Author: Victoria Vesovski

When you can’t find farmhands the old-fashioned way, it might be time to think outside the fence posts.

That’s exactly what the founders of Yellowstone Farmstead did. The agricultural venture, nestled at the Montana side of Yellowstone National Park, began as Shugabeet Farms — a solo project launched by sixth-generation Maine farmer Sage LeBlanc. In 2024, she joined forces with fellow East Coaster Allison Larew, former Garden Director at Chico Hot Springs, to grow their shared dream of a sustainable, community-rooted farm.

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But finding the right team to bring their vision to life wasn’t easy.

“I remember looking at Sage and we had gone through applications and I was like, ‘gosh, I wish we could grab from a bigger pool. I was like, it’s our time to try TikTok,” Larew told 4KXLF News.

After combing through nearly 4,000 TikTok applications, the pair hired 12 new employees — mostly women. The farm has grown to 10 acres since then.

But it wasn’t just social media that brought Yellowstone Farmstead to life. It was their entrepreneurial spirit that turned a shared dream into a thriving, boots-on-the-ground business.

From the desert to the valley

It didn’t take long for word to spread. Within just a few months, a dozen new hires packed up and moved to a remote stretch of Paradise Valley, Montana, leaving behind lives in places like Texas, Oklahoma and even Alaska.

Adriana Lopez was one of them. She left the Tohono O’odham Nation in southern Arizona for her first experience living outside the desert.

“I’ve never left the desert. First time. My family was like, “She’s going where? What is she doing? It was scary. It was a big leap for me,” she said.

To help ease that leap, the farm offered free on-site housing in exchange for just 15 hours of work each week — a perk that’s hard to beat. The founders leaned heavily into social media to find the right people, and it paid off.

Roughly 90% of local businesses now use social media to promote their services, and 78% say it’s crucial for driving revenue, according to Synup’s Social Media Marketing Statistics. For this small operation in Paradise Valley, platforms like TikTok weren’t just a marketing tool — they were the bridge between big dreams and the people who were ready to chase them.

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Planting roots in passion

For Larew and LeBlanc, building a business wasn’t just about making a profit. It was about turning a dream into something tangible. They set out to build something far beyond the average farm, but bringing that vision to life took more than just grit and good intentions.

They secured land through a deal with Church Universal and Triumphant — a group once known for its doomsday prophecies — and rolled up their sleeves to convert former church housing into apartment units for employees. They built greenhouses, plowed fields and planted thousands of seeds — not just in the ground, but in the future they envisioned for themselves.

It’s a workload most would call overwhelming. But when you’re chasing something you believe in, it barely feels like work at all.

“I pinch myself every single day. I really do. This is my life’s work. I don’t care if I ever make a cent,” said Larew.

That kind of passion isn’t just poetic — it’s powerful. Jay Chaudhry, self-made billionaire and founder of cybersecurity firm Zscaler, told CNBC Make It that passion is the real game-changer when it comes to building something that lasts.

“If people don’t have passion,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how much experience they have. It just doesn’t matter for any job. You won’t have that internal drive to keep working toward solving problems and moving ahead.”

Whether you’re planting carrots or coding apps, investing in your passion may just be the most rewarding decision — financially and personally — you’ll ever make.

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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.

As the summer heat kicks in, nothing’s more refreshing than grabbing a cold bottle of water while you’re stuck in traffic. But for some Atlanta drivers, that quick sip has turned into a costly scam draining wallets faster than you can say “Cash App."

So-called water boys — teens who hustle bottled water to passing cars — have been accused of using Cash App to take much more than just a few bucks. Two victims report losing over $1,000 each after believing they were simply being generous.

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Tristen Richardson said her $2 water turned into an unexpected $1,100 charge after she handed her phone over so the seller could “type in the right username.”

"My heart sank because I was like, oh my God, that’s like a big chunk of money," she told Fox 5 Atlanta.

She’s not alone, but your thirst doesn’t have to drain your wallet. Here’s how to avoid falling for the trick and keep your summer spending chill.

A costly lesson for drivers

It’s easy to hand over a few dollars to someone selling bottled water on a sweltering day, but Richardson isn’t the only kind-hearted driver who ended up paying far more than expected.

Earlier this month, Fox 5 Atlanta reported a similar incident involving a QR code, showing scammers are getting more creative by the day. In that case, a woman who asked to remain anonymous said she lost $800 after a group of water boys off Interstate 20 and Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard offered her a QR code when she didn’t have cash on hand.

She intended to tip them $5, but after scanning the code with her phone, $800 vanished from her account without her confirming the amount, entering a PIN or using a fingerprint verification.

"Cash App usually has three methods of verification before any money is sent," she told FOX 5. "None of those three verification methods were utilized. They were all bypassed and $800 just taken out."

It’s unclear how the verification steps were skipped, but experts say scam apps and spoofed links can trick devices into authorizing payments.

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Trust your gut

Most victims say they just wanted to help. They assumed the teens selling water were legit. But experts warn these incidents are part of a growing trend that’s catching unsuspecting Good Samaritans off guard.

Rajiv Garg, a professor of information systems and operations management at Emory University, said phishing scams using QR codes are on the rise as more people rely on digital payments.

"If you don’t see where this QR code is leading you to, it could be a scam," he told Fox 5, adding that the best way to avoid these scams is to learn and follow best practices for online transactions.

If you want to stay safe, here are a few tips: never hand over your phone, no matter how trustworthy someone seems. If you prefer to pay digitally, open your payment app yourself and manually enter the amount and username. And skip scanning random QR codes on the spot.

For peace of mind, keep a few small bills in your glove box. It’s old-school, but it keeps your account details out of the wrong hands. While you’re at it, check your app’s security settings. Enable PIN or fingerprint verification for every transaction. It only takes a few taps, but it can block scammers fast.

Above all, trust your instincts. If someone seems pushy or tries to rush you into paying, roll up your window and drive on. That’s Richardson’s new rule.

"If you’re in Atlanta and you pass by the water boys, I wouldn’t even press my finger on the roll-down window button," she said. "Don’t even bother."

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• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

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.

After turning heads on Big Brother, Amanda Zachman, the self-proclaimed villain of Season 15, stepped out of the spotlight and into real estate, founding brokerage firm MV Realty.

But the controversy she stirred up on the small screen has followed her into her professional career.

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MV Realty’s Homeowner Benefit Program offers homeowners up to $5,000 in exchange for signing an exclusive agreement to use them as their listing agent if they should happen to put their home up for sale. But when those homeowners try to refinance or sell, they’re met with an unexpected reality.

“They find a lot of ways to call something one thing, but it is what it is,” real estate attorney Jennifer Nachtigal told CBS News Texas. “Call it a Homeowners Benefit agreement, but it’s really like an exclusive listing agreement that binds you to basically pay these people whether or not they do any services for you.”

MV Realty is facing lawsuits in 11 other states for its practices, including the use of misleading agreements that can leave homeowners on the hook for thousands of dollars. Here’s why the program is drawing ire and how signing up could come at a cost.

Trapped by the terms

MV Realty’s Homeowner Benefit Program is reportedly structured with terms that can last up to 40 years and may even be passed on to a homeowner’s heirs in the event of a death. Homeowners who exit the agreement could face significant termination fees.

MV Realty is also alleged to file memoranda against properties. A memorandum is a document that, while not legally classified as a lien, can reportedly obstruct refinancing or the sale altogether.

"Texas’ Constitution has strong protections for the homestead, and they don’t allow certain liens to be filed against the homestead," Nachtigal said. "Even if they’re voluntary, even if the homeowner signed the lien themselves."

A review of public real estate records by the CBS News Texas I-Team suggests MV Realty has filed over 500 memoranda across the Dallas–Fort Worth area and more than 1,200 across Texas.

Tanya Shaw is one homeowner who signed a contract with MV Realty. She said MV Realty approached her in 2024, offering around $1,000 in exchange for signing the agreement. Since she had no plans to sell, Shaw admitted she believed it was a safe decision, until a family emergency forced her to refinance her home. That’s when she said she learned about the memorandum filed against her house. Shaw decided to sell her property. But according to her, the contract gave MV Realty six months to secure a buyer. As a remedy, Shaw hired a different agent to expedite the sale — a direct violation of the agreement’s terms. When the home was sold, she said she was required to pay MV Realty $11,000 in addition to the real estate agent fees.

“I felt stupid,” Shaw told CBS News Texas. “Because even though desperate times call for desperate measures, they gave me $1,000. I could have kept my home if I was able to refinance.”

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Signed, sealed and stuck

In September 2023, MV Realty filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing all active Homeowner Benefit Agreements as company assets in its court filing. The CBS News Texas I-Team reached out to company founder Zachman and MV Realty for comment, but neither responded.

While the U.S. Trustee Program said it’s committed to ensuring fair access to the bankruptcy courts, homeowners who signed with MV Realty may find themselves with limited options.

That’s the situation Jonathan Mead found himself in. According to KJCT 8 News, the Colorado Springs homeowner received $1,245 under the agreement, but after seeing media coverage, he began to question the deal. When he received the bankruptcy notice, he hoped it would void the contract. But it didn’t, since homeowners received payment upfront, they aren’t classified as creditors or debtors.

State lawmakers across the country are taking notice. Colorado banned these agreements earlier this year, calling them “predatory.” Over the last two years, more than 22 states have passed similar laws.

In Texas, though, two bills aimed at banning them didn’t make it past the committee stage and into legislation. And the state’s attorney general has yet to take public action, declining to respond to requests for comment from reporters.

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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.

The behind-the-scenes reality wasn’t nearly as glamorous as the show they put on.

Sidhartha “Sammy” Mukherjee and his wife Sunita built their reputation as Bollywood-style performers. Beloved in the community, the couple were more than just entertainers — they were stars.

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But now, investigators say they played a much darker role, one rooted not in music but in manipulation. Authorities believe more than 100 investors may have handed over money to Mukherjee for real estate deals that never existed. When dividend cheques started to bounce, suspicions grew.

"They will make you believe that they are very successful businesspeople," Terry Parvaga, an alleged fraud victim, told CBS News. "But they will take every single penny you have."

At first, police dismissed the complaints as civil disputes. Then a couple came forward, claiming they lost $325,000 in an investment scheme. That’s when Detective Brian Brennan of the Euless Police Department took a closer look.

"As I got into the case and dug into it, we realized that this was a lot larger than what initially was reported," Brennan said.

Here’s how it all unraveled.

Paper trails and red flags

At first glance, the pitch looked legit: remodeling contracts and invoices bearing the Dallas Housing Authority’s name. But when Brennan called the agency to verify the deal, the illusion crumbled; there was no such project.

"All fake," Brennan said. "The level of counterfeit documents … it had to be a full-time job for him to do that."

A new report from IPX1031 found that nearly 30% of Americans have been scammed in 2024, and this case fits right into that growing trend. As the scheme ballooned, Brennan called in the FBI. Forensic accountants traced the cash, uncovering more than $4 million in confirmed losses. So far, 20 victims are on record, but investigators say the real number could top 100.

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A web of scams, not just showbiz

It wasn’t just real estate deals raising eyebrows. According to the arrest affidavit, the couple also used a fake company — complete with fake employees — to apply for a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan. When questioned by the FBI over lunch at a McDonald’s, Mukherjee claimed he didn’t recognize the names on the payroll form tied to his application — a slip-up that sent up serious red flags.

And the paper trail didn’t stop there. Authorities say the couple’s bank accounts were also padded with funds from elderly victims who were targeted with threatening emails that falsely claimed they would go to jail unless they made payments. The FBI warns this isn’t uncommon: in 2024, older Americans lost nearly $4.9 billion to fraud schemes — a 43% jump from the year before.

"In [my] 23 years, [Sammy Mukherjee] is probably the most prolific fraudster I’ve seen," Brennan told the CBS News Texas I-Team. "Tentacles going in all different directions."

Even as investigators closed in, the Mukherjees stayed in the spotlight, headlining a cultural gala under a nonprofit. One problem — tax records show the nonprofit was registered at their own home, the same place where police eventually made the arrest.

The final curtain falls

The spotlight has dimmed on the Mukherjees, and this time, there’s no encore. The couple is now facing a first-degree felony theft charge that could put them behind bars for five to 99 years. After posting a $500,000 bond each, ICE agents showed up at their Plano home and took Sammy into custody.

While the criminal case moves forward, alleged victims remain stuck in financial limbo. The Mukherjees filed for bankruptcy last year, and investigators are still following paper trails to see if any of the missing millions ended up in offshore accounts or crypto wallets.

If an investment opportunity feels too good to be true — even when it comes from someone charismatic or well-connected — that’s your sign to hit pause. Always verify documents, check for independent records and talk to a licensed financial advisor before sending money.

If you’ve already fallen victim to a scam, getting your money back can be tough, and you can’t undo any personal information that’s been exposed. But you can take steps to limit the damage. Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau and any company involved, such as your bank or email provider. If you clicked on a suspicious link, run a virus scan. Change any passwords the scammer may have accessed and consider using passkeys for added protection. If you share personal or financial details, consider adding a free fraud alert or credit freeze to your credit report to help prevent further identity theft.

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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.

Some family milestones are non-negotiable, like watching your grandson graduate from university.

For Janice Brathwaite, a proud grandmother from Salem, that meant traveling from Boston to Lexington to see him walk the stage at the University of Kentucky.

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But just as she was finalizing her plans, she hit a familiar roadblock for frequent flyers: her passport had expired. On top of that, she didn’t have a Real ID yet. The clock was ticking, and missing her grandson’s graduation wasn’t an option.

“I made a promise to my grandson,” Brathwaite told Boston 25 News. “If he graduated, I would be there.”

Without a Real ID and her passport expired, she turned to the internet in a panic. That’s when she found a site called PassportsandVisas.com, which claimed it could renew her passport in just four days for a $499 fee.

But that effort to speed up the process became a waking nightmare.

Where’s the passport

After filling out the necessary information, Brathwaite says she waited weeks for a passport that never arrived. When she tried to follow up, her calls went straight to voicemail.

“I’m pretty good at doing my due diligence when it comes to things like this,” Brathwaite said. “But this was a case where, you know, panic took over.”

When Boston 25 News contacted the company, someone did pick up, but only to direct all questions to email. The newsroom sent three messages over a week. Despite the website promising replies “within one hour,” no one ever responded.

Now, Brathwaite is out $499 and still without a passport; the consequences can extend far beyond a missed trip.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, online scams cost Americans more than $3 billion, compared to around $1.9 billion lost to traditional schemes, such as calls, texts, and emails.

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The risks beyond the passport

Thankfully, the website Brathwaite used turned out to be just an expensive middleman, charging hundreds for a service she could’ve done herself through the U.S. State Department. According to officials, the only site Americans should trust for passport applications is mytravel.state.gov.

Sharing sensitive information like your Social Security number and date of birth with third-party sites can lead to identity theft.

“It’s important you know who you’re providing information to,” Paula Fleming of Boston’s Better Business Bureau told Boston 25 News.

Before you book any trip, ensure your travel ID is up to date. If your passport is close to expiring, confirm if it’s eligible for renewal and give yourself time.

Third-party sites offering rush services often come with steep fees. Before handing over hundreds of dollars or personal data, take a minute to do your due diligence. Stick to .gov domains, read reviews and avoid companies that are reportedly incommunicado. And if a site is asking for sensitive information, ask yourself: Who am I sharing this with?

Brathwaite’s passport eventually arrived, but not before she paid $380 to delay her flight. The silver lining is that the TSA let her board with her Massachusetts license, and she made it to Kentucky just in time to see her grandson graduate.

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• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

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.

Getting stalked is terrifying, but realizing how it’s happening can be just as disturbing.

That’s what one Nebraska woman discovered while searching for her lost AirPods between the seat and armrest of her car. Instead of earbuds, she pulled out a tracking device she didn’t recognize, definitely didn’t install.

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“I was afraid to leave my house and take my dog for a walk because I didn’t know if he was going to be there or what he was going to do,” the victim, whose identity is being withheld, told the First Alert 6 Investigates team at WOWT.

And that was just the beginning.

Using a plumber’s camera and a device designed to detect trackers, she inspected the underside of her vehicle. What she found was chilling: four separate electronic tracking devices, each hidden in magnetic key holders and carefully placed beneath her car.

Why current laws can’t protect you

The discovery of the four trackers wasn’t enough to directly tie the evidence to the victim’s ex.

Nebraska’s electronic stalking laws are considered weak because they don’t explicitly prohibit the use of tracking devices without consent, especially when those devices are hidden on someone’s vehicle or personal belongings.

“The problem in the law is that there’s nothing prohibiting people from using AirTags or other devices to track individuals without their consent,” Deputy Sarpy County Attorney Leighandra Hazlett told First Alert 6 Investigates.

Under Nebraska law 28-311.03, stalking is defined as “[a]ny person who willfully harasses another person or a family or household member of such person with the intent to injure, terrify, threaten or intimidate commits the offense of stalking.”

In cases like this, the legal definition of stalking may not be sufficient. The victim — who suspects an abusive ex was tracking her — is urging lawmakers to close the gap in protections against digital surveillance.

According to investigators, prosecuting these cases remains difficult under current statutes, which require proof of both intent and a repeated pattern of behavior. But as tracking technologies become more discreet and widely available, advocates argue the law needs to evolve.

“It’s not a law right now, it’s not illegal to track somebody,” the victim said. “And that’s scary.”

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How to protect yourself from digital tracking

While an app that detects hidden tracking devices can help, it’s often not enough to prove who placed them or why. That’s why the victim went a step further, installing a dash cam and a rear-facing camera in her car to capture suspicious activity.

If you’re concerned you’re being tracked, start by doing regular visual checks around your vehicle, especially under wheel wells, bumpers and behind license plates, where devices are often magnetically attached. Consider downloading a Bluetooth scanner app, which can alert you to unknown devices nearby. Keep a detailed log of any incidents, screenshots or messages that suggest stalking behavior.

And if you find a device, don’t remove it right away. Contact local law enforcement so it can be documented as evidence.

These proactive steps helped detectives gather enough information to arrest 48-year-old Michael Hoerman, who later pleaded no contest to felony and misdemeanor stalking charges, as well as violating a protection order. He’s currently being held on a $50,000 bond, with sentencing set for early September.

As the victim continues taking steps to protect herself, prosecutors are urging Nebraska lawmakers to finally make electronic stalking a crime.

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• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

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.

Predatory towing has long been a thorn in the side of American drivers — whether their car breaks down at home or they’re forced to move it after a crash. But a Kansas City woman just won a $7.1 million judgment against a local towing company, sending a message to the U.S. towing industry: illegal practices won’t go unpunished. IBISWorld estimates the towing industry is worth $14.4 billion as of 2024.

Attorney Brianne Thomas, a partner at Boyd Kenter Thomas & Parish LLC, calls it a righteous fight, one that began in 2022, when her client parked a food truck in an empty lot behind a shuttered restaurant. There were no signs forbidding parking, no fences, and no warnings. And yet, within 30 minutes, the truck — her entire livelihood — was towed away.

“They were successful, they had her truck for 699 days,” Thomas told Fox 4 Kansas City.

Now, with a verdict in hand, the case is being seen as a wake-up call for the towing industry.

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She fought an illegal tow — and won big

The woman’s food truck was the only vehicle in the lot at the time of the tow. Under Missouri law, a property owner must be present for a tow to be considered legal, but no one was on-site.

“They towed the truck after 30 minutes; they towed illegally,” Thomas told Fox 4.

Instead of paying the thousands of dollars the company demanded to release the truck, the woman filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s office. That decision paid off: a jury has now awarded her $6.9 million in punitive damages, plus $200,000 in compensatory damages.

“The people of Kansas City spoke loud. They spoke not just to this community but to the entire towing industry, and they said it’s not going to happen here, it’s not going to happen anywhere,” Philip Danaher, an attorney at Danaher Law Firm, told Fox 4.

As for the tow company, it appears to have shut down. Its office is now up for sale, and calls to the listed number go unanswered. A neighbor near a second location confirmed the business ceased operations within the last month.

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Protecting yourself from predatory towing

Predatory billing affects 29.8% of crash-related tows in the U.S., according to the Department of Transportation, but there are ways to avoid becoming a victim.

• Know your local laws. Towing rules vary by city and state, and the definition of a “legal” tow isn’t always obvious. Look up your area’s rules, especially if you regularly park in commercial or high-traffic zones.
• Be alert for warning signs. Watch for signage, fencing, painted curbs and fire lanes, even in empty lots. If you’re unsure whether it’s private property, play it safe and park elsewhere.
• Document the scene. If your car is towed, take photos of where it was parked, and ask for a copy of the tow authorization.
• Don’t just pay the fee. If something seems off, like missing signage or an unusually high bill, you don’t have to accept it.
• File a formal complaint. That’s exactly what the Kansas City woman did when her truck was taken without cause, and it made all the difference. She reported the incident to the Missouri Attorney General’s office, and, after a lengthy legal battle, won a $7.1 million verdict. Her story is proof that taking action can lead to real accountability.

A tow shouldn’t wreck your livelihood, but if it does, legal recourse is an option, and fighting back can work.

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

Side hustles used to mean babysitting your neighbour’s kid or walking dogs for extra cash. Then came rideshares, delivery apps and reselling vintage Levi’s on Depop. But in New York, the hustle has officially entered its parked car era.

Owning a car in New York City already comes with its own brand of chaos: gridlocked traffic, constant honking and a parking system that feels more like a high-stakes strategy game than basic infrastructure.

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When Sydney Charlet got laid off and relocated to the city, she brought her car with her and quickly noticed a gap in the day-to-day struggles of local drivers.

During scheduled street cleaning, drivers are required to move their vehicles or risk getting ticketed. But not everyone can step away from work or rearrange their day just to play musical chairs with their car. That’s where Charlet comes in, offering to sit in the car so her clients don’t have to. Now, she’s a self-proclaimed car sitter.

“I heard from people that you, actually people sit in their cars during street sweeping, don’t move their cars unless the street sweeper comes by," Charlet told Fox 5 New York.

But is car sitting really the clever side hustle Charlet hopes it is?

How does it work?

Charlet launched her car-sitting service on social media, inviting curious and often skeptical New Yorkers to reach out via her business number. Most people start by asking if her service is legit. Once she confirms it is, she gets their location and coordinates the job.

Key handoffs are typically done through the building’s doorman, and Charlet documents everything by filming the car before she gets in and again when she leaves — her way of keeping things transparent and professional. It may sound unconventional, but she’s tapping into a very real need. In 2024 alone, New York City issued 16.1 million parking and camera tickets, according to NYC.gov.

Most of her business now comes from repeat customers who trust her with their keys.

“I just had someone text me saying, ‘Oh shoot, I forgot to schedule you today.’ I just got a ticket, I’m going to text you every Sunday from now on to let you know where I am," Charlet said.

With the average New York parking ticket costing about $65, Charlet says her service is still the cheaper option. The most common offense? The one she’s tackling: violating the “No Parking — Street Cleaning” rule.

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The calm before the side hustle storm

Side hustles have gone from quirky TikTok challenges to full-on survival strategies — a financial buffer for millions of Americans trying to keep up with rising costs and unpredictable paychecks. From reselling vintage finds to turning urban inconvenience into income, like Charlet, nearly one in four Americans now juggle a side gig, according to Bankrate.

But lately, the hustle has slowed.

“A strong job market and a cooling inflation rate are the biggest reasons why fewer people are side hustling this year,” said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. “But employment trends are weakening and price growth might pick up due to tariffs, so there’s a good chance side hustling will be back on the rise next year.”

If you’re considering a side hustle, focus on something sustainable and long-term. Ask yourself: What am I already good at? What do people already ask me to help with? The best side hustles don’t require reinventing the wheel — just monetizing the one you’ve already been pushing uphill.

Avoid gigs that require a huge upfront investment or promise overnight success. Instead, look for something that offers flexibility, ideally something that works with your schedule, not against your sanity.

Track your earnings and how much time you’re putting in. Side income should support your goals, whether that’s paying off debt, saving for a trip or just breathing easier when rent comes due. If it’s draining your energy with little to show for it, it might be time to rethink the hustle.

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• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

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.

When St. Louis resident David Murray moved out of his apartment two months early, he thought he had done everything right — giving proper notice and settling his lease. Then came the shock: a $4,500 bill for two months’ rent plus penalties.

Murray was sure it had to be a mistake, but when his pristine 815 credit score dropped, he realized the situation was far more serious. His landlord had turned to a debt collector — not to harass or sue him, but to hit him where it hurt: his credit report.

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“I asked them to please take me to small-claims court, and they’ve never contacted me,” Murray told The Wall Street Journal.

Landlords are increasingly using credit reporting to collect unpaid rent. With credit scores influencing everything from loan approvals to housing applications, a single dispute can derail financial stability.

While credit agencies have tried to include on-time rental payments in scoring models, negative marks still appear with alarming speed — leaving many renters like Murray scrambling to repair the damage.

Calling to collect

Rental debt is now one of the top consumer complaints in debt collection, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Nationwide, renters owe an estimated $9 billion in back rent, with approximately 4.5 million households struggling to keep up with payments. While landlords have the right to collect unpaid rent, everyday renters like Murray — who followed the terms of his lease — often bear the brunt of aggressive debt-collection tactics.

Consumer advocates warn that landlords are using credit reports as a weapon, bypassing the legal system and leaving tenants with little recourse. In the past, rent disputes played out in small-claims court, where tenants could at least present their case.

Landlords, however, see it differently. With small-claims judgments for unpaid rent no longer appearing on credit reports as of 2017, they argue that reporting tenants to credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax and TransUnion is one of the few ways to enforce accountability.

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How it impacts renters

A damaged credit score can have long-term consequences for renters. Many major lenders, such as Citi and Bank of America, maintain strict criteria for determining loan eligibility.

“The practical effect of having a poor credit score is that your access to mainstream funding is limited or nonexistent,” John Ulzheimer, formerly of Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) and Equifax, told CNBC Select.

This doesn’t just make securing a loan more difficult — it also affects the interest rates borrowers receive. For instance, a borrower with a 620 credit score might face an interest rate of approximately 4.8% on a $355,328 home, resulting in annual interest payments of about $17,056.

Meanwhile, a buyer with a score between 760 and 850 could secure a much lower 3.2% rate, bringing their annual interest down to roughly $11,370. Over time, this difference could add up to tens of thousands of dollars in additional costs. ​​Bad credit can also impact auto and homeowners insurance rates, as most U.S. states permit insurers to use credit-based scoring when determining premiums.

Murray’s daughter also learned this the hard way. After a landlord dispute in 2019 tanked her credit score, she struggled to find another apartment until Murray stepped in to settle the debt. When he faced a similar issue in 2022, he fought back — but despite providing evidence, his dispute was rejected.

His credit score still sits in the low 700s. For renters like Murray and his daughter, even a single disagreement can trigger a financial chain reaction — one that is rarely easy to undo.

What to read next

• Financial aid only funds about 27% of US college expenses — but savvy parents are using this 3-minute move to cover 100% of those costs
• Here are the 6 levels of wealth for retirement-age Americans — are you near the top or bottom of the pyramid?
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

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.