The Daily Money

ALL THE MONEY NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Fri Feb 14 2025

Betty Lin-Fisher | Consumer reporter

@blinfisher

Good morning and Happy Friday! This is Betty Lin-Fisher with Friday's consumer-focused edition of The Daily Money.

Today is Valentine's Day and romance is in the air. But scammers are also out in full force.And it's not just Valentine's Day when scammers target vulnerable victims, profess their love and then bilk them of money – either with pleas for help or with a promise of a great investment opportunity.

How can you protect yourself and those you love?

Kate Kleinert, 71, was the victim of a romance scammer who convinced her to send him $39,000. She now speaks out to try to help others from falling victim to the scam

photo submitted by Kate Kleinert

Need eggs? Is renting chickens an answer?

Can't find eggs or upset about the soaring prices? A Pennsylvania company that partners with chicken farmers in 29 states is experiencing an uptick in reservations for its rental service. For about $500, Rent The Chicken provides a portable coop, two egg-laying hens that will lay eggs within two days of arrival and enough feed for the six-month contract.

While the chickens will provide you with eggs in your back yard, it's not an immediate solution to the egg shortage problem.

📰 Consumer stories you shouldn't miss 📰

•	Beware of shady tax advice on social media, Susan Tompor with the Detroit Free Press reports.
•	Several major U.S. retailers have announced store closures. Is this the new "retail reality?"
•	Home loan mortgages slipped to a two-month low. Will it last?
•	Single on Valentine's Day? Here's how to find a singles support group online.
•	Did you get a text about an unpaid road toll? It could be a scam.

📰 A great read 📰

Finally, here's a popular story from last year that you may have missed. Feel free to share it.

A Walmart employee grudgingly reported to work last Labor Day, after being called in for a few hours on her day off. On the way home, she bought a lottery ticket from a California Lottery machine.

Her $10 ticket turned into a $1 million winner.

About The Daily Money

Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you.