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Author: Rebecca Holland

  • Missouri mom of 12 says her family may be left homeless after a deadly tornado tore their roof right off — now she wants changes so families don’t fall through the cracks after a disaster

    Missouri mom of 12 says her family may be left homeless after a deadly tornado tore their roof right off — now she wants changes so families don’t fall through the cracks after a disaster

    The historic, deadly tornado that hit St. Louis on May 16 destroyed the Williams family home, which was then condemned by the city.

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    Selena Williams, a mom to 12 children ranging from ages 11 to 24, spoke to local news station Fox 2 in early June to say her family is in urgent need of long-term recovery assistance.

    The report says the family stayed in a car for weeks and was then placed in an extended-stay hotel, but that help was to end on June 15.

    “I’m hoping to go from here to a place we can rent,” said Williams, who mentioned that her husband kept working as a truck driver during this ordeal.

    She was also afraid of people looting the few possessions that might be recoverable from their home.

    The family have set up a Go Fund Me that has raised over $20,000.

    “The front of our home is damaged, the roof was completely ripped off and destroyed,” says the page, which also mentions water damage on the second floor. “There are not many large affordable homes in St. Louis of 6+ bedrooms and majority of the large homes have been lived in for generations. So for my family to leave this home would be more devastating and stressful than asking for help to rebuild.”

    Williams said community groups are trying to help, but many families are falling through the cracks, hers included.

    “Everyone says they have resources, resources,” she told Fox 2. “But the resources they’re offering is not what I need. I need a place for us to be at home.”

    She said she has not heard anything from the city but officials arrived to place bright orange stickers on the house that said entry was prohibited due to the structure being in poor condition.

    The couple hopes that their story will spark change. Perhaps Missouri lawmakers need to create better protections for citizens who lose their homes to natural disasters.

    Resources after your home is destroyed

    If you find yourself homeless after a disaster, you can apply for relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help you get back on your feet. If you have insurance, you need to file a claim and submit the insurance settlement or denial letter to determine your eligibility for some forms of assistance.

    You can also apply for help through the D-SNAP disaster food relief program, and even find government help for paying your bills.

    Unfortunately, you will still owe your lender mortgage payments even if your house was condemned. You can apply for federal mortgage help or funds to cover repairs if your home is in a presidentially declared disaster area.

    In addition to these federal programs, there may be state or local recovery agencies in your area that can assist you with food, housing, and other forms of support.

    If your home is condemned after a natural disaster like a tornado, that means it has been deemed unsafe to live in, and may have major structural damage that could see it collapse, even if it is still standing at the time of condemnation.

    Your home insurance plan should include additional living expenses coverage or ALE, which can help you secure temporary housing while you decide what to do with your home.

    You retain the right to sell your house in most cases, but will have to fully disclose the nature of the damage to the buyer.

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    Preparing for disasters

    Swiss Re reports that global insured losses from natural catastrophes in 2024 totaled $137 billion, and are projected to approach $145 billion in 2025.

    The National Centers for Environmental Information also reports that 2024 is the 14th-consecutive year in which 10 or more separate billion-dollar disaster events impacted the U.S. The annual average for the last five years is 23 events.

    While homeowners insurance is a must, you may want to review it to see if coverage for certain natural disasters is excluded. Standard policies usually don’t offer coverage for flood damage and earthquakes.

    If you live in a disaster-prone area, you may want to consider creating an additional emergency fund and keeping all important documents in a safe place. The federal government has a website with financial preparedness tips for rebuilding after a disaster or other emergency.

    The Williams family’s experience with natural disasters is a strong reminder of the importance of being prepared with an emergency fund and comprehensive insurance:

    “The first was the ice storm years ago. It broke every pipe in the house. My husband repaired that. Then there was the windstorm a few years ago. That damaged the outside of the house. We literally just got all that done in the summer of 2024, and there here we go. We get hit with this.”

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Colorado man fights back after ‘intentionally complex’ hospital billing system leaves him with $104K bill for emergency surgery — how to ensure your hospital doesn’t try to overcharge you

    Blake Pfeifer of Colorado Springs is calling on hospitals to uphold their legal requirements for transparent pricing.

    Pfeifer underwent emergency stomach surgery at the University of Colorado Health Memorial Hospital Central in 2022 and was surprised when bills for his week-long stay just kept coming.

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    “We literally had bills scattered all over the floor and it covered the entire office,” Dawn Pfeifer, Blake’s wife, shared with NBC News.

    Pfeifer was originally charged $104,000 for his hospital stay, which was reduced to $58,124 as he would be paying out of pocket. However, more bills kept arriving, and Pfeifer’s attempts to contact the hospital for clarity on the charges reportedly went nowhere.

    “I’ve always paid my bills,” Pfeifer, 63, told NBC News. “I wanted a little better explanation.”

    A systemic issue

    Unfortunately, patient advocate groups say that Pfeifer’s experience is quite common.

    “Hospitals and insurance companies alike have even hired many middle-player firms to be able to maximize their margins and profits at every single patient encounter,” Cynthia Fisher, founder of PatientRightsAdvocate.org, told NBC News. “Sometimes what we’re finding is the charges like Blake’s that are billed are far beyond even the highest rate that they have within their hospital pricing file.”

    Fisher told NBC News that hospital billing systems seem to be “intentionally complex.” NBC noted that under Colorado law, hospitals that violate the federal price transparency rule — which went into effect in 2021 — are liable to be penalized for deceptive trade practices. The law requires hospitals to clearly state pricing on their respective websites.

    However, NBC News found that a number of Pfeifer’s bills are higher than the hospital’s listed prices, including $99 for a blood culture that was listed between $8 and $61 for insured patients, and $104 apiece for a series of 10 blood tests that should cost anywhere between $6.52 and $52.89 per test, based on the hospital’s website. In fact, NBC News found that only 25% of the charges Pfeifer received were listed on the hospital’s required price list.

    “What happened to Mr. Pfeifer unfortunately repeats itself and plays out across the country thousands of times every year,” said Steve Woodrow, Pfeifer’s lawyer and a Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives. “We now have a situation where people are afraid to get medical care because of the financial ramifications.”

    Dan Weaver, a spokesman for UCHealth, said in a statement shared with NBC News that the health system “does everything possible to share prices and estimates with our patients, encourage insurance coverage, assist patients in applying for Medicaid and other programs that may offer coverage.”

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    Fighting a broken system

    NBC found that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had penalized only 27 hospitals for non-compliance with transparent billing practices in the last four years since the law took effect. However, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General found in 2024 that only 63 out of 100 hospitals studied were up-to-date with price transparency requirements.

    Furthermore, a study from The Commonwealth Fund found that over 45% of working-age adults in the U.S. who had insurance were charged for a health service that they thought was covered by their insurer.

    NBC also interviewed Damon Carson, a small-business owner in Colorado who was sued by a collection company after he refused to pay the additional bills that started rolling in after his outpatient endoscopy at a UCHealth hospital.

    Carson was originally quoted $1,448 for the procedure and paid upfront, out of pocket, but was later charged an additional $4,742. In mediation, his additional bills were reduced by one-third to settle the case.

    “I was surprised they caved that fast,” Carson told NBC News. “[My wife] and I could easily have paid the $4,000 and our lives gone on. But this was a principle thing.”

    “It’s driven by money”

    The American Journal of Managed Care reported on “pervasive billing errors” and “aggressive tactics” in the health care and insurance industries in 2024. Dr. Jeffrey Sippel, associate director of inpatient clinical services and associate professor of clinical medicine in the Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine Division at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said he’s been overwhelmed with denied insurance claims from Medicare Advantage plans.

    “It’s driven by money,” said Sippel in an article on The American Journal of Managed Care’s website. “It’s driven by a lack of appreciation of how dynamic these patients are, and how quickly they can change from sort of stable to doing quite poorly.”

    These overbilling practices are all the more troubling considering how much the federal government spends on health care in the United States.

    Data from the World Health Organization shows the U.S. government spends approximately double what other G7 nations spend on health care per citizen. In 2021, the U.S. spent $12,000 per person on health care while the average spend for other G7 countries was between $4,400 and $7,600. Canada, for example, reportedly spent $6,600 per person on health care, while the U.K. was at $6,200 per citizen.

    Challenging inaccurate hospital bills

    So, what can you do if you find yourself with additional bills piling up after a hospital stay? In Colorado, patients can sue a hospital for instigating debt collection proceedings against them if they believe the hospital violated price transparency laws.

    If you find yourself in a dispute over a hospital bill, advocate for yourself and insist on a clear explanation of your charges. In fact, Fisher has some strategic advice for anyone facing charges after a stay in the hospital.

    “No one should ever pay that first bill,” she told NBC News. “The onus of proof needs to be on the hospital and the insurance company to prove that they have not overcharged us.”

    The CMS also advises patients to shop around for their health care and compare prices and price transparency practices between hospitals to avoid higher-than-necessary bills. Finally, it’s best to keep your primary care physician involved in the process, as they may be able to help advocate for you and offer additional information on finding accessible health care.

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • ‘It’s not safe’: This Houston couple says their brand-new home in a gated community has become a mold-ridden uninhabitable nightmare — now they’re left in an ‘unfathomable’ position

    ‘It’s not safe’: This Houston couple says their brand-new home in a gated community has become a mold-ridden uninhabitable nightmare — now they’re left in an ‘unfathomable’ position

    When Angela and Terry Taylor of Houston moved into a four-story home in a gated community in 2020, they thought it would be a safe, low-maintenance environment where they could ease into retirement.

    Instead, things started to go wrong almost immediately. The Taylors noticed condensation on the windows and doors. Angela began to feel ill.

    They soon identified the problem: mold. A doctor discovered mold in Angela’s sinuses and told her it was the highest level he had seen in 32 years.

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    Then they checked out the house. Hundreds of thousands of mold spores per cubic meter, on the walls, beneath stucco finishes — even their furniture.

    "It’s not safe for anybody to be there," their attorney Ernest Freeman told KHOU 11.

    The Taylors have moved into an apartment, carrying the costs of the apartment and their new home at the same time.

    "We’re trying to retire one of these days and these are some of the most expensive days of our lives," said Terry Taylor. "It’s unfathomable that we’re in the position we’re in."

    Now they’re suing the home builder, Pelican Builders, and sharing their story to alert other people to the dangers.

    Mold takes a physical and financial toll

    "We worked hard, raised our kids and this is our time, and I’ve gotten sick," Angela said. "It’s just a nightmare."

    The couple said they initially tried to work with the builder on a solution.

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    Pelican Builders’ lawyer Ben Westcott said that the company offered to repair the Taylors’ home at no cost in 2022. He said the Taylors’ decision not to take the offer led to further degradation of the property.

    But Freeman and his clients note that the builders’ offer did address underlying structural issues that caused the mold growth in the first place.

    Mold grows when houses aren’t properly sealed. Warm air fills the inside of the walls, forced down from the attic. Cooler air from the other side of the wall makes condensation form, causing mold to grow rapidly.

    What you can do if your new home has serious structural issues

    If you, like the Taylors, find structural problems in a new-build home, there are several avenues you can pursue to get help.

    First, review your contract and the builder’s warranty. This type of warranty is standard for new homes, and is also enforced when any extensive remodels to your existing home take place. It covers permanent parts of your home, including concrete floors, plumbing, electrical work and the like.

    You may also have a home warranty, which covers replacements or repairs. This can include appliances or air conditioning systems, and servicing for these items.

    If your warranty covers the repairs you need, you should have no trouble enforcing the terms of your agreement with your builder.

    If the issues are not part of the warranty, but are so significant that the property is uninhabitable, your builder should also make a good faith agreement to repair the damage and underlying issues with the home.

    If your builder refuses to cooperate, you can file a complaint with your state’s contractors licensing board. The specific rules and regulations vary by state, but each board can pursue disciplinary action against a contractor who fails to uphold a reasonable standard for their work.

    Finally, you can consider hiring a lawyer. Look for a representative who has handled similar cases in the past, and can help you understand the laws in place in your state to protect homeowners.

    What to read next

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • ‘It looked like a legit business’: This Mississippi man is out nearly $100,000 after purchasing solar panels — only to find that they don’t work and now the company has seemingly vanished

    ‘It looked like a legit business’: This Mississippi man is out nearly $100,000 after purchasing solar panels — only to find that they don’t work and now the company has seemingly vanished

    Mississippi business owner Jim Dutton is feeling burned by Tren Solar, a Louisiana-based company that installed solar panels on his property, and Mosaic Solar, an affiliated company that loaned him $99,000 for the job.

    Now Dutton has 47 non-functional solar panels installed on top of his auto body shop, located on the same property as his home in Carriere, Mississippi. That’s because there are “multiple potential safety hazards” with the panels and wiring, according to David Blackledge of MIssissippi’s Cooperative Energy electrical company, who inspected his property.

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    That hasn’t stopped Mosaic Solar from continuing to send Dutton the bills for the $99,000 loan.

    Now Dutton is sharing his story with Fox 8, warning others about his experience with the two companies.

    Solar panel company seemed legitimate

    Dutton first learned of Tren Solar when they called him “out of the blue.” He was interested in the potential savings of producing solar energy on his own property and powering both his home and his auto body shop, where he restores vintage cars.

    He did some online research that led him to believe that Tren Solar was trustworthy.

    “It looked like a legit business. And one of their partners, I guess they call it on the website — Panasonic — and they rated them in 2023 the best installer in the region,” Dutton recalled.

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    He moved forward with the job and signed a loan with Mosaic.

    “They installed the panels within three days,” Dutton said. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is cool. They weren’t kidding, four to eight weeks.’ Then, it was radio silence.”

    After three months of Dutton’s constant calls to Tren Solar, an electrician finally showed up to wire the system to supply power to the auto body shop and home — without an approved plan from Cooperative Energy to do so.

    “These two jobs should not have been installed by Tren Solar, because they didn’t make it past the initial utility review stage,” the utility company’s Blackledge told Fox 8. “The installation method used has created multiple potential safety hazards.”

    Blackledge added that Tren Solar waited till after the panels were installed to reach out to Cooperative Energy for permission to do the installation. When Blackledge reached out to Tren Solar to follow up, he was never able to reach anyone.

    The disappearance of Tren Solar

    Fox 8 visited the Tren Solar business address, but were told Tren Solar had closed its office months before. The company’s co-founders did not return emails or calls.

    Fox 8 has since discovered multiple complaints about Tren Solar and Mosaic lodged with the Better Business Bureau.

    “All of the complaints have been (regarding) the lack of customer service communication that’s been happening,” said Michael Drummond, president of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Greater New Orleans.

    “We’ve reached out many times through our processes. We’ve been unable to get them to respond.”

    Now, Attorneys General in multiple states are suing Mosaic for deceptive trade practices.

    “A government action or a government warning is definitely a red flag,” Drummond said.

    How to protect yourself from shady businesses

    If you’re considering a major installation on your property, like solar panels:

    • Research regulations to familiarize yourself with building, fire and electrical codes and other rules designed to protect you and your home. That includes making sure you are lined up for inspections throughout the process.
    • Don’t hire the first contractor you find — especially if they reach out to you through a cold call or similar type of outreach marketing. Shop around.
    • Do your due diligence on the principal contractor you choose and their affiliates. Check with the Better Business Bureau, study online reviews and testimonials and don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials from your neighbors. If your contractor is legitimate, they’ll be happy to provide contacts.

    If you have concerns about the installation, make sure you record all communications with the company, including times of calls, any emails or texts you received, and all bills or invoices.

    If you believe you’ve been the victim of deceptive business practices, report the business to the Better Business Bureau or your State Attorney General’s Office. You can also file an online complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or reach out to a local Consumer Protection Office.

    If you’re attempting to recover money you spent on such an installation, you can try to send a notice of dispute to your credit card company to stop payment to the company.

    You can also try to get your insurance company working on your behalf. Some insurance policies can help cover losses or damage from faulty installations. Check with your provider for more information.

    Finally, you can take the company to small claims court or — if you’re dealing with a significant sum — hire a lawyer.

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • ‘It’s like a bounty system’: Angry drivers in Omaha left waiting days to get their towed vehicles back — now the tow operator is facing charges. What you need to know about ‘predatory towing’

    Drivers in Omaha were left baffled when their cars were towed away from an open lot — and even more so when they couldn’t get them back.

    A group of car owners were gathered outside of Heartland Towing and Tow Pros in late May, demanding the release of their vehicles. The officers that responded to the scene interviewed the frustrated group, who all said that they had waited days for their cars to be returned to them.

    Is this a one-off or part of a growing trend? Below, we explore the data on predatory towing practices — and the consequences the owner of Heartland Towing faced.

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    Multiple delays

    When the drivers who had their cars towed over the weekend called the towing service, they were met with only an answering machine. “If your vehicle was towed away from private property, please call back during normal business hours from 10am to 3pm Monday through Friday.”

    However, a holiday Monday prevented these drivers from getting their cars back in a timely manner.

    “He had a bunch of people over the weekend he was towing and when people came to claim their cars he more or less said I’m closed, I don’t work holidays,” said Hernan Hernandez, one of the vehicle owners.

    On the following Tuesday, the drivers told police and reporters they were faced with more delays.

    “You got to wait hours or come back later or come back tomorrow because he can’t get them out because he’s got so many piled in there that he can’t get to them,” said Justin Ewing, one of the drivers. “So until everybody in front of you picks up their car, you can’t have yours back.”

    Another problem: the owner of the lot, Joe Livinston, had been detained by police.

    Even owners who had their fees ready to pay in cash were stuck. One couple took an Uber to the tow lot, only to find they were among those whose vehicle was buried in the full lot.

    Others relied solely on their vehicles to get around. “My car is all the way in the back. It’s very frustrating because you know I was supposed to go see my kids today, my lady, supposed to go to work,” another vehicle owner said.

    Others had crucial identification documents or car seats locked away in their towed vehicles.

    While some of the drivers had parked in an empty lot with a ‘no parking’ sign, others had left their vehicles in the lot of a former Walgreens store, where there was no chain preventing such parking.

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    Illegal towing

    Predatory towing practices are common in the industry.

    The New York Times reported in 2021 that these practices can include private contracts between businesses and towing companies to tow cars left in their lots over the time limit. While that’s perfectly legal, Eric Friedman, the director of the office of consumer protection in Montgomery County, told the Times that the tow companies are incentivized to be aggressive.

    Towing companies pay “spotters” to watch the lot and report on anyone who goes over their time.

    “It’s like a bounty system,” Friedman said. “It really has nothing to do with parking.”

    The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) reports that towing fees can also mount up quickly. Only about half of states have laws dictating maximum fees for towing, or storing towed vehicles (without the driver’s consent). There are only 14 states where “spotting” illegally parked cars is prohibited. And worst of all for the drivers in Omaha, theirs isn’t one of only nine states that legislate that towed cars must be available for owners to pick up at any time of day, as long as they communicate with the tow lot beforehand.

    The increasing rate of predatory towing is also impacting professional drivers. A 2023 study from the American Transportation Research Institute found that 82.7% of truck drivers were charged excessive rates for having their trucks towed and a further 81.8% of carriers were charged “junk fees” on top of their tow.

    So what can you do if your car has been towed illegally, or is being held in a lot for an unreasonable amount of time?

    PIRG recommended that drivers contact their local police department through the non-emergency number, noting that some states require the towing company to notify police of any towing against the owner’s will.

    These filings can help you find where your vehicle was towed quickly.

    PIRG also recommended reviewing your bill closely, looking for any charges that seem excessive.

    Be sure to check the laws in your state to ensure you’re not being overcharged. Finally, you have the right to dispute the towing company for a full reimbursement. Some states even allow you to sue for additional compensation if you can prove your car was towed illegally.

    Consequences for Joe Livingston

    First Alert 6 reported that the drivers in Omaha faced another roadblock in getting their vehicles back: Joe Livingston, the owner of Heartland Towing and Tow Pros, was arrested and handcuffed after being charged with ten counts of unauthorized or improper towing.

    Livingston is now facing ten misdemeanors. He was released from custody, but refused to answer any questions from the First Alert 6 team.

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Americans spent a whopping $78 billion on tipping at restaurants in 2023. But not all states are equally generous. Here are some of the most benevolent states — is yours one of them?

    Americans spent a whopping $78 billion on tipping at restaurants in 2023. But not all states are equally generous. Here are some of the most benevolent states — is yours one of them?

    While Emily Post recommends leaving a 15 to 20% tip at a restaurant, the nation’s top tippers leave an average 16.07% gratuity at most, according to a new Lending Tree survey.

    Americans are spending billions on dining out — $78 billion in 2023 alone — with the average household spending a little over half (55.7%) of its monthly food budget on restaurants and takeout meals. That includes paying for tips.

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    As Americans shell out more in tips, many are complaining of tip fatigue, a challenge The New York Times highlighted.

    Here’s a look at where the most generous tippers live, and the tension between those who say tip culture is getting out of hand — and those who depend on tips to get by.

    The nation’s top tippers

    According to Lending Tree, New Hampshirites are the most generous tippers. Here’s where Americans leave the most lavish gratuities, along with the average tip in each region.

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    1. New Hampshire: 16.07%

    2. District of Columbia: 12.65%

    3. South Carolina: 11.17%

    4. Minnesota: 10.11%

    5. North Carolina: 9.75%

    6. Washington: 9.51%

    7. Vermont: 9.31%

    8. Nebraska: 9.12%

    9. Rhode Island: 8.54%

    10. Maine: 8.18%

    While D.C. is home to great tippers, it also tops the nation’s list for residents who dine out, with an annual per-capita spend of $10,291.

    On the other end of the scale are frugal Utah residents — who leave the smallest tip in America, an average 4.09% tip. Mississippi and Idaho residents are also tight with tips, leaving 5.10% or less. Californians are relatively penny-pinching tipsters, as well, ranking 31st in the nation with an average 6.15% gratuity.

    But are these Americans cheap — or on the leading edge of tip fatigue?

    Tipping fatigue

    “I don’t think consumers want to be stingy, but everybody’s budget is tight and they’re trying to make trade-off decisions,” Amanda Belarmino, an assistant professor in the University of Nevada’s hospitality school, told The New York Times.

    The restaurant software company Toast writes about consumers’ perception of ‘Tipflation’ as more cafés and fast-casual restaurants ask for tips and that the suggested tip rate appears to be rising.

    Toast suggests the pressure to tip restaurant workers more during the pandemic may be part of the backlash against tip culture, but tipping amounts on digital point-of-sale screens are another source of tip fatigue.

    Pymnts, which covers e-commerce and online payment news, reports that one in three consumers believe expectations to tip have gotten "out of hand."

    A Pew Research survey found that only 24% of consumers like the tip amount suggestion. The Pew study also found that 72% of respondents believe tipping is expected in more places today than five years ago.

    Why tipping matters

    While the cost of living is rising, it’s still good etiquette to tip, especially when you’ve received good service.

    It’s also vital for your servers, who depend on tips to get by, given the federal minimum hourly wage for tipped employees is just $2.13. Tips are intended to make up the shortfall in their take-home pay.

    The federal regulation also mandates that if a restaurant employee doesn’t make enough tips to add up to at least $7.25/hour, the restaurant must pay them extra to make up the difference.

    Toast reports that while many states and cities are beginning to require higher wages for tipped employees, the minimum annual salary for a server is just $15,080 for 40 hours per week of work — just a little over the 2023 poverty line of $14,891.

    The industry average wage for a full-time server is $31,000, barely above the $29,960 poverty line for a family of four.

    How to balance tipping with your budget

    If your food and entertainment budget has crept up, do your best to trim it down and save your money on dining experiences you really enjoy.

    A weekly trip to a fast-food restaurant that you do out of convenience rather than pleasure might be worth giving up if it means you can dine out with friends once a month.

    Also, if you feel increasingly pressured to tip, you might want to check in with the tipping habits of others across the nation:

    • 92% of Amercians tip when eating at sit-down restaurants
    • 76% tip when ordering food delivery
    • 70% tip when buying a drink at a bar
    • 25% tip when buying a coffee
    • 12% tip when eating at a fast-casual restaurant

    Making a point to visit places you love more often will help you to feel better about tipping, and see it as a tribute to great service rather than a duty that takes a bite out of your budget.

    What to read next

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Dave Ramsey once told a Ramsey Show caller it’s possible to withdraw at 8% in retirement — but Suze Orman has called even 4% ‘very dangerous’. Who’s right?

    Dave Ramsey once told a Ramsey Show caller it’s possible to withdraw at 8% in retirement — but Suze Orman has called even 4% ‘very dangerous’. Who’s right?

    We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.

    The 4% rule in retirement has been a widely accepted retirement standard for over 30 years.

    The rule states that you should draw 4% of your assets from your investments each year in retirement. This should, in theory, allow you to maintain a comfortable standard of living while continuing to let your investments appreciate in value.

    However, it seems this longstanding rule could be poised to fall.

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    A recently retired caller to The Ramsey Show asked host and finance personality Dave Ramsey if it would be safe to go up to a 5% withdrawal rate in order to pay for trips he and his wife wanted to take in early retirement.

    Ramsey has said he believes that retirees can earn up to a 12% annual return from mutual funds, and will therefore be safe to withdraw more than the standard 4% per year without jeopardizing their nest egg. He calls the standard rule “absolutely wrong” and “ridiculous.”

    But another finance celeb has a very different opinion.

    Suze Orman has called the classic 4% rule “very dangerous.”

    Orman, a fellow best-selling author and expert, also called for a tweak to the 4% rule in an interview with Moneywise — saying that retirees should only withdraw a maximum of 3% yearly if they are retiring in their 60s.

    Who’s right? Here’s what to consider.

    The importance of retirement accounts

    Ramsey’s advice is based on a number of suppositions that may not reflect the real financial status of the average retiree.

    Inflation will eat away at the value of your retirement savings, and it’s very possible that your retirement years could coincide with a period of higher inflation.

    That’s not to mention the stock market’s volatility. Many experts believe a consistent 12% return, like Ramsey has optimistically said mutual funds can deliver, may not be likely.

    Suze Orman’s advice, on the other hand, is more conservative. She advises retirees to withdraw as little as possible from their savings, which is a safer approach.

    Either expert would argue that the best way to make your money last in retirement is to start saving as early and as aggressively as you can.

    One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.

    Gold has historically acted as a hedge against inflation, and many professional investors such as Ben Mallah and Peter Schiff tout it as a solid alternative investment to the stock market and way to diversify your IRA as the price of gold continues to rise.

    To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.

    Before you begin investing however, you need a plan. And while Ramsey and Orman make good points on withdrawal strategy, you may need help that’s more tailored to your personal situation. If you’re unsure of how to navigate planning for retirement on your own, calling a professional give you some peace of mind.

    Advisor.com simplifies the search process by connecting individuals with an exclusive network of fiduciary advisors, each dedicated to transparency and held to high ethical standards.

    All you have to do is answer a few simple questions regarding your finances and long-term goals, and Advisor.com will connect you with a vetted expert near you who is best suited for your needs. You can then set up a free, no-obligation consultation to see if they’re the right fit for you.

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    Boost your existing savings

    If you’re already in retirement, you may want to follow Ramsey’s advice on growing your existing savings with safe vehicles like mutual funds. However, many retirees have not considered the benefits of certificates of deposit, whose returns can now exceed 5%.

    Between 2008 and 2022, when certificate of deposit rates were practically zero, and their appeal to investors about the same, they fell out of favour. But since the Fed started aggressively raised interest rates to combat inflation, certificates of deposits (CDs) have become a hot topic once more. And even though rates are slowly coming back down, these accounts are still worth a look.

    A certificate of deposit is a low-risk savings account that could earn as much interest as a high-yield savings account, possibly more. However, to earn that higher rate, you’ll have to park your money in the account for a certain period of time.

    With MyBankTracker you can shop and compare top certificates of deposit rates from various banks nationwide.

    Their extensive database shows the most competitive rates, with daily rate updates and personalized recommendations based on your risk preferences and time horizon so you can find the right CD to meet your retirement savings goals.

    Parking your savings in these short-term growth funds will allow you to plan year-to-year and continue to grow your savings when you’re on a fixed income.

    You can check out Moneywise’s Best High Yield Savings Accounts of 2025 to find some savvy savings options that earn you more than the national average of 0.4% APY.

    Invest for passive income in retirement

    Dave Ramsey is a huge advocate for finding new passive income streams to pay down debt and build savings. While much of his advice is focused on finding a lucrative side hustle, for those in their golden years, a more relaxed approach may be easier to incorporate.

    One of the easiest ways to grow your savings and portfolio is through Acorns, an automated investing and saving platform that simplifies the process of setting aside extra funds.

    When you spend on anything — groceries, gas, or bills — Acorns automatically rounds up the price to the nearest dollar and deposits the difference into a smart investment portfolio for you, allowing you to grow your wealth without even thinking about it.

    You can also customize how you save.

    With an Acorns Silver plan, you get access to Acorns Later, a retirement investment account with a 1% IRA match on new contributions.

    You can also opt for Acorns Gold plan, which offers a 3% IRA match on new contributions and the ability to customize your portfolio by selecting your own stocks.

    Sign up now and for a limited time you’ll get a $20 bonus investment.

    What to read next

    Money doesn’t have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. Join now.

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Hundreds of homeowners in New Hampshire have had their property sold out from under them by scammers since 2019. Here’s how to protect yourself from quit claim fraud

    The FBI in Boston reports that between 2019 and 2023, New Hampshire homeowners were scammed out of more than $4 million in quit claim deed fraud.

    Quit claim deeds transfer an owner’s interest in a property to another party and releases the owner from any future claims of ownership over the property. Scammers can forge these deeds in order to sell the property, take out a mortgage, or rent it to unsuspecting tenants.

    Local ABC news station WMUR 9 in New Hampshire reported that 239 people were victims of deed fraud in between 2019 and 2023 and that homeowners must take steps to protect themselves — particularly if they own any vacant properties. Here’s what to know and how to ensure you’re not the victim of this kind of scam.

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    How the quit claim deed scam works

    The FBI reports that scams of this type tend to target vacant lands or homes, properties with liens, or vacation homes and properties owned by people living out of state.

    Here’s how it works: Scammers called ‘title pirates’ forge documents for the quit claim deed transfer without your knowledge. They then attempt to have the forged documents recorded with the county’s register of deeds. They also forge identification to take advantage of remote closings, so they never have to present themselves in person.

    The scammers look for properties using public records, searching for vacant parcels of land, or properties that don’t have a mortgage. They can impersonate the owner and contact an unsuspecting real estate agent to list the property. Many homeowners whose properties have been listed for sale don’t find out until after the sale has gone through.

    The FBI found that some victims are even elderly family members of the fraudster. These relatives are convinced to transfer the property into the name of the scammer without a clear understanding of their rights.

    While unoccupied properties are the most common targets, it’s possible for fraudsters to target your family home. If you are the victim of this type of scam, also known as home title theft, you may find yourself heading to court to prove that you’re the legitimate owner of the property.

    “Folks across the region are having their roots literally pulled out from under them and are being left with no place to call home. They’re suffering deeply personal losses that have inflicted a significant financial and emotional toll, including shock, anger and even embarrassment,” said Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division. “We are urging the public to heed this warning and to take proactive steps to avoid losing your property. Anyone who is a victim of this type of fraud should report it to us.”

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    How to avoid becoming a victim of title theft

    According to the FBI report, many victims of this kind of scam don’t know where to report it, or are too embarrassed to come forward. Some may not even realize they’ve been scammed.

    Nationwide, 58,141 victims reported $1.3 billion in losses relating to real estate fraud between 2019 and 2023. Massachusetts is a hotbed of real estate crime, with 1,576 victims losing $46,269,818 in that time period.

    One of the best ways to protect yourself is to ensure you have a Homeowner’s Policy of Title Insurance. Realtor.com reports that while traditional title insurance policies protect against fraud before a purchase happens, this newer protection covers theft after you own the property.

    They note that while insurance can’t prevent scammers from forging a deed in the first place, a comprehensive policy puts the onus on the insurance company to resolve the fake title claim in court.

    You can also pay for a service to monitor your title, or register with your county to be alerted if any documents are filed in your name. A growing number of counties are offering this service for free in response to the rising rate of fraud.

    Finally, the Attorney General’s Office also recommends that homeowners regularly visit their properties and ask neighbours to check in periodically on any vacant homes. You can also set up a Google alert for your address to see if it shows up on realtor websites and check social media regularly for the same reason.

    If you need to report deed fraud, you can call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-468-4454.

    What to read next

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • ‘There ought to be consequences’: This Houston man is suing the state over nearby roadwork that has dragged on for 10 years, costing him customers and a business

    ‘There ought to be consequences’: This Houston man is suing the state over nearby roadwork that has dragged on for 10 years, costing him customers and a business

    Road construction is always disruptive. But for Houston businessman Kent Edwards, years-long roadwork has cost him so much that he’s suing the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

    “This is a long-term saga going back to 2015 for me,” Edwards told Moneywise.

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    Edwards has run Motorcars Limited, his restoration shop for luxury and classic cars, on Hempstead Road since the mid ’80s. As he shared with KHOU, it used to be full of cars. Now it’s nearly empty. It’s hard for customers to drive in.

    That’s because for 10 years, Hempstead Road has been under construction with repeated roadwork delays and no end date in sight. Edwards has not only lost customers but had to sell a commercial property across the street when all his tenants moved out due to the disruption.

    As for his auto body shop, “I can’t sell it. I can’t rent it. I can’t do anything with it.”

    Now he’s filed an “inverse condemnation” lawsuit against TxDOT seeking compensation for lost profits and business damages.

    Meanwhile, the road construction is also costing the state a lot of money. TxDOT has to pay for ongoing delays with tax dollars. What is TxDOT doing to recover the cost of delays?

    State charges, then refunds, road contractors for cost of delays

    KHOU reported that when a roadwork project is past due, the state is within its right to charge the contractor damages. In the case of the roadwork outside Edwards’ business, those damages amount to $1.7 million.

    But as the news outlet discovered, as soon as TxDOT charges contractors for these damages, it regularly reverses course and waives the costs, crediting money back to the same contractors.

    In the past three years, TxDOT charged roadwork contractors $88 million in damages, but credited them back $39 million. In some cases, the credits were almost equal to the damages, essentially negating the cost to contractors.

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    “There ought to be consequences,” said Adrian Shelley of the government watchdog group Public Citizen. “If there’s no consequences for delays, they’re going to keep happening, right? It’s that simple."

    TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams told KHOU that contractors are not being let off the hook, but that contractors dispute the damages, claiming legitimate reasons for delays, like bad weather.

    “We work very hard to hold those contractors accountable,” he said. “We want the projects … to be done right, to be done on time, but we also are fair.”

    What can small business owners do?

    But Edwards doesn’t think TxDOT is being fair to business owners.

    “I don’t think it’s acceptable at all,” he said.

    In other parts of Texas, city councils offer financial assistance to business owners affected by construction.

    San Antonio City Council has earmarked $1.4 million for businesses in construction zones to help them with advertising and operating costs — during and after construction.

    For small businesses across the U.S., the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network offers tools and resources to help owners stay afloat, including advice on filing for tax credits and incentives and information on commercial tenant protections.

    Small business owners can also reach out to their local community organizations and business development councils for support and to organize cross-promotional activities to keep the community aware that the business is open while construction continues.

    What to read next

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • ‘It’s very upsetting’: Pennsylvania woman allegedly stole $50K after telling tenants she was helping her mother collect their rent — but now it’s not clear who’ll end up paying the price

    ‘It’s very upsetting’: Pennsylvania woman allegedly stole $50K after telling tenants she was helping her mother collect their rent — but now it’s not clear who’ll end up paying the price

    Annette Anderson of York County Pennsylviania is accused of theft by deception and theft by unlawful taking after allegedly scamming the tenants of the 23 rental properties into giving her their rent payments each month.

    News station 21 News reports that Anderson began assisting her elderly mother in 2024 by collecting rent payments for the 23 rental properties her mother managed. However, her mother was not the owner of the properties — she was simply overseeing them on behalf of a separate landlord.

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    By October of that year, Anderson had allegedly stopped handing over the rent money to her mother, instead claiming she was keeping it safe at home. In April 2025, Anderson’s mother told the property owner that she hadn’t received payments in months. Officials said that the owner then attempted to contact Anderson directly several times before finally involving the police.

    While the police were able to contact Anderson at the time, she has allegedly gone on the run.

    Tenants outraged

    Tenants of Anderson’s mother’s units reacted with shock when they learned of Anderson’s charges.

    “Knowing a person like that took money from people like us, and, you know, us trusting her and sending out payments like that, yeah it’s upsetting, it’s very upsetting," said renter Annette Martinez, who is not related to Anderson.

    The York City Police Department found that several tenants had not only paid rent to Anderson, but also their fees for sewage and trash. They also found that she had asked them to pay their rent by Venmo or CashApp in addition to the usual cashier’s check or cash.

    The situation has many in the neighborhood worried, as some tenants say they’re now at risk of losing their homes. “People going in the street, a lot of people are going homeless because the rent is going too high,” said Gilberto Rivera in an interview with local news station 21 News.

    The police told 21 News that Anderson said she was “ashamed” of her actions when they contacted her about the investigation. She said she was involved in gambling at a local casino.

    According to the report, she assured police she would be able to pay the money by April 28, and was looking to get help for her gambling problem. However, she has been unreachable since that time, and police say her whereabouts are unknown.

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    Tenants may still owe rent despite paying

    It’s unclear right now how the building owner plans to deal with the theft. Martinez told 21 News that the owners of the properties Anderson’s mother managed have hired new personnel to collect rents, and have issued letters that state their intention to “work this out.”

    In a similar case in Tennessee in 2023, tenants were told by their rental company that the theft of their rent payments wasn’t their fault, but they were still expected to pay the company again for the stolen amounts. With a record of all payments, tenants can report to the police and have a strong case to retain a lawyer to contest the demand for additional rent payments.

    In the case of Anderson’s mother, she may be on the hook for the payments collected by her daughter, especially if the checks issued by tenants were not tampered with and are correctly made out to her.

    How to protect yourself from rental scams

    If you are a victim of this type of crime, you can contact your state’s rental board. Some states, like New York, have a Housing and Tenant Protection Unit (HTPU), which is a branch of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

    In cases like this, tenants are advised to ensure they have a paper trail for all rent paid. This allows the police to accurately assess how much was stolen, and also for the tenant to prove to the management company and building owner that they paid their rent in good faith.

    Law firm Kimball, Tirey and St. John advises landlords and property managers on their blog to avoid the possibility of theft by upgrading to more modern and secure methods of collecting rents, including accepting online payments, or taking payments by machine at the office during business hours. Property owners can also demand that managers only accept payments by secure means in their contract agreements, and include other provisions on how rents are collected and paid to protect their interests in the buildings they own.

    What to read next

    Money doesn’t have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. Join now.

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.