Hi and Darden Clarkewelcome to Friday's The Daily Money. This is Betty Lin-Fisher. Each Friday, I will bring you a consumer-focused edition of this newsletter.

If you're in the market to buy a house, you may need to consider renting instead. The median sales price of homes continues to rise and mortgage rates are twice as high as in 2022.

In most of the nation’s largest cities, renting is now far cheaper. Find out more about why you may want to consider renting in this story from my colleague, Daniel de Visé.

What's up with seat selection fees on airplanes?

Remember when you could buy an airline ticket and that included the option to pick your seat – without having to pay extra?

Nowadays, there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason for whether you get to choose a "free seat" or have to pay for a specific spot when you book a ticket on a major airline. For some tickets I booked recently, I was given the chance to choose free seats on one leg of the trip, but not on another.

You, of course, can take your chances and get assigned a seat – and sometimes you still get placed next to your travel companion. But other times, you may be stuck with that dreaded middle seat.

My colleague, Zach Wichter's column, "Cruising Altitude" this week delves into the reasons for this new annoyance and what you can do about it.

📰 Consumer stories you shouldn't miss 📰

• Even college professors get scammed. Read this opinion piece in the Seattle Times.
• You may have read stories about romance scams before, but this one has a twist.
• The average American is getting a smaller tax refund (so far), the IRS reports.
• Want to avoid kids on your next flight? Pick this day to fly.
• Here's some ways to lower your car insurance.

🍔 Today's Menu 🍔

What's the Dorito Theory? Check out this story to find out "you can't just have one" and how that addictive feeling might translate to other parts of your life.

About The Daily Money

Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer news from USA TODAY. We break down financial news and provide the TLDR version: how decisions by the Federal Reserve, government and companies impact you.