Buenos días and Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Personally, we don’t feel like you ever need an excuse to indulge in some street tacos or guac. Want a few pointers for ordering in Spanish? 👇

• Me gustaría: I would like…

• Por favor: Please

• Gracias: Thank you

• La cuenta: The check

You may not want to pull out these moves at your local Chipotle, but hey, it’s always good to know! Now let’s taco bout the money stuff… 🌮

Too cheesy?

LIFESTYLE

Dealing with Financial FOMO 😓

You’ve probably felt it before.

A friend buys a house, someone you follow on Instagram is vacationing in Greece, and your coworker is talking about their recent investing gains. Meanwhile, you’re feeling behind, wondering if you’ve missed the boat.

Financial FOMO is the pressure that creeps in when it seems like everyone else is earning more, spending extravagantly, or getting ahead faster than you are. And it’s completely natural. As humans, we compare. We’re wired for it. Also, tech and social media allow us to compare our lives more broadly and frequently than ever before.

But while we’re used to seeing everyone’s highlight reels, we’re not comparing to what we don’t see, their credit card balances, stress, or sacrifices behind the screen. And the sneaky thing about FOMO is that it can cause us to act in ways that go against what we truly want, such as:

• Stretching your budget for a trip you can’t afford.

• Buying a house because everyone else is.

• Chasing crypto after seeing people brag about their gains.

The truth of the matter is that someone will always have more, spend more, and/or move faster. But that’s also okay! What’s important is that you stay true to your own efforts and fight back against financial FOMO in the ways that you can.

1. Define your own finish line. 🏁
What do you want? Peace of mind, flexibility, early retirement, less debt, more travel? Your goals matter more than someone else’s actions.

2. Limit comparison triggers. 🚫
If certain accounts or conversations leave you feeling behind, mute them. Protecting your mindset is productive.

3. Measure progress by your numbers. 📊
Savings rate up? Debt down? Emergency fund growing? That’s real momentum, even if it’s not something to post about on your Instagram story.

4. Delay impulse decisions. 🕑
When FOMO hits, wait 24 hours before spending or investing. Urgency often leads to terrible choices.

5. Remember: slow wins often look boring. 🥱
Consistent saving, steady investing, and living below your means rarely look exciting, but they work.

Your financial journey doesn’t need to be loud, flashy, or plastered all over the Internet to be successful. The ultimate success is living your own life on your own terms and being content with where you are. We’ll all be better off if we worry less about whether we’re keeping up with those around us.

MARKETS

Betting on… Everything? 🎰

A few years ago, sports betting was banned in most states. Now? People across the country are wagering on just about everything. Welcome to the world of prediction markets: platforms where users bet money on whether or not future events will happen. What could go wrong!?

People have placed bets on:

• Who will win the next election.

• Whether or not the Fed will cut rates.

• If a certain city reaches a certain temperature.

• When Taylor Swift will get married.

• If aliens are confirmed before year-end.

We wish we were kidding…

Prediction markets have exploded in popularity over the past year, with many users claiming that it feels “smarter” than gambling. But at the end of the day, you’re still rolling the dice, and these markets can get messy.

There have already been numerous cases of people trying to change the outcome in their favor (we’re talking to you, guy at the Paris airport with a hair dryer, manipulating the weather-monitoring device). People have also been accused of using insider information to place bets before the public knows what’s happening to cash in. This means people like you and me are always going to be at a disadvantage.

There’s also the danger of rumor-fueled bets, in which someone places a large bet that sparks online discourse and makes the event look more likely than it really is.

While these bets may be interesting to watch and discuss amongst friends, they’re certainly not an investment strategy. Putting your hard-earned dollars into prediction markets is high-risk, highly speculative, and designed to keep you hooked. One dopamine spike is all it takes for you to develop a gambling addiction.

If you’re really tempted, make the bet amongst friends. Sure, throw $5 around here or there, but betting regularly “for fun” can be a slippery slope. Unless you know Taylor Swift personally and have a wedding invite… then maybe let us know. 😉

TOGETHER WITH ACORNS*

Small Habits, Big Potential 📈

Your money can do more than sit on the sidelines.

Acorns helps you invest automatically using spare change and recurring deposits, making wealth-building feel more approachable. It’s designed to fit into everyday life, not complicate it.

Smart habits start small. Acorns can help you get started!

REAL ESTATE

Don’t Forget About the Taxes! 🏠

When most people shop for a home, they focus on two numbers: the price tag and the mortgage rate. But there’s another cost that many people overlook: property taxes.

Property taxes can increase costs more than buyers expect, depending on where you live. Two similarly priced homes can have very different monthly costs simply because they’re in different counties, school districts, or tax zones. And unfortunately, property taxes can rise meaningfully over time. It’s nice when the value of your home goes up. But it also means your property tax bill will climb, too.

So before buying a home, it’s important to consider the total cost, including taxes, not just the principal and interest. Ask for tax estimates, check the property’s tax history, and understand whether a sale could trigger a reassessment of value.

If you already own a home, don’t assume your tax bill is set in stone.

Sometimes, homes are overassessed, which means you could be paying more than necessary. That’s where challenging your assessment can help. You can DIY it, or use a service. Ownwell is one of our favorite suggestions on this front. helping homeowners challenge their property tax bill if it’s too high. If they lower your bill, you could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars without having to do the legwork yourself.

Think of it this way: you’d shop around to save on insurance or a mortgage rate. You should also be shopping around to save on property taxes. Buying and maintaining a home is expensive enough. Don’t overlook one of the main recurring costs, and don’t be afraid to see if you can get it lowered!

ICYMI!

Your Weekly Update…

Sub-2 Hour Marathon Shoes 👟
Adidas’ new unreleased running shoes made history in London after helping multiple runners break marathon records. They just officially launched for $500, but you do not need to spend that kind of money to run around your neighborhood!

Retirement Calculating %
A popular early-retirement Social Security formula may not be as foolproof as it looks. This breakdown explains why easy money math can get messy once real life enters the equation.

The Price of Love ❤️‍🩹
The cost of dating in America keeps rising, with a night out averaging over $200. This might be the year that cheap dates, like picnics and hikes, make their comeback!

What’s the best part about Mexican restaurants? Endless free chips and salsa!

Of course, you’ll have to get an entree as well, but today is the day to indulge!

Best friends out! 🍻