio (Secretary of State), and JD Vance (Vice President), with the PIN verification message that Signal will routinely send to users to keep their credentials fresh in their minds.

However, 404 Media spotted that this wasn’t Signal’s usual PIN verification pop-up: The message says “TM SGNL PIN,” which is the PIN verification screen for TeleMessage, a Signal “clone” that advertises itself as a way to archive your Signal messages. While the app claims it does not break Signal’s secure messaging system to archive messages, 404 Media reports that the service as advertised has many security vulnerabilities.

It didn’t take long for those vulnerabilities to manifest in disaster, either. On Sunday, 404 Media reported a hacker broke into TeleMessage’s networks and stole customer data. While the hacker didn’t take everything, they did obtain some DMs and group chats, in addition to data of modified versions of other chat apps, like WhatsApp, Telegram, and WeChat, all in about 15 to 20 minutes of hacking. 404 Media says the hacker did not access Waltz’ chats or the conversations of any cabinet members, but they did access government officials’ names and contact information, credentials to log into TeleMessage’s backend panel (the tool that lets TeleMessage admins manage the service), as well as information that points to which agencies might use TeleMessage.

Some of the stolen messages appeared to show a discussion about an ongoing effort to whip up votes in support of a cryptocurrency bill. One text read, “Just spoke to a D staffer on the senate side – 2 cosponsors (Alsobrooks and gillibrand) did not sign the opposition letter so they think the bill still has a good chance of passage the senate with 5 more Ds supporting it.” The hack didn’t expose classified information, but it did reveal political conversations that the senders likely never intended to be printed in the press.

Why is TeleMessage insecure?

To understand why TeleMessage is not a secure service—and why it is unbelievable that a government agency would rely on it for classified conversations—you need to understand what makes Signal secure.

Signal chats are end-to-end encrypted. That means when you talk to someone over the app, only you and the recipient can access the conversation. When you send a message, that text is encrypted in transit, and decrypted when it reaches the other user’s device. If someone were to intercept the message in transit, it would look like a scramble of code—only the devices of the people in the chat can decrypt the message and return it to a readable form.

Because of this setup, not even Signal can access your messages. No authority can compel Signal to release your messages, since the company itself doesn’t have access to the only thing that can decrypt the messages: your device. Even if someone hacked Signal’s database, they’d be out of luck.

TeleMessage, on the other hand, breaks that security chain. In order to archive those messages, TeleMessage must first intercept them as plain-text and store them. While the company says that they do so while maintaining security, the fact that this hacker was able to obtain DMs proves end-to-end encryption is broken. The stolen information was taken from data captured for “debugging purposes,” an unintended leak of decrypted data in TeleMessage’s security chain. It doesn’t matter if the service stores all messages in an encrypted archive: The company handles decrypted data in insecure ways, which leaves it open for hackers to access.

Even before the hack, 404 Media was skeptical of the service’s security, since they advertised archiving these “end-to-end encrypted” messages in Gmail, a platform that is infamously not end-to-end encrypted. (Though TeleMessage said the Gmail aspect was just for a “demo.”) The outlet also highlights how Signal does not guarantee the privacy and security of unofficial versions of their app.

Signal is great for personal use—not classified information

Signal—and other end-to-end encrypted services like it—are great for personal security. Your messages cannot be accessed by anyone without physical access to the trusted devices involved, which goes a long way toward protecting your digital privacy.

But encryption isn’t the only security concern here. There are still plenty of vulnerabilities and weak points when it comes to digital communication of any kind—end-to-end encryption included.

Hackers know that these messages can only be decrypted by the devices involved. So, a great way to break that security is to hack the devices themselves. Hackers use malware like “Pegasus” to silently stow away onto a target’s device and access sensitive data—encrypted data included.

Hackers routinely target high-profile individuals with this type of malware, so much so that Apple issues a regular warning to affected users. Waltz is no exception: In the view of Mike Casey, the former director of National Counterintelligence and Center, there’s a “zero percent chance that someone hasn’t tried to install Pegasus or some other spyware on [Mike Waltz’s] phone…he is one of the top five, probably, most targeted people in the world for espionage.”

Of course, that’s just the concern with your own personal device. You also have to worry about the other end of the conversation. If you’re chatting with someone over an encrypted chat app, and their phone is compromised, it doesn’t matter how secure you are: Your messages are vulnerable. They don’t even need to be hacked: They could leave their phone unlocked for anyone to pick up and access. And if you’re talking in group chats—like Trump administration officials have been—the security implications only multiply.

There is risk involved in all digital communication: It’s up to you to decide what risk level the data you’re transferring is worth. For most personal conversations, you’re probably just fine sticking with an encrypted service like Signal. If you’re discussing details that could put lives at risk, however, it might be best to keep it in the SCIF.

Full-screen message effects are among the most fun-to-use features in iMessage, and now they’re becoming a lot easier to use in Google Messages for Android, too. In the latest Google Messages beta, these full-screen effects will now automatically play for you (and your texting partner, if they’re also on the beta) when you send them certain emoji in Google Messages for Android. That makes them a bit easier to use than Apple’s version of this feature, which can only be triggered by certain phrases (eg: “Happy New Year”), or by long-pressing the send button and selecting the effect manually. Google had previously rolled out full-screen effects for certain phrases, but this time around, all you need to do is send one emoji to trigger them.

How to use Android’s full-screen message effects

At the moment, Google is still testing this new way to send full-screen message effects, which means you’ll have to become a beta tester for Google Messages in order to try them out. To do that, either follow this link or go to the Play Store page for Google Messages, tap Become a tester, and follow the on-screen instructions. Once you have the beta up and running, just send an applicable emoji to any of your contacts to trigger its corresponding full-screen effect. Message effects aren’t enabled for every single emoji, but they do work with quite a few commonly used ones, such as clap, sleep, party, etc. 

Note that you’ll need to limit your text to just one emoji to see the effect. If you send an emoji along with some text, or more than one emoji, it won’t work (prior versions of the feature required you to send two of the same emoji to trigger an effect, although I couldn’t make that work on the new beta). Personally, I quite like how these effects look. It’s like watching a short, animated video the moment you send an emoji, which makes for some really pleasing feedback.

How to turn off full-screen effects in Google Messages

Unless you find yourself frequently sending or receiving texts that only have a single emoji in them, these effects probably won’t pop up so frequently that you’ll need to turn them off. However, if they do start to annoy you, you can easily disable them. In Google Messages, tap the profile icon and select Settings. Disable Show expressive animations to stop seeing full-screen effects. 

I’m Lifehacker’s resident marathon runner and senior finance writer—and now, I’m merging my two worlds. While running requires minimal equipment compared to other activities, the right footwear can make or break your experience—and your budget. Let’s break down what various types of runners should expect to spend on shoes, which investments are worth it, and where you can save without compromising your running experience.

The casual beginner ($60-$90)

If you’re just starting out with one or two short runs per week, or mixing running with other forms of exercise, you don’t need to spend a fortune. Marketing will tempt you, but I promise, you shouldn’t have to go over $100.

What to look for: Simple cushioning, basic support, and comfort.

Worth investing in: A proper fitting. Even at discount retailers like DSW or Famous Footwear, find someone who can watch you walk or run to ensure you’re not severely overpronating.

Where to save: Last year’s models from major brands like Nike, Adidas, and Asics often hit the $60-90 range during clearance sales. The Asics Gel-Contend ($59.95) and Nike Revolution ($60-75) offer reliable performance at accessible price points.

What to avoid: Ultra-cheap generic athletic shoes under $40—these often lack the minimal cushioning and support needed even for casual running.

The practical enthusiast ($100-$140)

For those running three to four times weekly, totaling 10-20 miles, you’ll want something more substantial that balances price and performance.

What to look for: Good cushioning, modest stability features, and durability for at least 300-400 miles.

Worth investing in: One “do-everything” shoe from a reputable running brand. Popular options include the Brooks Ghost ($109.95), Saucony Ride ($139.95), or New Balance 880 ($139.99).

Where to save: Shop previous generation models or check running specialty stores’ clearance racks. Running warehouse websites frequently offer last season’s designs at significant discounts.

What to avoid: Premium racing shoes or highly specialized models—you’ll pay more for features you don’t need yet.

The dedicated athlete ($120-$160+)

These days, I find myself in this category. If you’re running 20+ miles weekly, training for half or full marathons, or hitting the track for speedwork, your footwear becomes a crucial training tool.

What to look for: Shoes specific to your running style, gait, and training needs.

Worth investing in: A professional fitting at a specialty running store. The $10-20 premium you might pay for shoes is offset by expert guidance preventing injury. Consider a rotation of two complementary shoes—a cushioned model for long runs (like the NUCLEO 2 at $160) and a lighter, responsive shoe for faster workouts (like the Saucony Kinvara at $119.95).

Where to save: Look for shoes with high mileage ratings (450-500+) to get more value per dollar. They might cost more upfront, but often outlast cheaper alternatives.

What to avoid: Buying solely based on looks or trends. That Instagram-famous shoe might not work for your specific running style.

The competitive racer ($160-$250+)

For serious competitors focused on performance, shoe technology becomes a legitimate competitive advantage. My word of advice: Don’t spend money like a competitive racer unless you’re confident this is your running identity.

What to look for: Race-specific shoes with carbon plates, specialized foams, and performance-oriented features.

Worth investing in: A proper “super shoe” for race day. The Nike Vaporfly/Alphafly ($250+), Saucony Endorphin Pro ($225), or Adidas Adios Pro ($249.90) can genuinely improve performance through energy return technology. Again: This science only matters once you’re running at true elite paces.

Where to save: Reserve these expensive shoes exclusively for races and key workouts. For daily training, use more durable, less expensive models.

What to avoid: Using these high-tech racing shoes for everyday training—they’ll wear out quickly and you’ll lose the “special” feeling on race day.

The minimalist ($80-$110)

If you prefer natural running with minimal interference between your foot and the ground, you can sometimes spend less—but not always.

What to look for: Low drop (difference between heel and forefoot height), flexible materials, wide toe box.

Worth investing in: Proper transition shoes if you’re new to minimalist running. The Altra Escalante ($99.99) or Topo Athletic Phantom 3 ($97.95) offer good value in this category.

Where to save: True minimalist shoes, like Xero Shoes, often cost less than traditional running shoes—but you have to be prepared to train as a borderline barefoot runner.

What to avoid: Ultra-cheap “barefoot-style” knockoffs that don’t actually provide the proper anatomical fit needed for safe minimalist running.

The trail runner ($130-$180)

While I don’t have as much personal experience here, I know off-road enthusiasts face different demands and usually require specialized footwear.

What to look for: Aggressive tread patterns, rock plates, durable uppers, and protective features.

Worth investing in: Good traction and protection. The Salomon Speedcross ($145) or Brooks Men’s Cascadia 18 Mountain Trail ($139.95) are popular for a reason—they prevent slips and protect against rocks and roots.

Where to save: Unless you’re exclusively a trail runner, one pair of trail shoes alongside your road shoes is sufficient. Many road shoes can handle light trails, eliminating the need for multiple specialized trail models.

What to avoid: Waterproof trail shoes unless you run in consistently cold, wet conditions—they’re more expensive and less breathable.

What’s never really worth it

Regardless of your running style, here are some features that I constantly see marketed, but in my opinion never justify a higher price tag:

1. Fashion collaborations: Designer-branded running shoes typically add $30-50 without performance benefits.

2. Gimmicky technology: Be skeptical of proprietary features that can’t be explained in simple terms.

3. “Smart” shoes: Shoes with smart tracking and embedded sensors are neat for about one day, but their value proposition can’t compete with a good running watch or app.

4. Limited edition designs: While they look cool, they function identically to standard versions. As a runner, I understand the temptation. As a personal finance writer, I cannot endorse this type of spending.

Where everyone can save

The right shoes aren’t just about performance—they’re injury prevention tools. Some money-saving strategies work across all runner types:

• Rotation to extend life: Using two pairs alternately can give each shoe time to decompress, allowing you to extend how long each pair lasts.

• Outlet shopping: Factory outlets for major brands often sell shoes at 30-40% below retail.

• Timing purchases: New models typically release annually, making previous versions excellent values.

• Running specialty store loyalty programs: Many offer discounts after multiple purchases or will price-match online retailers.

Remember that the most expensive shoe isn’t necessarily the best for you—it’s about finding the right match for your specific needs, gait, and running goals. A proper fitting at a specialty running store is worth the time investment, even if you eventually purchase elsewhere. For more, check out my round-up of the best running shoes on the market right now, according to the experts.

Even if you’re on top of your finances and never miss a payment, in the current economic climate, managing your bills can feel like swimming frantically and just keeping your head above water, with your paycheck evaporating before you even have a chance to appreciate it. If you’re on salary and get paid bi-weekly, however, there are two months out of the year in which you are paid three times instead of two—and May is one of those months.

Because your budget is probably based on getting paid twice per month, that thirdpay day can feel like a bonus—and it actually can serve you very well, if you play it smart. Here’s how to make the most of this month’s “extra” paycheck.

Don’t budget for it

Step one is to live your life like you only get paid 24 times every year. When setting up your budget and planning out your spending for the year (which you totally do…right?), you should pretend those two extra paychecks don’t exist. If you count them in your income, they’ll be absorbed into your everyday spending. That’s not necessarily a bad thing (and you have no choice, if your financial situation calls for it), but the benefit will be diluted. If you want those extra paychecks to feel like a bonus, start by forgetting all about them. Then when they roll in you, have a few smart ways to use them.

Put it into a savings account with interest

The most obvious smart way to use that third paycheck is to stash it in your savings—especially if you have a high-yield savings account (HYSA) you can dump it into. This puts that extra money to work for you, and gives you a little more breathing room during the rest of the year, or it can be put aside for future expenses like holiday shopping, a vacation you’ve planned, or a big purchase you know is coming up.

If you’re saving that third paycheck you need to have a plan for it. If you just leave it in your bank account there’s a risk it will just evaporate over time as you dip into it here and there when your budget gets a little busted. Again, using it to cover overages isn’t exactly a bad use of the money you earned, but it might not be the most impactful.

Invest it

A better option might be to invest the money. If you have retirement accounts, you can look into making extra contributions to help Future You have a more comfortable retirement plan. If you don’t have a retirement account, creating one with that extra paycheck could be the best thing you do all year—setting up an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is pretty easy, and if you make a habit of stuffing your third paychecks into that IRA every year you’ll be very glad you did. Alternatively, if you already have an investment portfolio you can apply that paycheck there and beef up your holdings.

Invest in yourself

Speaking of investment, don’t forget about investing in yourself. That bonus paycheck could be used to make your future brighter in several ways:

• Professional development. Using that extra money to earn a credential that can help you get promoted or find a better job can pay off in the long term without impacting your daily life.

• Deferred healthcare. If you’ve been holding off on dental work or some other form of big-ticket healthcare due to the cost, a third paycheck offers an opportunity to do some very necessary self-care.

• Lifestyle improvement. You could also use the bonus paycheck to pay for a gym membership or equipment to jump-start an exercise regimen that will pay off handsomely.

Start a business

A little extra cash can be used to launch a lucrative side hustle (many of these little businesses don’t require much—or any—startup cash) or small business. If you’ve had an idea for a service or product that you think could be turned into a money-making endeavor, that third paycheck might be all the startup capital you need to get it off the ground.

Create an emergency fund

Distinct from your general savings, an emergency fund protects you from unexpected disasters that would otherwise wipe out your savings and leave you in a terrible financial position. These include job loss, medical emergencies, and home repairs, any of which could spell doom if you’re not ready for them. Since we live in a world where 42% of Americans don’t have any sort of emergency fund at all, setting that extra paycheck aside specifically for that purpose is a very smart idea.

Pay down debt

You’re living in the world, which means you’re most likely carrying debt—it’s just a fact of modern life. If you have sufficient savings and an emergency fund, chipping away at your debt is a terrific use for an extra paycheck:

• Pay down credit cards. The interest rates credit cards charge can be insane, and if you’re paying just minimum payments each month it will take you a very, very long time to erase even a modest balance. A balloon payment thrown at the card charging the most interest can be a dramatic improvement in your financial outlook moving forward.

• Make an extra mortgage payment. If you have a mortgage on your house and the two third paychecks you get every month allows you to make two extra payments, you can literally shave years off your mortgage. For example, if you have a $300,000 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 6.75% interest, your principal and interest comes out to $1,946 per month. If you can throw 2 extra payments totaling $3,900 per year using your two third paychecks, you can shave 10 years off your mortgage term and save $145,000 in interest.

• Other debt. Any other kinds of debt you’re carrying can be reduced or eliminated, of course—student loan debt, personal loans, auto loans. As long as there’s no penalty for paying more than the monthly payment, you can whittle these down by applying that third paycheck.

It’s not often we get a break in this world. An extra paycheck is one of those times—but only if you make a plan to take advantage of it.

Apple has been under fire for several years after it was discovered that Siri violated user privacy, and the company earlier this year agreed to a $95 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit, which includes compensation for affected users. Eligible individuals can now apply for their share of the total.

The dispute centered on Siri-enabled devices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, HomePod, iPod touch, and Apple TV, which may have activated and recorded and shared private conversations without user knowledge.

If you qualify for the settlement class, you’ll receive $20 for each device claimed—up to five devices per individual for a total of $100—though it could be less if too many class members come forward.

Am I eligible for a Siri settlement payout?

The settlement covers Siri-enabled Apple devices purchased or owned between Sept. 17, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2024. If you can attest that your device accidentally triggered Siri during a private or confidential conversation, you’re eligible for a payout. Individuals can submit claims for up to five Siri devices.

The deadline to submit a claim is July 2, 2025, though it could take awhile to actually see any settlement cash. The court is scheduled to hold a final approval hearing on the case on August 1, and appeals after that meeting could delay payouts.

How to submit a Siri settlement claim

To claim your piece of the Siri settlement pie, you’ll need to submit a claim form online. If you received a personalized postcard or email about the suit containing a claim identification number (Notice ID) and confirmation code, you’ll use those to log into the site and begin the claims process.

If you didn’t get a notice but believe you are eligible, select New Claim. You’ll need to fill out some personal information—name, address, phone number, and email—as well as the email address attached to your Siri device(s). You’ll also need to either upload proof of purchase for each device you are claiming or provide the serial and model numbers. To finalize the form, select a payment option, complete the attestation statement, and hit Submit.

Alternatively, you can do nothing—or you can opt out of the settlement. You won’t receive any money in either situation, but with the latter, you retain your right to sue Apple in the future on claims related to this case. Instructions for requesting exclusion (also with a July 2 deadline) are detailed on the settlement page FAQ.