Good morning, HTM Family!

A few Tuesday affirmations: (say these out loud to yourself this AM)…

1. I am good at what I do.

2. I may screw up sometimes, but for the most part, I am good at what I do.

3. My customers enjoy working with me because I’m good at what I do.

4. My coworkers depend on my work because I’m good at what I do.

5. I will continue to get better because I am always learning and improving how I do what I do.

Cheers to an awesome day ahead!

Okie dokie, now let’s talk about money stuff 💰👇💰👇

TO DO

Check Your Credit Report 🗒️…

Good news… Brazilian police just arrested the hacker who stole everyone’s social security numbers earlier this year.

Woohoo! We can all relax and feel safe now, right?

Nope! All our sensitive data is still out there and it’s on us to protect ourselves!

Start by checking your credit report this week (you can order one here at no cost) to ensure no weird accounts have been opened in your name. Also, freeze your credit if you haven’t already — it’s a simple way to protect yourself.

MINDSET

Spooky Money Monsters 👻

We all have something money-related that we’re scared of.

Whether you worry about not having enough retirement savings, or are scared that you’ll never own a home in this crazy market, financial anxiety hits everyone at one point or another.

But, just like the bogeyman under your bed, you gotta be brave to confront those fears head-on to overcome them!

(also, the fear of something happening is usually far worse than the actual event happening. Reality is never as horrible as your imagination.)

Here are some of the top financial fears people have (and how to overcome them):

1. Never getting out of debt: The quickest way to alleviate debt stress is to create a payoff plan. With a solid roadmap in place, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Step by step, little by little, you can and will get out of your debt hole. (non-profits like MMI and NFCC are great places to seek help!)

2. Not being good at investing: Nobody is born a brilliant investor. It takes time to learn the lingo, make mistakes, and find your groove. It’s OK if you’re a complete newbie! Humility can be an incredibly helpful trait as you grow that knowledge.

The good news is, there’s a ton of free information out there tailored to beginner investors. And thanks to index funds and automatic contributions, it’s a good bit easier than you think. Just get started!

3. Getting priced out of the housing market: Just because the home prices have gone bonkers the past few years doesn’t mean it’ll be this way forever. Keep saving, be patient, and rest well knowing you’re actually paying less to rent than owning a home in most of the country right now!

4. Having to support your aging parents: This is one of those “the longer you avoid it, the worse it gets” situations. If there’s a chance your parents will need financial support later in life, begin conversations with them sooner rather than later.

5. Losing your job and not making ends meet: Building an emergency fund is smart. But even with a big cash cushion, it’s scary to think about sudden unemployment! Try talking with your manager about your performance, the company’s stability, and your career path in general. Keep networking, building skills, and exploring positions at other companies and your confidence will grow.

Read the full post: 13 biggest money fears, and how to overcome them

TOGETHER WITH BETTERMENT*

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BUDGETING

Average Food Spend Per Person 🤯

Our World in Data just put out the below chart based on research stats from USDA.

Adjusted for inflation, Americans spend roughly as much on groceries (cooking at home) as they did in the 1950’s. That’s great!

What’s not so great is the growing red portion of the chart, which is the amount we spend at restaurants, cafes & coffee shops. It’s shot through the roof the past decade! 👇👇👇

I guess it’s not the end of the world if you can afford a big budget for restaurants and you’re crushing all your other financial goals.

But for those of us who struggle to make ends meet and don’t put enough away for retirement, scrutinizing your food spending is an easy way to save money.

The average home-cooked meal costs ~$4. Eating a meal out costs ~$16! That’s a 4x markup — and doesn’t account for service fees, delivery charges, tips, and all the other junk fees that delivery apps cost if you order food delivery to your home.

(Also this chart doesn’t include alcohol, which I suspect has a similar trend)

Anywho, just a reminder to watch your food spending and meal habits, folks! Cooking is one of the most underrated personal finance skills you can develop.

Related stuff:

• 🙅‍♂️ No Eating Out: Try the no eating out challenge for 30 days. See how much you can save, and redirect that money to investing!

•  🍗 Turkey Day: For those who live near ALDI, they’re pledging to have killer Thanksgiving meal specials!

• 🏡 Home Meals: 7 Reasons cooking at home is better anyway!

ICYMI

In other news…

Broke Pacino 😥
Al Pacino is the latest celebrity to share their story about having millions and then blowing it all on crap. “I didn’t understand how money worked”, he admits — a great reminder that it’s not about how much $ you make, it’s how much you keep!

Tax Brackets ⚖️
The IRS just released new tax brackets for tax year 2025. The standard deduction is now a flat $15k for individuals ($30k for MFJ), and a few other deduction and credit changes to adjust for inflation.

Hybrid 💻
New data from WFH research finds that working from home 2-3 days a week is worth the equivalent of a 7.6% pay raise. Do you agree/disagree?

Disney 📈
Disneyland just hiked prices again, raising ticket costs between 6-20% depending on the pass type. If you’re a big Mickey fan, consider visiting on less popular days when cheaper tickets are offered.

Election Anxiety 🏡
Is the upcoming election messing with your plans to buy a home, or car, or plan big-ticket events? You’re not alone. Don’t worry, it’ll be all over soon and history shows us that buying/shopping/traveling/planning/investing all goes back to normal after a new President is elected and we all move on.

HYSA 💰
Sadly, the awesome interest rates we’ve all been enjoying in our savings accounts are starting to fall. Going from 5%+ to 3.5% or lower sucks, but it’s still better than 0.01% from a checking account! Keep those e-funds earning the most you can.

Hug Limit 🤗
Dunedin Airport in New Zealand has introduced a “maximum hug time of 3 minutes” for people saying farewell to their loved ones before a flight. Personally, I think it should be a minimum of 3 minutes, but that’s just me.

ASK HTM

“Does the 4% rule still apply if I have a big bond allocation?” 🤷‍♂️

This question came in from Eric, asking about the 4% rule for safe withdrawals in retirement.

The short answer is: Yes, the 4% rule still applies if you have a heavy bond allocation in your portfolio. In fact, the rule was built with the assumption of retiring with a 50/50 stock and bond split!

There are a lot of misconceptions about the 4% rule, and how inflation is factored in. Here’s the longer answer and more color context!

Cheers for reading. Wishing you a great week ahead, doing what you do best! 💪

Best friends out 🍻