enRICHed: volume 138
no more heat waves please i am begging
Sunday July 13, 2025
Volume 138
Hey besties!
Can’t stop won’t stop get guap… that has been my mantra since I was slinging stocks on Wall Street in the good ‘ole days of 2016. But for real, I know how hard it was to start making real money in the finance world, so how do you actually start making money in the music industry? Well, then you can imagine my excitement at getting to ask the Icy Girl herself, Saweetie on this week’s episode of Networth & Chill! We talked about how she navigates finances with friends, managed her money before hitting it big, and her goals for the future! New episodes of the podcast drop every single Wednesday so be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE or follow Networth and Chill wherever you get your podcasts!
Plus, keep up with the podcast on Instagram and TikTok!
As a reminder:
HYCU, pronounced haiku: how the news impacts you and your wallet, aka How You Can Use
The Prosperitea: think discount codes, non-boring finance articles, sales, and personal links from the week. The fun stuff 😉
We love your comments, but please remember to keep it positive! And don’t take investing advice from anyone who isn’t your registered financial advisor!
Now that you’re up to speed, let’s get you enRICHed.
Texas Floods
Of course, we have to start out this week by addressing the horrific Texas floods that took place last weekend, killing over 120 people and hundreds more still missing.
We should all be talking about this: it was one of the country’s deadliest floods in a century, and the stories from the catastrophe are heartbreaking. Authorities said they rescued one young girl who was found floating on a mattress. Another man had to swim through his window and cling to a meter box to survive. One father tried to kayak through floodwaters to rescue two young daughters (11 and 13), but didn’t make it in time. His two children died, and the last thing they texted him was “I love you.”
Four officials inside the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) told CNN that they were slowed down to respond because of department head Kristi Noem’s bureaucratic new rule that she has to personally sign off on anything over $100,000 before funds can be released (keeping in mind, usually, federal emergencies cost millions and billions of dollars, not $50 and change).
It’s also incredibly clear that the national emergency alert system failed to inform Texans in time to evacuate, largely due to funding cuts by this administration. And it’s not just a Texas issue. The evacuation alert system broke down during the Los Angeles fires, and during the 2023 Maui fires, officials never activated the island’s sirens. And especially as the NWS and NOAA continue to face budget cuts, we may have to take some of these preventative measures into our own hands (and continue to vote for our protections).
HYCU; What is hardest for me to wrap my head around is how children were disproportionately impacted because of this flood. About a third of the victims were little girls at Camp Mystic, where 10 campers and a counselor are still missing. I have seen a lot of responses online of people telling Texans that they only have themselves to blame, as they largely voted for these policies that ultimately led to them being underprepared and under-resourced during this crisis. But these children did not vote for this. My heart breaks for these kids who lost their lives. Everyone deserves care, everyone deserves infrastructure that supports their well-being. If you want to donate to local drives and efforts, check out the Texas Tribune’s list here. On the money front, it’s also important to keep some savings tucked away in an emergency fund for these kinds of disasters. That way, if your property is affected or you need to evacuate, you don’t have to worry about how to pay for it.
The Tariff Tea ☕️
At this point, we should start a drinking game for every time I have to give you an update on tariffs. Today, the tea is that President Donald Trump issued another pause on the widespread tariffs, but then came back with more hits to the already uncertain trade landscape.
So, as we know, these levies were put on ice and supposed to resume on Wednesday (July 9). Then, this Monday (July 7), they came back and pushed it another three weeks, saying they’ll start in August. But then, the same day, President Trump sent out letters to a bunch of countries threatening even higher rates if negotiations aren’t reached by August 1. So, once again, everyone is confused and nervous about prices going up, and it’s completely unclear why they’re still doing it.
According to these letters, Japan and South Korea will face 25% tariffs starting in August, stirring huge outcry from the Korean skincare girlies and gamer communities alike. Brazil was threatened with a 50% tariff, sending nervous shockwaves among coffee lovers. Countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia were threatened with rates up to 40%. Trump also threatened to tack on an extra 25% for any country that retaliates.
HYCU; Keep in mind, we are currently paying for the 10% global baseline tariffs that have already been imposed across nearly all US imports, but if these rates take place, we’ll be paying even steeper fees, as these rates will basically replace that 10% base fee. This tariff system isn’t just one-per-country, it’s this massive web based on country, type of product, and industry sector as well, so if you’re getting confused by how all of this is affecting your wallet, know that those are the three key players in impacting how much you can expect something to go up.
Click and Click and Click to Cancel 💻
A federal appeals court has blocked a Biden-era plan to crack down on tough-to-cancel subscriptions, which would have required businesses to make it as easy to cancel subscriptions as it is to sign up to them.
Basically, during Biden’s administration, then-FTC chair Lina Khan announced this plan to require all companies (gyms, streaming services, that one random place you signed up to to get a free trial then forgot about it) to make the cancellation process take as few steps as signing up. It would’ve also required all companies to offer all the relevant information to consumers before subscribing, like hidden fees and stuff.
Unfortunately, while consumer groups were really for this rule, this current government is highly pro-business, so it did mean that this ruling was struck down. Lina Khan, the consumer champion, you are gone but never forgotten.
HYCU; Unwanted fees building up can really eat up your money, but if you have trouble figuring out how to access those “unsubscribe” buttons, here’s my hack: On the day I sign up for stuff but I know I only want to use it temporarily, I make a reminder in my calendar that’ll let me know a few days before renewal to figure out how to unsubscribe. With a little bit of lead time, I can get to that annoying button before I get charged more than I wanted to pay. Giving yourself more time helps avoid so much unnecessary cost eating up money that you could be using elsewhere!
RzKw asks, “Will the passage of the big beautiful bill affect investment in a health savings account, and if so, how? I don’t have an HSA yet but was thinking of getting one during the next open season later this year? Thanks.”
Hey! Ohhhhh the One Big Beautiful Bill … yes it will likely impact various aspects of financial planning, including Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
Here’s how it could affect your future HSA:
Contribution Limits: For 2025, the maximum tax-deductible HSA contribution is set to be $4,300 for individuals. This is a nice bump from previous years, which means you can potentially save more for your healthcare expenses while getting some tax benefits.
Eligible Expenses: The new legislation may also expand the types of expenses that can be covered by HSAs. For instance, certain Direct Primary Care (DPC) fees could become HSA-eligible if they meet specific criteria. This could give you more flexibility in how you use the funds.
Long-term Financial Planning: HSAs are not just for medical expenses; they can also serve as a great retirement savings tool since funds can be invested and grow tax-free. With the changes proposed, it might be an even more appealing option for you to consider.
Timing: Since you’re looking to get an HSA during the next open season, it’s worth keeping an eye on how these legislative changes unfold. The new rules could enhance the benefits of having an HSA, making it a strategic move for your financial future.
More to come from me on the OBBB—stay tuned to my podcast for more *wink*
Want to be featured in our Question Bank section?
Rich Tip of the Week: Try this hack to pay down your credit card debt!
Olivia Rodrigo paid for her whole band and crew to see therapists if they wanted while they were touring together—other employers, take notes!
The FDA is showing us all the letters they’re sending to pharmacy companies. They’ll rival even the longest CVS receipt.
Hermès’ original Birkin just sold for $10 million. Well, I guess they just traded one bag for another.
SEE YOU IN THE COMMENTS BESTIES