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Reina Takahashi for NPR

What is the new etiquette for tipping?

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The IRS is warning taxpayers that they may be leaving more than $1 billion on the table. The federal tax collector said Monday, March 25, 2024, that roughly 940,000 people in the U.S. have until May 17 to submit tax returns for unclaimed refunds for tax year 2020. Mark Lennihan/AP hide caption

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Mark Lennihan/AP

The cereal aisle at a store in San Rafael, California. Manufacturers have been using "shrinkflation" techniques for years, but in the midst of inflation and higher food prices, the practice is being scrutinized and politicians are calling it out. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

You're Not Imagining It; Shrinkflation Is Real

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The Norwegian supermarket chain REMA 1000 uses dynamic pricing for all the items in its stores, including Kvikk Lunsj chocolate bars and Solo soda. Jessica Robinson/NPR hide caption

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Jessica Robinson/NPR

Is dynamic pricing coming to a supermarket near you?

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President Biden convened his Competition Council at the White House on March 5 after his administration announced new actions to cap credit card late fees at $8, compared with $32. Nathan Howard/Getty Images hide caption

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Nathan Howard/Getty Images

Taking on junk fees is popular. But can it win Biden more voters?

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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau capped credit card late fees as part of the Biden administration fight against junk fees. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Ezra Croft from North Carolina saw his annual homeowners' insurance surge to $1,600, a $700 increase. Many others across the country are also seeing surging auto and home insurance premiums. Courtesy of Ezra Croft hide caption

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Courtesy of Ezra Croft

'Everything is rising at a scary rate': Why car and home insurance costs are surging

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Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is working toward regulation to remove medical bills from consumer credit reports. Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images

Why a financial regulator is going after health care debt

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Thin Mints and Samoas are perennial bestselling Girl Scout Cookies, but Adventurefuls, Lemon-ups and Do-si-Do cookies also have die-hard fans. Bill Chappell/NPR hide caption

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Bill Chappell/NPR

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona answers questions during the daily briefing at the White House Aug. 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

Student loan balances wiped for the first batch of borrowers in Biden's SAVE plan

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More people are using Buy Now, Pay Later services like they might a credit card — frequently and on everything. AP hide caption

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AP

How do you use Buy Now, Pay Later? It likely depends on your credit score

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Temu has soared in popularity since it launched in 2022. Here, a photo illustration shows the Temu app in an app store reflected in videos of Temu consumers in Washington, D.C. Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

As states began outlawing heart balm lawsuits, newspaper articles in the 1930's chronicled the strong feelings and uproar over Heart Balm lawsuits. The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii), Sunday, Apr 14, 1935/Smithsonian Magazine hide caption

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The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii), Sunday, Apr 14, 1935/Smithsonian Magazine

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has led the department through a massive FAFSA overhaul mandated by Congress about three years ago. Colin Myers/Claflin University/Getty Images hide caption

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Colin Myers/Claflin University/Getty Images

A new FAFSA setback means many college financial aid offers won't come until April

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Myrna Aguilar and her son, David Thornton, pose for a portrait at their home in Los Angeles. Thornton applied for a pell grant last year, but did not qualify this academic year even though their income hasn't changed. Gabriella Angotti-Jones for NPR hide caption

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Gabriella Angotti-Jones for NPR

Exclusive: The Education Department says it will fix its $1.8 billion FAFSA mistake

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Meredith Miotke for NPR

How to save money when you're broke

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The SAVE plan is becoming a key vehicle for President Biden's student loan debt relief efforts. In a Friday press release, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said, "The Biden-Harris Administration designed the SAVE Plan to put community college students and other low-balance borrowers on a faster track to debt forgiveness than ever before." Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Education Dept. fast-tracks forgiveness for borrowers with smaller student loans

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Since the new FAFSA launched on Dec. 30, 2023, the form has only been available for short periods of time. That changed this week. On Tuesday, the U.S. Education Department said applicants will now have 24-hour access. Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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Screenshot by NPR

The FAFSA rollout has been rough on students. The biggest problem is yet to come

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