Author: Victoria Vesovski

The U.S. Department of Justice has charged six people — including a fraud investigator with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) — for allegedly orchestrating “one of the largest food stamp scams in U.S. history,” siphoning tens of millions from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the group ran a fraudulent network of about 160 unauthorized electronic benefit transfer (EBT) terminals across the New York area. These machines processed more than $30 million in illegal SNAP transactions, part of a larger scheme that generated an estimated $66 million in unauthorized benefits.

Don’t miss

• I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now

Prosecutors allege that the group accepted bribes and submitted fraudulent USDA applications to obtain SNAP approval for unqualified stores. One of the defendants, USDA employee Arlasa Davis, is accused of selling confidential government information to the very criminals she was meant to stop.

“This fraud was made possible when USDA employee Arlasa Davis betrayed the public trust by selling confidential government information to the very criminals she was supposed to catch,” U.S. Attorney Perry Carbone said in a press release. “Their actions undermined a program that vulnerable New Yorkers depend on for basic nutrition.”

What is SNAP?

SNAP — formerly known as the food stamp program — is the country’s largest federal nutrition assistance program. It provides monthly benefits to help low-income families buy groceries and reduce food insecurity, serving an average of 42.1 million people per month in 2023.

In fiscal year 2023, the federal government allocated nearly $112.8 billion to SNAP, according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service. About 94% of that went directly to households trying to keep food on the table. The remaining 6% covered state administrative costs, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

But questions about oversight are growing. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins told Fox Business she believes that 20 to 30% of the program’s annual funding — now estimated closer to $200 billion — may be lost to fraud. The recently uncovered $66 million scheme, she says, is “just the tip of the spear.”

“It’s time for real, effective change,” Rollins said.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

An inside job

Federal officials say the scheme began back in 2019, when Michael Kehoe allegedly created a network to supply unauthorized EBT terminals to small businesses across the New York area.

According to prosecutors, Kehoe and his associates falsified USDA applications, misused license numbers and altered key documents to get fraudulent retailers approved for SNAP.

Kehoe and Davis are among six people now facing charges for conspiracy to steal government funds and misappropriate USDA benefits. The others include Mohamad Nawafleh, Omar Alrawashdeh, Gamal Obaid and Emad Alrawashdeh.

But this case isn’t an isolated case. A separate FOX10 investigation found that thousands of families in Alabama were recently targeted in another EBT fraud scheme.

Between September and December 2024, more than $12.4 million was stolen from EBT cardholders, according to the Alabama Department of Human Resources. More than 373,000 households in the state rely on those benefits. Despite high-profile cases, fraud within SNAP is relatively rare. The introduction of EBT cards in the late 1990s replaced paper coupons, making benefits more secure and harder to misuse. As a result, SNAP fraud declined from about 4 cents on the dollar in 1993 to approximately 1 cent by 2006, and even lower in subsequent years.

As the investigation unfolds — and new fraud cases emerge across the U.S. — officials warn that similar scams may still be operating, adding pressure on government agencies to tighten oversight of vital aid programs.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

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

Martha’s Vineyard may be best known as a summer escape — coffee shops with handwritten menus, boutiques selling $80 sun hats, summer romances and lobster rolls treated like currency.

But for 23-year-old Tyla Packish, it’s not a vacation destination, it’s home. She lives year-round in Oak Bluffs, her hometown on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Don’t miss

• I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now

While the tourists pack up after Labor Day, Packish sticks around to work remotely through the off-season, when even the ice cream shops go into hibernation.

“I think one of the biggest myths about Martha’s Vineyard is that every single person that lives here is super wealthy and owns a mansion,” she told CNBC Make It. “But really it’s a bunch of normal people with rich people that visit sometimes.”

But even though she makes about $85,000 a year, she admits: “I wouldn’t be able to live on Martha’s Vineyard with my salary.”

Here’s how she’s been making island life work after the summer buzz fades away.

A side hustle helps make ends meet in high-cost areas

Packish pulls in a combined income of around $85,000 thanks to her $67,000 full-time ad agency job and an $18,000-a-year side hustle managing and consulting on social media for local businesses, something she started doing in college.

She’s one of almost 40% of Americans with a side hustle, according to a LendingTree survey. Of those, 61% report that they had to get a side gig to make ends meet.

On top of her side hustle, Parkish has another big advantage that helps her stay afloat in the high-cost community.

The 23-year-old has been living with her parents and is currently living rent-free in an apartment her father owns during off-season in Martha’s Vineyard.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

For those who live in a high-priced area but don’t have that kind of support, finding a roommate or relocating to a more affordable area — even temporarily — could be a smart financial move.

Budgeting for the short-term and long-term

Packish isn’t lounging her rent-free lifestyle away. Instead of spending her extra cash on indulgences, she’s building a financial cushion.

“I figured, why not start early?” she says. “And then when there are years where I’m learning how to pay rent and budget and things like that, I don’t have to worry about my retirement or saving.”

In February 2025 alone, Packish contributed $1,583 to a Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA. Last year, she maxed out her IRA at $7,000 and tucked away more than $10,000 into a 401(k).

That’s on top of covering her everyday costs — about $705 a month on discretionary spending like travel, home goods and the occasional eye exam plus around $551 on groceries and dining out.

This summer, she’ll be using some of her financial cushion to advance her career. In August, Packish is planning to move across the country to Los Angeles for her job.

If you’re looking to get your finances in order like Packish, the first step is choosing a budgeting method that feels sustainable.

The 50/30/20 rule. This method may work for people who like some structure with a side of flexibility. You divide your income into three buckets: 50% for essentials, 30% for lifestyle spending and the 20% for savings and debt repayment.

Zero-based budgeting. This approach will appeal to people who want full control over their cash and can work a spreadsheet. In zero-based budgeting, every dollar you earn is assigned a job — whether to pay down bills, build savings or treat yourself to a night out.

As Packish spreads her wings and heads west, she’s doing it with more than just a suitcase — she’s bringing a plan. One that’s built for change, but grounded in stability.

“I could see myself maybe coming back here when I’m older, maybe to raise a family,” she says.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

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

When TikTok user Julia Lutz was told it would cost $500 to replace her car’s broken sun visor, she didn’t just take the quote at face value — she took matters into her own hands. Armed with a $50 part from Amazon, a screwdriver and a couple of how-to videos, she pulled off the repair herself.

“I found a replacement on Amazon for $50,”she said in her recent TikTok.“About to watch probably like two TikToks, maybe a YouTube video — I’m going to replace this.”

Lutz ended up saving $450 by skipping the shop — and she’s not alone. As car technology gets more advanced, repair prices are climbing. Maintenance and repair costs rose 4.1% annually from 2013 to 2023, outpacing the 2.8% average inflation rate, as reported by CNBC.

While prices vary depending on the make and model, more Americans are noticing a gap between what shops charge and what the repair actually costs — and many are starting to wonder: Should I just fix it myself?

Don’t miss

• I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now

The going rate

Lutz’s repair quote may have seemed steep — but she’s far from alone. The comment section flooded with similar struggles, sharing sky-high bills for what they say were relatively minor fixes.

One Toyota owner said she was quoted $650 to replace a window regulator — a part she later bought for just $50. Another chimed in and wrote, ““I got quoted to change my serpentine belt for $400 when a belt is $30 at autozone, so I did it myself. I am no mechanic but YouTube is the best teacher I ever had.”

These stories echo a broader trend of the rising labor and parts cost. In 2019, the average labor rate for auto repairs was below $50 an hour, according to repair software firm Mitchell as reported by CNBC. By the end of 2023, that figure had jumped to nearly $60. Much of that increase came in the post-pandemic years, as repair demand slowed, skilled techs left the industry and parts prices surged due to global shipping disruptions.

“If cars are to be affordable, they must also be affordable to maintain,”Alan Amici, president and CEO of the Center for Automotive Research, told CNBC. “And they must be affordable to repair, or else we’re going to have fewer vehicle sales. So I think the automakers are going to be motivated to drive those costs down.”

The recent tariffs are only adding fuel to this fire. The Trump administration has added a 25% tariff to all imported auto parts — from engines to electrical components — making even basic repairs more expensive for everyday drivers. And while more recently, a U.S. federal court has blocked Trump’s broader plan to impose global trade tariffs, not all tariffs are off the table and the policy keeps changing. Existing duties on steel, aluminum and auto imports under a separate law — the Trade Expansion Act’s Section 232 — still stand, meaning drivers aren’t in the clear just yet.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Take control of your next repair bill

You can’t control the economy — or the rising cost of car parts — but you can control how you budget for your next repair bill.

When Lutz’s car needed work, she skipped the mechanic and turned to Amazon for parts and YouTube for guidance. DIY can save you hundreds — especially for simpler fixes like window regulators or serpentine belts. But when it comes to major repairs like engines or transmissions, it’s usually smarter (and safer) to leave it to the pros.

Consumer Reports cautions that while DIY jobs might offer short-term savings, mistakes can cost you more in the long run. It may also mean voiding possible warranties, so be sure to first check what your DIY repair might impact. That said, working with a mechanic doesn’t mean paying full price.

According to a Consumer Reports survey, many independent shops and national chains were rated highly for offering discounts and being open to negotiation. Dealerships, on the other hand, didn’t score well when it came to affordability or flexibility.

And, of course, it’s important not to ignore the warning signs. If your car starts squealing, leaking or making mysterious new noise, get it checked out sooner rather than later. Catching problems early can be another way to save you even more in the long run.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

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

It’s not every day a stranger insists on handing you a $20 bill you didn’t drop. But for Sarah — whose last name has been withheld, as reported by Fox LA — that’s exactly what happened on an ordinary Wednesday afternoon at a Ralphs grocery store in Van Nuys.

"He came much closer to me and was kind of pushing the $20 into my wallet," Sarah recalled. "I said, ‘No, I don’t think I did.’"

Don’t miss

• I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now

At first, it could have been a strange but harmless mix-up. That is, until Sarah noticed the man was suddenly joined by a woman — both of them following her to her car, pressing the cash on her with unsettling persistence. What felt like an awkward moment quickly turned into a coordinated scam. When Sarah checked her wallet, her cash was intact, but her debit card was gone.

Within 30 minutes, the thieves had made multiple withdrawals from Sarah and her daughter, Jennifer’s bank account from a Chase branch.

Unfortunately, Sarah and Jennifer aren’t alone. Distraction scams have been popping up across the country. Here’s how to spot the red flags.

Be on the lookout

Distraction scams don’t come with flashing red lights, they come with kindness and confusion. These types of scams are built on flustering you just enough to make you vulnerable. This involves a stranger creating a diversion — like insisting you dropped a $20 bill — while an accomplice steals something like your wallet or debit card.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from the year before. While that includes a mix of schemes, distraction scams are rising, especially in places we least expect it like grocery store lines.

"It’s a huge violation," Sarah said. "I feel like I’m looking over my shoulder everywhere I go. It’s just horrible."

Jennifer, Sarah’s daughter, filed a police report and shared the story online — and the responses came flooding in. Dozens of people chimed in with eerily similar experiences, revealing just how widespread the scam really is.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

What you can do to protect yourself

For Jennifer, a teacher with a limited income, falling victim to a scam wasn’t just an inconvenience, it had immediate financial consequences. "My money is gone, and I had just gotten paid," she told Fox LA. As living expenses continue to rise, incidents like this can disrupt far more than a day’s routine.

And yet, that’s why scams like these are so effective, often appearing as benign interactions. “You need to understand the hallmarks of most scams: They contact you first, dangle some sort of bait in front of you and create a sense of urgency,” Jason Zirkle, training director at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, told Nerd Wallet.

Remaining aware of your surroundings is key. Trusting your instincts, keeping personal belongings securely fastened and not hesitating to report suspicious behavior — whether to a store manager or law enforcement — can serve as your first line of defense.

And if you do find yourself in Sarah and Jennifer’s position, it’s important to take action. The first step is to contact your bank or card issuer immediately to freeze the account to prevent further transactions. Most banks offer 24/7 fraud hotlines and mobile app features to lock your card with just a tap. Next, file a fraud report with your financial institution so they can begin investigating the unauthorized charges. This also increases your chances of recovering any lost funds.

Be sure to file a police report as well, which not only helps authorities track patterns of criminal activity but may also be required by your bank for reimbursement.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

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

Some of the country’s top earners are building quiet empires — not on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley, but in ordinary places.

“We call it the stealthy wealthy,” Owen Zidar, a Princeton economist who has studied the group with University of Chicago economist Eric Zwick, told The Wall Street Journal.

Don’t miss

• I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now

Forget IPO parties — these fortunes were built on floor mats and carpet strippers, not stock tickers.

And it’s not just the founders who benefit. These unassuming companies are increasingly shaping America’s wealth landscape. Business ownership made up 34.9% of income for the top 1% in 2022 — up from 30.3% in 2014, according to Zidar and Zwick.

Big money from ‘boring’ businesses

You don’t need an MBA to make millions — just a knack for spotting a gap and filling it. Take Derek Olson, who found success by making machines that tear up flooring, such as the carpet in old elementary schools. With schools across the U.S. averaging seven miles of carpet each, Olson’s company stays busy, especially in the summer.

“So elementary schools basically need their floors redone almost every summer. It’s this niche industry that no one knows about and everybody needs,” he told The Wall Street Journal. Olson now earns enough to land in the top 1% of U.S. income earners — that’s at least $550,000 a year, not including capital gains.

Olson’s “boring” business has brought his family anything but a boring life. The family has two Range Rovers and month-long summer getaways in Europe — all funded by a midsize regional company most people would overlook.

The Olson family isn’t the only case where “boring” turned into big bucks.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

David MacNeil built his fortune selling car floor mats. Before founding WeatherTech, he worked a string of blue-collar jobs, dropped out of college and even sold luxury cars. But it wasn’t until a 1989 trip to Scotland that inspiration struck: after renting a car with superior rubber mats that kept mud and water contained, MacNeil realized the U.S. market was missing out.

Back home in Chicago, he cold-called the English manufacturer, struck a deal and took out a second mortgage to import a 20-foot shipping container of mats. He started selling them from his garage.

Today, WeatherTech employs 1,800 people in Bolingbrook, Illinois, and manufactures nearly all of its products in the U.S. MacNeil expects the company to pull in about $800 million in revenue this year. Like Olson, MacNeil saw value where others saw something forgettable, and turned it into a manufacturing empire.

The best business ideas are hiding in plain sight

If you want to follow in the footsteps of some of these millionaires, start by looking around and asking yourself: What’s a small but persistent headache in your day-to-day life? What annoys your family, your friends or your coworkers? Maybe it’s the way your dog’s leash tangles, or how long it takes to clean grout.

According to Smart Startups authors Catalina Daniels and James Sherman, those everyday gripes are ripe with potential.

“You search for things that are interesting, trends, things you’re passionate about, whatever — but no lightbulb moment,” Daniels told CNBC Make It. In other words, great ideas rarely arrive with fireworks.

And don’t overlook your own passions. If you’re a diehard sports fan, for example, zoom in on a specific sport you love. Is there a product, service or experience missing from the market? The sweet spot is where your interests and a real need intersect — that’s where niche ideas tend to thrive.

And while oversaturated markets like fashion, tech or content creation might feel like the obvious place to start, they’re also the most competitive. Instead, consider carving out your own lane in an overlooked niche. The goal isn’t to go viral — it’s to be valuable.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

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

The City of Oakland has cleared a large homeless encampment on East 12th Street, relocating about 70 people to the Mandela House — a former hotel turned shelter, now funded through a state grant.

The move marks one of the city’s most visible steps toward addressing homelessness, a crisis that has more than doubled in Oakland over the past decade.

Don’t miss

• I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now

Driven by rising rents, stagnant wages and a chronic shortage of affordable housing, more than 4,000 people in the city are currently unhoused.

Oakland officials say the clearance is part of a broader push to connect unhoused residents with long-term housing support. It follows Governor Gavin Newsom’s rollout of a model ordinance aimed at helping cities respond to what he calls the “dangerous” and “unhealthy” conditions of encampments.

“There’s nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets,” Newsom said in a press release. “Local leaders asked for resources — we delivered the largest state investment in history.”

As Oakland aligns with statewide efforts to address homelessness, the impact of encampment closures — and whether they help — remains at the center of the conversation.

Homelessness in Oakland

California’s homelessness crisis has reached a breaking point. According to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 187,000 people were homeless in the state last year — nearly 24% of the entire nation’s unhoused population. The pressure is mounting on state and local leaders to act fast.

In response, Newsom announced $3.3 billion in new funding to help cities expand access to housing and treatment for the state’s most vulnerable.

Cities like Oakland and San Francisco are rolling out targeted interventions. San Francisco’s newly elected mayor, Daniel Lurie, has pledged to tackle homelessness head-on. Oakland is already home to the Community Cabins program — a shelter initiative offering small, two-person cabins built on public land.

These temporary shelters focus on stabilization and connecting residents to long-term support. The program has seen high participation rates, largely because cabins are built near existing encampments, allowing people to stay close to familiar spaces.

“Oakland’s Cabin Community model is one of the most promising and cost-effective homeless shelter innovations I’ve seen,” said Trent Rhorer, executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Is this the only solution?

City officials say closing the East 12th Street encampment is a step forward, but community reactions suggest a more complicated reality.

Some residents and business owners say they’re relieved to see the area cleared, calling it a long-standing source of frustration.

"I was driving by, and I was shocked to see the whole encampment was clean," said Veleda, an Oakland resident, in an interview with Fox KTVU. "It was an eyesore, and it was very hard for them to tackle it."

But homeless advocates say that while shelters like Mandela House or Community Cabins represent a step in the right direction, the process of clearing encampments often unfolds with little warning and limited resources.

"People lost medication, people lost their IDs, people lost their phones, people lost their clothing, their food," Needa Bee, director of the homeless advocacy group, The Village, told Fox KTVU. According to Bee, she was able to reconnect with 54 individuals from the East 12th encampment — none of whom were offered housing options before the site was cleared.

The city maintains that shelter space was made available at Mandela House. But advocates argue the outreach efforts fell short, and question how effective these emergency responses really are in the long term.

With growing pressure to “clean up” encampments, cities risk swapping long-term solutions for short-term optics — and sidelining the very people these efforts claim to support.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

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

It’s the last thing maternal advocates want to hear, but former Senior Advisor to the President Elon Musk — the father of 14 — has repeatedly warned that declining birth rates around the world threaten civilization.

Yet under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), billions in funding for maternal health care, research and community support programs have been cut, leaving health providers scrambling and expectant mothers without critical care.

Don’t miss

• I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now

Sevonna Brown, a Brooklyn-based maternal health advocate and founder of Sanctuary Medicine, had to stop her work almost overnight after DOGE froze more than $2 million in federal funding tied to her initiative.

Echoing Brown’s sentiment is Emilie Rodriguez, co-founder of The Bridge Directory. She underscored the perceived hypocrisy.

“We can’t claim to care about birthrates while defunding the very systems that make pregnancy, birth and parenting safe,” she told Forbes.

While critics say Musk’s policies are removing the safety net from under the very people who are growing the next generation, it can be a more costly initiative in the long run.

Cuts without care

On April 1, thousands of employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were laid off as part of a policy targeting 10,000 agency-wide jobs. The cuts hit agencies like the FDA, CDC and NIH — the same institutions responsible for overseeing everything from prenatal research to postpartum support.

One former employee told Politico she had carpooled into the office that morning, only to find herself locked out.

“We got completely blindsided this morning,” the staffer told Politico. “People were already on the way to the office when they found out.”

The Trump administration defended the measures, describing them as necessary steps towards streamlining an inefficient bureaucracy. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized that the goal is to eliminate redundant programs, which the HHS is expected to save $1.8 billion annually.

However, the cuts are being felt nationwide, with studies on maternal health being abandoned. Columbia University’s NY-CHAMP Center of Excellence program planned to enroll 600 participants for 2025, but was only able to fund 21. That was only after they secured private funding due to government funds being frozen. It’s too soon — and the sample size is too small — to tell how much of an impact the loss of funding will have on CHAMP’s studies.

Kennedy has acknowledged the importance of women’s health funding, stating that programs like the Women’s Health Initiative are crucial. In a sea change, the HHS said it won’t slash funding for the Women’s Health Initiative.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

The billion-dollar question

As DOGE cuts funding for maternal care, advocates argue the case for women’s health isn’t just moral — it’s economic.

A study by Women’s Health Access Matters found that $300 million in research across three major diseases could generate $13 billion in economic returns. Experts say government-backed research often lays the foundation for private-sector breakthroughs. Right now, that foundation is cracking.

“Women’s health research is not being invested in at the level of the private sector, " said Lindsey Miltenberger, the chief advocacy officer at the Society for Women’s Health Research. “Making sure that is prioritized in the federal government is really important for creating that foundational research that can then be picked up by the private sector and commercialized.”

Dr. Uma Reddy, who led the now-underfunded NY-CHAMP study, said her team’s interventions likely saved the government money by helping women avoid serious and costly health crises.

“We can address this,” Reddy told Politico. “We can improve maternal health by preventing these mental health conditions, complications … and improve families and children’s lives, and it’s cost-effective.”

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

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

It’s easy to fall for the charm and potential of a place like Minden, Louisiana — just ask Sara McDaniel.

In 2020, she came across an opportunity to purchase an eight-unit, villa-style apartment complex that had been abandoned for nearly 40 years. By then, McDaniel was no stranger to real estate; she already owned over 20 properties, ranging from short-term rentals to vacant land.

Don’t miss

• I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now

“The villas weren’t my first rodeo with abandoned properties,” McDaniel told CNBC Make It. “But this project really pushed my skill set.”

In 2021, she purchased what would become The Villas at Spanish Court for $51,306, using her savings to pay for it. But was dipping into her savings to invest in a long-neglected property really worth it?

Falling for potential

McDaniel wasn’t just chasing financial freedom — she was sprinting toward it. As a devotee of the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement, she embraced extreme saving and strategic investing to achieve early retirement. The premise is to save aggressively, invest wisely and eventually live off small withdrawals from a carefully built portfolio — typically around 3% to 4% — or supplement with part-time work.

For McDaniel, real estate was her golden ticket. In her early 30s, she started saving nearly 50% of her income to build a life of freedom and flexibility.

“I was very confident when we closed the deal. But it wasn’t long thereafter that I literally started having panic attacks wondering, ‘What in the world did I get myself into?’” McDaniel admitted. While real estate can be a smart path to financial independence, it’s not exactly a fairy tale. Market shifts and unforeseen expenses can turn a dream investment into a cautionary tale.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

An unexpected surprise

What seemed like a promising investment quickly turned into a financial nightmare. The charm of the apartments faded fast when ceilings began caving in and bullet holes in the windows hinted at deeper structural and safety issues.

Only after closing the deal did McDaniel realize she had skipped a crucial step — an environmental hazard assessment. To bring the properties up to livable standards, she had to pour in far more money than she’d planned. She sold another investment property for $175,364, added $8,000 from other income streams, secured a $202,725 interim construction loan and took out a permanent mortgage of $290,710.

When the villas were fully restored 18 months later, the total cost had ballooned to $729,885.

McDaniel’s experience highlights a hard truth about real estate investing: what looks like a great deal can quickly become a financial drain. Rushing into an investment without fully evaluating the risks can end up costing far more than the purchase price.

Despite the setbacks, by 2024, the villas were fully booked for approximately 1,300 nights at an average rate of $143 per night, generating a total revenue of $224,133 for the year.

Getting into the market

Real estate can be a great investment, but not everyone wants to deal with renovations, maintenance or surprise expenses that eat into profits. Fortunately, there are ways to tap into the market without purchasing a property outright.

One option is investing in fractional shares of vacation and rental properties, sometimes for as little as $100. This allows investors to gain exposure to real estate without the overhead costs or financial risks associated with full ownership.

For those looking to make a larger investment, commercial real estate can offer strong returns. According to Nolo, commercial properties typically yield an annual return of 6% to 12% of the purchase price, making them an attractive option for portfolio diversification.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

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

If you’ve been ignoring those pesky "suspicious login" alerts in your inbox, now might be the time to pay attention.

Cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler recently discovered an unprotected online database exposing over 184 million records — including email addresses, passwords and login links — stored in plain text. The leaked data is tied to major platforms like Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft and even government and financial services.

“As far as the risk factor here, this is way bigger than most of the stuff I find, because this is direct access into individual accounts,” Fowler told Wired. “This is a cybercriminal’s dream working list.”

The breach could fuel fraud, identity theft and more. So while data leaks might feel like background noise these days, ignoring this one could come back to bite — especially if your Netflix password doubles as your online banking login. Here’s some smart steps you can take to keep your information safe.

Don’t miss

• I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now

The cloud comes at a cost

In 2023, data breaches jumped 72% compared to the year before, but the number of victims actually declined to about 353 million, according to The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) 2024 Annual Data Breach Report. But that all changed in 2024. While the number of breaches remained high, the number of people impacted surged by 312% — a dramatic shift driven by mega-breaches that hit not just companies, but their entire digital ecosystems.

As more companies shift to cloud services like AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure to cut costs, they’re also opening their door to hackers. A recent IBM report found that 82% of data breaches last year involved information stored in the cloud, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

That kind of exposure can carry a hefty price tag — and recent breaches are showing just how costly a single vulnerability can be. Take crypto exchange Coinbase: on May 11, the company received a ransom email after bad actors bribed overseas support agents to steal internal information.

“These insiders abused their access to customer support systems to steal the account data for a small subset of customers,” the company said in a blog post. While the company says it didn’t pay, the breach could cost up to $400 million to fix.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Protecting yourself

Protecting your personal information online doesn’t require a tech degree — but it does take intention.

“This is perhaps a kick in the pants for some people who’ve been a little bit lax in doing some of the things we talk about,” said Teresa Murray of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

Murray suggests changing your passwords now and says one of the easiest things you can do is regularly update your passwords — and never reuse the same one (or even a similar one) across multiple sites. Your primary email and financial accounts should have strong, unique passwords that aren’t used anywhere else.

Murray also recommends freezing your credit files with all three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — and leaving them frozen until you need to make a major purchase. This won’t affect your credit score, but it will make it much harder for criminals to open new accounts in your name.

Another step you can take is to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever it’s available. This adds an extra layer of protection, even if a hacker does get their hands on your login credentials. You can also use free tools like Google’s Password Checkup to see if your information has been compromised in a breach. If it has, update your login credentials as soon as possible.

Finally, sign up for transaction alerts from your credit card provider and make sure your contact details are up to date. When it comes to cybersecurity, vigilance really does pay.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

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

While many high school graduates are celebrating the season with dinners, parties and well-deserved rest, one teen in metro Atlanta marked the milestone a little differently — trading his cap and gown for a shift at Burger King.

Still wearing his graduation medals around his neck, 18-year-old Mykale Baker showed up to work at the Dacula location just hours after receiving his diploma. His decision not only showed commitment but also caught the internet’s attention.

Don’t miss

• I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now

Maria Mendoza, a customer who had just come from her own daughter’s graduation, stopped by the restaurant for a quick burger when she noticed Baker behind the counter. Inspired by his work ethic and touched by the sight of his medals, she filmed a short video and posted it to TikTok, where it quickly went viral, gaining nearly four million views.

But Mendoza didn’t stop there. She also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Baker’s college expenses. What started as a small act of kindness quickly turned into something much bigger: an outpouring of support from strangers across the country. The campaign initially raised just over $6,000, but as of this week, it has grown to more than $87,000.

At a time when headlines about Gen Z often focus on entitlement, Baker’s story stands out for one simple reason: he showed up. And sometimes, just showing up — even when no one’s watching — can change your life.

What a diploma really costs

In Georgia, the state minimum wage is officially listed at $5.15 per hour.

However, most workers are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, which requires employers to pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

At the same time, the cost of attending college in the U.S. keeps climbing. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average annual cost of college, including tuition, books, supplies and living expenses, is $38,270 per student.

For many students working part-time jobs, especially in fast food or retail, those wages make it hard to cover even basic expenses, let alone build meaningful savings for tuition. Balancing school and work often means juggling limited hours and inconsistent income — forcing tough decisions about whether to delay college or take on serious debt.

“I was thinking of taking a gap year because I didn’t have money for school,” Baker told Mendoza’s TikTok followers. “But thank you to all of you now. I might actually go straight to technical college and get my mechanical (degree).”

With the GoFundMe campaign now exceeding its $60,000 goal, Baker is one step closer to turning those college plans into reality.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Follow Baker’s lead

Baker’s story proves that even a part-time fast-food job can open doors — especially when paired with a strong work ethic and a willingness to go the extra mile. Showing up to work on graduation day wasn’t just a sign of dedication. It was a message to others of his drive and determination.

While most part-time workers won’t end up in a viral video, the financial lesson still holds: even small paychecks can make a difference. Whether you’re using them to cover day-to-day expenses, build an emergency fund or chip away at tuition costs, consistency matters.

There are also ways to make those earnings work harder. For example, setting aside a portion of each paycheck into a high-yield savings account can help you take advantage of compounding interest. Even modest contributions — say, $100 a month — can grow over time. It’s not just about saving. It’s about putting your money in the right place so it continues to work for you.

If you’re passionate about a goal, don’t be afraid to share your story. Scholarships and grants often come when people understand what you’re striving for. Hard work rarely goes unnoticed — and sometimes, it pays off in ways you never expected.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

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