Smart Money Weekly: Issue 05

Your Quick Guide to Staying Ahead in Money, Markets, and Mindset

Author

RASHIDA HERBERS
September 07, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Good Morning Money Movers! ☕

Welcome to September! 🍂 The kids are back in school, the pumpkin spice is flowing, and the financial markets are giving us a classic mix of good news, bad news, and "what on earth is happening" news. This week, it looks like the Fed is finally ready to give us a break on interest rates, but Amazon is cracking down on who gets free shipping. Meanwhile, mortgage rates are doing a happy dance, but Americans are finally getting tired of their credit card bills. Let's dive into what actually moved your money this week! 💰📊

The Fed Plays Hot and Cold with Rate Cuts 🎭

The jobs report is about to be the Fed's deciding factor for September's meeting. Economists expect a modest 93k jobs added this month, and unemployment might tick up to 4.3%. Translation: The labor market is cooling, but is it cooling enough? 🤔

The tension: Markets are pricing in an 85% chance of rate cuts in September, but flawed jobs data could threaten those hopes. 📊

Why it matters: Your student loans and car payments are holding their breath. One weak jobs report could finally unlock those lower rates, but one strong report could keep you paying premium prices for borrowed money. 💸⚡

📈 Market Snapshots  

  • S&P 500: 6,481.50 ⬇️ -20.76 (-0.32%) 📉

  • Dow Jones Industrial Average: 45,400.86 ⬇️ -220.43 (-0.48%) 📉

  • Nasdaq: 21,700.39 ⬇️ -7.30 (-0.03%) 💻📉

  • Bitcoin: $112,300 ⬆️ +$1,996 (+1.81%) ⚡📈

  • 10-Year Treasury Yield: 4.091% ⬇️ -0.085 (-2.04%) 📉

🚀 Top Money Stories

1. The Fed Finally Signals a Rate Cut 📉🎉

After a nail biting few months, a weak jobs report last week (only 22,000 jobs added!) has made a September interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve almost certain. Markets are now betting on at least a 0.25% cut, with some hoping for a 0.50% drop.

Why it matters: This is the news your wallet has been waiting for! A rate cut means lower interest on your credit cards, car loans, and maybe even your mortgage. It's a sign that the Fed is finally easing up, which could make borrowing cheaper across the board. 💸

2. Amazon Ends Prime Shipping for Your Friends 📦💔

Amazon just announced it's ending the Prime Invitee Program on October 1st. That means if you've been sharing your free shipping benefits with a friend or family member who doesn't live with you, their free ride is over.

Why it matters: This is a classic "subscription creep" move. That $139/year Prime membership just got a little less valuable if you were splitting the cost. It's a good time to do a subscription audit and see if all those monthly fees are still worth it. 🧐

3. Mortgage Rates Take a Nosedive 🏠💃

The average 30 year mortgage rate just had its biggest one day drop in over a year, falling to 6.29%. That's the lowest we've seen in 11 months!

Why it matters: If you're in the market for a home, this is a big deal. A lower rate means a lower monthly payment, which could make a home purchase more affordable. But don't get too excited, home prices are still way up compared to a few years ago, so the math is still tricky. 🧮

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4. Americans Are Finally Breaking Up with Their Credit Cards 💳👋

After a year of record breaking credit card debt, it looks like Americans are finally starting to pull back. Delinquency rates are improving, and people are being more selective with their spending.

Why it matters: This is a healthy sign for the economy. It means people are getting smarter about their debt and are less likely to get caught in a high interest trap. It's a good reminder to check your own credit card balances and make a plan to pay them down. 💪

5. Tax Free Tips Are Now Reality (68 Jobs Qualify) 💵🎯

Workers in 68 occupations can now deduct up to $25,000 in tips from their taxes for 2025-2028. But there are income limits: $150K for individuals, $300K for couples. Everyone from servers to Uber drivers to social media influencers could qualify.

Why it matters:

If you work in the gig economy or service industry, you might have just gotten a massive tax break. Keep detailed records of your tips because this could save you thousands. Your DoorDash side hustle just became way more attractive. 💵

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🚂 The Inspiration Station

Your Boss is Trying to Give You Free Money (And You're Saying No) 💰🤦‍♀️

Here's some math that's going to make you either really happy or really mad.

Let's say you make $50,000 and your company matches 50% of your 401(k) contributions up to 6%. If you contribute $3,000, they add $1,500. Free money. No strings attached.

That $1,500 annual match, compounded at 10% over 40 years, doesn't just become $60,000. It becomes $663,000. 🤯

Your own $3,000 contribution? That grows to $1.3 million. Combined, you're looking at almost $2 million from just maxing out your employer match.

The heartbreaking part? About 25% of people don't take their full match. They're literally walking away from hundreds of thousands of dollars because they think they can't afford 6% of their paycheck.

Here's the reality: You can't afford NOT to contribute. If your company matches up to 6%, that's an instant 50% return on your money. Show me another investment that guarantees 50% returns on day one.

Your move: If you're not taking your full 401(k) match, log into your HR portal today. Even if you have to eat ramen for a month to make it work, do it. Your 65 year old self will thank you with tears of joy instead of tears of regret. 💸✨

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💸 The Reality Check Corner

Is That 0% Car Loan Really a Good Deal? 🚗🤔

With the Fed signaling a rate cut, you're going to see a lot of car dealerships advertising 0% financing deals. And while that sounds amazing, you need to read the fine print.

Often, to get that 0% rate, you have to give up the manufacturer's rebate. That rebate could be worth thousands of dollars, which might be a better deal than the 0% financing. You have to do the math!

Your move: Before you get tempted by a 0% offer, ask the dealership for the cash price of the car with the rebate. Then, compare that to the total cost of the car with the 0% financing. You might be surprised at which one is the better deal. 🧮

The Amazon Prime Audit 🔍💸

With Amazon ending its Prime Invitee program, it's a great time to ask yourself: is Prime still worth it for you? Here's a quick way to figure it out:

  1. How many orders do you place a month? If you're only ordering a few times a month, the shipping costs might be less than the $139 annual fee.

  1. Do you use the other Prime benefits? Prime Video, Prime Music, and Whole Foods discounts are great, but only if you actually use them.

  2. Could you get free shipping anyway? Many retailers offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount. Could you bundle your purchases and still get free shipping without Prime?

Your move: Take 10 minutes this week to look at your Amazon order history and see if you're really getting your money's worth. You might be surprised at what you find! 💡

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🔥 In Case You Missed It…

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That's a wrap for this week! Stay smart, stay savvy, and we'll see you next time.

- Rashida

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