The first major U.S. city to ban plastic straws and the financial slip-ups that can cost you big

Happy Monday, MarketWatchers! Here are your top personal finance stories of the day.

Personal Finance

Employees to companies: ‘Take my dirty laundry, please’

Companies are increasing the benefits and perks they offer staff.

Vegetarian Times founder, who later ‘liked a good steak,’ has died at age 66

Paul Obis founded Vegetarian Times magazine in 1974, a cultural touchstone that helped popularize meatless diets and gin up early advocacy for organic farming.

These little financial slip-ups can cost you big

When it comes to finances, little things that go unnoticed or ignored can lead to an outsize amount of pain.

Coffee lovers rejoice, you may be able to drink as much coffee as you like

New research claims coffee isn’t bad for you, even if you drink eight cups a day.

I earn $13 per hour babysitting two boys, but their mother wants to hire another girl and pay me 50% my hourly rate

‘Listen to your instincts. If you start now, you will hone those skills.’

Harvard University is fighting to keep its secretive admissions process under wraps

The school says releasing the information could put it at a competitive disadvantage.

Have a Citi credit card? You may be getting some money back

Citi settled with the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection over failure to adjust cardholders’ interest rates

Seattle becomes first major U.S. city to ban plastic straws

Consumers and lawmakers are calling for the reduction in the use of plastic.

July 4 celebrations: Lots more fireworks, also more injuries (mostly men)

In 40 years, the amount of fireworks per American adult has exploded sixfold.

Should your business be a C corporation or pass-through entity? What makes sense under the new tax law

The new flat 21% corporate federal income tax rate changes how businesses should classify themselves.

Elsewhere on MarketWatch

Businesses lament Trump tariffs, trucking shortage even as ISM manufacturing index hits 4-month high

American manufacturers grew in June at the fastest pace in four months, but it’s harder to get supplies delivered on time owing to recent Trump administration tariffs as well as shortages of key materials. The ISM’s new-orders gauge rose to 60.2% last month from 58.7% in May.

The bad news for the economy is also good news

Business cycles often go bust due to overinvestment. But what happens to a strong economy when there isn’t that sort of boom in investment?

Stop the trade war, businesses are shouting to Trump

U.S. manufacturers say business is booming, but Trump’s trade war isn’t helping a bit.

Stock market level won’t change Trump trade policy, Commerce chief Ross says

Tensions between the U.S. and its major trading partners were weighing on stocks Monday, but don’t look to President Donald Trump to change his tune on trade, his commerce secretary says.

Construction spending ticks up in May as housing takes a breather

Expenditures on construction projects rose at a cooler pace in May after a strong April, the Commerce Department said. Through the monthly volatility, the spending trend is decidedly up.

Too few children threatens economic growth

America and much of the industrialized world are suffering from a baby drought with terrible consequences for long-term economic growth and social insurance systems that support the elderly.

‘FART’ bill indicates Trump’s intention to dump WTO: report

The Trump administration has crafted a draft bill — ordered by the president — that would declare America’s abandonment of World Trade Organization rules, according to Axios.

Trade-war tracker: Here are the new levies, imposed and threatened

As rhetoric on global trade ratchets higher, here’s a look at what new tariffs have been imposed and what has been threatened.

Trump’s attacks on independent judges cloud Supreme Court pick

President’s actions undermine a key pillar of U.S. democracy, writes Chris Edelson.

George Friedman: China’s president may be weaker than he appears

Need to rein in Chinese diplomats speaks volumes about Xi’s power, writes George Friedman.

Haven’t subscribed yet to MarketWatch’s daily personal finance newsletter? Sign up here.