The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.Spring has sprung in many places around the country, and even if you haven’t planted any seeds …
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Are you a fan of true crime? I mean, really a fan, as in, can you easily fall asleep to documentaries about serial killers without having nightmares? If your answer is yes, MagellanTV has an opportunity you won’t want to pass up. The company is paying someone $2,400 ($100 an hour!) to binge watch 24 …
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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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The third-largest manufacturer of mobile phones in North America has decided to focus on other areas of its business, from robotics and artificial intelligence to electric vehicle components. LG Electronics announced on April 5 that it will be ending its production of cellphones and smartphones. Apple and Samsung, who are ahead of LG in terms …
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The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.Do you use plug-in air fresheners? With spring cleaning mode in high gear, finding great deals on …
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 …
Continue reading "What you need to know about the eBay Motors car scam"
The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.After giving away more than 2.5 million doughnuts since beginning their vaccination campaign in March, Krispy Kreme …
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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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It goes without saying that the past year has been hard on everyone — including kids. Whether they had school at home or in-person, chances are most children spent more time at home than usual, likely away from their friends. Inspired by the at-home creativity they saw during the last year, Lego is now conducting …
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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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The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law. …
Continue reading "Status of stimulus check: How to find out when you’ll get yours"
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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Car manufacturer Kia just announced a recall for two of its vehicles due to a fire risk from a potential electrical shortage. A report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated Kia is recalling all 2017-2019 Kia Cadenzas and 2017-2021 Kia Sportage vehicles. Neither class of vehicles included Smart Cruise Control features, according …
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Wondering how much money you can expect with the next stimulus check? The American Rescue Plan Act will provide $1,400 direct payments to individuals making up to $75,000 per year and expands the child tax credit up to $3,600 per child. It also extends a weekly $300 federal unemployment benefit through August. In addition to …
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Two years ago, the city of Stockton, California, launched a financial experiment that leaders hoped would help break the poverty cycle for their citizens. The city launched a donation-funded basic universal income program over a two-year period. Now, the results from the program’s first year are in, and the analysis offers some insights into the …
From neighborhood coffee shops to hole-in-the-wall eateries, small restaurants have been among the businesses hardest hit by Covid-19. It’s been estimated that, as of December 2020, 17% of all U.S. restaurants have permanently shut down. Although restrictions on the food industry have eased in some states, many independently-owned restaurants remain on the brink of closure …
Continue reading "American Express is giving $1 million in grants to historic small restaurants"
Costco will raise its minimum starting wage to $16 an hour starting in the first week of March, CEO W. Craig Jelinek revealed during a Senate panel hearing on Feb. 25. “I want to note this isn’t altruism,” Jelinek told the U.S. Senate Budget Committee. “At Costco, we know that paying employees good wages … …
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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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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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Walmart has announced it will be raising wages for about a third of its workforce following a hectic year in the industry due to the coronavirus pandemic. Beginning March 13, 425,000 of Walmart’s nearly 1.5 million employees will receive a raise, with starting rates moving to $13-$19 per hour, based on the store’s location and …
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California’s Coachella Valley is one of the state’s largest crop-growing regions, known for producing bell peppers, citrus, dates and grapes. In early February, when the Coachella City Council passed an emergency ordinance to provide an additional $4 per hour to essential workers such as employees of grocery stores, pharmacies and restaurants, they opted to include …
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Recent data shows that 44.7 million Americans carry $1.71 trillion in total U.S. student loan debt. For the time being, payments on those loans can wait, and interest will not accrue. On Jan. 20, the White House posted the following statement: “At the request of President Biden, the Acting Secretary of Education will extend the …
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If you have recently had several inches of snow, wait before you head to the garage to start your snowblower. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that the Toro brand has voluntarily recalled one of its snowblower models due to an amputation hazard. Recall Details The Model Year 2021 Toro Power Max 826 …
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Dating app Bumble became a publicly-traded company on Feb. 11. Shares of the company immediately soared, and by day’s end, CEO and founder Whitney Wolfe Herd had become the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire. Wolfe Herd, who is 31, tweeted about the company going public and credited much of Bumble’s success to its female customers …
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Congressional Democrats have reintroduced a “Baby Bonds” bill that, if passed, would create a federally funded seed savings account, giving $1,000 to every American child at birth, plus, depending on household income, additional $2,000 deposits each year until the child turns 18. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) say their American …
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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Target announced they’ll give hourly employees paid time off to get their COVID-19 vaccinations and will even pay for their transportation to get the shots. The company made the announcement in a post on its corporate website on Feb. 10 that outlines the details of the incentives. The free transportation for all U.S. team members …
Many people who feel they should have received a stimulus check last year — or the second one this year — are still empty-handed. While many of us have finally received our portion of the $1,200 check and the latest $600 check, many are still waiting for at least one of them. You can try …
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After Tesla bought $1.5 billion in Bitcoin and said it planned to accept the cryptocurrency as a form of payment for Tesla products, the price of Bitcoin has skyrocketed. Tesla founder Elon Musk’s mention of the digital currency in January temporarily raised the price of Bitcoin. He’s also mentioned Dogecoin, another form of virtual money. …
With everything we are dealing with this pandemic, robocallers and scammers are still calling our cell phones. And the number one unwanted call so far in 2021 has to do with your car’s warranty, according to the Federal Trade Commission. It seems that almost every day, someone needs to reach you about your warranty expiring. …
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Buffet pizza chain Cici’s Pizza filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 25, unable to remain viable amid the pandemic’s in-person dining restrictions and food-delivery boom. Cici’s Holdings Inc.’s filing came with a plan to sell to lender D&G Investors, the Wall Street Journal reported. Under the plan, D&G will reorganize in an expedited bankruptcy …
While gambling on sports is not a wise way to grow your savings, sometimes it’s fun to just take a little risk. Along with March Madness, the Super Bowl is the one event every year that encourages even the strictest penny-pinchers among us to loosen up a bit and put some cash on the line. …
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The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.The biggest sporting event of the year is almost here, so if you haven’t yet, now is …
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The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.Even if you live in an area where indoor dining is permitted right now, you might still …
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Have you given any thought as to what you are going to do once you receive your COVID-19 vaccine? A new survey says Americans should be prepared for a surge in travel and spending, at least among those who are still working. Most of us have heard of the “roaring twenties,” and the parties, drinking …
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Hobby Lobby shoppers know how to save some money. Over the years, we’ve highlighted the craft retailer’s big sales and its ever-popular promotional discounts, including the 40% off coupon that shoppers always look forward to. Unfortunately, the days of that coveted coupon are coming to an end, according to a statement from Hobby Lobby. This …
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After a double-digit increase in holiday season sales, Target announced it will be distributing $500 bonuses to its hourly team members. This marks the fifth round of bonuses that the mega-retailer has announced since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. This time around, money from a $200 million bonus pool will be distributed to 375,000 …
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Many businesses have been forced to close amid the coronavirus pandemic. The latest casualty is chocolatier Godiva, which will be permanently closing all 128 of its locations in North America. All stores, including 11 in Canada, will be closed or sold by the end of March 2021. Godiva’s locations throughout Europe, the Middle East and …
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Through his foundation, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has donated $5 million to Khan Academy, a non-profit educational platform that provides free video tutorials and that has exploded in popularity during the global pandemic. Worldwide, the Kahn Academy has 120 million registered users and a library of learning content, including interactive exercises, across a variety of …
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The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.Starting Jan. 24, Amazon is using one of its Seattle office buildings as a temporary COVID-19 vaccination …
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If you need a new refrigerator, washing machine or other appliance, you could face a long wait these days. That’s why stores selling inexpensive used appliances could be a great option. But one single mom has a cautionary tale. Mom buys used for big savings Stephanie Holley found a home for her and her children. …
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If your dream job involves something similar to working in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, get your resume ready. Canada’s largest candy distributor, Candy Funhouse, is looking for 10 official “candyologists,” also known as a candy and chocolate taste-testers! The jobs are open to anyone living in North America. Two full-time taste testers will be paid …
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The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are now the 46th president and 49th vice president of the United …
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If you and your family are fans of Hot Pockets, you’re going to want to know about a Class 1 recall of the frozen sandwiches. Hot Pockets’ manufacturer Nestlé and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall of Garlic Buttery Crust Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pockets Value Packs (12-count). …
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At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, retailers began loosening their return policies. They’ve expanded the timeframes in which you can return items, and they’re offering curbside returns to help allow for social distancing measures in stores. Now, some retailers have gone even further by letting customers keep the items they’re looking to return. The …
Continue reading "Returning an item to Amazon or Walmart? They might just tell you to keep it"
As if waiting for a stimulus check to arrive wasn’t frustrating enough, now it turns out some people are throwing their $600 away. Jim Wallace almost tossed a letter he received in the mail the other day. “I received a white envelope, with clear plastic on the top left corner and in the middle,” Wallace …
Do you have a Keurig coffeemaker in your kitchen? These clever appliances that hit the market in 1992 made brewing a single cup of coffee as simple as putting a tiny plastic container (or K-Cup) of your favorite blend into the machine along with some water and pressing a button. However, those K-Cups are now …
If you are looking for a job during this pandemic, you may have to do your interviewing via Zoom or Skype. Unfortunately, this new way of hiring — with no face-to-face interview — has led to a surge in job scams, as one Ohio man learned. Jordan Dixon was recently laid off from his job …
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Renting a car locally usually isn’t part of a fun experience, like a vacation. Typically, local renters have been in a wreck, need repairs on their own car or need to rent a small truck for a move. But what can make it even worse is when renters get hit for extra charges that you …
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