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| This Week In Your Wallet |
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If you want to shrink your 2025 tax bill, there are three things you should do before the clock strikes midnight on December 31. One of them – max out your retirement contributions, including your 401(k). "If you haven’t reached the max in your 401(k), consider increasing your contributions before the end of the year by having your human resources department make an adjustment to your paychecks for the balance of the year," suggests The Wall Street Journal. In 2025, you can sock away up to $23,500 in a 401(k). If you’re 50+, you’re eligible for a $7,500 "catch up" contribution. And if you turned 60-63 this year, you can contribute an extra $11,250, bringing your total potential deduction to $34,750.
💰 Another account to give some love? Your IRA. And good news – you’ve got until April 15, 2026, to make your 2025 contribution. Check out our top-rated options here and get one working for you.
GLP-1s are shrinking more than waistlines. As The Washington Post reports, users cut spending by about 10% across 100 categories, including groceries, fast food and tobacco. The flip side? They’re spending (a little more wisely) on fresh foods. Fruit spending is up 14% and vegetables are up 38%. And it doesn’t stop in the produce aisle. GLP-1 users are spending more on clothing, too, with consignment and thrift shop purchases jumping a whopping 80%.
When you and your partner work full-time, it’s easy to slip into scorekeeping mode ("I did bedtime last night…"). This week, we’re sharing seven must-know rules for truly equal parenting. One game-changer? Always have a designated "primary parent" – aka a clear, reliable schedule for who’s on point, during both working and non-working hours. "For example, if you know automatically that you’re off on Wednesdays, you can R.S.V.P. to events and plan after-work drinks without worry," writes Jen Dziura. |
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| 👛 How The Fed’s Rate Cut Hits Your Wallet |
The Fed cut rates again yesterday – it’s the final move of 2025 – and yes, your wallet will feel it. Lower rates can ripple through nearly every corner of your personal finances, from what you pay to borrow to what you earn on savings.
Here’s what you need to know:
💳 Credit cards: Expect your APR to dip within a billing cycle or two.
🎓 Student loans: Families may see more manageable rates.
🚗 Car loans: Eyeing a new ride? Borrowing costs should ease.
🏠 Mortgages: Buyers could see lower rates. Current homeowners may want to check refinancing options. Some lenders may have priced in the cut early, so what you’re seeing now might already be the deal.
💰 Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) + Home equity loans (HELs): These should drift lower, too – but lenders move at their own pace. Shop around.
🏦 Certificates of deposit (CDs): CD yields tend to follow the Fed. If you find a strong rate (around 4% is solid right now), consider locking it in.
💵 High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs): HYSA rates usually head south after a cut. If you’ve been meaning to open one, the sooner the better. |
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| Things That Make You Money |
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| 💚 Your Morning Routine, Simplified |
We all want to start our day feeling healthy and grounded… but between email pings, squeezing in a workout and an endless to-do list, "balanced nutrition" doesn’t always make the cut.
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We love AG1 so much, HerMoney readers can get a special FREE Welcome Kit, including a bottle of Vitamin D and free AG1 Travel Packs when you first subscribe. Try it for yourself this week at DRINKAG1.com/HERMONEY for whole-body support that actually fits your life! |
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| 🎓 Is College Still Worth It? |
For generations, the answer to "Is college worth it?" was a no-brainer. It meant better jobs, higher pay and a stable financial future. Student loans or not, the promise was clear – get the degree, get the life.
Today, that question isn’t so simple.
On the HerMoney Podcast, Jean Chatzky talks with financial advisor and bestselling author Ric Edelman, who challenges everything we thought we knew about college. In his new book, "The Truth About College," Edelman explains how soaring tuition, rising dropout rates and a shifting job market have made the decision far more complex – and deeply personal.
So, is college worth it? Edelman says yes, but only for the right student, under the right circumstances, with the right path. "The key is to recognize that college immediately out of high school is no longer the only path," says Edelman. "It’s no longer necessarily the best path. It’s okay to pause. It’s okay for the child to tour the country, tour the world for a year or two, get to know themselves, and see what the world is like."
For more on whether college is the right choice for your child – and the four traits employers will prize most in the future – listen in here. |
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| Ask Jean |
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| Q: |
Today’s question comes from Michele. She writes: "Who do fixed annuities make sense for? I think one will ease my mind about being prepared and having a steady income flow when I retire. For background, I’m single, have no plans to marry, and am a Gen X’er." |
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If you’re a Gen X’er approaching retirement, needing extra peace of mind is completely normal (this recent podcast dives into why Gen X often gets the short end of the stick in retirement planning).
One way people find that peace? Annuities. Think of them as a "DIY pension." Pensions used to be a big part of retirement, but today, few of us have one (aside from Social Security). An annuity guarantees your money lasts as long as you do – a reassurance many retirees crave.
You can buy an annuity in a lump sum or via monthly payments, but once it’s purchased, withdrawing your cash usually comes with penalties. That makes them great for guaranteed income, but not ideal if you want full liquidity. (Which is exactly why we recommend only annuitizing a portion of your savings.)
When it comes to annuities, fixed annuities are the simplest type — you hand the insurance company a sum of money and, in exchange, they provide you with a regular paycheck. Unlike other annuities, fixed annuities offer a guaranteed minimum payout, as well as a fixed interest rate.
As you weigh your options, Jordan Gilberti, CFP and founder of Sage Wealth Group, says there are a couple of key things to consider. "The important question to ask yourself is, ‘Is this the absolute best use of my dollars and are there alternatives I haven’t explored?’" he shares.
Gilberti also says it’s essential to consider the objectives of the agent selling the annuity. "In most cases, they are paid a commission by the insurance company for selling their products," he adds. "Thus, it may not be in their best interest to offer you alternative investment options." In other words, it’s up to you to do your homework. |
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| Submit your questions to Jean here. |
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| More For You To ♥ |
🐾 Did you know some veterinary procedures can cost over $10,000? That’s enough to make any budget howl. Enter pet insurance. The right plan can cover accidents and illnesses, in many cases reimbursing up to 90% of eligible claims. An added bonus – if you have multiple pets, many top providers offer special discounts.
📈 2026 is expected to be another banner year for the markets. Don’t sit on the sidelines. Join InvestingFixx, our women-only investing club, where zero experience is required. Just show up for one hour on Zoom, twice a month, with Jean Chatzky, CNBC’s Karen Finerman and hundreds of women learning to make confident, powerful market moves.
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