Thursday and the last day of August already? Whew, time is flying by! Ever wonder how your smartphone knows the exact time of day? It uses one specific time zone. What is it? Keep reading till the end of this newsletter for that little nugget of knowledge!

💬 Always wanted to learn a new language? Lucky you! Babbel is our partner in today’s newsletter, and you can save a huge 60% with my special link. Supporting our sponsors supports this free newsletter, so thanks in advance! — Kim

I love when I get a press release that isn't more of the same bogus crap claiming, "This groundbreaking technology is going to change the world." Spoiler: It never will. 

Google Flights just published a truly useful research report about when to buy airline tickets to get the lowest fare. This covers all airlines and doesn't mean you must purchase your tickets through Google Flights. 

Here's everything you need to know, plus some extra tips to make sure you save big. Or share this with someone who travels around the holidays. Maybe they'll spend the cash they saved on your present. Nice.

Best time to book for Christmas

If you're planning a trip in mid-December, prepare to buy a ticket in early October. You'll pay the lowest if you book 71 days before departure, Google says. This is a big change from last year, when prices were the lowest 22 days before the departure date. 

• I did the math for you. If you want to head out the Friday before Christmas (Dec. 22), buy your ticket around Oct. 12. If you don’t mind flying on Christmas Day, book on Oct. 15.

Overall, the typical low-price range is now 54 to 78 days before takeoff.

One thing that hasn't changed compared to last year? A flight with a layover is cheaper than a direct flight. Weekday departures will save you cash, too.

Best time to book to Europe

Here's research for the savvy world traveler: The golden window for the lowest average prices is 72 days (or even more) before your preferred departure. As the calendar pages flip and you inch closer to that 10-week mark, brace yourself because those airfares tend to soar.

So, if you've got European dreams and a passport itching for a new stamp, jumping on those deals without delay is wise.

Now, research from the Komando brain

I've had my wings clipped since May, when I got my corneal transplant. (It's healing well, btw, and I get my stitches out in October.) Anyway, I usually go on at least four trips a year. I’m thinking of going to Prague to Czech it out. (I crack myself up sometimes!)

Here are a few tips I use to save money:

• Support small: Don't mind driving a little out of the way? Flights from bigger airports can be more expensive than the little guys. Include them in your holiday flight research to see if you can score some savings. 
• Be flexible: If your schedule allows, staying an extra day or two might get you the best deal. Change the dates around when you search to see when it’s cheapest to fly. Bonus points if you can work remotely or have extra vacation days to burn.
• Ship it: Baggage fees are ridiculous. Instead of trying to cram all the gifts into your luggage, ship them to loved ones instead. It's almost always cheaper than overweight luggage fees.
• Automate the process: No one has time to pop in and check flight prices constantly. Online flight trackers send you alerts when prices drop. Options include Google Flights, Kayak, Hopper, Going and Airfarewatchdog.

Pro tip: Ask your family to ship your gifts to avoid fees on your flight home. A well-meaning relative might not realize it'll cost you an arm and a leg to get your new Dutch oven home.

✈️🌍🎄 Whether you're dreaming of sipping mulled wine in a European Christmas market or joining in holiday festivities closer to home, the early bird doesn't just get the worm; in this case, it gets the best seat at the best rate!

Stop putting it off. If you’ve always wanted to learn another language, check out Babbel. Babbel’s lessons are taught by real language teachers — not AI. You’ll learn real-life phrases you can use in travel, business and relationships. Other apps teach you textbook talk you wouldn’t use in real life.

In just three weeks of daily lessons, you can start speaking Spanish, French, German, Danish or another language you’re interested in. All levels are welcome, even total beginners.

In just 10 minutes a day, take your language lessons — then try podcasts, games, videos and other methods to help you learn faster and make it fun.

Here’s a special discount: Babbel is offering 60% off for all Komando subscribers. Don’t miss out.

I told you so: NBC News spotted around 50 videos about Elon Musk’s new tech investment platform (there’s no such thing). The videos showed clips of Gayle King, Tucker Carlson and Bill Maher talking about it. These deepfake videos — where someone uses artificial intelligence (AI) to fabricate a famous person’s likeness — aren’t just a scary idea. They’re here, they work and you need to watch out.

Donald Trump is No. 2 on iTunes … sort of. A rap track featuring a deepfake voice of Trump has climbed to the second position on Apple’s rap chart and amassed nearly 3 million views on X. The creator, Hi-Rez the Rapper, identifies as "a radical freedom extremist." And just to be clear, this is not about my personal views of Trump; it's noteworthy to observe a former president's fake voice making waves in the digital music industry.

🥞 I pancake it anymore: It’s the weekend and you’re treating yourself to IHOP delivery for breakfast. Fear not if you’re stuck on what to order. IHOP says just log in and AI will scan your order history and recommend the perfect meal. Finally, a use for AI that makes total sense.

A real lifesaver: A 38-year-old woman and her dog were hiking in a Utah slot canyon when a flash flood washed them away. She pulled out her iPhone and used Apple’s Emergency SOS feature to send a distress signal. About eight minutes later, sheriff’s deputies were on the way. If you ever need it: When SOS is available, you’ll see it on your lock screen. Swipe to get help.

🏢 Show up or get out: Amazon’s CEO, Andy Jassy, told his employees to come into the office three days a week or they probably won’t be with the company for long. Btw, 30,000 Amazon employees signed a petition when told to return to the office in May. Other tech companies are cracking down on WFH, too, including Zoom — which is hilarious when you think about it.

I am so rizz: Gen Z's newest word is “rizz.” It’s that combination of confidence, charm and attractiveness that makes someone irresistible. Language-learning platform Preply says rizz, sus (short for suspicious) and bet (an affirmation, as in “I agree”) are the most common slang terms parents are hearing this year.

Hold on a moon-ute: The Gemini North Telescope in Hawaii and Gemini South Telescope in Chile were hacked. The National Science Foundation says it happened on Aug. 1 and they’re working with cybersecurity experts to get the telescopes and their websites up and running again. Word on the street is space-related innovation is a hot target for foreign spies and hackers.

Got a few spare minutes during your drive? Or maybe you're chilling at home? Sounds like the perfect time to tune in to The Kim Komando Show podcast!

I keep it real, breaking down the latest tech trends, cybersecurity tips and gadget reviews into snack-sized, easy-to-understand episodes.

👉 Download an episode today!

Rule of thumb: Don't Google "coupons." You'll most likely end up on junk sites trying to get you to click an ad. 

That said, CouponFollow found typical households could save over $300 on things they’re already buying at the grocery store just by using coupons. So, how do you find legit deals?

Pro tip: Download your grocery store's app for the best possible prices. No one says you have to use your real email address and phone number if you're not into the data collection.

You can also check out Upside.* (They're a sponsor of my podcast because I think their service rocks!) Upside gets you cash back on groceries, gas and more.

While you’re at it …

Compare costs. Maybe you default to one store because it's right around the corner when you could pay 15% less by driving another few miles. Some stores simply have better deals on certain items.

Pro tip: Flipp compares prices so you don't have to. Type in what you're looking for and your address, city or ZIP code to find sales near you. Love that.

Buying in bulk? Here are five ways to get more out of your Costco or Sam’s Club membership.

There’s a new butcher at my local grocery store. The manager introduced me. He said, “Kim, meet Patty!”

Most of us have ditched those ear-piercing fax tones for email or DocuSign — but there are still times when you need to fax something. Don’t have a machine? Try this:

• Sign up with an email-to-fax service like eFax or HelloFax.
• Pop in your email address, compose an email and address it to the recipient's fax number, followed by the fax service's domain.
• Attach the document you want to fax, write a cover letter if you want and hit Send.

Boom, that’s a fax well sent. Tomorrow, I’ll share how to hail a carrier pigeon online. Kidding!

Kids exploring ancient ruins, marveling at the mysteries of a bygone civilization.

🕰️ The answer: Smartphones connect to atomic clock servers synchronized to the international standard of Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT. I once toured the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, U.K. As a geek, I was totally enthralled with the place. You should see it someday, too!

Put your time to good use and pick up Dutch, Spanish, Japanese — whatever language you’ve been meaning to learn all these years. Try Babbel and save 60% with my link. Thanks for getting tech-smart with me. It’s a ton of fun! — Kim