A pervasive feeling of uncertainty about the economy, largely due to actions taken by the Trump administration, is “significantly impacting” people’s perception of financial well-being, leaving many feeling “stuck despite their best efforts,” according to the 2025 Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey from the nonprofit National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Survey Finds Half of Americans Feel ‘Financially Adrift’ Due to Uncertain Economic Climate

In a rare win for consumers, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect on May 12, requiring booking websites for hotels, vacation rentals, and concert and sports tickets to disclose all mandatory fees in advertised prices.

FTC Bans Hidden Junk Fees

For more than 20 years, U-Haul has advertised truck rentals for as low as $19.95 a day for in-town moves. “There is not a single consumer in the entire country who will pay this price for a U-Haul truck rental,” said watchdog group executive director Bonnie Patten. “This outrageous bait-and-switch scheme needs to stop.” 

U-Haul Uses ‘Bait-and-Switch’ Advertising

Unlike other trades, you don’t need special training or a truck full of tools to paint one room or an entire house. But who does the painting can have a dramatic effect on how well the job is done—and how much you’ll pay for it. 

Finding a Painter

Grocery shoppers can celebrate a small victory this week after Kroger, one of the nation’s largest supermarket chains, improved its much-maligned digital coupon policy at some of its stores.

Kroger Digital Coupons Policy

FICO, the company behind the most widely used credit scoring models in the U.S., has developed two new algorithms that, for the first time, will incorporate buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment history.

FICO Incorporates BNPL in Credit Scores

The ConsumerMan discusses the end of the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit on September 30

EV Car Tax Credit Ends

Click-to-Cancel Ends

Starting September 30, 2025, the U.S. Treasury will stop issuing paper checks for most federal benefits, including Social Security, VA payments, and tax refunds.

No More Paper Checks

A judge has just killed a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that would have removed most medical debt from credit reports and boosted millions of credit scores. Learn what the rule would have done, why it was struck down, and what options remain for dealing with medical debt. 

FTC Bans Hidden Junk Fees

Consumers' Checkbook