Money Management

If you live in Michigan and your kids attend public school, they can get free meals this school year. Learn more about the Michigan School Meals Program. 

Many families struggle to afford food. Michigan is just one state impacted by food insecurity, leaving many families to go without. According to Feeding America, a nonprofit that provides food to more than 40 million people annually, one in nine people in Michigan faces hunger.

The stats are even worse for children. One in eight children in the state faces food insecurity. But a recently signed state law will ensure that more Michigan children get the food they need throughout the school year.

The Michigan School Meals Program begins this school year

On July 20, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the education budget for fiscal year 2024 into law. This allocated $160 million to provide public school students with free breakfast and lunch through the Michigan School Meals Program. All public school students will be eligible to receive two free meals daily through the program.

The Michigan School Meals Program is a state-funded program that will reimburse schools for meals served to students who don’t qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Since Michigan has more than 1.4 million public school students, this will help many families.

Now that the budget has been approved and signed into state law, this program will begin at the start of the 2023–2024 school year. All free meals will meet USDA nutrition guidelines. Meals will be served throughout the school year on days when school is in session.

For every district that participates in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students will receive one breakfast and one lunch per student, free of charge. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) encourages all eligible school districts to participate.

While this program is available to all public school students, parents must first fill out paperwork. All families who want to participate in the Michigan School Meals program must complete an Application for Summer EBT and Education Benefits for the Michigan School Meals Program or the Education Benefits form. Families should check with their districts if they have additional questions about the program.

Take advantage of support programs

You’re not alone if your family is struggling financially at this time. Many families nationwide find it difficult to afford expenses as everyday costs continue to rise. Support programs like the Michigan School Meals Program are available to help families like yours.

Don’t be afraid to utilize support programs to ensure you can feed your family. If you’re looking for additional ways to put food on the table, here are more options to consider.

Apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

For households that meet the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) income eligibility requirements, this can be an excellent resource to save money on food expenses. SNAP recipients can use their EBT card to pay for eligible food purchases. If you qualify for this program, it could help to ensure your family is fed.

Visit food banks in your community

Another resource you can utilize is food banks. You can pick up free food to help fill your fridge and pantries. If you’re unsure where your closest food bank is, you can search by zip code by using Feeding America’s food bank locator.

The cost of food, rent, utilities, and everyday essentials has increased significantly compared to years past. People like you seek tips to keep more money in their checking accounts. Check out our free personal finances resources for additional ways to save money.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Walmart+ members already get to enjoy savings on gas. Read on to learn about a boosted benefit that’s available through mid-September. 

What happened

Walmart+ members will get to enjoy extra savings on gas in the coming weeks. Normally, Walmart+ members are eligible for savings of up to $0.10 per gallon at select fuel stations nationwide. But through Sept. 15, members will be eligible for savings of $0.20 per gallon.

So what

Earlier this week, U.S. gas prices hit a 10-month high. And given the upcoming holiday weekend, that’s apt to hurt a lot of people who are gearing up to travel by car. The fact that Walmart+ is offering added savings on gas is therefore a huge benefit that’s coming at just the right time.

“We know that fuel savings is a huge benefit for our Walmart+ members, one that really adds up,” said Venessa Yates, SVP and general manager of Walmart+. “As gas prices have fluctuated over the last few months, we wanted to do something special to give our members a break, whether they’re hitting the road for the holiday, or just getting back into the busy back-to-school shuttling season.”

Now what

The ability to save money on gas ahead of a major travel weekend is huge. But that’s not the only reason to consider a Walmart+ membership.

For $12.95 a month or $98 a year, Walmart+ members get access to free shipping on orders of any size from Walmart.com. They’re also eligible for $0 grocery delivery with a $35 minimum order.

Additionally, Walmart+ members can enjoy up to 5% in Walmart Cash when they book travel through the program. And a membership also includes free access to streaming content from Paramount+.

Finally, members of Walmart+ get early access to product releases and deals. That could come in handy when major shopping events like Black Friday roll around. It could also result in huge savings in the course of doing holiday shopping.

If you’re on the fence about committing to Walmart+, you don’t have to. New enrollees can try Walmart+ for free for 30 days. And now’s a really good time to sign up for that free trial so you can enjoy discounted gas over the course of the next month.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Gas prices are starting to soar. Read on for ways to spend less to fuel your car. 

Summer is commonly a popular time to travel, and you might have plans to hit the road this Labor Day weekend. But given the cost of gas right now and the potential for further hikes over the next couple of weeks, your holiday weekend road trip might prove to be a budget-buster.

On a national level, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached $3.85 a gallon on Aug. 14, according to AAA. That’s the highest level since Oct. 19, 2022.

That doesn’t mean you need to cancel your plans, though. Even if money is a bit tight, there are steps you can take to save on gas — during the holiday weekend and beyond.

1. Look for cash discounts

Some fuel stations offer a discounted rate for using cash to pay for gas instead of a credit card. So it could pay to forgo the cash back you get for swiping your card. That’s not always the case, though, so you’ll need to crunch the numbers.

Let’s say your car needs 12 gallons of gas at $4 apiece, and your credit card gives you 4% back at the pump. For a $48 fill-up, you’re looking at $1.92 back in your pocket. But if you’re only looking at a $0.10 discount per gallon of gas for using cash, that’s only $1.20 in savings. So you’d actually be better off using your card.

2. Do a touch of research before you fill up

Driving around your neighborhood to look for the cheapest gas station won’t always save you money. The reason? You’re using gas to research cheap gas. In other words, your research is costing you money!

A better bet? Use apps like GasBuddy to find the least expensive gas locally. But also, use common sense. If driving five miles out of your way saves you $0.05 per gallon but costs you a quarter-gallon of gas, you’re spending $1 if gas is $4 per gallon. It would take 80 gallons of gas to break even from the cost of driving out of your way based on a savings of $0.05 per gallon.

3. Take advantage of your Walmart+ membership

Many people join Walmart+ to score benefits like free shipping on online orders with no minimum and free grocery delivery. But another benefit of Walmart+ is savings on gas.

With your membership, you’re entitled to $0.10 in savings per gallon of gas at over 14,000 locations nationwide. So even if gas prices are up where you live, you might manage to eke out some savings this way.

Seeing the cost of gas rise ahead of a holiday weekend is a tough blow. And frankly, the average cost per gallon has the potential to rise even more between now and then. But that doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to spend a fortune at the pump. If you use these strategies, you may find that you’re able to walk away with a touch of savings — enough to make it so your Labor Day road trip doesn’t drive you into debt.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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You may want to book with Hertz if you need a rental car for an upcoming trip. Find out how to save some cash when you book an electric car. 

For some trips, it’s ideal to have a rental car to explore at your own pace and get around quickly, even if public transportation is available. If you have an upcoming vacation that requires a rental car, you may want to consider booking with Hertz.

The car rental company will give travelers who book an electric vehicle one free car rental day when they book and pick up their fuel-free electric vehicle rental through Sept. 6. Find out what you need to know about this deal.

Get one free rental day when you go electric

If you haven’t yet been able to drive an electric vehicle, now is your chance! For a limited time, Hertz will give travelers one free rental day when they rent an electric vehicle for two or more days, with a maximum rental time of 26 days. This offer is available when you book and pick up your rental through Sept. 6 at participating Hertz locations in the United States.

You must book an eclectic vehicle to take advantage of this deal, and the offer can’t be combined with other discounts, promotions, or special rates. You’ll pay taxes and fees on the free rental day. Your reservation must be booked at least 24 hours before your pick-up date. To take advantage of this offer, go to Hertz.com and enter the promotional coupon code “211174.”

Whether you’re already used to driving an electric vehicle or are looking to try something new on an upcoming vacation, this deal could help you keep more money in your checking account. As you finalize your vacation budget and make necessary reservations for your upcoming travels, consider whether this promotion can help you save money on travel expenses.

Other ways to save money when renting a car

If you’re not traveling within the next few weeks but are looking for ways to save money on your next car rental, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few tips that may be helpful.

Book an economy car

If you’re on a limited budget but need to book a rental car, you may be able to get a better deal by renting an economy vehicle. Often, car rental companies provide cheaper rates for select compact and full-size sedans. If you don’t need a large car or luxury vehicle, this is an excellent way to save on rental fees.

Decline the insurance offered by the rental company

You could save money by declining the insurance offered by the rental car company. This isn’t to say that you should go without any insurance. But for many drivers, their auto insurance policy covers rental cars. With that in mind, additional insurance coverage may be unnecessary.

Additionally, some travel credit cards include auto rental protections as a perk. Many credit cards with this benefit require travelers to decline the insurance offered by the rental agency and pay the entire rental cost with their eligible card to qualify for coverage. If you have a credit card with this benefit, review your benefit terms before your next trip so you know what to expect.

Join free loyalty programs

Many of the best car rental companies offer loyalty programs, which are free to join. These programs may help you score members-only rates that are cheaper. Plus, you may be eligible for extra perks. It’s worthwhile to spend a few moments signing up for such programs.

For additional ways to save money, check out our personal finance resources.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until nearly 2025

If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.

In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Read our free review

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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