New Tricks Tuesday · with Uncle Gus
The grandkids aren't the only ones who can work this stuff.
Every Tuesday, Uncle Gus sends you 5 easy tricks + 1 to get you thinking. The easy five put free AI helpers like ChatGPT to work on everyday things: bedtime stories, trip plans, scam checks, dinner ideas. The +1 is a little more advanced, for when you're ready to stretch. Step by step, in plain English.
- ✔ The easy five are always free
- ✔ No tech skills needed
- ✔ About 5 minutes a week
Get 5 easy tricks + 1 to get you thinking
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The easy five: what you'll be able to do
Here's what's in Issue #1. All five work on free AI plans. Tap any one to see exactly how, step by step.
Tell a bedtime story starring the grandkids
Their names, their dog, their favorite dinosaur, all in a brand-new story you can read on a video call.
Plan a trip around your knees, your budget, and your nap
A relaxed day-by-day plan with rest breaks and a list of places to call ahead.
Get a second opinion on a sketchy email
Paste it in and get the red flags, without clicking a single link.
Turn “what's in the fridge” into dinner
Three simple meals from what you already have, low-salt or easy-to-chew if you ask.
Finally understand that Medicare letter
Snap a photo and get it in plain English, starting with whether it's a bill at all.
Why you'll like it
Free to read, free to try
The newsletter is free, and the easy five always work on free AI plans. If the +1 Thinking Trick needs a paid plan, we say so up front, with the price and a free way to try it.
Plain English
No jargon and no talking down. Just numbered steps and a prompt you can copy with one tap.
Safety first
Every guide tells you what not to share, and when to check with a real professional.
About five minutes a week
Five quick, easy tricks and one to chew on. Try the one that fits your week, skip the rest.
Meet Uncle Gus
Uncle Gus is the friendly voice behind New Tricks Tuesday. His job is simple: poke at these AI gadgets first, figure out which buttons actually matter, and pass along the tricks worth your time, in plain English.
“Gus tried it so you don't have to.”
He's not selling anything, he won't drown you in jargon, and he'll never talk to you like you're five. If a trick has a catch, he'll tell you.
+1 to get you thinking
This week's Thinking Trick: Have AI Research Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap, With Sources
Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. Instead of wading through mailers, have an AI “deep research” tool spend 10 to 30 minutes reading official sources and write you a plain-English report comparing Medicare Advantage and Medigap for your situation, with links you can check. Then take it to a free Medicare counselor.
💡 Needs: ChatGPT Plus, about $20/month
Free way to try it: Gemini's Deep Research is on the free plan (with limits), and ChatGPT Free includes a little deep research too.
Questions folks ask
Is it really free?
Yes. The newsletter costs nothing, and the five easy tricks each week work on the free version of ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Copilot. The +1 Thinking Trick is a little more advanced and sometimes works best with a paid plan; when it does, we label it clearly with the plan name and price, and we tell you about any free way to try it. You never have to pay for anything to enjoy the newsletter.
Do I need a computer?
Nope. A smartphone or tablet works fine, using the free app or the web browser. A computer works too; use whatever you're comfortable with. ChatGPT and Gemini don't even need an account to get started.
Is AI safe to use?
Safe enough, with a little common sense. Don't share private numbers (Social Security, Medicare, bank), double-check health and money advice with a professional, and remember AI can sound sure and still be wrong. Also good to know: these companies may use your chats to improve their AI, and most let you turn that off in settings.
Will you sell my email?
No. We don't sell or rent your email address. The newsletter is delivered by Beehiiv, a newsletter service, and every email has an unsubscribe link at the bottom. One click and you're off the list, no hard feelings.
What if I get stuck?
Every how-to page has big numbered steps and a copy button for the prompt. And you can hit reply to any email and tell Uncle Gus where you got stuck. That helps make the next guides clearer.
Which free AI helper should I use?
You only need one. ChatGPT and Gemini work right away, no account needed (signing in just saves your history and unlocks a few extras). Claude and Copilot ask you to sign in with a free account before you can chat. Here's what each free plan really offers (checked October 13, 2026):
| AI helper | Type this into your browser | Free plan, honestly |
|---|---|---|
| Google Gemini | gemini.google.com | Free, and works without signing in. Signing in with a Google (Gmail) account is optional; it saves your chat history. Lets you attach photos, up to 10 per message. Google doesn't publish exact free limits; they refresh every few hours. |
| ChatGPT | chatgpt.com | Free, and works without signing in. A free account is optional; it saves your chats and unlocks extras like the read-aloud button. Unlimited everyday text chat, but only 3 file or photo uploads per day, and voice chat is limited (OpenAI doesn't say how many minutes). |
| Claude | claude.ai | Free, but you must sign in with a free account before you can chat. Photos and voice work on the free plan, but there's an overall usage cap that resets every 5 hours. |
| Microsoft Copilot | copilot.com | Free, but you must sign in with a free Microsoft, Google, or Apple account before you can chat. Microsoft has been redesigning the app, so screens may look different. |
Uncle Gus's three safety rules
- Never type or photograph your Social Security number, Medicare number, bank or credit card numbers, or passwords into an AI chat. Cover them up first.
- Double-check health and money advice with a real professional: your doctor, pharmacist, plan, bank, or accountant. AI is a helpful starting point, not the final word.
- AI can sound confident and still be wrong. If something seems off, ask it “Are you sure? How do you know?” and check another source.
Even more tricks
Ready for next Tuesday?
5 easy AI tricks + 1 to get you thinking, in your inbox every week. Takes about five minutes.
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