This Week’s Money Map:

• 💵 Google might owe you money (seriously!)

• 🤫 How the wealthy use insurance to get even richer

• ✈️ The travel hack you've never heard about

• 💉 How weight-loss drugs are changing life insurance underwriting

💵 Google might owe you money (seriously!)

Picture this: you’re grabbing mail — expecting bills and junk flyers — and instead you see a check. Not a scam. Not a sweepstakes. A real payout with Google’s name on it. That’s the reality right now for people filing claims in a multi-million dollar Google class action lawsuit.

What’s this about?
When big companies get caught breaking rules, courts often force them to create settlement funds. Regular folks like you and me can then file a claim and grab a slice. Google’s latest case? It’s tied to alleged privacy violations, including how it handled YouTube data from kids. If you or your children used YouTube during certain years, you could qualify for a payout from a $30 million settlement fund.

No lawyer. No courtroom. No suit and tie. You just fill out a form.

What you might pocket
Payouts vary. Sometimes it’s twenty bucks, sometimes a few hundred, sometimes more depending on how many people file. I know folks who’ve gotten surprise checks from past settlements — one swore a $347 payout covered their holiday shopping. I haven’t filed one myself yet (still kicking myself for missing out on a Facebook data settlement), but people I trust swear by the process.

And here’s the juicy part: there are dozens of active class actions right now, not just Google’s. Think bank fee refunds, cell phone carriers overcharging, even everyday products like snacks and household items. Some are “no proof required” settlements, meaning you don’t need receipts — just your word you bought or used the product. Easy money.

See if you qualify
This is the fun part. Go to Claim Depot. It’s like a bulletin board for active settlements. Scroll through and you’ll find Google’s case plus other current ones — some requiring proof, many that don’t. Click, skim the requirements, and file your claim.

If you’re lucky, you’ll qualify for multiple payouts. Maybe a few small checks add up to cover your Netflix bill for a year. Maybe you score one big one that pays for a weekend getaway. Either way, it beats letting that money rot in a settlement fund unclaimed.

Bottom line
You won’t get rich. But you can get paid. And there’s something satisfying about a big company cutting you a check instead of the other way around.

So don’t overthink it. Spend five minutes at Claim Depot and file a claim while the deadlines are still open. Worst case, nothing happens. Best case? Free money shows up in your mailbox.

🤫 How the wealthy use insurance to get even richer

Ever feel like the rules of money are just different for rich people? That’s because they are. The top 1% don’t just buy insurance for peace of mind, they use it as a secret wealth engine. And the wild part? Most of what they do is hiding in plain sight.

Life insurance as a private bank
For most families, life insurance equals a payout when you’re gone. For the wealthy, it’s a living, breathing financial tool. With permanent life policies like whole life or indexed universal life, they build tax-deferred cash value inside the policy. That money grows year after year, shielded from the IRS. Need cash? They borrow against it, often at lower rates than a bank loan. And when they pass, the death benefit still pays out to heirs tax-free.

Here’s the kicker: you don’t need millions to use this strategy. Plenty of middle-class families already use smaller policies as a “hidden savings account” for college tuition or retirement. It’s not in the glossy brochures, but it’s there if you ask.

How the rich legally sidestep taxes
High earners hate taxes, too. But instead of just griping, they use insurance as a shield. Cash-value life insurance policies can grow investments in a tax-sheltered bubble. Long-term care riders help them cover nursing home costs later without draining retirement funds. Even those “boring” annuities? They’re restructured to create tax-friendly income streams. They’re not cheating the IRS — they’re just playing by rules most people don’t even know exist.

The lawsuit shield everyone's sleeping on
Ever worry about what would happen if someone sued you after a car accident or a slip on your front porch? One judgment could wipe out your savings. The wealthy don’t lose sleep over it because they buy umbrella insurance. It stacks $1–5 million of extra liability coverage on top of your auto and homeowners policies. And here’s the jaw-dropper: it often costs less than a dinner out each month. Yet hardly anyone talks about it — outside the top earners, that is.

Playing the same game
The wealthy aren’t smarter, they’re just better informed. You don’t need a $5 million umbrella policy, but you do need to protect your paycheck, your house, and your car. You can scale their strategies down to your life.

So here’s your move: start asking the questions your insurer doesn’t expect. “Do you offer policies with cash value?” “How much would umbrella coverage cost for me?” “Are there riders that could save me later?” The wealthy ask these questions every year, and it’s a big reason their money stretches further. Now you know their secrets. The only question left is, what will you do with them?

✈️ The travel hack you've never heard about: Buying trips people can’t use

Ever wish you could grab someone else’s unused vacation and make it yours — for a fraction of the price? Turns out, you can. And it’s 100% legit. Thousands of people cancel trips every day. Flights, hotels, even full vacation packages go unused. Instead of losing money, many resell their reservations at a discount. If you’re quick, you can swoop in and snag those deals.

Where to find these hidden gems
A handful of website platforms are built for this. SpareFare, TransferTravel, Roomer, and PlansChange let travelers list their non-refundable reservations. You buy the booking, often at 30–70% off, and travel like it was yours from the start.

Think about it: someone’s canceled Vegas hotel weekend could become your mini-getaway. Or that family who had to ditch their Disney trip? Their tickets might be up for grabs.

Why you should jump on this right now
As of September 2025, cancellations are high. Prices for flights and hotels have been climbing, thanks to inflation and steady demand. Plus, we’re heading into fall, which is one of the cheapest times to travel anyway — fewer crowds, lower base prices. Combine that with unused end-of-summer reservations being dumped on these platforms, and you’ve got a recipe for crazy savings.

It’s not hype. It’s taking advantage of timing.

Insider tips to play it smart:

• Act fast — deals disappear quickly, sometimes within hours.

• Stay flexible — you might not get your exact dates, but if you can adjust, you’ll save big.

• Check transfer rules — airlines and hotels often allow name changes, but fees vary.

• Double-check reviews — make sure the seller and platform are legit before paying.

And here’s a bonus trick: if your discounted trip is short, you don’t need a full-year car rental policy. Some travelers grab temporary coverage instead. You can learn how in this guide to short-term car insurance. It’s a smart way to cover yourself without overpaying.

💉 Ozempic nation: How weight-loss drugs are changing life insurance underwriting

Thanks to the rise of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, ordinary folks and celebrities alike are shedding record pounds (and getting side effects from it). And now, life insurers are paying closer attention.

In the past, a higher BMI often meant higher premiums (or even rejections). But now? If you’re using prescription weight-loss meds under a doctor’s supervision, you might be getting better rates or at least avoiding a penalty. Here’s what to consider:

1. Heightened scrutiny
Insurers evaluate not just the medication, but why you're taking it. If it’s prescribed for obesity-related conditions like diabetes or hypertension, that could raise red flags. But if the drug has helped improve those conditions, it might actually work in your favor.

2. Waiting periods and stability checks
If you’ve recently started a weight-loss drug, insurers may delay approval to see if your weight stabilizes. They want to ensure the weight loss is sustainable and not masking other health risks.

3. Unknown long-term effects
Because GLP-1 drugs are relatively new, some insurers are cautious about potential long-term side effects, especially those related to cardiovascular health.

4. Rate impact
You can still get life insurance while taking these medications, but your premiums may be affected. Like any prescription, it becomes part of your overall risk profile.

In short, these drugs are prompting insurers to rethink traditional underwriting models. If you're using one, it’s smart to work with an agent who understands how to present your health story in the best light. MoneyGeek’s life insurance calculator can help estimate how much coverage you need at this time and in this economy.

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The MoneyGeek Team

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