It’s that time of year: Publishers Clearing House awards season. In 2022, some lucky winner will be getting $5,000 a week for life, according to the company’s website and TV commercials featuring NFL great Terry Bradshaw. Marlene, who did not want to use her last name, received a voicemail that said she was the winner. …
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Tax preparers are bracing for a long and confusing tax season because of stimulus checks and the child tax credits that Americans got in 2021. Many families did not get all the stimulus money and credits they were entitled to, which means they can claim them this year. Lesa Strull has two children and says …
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Do you use money transfer apps like Venmo, Zelle or Cash app? If so, the Better Business Bureau is issuing an alert about a scam it first started seeing last year and is now receiving complaints about almost daily. It has to do with an “accidental” deposit into your account – which is not accidental …
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Many shoppers will be trying to get a head start on the holiday shopping season this year, with predictions of shortages as Christmas approaches. But if you are looking to get a jump on buying someone a tool kit, beware of the power tool scam. Not sure what to buy your dad? In many cases, …
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With homes and apartments so tough to find this year, many renters are desperate to find anything. That’s how one woman ended falling victim to a rental scam. Mariah Dates had no luck finding a rental home until a cute two-bedroom house popped up on Facebook Marketplace for just $700 a month. “I emailed the …
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We’ve seen all the price hikes in stores this year and by now, we are used to product shortages. But both problems are about to hit toys just as the shopping season starts. Why? Forbes magazine blames a pandemic-related shipping container crisis, with Chinese ports backed up and shipping fees at all-time highs. Shipping containers …
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Shoppers are ready to restock their closets for the fall and winter, but many are asking, “Where’s all the clothing?” Kristin Sterling was trying to do some school shopping at TJ Maxx. Inside, she found a much smaller selection than she has seen before. “I’ve been looking for baby items, as well as for a …
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This has been the toughest year in memory for buying a car, truck or SUV. New vehicles are scarce, and used cars are selling for record prices. If you are looking for a new pickup truck or SUV, be prepared to take whatever the dealer has. So, maybe you are considering a used vehicle instead? …
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Millions of taxpayers still have not received their 2021 tax refund and are growing frustrated with a lack of information from the IRS. Refunds that used to arrive in two weeks are now three months late, with no updates as to when they might go out. Mike Seidenman is among those who are frustrated. He …
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Just weeks ago, Americans were preparing to travel, booking airline tickets, casino trips and winter cruises. Now, a resurgence of COVID-19 due to the delta variant is threatening the return to travel normalcy. So what should prospective travelers do now? Each day the headlines are worrisome when it comes to fall and winter travel: Mask …
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With all the stress of the pandemic, many got a bit of relief from an adult beverage. However, now there’s a liquor shortage. Molly Wellman is a sought-after mixologist (an expert bartender) who has noticed some popular brands are getting hard to find. “There’s shortages everywhere,” she said, while mixing a negroni. “It has gotten …
As Americans hit the road and take to the skies again this summer after the long pandemic, many are making plans to visit Hawaii. But one Hawaiian island is now asking airlines to slow down their return because they can’t handle the sudden boom in tourists. Normally, Hawaii welcomes tourists as a major source of …
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Savvy shoppers have always purchased used cars and trucks instead of new ones to save thousands of dollars. But in this crazy year, some used cars now cost more than a new version. The price of used cars has gone up in 2021 because of soaring demand and the computer chip shortage that has been …
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For millions of workers, this summer is bringing a return to the office after 14 months of working from home during the pandemic. But some people are not ready for it, having become comfortable working remotely and taking care of children or pets while working. Others are growing worried about catching the delta variant of …
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As we head out on summer vacations, many of us check the oil and look over the car before we go. But some car maintenance tips that mom and dad taught us, that we’ve assumed for years, are actually just myths. That’s according to a new AAA report called Debunking Common Myths about Car Maintenance. …
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Watch out eBay, Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace: There’s a new kid getting a lot of interest. More and more buyers and sellers are turning to Mercari, with its lower fees and ease of selling. If you are looking to buy or sell used household items, clothing, jewelry, or crafts, Mercari has seen its popularity soar …
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It appears that the lumber bubble has finally burst. Lumber prices are finally coming back down to earth, following a spring that saw prices double — and then double again. Lumber futures fell more than 40% in June as consumer demand dried up for $50 and $60 sheets of plywood. Last year, those sheets of …
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We’ve all heard about inflation this year as the price of homes, cars, steel and even things like chicken wings soar in price. But another newly relevant term, “shrinkflation,” means that not only are people paying more, but they are often getting less in return. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says year-to-year: Gas prices are …
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Are you planning to travel this summer? If that plan involves a rental car, you may want to double or even triple-check that rental. That’s because there is a worsening rental car shortage that nearly canceled one family’s trip. Angie McIntosh and her family arrived safely at their vacation condo on Florida’s panhandle, but they …
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Planning a summer trip? With demand surging, hotels are raising rates. CNBC reports that average hotel rates in Cancun are now $205 a night, up from $45 a year ago when few people were traveling. One of the few areas where rates are still low is New York City, as many tourists have yet to …
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It’s not just home prices that are rising to wild levels in 2021. Rents are following them up, and some tenants say higher rates may force them to move. Barbara Hill-Kelley is among the many tenants hit with rent hikes this year. She opened her door the other day to find a note posted that …
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Many of us have spent the last of those $1,400 stimulus checks that arrived earlier this spring. So, will there be a fourth stimulus soon? Or was that all there is? Just like a morning cup of coffee, Americans are getting used to those “stimmy checks,” as they are now fondly called. Individuals earning less …
A new feature from Amazon is raising privacy concerns. That’s because it wants to share your Wi-Fi signal with your neighbors, and some homeowners are saying that’s one step too far. Amazon is coming into our homes more every day, like it or not. Remember the controversy two years ago over Amazon Key, where an …
The housing market is so hot that desperate buyers are now dropping contingencies and inspections in the hopes of submitting a winning bid. When 10 people are making offers on the same home, buying it “as is” can make an offer more competitive. But one couple learned why that can be a bad idea, and …
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There is good news this spring for people who lost their jobs during the pandemic or are just looking for an opportunity to advance. Many companies are hiring and are offering all sorts of bonuses and incentives, as business rebounds in 2021. Morgan Baylor, like many other restaurant workers, found herself filing for unemployment last …
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Ever park illegally? That usually means a ticket or a tow, but some lot owners are now switching to the “sticker of shame.” Joe Frankenhoff received one and is furious. He has a picture on his phone of a large fluorescent sticker that had been slapped on the window of his truck. “This green sticker …
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Do you have any old toys or dolls in your basement or closets that you haven’t checked in years? You may want to dust them off, because the toys of our youth are becoming super collectibles during this COVID-19 pandemic. It’s not just houses, lumber, used cars and groceries taking a big jump this year. …
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Some call it the most dangerous bank scam ever: A text or phone call from your bank stating your account has been locked for fraud. That’s scary enough. But if you fall for this slick scam, it’s even scarier. Michelle Hoeting got a text message on her phone the other day and immediately started to …
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Buffalo wings are as American as a cold beer when watching football, but suddenly these delicacies — usually served with celery and ranch or blue cheese dressing — are in short supply. Many restaurants that sell wings are now struggling with higher prices and short supplies. Restaurant owner Jason Esterkamp said the same labor shortage …
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To anyone planning a home improvement project, an addition or thinking about building a new home: Buyer beware. The price of lumber is hitting all-time highs. Larry Parker just experienced it. He walked into Lowe’s the other day to buy a sheet of OSB plywood for a home project he was doing at his home. …
Are you thinking of buying some new furniture for your home, perhaps with your recent tax refund or stimulus check? The COVID pandemic has caused a nationwide kitchen appliance shortage, but it turns out the furniture shortage may be even worse. Melissa Taylor showed us via Zoom her couch damaged by a water leak last …
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It’s getting harder every week to find new pickup trucks. Ford has just announced it built only half its normal amount of F-150 pickups in March due to parts shortages. And dealers are getting calls from people all over the region if they advertise that a new loaded F Series truck has just shown up …
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Thinking of buying or selling a home in 2021? In normal times, when you’re shopping for a home, you take your time, look at several homes, visit Sunday open houses, and decide what fits your needs. But these are not normal times. Young parents Jonathan and Tiffany Moore have been outbid on three houses this …
You probably remember your dad telling you to always buy a used car, because they are so much cheaper than new. That’s not always the case anymore in this topsy-turvy pandemic year. “We’ve all heard this: ‘Hey, you lose 20-30% of the car’s value when you drive it off the lot,'” said Karl Brauer of …
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It’s “help wanted” — everywhere. As the economy rebounds, businesses from restaurants to retailers to theme parks are finding it hard to find people to work right now. Meggan Jones, who recently found a medical job after seven months out of work, said she was stunned by how many open positions she found job hunting …
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If you’ve received your COVID-19 vaccine or scheduled an appointment to get it soon, be on the lookout for scammers seeking to target you afterward. Jack and Renee Grady were thrilled to get their second vaccine shot a few weeks ago. They got an email from Pfizer the same evening. “It said ‘Pfizer Study’ on …
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What do toilet paper and lumber to build your home have in common? Wood. And prices of everything that uses wood are heading up sharply. If you think toilet paper is a bit pricey now, ever since last year’s shortage, it’s about to go up again. Kimberly Clark has just announced it will be hiking …
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The federal government is spending billions of dollars on the COVID-19 vaccines, which, in return, means the shot is supposed to be free for those who get it. So why are some people being charged? That’s what some are wondering after they received bills for their shots. Tim and Vickie Gobin were excited to receive …
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If you received unemployment benefits last year, you probably have a bigger tax refund coming your way. That’s great news for the tens of millions of people who were out of work due to the pandemic in 2020 and who could now get an additional $1,000 to $5,000 tax refund later this spring. Under the …
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Many of us have been ordering dozens of items from Amazon during the pandemic. Sometimes you don’t remember what you ordered, which makes it easy to fall for the latest phone scam, which involves a very slick call telling you of a problem with your Amazon account. Kimberly Moore was at her health administrator job …
It’s the start of the car-buying season. But if you are buying a used car, buyer beware. Fake car ads, advertising inexpensive used cars that don’t really exist, are everywhere, as one woman found out. Heather Wolff wanted to purchase a used car this spring, so she checked Facebook Marketplace and found a gorgeous yellow …
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It’s a new year, but many of the same old problems remain when it comes to tax filing. A month after the IRS started processing returns, complaints are already coming in about late refunds. Heather Niehaus is a busy mom of a 2-year-old girl, and every dollar counts at her home. So she filed her …
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After almost a year in COVID-19 lockdown, Melanie Dicker’s home is filled with clothing and toys she doesn’t know what to do with. Her dining room is cluttered with the relics of months of at-home learning for her two young boys. Like many moms, she is ready for spring cleaning to clear out unwanted clothing, …
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More police departments are warning about a phone scam, where someone claims your son or daughter has been kidnapped. A woman captured one of the chilling and convincing calls on her phone. Diane Peters agreed to talk about the very frightening evening in her life when she got the call, because she wants everyone to …
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Most states passed emergency laws banning evictions and utility shutoffs during the pandemic. Those moratoriums are running out, and thousands of unemployed people — plus others still battling COVID-19 — are running out of options. Mashelle Fields is one of them, living off batteries and borrowed power in her apartment. She said Duke workers shut …
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A growing number of people are complaining about food delivery arriving as much as two hours late. It turns out that the way you place your order may be the reason for those late deliveries in many cases. Hana Chu is the co-owner of an Asian restaurant, KungFood Chu. She says more and more customers …
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Owners of some popular Toyota pickup trucks are riding on frames that are rusting away — and those who have not visited a dealer lately may not know about it. What’s worse, though, is that a special warranty extension to replace those frames is running out, leaving owners with little time to take action before …
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The 2020 holiday season is long over, but some families are still waiting on gifts that failed to arrive for Christmas — and still have yet to be delivered. Many of those items were ordered from slick-looking Facebook and Instagram ads, often with young models showing off cute outfits. Amanda Kontopos is among those disappointed …
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Remember when cutting the cord and streaming was a great way to slash that cable bill? That’s so 2010. Jennifer Taylor says her streaming bill is now out of control. “It keeps getting more and more expensive,” she said, “paying for Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and having cable, so it’s really expensive now.” She’s right. Have …
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This is W-2 and 1099 season when companies send you tax statements for what you earned last year. But check those statements carefully. Some people are receiving 1099 forms saying they earned unemployment benefits when they never filed for unemployment. Joe McFarland is struggling to understand what’s been showing up in his family’s mail. His …
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