The Know Daily - Thursday 20 August 2026

_{Read in 4m 13s ∙ Listening to Tyler Rich ∙}

Zion National Park is making its trails more accessible, becoming the first US national park to offer an all-terrain wheelchair for visitors to use for free. Donated through the nonprofit 2Live4, the chair can tackle rougher trails and means more disabled visitors can enjoy the park’s incredible scenery and canyon landscapes 💚

💸 The f*** it fund

We all know about rainy-day funds but what about a pot of money designed to give you a little more freedom instead of being for a broken boiler or unexpected bill?

So, what is a “f*** it fund”?
It’s a savings pot set aside specifically to give you financial breathing room. The idea is that if you ever need to leave a job, move out, take time off, end a relationship or simply make a big change, you have some money behind you. A f*** it fund is more about choice and having enough money that you don’t feel completely dependent on someone else, or trapped by your circumstances.

Who are they for?
The concept particularly resonates with women, for whom financial independence can be an important safety net. The Independent reports that women’s average rainy-day savings are lower than men’s, while women can also face wider financial disadvantages including pay gaps, career breaks and differences in retirement savings. But you don’t need to be planning a dramatic escape to benefit from one. Having your own financial buffer can simply make it easier to say “no” to something that isn’t working (or “yes” to an opportunity you wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford).

How much do I need?
There’s no magic number. A commonly suggested target is three to six months worth of your take-home pay to cover essential living costs, although the right amount depends on your income, job security, housing situation and whether anyone else relies on you. And don’t let the idea of saving thousands put you off. The point is to build something that works for your circumstances.

OK, how do I make one?
🌱 Start with what feels realistic. Even a small amount set aside regularly can build into a useful buffer over time.
🏦 Keep it separate. Having savings in an account that’s separate from your everyday spending can make it easier to see what you have available.
🎯 Set milestones. Your first £500, one month of expenses, then three months – smaller targets can feel much more achievable.
💚 Think of it as a bit of breathing room. A f*** it fund isn’t about expecting something to go wrong but about having a little more choice if life doesn’t go exactly to plan.

🏠 Andy Burnham has launched a national drive to get unhoused people off the streets by Christmas, putting £442m behind the effort.

• The bigger story: Local leaders in England will be asked to offer rough sleepers a route into accommodation by Christmas, with new funding for services including healthcare and addiction support. The government says it cannot force people to accept accommodation and has not set a target for how much rough sleeping should fall by Christmas. Campaigners have welcomed the move but say longer-term action is needed to tackle the wider issue of homelessness.

🫁 Children’s lung growth has improved since London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone’s introduction successfully reduced air pollution, researchers have found. 

🌍 Europe’s most tourist-saturated destinations have been revealed through new Eurostat data. 

🤖 ChatGPT has been made “less human” for under-18 users as a part of new safety measures rolled out by OpenAI.

🌳 Ancient trees could help scientists predict and prepare for future solar storms, research suggests. 

🧠 “Monotasking” could be the secret to getting more done, experts say, by helping you stay focused and giving your brain a break from trying to juggle everything at once.

📚 A list of 30 books that everyone should read has been released by Vogue  – that’s our TBR pile sorted until 2027!

⭐ Donate to The Know. Only 0.9% of our readers donate (we see you and we love you 🥹). So if you have a couple of pounds to spare and want to ensure we keep bringing you thoughtful and informative news every day, we’d be so grateful.

⭐ Get clicking - this tells our partners that readers are interested in The Know. Let’s get started with this one!

⭐ Add us to your contacts or primary inbox - this makes sure we reach your inbox (and everyone else’s) each morning.

The Know is on a mission to help everyone start their day feeling informed and hopeful. We only recommend things we genuinely love but sometimes we make money from the links and content we share. This directly supports keeping our journalism free for all.

Trivia answer: B) Scientists say they’re “honoured” the creature is finally being recognised and hope to raise awareness of protecting it from bottom trawling fishing.

How did you find today’s email?
😍 Loved it! | 😕 Could be better…

Need fewer emails? Click here to hear from us once a week.