promoearn: The Daily Money: Starbucks phasing out paper cups; gas thefts up

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

The Daily Money: Starbucks phasing out paper cups; gas thefts up

ALL THE MONEY NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Wednesday, March 16

Subscribe to The Daily Money newsletter. Come for our roundup of each day's top stories from USA TODAY Money. Stay for the pop-culture references and financial news-inspired playlist.

Good morning. Happy Wednesday and St. Patrick's Day Eve, Daily Money readers. Jayme Deerwester here with you. it's a busy news day: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just addressed Congress and the financial world is waiting on the Federal Reserve to announce it's raising its key short-term interest rate by a quarter percentage point today.

🗞 News you should know 🗞

That Starbucks paper cup could soon be a thing of the past – or it could be more expensive – as the coffee giant explores reusable options.

Starbucks is "shifting away from single-use plastics and piloting reusable cup programs" in six markets, according to a Tuesday statement from the company. By the end of next year, customers will be allowed to use their own reusable cups in every store location in the United States and Canada.

Those include allowing customers to borrow a reusable cup "designed to be returned to stores" and eliminating single-use cups, among other options. Some programs could involve paying a deposit for a cup customers will return after they use.

The coffee mainstay is also looking into other incentives, including a 10 cent single-use fee or a 50 cent discount to customers who bring in their own reusable cups.

🚨 More stories you shouldn't miss 🚨

SIPHONING IS SO 1979: These days, gas thieves drill directly into your gas tank.

WALGREENS ANGERS SHOPPERS: Stores adds screens to refrigerated food aisles.

ROBO-CHIPOTLE: Mexican chain auditions Chippy, a tortilla-making robot, in AI test.

VETERANS, BEWARE: Don't let colleges trick you into taking out student loans, education department warns.

GENDER WAGE GAP: Could including salary info in job postings help close it?

💡 Daily insight 💡

How much gas is in your tank right now? With the price of a gallon of regular going for upwards of $4 nationwide, you may be tempted to stretch each tank further and let that needle drop ever lower than you did a few months ago.

Don't, warns David Bennett, the manager of repair systems for AAA. Letting your car get below an eighth of a tank increases the odds you'll damage your fuel system by stirring up sediment at the bottom of your gas tank, which could cost a lot more than one tank of gas. To be on the safe side, refill by the time you're down to a quarter tank.

⛽️ Pressure at the pump ⛽️

With premium gas costing drivers 65 cents more per gallon on average than regular gas as of Tuesday, drivers may be tempted to fill their tanks with regular fuel to save money.

But is it a good idea?

Experts say the right fuel choice will depend on what kind of vehicle you drive. If your car requires premium gas, switching to regular can help lower costs at the pump but could also lead to expensive repairs down the road.

Higher octane ratings (like 89, 91 or 93) mean the fuel is more stable, which is a necessity for certain engines.

"If the octane isn't high enough for the particular situation, the fuel will light itself because it gets hot, and what that does is causes either spark knock or detonation. And that's really bad for your engine," says Greg Brannon, director of automotive engineering at AAA.

💵 Taxes and your side hustle 💵

Working a side job could add a layer of complexity to your tax return. If this year is your first to include side hustle earnings, here are some key points to keep in mind:

•	You must report all of your income.
•	You can deduct expenses you incurred to do your side work.
•	You may or may not be penalized for an underpayment.

🎧 Mood music 🎧

Didn't think I'd ever be quoting Styx but nevertheless, here I am using "Mr. Roboto" in honor of Chippy and other foodservice robots: "Thank you very much, Mr. Roboto, for doing the jobs nobody wants to."

LISTEN WHILE YOU WORK: Remember, you can listen to this song and every track I've quoted in the newsletter in the Daily Money Mood Music playlist on Spotify.