Midwesterners keep quirky ‘meat raffle’ tradition alive as a way to score cheap eats — and raise money for charity

Midwesterners keep quirky ‘meat raffle’ tradition alive as a way to score cheap eats — and raise money for charity

WACONIA, Minn. — In these polarizing times, Minnesotans have found something they can agree on — the thrill of a meat raffle. Meat raffles have been popular in pockets of the US for decades, offering a fun way to raise money for charities while handing out prizes ranging from ground beef and hot dogs to … Read more

Quirky LA institution now asks public for money — after taking millions from elite donors

Quirky LA institution now asks public for money — after taking millions from elite donors

A beloved Los Angeles arts institution is asking everyday Angelenos to dig into their pocket. The iconic Bob Baker Marionette Theater has long been a staple of the Los Angeles arts scene, but even with the backing of Hollywood’s heavy hitters, the legendary puppet troupe is finding that “forever” comes with a steep price tag. … Read more

Exclusive | ‘Sephora on a budget!’ Dollar Tree besieged by bougie influencers prowling for beauty bargains — but experts preach caution

Exclusive | ‘Sephora on a budget!’ Dollar Tree besieged by bougie influencers prowling for beauty bargains — but experts preach caution

Call it the ultimate glow-up on a budget — and it’s happening in the most unexpected aisle. Dollar Tree, the national discount chain known for inexpensive party supplies and pantry staples, is suddenly the it-girl of the beauty world, with influencers across the country flocking to its shelves, dubbing it — without a hint of … Read more

Dear Abby: My 43-year-old daughter won’t attend financial counseling after filing for bankruptcy

Dear Abby: My 43-year-old daughter won’t attend financial counseling after filing for bankruptcy

DEAR ABBY: My 43-year-old daughter, “Patti,” a mom of two from different dads, is constantly in financial difficulties and periodically asks family members for money. Her live-in boyfriend earns a good living but is no help beyond paying the rent. Their partnership allegedly exists only for the kids’ benefit. The two school-age daughters attend private … Read more

High on the clock? Gen Z stress means substance use before, during and after a workday

High on the clock? Gen Z stress means substance use before, during and after a workday

Gen Z is living the high life — on the job. A growing share of Zoomers — the generation aged 14 to 29 — report they’re turning to pot, booze and pills to get through the workday, sometimes before it even starts. And employers are clueless. In a recent survey of 1,000 US adults conducted … Read more

Dear Abby: I can no longer spend time with my spoiled and wealthy sister

Dear Abby: I can no longer spend time with my spoiled and wealthy sister

DEAR ABBY: For the past three years, my family has had reunions with my older half-sister, “Sybil.” We did not grow up together, and we have very different lifestyles. I grew up with little money and numerous hardships; Sybil grew up having every need and want met. She’s successful and wealthy. I am proud of … Read more

Gen Z swears listening to 1979 hit song brings cash and good fortune

Gen Z swears listening to 1979 hit song brings cash and good fortune

If manifesting money were as easy as pressing play, we’d all be millionaires. But on social media, many Gen Zers are convinced the secret to wealth isn’t hustle culture — it’s a disco beat. Anita Ward’s 1979 disco hit “Ring My Bell” is having an unexpected second life in 2026, with thousands of users swearing … Read more

Red Sox are breaking Dave Portnoy — and costing him tons of money in bets

Red Sox are breaking Dave Portnoy — and costing him tons of money in bets

Dave Portnoy is fed up with the Red Sox. On Thursday’s “Wake Up Barstool” show, the founder of the sports media company revealed he’s decided to bet on every Red Sox game this season. So far, Boston is letting him down, winning just one of its first six games. Portnoy, an avowed Boston sports fan, … Read more

Sweat, spend money, repeat: What worries women most when partying at music festivals

Sweat, spend money, repeat: What worries women most when partying at music festivals

Women have revealed the things they worry about navigating most at a festival — with bathroom, sweat, and period-related needs featuring in the top 10. In the lead-up to the first weekend of Coachella and as festival season officially gets underway, a poll of 2,000 U.S. women who have attended a music festival found excess … Read more

Most popular US graduate degrees aren’t worth the money, study shows: ‘A very risky proposition’

Most popular US graduate degrees aren’t worth the money, study shows: ‘A very risky proposition’

Thinking of taking those big brains to grad school? Depending on your field of choice, it may not stretch your career prospects or future earnings — just your own wallet. According to a study recently released by the Postsecondary Education & Economics Center at American University, which was originally based on research from the Yale … Read more

Adult children brag about living with parents — while spending money on travel and designer bags

Adult children brag about living with parents — while spending money on travel and designer bags

Get that bag. A Millennial on social media is going viral for bragging about living at home with their parents and using the money they don’t use toward rent to buy designer bags. “Normalize living with your family and spend the money you save on rent on a bag,” TikTok user @yourbrokebestiejay said in a … Read more

How Square and other payment apps push controversial tipping policy on diners

How Square and other payment apps push controversial tipping policy on diners

Here’s a tip for restaurant goers. As more restaurants adopt digital payment systems that automatically suggest a gratuity option, debate has heated up over whether those tips should be calculated pre- or post-tax. The topic of tipping and proper etiquette has long been a cultural debate, but the discussion drew recent attention after a Dave … Read more

Exactly how much money it takes to be rich in every US state — and for some it’s more than sevenfold the median income

Exactly how much money it takes to be rich in every US state — and for some it’s more than sevenfold the median income

A new study shows that while being rich is relative, the gap between average earnings and affluence is consistently horrifying. Amid rising unemployment and inflation, it’s challenging for many Americans to get ahead, let alone get rich, though the dollar definition of the latter varies widely across the country. Indeed, what makes you a fat … Read more

Couples blame society, social media for expensive engagement expectations: survey

Couples blame society, social media for expensive engagement expectations: survey

Americans feel more pressure from society and social media to have an expensive engagement than from their own inner circles, according to new research. A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults in serious relationships, engaged or married, revealed that 51% feel pressure from society as a whole, and another 49% feel the same pressure from social … Read more

Married couple saves $12k a year in rent by moving into a hotel room

Married couple saves k a year in rent by moving into a hotel room

A couple who were fed up with high rent spend $307 a week to live in a hotel room — and save $12k a YEAR. Maranda Bowers, 47, and her husband, John, 40, lived in a two-story, three-bedroom home for $2,300 a month. But in 2023, John had an accident at work where his right … Read more

NYC chain’s fries trounced every national fast-food joint for ‘best value’ honor

NYC chain’s fries trounced every national fast-food joint for ‘best value’ honor

They cooked the competition.  Shake Shack fries aren’t just hot and tasty — they’re also the best bang for a fast-foodie’s buck, according to new data that dubs the eatery, born in New York City, king of the “best-value fries in America.” It’s quite the finger-licking (and affordable) accolade.  NYC’s very own Shake Shack is being lauded … Read more

Exclusive | Birkins over Bonds! Fashionistas splashing cash on $25K bags — claiming the payback is better than the S&P

Exclusive | Birkins over Bonds! Fashionistas splashing cash on K bags — claiming the payback is better than the S&P

When it comes to investing, Jill Silverstein’s got it in the bag.  The 35-year-old Hermès hedonist lives by the motto, “If you’re workin’ hard, Birkin hard.” But Silverstein, a luxury real estate agency owner from Chicago, told The Post that her collection of Hermès’ ever-haute, ever-enviable Birkins isn’t just for flashy show.  Instead, the pricey purses … Read more

Women spend over $1600 a year on health and hygiene, new survey reveals

Women spend over 00 a year on health and hygiene, new survey reveals

The average woman spends $1,639 annually on their wellness, according to new research. A survey of 2,000 women 20-50 years old found that from vitamins to pads and razors, 61% feel like they can’t keep up with all of their hygiene needs, often feeling the need to choose between financial and physical wellness. The average … Read more

How to negotiate your hospital bill to save money — with or without health insurance

How to negotiate your hospital bill to save money — with or without health insurance

You thought that medical procedure hurt? Just wait ’til you see the bill. The average cost of a one-day hospital stay in the US topped $3,200 in 2024, with California recording the highest costs ($4,700) and Mississippi the lowest ($1,400). It’s no wonder that about 36% of American households carry medical debt, with the average … Read more