It’s payback time for these conned customers. Amazon has begun sending automatic refunds to millions of eligible Prime customers as a result of the company’s $2. 5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the agency confirmed. The FTC accused Amazon of deceiving customers into signing up for Prime subscriptions while intentionally making it difficult to cancel. The settlement consists of $1 billion in civil penalties and $1. 5 billion going directly to eligible Prime subscribers, capped at $51 per person. The first wave of payments, which started being sent on Nov. 12, will be automatic and will be sent out through Dec. 24. The FTC said that customers should accept their refunds within 15 days of receiving them. As part of the agreement, Amazon must now provide customers with clear disclosures, get explicit consent for subscriptions, and require an easy cancellation process. “The Trump-Vance FTC made history and secured a record-breaking, monumental win for the millions of Americans who are tired of deceptive subscriptions that feel impossible to cancel,” FTC chair Andrew Ferguson said in a statement in September. “Amazon and our executives have always followed the law, and this settlement allows us to move forward and focus on innovating for customers,” Amazon spokesperson Mark Blafkin said in a statement at the time. “We work incredibly hard to make it clear and simple for customers to both sign up or cancel their Prime membership, and to offer substantial value for our many millions of loyal Prime members around the world.” Who qualifies for a refund in the Amazon settlement? Subscribers must have signed up for Prime between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025, to be eligible for a refund. Refunds will be issued in two waves. The first wave of refunds consists of subscribers who signed up for a Prime subscription through a “challenged enrollment flow” and haven’t used more than three Prime benefits, “the member would not have received if they were not a Prime member.” Challenged enrollment flows include “any version of the Universal Prime Decision Page, the Shipping Option Select Page, Prime Video enrollment flow, or the Single Page Checkout.” These customers do not need to submit claims and will receive a payment of $51 maximum, “the total amount of membership fees paid” during a subscription. The second wave of customers will have to fill out a form after the automatic payment period ends on Dec. 24 to receive payment. Amazon will send out a form to those eligible to make a claim, and they will have up to 180 days after receiving the form to submit it. Amazon will have up to 30 days to review the claims submitted and will then pay those with valid claims the total amount of Amazon Prime membership fees, up to $51. This group includes customers who signed up through a challenged enrollment flow or unsuccessfully attempted to cancel their memberships during the five-year period, and haven’t used more than 10 benefits during any 12 months of enrollment. An attempt to cancel is defined as “entering, but failing to complete, the online cancellation process” or “taking a Save Offer during the online cancellation process.” How to receive your refund Subscribers eligible for an automatic refund will receive an email about it and can collect the money through PayPal or Venmo. “Once you do not claim the PayPal or Venmo payment, Amazon will mail you a check to your default shipping address listed on your Prime subscription,” the agency explained, adding that customers should cash their checks within 60 days. The FTC said that those who are eligible but did not get an automatic refund should wait for further guidance in 2026. “In 2026, Amazon will begin its claims process for eligible Prime customers who didn’t get an automatic refund between November and December 2025.”.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/20/tech/how-to-get-a-cut-of-the-2-5b-amazon-settlement/
Tag: subscriptions
This couple left their jobs to travel 160,000 km across the world in their Land Rover
When 28-year-olds Nick Chazee and Mathilde Vougny packed up their belongings to travel the world three years ago, they chose to do it in an unconventional way — in their Land Rover.
Chazee, who was working at a technology startup, and Vougny at the United Nations, were already exposed to frequent work travel. But that did not abate their craving to explore even more.
“Anytime we had free time, we would go around and travel, even if it was just five hours away from home,” said Vougny. Their passion for travel made them realize that they wanted to do it full-time.
They thought, “Wouldn’t it be so cool if we could just keep driving and go to Turkey and then to Central Asia, and then all the way to Singapore… and do the whole world,” said Chazee.
### Financing the Trip
It took the couple nearly two years to save up the money to realize their dreams. Initially, the trip was completely self-funded, according to Chazee.
However, after they started documenting their travels on social media platforms, they began to rely on that income stream to fund their journeys. The couple admitted they had not intended to monetize their social media presence at the start.
“We’re already doing those videos, but it was for friends and family, so there was no pressure,” said Vougny.
They planned to stop their journey when finances ran out, but “the money started coming when we were doing it not for the money. We’re lucky,” Vougny told CNBC Travel.
Their expenses typically cover diesel and maintenance for the car, Wi-Fi, Netflix and music subscriptions, visas, and shipping containers to transport the car. These costs total an estimated $41,000 per year.
The couple saves on utility bills, rent, and avoids hotels, resulting in a lifestyle much cheaper than before they started traveling for a living.
Since Chazee and Vougny need to ship their car whenever they fly to another country, they try to save money by booking flights at the last minute. This strategy ensures they never have to reschedule a flight if their shipping plans are delayed, saving them considerable money, as shipment costs account for a large portion of their expenses — averaging around $6,000 per year.
Travelers who book shipments and flights in advance risk having to rebook flights with additional costs to accommodate unpredictable shipping schedules, Chazee explained.
“We literally buy the plane ticket the same day that we want to leave, so we pay maybe 10% more than what it cost two months ago, but at the end, we saved so much more.”
If shipping ever delays their car, they continue traveling by motorbike.
“We don’t take planes usually anywhere, unless it’s between our car and our motorbike,” said Chazee.
### Managing Daily Routines in Their Land Rover
Their Land Rover is well-equipped for life on the road. It features a 65-liter water tank refilled at fuel stations, a full-sized shower head, a dual-fuel stove system, and a 45-liter fridge.
Laundry is done every two weeks, either at public laundry machines or through third-party services.
“The car setup is perfect in many places, except for the heat,” said Chazee. “We use fans for the night when we sleep, but it’s still too hot sometimes, and so we’re sweating. It’s hard to sleep.”
On the other hand, when temperatures dropped to -15°C in Alaska, “we were inside in T-shirts and shorts because we had a diesel heater and a hot shower,” he added.
### Bittersweet Moments
In their three years of traveling in a Land Rover, the couple has experienced some rough bumps along the way.
One such moment occurred shortly after they shipped their Land Rover to Australia — a move that cost around $7,000.
“Five days after we started driving in Australia, the engine broke down entirely. Worst experience possible,” said Vougny.
After just 10 minutes, a local stopped to help. “We eventually spent 21 days at his home; he helped us fix the car. We were cooking for them, and they were cooking for us,” she recalled. “So even though I can’t recall it as a bad memory, it would totally qualify as a bad moment for us.”
Apart from mechanical challenges, being far from family meant they had to keep their car parked safely abroad while they returned home.
“But again, we’re lucky because of the community we built online,” said Vougny. “We have people in every country, and they’re always so welcoming. Usually, they take really good care of our home because if they follow our journey, they also know our car very well and care about it as much as we do.”
### Highlights on the Road
The couple has a little tradition: every time they enter a new country, they try to find a local from that country to stick the country’s flag on their car, said Vougny.
“And that was super nice because, you know, we tend to be scared of strangers, and yet he was scared of us. Eventually, we talked,” she shared. “For me, those small interactions are my best memories.”
Their car naturally draws attention, with its French license plate and a left-hand drive steering wheel.
“So when we go eat, we usually get a bit of chit-chat. You meet people,” Vougny said.
One of the highlights of their journey spanning over 160,000 kilometers is that more than 300 people worldwide have invited the couple into their homes.
“I save all of their names and their locations, so when we get to these countries, we write to them again,” said Chazee.
Despite what they thought would be exhausting constant travel, it has never worn them out, said Vougny.
Though they plan to end the trip in two years, there are already ideas for the future: “a new, bigger vehicle and travel to the continents that we really want to do again, or that we feel like we haven’t seen enough,” said Chazee.
Another possible plan is to set up a home base to welcome other travelers in the future and “give back what we received on this trip,” Vougny added.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/21/this-couple-left-their-jobs-to-travel-160000-km-across-the-world-in-their-land-rover.html
$58,000 A Year Is How Much An Hour? Best Tips To Maximize Your Earnings
**How Much Will I Earn in an Hour? Understanding a $58,000 Yearly Salary**
You might have asked yourself this question after seeing a job posting: *How much will I earn hourly?* You may also wonder how this translates to daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly earnings. Understanding these figures can help you plan your financial life smartly, especially if you are paid based on hours worked or need to manage overtime.
In this article, we’ll break down how much a $58,000 yearly salary is worth across various pay periods, outline typical tax deductions, and share useful tips on living comfortably on this income. Let’s get started!
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### $58,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour?
A $58,000 annual income translates to about **$27.88 or $28 per hour**.
Here’s how we calculate this:
– A standard workweek involves 40 hours (5 days × 8 hours/day)
– There are 52 workweeks in a year
**Total working hours in a year:**
40 hours/week × 52 weeks = **2,080 hours**
Now, divide the yearly salary by total working hours:
$58,000 ÷ 2,080 = **$27.88/hour**
If you work part-time, say 4 hours a day (half the time of a full-time schedule), your yearly pay would be halved to $29,000. You would then work about 1,040 hours yearly (4 hours/day × 5 days/week × 52 weeks). Even in this case, your hourly wage remains the same:
$29,000 ÷ 1,040 = **$27.88/hour**
—
### $58,000 a Year Is How Much After Taxes?
On a $58,000 yearly salary, you can expect to take home between **$45,138 and $48,035 after taxes**, depending on factors like:
– State of residence
– Civil status
– Federal and state tax brackets
– Other government deductions (Social Security, Medicare)
Example:
– In **California** (highest state tax), $58,000 gross becomes about $45,138 after taxes.
– In **Texas** (no state income tax), total taxes are around $9,965, leaving a net income of about $48,035.
For part-time workers earning $29,000 gross:
– California taxes approximately $4,742 → net income $24,258
– Texas taxes approximately $3,939 → net income $25,061
—
### $58,000 a Year Is How Much per Month?
A $58,000 annual salary gives you a **gross monthly income of about $4,833**:
$58,000 ÷ 12 months = **$4,833.33/month**
After taxes:
– California residents take home about **$3,761/month** (taxes approx. $1,072)
– Texas residents take home about **$4,003/month** (taxes approx. $830)
Part-time monthly gross pay would be approximately $2,416.50, with after-tax income around:
– California: $2,021
– Texas: $2,088
—
### $58,000 a Year Is How Much per Week?
Your weekly gross income on a $58,000 salary is:
$58,000 ÷ 52 weeks = **$1,115.38/week**
After taxes:
– California net weekly income: about **$868** (taxes $247)
– Texas net weekly income: about **$923** (taxes $192)
For part-time workers, weekly gross pay is roughly $558, with net income:
– California: $467
– Texas: $482
—
### $58,000 a Year Is How Much Biweekly?
Calculate biweekly pay by multiplying weekly pay by two:
$1,115 × 2 = **$2,230 biweekly gross**
After taxes for full-time:
– California take-home: approx. $1,736 (taxes $494)
– Texas take-home: approx. $1,847 (taxes $383)
Part-time biweekly gross is $1,115, with net pay:
– California: $868
– Texas: $923
—
### $58,000 a Year Is How Much per Day?
Based on the hourly rate of $28:
$28/hour × 8 hours/day = **$224 gross daily income**
After tax deductions:
– California: about $174 net per day (taxes ~$50)
– Texas: about $185 net per day (taxes ~$39)
For part-time working 4 hours/day ($112 gross):
– California net daily pay: $94 (taxes $18)
– Texas net daily pay: $97 (taxes $15)
—
### Tips for Living on $58,000 a Year
1. **Saving**
Aim to save 10%-15% of your salary monthly (about $483). This builds an emergency fund. Consider cashback apps like Rakuten, MyPoints, or Fetch Rewards to maximize savings.
2. **Investing**
Put 10%-15% of your income into stocks, real estate crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, or other investments. Platforms like M1 Finance, EstateGuru, and Mintos are good starting points.
3. **Avoiding Debt**
Avoid high-interest loans and borrowing whenever possible. Debt can quickly erode your earnings.
4. **Budgeting**
Create and stick to a budget. Allocate portions of your income toward essentials, savings, and entertainment to maintain control over spending.
5. **Cutting Expenses**
Ensure monthly expenses are covered before spending on entertainment or subscriptions. Consider using apps like Trim to manage subscriptions and save on bills.
6. **Engaging in Side Hustles**
Supplement your income with online surveys (Swagbucks, InboxDollars, Survey Junkie), pet sitting (Rover), freelancing (Fiverr, Upwork), selling items online, data entry, gaming, or gig economy jobs like DoorDash and Instacart.
—
### What Jobs Pay $58,000 a Year?
Several jobs offer around $58,000 annually, including:
– Real Estate Investment Trust Acquisition Analyst ($52,000 – $69,000)
– Copy Editor ($46,000 – $62,000)
– Restaurant Manager ($46,391 – $67,997)
– Dining Room Manager (~$58,980)
– Commercial Sales Consultant ($54,425 – $77,423)
– Social Media Digital Manager ($55,117 – $71,177)
– Internet and Floor Sales Associate (~$60,000)
Some roles may require experience to reach this salary level.
—
### Is $58,000 a Year a Good Salary?
Yes, $58,000 is considered a good salary, especially in states with tax rates between 15%-20% or lower. It supports living alone comfortably. However, raising a family on this income can be challenging, requiring careful budgeting and expense management.
—
### Can You Live on $58,000 a Year?
You can live on $58,000 per year, but lifestyle depends greatly on your location. Living expenses and taxes in high-cost states like New York or Washington may consume much of your income. Follow the tips above to optimize your finances.
—
### Frequently Asked Questions
**$58,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour?**
Approximately $28 per hour for full-time work.
**How Much Will I Take Home if I Earn $58,000?**
After average taxes (~25%), about $43,500 net income.
**What Is the Tax on $58,000 a Year?**
Varies by state. For example:
– New York: ~$13,040
– New Mexico: ~$12,218
– Texas (no state income tax): ~$9,965
**Is $58,000 a Year Considered Middle Class?**
Yes, according to Pew Research Center, middle-class income ranges from $46,000 to $126,000.
—
### Conclusion
Earning $58,000 per year (or about $28 per hour) allows for a comfortable lifestyle if you are mindful of taxes, living costs, and expenses. Living in states with low or no income tax will stretch your salary further.
By budgeting wisely, saving consistently, investing, and exploring additional income streams, you can maximize this salary and achieve your financial goals.
Take the first step today to better manage your income and secure your financial future!
—
**Related Articles:**
– Understanding Income in Different Pay Periods
– How to Budget on a Variable Income
– Maximizing Your Earnings Through Side Hustles
https://radicalfire.com/58000-a-year-is-how-much-an-hour/
