The Daily Money: Will stimulus checks arrive this holiday? Plus, minimum wage increases

Let the countdown begin: five more days until Christmas. 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄

It's Brett Molina filling in this week with the latest headlines in Money and Tech.

Could the government leave Americans a bonus gift this holiday in the form of a stimulus check? Yes and no. Don't expect an extra check from the federal government, but seven states – California, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee – have passed legislation to provide checks to residents.

💡 INSIGHT OF THE DAY. Low-wage workers across the country are slated to get big pay increases. Twenty-one states and 35 cities and counties plan to raise the minimum wage on or about New Year's Day, according to a report from the worker advocacy group National Employment Law Project (NELP).

Other stories you won't want to miss:

Have an IRA? The deadline for contributing to your account in 2021 isn't Dec. 31.

Social Security COLAs. The surprising truth about your 2022 raise.

Check your bathrooms. There's a recall on dry shampoos and conditioners.

Holiday shopping. Get your loved one a video game console? Before you wrap it, make sure you set it up first.

Traveling this holiday? Stay off the road at these times.

YOUR DOSE OF CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. Nothing like a good movie to get you in the mood to celebrate the holidays. So, of course, I'm going with one of the best ever: the Bill Murray classic "Scrooged."   

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.