Affordability Reporter at The News & Observer. TCU alumna 🤠. Say hi: rumsted@newsobserver.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mw56ajp6tk23I'm leading Triangle Saver, @newsobserver.com's newest Facebook group focused on affordability and consumer news. Join us! https://www.facebook.com/groups/104378563870525922 Sep 2026 21:28 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw56ajp6tk23https://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mt2rxdkrjk26@newsobserver.com visual journalist Robert Willett and I visited NC State this week to chat with some new students and their families about what they spent on dorm decorations and furnishings. Here's a glimpse into move-in day. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316869059.html14 Aug 2026 18:27 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt2rxdkrjk26https://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3msgxdmxeps2d“I realized that the more I invest, the more that I can have the financial freedom to pursue the activities and the hobbies that I enjoy,” North Carolina native Mary Esposito said. Read more about this 23-year-old investor: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316701047.html?giftCode=c63be12a5cfcd39447b3b8ab31813f8e301352a76cb9728c58f7456cde451b5106 Aug 2026 21:11 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3msgxdmxeps2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mrfmrpmlgs2qHomeShare Durham is trying to get off the ground, but it needs help from the community. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316577746.html24 Jul 2026 15:04 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrfmrpmlgs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mqn3ikx2yk2eIt's only mid-July, but stores have already started advertising back-to-school sales. Families may spend more than $900 on things like clothes & technology, according to a new poll. Some may find relief in the form of tax-free weekends. Not so in NC. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316495957.html14 Jul 2026 20:50 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqn3ikx2yk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mq57xsntlk2nThe new report also gives county-level data on how many households are ALICE households or in poverty. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Jul 2026 13:28 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq57xsntlk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mpjmmwtgfc2mI was surprised by how thorough the simulation was. Teens were even offered the opportunity to have a will drafted. [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Jun 2026 18:21 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpjmmwtgfc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3moqkzqa7tc2kDid you make it to the Canes parade and rally today? My @newsobserver.com colleagues and I did. Here's what you missed. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article316195564.html20 Jun 2026 19:16 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3moqkzqa7tc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3moidd7kprk2mThis week, I tried an app that offers discounted "surprise bags" from local grocery stores and restaurants. Here's what I got. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316131340.html17 Jun 2026 12:37 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3moidd7kprk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mncvwhsl3c22Canes season ticket holders had early access to purchase tickets to the Stanley Cup Final games. But some still struggled to get them. My latest for @newsobserver.com https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article315962767.html02 Jun 2026 15:29 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mncvwhsl3c22https://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mmwbzia3ck2jAn Indiana-based company was accused in a lawsuit of contributing to high prices of meats including chicken and turkey for NC shoppers. A settlement was recently announced. Here's what to know about it. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article315895441.html28 May 2026 15:00 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmwbzia3ck2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mmry63xs522uIf you fill up at Sheetz, you might have seen the Unleaded 88 gas. It's usually priced lower than the regular unleaded. Here's what to know about it. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article315800126.html26 May 2026 21:53 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmry63xs522uhttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mm5lc4ftos2eState inspectors make sure gas pumps across North Carolina are functioning properly, checking things like meters, displays and hoses. Between March and early May, inspectors found issues at pumps at more than 12 gas stations in the Triangle. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315795687.html18 May 2026 19:10 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm5lc4ftos2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mm4wkv36dc2cIf you're going to a Canes game, you might want to budget for parking, and not just the tickets, beer and snacks. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315644835.html18 May 2026 12:59 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm4wkv36dc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mlldag6bss2lOn Thursday, I attended a roundtable to hear from several Triangle-area businesses and nonprofits about how high fuel prices are affecting them. Here's what they had to say. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article315658227.html11 May 2026 12:58 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlldag6bss2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mlekjzgsas2pWe're all dealing with high gas prices. These apps can help you find better deals. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315630686.html08 May 2026 20:20 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlekjzgsas2phttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mksvlmu56s26Today's my last day on the Service Journalism team @newsobserver.com. Next week, I'm starting as the Affordability Reporter, covering what it costs to live in the Triangle. There's a lot to explore, including housing, transportation and healthcare, but I'm excited to dig in.01 May 2026 19:50 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mksvlmu56s26https://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mj3mjuemz22vDo you live in the Triangle? Does your grocery list include soda, chicken breasts, berries, bread or cereal? If so, this is for you. My latest for @newsobserver.com https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article315345089.html09 Apr 2026 20:11 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj3mjuemz22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/reneeumsted.bsky.social/post/3mg3m3px43c2fPublic broadcasters lost federal funding last year. For @newsobserver.com, I checked in with a few stations in North Carolina to learn how they're coping. https://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/tv-movies/warm-tv-blog/article314736740.html02 Mar 2026 15:48 +0000at://did:plc:6odcst5m7eteye6cxfwlevbc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3m3px43c2f