Beating Broke

Stolen Money: 8 Things Do Immediately After Finding a Bag of Money

April 15, 2025 By Teri Monroe Leave a Comment

It may seem unrealistic, but what if you found a bag of money? What would you do? There are instances where people have stumbled on hundreds of dollars in parking lots. According to HG.org, a 75-year-old woman once found and returned $100,000 she found in the parking lot of a restaurant in Tennessee. For many, that amount of money could be life-changing. Of course, the right thing is to let the authorities handle it and hand over the money. But what are your legal obligations if you find a sum of money? How would you handle it? Here’s what you need to do immediately if you are lucky enough to find a bag of money.

1. Try and Find The Owner

If you’ve found a bag of money, the first thing you should do is try to find the owner. If you can’t find its owner, turn it in to the police. Or if you found it in a parking lot, get the store involved.

2. Look for Identification

If you found a wallet, try to find an ID. You can then try and get in contact with its owner.

3. Don’t Touch It

You might not want to touch the money as it could be tied to a crime. You don’t want to tamper with evidence if the money was involved in a robbery. While this might seem like a scene out of a movie, your best bet may be to call the authorities and let them handle it.

4. Assess The Area

Take stock of your surroundings. Are there cameras around at a local business? You could ask them for help. Are there other people around who saw what happened? Make sure that you are all safe first before taking further action.

5. Document Your Findings

You might want to document what you found. Take pictures so that you can turn it over to the police. However, don’t post any photos on social media.

6. Wait for The Police

Once you call the police, you’ll want to wait for them to arrive. They probably will also want to question you. You’ll seem suspicious if you leave the scene.

7. Tell Your Story

Make sure you tell the truth when talking to the police. Let them know everything you saw and how you found the money. If the money is tied to a crime you may become a witness. You may even have to appear in court.

8. Know Your Rights

If you found the money, in some cases you may be entitled to it. This is usually after a holding period. Know your rights and be patient. But understand that just because you found the money doesn’t mean that it’s yours. If you found a large sum of money, you may want to enlist the help of an attorney.

Have you ever found money? What did you do with it? Let us know in the comments.

The Hustle Is Real: What No One Tells You About Working a Second Job to Get Out of Debt

The Emotional Bankruptcy of Hoarding: When Sentiment Costs You Everything

April 10, 2025 By Teri Monroe Leave a Comment

the emotional toll of hoarding — Image Source: 123rf.com

Hoarding is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as a mental health condition where “people with hoarding disorder have persistent difficulty getting rid of or parting with possessions due to a perceived need to save the items. Attempts to part with possessions create considerable distress and lead to decisions to save them. The resulting clutter disrupts the ability to use living spaces.” According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the prevalence of hoarding disorder in adults is estimated to be around 2%-6%. Hoarding is different from collecting, which is usually more organized. While both usually have emotional ties, hoarding is more haphazard and impacts an individual’s ability to live comfortably in their home in most cases.

Hoarding is not an isolated issue. The disorder comes with emotional, financial, and even legal hardship. Here we’ll break down the many costs of hoarding.

The Emotional Toll of Hoarding Disorder

Each item for hoarders holds emotional value and individuals with the disorder have a hard time parting with items, which can get worse over time. Usually, the disorder is accompanied by guilt, anxiety, and shame. Most hoarders hold on to the nostalgia of the past as well as grief or fear of loss. Many are left clinging to the past instead of creating new memories in the present day.

Often, hoarding puts a strain on relationships as hoarders tend to isolate themselves and not want others to see their home. This usually makes the situation worse and intervention is needed. If unable to care for themselves, family members may need to step in and seek guardianship to manage the hoarder’s affairs.

Financial Toll of Hoarding

Hoarding doesn’t just impact living spaces and relationships, it can also take a financial toll. Individuals may have a hard time with impulse control and may feel the need to continuously buy more stuff. Shopping is now easier than ever with one-click buying possible on sites like Amazon, which may be a huge temptation for hoarders.

Additionally, hoarding may decrease the value of an individual’s home due to a lack of upkeep. This can especially put a strain on heirs when it becomes time to sell a loved one’s home. If an individual rents, hoarding may also lead to eviction. While hoarding is a disability and protected, if hoarding poses a direct threat to the property or to others, it may warrant eviction. Hazards include issues such as fire hazards, pest infestations, or blocked emergency exits. Landlords are required to provide accommodations, but they may take legal action if unresolved.

Hoarding disorder brings a host of emotional, legal, and financial challenges for hoarders and their loved ones. Often, the only solution is to hire a professional cleanup service and seek support from national and local resources, including support groups.

How has hoarding disorder impacted your life? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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The Hustle Is Real: What No One Tells You About Working a Second Job to Get Out of Debt

April 8, 2025 By Teri Monroe Leave a Comment

things you need to know about having a second job — Image Source: Pexels

Working a second job to pay off your debt is no easy feat. For many, this is the only way to comfortably pay off their debt, especially since wages haven’t increased with inflation. NBC News reported that inflation outpaced wage growth for most workers in late 2021 and early 2022. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in February 2025, 9 million Americans, or 5.5% of the civilian workforce, were working multiple jobs, marking the highest level since 2009.

The rising cost of household essentials has taken a toll on many families, pushing them further into debt. If this sounds similar to your situation, you may be considering working a second job. Before you start your search for an additional job, here are things that people won’t tell you about working a second job to get out of debt.

You Might Get Burnt Out

No one will tell you how fast you will get burnt out managing more than one job. Demanding schedules may leave you with less sleep and more stress daily. Make sure that you have an outlet to unwind and relax when you have downtime, or you may find yourself stressed and irritable more often. Self-care becomes even more important when you have a second job.

You Won’t Have Balance

You may struggle to find any work-life balance. You also might miss out on many important events with your friends and family because you don’t have adequate time off. This may also strain your relationships over time. At some point, this might not be sustainable for you.

You Still May Struggle to Pay Off Debt

You’ll have to be cognizant of lifestyle creep if you’re earning more. Managing your expenses and budgeting is very important when trying to pay down debt. Make sure that you have a plan as to how you’ll pay down your debt with your additional income, otherwise, you may not spend that additional money wisely.

Decline in Performance

If you’re stretched too thin, your work performance may decline. This could put both of your jobs at risk. Make sure that you are able to devote enough time to both of your jobs before taking on additional commitments. You’ll also have to consider if having a second job is a conflict of interest. Make sure to contact your HR Department if you are unsure, especially if you have a non-compete clause in your employment contract.

Opportunity Cost

The time that you spend on a second job could be used to increase your knowledge and skills, helping you grow in your primary job. You may be limiting your long-term career growth if you choose to have more than one job.

You’ll Pay More in Taxes

If you enter a different tax bracket because of your increased income, you’ll probably pay more in taxes. Make sure that you are filing your taxes appropriately if you have more than one job.

What are some reasons that you feel like you need a second job? How do you handle more than one job? Let us know your experience in the comments.

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