Don't Waste Your Money Coverage

Rent out your backyard for dogs, make money
If you're looking to earn a little extra money, you might not even have to leave your house. All it would take is sharing your yard. Here's a look at a trend that's becoming a side hustle for a lot of homeowners.

Watch out: Stolen license plates lead to dozens of traffic violations
Don't Waste Your Money's John Matarese explains why you should always save your old license plates.

Back to office clothing: How to look sharp for less
Millions of Americans are returning to the office this year for the first time in two years. For some people that means a new wardrobe -- but who wants to pay hundreds of dollars for new clothes? Consumer reporter John Matarese shows us how to look sharp for less.

Have you noticed? Some products are shrinking in size
It appears some products are shrinking in size during the pandemic.

IKEA and other furniture prices are increasing
Furniture is becoming more expensive during the pandemic.

The very important rules of re-gifting
Planning to re-gift? There are some very important rules to follow.

Consider this before buying white furniture
There are some things you should know if you're planning to purchase white furniture.

Discount clothing stores short on items during pandemic
Some discount clothing stores like TJ Maxx are short on items during the pandemic.

Chip shortage impacting car buying
A chip shortage has left thousands of vehicles stuck at factories waiting for parts.

Unemployment benefits mean less food workers
Don't Waste Your Money's John Matarese explains why you may be noticing less servers or food service workers.

UPS mix-up: Woman expecting cake gets modem instead
A Mississippi woman expecting a birthday cake in the mail from her mom got a cable modem instead, and officials say mix-ups like this happen all the time.

Why some people may get an extra tax refund
Did you or anyone else in your family receive unemployment benefits last year? If so, start checking your bank account in the next few weeks for an extra tax refund!

Beware this car buying scam with fake dead relatives
Don't Waste Your Money has a warning about a car buying scam in which the scammer pretends they lost a loved one and need to sell a car cheap and fast.

Why are some people getting billed for COVID-19 vaccines?
Consumer reporter says John Matarese tells us some people are getting billed for their COVID-19 vaccines.

Utility shutoffs continue amid pandemic
The Washington Post reports a wave of utility shutoffs has begun, leaving sick or unemployed Americans behind $32 billion in utility bills.

Kidnapping scams increase during COVID-19
Police are warning about a frightening phone scam where someone claims your son or daughter has been kidnapped.

Stimulus checks impacting tax refunds
Some people are getting a case of sticker shock while doing their taxes -- when they enter that they got a stimulus check, their refund goes down.

Why some people are getting weird tax forms
Ahead of tax season, thousands of people who never filed for unemployment are getting statements saying they earned unemployment benefits. Don't Waste Your Money has information on the scam.

Why are people throwing stimulus checks in the trash?
As if waiting for a stimulus check to arrive wasn't frustrating enough, now it turns out some people are throwing their $600 away!