Here’s my Top 5 today!               Wed, May 27th, 2020

1. Americans haven’t just been blowing their stimulus checks on luxury items. YouGov found 30 percent of Americans said they’re using their stimulus money to pay bills, a sign that people are struggling to make ends meet. Some of what they’re covering are cell phone bills, utilities, cable TV, and rent. Those bills come ahead of purchasing essentials, including “relief essentials” such as apparel, televisions, video games, sporting goods, and toys.

2. Mark your calendar — Krispy Kreme will be giving away free donuts between June 1st and June 5th. For those five days, you can visit participating locations in the U.S. and get a free donut of your choice, no purchase necessary.

3. TJX Co., which owns Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, Home Goods, and a few other stores, has started reopening. So far over 1,600 stores across the world have opened their doors, and the results have been positive. In the U.S., stores have fully or partially opened across 25 states. On an earnings call, the company’s chief executive Ernie Herrman said, “[F]or the 1,100-plus stores that have been open for at least a week, sales overall have been above last year across all states and countries where we are open.” He attributes the good sales to pent-up demand, the “treasure hunt experience” of shopping the company’s stores, and other factors.

4. KFC is testing an overhauled sandwich featuring a bigger chicken filet and other modifications that could potentially reignite last year’s Great Chicken Sandwich Wars with rivals Popeyes and Chick-fil-A. KFC will sell the new sandwich for 26 days, or until supplies run out, at 15 locations in and around Orlando, Florida. The larger chicken filet will come on a brioche bun with thick pickles and mayonnaise.

5. Starbucks is selling a reusable cup that has lines printed on it like paper, and a straw that is colored yellow with a stripe of red at the top, making it look like a pencil. Many have been posting about finding the cup at Starbucks locations inside Target stores.